Moving On

The three sisters are Audrey, Brielle, and Cali. Their parents decided to name them with the first letters of their name in alphabetical order. Basically, Audrey is the eldest, Brielle is the middle child and Cali is the youngest.

Audrey is 18 years old and will soon move out to study for college, Brielle is in high school at 16 years old and Cali the youngest is y years old.

"Waaaah!" Cali, Brielle's intelligent seven-year-old sister, let out an ear-splitting scream which made her almost let go of the plate Brielle was washing in the sink.

Brielle quickly turned around and wiped her soapy hands on the pink floral apron she is wearing to prevent her shirt from getting wet while washing the dishes. She scowled at her cute little sister sporting pigtails, her hair perfectly parted in the middle.

"What was that, Cali?! You scared me!" Brielle growled but walked toward Cali to give her a kiss. 'She smells like sweat and baby powder combined,' Brielle thought to herself. Following behind is a panicking Audrey holding Cali's pink Barbie backpack, panting because she wondered what made Cali scream.

Audrey stood at the door, her knees folded while trying to catch her breath because Cali made her run after her. "Cali, why did you run... oh my!" Audrey's jaw dropped and she immediately placed a palm over her mouth.

Audrey stopped midway as soon as she realized what made Cali freak out, it was seeing Brielle in an apron, washing the freaking dishes like it was some sort of a normal day.

Cali's seven-year-old brain cannot seem to comprehend that Brielle has finally decided to come out of her room after 14 consecutive days of sulking and crying and doing all sorts of breakup rituals big girls do. One cannot judge Cali based on her age because she is typically an old soul living inside a little body with the way she thinks and speaks.

"What?! You guys seem to be extremely surprised or something, look at you all frozen on your spot," Brielle casually remarked and went back to the sink as she turned the faucet back on to resume washing the dishes manually.

Asian households do not use dishwashers, they just use that for storing plates. Other than that, washing dishes should be done by hand.

Audrey snapped out of her shock and took a few strides to the dining table. Meanwhile, Cali is struggling to sit on the chair with her small legs which is why Brielle opted to help her but instead she said, "I can handle this, Brielle." She said in a poised and calm manner.

Brielle just shook her head while laughing at the way their little sister speaks. On the other hand, Audrey's mouth is still left ajar seeing Brielle somehow back to her usual self. Audrey wonders what could have happened for her to do so.

"So, you decided to just get over what's hurting you and start washing the dishes?" Audrey sarcastically asked as she sat down beside Cali.

Brielle resumed washing the dishes but she clearly heard what Audrey asked. Tackling her breakup was again, like squeezing lemons in an open wound. Instead, she decided to divert the topic to something else.

Brielle cleared her throat, "Liam dropped by a few hours ago. He went straight here as soon as he arrived from the airport," she related to Audrey which made her eyes go wide and eyebrows shot up.

"Oh, right! He was supposed to arrive today! I forgot to tell you though," Audrey replied in a low voice after pouring water into a glass and drinking it.

Brielle rinsed the last plate and put it on the drying rack. She wiped her hands dry and sat down on the vacant chair in front of Audrey and Cali.

The three of them have distinct attributes even though they are siblings. Audrey has a sporty body and is tanned due to playing volleyball for the university team. Brielle has a petite structure and is the self-proclaimed prettiest child of the family. Lastly, Cali is cute and profound. She might have been a queen from her last life based on how old-sounding she is with her choice of words and actions but she is still a child.

Audrey is still in awe as to how presentable Brielle has become compared to her unkempt appearance for the past few days. She seemed to have brushed off the sadness she has faced for the past weeks and decided to go on with life.

Deep inside, Audrey is beyond happy that Brielle is back to her old self because she wants to cherish the remaining days she has before her summer break ends and go back to their dorm in college as a part of the women's national volleyball team.

"You wouldn't believe how Liam looks right now, Audrey!" Brielle roared. She still can't believe how good-looking Liam has become.

Out of the blue, Cali spoke and adorably joined the conversation. "Maybe puberty hit him," She said nonchalantly.

Her remark made Cali and Audrey look at each other with wide eyes and was about to burst into laughter. Audrey pursed her lips, trying to hold back her laugh, and asked Cali, "Where did you hear that?" Cali looked straight into her eyes and with her little voice, she answered. "On the train earlier after grandma and I went grocery shopping. The woman beside us was so loud while talking on her phone and she mentioned that big word 'puberty',"

Brielle formed her lips into a big 'O' and nodded her head. She then enthusiastically continued with their conversation, "Puberty did not just hit Liam. It was more like puberty stabbed him in the gut with a six inch knife, beat the hell out of him and left the rusty knife in. It was more like that," Brielle described and emphasized the matter.

Audrey covered Cali's ears who was busily playing with her bear stuffed toy and then threw Brielle a deadly stare and it was as if she mentally told her, "How could you mention those graphic and sinister things in front of our six year old sister, you freak?!" If stares could kill, Brielle must be in a casket right now, leading to her final rest.

"I heard that. I wonder why puberty just 'tapped' you, Brielle." Brielle's eyes grew wide as her jaw dropped to the floor realizing what Cali meant by her brutal remark.

Audrey laughed hysterically like a hyena, her eyes tearing up from laughing so much. For the past two weeks, Brielle has somehow forgotten how savage their little sister Cali could be.

Brielle scoffed while laughing, "What was that? Puberty 'just tapped' me?"

Cali innocently nodded and added, "Yes. It just tapped you and left thereafter," Her savage statements made Audrey and Brielle laugh while clapping their hands like a seal.

Audrey added, "Children do not lie," And tapped Brielle's shoulder who likes to poke fun at herself.

The morning after that during breakfast, a knock resounded on their main door which made the girls look and turn their heads towards it. The four of them are seated around their dining table for breakfast and this time, Brielle joins them.

Audrey was about to shove a piece of omelet inside her mouth, "I will open it, Mom." Audrey pushed her chair back and stood up as she walked to the door.

She closed her left eye as she peeked on the peephole. She turned to her Mom's way and said, "It's a man. Are we expecting parcels today?" opening the door anyway and was greeted by a fine young man. He looks like he came straight from manga and what caught her attention is his sharp jaw and broad shoulders and overall handsomeness.

He smiled and greeted, "Good morning, Audrey." In a deep and manly tone.

Audrey's eyes grew wide and gasped, "No way! Is this you, Liam?!" She asked in disbelief, remembering how Brielle described him last night and it turns out to be true.

Liam nodded and scratched the back of his head, evidently shy that most of their reaction upon seeing him is shocked. Audrey opened the door wide and made him come in. As soon as he stepped in, Brielle met Liam's eyes and while their Mom got her dose of shock too as to how puberty has been so good with Liam.

"Oh my! Look at our Liam! He is now all grown up and so handsome!" Their Mom can't help but gushing to his improved physique. The last time she remembered Liam used to be a little scrawny kid that hangs out in their house to play with Brielle.

Liam handed over a jar of well-fermented kimchi to Audrey and said to their Mom, "My grandmother wants to give this to you, Ma'am. She remembers how much of a good cook you were when she once visited your house for dinner two years ago," He said humbly.

"Oh, yes! Thank you so much! The girls love kimchi. Come and join us for breakfast, Liam." Their Mom said in a warm tone, motioning her hand to the vacant chair next to Brielle. She added, "I am sure you two have a lot to talk about," She said, implying a double meaning.

"I would love to, Ma'am but I just ate as well. If you don't mind, I have a question for Brielle." He said politely which made their Mom smile proudly.

He added, "Brielle, do you have plans tonight? Jerrick, one of our childhood friends, will be throwing a party tonight. They want us to come," Liam related and is hoping for a yes from her.

Noticing how Brielle hesitated, their Mom came to the rescue. "You can go, dear. I just need Liam to promise me to have you home by ten in the evening. You can go, I am sure your friends missed you both," She said and assured Brielle.

"Well,…" Brielle let go of her spoon and scratched her head. "I guess, yes? See you tonight,"

"Cool. I will pick you up at six." He answered and flashed a huge smile which exposed his perfectly aligned set of white teeth.