Falling in bad times

The fan wheezed as it swung left and right, fighting the heat in their cramped living room. Sweat clung to Melinda’s back as she sat cross-legged on the cracked vinyl floor, her eyes glued to the silent TV. The remote in her hand was old, taped at the edges, with buttons that barely worked anymore. “Come on,” she whispered, smacking it against her thigh. Nothing. She jabbed the power button again—still nothing. Across the room, pots clattered in the kitchen. “Melinda! Dinner is ready!” her older brother Byron yelled. “Do you want me to bring it to the TV or what?!” “I’m coming!” she shouted, not moving an inch. From the other room came their mother’s familiar voice. “This girl! Always glued to that screen like it’s feeding her! Come and eat now, oh!” Melinda clenched her teeth and hit the remote one more time. Click. The TV buzzed to life. “Yes!” she gasped, just as the screen filled with flashing lights, luxury cars, and screaming reporters. Cameras swung wildly as a black SUV pulled up in front of a glass hotel in LA City. She scooted closer. A banner rolled across the bottom of the screen: “KAPLAN FAMILY RETURNS TO NA CITY AFTER 1 YEAR ABROAD.” Melinda’s heart flipped. There they were. The most talked-about family in her neighborhood. The ones everyone had spent hours researching, admiring, dreaming about. She didn’t just like the Kaplans—she loved their ability to afford all their needs. A tall figure stepped out of the SUV, triggering a wave of camera flashes. Alex Kaplan. He looked like a prince straight out of a modern fairytale—sharp jawline, perfectly styled hair, sunglasses he didn’t need, and a smirk like he knew the world was his. Melinda practically sighed out loud.Eyes glistening “He’s even finer in HD…” The cameras zoomed in, but Melinda’s eyes darted to the edges of the screen. "Where’s Hailey?"' she thought, scanning the frame. The anonymous twin sister. People online swore she existed, that she and Alex were born minutes apart—but Hailey almost never appeared in public. “I swear, if they cut away before I see her…” “Melinda!” her mother yelled again. “I'm coming!” she snapped, leaning even closer. The footage kept rolling—Alex waving to reporters, their parents following behind, security swarming. But no sign of Hailey. “Just one shot,” Melinda whispered. “Pleeeeeeeaaaase.” Heavy footsteps approached. Before she could react, her father, Mr. Dave, entered the room. He was tall, tired, and always wearing that same button-up shirt he insisted “still looked new.” Without a word, he grabbed the remote from her hand and turned off the TV. “Dad!” she gasped, spinning around. “They were just about to—” “You’ve been staring at that screen all day,” he said flatly. “Enough.” “But I need to see—” “You need to eat,” he said. “Now move.” "Imma call 911" Melinda crossed her arms and huffed like a child. “You never let me finish anything.” “Let’s not start this again,” he said, already walking back to the kitchen. “ To the Table. Now.” Muttering under her breath, Melinda dragged herself to the table, flopping into the chair like a deflated balloon. Dinner was the usual—rice, beans, and a tiny strip of meat so thin she could’ve seen through it. Mr. Dave was already sitting. Mrs. Dave, was quietly wiping her hands on her fading apron so seemingly . Byron was halfway through his food like he hadn’t eaten in a week. "uhhh. how the f**k did I find myself in this house "I groaned dejectedly ”Mind your manners" Byron buffed “So,” Mr. Dave said, peering at her. “Those scholarships result in yet?” Melinda shook her head. "Yep and I passed, I will be schooling in the prestigious Grace high by next week ” she said blushing and looking all happy Her mother clicked her tongue. “And I still don’t understand how she got shortlisted in the first place talking more of winning. You spend all your time watching those rich people instead of studying.” Melinda glared. “I studied.” Mrs. Dave raised a brow. “What exactly do you know about rich people that are going to help you pass math?” “They’re not just rich,” Melinda shot back. “They’re... inspiring.” Byron snorted into his plate. “Yeah, right. Inspiring. You mean Alex is hot for example.” “Shut up, Byron,” she snapped almost choking on her food. “You don’t even know them,” he said. “They wouldn’t even look at someone like you—” “I don’t care what you think by the way are you guys not supposed to be congratulating me for winning the scholarship?" "Huh?, Are we using the scholarship with you?" Byron said scoffing. “Enough!” Mr. Dave barked. “Both of you—eat!.” "Dad...., It's not fair " She replied almost crying "Don't worry Dad will take you for a movie tomorrow " Melinda stared at her plate, appetite gone. "Eat up girl don't mind your brother,okay ?" mum said ruffling Melinda's hair She wanted to disappear. Not from embarrassment—but from frustration. No one in this family understood her. They didn’t know what it felt like to dream about more. To want out. And to Melinda, the Kaplans represented everything she wasn’t allowed to have. Across the City… The Kaplan residence stood quietly behind tall gates and thick hedges. It didn't scream wealth but was so simple like every other person's house .No need. Its minimalist nature was in its privacy. Inside, the kitchen, a sleek and spotless room , all chrome and marble. Hailey Kaplan stood by the counter in bare feet, her long, dark hair tied in a bun. She wore soft joggers and an oversized tee, looking nothing like the tabloid fantasy people imagined. The maid entered with a slight bow. “Miss Hailey, lunch will be ready in five minutes.” Hailey turned, her voice calm. “Actually… how about I cook with you today.” The maid blinked. “You… will?” “Yeah. whatever you are making. I just feel like it.” The maid hesitated, unsure. “Of course, miss.” "And by the way, Sophie, call me Hailey" I said smiling broadly. "And you call me Sophie" maid Sophie said as she was so amused to speak. Hailey reached for a mixing bowl and wanted to add an egg directly into it "nooo no noo..... wait , you have to mix it with butter first " "Oh thanks for that" I said already opening a sachet butter "And who said Kaplan's can't cook?......" Ivy said strodding into the kitchen "Oh my God, ivy.... It's so nice to see you...... I said leaving the bowl immediately to go and hug her "oops" I said as the bowl fell and we all started laughing out loud "Well you girlies go and have fun , I've got to finish preparing lunch before your parents return" Sophie said packing the flour on the floor "Well time is running out, three hands will serve more" Ivy said glancing at her phone. I was on the sink washing my hands as I glanced up "Yep , let's help."