01. The Engagement Party!

 The Engagement Party!

>>>ERIC<<<

I sat up on my bed, yawning lazily and rubbing the sleep off my eyes as Erica jumped happily on my body. Her hands brushed against my legs to hold my hands and her eyes glistened in excitement.

What was the fuss all about in this early morning hour? It was barely 1am and she was busily jumping on my body.

“Guess what?” She asked but I was still struggling to organise my disorganised thoughts into one piece.

“Don’t worry, I will tell you anyway.” She stopped and relaxed before opening her mouth to speak. “Rein will be coming over to the house today.” She said.

Who is Rein again?

Oh!

Rein is her boss and boyfriend. Rein Jackson the CEO of VORTEX, the company his great grandpa had created, passing it to his sons and now Rein is in charge of it. I’ve never seen him but ever since Erica started working in that company, she had been seeing him almost all the time to the point that he had to ask her out.

Erica came home that day, flying to me first to tell me about it. Although I didn’t like the idea that he would ask a 20 year old to be his girlfriend when he is 24, it didn’t sit well with me. But it’s been 2 years and I can’t be any less happier for my twin. I mean that is why we were born, so we could be each other’s best friends. Having each other’s back whenever needed and supporting each other’s ideas.

“Hey!” Erica shook me vigorously and I looked at her with a smile.

“I know that smile. You weren’t listening to me, were you?” she asked and I simply nodded.

She huffed and climbed down my bed to hers. “Rein will be visiting today.” I heard that.

“And I think he wants to propose.” I turned sharply to her and she just nodded. Proposal?

“Didn't he ask you out already?” I asked and she sighed.

“Not ask me out as boyfriend and girlfriend. He might want to propose. I mean come to think if it, he and I have been dating for like two years and although it is not up to the 4, 5, 10 years that people date but I think it’s more than enough time for us. We’ve known each other better and I think we are ready to get married.” She smiled and fell on the bed.

“Ah!” Erica can be such a dreamer. Well I just hope he comes and proposes to her so he can take her away from this house.

“Eric! What if he comes to propose? Do you think I am ready to get married?” She was now lying on her bed, with her head tilted to the ceiling. I looked at her and lay back on my own bed, facing the ceiling just as she did.

Is she ready?

“But of course you are. You handled a whole multi billion dollar company on your own for 2 years and handled your relationship for another 2 years alongside work. Do you think that a person that can do that won’t be able to handle a family. Sister, you are very much ready for marriage. So if he pops the damn question, don’t say yes, just ask him when.” I told her and she looked at me in a smile. That’s what I want to see on her face every time I look at her.

She might be my twin, but she assumed the role of a big sister and a mother to me. Our mom died when we were just 9. I was a cry baby and it grew worst after her dead. The information about her demise didn’t sit well with me as it did with Erica who handled the pain maturely. While I cried and cried, she stood strong for the both of us, taking care of me like an elder sister would.

For three years, Erica was my back bone until my father’s sister came to take care of us, till date. Dad's sister is married now and she just visits us regularly but she also took care of us a great deal. However, if Erica didn’t raise me up for the three years before she came, I probably wouldn’t have become the man I am now.

Sometimes, I just don’t want her to get married at all. I want her to stay with me forever. I always wanted to be her saviour, her protector but not the other way round. She was mine in these aspects. Even as we grew bigger, I joined bad friends just to be strong but it seems Erica didn’t need my help, she took me away from their crew instead.

“Will you miss me when I get married?” Erica suddenly popped the question. Was she thinking about the very thing I was thinking? We’ve been together a whole while and she will be getting married.

“What do you think? Of course I will. You know, I just don’t want you to get married and leave me. It’s either I follow you or you remain her with me forever. I love you Erica.” I turned to look at her and she was now sleeping peacefully.

“Good night slash morning, Erica.” I turned round and covered my head with my blanket, quickly going to dreamland.

    /***\

I was woken by a pair of hands shaking me vigorously that it got me upset. When I opened my eyes, I saw aunt Seville and Erica, standing in front of my bed and laughing very hard. When did this woman come here?

The next thing I felt was someone bouncing on me that I had to push off the person. It was Aunt Seville's child, Barry. Barry is 4 years old, apparently, he was conceived when aunt hadn’t gotten married yet. He can be troublesome, energetic, annoying, sweet at the same time. He had this special 9th sense of disturbing me whenever he came near me.

“Aunt Seville!” i groaned and they just kept laughing. “i thought I begged you not to bring Barry anywhere close to me.” I cried as the child was now on my neck while the two ladies just laughed at me.

“Get down now, Eric. Rein and his family will be here any time soon.” Erica said and I hissed. Did she just say Rein and his family were going to come here? Were they throwing a party?

“Are you throwing a party?” I asked and she shook her head in disapproval.

“Actually, it is just as I told you. Rein is coming to propose to me. Can you imagine it? I will soon be a married woman, Eric.” I just nodded and got down the bed, carefully placing Barry on the ground.

Maybe I might just be alone once she is gone.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Evening came quickly and I just finished setting the table we borrowed for today’s event. Maybe or maybe not, that man wants to propose in front of his family and mine.

The gate made noise and I saw father coming inside.

Before I could, Erica had already run to his arms. It’s 6 months now and he hasn’t been at home. My father is a soldier and he is mostly out for missions, making him not to stay at home frequently with us. This time around, he went for around 6 months but we kept receiving mails from him.

“Rica, did you grow taller in the last 6 months?” he asked her, patting her head and comparing her height to his. He turned to look at me and smiled.

“Ah my boy is growing up into a man.” He said and outstretched his arms and I ran to him.

“Uncle Sam, welcome back home.” Aunt Seville greeted bowing down lightly. “Our guests will soon be arriving.” She added and dad nodded, dragging us in..

Before we could set foot inside, we saw lights outside and Erica's eyes glittered. “They are here.” She told us and rushed out of the house.

Father and aunt Seville followed suite while I stayed back indoors and looked through the window.

The first person that walked in the gate was a quite tall man. Ok... I know this might sound crazy but... I think I just got a crush on someone.