What Could Love Be

Chapter 6: The Get-Together

Melissa opened her eyes to see her brother Victor looking down at her lovingly. She had just woken up, the light of the morning streaming through the window. He was supposed to come home yesterday, but he couldn't make it. She had been eagerly awaiting his return. Her heart fluttered when she saw him standing there, a familiar presence she had missed so much. She gave him a big hug and asked, "When did you get home?"

Victor chuckled as he cleaned up the eye boger gathered around her eyes. "I got in around 5 a.m. this morning. You were sound asleep, so I didn’t want to wake you up. I came in to check on you and thought about how beautiful my baby sister looks while sleeping. I always thought we were supposed to look ugly while we slept. How come you look so beautiful while sleeping?" he teased.

Melissa laughed and rolled her eyes. "Stop lying to me," she responded, her voice light and playful. "I was a bit disappointed you couldn't make it yesterday. I thought I’d get to see you as planned. It feels like I haven't seen you in years. The house feels a bit boring now that you no longer live here, and I have no one to tease, so I just stay holed up in my room most of the time."

Victor smiled warmly, shaking his head. "Stop exaggerating, Lisa. We saw each other less than two months ago. Mom told me you always hang out with Lydia. How’s Lydia doing? It’s been a while since I last saw her. I’m sure she’s a big girl now."

Melissa smiled softly at the mention of Lydia. "Lydia is fine. Of course, she’s a big girl! Have you forgotten? Lydia and I are the same age. She’s 21 now, not that 8-year-old with a runny nose that you used to know. She even has a boyfriend now."

Victor raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? She has a boyfriend? What about you? Do you have a boyfriend too?" He asked curiously, leaning against the door frame.

Melissa shrugged, a small blush creeping up her cheeks. "Not yet, but hopefully I’ll get one soon." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, lest I forget, how’s your girlfriend, the one you showed me a picture of last time?"

Victor sighed, his smile softening. "She’s fine, but she’s not currently in town. She got a scholarship to Harvard University for her Master’s as an exchange student. She’s in Cambridge, USA."

Melissa’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Wow, you and your first girlfriend are in a long-distance relationship! I honestly don’t think I’d be able to cope with that."

Victor leaned back, looking thoughtful. "That had always been her dream, and since the opportunity came, who am I to stop her?"

Melissa raised an eyebrow. "Do you miss her?" she asked gently.

"Sure, I do, but there’s nothing I can do," Victor replied with a sigh. "We make it work."

Melissa nodded. "How long does the program take?" she asked.

Victor thought for a moment. "It depends, but she won’t be back for about 3 to 4 years from what I know. We do FaceTime regularly, though, so it feels like she’s still here. I just can’t touch her," he said, laughing softly at the end.

Melissa reached over and patted her brother on the back in an attempt to comfort him. They both shared a knowing look and then laughed together.

"You won’t believe it," Melissa said suddenly, her voice becoming animated. "Dad had his first girlfriend at 17!"

Victor raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I thought Mom was his first and last girlfriend."

Melissa shook her head. "You should have seen the jealousy on Mom’s face when Dad talked about it."

Victor snickered. "I can imagine her expression."

Melissa lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Mom even said she wasn’t jealous because she also had a boyfriend before she met Dad. But I know that’s a lie because she told me a while back that Dad was her first love. She probably said that so she wouldn’t feel left out."

Both of them burst out laughing at the thought of their mother’s reaction.

"Melissa, Victor, come downstairs!" their mother’s voice called from the bottom of the stairs. "Victor, you just got home, and you and your sister have started gossiping in the room again, right?"

Melissa raised an eyebrow and whispered, "Do you think she heard us talking about her?"

Victor smiled and shook his head. "She definitely didn’t. She just wants us all to bond together in the living room."

"Let’s go downstairs," he added.

"I’ll come down in a minute," Melissa replied, her voice suddenly a little softer. "Let me brush my teeth and take a bath."

Victor teasingly grinned. "So, you haven’t brushed your teeth yet? I could smell something funny while we talked. So it was your mouth that smelled!"

Melissa picked up a book from her bedside table and threw it at him as he ran out of her room, laughing.

Downstairs, their parents were already seated at the dining table, laughing and talking. Their dad looked up as Victor and Melissa came down the stairs, and with a knowing smile, he said, "They’ve started again."

Their dad glanced at Victor and added with a mock sigh, "It feels like home now."

The Wrights sat down at the dining table to enjoy a warm, cosy, homemade breakfast. Everyone was present for breakfast for the first time in months. The atmosphere was light, and there was a palpable sense of warmth and happiness in the house.

"Mom, why is Victor's chicken bigger than mine?" Melissa asked playfully, eyeing the piece of chicken on her brother’s plate.

Their mom smiled as she looked at them both. "He hasn’t been home in a while, so let him eat well. Can’t you see how skinny he looks?"

Victor laughed, a bit embarrassed by the attention but enjoying the playful banter. He grabbed the piece of chicken from his plate and placed it on Melissa's, taking hers in return.

Their mom immediately looked at them both with a raised eyebrow. "Why did you do that, Victor? Melissa, you see that you complain too much. You couldn’t even let your brother enjoy his food when you know you can always take an extra piece if you want more."

Victor smirked, looking at Melissa with a grin. "Mom, it’s fine; I wanted her to have it. I’ll take an extra piece if I want more."

Their father leaned back in his chair and sighed dramatically. "This is how the two women in this house always bicker with each other. And I’m the only man in the house! They eventually use me to settle their fights. Why don’t you move back in, son, so the equation can be balanced: two men and two women?"

Victor looked up from his plate, suddenly thoughtful. "That reminds me, I might be moving back in."

His excited mom turned to him, eyes wide. "Really?" Mrs Wright asked her son.

Victor shrugged with a small smile. "I’m not sure yet." He paused before adding, "But it seems like the company wants to transfer me to the branch in this area. Nothing has been confirmed yet," he said.

Melissa’s eyes brightened. "I do pray it works out," she said with genuine hope, and their parents responded with an emphatic "Amen."

Victor chuckled. "It seems you guys really missed me. Melissa, do you remember when you used to tell me to move out quickly so you could turn my room into your playroom? I granted you that wish, and now you want me back."

Melissa grinned, embarrassed. "I was only nine then! I didn’t know how empty the house would feel without you. Now that I’m older, I understand much better."

Victor teased her. "Beg me if you want me to move back in."

Melissa rolled her eyes dramatically but said with mock seriousness, "Please!"

Victor laughed and responded, "I’ll think about it. I didn’t say yes, though." Melissa's expression changed, as she said, "Don’t you dare move back in." Victor looked at her face and saw her playfully frown. And smiled under his breath.

Their parents couldn’t help but laugh. "Yes, yes! It’s great to hear the sound of constant live arguments in this house again," their father said.

Just then, the conversation shifted as their mother grew more serious. "Did you hear the news?" she asked. "It’s all so tragic these days."

The police had discovered the body of a young woman who had multiple stab wounds in her abdomen. The perpetrator had yet to be caught, as there were no fingerprints found on the body.

"Where is the world going?" Victor said, shaking his head. "Every time you turn on the news, it’s always bad news."

Melissa’s mom sighed, looking at both her children. "Please be careful when you go out; it’s a scary world out there. I always keep you both in my prayers. The Lord will continue to protect you."

Melissa then told her brother about the murder she had witnessed outside Lydia’s house and how the culprit turned out to be Mr Mark, the man who ran the local café where they used to hang out after school.

Victor asked, "Is he the same Mr. Mark who runs the café?"

Melissa nodded gravely. "Yes, I heard he’s still refusing to admit to his crimes."

Their dad interjected, his voice was stern yet concerned, "That’s enough, please. I don’t want our minds to be polluted by such news. Let’s all continue to think positively at all times."

With that, the family fell silent for a moment, reflecting on the chaos in the world outside. After a few moments of quiet, they all retired to bed, the weight of the world’s troubles forgotten for the moment as they clung to the comfort of family.