Share

Customs

Kylie was the first one to lay her back on the floor.

"We've barely been working for ten minutes and you're already tired," Serah remarks. "I think I take back my earlier comment. You're lazier than Camilla."

"Good. Now, apologize for making me look like the black sheep in our group," Camilla says with a mock frown.

Serah waves her hand nonchalantly. "Oh please. If you like, wait for me to say that. You'll wait until you grow old with ten cats."

"But for real though, I now understand why Mom and Dad advised us to open the window," Kylie says, panting.

"Yeah. These gifts are so many and they were wrapped so securely," Serah agrees. Camilla doesn't join their conversation. She's more interested in why so many people would go this far for her. After all, she doesn't even know half the people in this living room and they're more than twelve!

Kylie snaps her fingers in her friend's face. "You really need to stop zoning out like this," she says.

"Oh um, sorry."

"Speaking of which, where is Waylen? I haven't seen him all day and you haven't talked about him today," Serah comments as she unwraps a gift box.

"By all day, you mean all morning, right? Because it's not even 1 pm yet," Kylie retorts. Her sister pushes her playfully.

"Anyway Camilla, where is your brother?" Serah asks again.

"That's the thing, I don't know. But he should be at work though. He always goes out early in the morning so that he can get there on time," Camilla replies.

The twins exchange glances. "So you're saying he wasn't there when you woke up?" Serah asks.

"Nope."

"And you checked around the house but he still wasn't there?" asks Kylie.

"I didn't check around the house though. We all know Waylen is a noisemaker so detecting his presence isn't difficult. But no, he wasn't at home when I left," Camilla replies as she admires a silver bracelet with hearts around it.

"And he didn't even bother to leave a note?" Serah asks. This time, she has stopped what she was doing to stare at her friend.

Camilla furrows her eyebrows. "Um, I'm not sure though. Maybe he left a note. He usually leaves them on the kitchen table if he feels there's a need to do that," she answers.

"Did you check the kitchen table?" the sisters ask in unison.

"Nope," is the reply.

"You're a very big fool," Kylie says with all seriousness.

"What? Why?"

Serah adjusts her sitting position to face Camilla. "Your brother - not mine, but yours - left the house before you woke up. He didn't keep whatever he had for you on your bed nor did he wake you up himself. He wasn't the first person to see you today as he should be, but you're okay with that?" she asks. "Are the two of you mad?"

Camilla blinks a few times, not understanding what's going on. "I don't get it. Why is it such a big deal?"

The two of them stare at her in disbelief. "Um, aren't you familiar with the customs or have you forgotten everything?" Serah asks her.

"Do enlighten me," Camilla says, getting a little annoyed.

"Gladly. In case you've forgotten, the law states that when someone comes of age, the oldest person in the family should be the first person to see the new adult once they wake up from sleep." She rubs her face gently. "The oldest person in your family is supposed to bless you and pave the way for your adulthood to run smoothly."

Inside her, Camilla can feel her heart shatter into tiny bits. 'And Waylen shouldn't be the one to do that. Ordinarily, it should have been Mom or Dad,' her mind says.

"Are you listening at all? Or are you and Waylen just mad?" Serah asks, getting annoyed.

"How many times do I have to tell you guys that I know that rule?" Camilla asks.

"If you know that rule so well, why did you forget it today of all days?" Serah asks as she folds her arms.

"I didn't forget. And please, that rule isn't even a big deal. It can be bent," Camilla maintained.

"You keep talking about bending rules that have been there for generations," Kylie says worriedly.

"Exactly, Kylie! The fact that they've been there for generations means that they've been bent for generations!" Camilla exclaims, throwing her arms up. "Look, not everyone can bend certain rules. That, I know. But certain rules aren't a necessity for some families. Believe me when I say that."

"I'm sorry but when it comes to tradition, I can't believe what I have never seen before," Serah says, her arms still folded.

Camilla exhales. "You want proof, alright then. Did I tell you that Mom and Dad didn't bless Waylen when he turned eighteen?" The sisters gasp. "Yes, you heard me well. Before Waylen woke up that morning, Dad had already gone on an urgent visit to the Alpha's palace. Mom was making breakfast but she needed to step out to our neighbor's house. In fact, I was the first person who saw him that morning."

"What?" the twins ask in disbelief.

"Yes. By the time Mom came back, Waylen's restive legs had already taken him out of the house. Isn't he still alive today? Not only is he alive, but he's also still the same idiot from that morning two years ago. I don't see why you guys think all these things are a big deal."

"Um okay. I guess you have a point there," Kylie admits.

"Exactly. So let me be."

"I have a question though," Serah says. Her facial expression shows that she isn't buying the story at all.

"Shoot."

"If no one in your family blessed your brother when he came of age, then who did?"

"Alpha Adan blessed him," Camilla responds.

"That's his job," Serah retorts.

"Well, he was simply doing his job then," Camilla says.

"I think you should go to Alpha Adan quickly and ask him," Serah blurts

Related chapters

Latest chapter

DMCA.com Protection Status