- 4.
Time flew to the eve of college applications again. To avoid my vicious parents meddling with my choices,
I studied like a madwoman, chaining myself to my books for the past few years. I earned a full scholarship and early admission to the program I’d always dreamed of.
10:39 Sun, 15 Jun
<
Tiffany, of course, still flunked out and had to reapply.
And when she was a sophomore in film school, she declared she wanted plastic surgery.
That night, Mom called, telling me I needed to financially support Tiffany’s cosmetic
surgery.
I agreed on the surface, then, without hesitation, leaked Tiffany’s plastic surgery plans onto her film school’s most popular gossip page.
Tiffany had always been entitled, vicious, and a total bully since childhood. She had no real friends, only enemies.
As expected, once the news broke, the floodgates opened, and everyone started piling on, adding their own dirt.
“Even with a full makeover, she’d still be D–list at best”
“That evil girl tried to poison her roommate!”
*She hooked up with the city’s wealthiest heir in her freshman year!”
“She was secretly buying knock–offs but parading them as designer to look rich….”
An overwhelming tide of negative public opinion crashed down on Tiffany. She couldn’t take it, directly withdrawing for a year and hiding back home.
Because I’d changed Tiffany’s life trajectory this time, she stayed cooped up at home during her graduating year.
The incident from my past life, where she hooked up with a rich kid and got pregnant, never happened. I was spared the trouble of caring for her post–procedure.
Using this period of quiet at home, I studied relentlessly, securing an integrated Master’s/ Ph.D. program.
On my very first day of grad school, Mom’s call, asking me to buy Tiffany a car, came right on schedule.
<
10:39 Sun, 15 Jun
<94%I
“Oh, Audrey, you two shared a placenta…”
Just as Mom was about to launch into her usual rant about how I, the supposedly ‘strong‘ and ‘ugly‘ sister, had ‘stolen‘ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, I cut her off sharply.
“Mom, if you don’t have medical common sense, go schedule an appointment with a doctor. Tiffany and I shared a placenta, but the only impact of insufficient blood supply is fetal deformity. Tiffany’s hands and feet are all there, her organs are perfectly fine. She’s thin because she’s a picky eater!”
Mom froze on the other end of the line: “You… you ungrateful wretch! You’re her older sister! How can you treat your own sister like this?”
“Mom, I need to write my dissertation. I’m hanging up now.”
After shutting Mom down, a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me.
So this is what it feels like to be strong. It’s amazing.
I thought about my past life, where I meekly faced my parents‘ harshness and Tiffany’s
arrogance.
And now, in this life, I could handle injustice so easily. Amidst the thrill, a hint of sadness
lingered.
Six months into grad school, I started dating a classmate.
We were on the same level, had similar tastes, and shared common goals….
For the first time, I tasted love, and it was beautiful.
But I never imagined that this time, my parents would set their sights on my boyfriend.
One day, I got a call from Tiffany.
Even though we were fraternal twins, I just couldn’t stand her fake, sugary sweet voice.
“Audrey! I heard you have a boyfriend! You didn’t even tell me this amazing news!”
No need, really, I replied dryy
“Oh, but Mom and Dad love you so much! You’re the pride of our family! So, Mom, Dad, and I are planning to come visit your
“You don’t have to…*
“Great! Then we’ll be there tomorrow?”
Tiffany finished her little monologue and hung up, leaving me with a strong, ominous feeling.
