The New me

There was a time before when I felt envious of my classmate. She goes to school in a car every day and often gives out her old things. I felt so jealous that I acted spoiled. I wanted to have that life. To experience such life.

Mother reprimanded me saying, "Why do you envy? Everyone has their own circumstance. You live your own. They are living theirs."

I was young by then so it did not get into me. Instead of stopping, I acted more rotten. It concluded badly. I've put those memories at the back of my head.

As an adult. I understand what my mother meant.

Now that I'm living two lives, I'm seeing both worlds. The old me lived a hard life of physical struggles. The new me lives wealthy by monetary values but lacking other things.

Both lives struggling with different issues.

Reading up to here, my heart hurts. I wanted to console the Iris who wrote these. I can sense her emotions that time. She was only eleven when it happened, barely on her teens. She gets bullied because of her hearing then with her vision declining, it added a certain weight to her sufferings. She was in a vulnerable state when her parents opened up the topic of adoption.

Of course, she'll think negatively. To a child who thinks her parents don't want her, it's heartbreaking.

So after that, her parents never again mentioned anything about it. It says in her diary that Ginger was not successfully adopted by her parents nor any other family.

One question though, Does she hates 'me'?

She was already a teenage girl when it happened. I'm sure she got an idea of the overall situation. If she had stayed in here for a week then the parents were having her get herself familiar with her soon to be family.

This got me thinking about what was my impression of her the moment I saw her. I felt unsettled. She came here with the friendly expression but it did not reach me. The more she got intimate with this body's mother, the more perturbed I get.

Is it only a misinterpretation?

But if she is, then she's a real ginger. She'll be adding a spice to this already complicated life story.

I prayed then went to bed. I felt like I'll be needing a lot of it from now on.

I woke up late the next day. Usually, I'll wake up with an alarm or with the maids knocking on my door. Today was different. When I went down the dining area, Mother and Ginger had begun eating. They were chatting happily that they did not see me arrive.

When they finally felt my presence, I was sitting down the opposite side.

"Good morning, darling." acknowledged by mother.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?" voiced by Ginger.

"Morning mom, Ginger. Yes, I slept well." I said in reply. "How come you guys did not ask for me? I'm sulking." my lower lip protrudes in a sulky pout.

"We did, darling." as she said that she cast a questionable glance on our maids.

"We did, madam. After knocking three times, however, the young lady did not open her door. I assumed she's still resting because of the party tonight so I left." One maid steps out to clarify things.

"I did saw her knocking on Iris' door, Aunt." Ginger stated, supporting the maids' story.

Odd. I'd definitely wake up if that's true. What's more, they have to know that hearing aids aren't worn during sleep like contact lenses. No matter how she'd knock, this body won't hear it. Mother should have noticed. It seemed that suspicions were diluted after Ginger's statement.

"Well, here you are now." mother smiled then changed the topic"Tell me what you want and I'll get the kitchen prepare it for you."

"That's right, this mini-orange maple french toast they baked tastes good." Ginger seconded.

"It's okay mom. I've long told them what I want." As I was speaking, a maid came to serve my food.

I've got the kitchen prepare me an avocado green salad sandwich with toasted muesli and yogurt sundae.

I rested for an hour after finishing breakfast. Afterward, I did a full body stretch then carried on to do a quick workout.

The routine was 20 jumping jacks, 5 pushups, 15 squats, 20 crunches, 5 pushups then a 30 seconds plank.

I did it not just because of weight loss but for fitness. In my original body, I've gotten sick that the doctor advised me for an exercise after discharge.

Slowly, a group of people entered the estate. They are the workers called in to decorate the whole mansion.

Lunchtime, additional people turned up. They delivered the dresses and accessories we'll wear for tonight.

In the afternoon, father came home. I was told to prepare early so I did. I put on a mint green silk mousseline gown with a gliding train, the bust area had wide straps in a halter-neck style. They've given me silver-colored high heels to pair with it.

The stylist and makeup artist were then invited to complete my look.

Guests started to show up by the time I went out. Father and mother introduced me to some of them.

Father wore a beige linen suit with white colored polo undershirt that fits perfectly in his body.

Mother matched his with a peach-colored A-line floor-length long gown.

As Ginger is by my mother's side, her presence was made known.

She donned a purple colored one-shoulder silk gown. I guess mother arranged it for her. I saw it together with my dress when it was handed over.

I was speaking with one of the guests when Lily He came over. She's with her parents and they naturally came to chat with us.

"Happy Birthday~," She said kissing my cheeks.

"Thank you. You look good." I complimented her after the kiss.

"This is actually from xx brand for their latest collection. I just got it this morning." she held me close and continued " I'm surprised Ginger's here. She did not come for the last two years."

Is that so? care to elaborate why? I was curious.

"They'll be having a meeting the day after tomorrow for all hotel branches. Mother asked her to stay here for the time being." I informed her.

"Hmn, By the way, Why don't I see brother Luke?" Ms. He asked as she looked around.

That's what you wanted to ask since the beginning, am I right?

"They haven't arrived. He said that they'll perhaps come a bit later." I told her.

She stopped walking right after. "Oh, is that so." Her face revealed an unhappy look then was replaced with an expressionless look after. It lasted a few seconds. You may not catch the changes unless you were paying interest since the beginning.