Silent Treatment

They say a week flies by when you're doing something you enjoy. But for me, it felt like it passed at the speed of light as I dreaded my reunion with my parents.

At the same time, it dragged on forever, dealing with two bickering children who couldn't agree on anything. At least they grudgingly acknowledged each other's talents. That's something, I guess.

I finally created an official website with some help from the internet, of course. It was surprisingly easy, though it took time to make it look authentic. I'm kind of surprised I had any talent with computers, to begin with.

With the website ready and using Sarah as the brand, emphasizing the clothes made by Heather, we actually sold out. How about that?

We even have a couple of pre-orders to fill soon. With the money we made, we bought more materials and hired a few of Heather's designer friends. By tomorrow, we expect to be shipping the orders.

I have to admit, Heather's dream might come true, thanks to her talent, Sarah's fame, and Sarah's girlfriend, Sheila, who really pulled through with her expert use of the camera.

She even managed to make me look glamorous, and I'm hated by cameras, always have been. It took a lot of effort to not look like a lost donkey every time I took a picture or a selfie.

Anyway, what I've built is far from satisfactory. First, I need to build an online presence with Heather as the figurehead. I need to come up with a unique logo, one that resonates with eco-conscious consumers.

It'll lead to collaborations with influencers and content marketing aimed at Heather's target audience. Those people matter more than Sarah's followers, they actually care about what Heather's trying to do.

After that, we'll most likely move to an official launch, maybe even an event? Anyway, a small gathering that encourages feedback and builds a community around her brand.

There's more to do, of course. I'm building an empire, not some small shop that doesn't matter. I'll change how the world perceives eco-friendly ideas. For me, that's the first step toward something huge.

"Why do you keep grinning like a creep?" Sarah asked from the passenger seat.

Yep, just as you'd imagine, I'm driving Sarah's car, heading home for the dreaded family reunion. They live outside the city, a two-hour drive.

But with the anxiety building up, it feels more like thirty minutes away. I was dreading seeing my father's face, he's perfected the look of disappointment over the years.

"I'm grinning like a creep because I'm imagining all sorts of ways to murder you."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"You know how I get when I drive. It's why, even though I have a license, I told my parents never to buy me a car. I hate it."

"Oh yeah, I remember. But I don't care." This sly bitch never lets anything go, does she?

"Anyway, how well do you think my parents will take everything up till now?"

I gave Sarah a sideways glance, still keeping my eyes on the road. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"They won't try to kill you, if that's what you want to know."

"I'm not asking that. Do you think there's a chance I'll get disowned?"

Sarah suppressed a chuckle, turning to look out the window.

"Why are you laughing? I'm serious. Do you think I'll be disowned?"

She shook her head slowly, a grin still plastered on her face. "Eva, what kind of stupid question is that? Don't you know your parents by now?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, feeling defensive.

"Remember that summer we pranked old Miss Jenkins? And how the prank went too far, almost killing her?"

"Yes, but what does that horrible day have to do with you acting like an insensitive jackass?"

"We got in trouble, and your mother, who never gets mad, slapped you for the first time. Then…"

"Oh…"

"Yeah, she slapped you, like any parent would after we almost sent an innocent old woman to the hospital. But then she spent the whole month growling and asking for apologies. Your parents aren't going to disown you, Eva. They're elephant parents."

I sighed, remembering. Elephant parents, focusing on my emotions over academic success. No matter how much I mess up, they've always believed I'd make the right decisions eventually.

Now, I need to woman up, face them, and tell them everything. After that, it's up to them.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the nerves fade. I relaxed a little more, smiled, and gave Sarah an appreciative wink. She really is the best friend anyone could have.

"Tell me, Eva, what's your plan? Why are you helping your cunt of a friend start a business?"

"She's not a cunt, and I thought you'd finally muted your foul mouth. Guess I was asking too much."

"Whatever, but seriously, what's your deal with this Heather person?"

"At least you said her name." I let out a tired breath. "We kind of slept together."

I didn't have the guts to look at Sarah, so I focused on the road, stifling under the growing silence in the car.

I glanced at her. She was staring at me like I was an idiot or something. Not the reaction I was expecting.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just wondering how stupid you think I am."

"Come on, what's this about?"

"I already know you slept with her. It was kind of obvious by how smug she was every time we fought over you."

"You fought over me? I'm touched," I joked, trying to ease the tension.

Sarah rolled her eyes and lowered the car window. She rested her head on her arm, the wind making her look ethereal.

"The silent treatment. Great…"