When Love Blooms Finally

Unwelcome.

This all too familiar feeling is creeping up on Diana once again, as she looks at Chantal's birthday invitation. Her sister will be turning 22 this year, and once again, will host a grand celebration as if every birthday is her debut. Weird enough, this should have also been her birthday celebration, and yet again, her name is absent in the invitation.

Chantal has always been the one who loves to throw parties, she's always been the one to show off their wealth. And Diana is quite the opposite. She is more practical, but a little rebellious. She does love to dress up just like any girl, but she prefers functionality more than fashion. Whereas, Chantal is just one Fashion diva, which is why their family supported her career as a Fashion Designer. For Diana, it's enough that she gets a College Degree, that way it won't be as embarrassing when introducing her to the public. With how different the two women are raised in the Winchester Family, nobody would assume that they were twins.

Winchester Family is a wealthy family in the country, Great Blackhampton. Vergil Winchester is the Patriarch and Regina Quentin-Winchester is the Matriarch of the family. They only have two offspring, their son, Osmond, who married Vanessa Carlton--also from a rich family who owns businesses in the entertainment industry. And Osmond's sister, Cassandra Winchester-Barnes, who married Winston Barnes, an owner of a famous restaurant overseas. Cassandra is a chef in Winston's restaurant, which is how they met. They live overseas with their son Harlan who is 20 years old and is studying Culinary.

Diana is the eldest daughter of Osmond and her sister Chantal is only younger by 15 seconds. But growing up, Chantal is the favored child in the family. Whatever Chantal does is right. Whatever Diana does is disappointing. Perhaps, in the beginning, Diana tried hard to be favored just like her younger sister. She tried to act cute and even would cry so the adults will pacify her the way they do with Chantal, but when it comes to her, they scold her for being an attention-seeker. As she grew older, she developed immunity against their criticisms.

She feels closer to Cassandra and her family at Maconia more than her grandparents, parents and sibling.

There were times when she doubted whether she was adopted instead. But that was impossible, since she was Chantal’s twin. They may not look identical but they were born on the same day and from the same mother.

Now as she stares at the paper with Chantal's name, she knows what to expect. She is expected to attend and appear joyful on her sister's occasion. Presenting a unified Winchester family in front of strangers.

And like a psychic, she guessed that her phone would ring.

Vanessa is calling Diana which the latter picked up on the second ring. She decided not to let it ring for too long. She didn't want to suffer an hour of a rant from her today.

"Yes, mom," Diana answered.

"Hmph!" Vanessa sounded annoyed. "Where are you now?"

"I'm in my apartment." She responded briefly.

"Have you received the invitation?" Vanessa asked coolly.

"Yes. I have it here."