Reborn to Watch My Bestie's Run-in With the Cursed Estate

MARYANN.

My brother, Mike Matthew, is turning twenty-one today. He's a soccer player—tall, dark-skinned, with a strong, athletic build. He informed me that he has invited several friends to our home for his birthday celebration.

Our parents are busy people. Dad, Mavin Matthew, works as a banker, and Mom, Ella Matthew, is a television broadcaster. They cannot take a break from work to celebrate Mike's birthday with him today, even though he's turning twenty-one.

My brother plays for a local football club and wears the number seven on his top. He's my only sibling. We live in a big duplex. My room is on the top floor, as is his. I rise from my bed as early as 7:00 a.m. to prepare for his birthday celebration.

It's an exciting Friday. I rush into the bathroom to take my bath.

The previous night, we were in the parlour having this discussion when Mike sat on the black couch after dinner and asked me, "Maryann, my friends will be coming over tomorrow for my birthday party. Are you sure you won't have any issues with them, and that you're okay with me bringing my friends over? I don't want them to corrupt you. You're still my baby sister, but tomorrow will be the last birthday party I celebrate here, since I want to buy a new house."

"I'm eighteen years old!" I screamed, hating that he was so protective of me. "I'm no longer a baby. Your friends can come over. I get bored staying home, and I haven't celebrated a birthday with you in a while, since you always celebrate at the club," I pleaded, knowing that Mike had chosen to celebrate his other birthdays at the club ever since he turned eighteen.

Mike frowned and said, "I don't want my friends to tease you or corrupt you. I might not be able to keep an eye on them with you around, and I don't want them to do anything silly to you. They're hot-blooded men. I don't want any stōry that involves you."

"I will be fine. I can protect myself," I replied, moving from the dining room to meet him.

Our parents had already retired for the night. After all, it was Thursday, and they had work the next day.

I had missed my brother's last birthday, and I wanted him to celebrate this one at home.

Mike sat on the black couch, pressing his phone. He paused and replied, "Fine. I will invite them over. The party will start in the evening, around six. Mom and Dad will be around, so you'll be at ease."

I frowned at the thought of my parents restricting me from getting closer to Mike's friends.

"How about Sunny Easton? Will he come over? I haven't seen him in a while," I asked Mike. He frowned when he heard me mention his best friend.

"Sunny will be here. You need to keep away from him. He's a bad boy, not the guy you used to know," Mike said, his voice thick with warning. He crossed one leg over the other on the black couch, warning me.

"Ann," Mike called, using the short form of my name, as I lowered my gaze and avoided his striking blue eyes, identical to mine. "Did you hear my warning?"

"Got it. I will keep away from Sunny, as long as he doesn't bring his bully of a sister. We don't get along anyway," I replied, and Mike laughed.

"Haha. I will tell Sunny not to bring Jessica around. But you know she likes me, so she'll come anyway, though I don't like her," Mike said, frowning, because I had told him how Jessica Easton bullied me in high school. I had already graduated early this year and was waiting to gain admission to the university.

Jessica is Sunny's younger sister. She's tall and fair-skinned, with long brown hair. She's slender and doesn't resemble Sunny—she resembles her mother. Sunny has two siblings: Jessica and an older sister, Linda.

Linda is twenty-eight, married, and lives in the United States. She visits them occasionally, like during Christmas and New Year. I met her once, when I was younger. She came to my school to celebrate Jessica's fourteenth birthday, since their parents are as busy as mine.

Sunny is twenty-four, and Jessica is nineteen.

Sighing, I peered at my brother's face and assured him, "I will keep away from your friends. They cannot tease me while you're here."

Mike glanced at me from my feet to my face, his gaze crawling over my body as he weighed my words. I have a thick figure—not fat, not slim. But Jessica teases me and calls me "Chubby girl" because of my round cheeks, and I have fuller breasts and a fuller backside than she does.

"What's wrong?" I asked Mike, wearing only a short white nightdress. When my brother looked at me like that, it made me feel vulnerable and aware of my body's growth.

"Nothing," Mike muttered, looking back at his phone. He didn't want to say it, but I saw his gaze darken after he looked at my body.

*Does he think I'm ugly?* I wanted to ask him, but the words died in my throat because I knew that wasn't true.

Mike finally agreed. "Alright. I already invited them. Till tomorrow. The chef will be here to get everything ready."

"Alright. Good night, brother!" I squealed with excitement, knowing that we were going to have a big party.

I rushed upstairs and invited my best friend, Ruth Clement, to come over the next day, so I wouldn't feel lonely. After all, we had already left school after the graduation ceremony.

***

Now, I grab my toothbrush, put some paste on it, and brush my teeth.

I can hear the sound of a car arriving at my parents' home. It's already 7:30 a.m.

"Maryann!" Mom calls my name as my bedroom door flies open.

"Yes, Mom!" I rush out of the bathroom to meet her, my hand still clutching my toothbrush against my lips, since I know what today is all about.

Mom is wearing a black suit and a white undershirt. Her face is made up with makeup, her long blonde hair packed into a ponytail. She is a forty-five-year-old woman. Her expression turns stern as she hurries to meet me. She is tall and slender, like a model.

"Ann, I just heard from Mike that he's throwing a birthday party here. I want you to stay in your room and not join them until I return," Mom says, her tone serious as she quickly buckles her wristwatch over her left wrist and looks at my face.

"Why, Mom? I am an adult! I can take care of myself!" I protest, not liking the idea of it.

"Maryann!" Mom calls my full name whenever she gets serious. Her brows furrow as she finishes buckling her watch and takes a step closer to me.

"You're an adult, I agree. But those guys are a bad influence. Your brother is a man, so I don't care if he sleeps around the whole neighbourhood. But you are my only daughter. What will people say when they learn that you're no longer a virgin, or that you've become wild like your brother, who is even in a polyamorous relationship?"

I pout my pink lips, knowing that my mother is right.

Mike has two girlfriends: Nelly Brown and Zara Johnson.

They are both aware they're dating my brother, but he doesn't bring them home—he keeps his affairs private. Still, we get to see his posts online and catch glimpses of them whenever he goes to play ball.

Those girls only get to meet Mike outside, but he has shown me their photos and says it isn't yet time for me to meet them.

"But Mom, I am an adult. I am not going to have a boyfriend. I just want to join the party. It's my brother's birthday," I complain, my arms wrapping around my chest in disagreement.

My door flies open, and Dad enters, wearing a black suit and a red undershirt, paired with polished black shoes. He and Mom leave for work at the same time.