C1 Her arrival!

*******

“Hello everyone, I'm home!” Lillian hollered happily, and her parents came clambering down the staircase instantly.

“And my darling daughter is here.” Mrs. Helen said in a broad smile as she immediately welcomed her daughter in a tight hug.

“I missed you so much, mom.” Lillian let out, taking up the hug tighter than before.

“Don't I also deserve a hug?” Mr. Jeffrey, who was standing behind them, raised a question, making Lillian and her mother chuckle.

She left her mom and engulfed her dad in a tight hug.

“I missed you, my old man.” She said in a wide smile and he laughed.

“So, she still remembers that name.” He thought inwardly in a smile.

Don't be confused, Lillian and her dad had this beautiful father and daughter relationship and 'my old man' was the nickname she gave him when she was still staying with them.

Mr. Jeffrey didn't actually expect her to still call him that after so many years.

“And I missed you better, my little diva.” He answered, and she set free herself from the hug with a pout.

“I'm no longer little, I'm now a big lady.” She told and twirled round, making her parents chuckle.

“Nevertheless, you're still my little princess.” Her dad repeated, making Lillian grimace a little.

“I no longer want that name, I need a new one.” She said with another cute pout.

“Alright, I'll give you another one. Happy now?” Her dad asked and she grinned.

“It's enough now. Sweetheart, come on, let me show you to your room, so you'd freshen up and come downstairs, I already prepared your favorite.” Her mom spoke out in a smile, breaking in the father and daughter's moment, then mounted the stairs.

“Okay mom.” Lillian responded and ensued behind.

The maids who were standing there all these while watching their little drama held up the luggage and also followed, departing Mr. Jeffrey who went to sit on the couch.

MINUTES LATER*

ON THE DINING TABLE*

“So, how was Spain?” Mrs. Helen inquired about breaking the silence.

“De eso estuvo bien.” Lillian replied in Spanish, making her parents laugh.

“And what does that mean?” Her mom said in between laughter.

“It means it was fine.” Lillian answered with a smile.

“I'm glad it was.” Her dad said in a chuckle.

“But it was boring.” Lillian said and rolled her eyes.

“Why was it boring? Didn't you make any friends there?” Her dad questioned with a puzzled look.

“I did, but like they say, no place like home.” She responded with a shrug.

“What?” She asked in a cute smile after seeing the looks on her parents' face.

“We're just amazed that you missed us this much.” Her mom voiced out.

“Yeah.” She said quietly.

“But not to worry, now that I'm back, I'm going to make up for all the boring moments and you both would help me achieve that.” She said again and her parents chuckled.

“Anything for a princess.” Her mother said and she gave a lip tight smile.

“Do you need more food? You know, after your long flight.” Her dad said as he took a sip of his juice.

“No. I would rather not get fat.” She disagreed with a small nod.

“Why?” Her dad said in a questioning look.

“It will make me look ugly, and I don't want that.” She replied and he chuckled lightly.

“You sure cherish your beauty so much.” Her dad mumbled audibly as he shook his head.

“Of course I do. I'd want to remain beautiful every day and every time just like mom.” Lillian stated as she dropped her cutlery and touched her face, making Mrs. Helen smile.

“But being fat doesn't make one ugly.” Her mom tried to justify.

“To me, it does, and I don't ever wish to be.” Lillian said, stressing on her last statement.

Mrs. Helen smiled and shook her head.

“Where is Fred, by the way? I didn't see him since I arrived, or has he decided to play some dirty games on me?” Lillian said again and gulped down some quantity of water.

“Dirty games?” Her mom asked in a chuckle.

“Yeah, who knows if he hasn't quit those things.” Lillian confirmed as she rolled her eyes and her parents burst into laughter. She lifted her juice and took a sip.

“Actually, he went to take care of some things in the company. He would be back soon.” Her mother replied when the laughter died down.

“Oh! I thought otherwise.” Lillian muttered.

***********

“Gosh, I'm so stressed out.” Lillian said as she fell on her queen-sized bed.

“Can't believe I'm finally back to my family and hometown.” She muttered to herself and sighed. The door opened, and her mother came in. Lillian sat up, and her mother went to sit beside her.

“Do you like the room? Or should I change it?” Mrs. Helen asked.

“Of course I do, it looks beautiful.” Lillian complimented as she stared round the room.

“Glad you love it, I was scared you wouldn't, considering how long we've been apart.” Her mother heaved a sigh of relief as her expression changed.

Lillian could detect the sadness in her mother's tone, and she took her hands into hers.

“Mom, you shouldn't feel bad. I already told you that I love it, and that should be enough reason for you to be happy.” Lillian said, and her mom sighed again.

“Now put that that lovely smile on.” Lillian said again, but her mom still held a sad look.

“Smile for your lovely daughter, please?” Lillian pleaded in a pout that made Mrs. Helen burst into laughter.

“Now that's what I'm talking about.” Lillian smiled in fulfillment of making her mom laugh.

“We didn't have enough time to talk more on your journey, but knowing you must be tired now, I would leave it for tomorrow.” Her mother suggested.

“You guessed right, mom. I just feel like laying down now and going to sleep immediately.” Lillian said, demonstrating with her hands.

“That's alright. You should get some sleep now. You had a long day.” Mrs. Helen said and made her lie on the bed. She placed her head properly on the pillow and tucked her well in the blanket.

“Sleep tight.” She kissed her on the forehead.

“I will.” Lillian replied with a smile and Mrs. Helen left the room. She was about turning off the nightstand when the door opened again, revealing her brother, Fred.

She immediately got out of the bed and jumped on him. He twirled her around until they both got dizzy and fell on the bed with laughter on their lips. Fred finally sat up and Lillian did the same.

“How was your flight?” Fred asked after the laughter died down.

“It was spectacular, especially when I knew I was finally coming back home after a long time.” Lillian replied with a smile.

“Wow, I must confess you've grown giant and.......beautiful too.” Fred said in smile as he stared at Lillian. He still couldn't believe this was the same Lillian he knew years back. What was he even expecting?

“You can say that again and you don't look bad yourself. I wouldn't have recognized you if I hadn't seen your picture before I came back.” Lillian giggled and hit him lightly on the head.

“And you haven't changed that habit of yours.” Fred replied with a grin.

“What habit are you referring to?” Lillian asked with a lopsided smile.

“The habit of hitting my head, even though I'm older than you.” Fred replied.

“Well, maybe because I'm sure you can't do anything to me.” Lillian mocked jokingly.

“Really? Then I'd show you that I can do something.” Fred replied, pouncing lightly on her. He pinned her to the bed and started tickling her.

“I can do something.” Fred said again as he continued tickling Lillian, who was laughing really hard.

“Please stop,,,, stop.” Lillian managed to say as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Stop it, Fred, I promise not to do it again.” She pleaded again, and this time Fred left her. She hurriedly stood up from the bed, breathing heavily like she ran a marathon race.

“You son of the devil, you almost killed me.” Lillian said after she finished catching her breath and he hummed.

“You know what? Get out of my room. I'm tired, and I want to have my beauty sleep.” She said and glared at him.

“Alright then.” Fred said, standing up.

“Goodnight.” He said again and blew her a kiss, then left the room.

Lillian sat back on her bed with a great thud. She laid properly on her bed and went into her fairy tale world.

AT 3:00am

Lillian got out of her bed and walked out of her room. She suddenly felt thirsty and needed to quench it. She yawned as she walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen.

Furthermore, she opened the fridge and took a bottle of water and a glass cup. Not only that, but she poured water into the glass cup and drank it.

When she was done, she kept them back and left the kitchen. She climbed the stairs, going back to her room but stopped when she heard voices in her parents' room.

Likewise, she decided to move further but stopped abruptly when she heard,

“She would have to get married to him.”

Huh??? Who were they talking about?