Chapter 2: Sister

Days passed and Chelsea had been trying to reach for her. She was generous and usually hang around with her. She finds her fun to be with and she thinks she was a cool stepmom to get along with. She always smiles a lot and she was so sweet to her father. Chelsea brings too much happiness to her Dad and she was well aware of that. She has never seen her father treat her Mom endearingly and the way he looked at her, his face lightened up in merriment which she has never seen him look that way to her Mom. Sometimes she wanted to ask her father if he ever did love her mother but she has no guts to do that, of course.

As days go by she was starting to like and get used to Chelsea's presence and intervention in the house. She usually helps her do her hair and chooses the right dress and shoes to wear. She teaches her a lot of things like how a girl should properly act and speak and how to treat others with finesse and class. They also shop together in the mall and go to a salon and spa. Chelsea is kind and sweet to her but she finds her strict sometimes. She knew it is bad to compare the woman to her Mom but they have a big difference. Chelsea is very fashionable and classy when it scones to lifestyle. She loves expensive things like jewelry and well-known branded bags unlike her Mom, although she was chic too, she doesn't like spending too much on expensive kinds of stuff. She finds Chelsea is a bit arrogant and hostile to the servants, unlike her Mom who treated the servants with generosity the reason why she was loved by them. Yes, Chelsea was sweet and kind but only to her and her Dad. She couldn't help to think sometimes if the treatment she was showing her was true or just pretensions.

"Gav, sweetheart. I want you to meet Leanna. She will be going to be your sister from now on!"

It was one afternoon when her Dad and Chelsea came home together with a girl taller and somewhat a couple of years older than her. The moment she heard her father say those words, her eyes automatically flew to the girl and examined her features. She didn't even notice a sudden gasp came out of her mouth out of astonishment.

What! I have a new sister. That's awesome!!!

They arrived bringing a lot of shopping bags that is being carried by their maids. It must have been her stepsister's stuff because she saw the maids bring it upstairs towards the location of her room and where the guest rooms are also located. The girl has round blue eyes, curly blonde hair like Goldie Lock's, skinny, and having a fair complexion that matches her height. She looks like her mom Chelsea but her hair is curly and Chelsea's hair is straight. Or maybe Chelsea was naturally curly too but preferred her hair straight as a style. The girl was now staring at her giving her a wide smile plastered on her naturally pink lips.

"She was 2 years older than you and you can treat her as your big sister, right Leanna?" Her Dad stated.

"Yes, Daddy!" The girl cheerfully answered her father.

"She was Chelsea's daughter and she will now live with us. She will going to occupy the room next to yours from now on." Her father was giving her a worried look. He might be thinking she wouldn't like her or she will be against of it but she gave her father an understanding sweet smile as an assurance.

"Don't worry Gav, you will always gonna be our baby so don't you ever think that we will love you less, now that Leanna was here okay?" Chelsea emotionally stated then came near to her and gently caressed her hair. She couldn't understand but Chelsea's reaction seemed.... unreal.

She knew it was wrong but she got secretly irritated for what Chelsea stated. Did she think of her that way? A selfish girl who wanted all the attention? That she wouldn't understand the situation and get upset because she doesn't like to have a stepsister? Well then Chelsea must have thought the worst of her, she couldn't help to think. She managed to be silent than put her thoughts into words that might upset Chelsea. The woman was a bit emotional and exaggerated sometimes, she started to notice.

"Leanna will treat me like her own Dad and you will treat Chelsea like your Mom. From now on we will become a real family, understand girls?" Her Daddy happily stated.

"Yes, Daddy!" The girl Leanna happily stated.

Seeing the girl who seemed excited about meeting her, somehow excites her to get along with her. She couldn't find a word to say, all she knew us she was happy at the moment. Being an only child is so lonely. There was a time she wishes she have siblings. A little sibling to be exact, but having a big sister was not bad anyway. She will gladly accept Leanna as her sister.

"Hi! I'm Leanna. You must be Gavriella." The girl turned to her and come near her.

"Oh my! You look so pretty. I'll be your big sis from now on. Would that be okay?" Leanna stated so sweetly that warmed her heart. 

She has a wide smile and she looks beautiful. Now she has someone to get along with that will be her best friend. Different scenarios and activities played in her mind that she was so excited to do and share with her new sister after meeting her.

"Nice to meet you, Leanna!" She happily replied. She came closer to the girl and gently hugged her as a welcome.

"I'm glad you were happy sweetheart. Thank you..." Her father heartily stated.

After that introduction, Leanna and she got along with each other. The will of wanting to know her and the gladness of having a new sister thrilled her. Since it was school's vacation they will surely have fun in the coming days.

As days go by, they get along with each other. They used to bathe in the tub and swim in the pool together. Leanna was chic and very conscious of herself just like Chelsea while she likes sports like playing badminton and volleyball. She loves watching sports channels while Leanna preferred to watch dramatic movies and fantasy series. Leanna loves make-up and fixing her hair and she helps her do her hair. Although it seems like they were different poles, they manage to still to get along with each other despite that differences. Well, that's what she thought on her part. There are times when she wanted to do something and Leanna was not interested, she notices she gratify her will just to make her happy. She was nice and she was glad for having a stepsister like her. She just hoped she never change in the future.

*  *  *

It was a weekend when the family decided to go camping and she was so excited because he promised her it was a fun activity. The driver and two servants came along with them to help in carrying their things. They went camping on a mountain in the province closer to the Capital and it was a fun activity because they hiked the mountain and decided to build their tents on the steep but safe part of the mountain where they could see a good view. It's fun skipping stones with Leanna while they cross the creek. They even ride a canoe to get to the other side of the mountain which according to her father was a captivating view. She finds it fun since her Dad spends time to be with her together with their new family members. She never remembered they did camping as a family when her Mom was alive. Her Dad was busy working that time and they don't usually go out and have a vacation when she was a whole lot younger. She remembered once they went to a beach resort for a week but that was a part of her Dad's work so it was her and her Mom enjoyed staying at the resort while he dealt with his business colleagues. Camping for the first time was fun, she never thought that she will really enjoy it.

After building their tent, her Dad started a water balloon fight then Chelsea and Leanna together with the two servants started to join too. They end up bathing at the lake and then playing volleyball in the water until noontime. At night they had some barbeque and s'mores for dinner. It was a fun experience and she realized her Dad might be right. Having Chelsea and Leanna in their family will somehow help her to come up in sadness for missing her Mom.

"This is fun right girls?" Her Dad asked her and Leanna while they were grilling their s'mores.

"It is, Dad! Are we going to come back here next time?" She excitedly asked her father.

"Yeah, sure baby." Her father answered.

"Umm honey? Why don't we try on beach resorts next weekend instead?" Chelsea suggested.

"I know you love the beach that's why I'm thinking of buying the vacation house of a dear friend near a beach." Her Dad eyes suddenly looked endearing when he turned to Chelsea. She had never seen her father look so endearingly to her Mom that way. He must really love Chelsea, she realized.

"Really! Oh honey I love you so much!" Chelsea exclaimed in gladness then give her Dad a quick kiss on the lips.

Sometimes, it irritates her their public display of affection. Her father never treated her Mom that sweet in her front. She even wonders if he ever did because there have been times she hear her Mom crying in the room and notice her being hurt every time her Dad shows her coldness. She even came to a point that her Mom is the only one loving her father while her Dad never does the same. Seeing her Stepmom and her Dad acting so in love in front of her makes her feel bitter and sad for her Mom.

"So we're going there next weekend?" Leanna asked.

"Not yet. Your Mom and I will check the place first but we're surely going on a beach resort next weekend."

"That sounds fun right Gav?" Leanna then excitedly turned to her.

"Yeah..." She replied then forced herself to smile. She wanted to initiate to go camping again next weekend but it will going to be selfish of her if she was the only one who wants it so she just remains silent.

When night came, she requested to share the tent with Leanna, and her Dad immediately obliged as if he was happy they are getting along with each other. She wanted to sleep with her big sister and love to have some chit chats with her until they sleep.

"It's fun camping right?" she asked Leanna when they were preparing their cot to sleep.

"No, sorry. I hate camping, Gav. Even at school's camping, I tend not to enjoy this activity." Leanna answered.

"It's my first time camping and I like it." She replied.

"What do you mean the first time? Don't tell me you didn't experience going in camping in school's activity?" She was not sure but it seems like she felt a tinge of sarcasm in Leanna's voice that she immediately took for granted.

"I didn't have a chance to join. I mean, my Mom needed me that time and I would rather stay with her than enjoy knowing my mother is sick. With her condition that time, I can't afford to leave her." She explained. Leanna turned silent and she just stared at her with no emotion. 

"What are you thinking?" She bothers to ask her.

"Nothing." She replied then shrugged her shoulders.

"Can I ask why do you hate camping? I mean this is fun for me?" She managed to change the topic then.

"I don't really like sleeping in a cot. Who knows some insects will bite us here? Most of all, I hate the idea of sleeping in grassland or soil area." Leanna stated full of irritation on her face.

She was not sure if she was mad or that was just typical of her. There are a lot of times Leanna gratifies her will and always favored her in so many ways. She usually doesn't say no to her to please her and she was aware of that.  It's sometimes hard to see if she likes something or not. She wanted them to be comfortable with each other and she will not hold a grudge if she will disappoint or unintentionally hurt her feelings by her choice of words. There are times that she wanted to tell her that it's okay to go against her will. It won't disappoint her and she will try to understand if she disagrees. They need to be true to each other to build trust and great a good foundation of relationships as siblings.

"So you don't enjoy hiking or camping?" She asked.

"It's tiring hiking on a mountain. I don't like walking on muddy ground and getting my feet dirty. I'm sorry but I don't enjoy such activity." Leanna answered.

"It's okay." She assured her.

"I hope I didn't disappoint you for not liking what you like," Leanna said with an obviously worried look on her face.

"That's fine. You prefer for a beach vacation on the weekend right?"

"Yeah, I like sunbathing, wearing a bikini instead of this camping attire. I would love to a more convenient, classy, and comfy resort than bring a heavy backpack, walk on steep ground, and camp in a steep mountain."

"I love the beach too." She then added to please her. Of course who doesn't love the beach? She loves snorkeling, to try to ride a jet ski, build sandcastles, and even try surfing and scuba diving too.

"See what I mean?" Leanna stated.

"The view of sunset on the beach is what I love but the view of a sunrise in a mountain was amazing too." She added.

Leanna wince as if she wasn't interested in what she was saying. What she was trying to let her know is she was up to the beautiful view not about the comfort and luxury that the place will give her. That she was up with the fun activities not to enjoy the luxury amenities of a resort for whims and caprices. Of course, she would not dare tell Leanna that. It will disappoint her for sure so she managed to be silent. She just then close her eyes when Leanna decided to sleep and not continue the conversation with her.