บท 18: Family

Mia finished the observation early and then went back to her home.

Cheng and Liana were at school. She changed her clothes and freshen up. Then she went to the kitchen and began to prepare lunch. In the meanwhile, Grandma Wen came.

"Mia dear, you came back early", the old woman said.

Mia smiled, "It's just that I had no work to do. Starting from tomorrow I will be going to school."

Grandma Wen went to the refrigerator and put the vegetables in there that she had brought.

"That's great but sometimes I think that you don't need to study. You are already an intelligent person even more intelligent than your teachers", she told her.

Mia took the vegetables and began to cut them, "Grandma, I want to do everything like normal people. Even if I am intelligent but still there are some things that I need to learn. I don't want others to regard me as someone different from them. I want to be like others. I want to experience what others my age do."

"You are right that you should also experience life like others. After all, you also have that right. But in only sixteen years of life, you had gone through so many things that a person would go through all his life. You became a ruler, a ruler who brought peace, a guardian of your siblings and turned small cooperation into a worldwide known cooperation while others your age know nothing but enjoying their carefree life. My dear, you are really special", Grandma Wen said with tears in her eyes.

Mia cleaned her hands and grabbed her shoulders, "Grandma, please don't be like that, or I will feel sad."

Mia hugged her.

After preparing lunch Mia went to her room. There was a knock on the door. When Mia opened the door, Grandpa Wen was standing there.

"Mia someone from the Yang family wants to meet you", He said.

"Who?", she asked.

"I think it's Madam Yang. Should we let her in", he replied.

Mia nodded. She went downstairs. The twins ran to her.

Mia hugged them, "My dears are back. You both go and freshen up. I have some guests to meet."

"Ok sister. But you should hurry. We want to have lunch with you", Cheng said.

Mia rubbed their heads, "Alright. You both then go to the kitchen and ask Grandma Wen to give you the juices I prepared for you guys."

They both were excited and nodded.

Mia entered the guestroom. Madam Yang got up from her seat, "Greetings Your Highness."

Mia nodded.

They both sat down.

"Madam Yang, kindly don't call me by those titles when we are not on the island. Just call me as you used to because I don't want my identity to get exposed", Mia told her.

Madam Yang smiled, "My apologies, President Chi. I am here to invite you to the birthday banquet of my son, Hai Yang. Many people from other corporations will also come. It will be a great honor for our Yang family if you come."

She puts an invitation card on the table. Mia picks up the card and begins to read it.

"I just want to let go of my past grudges against you. Let the past stay in the past. Because of our grudges, you never attended the parties of our family. I hope this time you will attend. After all, you and Hai are classmates", she said with a smile on her face.

Grandma Wen came and brought tea. She poured the tea for both of them and went away.

Mia looked at Ju Yang, "If you say so then I will let go of the grudges but to be true I never had a grudge against you. It was you who would be always angry at my sight and that's the reason I never attended your family events because I had no intention of seeing someone irritated due to my presence. Since Hai is my classmate and my best friend, Lin's brother then I will attend the event."

Ju Yang drank the tea silently, "I think you are right President Chi. It was always I that misunderstood you. Thank you for being generous and for accepting the invitation. Now I shall be going."

They both stood up. Mia went with her to see her off. After she went away Mia went to the kitchen. After placing the dishes on the table Mia sat down. She looked around, Grandma where are Grandpa and Uncle? The dishes will get cold. You also come."

Grandma Wen smiled, "Mia dear, we all are servants. We have no right to sit at the same table as our master's."

In the meanwhile, Liana and Cheng came along with Grandpa Wen and Mr. Tao.

Both of the twins sat down.

Mia stared at them, "How many times should I tell you guys that you all are my family? Grandma Wen, please stop calling yourselves my servants. Just see how empty the dining table feels to me when my whole family is not sitting with me. I had only a few chances to sit like this with my family."

Mr. Tao spoke, "Lady but it is not proper for us to sit like this with you."

Mia sighed, "Come on Uncle Tao. In that case, it is my order that all of you should sit down and fill these empty seats. And start eating with us."

They looked at each other. Then they sat down. The twins and Mia were looking at them.

"If you all don't like these tell me I will cook something else. Come on, you all are our elders so, first, you all should start eating", Mia told them. At last, they began to eat. Mia and the twins also happily began to eat.

"Sister, these are delicious", Cheng said.

Liana nodded, "Sister you are the best cook ever. Please, teach me your cooking secrets."

Mia smiled, "Alright, I will teach you. Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle are you all comfortable with the food?"

They all nodded.

"Indeed you are a great cook", Uncle Tao told.

Mia smiled happily, "That's great then."

At four thirty Lin came to Mia's house. Mia was playing cricket in the garden with the twins.