Rachel calls Sophia not long after she comes out of the bathroom; like yesterday, Harper left a warm chamomille tea on the table for her. In five rings, Sophia answered her call; her older sister sounded worried and immediately bombarded her with lots of questions.
Rachel took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts as Sophia bombarded her with questions. She knew her older sister always had a protective nature because she needed to report anything to their parents. Sophia, being the firstborn in their family, sometimes shoulders all the responsibilities, but this time, it seemed tinged with worry and curiosity. Finally, she found the words to respond.
"I'm fine, unnie," Rachel quickly reassured her. "There's no need to worry."
"And who is this, Harper Wilson?" Sophia pressed, her tone tinged with suspicion. "Why is she so willing to take you and accompany you? What's the deal with her?"
Rachel paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain the situation. "Harper is my friend. We met through an online gaming community, and she's been incredibly supportive ever since I told her about my dreams of becoming an idol."
""Why is she so willing to take you and accompany you?" Sophia pressed, her worry evident in her voice.
Rachel felt a twinge of annoyance. "Oh, you think I don't deserve a friend or someone who's willing to accompany me?" She couldn't help but lash out, knowing her sister's protective nature sometimes crossed the line.
Sophia raised her hands in a placating gesture, even though she knew Rachel couldn't see it since they were talking on the phone. "Don't put words in my mouth, Rach. You know what I mean."
"No, I don't! I don't know what you mean!" Rachel half-yelled, her frustration boiling over. "Harper is Harper. She's been a better older sister to me than you and Jonathan Oppa have been!"
Sophia's eyes widened at the accusation. "I support you!"
"Yeah? But are you willing to go to Los Angeles with me? Be with me. Wait for my audience to finish. Talk to the people without calling our mother." Rachel fired back, her questions laden with bitterness.
Sophia remained silent, unable to find the words to refute her sister's statement. She had chosen her own path, prioritizing her studies and social life over fully supporting Rachel's dreams.
Sensing the tension, Rachel continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well? Are you, unnie?"
The silence that followed was deafening, and Sophia had no choice but to concede the point.
Trying to regain her composure, Sophia said, "She's still a stranger, Rach."
Rachel scoffed, her frustration evident. "You two are more strangers to me than Harper."
Sophia's face fell, hurt by her sister's words. "Rach, don't be like that."
But Rachel refused to back down. "Why, unnie? Because it hurts to hear the truth? Harper has been there for me in ways you and Jonathan Oppa have never been. She's willing to drop everything to support my dreams, while you two have always put yourselves first."
Sophia opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. She knew, deep down, that her sister was right. She had been too focused on her own life, neglecting to truly understand and support Rachel's dreams of being a singer.
As the silence dragged on, Rachel sighed, her anger giving way to a profound sense of disappointment. "I thought you'd be happy for me, unnie. But all you seem to care about is who's helping me and why. Can't you just be there for me, like a real sister should?"
Sophia's heart sank as she realized the weight of her own shortcomings. She was a twenty-year-old law student, yet her thirteen-year-old sister seemed to possess a maturity and eloquence beyond her years. "I'm sorry," Sophia finally managed to utter, her voice filled with remorse. It was clear that her words could never fully capture the depth of her regret.
Rachel, however, didn't dwell on her sister's apology. Instead, she swiftly changed the topic, her voice filled with excitement. "Anyway, I got accepted to be a trainee! I'll be home in two days, and I'll talk to you and our parents about it," she announced, leaving no room for further discussion. "And don't worry, Harper will be coming with me to New York. She's been a great older sister figure to me."
Sophia couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern at Rachel's mention of Harper. "Why?" she asked, genuinely wanting to understand the nature of their relationship. But her words came out muddled, leaving an unintended air of skepticism.
"Because I'm thirteen, and she's being a good older sister for me." Rachel answered.
"Does she have a place to stay?" Sophia genuinely asks, but because Rachel is already annoyed with her sister, it comes out as negative. It made her sound like she didn't want some strangers staying in their house.
But Rachel, already irritated with her sister, snapped back with a defensive tone. "Because I'm thirteen, and she's been more of an older sister to me than you," she replied, her words dripping with frustration.
Sophia felt her heart sink even further, realizing the truth in Rachel's words. Her own absence in her sister's life had allowed someone else to fill the role of the supportive sibling. Regret flooded her, but she knew apologies would no longer suffice.
Concerned about Harper's accommodations, Sophia asked tentatively, "Does she have a place to stay?"
Rachel, still exasperated, responded, "Don't worry, no stranger is going to sleep in our house, unnie."
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise, realizing how her question had come across. "Rachel, I didn't mean it like that," she quickly clarified, desperately hoping her sister would understand.
Feeling the weight of the growing divide between them, Rachel sighed and softened her tone. "Harper will greet you and Jonathan Oppa when we get to New York, and then she'll have a flight to Berlin," she explained, hoping to put Sophia's concerns to rest.
"Berlin?" Sophia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yeah, she's going to continue her studies there. Do you know Heidelberg University?" Rachel's voice grew lighter, and there was a hint of pride every time she spoke about Harper. "It's one of the best universities in Germany, you know."
Sophia's eyes widened at the mention of the prestigious institution. "One of the best? She's coming from the elite."
Rachel couldn't help but snort at her sister's use of the word 'elite." "She's the definition of elite herself," she replied, a touch of amusement in her voice.
Sensing the conversation was drawing to a close, Sophia quickly interjected, "Wait, Rachel! Where are you staying?"
"Chateau Marmont Hotel," Rachel answered without hesitation. "Bye, unnie. I'll call you again tomorrow."
Sophia opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Rachel had already ended the call, leaving her with a mix of emotions. As she placed her phone down, Sophia's gaze drifted to the family photo on her desk. It was a snapshot from their last vacation, a time when the five of them—Rachel, Jonathan, their parents, and herself—had been inseparable. Those carefree days now felt like a distant memory, and Sophia couldn't help but wonder what had changed.
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Sophia and Jonathan's jaws dropped the moment they laid eyes on the young woman walking beside their sister Rachel. She was taller than Jonathan, with a slender, graceful build and flawless, honeydew-toned skin. Her perfectly sculpted facial features and sharp jawline gave her an almost ethereal, goddess-like beauty. Long, wavy brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, completing the striking image. She gave out the aura of a full-fledged young Greek god, brimming with vitality.
Jonathan couldn't help but voice his awe-struck disbelief. "Wow," he uttered, stunned by the girl's height that surpassed even his own.
Sophia felt her cheeks flush as she watched the girl approach. She muttered to herself, "Wow indeed," in awe of the stunning beauty in front of her.
As the girl drew closer, a bright smile graced her face, and her voice, husky yet raspy, resonated with a sense of intrigue. "Hi, nice to meet you guys," she greeted, her words tinged with a mesmerizing charm. "I'm Harper. You must be Sophia and Jonathan."
Stunned into momentary silence, Sophia and Jonathan extended their hands, their eyes still locked on the enchanting newcomer. "Yes," they managed to utter in unison, their voices barely above a whisper.
Resolving to break the spell, Rachel gently nudged her older siblings, positioning herself between Harper and them. "Snap out of it!" She's sulky, scolding them with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
She knows that Harper is an attractive girl, but people keep bothering her. Especially the two young men who've been pestering them for the last two days of their vacation. Until Harper finally agreed to get dinner with them, she sat with them awkwardly but was happy because Harper relied on her.
Rachel watched with a mix of amusement and concern as the two young men continued to pester Harper throughout their dinner. Despite Harper's captivating beauty, it was clear she had no interest in entertaining their advances.
"Can we have your number?" one of the boys asked hopefully.
"No," Harper replied curtly, never breaking her focus from the meal in front of her.
Undeterred, the other boy tried a different approach. "Maybe you have a Facebook? That way, we can get to know each other better."
Harper looked up, her expression gentle yet firm. "I do have a Facebook, but I don't see a reason why I should share that with you." Her sweetest smile only seemed to further confuse and frustrate the young men.
"I mean, how are we going to get closer if we don't know anything about you?" one of them asked, clearly exasperated.
Harper tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "Do I look like I want to get closer to either one of you?" She asked, her tone surprisingly soft and non-confrontational.
The boys were taken aback, their faces contorting in a mixture of shock and disbelief. "But you accepted our invitation for dinner!" one of them protested.
Harper let out a gentle sigh, her smile never wavering. "You kept pestering me, and you don't handle rejection well. I thought this would be the easiest way to get you to leave me alone." She paused, offering them another warm smile. "I can pay for my own meal, by the way."
The rest of the dinner was a delicate play between Harper and the boys, with the persistent suitors desperately trying to learn more about Harper, only to be met with a barrage of polite yet evasive responses. Harper's ability to maintain her composure and gracefully deflect their advances left the young men increasingly bewildered yet strangely charmed.
In the end, the boys walked away empty-handed, their previous confidence shattered. They couldn't help but feel a peculiar mix of frustration and admiration for the enigmatic young woman who had so effortlessly resisted their efforts. It was a humbling experience, one that made them reconsider their own approach and implanted a renewed respect for Harper's solid confidence.
Harper's soothing voice broke Rachel's trance. "Rachel, come on," she said, a hint of urgency in her tone.
"Where to?" Rachel asked, blinking as she returned to the present moment.
"Your sister and brother have asked for coffee. Let's go," Harper replied, a warm smile gracing her features.
Rachel paused, momentarily concerned about the timing. "Your flight?" she asked, remembering that Harper had a plane to catch.
Harper's expression remained calm and reassuring. "Not for another five hours. Don't worry, we have plenty of time," she assured Rachel, gesturing for her to follow.
Jonathan felt a sense of pride as he paid for everyone's coffee, his nice gesture showing his real admiration for Harper. As they took their seats in the famous coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee engulfed them, adding to the already lively environment.
Harper flopped back in her chair, her eyes concentrated on the hot cup of Americano in front of her. She didn't simply want to appear savvy by drinking an Americano; she actually needed the caffeine to power her for the long drive ahead. Espresso, though strong, had a tendency to make her jittery, and she couldn't risk that on this particular day.
"I still have a long trip to Berlin after this," Harper explained after thanking Jonathan for the coffee.
"Berlin?" Jonathan asked, his brow furrowing in curiosity.
"Yes, I'm enrolled at Heidelberg University," Harper revealed, a hint of pride in her voice.
Sophia's tone, however, held a note of subtle condescension as she inquired, "What are you studying?"
Harper met Sophia's gaze with a playful smile. "Why, are you hoping to have me as an in-law in the future?" she teased, catching Sophia off guard.
Flustered by Harper's response, Sophia quickly backtracked. "Ah, I'm sorry; I guess I was being too nosy."
Harper waved off the apology with a wink. "Eh, no worries. Being a little nosy is good for a future lawyer, don't you think?" she said, her words causing Sophia to flutter slightly.
Sensing the growing flirting tension, Rachel interjected, "So, what did you two want to talk about? Why did you ask Harper and me to join you for coffee?"
Jonathan and Sophia exchanged a glance. "Well, we were hoping to get to know you better, Harper," Jonathan began, his voice warm and sincere. "You've clearly made a strong impression on our little sister, and we'd love to learn more about you."
Sophia nodded in agreement, her previous judgment melting away as she recognized the opportunity to bridge the gap that had grown between them. "Yes, we'd like to understand what drew you and Rachel together and how you've become such an important part of her life," she said, her tone now laced with genuine curiosity. "Well, especially about what happened in the L."An audition, since I know this girl will not tell much." Sophia pointed at Rachel, who's content with her glass of ice tea.
Harper's eyes sparkled with understanding as she considered their request. "Well, then, I suppose we have a lot of catching up to do," she said, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Where shall we start?"
Let's gooooo!!
Do you want to skip time? I don't think so, we're in it together!