It'll Come Naturally

"Actually, I used to believe that I had the possibility of becoming like that. But now, there's no turning back," Jasmine said with relief. She was quite satisfied with her own personality. On the contrary, she would feel overwhelmed with pressure if she had to constantly act so primly like Joyce did. "There's no turning back for what? What were you talking about?" Leena asked as she walked towards their table. She happened to be inspecting her restaurant when she saw the three of them.

"Aunt Leena! I didn't expect to see you here!" Jasmine greeted her delightedly. She jumped up with joy when she saw Leena, and welcomed her with a warm embrace.

"Hey, Jasmine! You've grown into a young lady now, but you still lose your composure so easily like an eternal child! Do you want to break my old bones by hugging me so tightly?" Leena pretended to be angry with her overreaction, but she was gladdened with seeing the youngsters.

Jasmine pouted at being criticized. "Aunt Leena, you don't look that old at all! Will anyone in the street believe you are over 40 years old? No! They will regard you as my elder sister, instead of my aunt!" she remarked mischievously.

"Well, if only I were really that young! What an apple polisher you are! Although I know you are flattering me, I have to admit that I really enjoy it," Leena said with a smile. In fact, Leena appeared much younger than her actual age. Though well over 40, she looked to be a young lady in her 20s, thanks to her special skin-care regiment.

"Aunt Leena, don't you know how eloquent she is? Her words are able to resurrect the dead." Joyce shook her head, teasing Jasmine intentionally.

"Ha! I guess you're right. So, when did you return to S City, Joyce? Your mother and I were talking about you last week!" Leena turned her eyes to Joyce. She took Jasmine's hand and slid into the seat next to Joyce.

"Just a few days ago. I was thinking about visiting you, but my mother dragged me about window shopping in the city for two consecutive days..." Joyce shrugged with resignation. The twins both attended university in other cities, while their father was occupied with work, so she could completely understand her mother's loneliness at home.

"She must be tired of staying alone. You should treat her with consideration," Leena gave out a short sigh. She was somewhat envious of Annie, because she still had her daughter for company sometimes. As for herself, she barely saw her husband and son at home. After the young generation grew up, they all left their parents and now strove for their own respective futures. It was impossible for them to stay with their parents forever.

"I know it, Aunt Leena," Joyce said. She could sympathize with her mother's feelings. However, it was a tough task for her to hang around in the city for so long, because of her quiet personality.

"That's good," Leena replied with encouragement and then changed the topic. "Well, have you ordered yet? Let me introduce several new dishes we have here to you! Each of them is well praised by all of our regulars." She picked up the menu on the table and started to arrange their lunch.

After Leena appeared there, Justin had been typing away on his phone and pretending as if he didn't see her at all. He wouldn't have suggested having their lunch there if he had known that she would show up.

"Little Justin, are you pretending that you don't see me at all?" Leena noticed his avoidance, and she started to tease him as she usually did.

"Aunt Leena, why do you insist on calling me that? Come on, I'm already an adult now, and not a little boy anymore!" Justin replied with an angry stare. So many years had passed by, but she still liked to make fun of him.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"No, you will always be a child in my eyes, my dear!" Leena still retained her childlike innocence, and she enjoyed fooling around and annoying him.

"But I feel that's really...disgusting!" Justin almost flipped out, but restrained himself in the end. He could lose his temper with anyone else, but he dared not offend this arrogant aunt. Even now, she was still that same little princess in their parents' eyes, and that was not likely to change with time.

"Well, I like it, and it's none of your business what I choose to call you," Leena irritated him purposely. Although she was in her middle age, her mentality was youthful and given to games and pranks. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why she looked so young still? "Okay, okay, it's up to you. I won't argue with you. But could you please ask your employees to cook faster? We are starving!" Justin said agitatedly. He felt it was never possible for him to win this aunt.

"Jasmine, Joyce, do you feel hungry yet?" Leena turned to the girls, winking. She always liked to deliberately speak and act contrary to him and trip him up.

"Not at all," the two girls answered simultaneously. They felt it refreshing to see Justin being made fun of, because his businesslike composure always looked cool and calm.

Justin didn't expect that he would be so poorly supported. He stared at Jasmine and Joyce incredulously after he heard their answers. He wanted to treat them to lunch out of kindness, and he hadn't expected them to turn against him. He wondered, 'Why should they join Aunt Leena in embarrassing me?'

Leena observed his face with great interest. Barely out of his teens, he had become much more handsome. Compared to his father, he had a darker complexion which made him look healthy and masculine. He had served in the army for two years, and despite spending less time in the sun now, his skin hadn't become as white again.

"Why do you look at me in that way? What do you want with me?" Justin asked alertly. He unconsciously moved his body backwards from her, feeling threatened by her unreadable stare.

"Nothing. I was just wondering if you have a girlfriend or not," Leena said curiously. She watched his reaction with some doubt. Although there were many rumors about him, it seemed that he had never been closely associated with any particular girl.

"Why should I tell you about that, even if I have one?" Justin scoffed angrily. He had a very high standard when came to girlfriends, and he was quite confident of his self-control. No matter how beautiful a girl was, he wouldn't show any interest in her if she wasn't the type he liked.

"Well, you don't have to. I'm just curious about it. Aren't you also, girls?" Leena became even more intrigued when she saw him losing his temper. This was just what she wanted to see because she couldn't continue with her game if Justin was indifferent to her. "Yes, I want to know about that as well! Justin, who is your girlfriend? Is it that female star in the news report several days ago?" Jasmine joined Leena's inquisition, because she was also interested in her brother's love life.

"How could that be true?" Justin denied in a tired tone. Many times the media liked to fabricate facts. He had just conversed with the girl at a party for a few minutes. Now, there was a media hype starting about their alleged relationship. It was agony to be famous!!