I looked outside the window, longing to be out there instead of getting trapped inside with them. The weather had been raining a lot lately and it was bound to rain but I didn't mind. Getting soaked by the rain felt more welcoming compared to being in this place.
"Look at the ring my fiancé gave me!" Rossa said, showing off her hand toward me. My eyesight was still fine, she didn't need to shove her hand closer to my face to see that she had a ring there. However, knowing how Rossa was, it was expected of her.
"It looks expensive. You can sell it off if you're in a pinch in the future." I replied then sipped my tea nonchalantly. She gasped dramatically, feeling offended.
"Mother! Resse is being rude!" Typical of her to immediately call for our mother when she doesn't know what to refute.
"Resse, apologise to your sister." Mother told me, glaring at me.
"Sorry, Rossa. I'm just making a hypothetical remark. What I mean was, it's truly an expensive ring and valuable. You're lucky to be given such a ring." I smiled sweetly at Rossa who knew that I was faking that smile.
"Yeah right." She rolled her eyes at me and continued gawking at the ring. Honestly, she might as well marry the ring instead. She was way more interested with the ring compared to her fiancé. However, it wasn't my place to say anything. I was never in a relationship to know anything about them anyway.
"So, Resse, when are you going to introduce someone to us?" Mother asked, looking at me sharply.
"I'm busy, mother." Was my answer for the millionth time matching the same question she asked me over the years.
"Busy with what?"
"I don't think anyone wants to marry her, mother." Rossa chimed in, looking at me with a smirk.
"My career is my priority right now. Unlike someone, I actually earn my own money." I said calmly, giving a pointed look at my dear sister. She glared at me angrily, feeling targeted by my remarks.
"You're not going to be young forever, you know. You have to find someone." Mother insisted.
"I know, mother. I'll find someone when I want to."
"Hmph, as if anyone would want you." Rossa dissed.
"True. I'm not as popular or as pretty as you are, Rossa." I shrugged. "Like I said, I want to focus on my career at the moment."
"Resse-"
"Well, I have to go now. Thank you for the tea time, mother." I stood up from the chair and picked up my phone to leave the room. I've tolerated them enough for the day.
"You barely drink your cup and you're already leaving?" Mother frowned.
"I might have preferred coffee compared to tea, mother. So, I don't enjoy my cup." I forced a smile at her. "I'll visit another time. Excuse me."
With that, I just left them. It was a mistake to agree with my mother's invitation to have tea together. If I knew Rossa would be there too, I would give my usual excuse to not come. I didn't hate Rossa. She was my older sister and for the longest time, I felt like she was the most insufferable human alive in this world. Yes, I didn't hate her. She was just a pain to deal with. If there was anything I could be grateful for having her as my sister, that would be patience. She taught me how to be patient. Our childhood was not pretty to say the least. All I could remember from our early days was us trying to beat the crap out of each other. Lovely sister bonding.
In fact, I wasn't that close with any of my family members. I didn't know what went wrong but I felt isolated growing up. They viewed me as the odd one out of the family. Always comparing me with the perfect Rossa. Always questioning my choices, whether it was about food I liked or drinks I would order in a restaurant. They never agreed to anything I was up to. Hence, I never get their support for anything I do. My resentment toward them faded a long time ago when I entered university. I was lucky to get a full scholarship which covered all of my education expenses. I worked part time to support my daily necessities and eventually didn't even need to rely on my family anymore. I became independent since. Being a mature lady that I was, I stopped feeling bitter toward my family. I didn't have time and energy to continue to hate them anyway.
I was already happy with my job. Nothing interest me more than plants. So, I became a botanist. I graduated early from university and pursued my master. I was then offered a position in a botanical research institute where I had done my internship during my degree year. I've been working with them for 3 years now. My research and the plants had been the only things I cared about.
Of course, I was nearing 25 years old. Mother was right to be concerned about my love life. She was afraid that I would die alone. Honestly, I didn't mind dying alone. As I mentioned, my priority was my career. There were so many plants I've yet to discover and thinking of my future findings excite me more than having a beautiful marriage ring looped around my finger. Besides, I never feel attracted to anyone ever. Maybe I was incapable of feeling love? Who knows.
"What are you doing here?" I asked the person. She was waiting outside of my lab.
"This is the only place I could meet you." She grinned knowingly. Evi, my only best friend. Probably the only person I've ever considered a friend.
"You're making it sound like I never leave my lab." I sighed heavily and went to the door to unlock it.
"Oh my, wouldn't that be obvious?" She chuckled.
"Yeah, whatever. What do you want?" I inserted the password on the keypad and there was a click, the door unlocked.
"Rossa called me just now." She informed me, loyally tailing me as I walked into the lab. I couldn't help but frowning.
"What did she tell you?" I busied myself switching on the lights in the lab.
"Well, she's overly concerned about your lack of boyfriend." She took a seat on one of the stool casually. She was a regular visitor to this place. Even the staffs at the front desk always allowed her inside the building without questions.
"She needs to mind her own business." I exhaled, feeling annoyed.
"Well, that's true, but it intrigues me." She smiled.
"Intrigue?" I echoed, widening my eyes.
"We grew up together, Resse. I've never heard of you telling me about having a crush on someone. Is there something I should know about this?"
"You're never this inquisitive about it before. Why the sudden interest?"
"Nope, nope. I'm the one asking questions, not you! Just answer the damn question, woman!" She retorted, pointing her finger at me. I knew that the tactic would never work on her. She knew me too well. It was worth the try, at least.
"I'm just never interested in anyone." I answered honestly.
"Never? Not even once? Not even interested in someone hot you saw on the streets? Or even the celebrities in the TV?"
"No."
"Are you sure you're human?" She might as well asking if I could kick her.
"I don't think there's anything wrong being not attracted to anyone."
"Yeah, maybe. But, honestly, you're one of a kind." She grinned annoyingly at me. "Here goes my future plan."
"What future plan?" I walked up to my desk, trying to start my work.
"You know, your children become best friends with my children. Imagine the future if you could just fall in love with someone!"
"There's this thing call adoption, Evi. In case you forgot."
"It would be more meaningful if you have your own children! Just like having mini you, being friends with mini me."
"Well, having mini versions of us kind of a nightmare." I exhaled. "Imagine having mini version of us running around causing chaos. It's a nightmare for every parent."
We ended laughing together. We caused a lot of mess when we were kids. We were the partner in crime, inseparable and always caught up in the middle of troubles. Our parents tried to separate us thinking that either of us was the bad influence but well, we always found a way to play or meet up with each other. My friendship with Evi was what I cherished the most. So, I worked hard to not have our bond cut off just like that. Anyway, after years, they didn't bother us anymore. Probably gave up. We were such a menace though.
"Oh god, please no. I don't think I can handle my children if they are exactly like me." She shuddered at the thought.
"So, still thinking of getting our children being friends with each other?" I grinned playfully.
"Well, I don't know. No one knows what would happen in the future anyway!" She giggled. "But anyway, if.. You find someone, you have to tell me first!"
"Sure. You'd have to wait for a century I guess."
"That's good enough." She shrugged nonchalantly. I just snorted. "At least you're considering it."
"Okay." I mumbled out sarcastically.
"Oh yes, I'm actually here today to give you the invitation." Her eyes widened, remembering her real purpose to visit me. She rummaged through her purse and took out a white envelope.
"What invitation?"
"Our high-school reunion. Surely, you remember some of our classmates right?" She handed the invitation over to me.
"They sent out letters? What? They can't even email the invites or dm me on social medias or something?" I took the invitation from her hand.
"It was the theme they were going for. You know, the medieval invitation kind of way. If you open it, you'll understand their reasoning."
"This is stupid."
"I'm sure it's going to be fun. We gotta attend the reunion."
"I don't think I want to go."
"Come on, Resse. You need to take a break from your research. When is the last time you took day off?"
"Today."
"What? And you still go to work?"
"Yeah."
"You need help. Your workaholic ass is probably the main reason you're single."
"Hey, I thought that topic was over!" I pouted. She laughed and poked my cheek teasingly.
"Let's just go to the reunion. Even if you don't want to, I'll break into your house and drag your ass anyway."
"I feel threatened." I leaned back, away from her.
"Good. So that you know I'm dead serious." She smiled innocently. That innocent and pure face she had was actually the opposite of her usual behaviour. Evi was probably the definition of don't judge a book by its cover.
We chatted more until Evi decided it was time for her to leave. Not after she threatened me one more time to go to the reunion together. It was because how close we were that we could casually threaten each other. Well, the invitation could wait. My newly found plant couldn't.
The week before, I received a call from a colleague, stating that they got a hold of a new species from abroad. The plant was sent to me so that I could do research on it. Didn't mean to brag but I was the best in the institute to do this kind of research.
The new plant was fascinating. It emitted soft glow from under its leaves. It was a very unique plant. I still couldn't figure out how did it could produce the glows. It was as if a plant straight out from the fairytale books. The plant also gave out a very sweet scent which reminded me of lavender. However, it was nothing like a lavender flower. So, it was very intriguing.
I plucked out one of its leaves and ran a few test on it. The chemical found on it was something I never encountered before. It was a completely foreign substance. I couldn't even classified it into any existing type in today's records. When I put it under the microscope, the cells were also really peculiar. What kind of plant was this? How come it was never been found before? Well, it was like it just popped up out of nowhere.
Hours of dissecting and testing, I was getting more frustrated. I couldn't figure it out. I put a leave on my palm, glaring at it as if it had done something wrong to me. I never reached a dead end in my research before and this plant was breaking that streaks.
"What if I.." I murmured to myself and without thinking twice, I put the leave into my mouth. The bitterness from the leave burst inside my mouth. I've never taste something so bitter in my life!
When I tried to spit it out, my whole body froze. My limbs went numb and I fell to the floor. This couldn't be happening. I was going to die? Coldness traversed through my whole body and I grew weak. My vision blurred and it was dark.