Call (s)

--- " I miss you mon amour."

---- "Tu me manques aussi mon bien-aimé."

(I also missed you my beloved.)

--- " Wish you were here with me right now , love. Just me and you. And the moon."

---- " I'm always with you. You know that right? Just focus on your performance for tomorrow. "

--- "I know love. I'm trying to keep nerves. Just few days more. I'll be right back. Wait for me ok ?"

" Yeah. I'm counting. Seven days more. " A younger version of Lina giggled over the phone.

The person on the other side of the phone laughed out loud " I'm so excited you know babe. I Can't wait anymore."

Lina blushed at his words " Me too."

" You'll not reject me right? You'll not run away from me right ? " there was sudden melancholy in his voice.

"Why would I ? " Lina was surprised.

" Nothing. You will know once we meet. "

"I'll not run away unless you turned out to be some old geezer. " Lina laughed.

" I can assure you that I'm not some old pervert, ma princesse." he chuckled.

"You better not be. Otherwise you know right...?" She threatened over the phone.

"I know princess. You know everything. The things I told you are true. It's just my name and You Know that..." The melancholic voice told.

"So what.. I also didn't reveal my identity. We made ourselves clear right? Even before everything happened." Lina made her point.

" I Know love. Fair and square you see. We were just crazy you know. we are still stuck to that dumb bet we made that year." The person in the phone began laughing.

Lina smiled at his voice "Whatever l'amour.!!"

"It's late already. Bye babe. Tomorrow your test is gonna start. Go to sleep. Good night. Sleep well. All the best for exams."

" Good night amour. I'll call you once the exams are over."

"Bye sweetie. Do well."

" You too . Bye."

Lina stared at the phone for few minutes more with fading blush on her cheeks. Her face was glowing with happiness. She started studying before dozing off in the table later.

Lina was smiling in her sleep reminiscing the past while her sister's call woke her up.

"Good morning sunshine. Rise and shine" Rini's giggles were heard once the phone was received.

"Good morning sweetheart. " Lina's hoarse voice was heard from the screen.

"Jie jie turn up the phone to your face. I'm facetiming you."

"Yes sister! My meimei. My little Nini." Lina smiled seeing her sister after a long time.

"I miss you.l jiejie. How are you?" A red hair girl appeared on the screen.

"I'm fine. Just woke up. How are you? " Lina sat up on the bed.

" Yeah sleepy head. I can see that you are sleeping well." Rini giggled " Jie! Wait! What's that? Are those sleeping pills?? Are you taking these again???" Rini suddenly panicked seeing the sleeping pills lying over the bed.

" Something happened. Just took it yesterday. Please don't tell mom or dad. It's a crucial time for dad. I don't wanna worry them now for me. " Lina apologetically looked at her.

" But jie, what happened now? You told me you got healed right? Then why again? " Rini looked worried.

" Just yesterday. I'll not take them anymore. Promise." Lina made a promise to her sister and to herself too.

"Promise me another thing jie. You'll visit uncle xie soon. Promise me jie." Rini demanded her promise to visit the psychiatrist she had been visiting for years.

"Okay okay. I promise. No need to panick okay? Now tell me how are you Nini? I miss you sister."

"Fine as usual. I miss you so much jie. When are you coming back? It's been long. Mom and dad are missing us too." Rini became emotional.

"I'll go once the semester is done. How are your classes going on there? "

" Same. Boring. I wish I was there with you in your college... we could have lots of fun together...."

" Yours is better than mine. You are damn lucky. Don't miss the opportunity of studying in such prestigious institution."

" Ha ha. Who left the spot for me Jiejie? Who left with mom and dad jiejie? And who didn't respond to Harvard? Hmm..? And you are also studying at the best college in the country. " Rini complained over the call.

"You know exactly why I left Nini." Lina tried to avoid the topic. " Anyway. When are you coming back ? "

"I guess next month. It's July already. Summer vacation will start then."

"Yahhh... My exams will be over then. come back soon. I miss you Nini. I'm craving for your handmade pasta. " Lina made her smile.

"We're gonna have lots of fun this time Jiejie. And after 6 months my course will be completed. I'm gonna be fully back at home by that time ." Rini rejoiced.

" Nini, have you decided over to come back here? Are you sure about it?" Lina was concerned for her sister.

"Yeah Jiejie. Mom and dad need us. Our little bundle of joy needs us to be there. I can live here without any worries because I know you are there. You'll look after every little things. And I basically spent my whole life in the states. Now it's time to explore dad's place." Rini joyous voice was heard.

" Yeah baby Nini. You decided well. Just complete your studies and come back. I can't wait anymore.Dad is doing well here too. By next month, he'll make everything right. Don't worry. Just study well. Okay baby?" Lina comforted her by talking about her parents and stuffs.

" Jiejie how is our brother-in-law doing?" Rini suddenly asked.

" Who are you talking about? I don't have any boyfriend you know right?" Lina cluelessly looked at her.

" That 'Yang-shama' from your class. Jie he is too handsome. When are you gonna talk to your crush?" She sounded enthusiastic.

"He is not my crush Nini. I just admire him for his skills. Why are telling this now sister?"

"Yeah Yeah. You just admire him. That's why you can't stop blushing whenever I take his name. Look at your own face. You are red. And till now you have not talked to him! Three years jie! It has been three years." Rini began to poke her.

" I talked okay?"

" You ? You talked to him? You? And I have to believe that?" Rini was not gonna believe her sister's lies. She knew her Jiejie very well. She was the most shy person around. She even felt awkward around the neighbours back at home.

" Yeah not me. It just happened." Lina replied shyly.

" Really jie? Wow. Tell me more. How ? When?" Rini exclaimed in joy.

Lina began to tell her the whole encounter and then she told her about spending the day with the Shin family.

Rini was excited hearing all these. She felt happy that her sister was going out again and meeting people. But she somehow felt suspicious about their sudden aprroach.

" Jie, Don't you think they suddenly approached you? Be safe on guard around them."

" Yeah Nini. I thought so too. I think I know why they approached me." Lina told in a non-coherent voice.

" Is it for that time? " Rini asked worriedly.

" Don't worry Nini. I'll take care of it. And if fail you'll be there for me right? Cleaning the mess I created. " Lina assured her that she will take care of it. And she had her sister's back. She knew her Nini would leave no stone unturned to protect her. Just like she would do the same.

"I'll call you later then. Call me Gotta be ready for classes."

" Bye jiejie ( 姐姐 = older sister)"

"Take care love. "

Lina made a heart sign and smiled looking at her departing face. The home screen showed the family picture of them five making her heart warmer.

It was always refreshing talking to her sister.

Rini was merely six months younger than Lina. Just like her she was also a medical student .

The bond between the two of them was unbreakable. She was the best sister one could ever get.

To Lina, Rini was more than just a sister and a true best friend.

Her little Nini was the epitome of happiness for Lina.