3.The tricky sister*

L

One day ago,

In a small town far from the city center, we call this small town S Village.

At the village head's house, a typical rustic-style building with wood and a large yard complete with livestock and plantation products.

It was the Darsono home, and they had two beautiful girls. The first was named Lisa Darsono, their beloved daughter.

The second girl, named Elvira, was the Darsono family's niece, entrusted to them since she was a baby.

Today.

Vira had packed her suitcase and was pulling it down the wooden stairs of the Darsono family house.

"Sista, where are you going?"

Lisa got out of the car and was surprised to see Vira pulling the suitcase down the stairs. She immediately ran toward Vira, waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"I have to go to the capital. The college entrance exams are starting soon," Vira replied.

"So, you're leaving for the capital now? With this suitcase, and dressed like that?"

Vira arched her eyebrows, pausing briefly in front of Lisa. "Yeah, what's wrong with my suitcase and my dress?"

Lisa shook her head with a confused look. "There's no problem..." she replied, scratching her head.

"Then, okay, bye..." Vira continued, moving away from the Darsono house.

Lisa tried to think hard for a moment. Wait! Wait! She wasn't done talking yet.

"Sista! My sista!!" Lisa called after Vira, trying to stop her.

Vira sighed heavily. *What now?* she thought with a lazy face.

"Wait! Just wait for a moment! I have something to give you!" Lisa said with a smile. She looked different in Vira's eyes now.

"Congratulations on getting into the capital, sis! But before you go, I have a gift for you. Here!" Lisa pulled something from her bag.

Lisa showed off the plane ticket in front of Vira's face.

Vira looked at the airplane ticket in Lisa's hand and...

Lisa picked up another one from inside her expensive, neon-colored bag she'd been showing off for the past few days.

Vira shook her head, not understanding. "What is that?" she asked, pointing at the card in Lisa's hand.

"Oh, my love, my dear, you're so innocent... How could you not know what card this is?" Lisa's shrill voice insinuated Vira's innocence.

"What card is that?" Vira asked, still looking innocent.

"This is access to a luxury hotel room in the capital! They don't use keys to access the hotel; they use cards!" Lisa explained. "Isn't that cool?"

So, what Lisa was holding was hotel room access. What did this have to do with her? Vira didn't understand.

Lisa took Vira's right hand and asked her cousin to let go of the suitcase for a moment. She held Vira's palm and placed the access card in it.

"That's a gift for your graduation!" Lisa's smile was bright.

"No way." Vira approached with a face full of disbelief. She looked at her cousin, who wore a sincere smile, and nodded slightly.

"Are you serious? You're giving this to me?" Vira asked.

"Why not? I'm proud of your success. You're my cousin. We've been together for a long time and shared happiness..." Lisa said with rolling eyes.

Vira immediately grabbed the slender girl's shoulders. She was touched; this was the first time Lisa had paid attention to her and given her a gift.

"This is real, Lisa!" Vira's eyes widened.

"Yeah, I can't prank you. Oh, there's one more!"

Vira hugged Lisa again.

"Wait! Wait… Don't hug me too tightly, you know my perfume is very expensive, my makeup means a lot. Don't let anything get ruined." Lisa said.

"Ah, excuse me, Lisa, I'm too happy!" Vira replied.

Lisa smiled briefly. "Yeah, I know!" she said with a lazy tone.

Lisa took a shopping bag from her car and handed Vira a large paper bag with a reasonably well-known clothing brand in the village.

Vira's eyes suddenly grew wider.

"What is this?" she asked, surprised, looking at Lisa with disbelief.

"A dress!" Lisa answered with a light shrug.

Yes, everyone knows it's a dress!

Vira shook her head with an incredulous look. "I mean, what's this dress for?"

"For you! C'mon, wear this dress!" Lisa insisted. "Let's go, change clothes. Your flight schedule isn't until later this afternoon," she glanced at her watch.

Lisa pushed Vira's body back up the stairs of the house.

They walked toward Vira's narrow room.

Vira, feeling very happy, obeyed Lisa's words.

She returned to her room in the corner of the house, not far from the kitchen. She had stayed with the Darsono family for a long time, occupying the servant's room.

"Geez, where do you get this inspiration from? She can be kind like this to me—thank goodness! Lisa finally recognized me as an orphan," Vira thought, feeling happy.

After a while, Vira came out wearing a gold-colored, calf-length dress.

"Woah, beautiful, beautiful!" Lisa said.

Vira nodded in agreement. "Yes, the clothes are perfect. I just want to keep them; it's too good to wear!"

"Eh, no..." Lisa shouted to stop Vira from entering the room again.

"Why?" Vira asked with sparkling eyes; she was so happy.

Lisa stopped Vira's steps and tried to convince her cousin to keep wearing the dress.

"I said no! You don't need to change again. You look great in this dress!" Lisa insisted.

"Oh well, I already called my friend. When you arrive at the airport, they'll pick you up, take you to dinner at a luxury hotel, and give you some delicious things. Why would you want to wear dirty clothes? I'll be embarrassed!"

Once again, Vira was confused and astonished.

"Your friend?" she asked.

"Ah, yeah. He's an old friend of mine from when I was little. I told him I had a sister who wanted to study in the city. Then... he offered a ticket and wants to pick you up. You'll meet him later!"

What a surprise! Vira thought for a moment, amazed by Lisa's gift this time.

"By the way, who is your friend? Why is he being so nice?"

---