The Unexpected Gift      

"It's all right, Xin. I want her to have these. Consider them tokens of our sisterly bond."

Xiaxia beamed. "See?" 

Xin's sharp glare silence her up.

"It's fine, Xin," Seraphina approached him, her touch gentle as she lightly tapped his shoulder, her smile warm and reassuring. "Consider it my gift to her."

"That's right, my birthday is coming up!" Xiaxia chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her wide grin infectious.

"It's still two months away," Xin deadpanned, trying to bring a dose of reality to the conversation.

Xiaxia shrugged nonchalantly. "Who's counting?" 

With that, she swiftly gathered the bags and dashed off to her room, her voice fading as she called back, "Big sister Seraphina already gave them to me! It would be disrespectful to her if we returned her goodwill!"

The door slammed shut, leaving an echoing silence in its wake. 

Xin made a move as if to follow Xiaxia, but Seraphina gently held him back.