The gift

It was evening, and the sitting room was bathed in a soft, golden light. The recessed lighting gently illuminated the space, highlighting the sleek, modern lines of the furniture and the clean, uncluttered surfaces.

In one corner, a comfortable sofa beckoned, its cushions was plumping and inviting in view. A bookshelf lined the wall, the shelves where filled with a variety of books.

The two sisters were seated in the sitting room and their hands were clasped in their laps.

A discussion clinched between them and Jerry, they were actually discussing the trip to Jonas's house which happens to be long and frustrating due to traffic and other obstacles, according to them.

Mike and Serinal at the other hand listened behind like ghost in shadows, after all, their discussion was base on family thing.

While they were still speaking, Jonas entered into the sitting room, his eyes revealing curiosity as he glance at them, initially, he didn't expect the visit so he was quite curious. He was actually holding two tea cups, that he had made for his unexpected guests.

"Alright, this is for you, and this for you, I hope this will do some justice to the cold around." He said as he handover the tea cups to both of them, smiling at them.

although, it was clear that, his smiling was off, he was probably just wearing that smiling face to lighten up the mood, because the uncle Jonas they know, would never smile, while serving you tea, not at all.

He's that one guy, that like to be so serious with everything, seeing him smiling like this was really like fantasy to them.

"Alright girls," he said, taking his own sit, still giving that wry smile.

"you have no idea how glad I am to see you but I can't help but ask, what brings you here? I mean, I really didn't expect this visit, such a surprised" he chuckled, trying to sound optimum.

Lily and Zilia looked at each other, their eye's lurking together as if they where having eyes conversation or something, then turned back to Jonas who was now gazing at them expecting them to answer his question.

"Well, we have a gift for you," she said, holding out the rectangular box, pargage that was designed with some rosy ties. "From our mother."

"Your mom?" he asked, his face turning surprised. As he immediately recall that his sister had promised to sent him his birthday gift.

He had actually celebrated his birthday a week ago, and unfortunately, his sister couldn't meet to date, or to be precisely, she forgot the date, due to her busy schedule.

However, she kept insisting on phone calls with Jonas that, she would bring her lovely brother a his birthday gift, even though it had passed.

'I guess she kept her words this time' Jonas pounder as he collected the gift from her still smiling, but this time around, his smile looks real and normal.

After some few seconds, zilia started explaining something about the gift and the excuses her mom gave; her mom had given her instructions and told her somethings to tell Jonas; it was of course family stuff.

So she kept rapping the word's, as she summarize all the details that her mom told her, it was as if she was a typewriter or something. She just kept rapping, not even taking time in analysing anything.

Serinal, and Mike were just watching her, their expressions where clearly revealing a mix of curiosity and concern in the matter, but still, it was none of their business; since it was family thing.

Jerry sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed as he listens to their conversation. Serinal shifted in her seat, her eyes never leaving Zilia as she kept rapping her words.

She was actually getting uncomfortable with their presence; they where about to tackle on serious matter before this girl's arrived, now, they've interrupted the meeting.

'i just hope they live soon, I'm running late, I have to be at home by 7pm,' serinal thought as she checked her watch, it was already 5:58pm she has an hour and two minutes left.

Mike's mouth hung slightly open, as he tried to pay attention to what zilia was saying, but of course, it was pointless, he wasn't even getting what zilia was saying not to talk of relating to the subject. The atmosphere in the room was quite tense.

"Thank you so much," Jonas said, taking the gift from Zilia hands, smiling wiredly, clearly tired of the songs that zilia was rapping, in the name of giving information.

He obviously didn't seems interested anyway, though he tried to make his expressions look like he was paying attention, but it wasn't working.

"That's really kind of you both. I appreciate it." He smiled, his expression looking genuine now.

Zilia returned the smile, but it was clear that something was still weighing on her mind.

Jerry and Serinal both seemed to sense this as well, their eyes where never leaving zilia–who now was smiling wiredly like jonas. Although, only Mike was oblivious, still staring at the gift beside Jonas, with wide eyes, as if it was brought for him.

The two of them sat there, smiling but not saying a word. There was something about the way they were smiling that made it really clear that they were hiding something. The silence stretched on, becoming more and more uncomfortable.

Finally, Jonas sensing this as well, broke the silence, his voice was light and casual.

"Why does it feel like something is wrong? Is there anything you want to tell us?" He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on each of them in turn.

They sat there, whispering to each other, it was as if they where debating something.

"You should tell him," Zilia said, her voice barely audible.

"No, this wasn't the plan, you should tell him," Lilly hissed back.

"Common, Lil, I did the first talking, you should do the other" zilia retorted.

"Nahhh!" Lily exclaimed silently, "that wasn't how we planned it"

"Alright, if you're not telling then let it be, I'm not either." Zilia looked at her sister, a determined expression on her face.

"But….but.. we have to right," lily insisted, whispering. "He deserves to know right? Is not like we have any other options"

"What are you two whispering about?" Jonas asked, as he leaned forward, a puzzled expression on his face.

They immediately froze, as If the question that Jonas asked, stroke a code in their head's, their eyes went wide.

"Nothing," they said in unison, their voices where shaking slightly but kept whispering to each other.

While they whispered back and forth, Serinal, Mike, and Jerry watched them, as their expressions where ranging from confusion to suspicion, it was very clear that, they had another mission in mind coming here, perhaps the real mission for coming.

"What are those two up to?" Serinal muttered to Mike, who simply shrugged as he stared at them.

"I have no idea," he replied.

Jerry sat there, a frown on his face, clearly sensing that something was off; like really off.

The air was tense, and it seemed like something was about to happen. The room went silent as Jonas use his index finger to signal for them to stop whispering.

"Alright, I'm going to ask a again, what are you two talking about?" he asked staring at them.