Sister Begs to Swap Lives for My Man

My sister was a swan, and I was the ugly duckling.

My parents were always comparing us. Look at your sister, and then look at you.

Even the boy next door, who I'd grown up with, used to say, Gennifer's like a princess, and you're like the servant who takes care of her.

I didn't like it, so I asked him why.

He sniffled and said, "Because you look... messy."

Until the day I went to that party.

My parents dragged my sister over to the hosts, trying their best to sell her, praising her to the skies.

I shrank into a corner, staring at the imported cookies on the table, my mouth watering.

But the hosts' young son didn't even glance at my sister.

He walked straight through the crowd and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Mine,"

He said.

Gennifer had a face that could launch a thousand ships.

Almond eyes, high cheekbones, skin as white as fresh cream. Her eyelashes were long and fluttered like delicate fans.

Whenever we went out, strangers would stop my mom and ask, "This child is so pretty, is she a model?"

My mom would smile modestly, "Oh, no, she just takes after her father."

If I happened to chime in with a, "Mom?"

The strangers would jump, then look down at my freckled face, which was usually smeared with chocolate. "Oh, is this also your daughter?"

My mom's smile would falter, "Yes."

"The younger one."

The strangers would chuckle, "Looks like the older one stole all the nutrients in the womb!"

My mom would laugh along, "That's right, the older one is a go-getter."

I took that whole thing about Gennifer stealing my nutrients in the womb to heart.

For a long time, I saw her as my nemesis.

Well, not that long. Maybe a couple of months.

My main tactic was stealing her snacks.

Like those bright red strawberries, those shiny cherries, and that stinky-but-delicious durian.

My mom would always wash them, slice them, and serve them to Gennifer. A huge plate, arranged all fancy.

I'd only get the scraps.

When I finished my portion and was still hungry, I'd sneakily grab some from Gennifer's plate.

You can't go to the well too often without getting wet.

I got caught in the act after a few times.

Gennifer started crying, all teary-eyed and pathetic. "She's stealing my food."

She even looked good when she cried, like a porcelain doll shedding pearl tears.

I stuck my neck out and yelled, "It's her fault for stealing my nutrients in the womb!"

Gennifer sobbed and retorted, "I didn't!"

I started throwing a fit, "You did, you did!"

My face contorted, and my eyes crossed.

Compared to Gennifer's perfect tears, I looked like something from a horror movie.

Like a wicked witch tormenting a damsel in distress.

My mom snapped, grabbed a clothes hanger, and started swatting my butt. "I'll teach you to lie!"

"You're not pretty, but you're nasty on the inside, too!"

I jumped around trying to avoid my mom's attacks, pleading, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't hit me!"

My mom put her hands on her hips, pointed at my nose, and yelled, "Your sister doesn't owe you anything!"

"If I ever see you taking her things again, I'll break your legs!"

Gennifer didn't steal my nutrients.

So why did she look like an angel and I looked...well, me?

I couldn't figure it out.

Why were my parents so biased?

I couldn't figure that out either.

So I asked someone else.

I sat with Fred Davies on a bench in the park, each of us holding half a popsicle.

"Do you have a brother?" I asked Fred.

He sucked on his popsicle, making a slurping sound. "Yeah, why?"

"Does your mom treat your brother better?"

"Better? What do you mean?" He looked over at me.

I thought for a moment, then gestured wildly, "Like...she only gives your brother the good snacks, only sends your brother to tutoring..."

He frowned for a long time, then shook his head, "Nah, not really."

"But isn't not going to tutoring a good thing?"

We looked at each other, like we'd found a kindred spirit.

"Totally."

My mom had signed Gennifer up for all kinds of classes: piano, dance, etiquette, you name it.

Every time she went out, Gennifer had to wear a tight dress and get all dolled up, like a mannequin.

Her schedule was packed solid.

I was different.

I was a free range kid.

While Gennifer was in a studio trying to stretch, I was in the sandbox making mud pies.

Tutoring sounded awful.

Thinking about it that way, Gennifer was kind of pathetic.

My jealousy vanished.

Fred asked, "Do you have a sister?"

"Yep," I said.

He just said "Oh," and didn't ask anything else.

The only sound was us slurping our popsicles.

I'd regained my strange sense of inner peace.

I stopped causing trouble at home, and even started looking at Gennifer with a bit of sympathy.

I was still doing my own thing, and I had my friends.

One day, I was having too much fun and lost track of time.

By the time I noticed, the sun had already set, and the park lights were dim.

One by one, my friends were picked up by their parents.

Some parents were angry, some were worried, some yelled, some spoke softly.

But they were all taken home.

Even Fred was dragged away by his older brother, who looked just like him, only better-looking.

Before he left, Fred turned around and yelled, "Go home, Sunny!"

The busy playground instantly emptied, becoming eerily quiet.

I realized I was the only one left.

It was so quiet.

I looked up at my building.

It was tall, and the lights in the living room were on, a warm yellow.

Why weren't my parents looking for me?

I kicked a small pebble at my feet.

If Gennifer was out this late...

Whatever, there was no point in thinking about it.

My mom was like her personal bodyguard, always by her side, shuttling her between classes.

It was only a short walk home.

But I didn't know who I was mad at, so I didn't move.

I squatted down and started drawing in the sandbox.

I drew cats, castles, princesses, bows...

I filled the entire sandbox.

People came home from work, one after another.

Still, no one came to look for me.

The park became emptier, and my stomach started growling.

The wind blew, and the leaves rustled.

It sounded like ghosts were running through the woods.

A chill ran down my spine, and my hair stood on end.

I was too scared to look back, so I took off running.

I burst into the lobby, jumped into the elevator, and pounded on the door.

I felt like a million ghosts were chasing me.

Three...two...

I was about to be captured...

I was about to cry.

The door opened.

...

White light streamed from the doorway, and the ghosts vanished.

I was saved.

My mom opened the door, glanced at me, and frowned. "Where've you been running around? You're so late."

"Dinner's in the oven. Get it yourself."

I was still relieved, smiling foolishly. "Thanks, Mom."

I quickly took off my shoes and went to get some food.

Gennifer was sitting on the couch watching cartoons.

I finished my dinner in a few bites and sat down next to her.

It was Detective Conan.

The wealthy old man's ruby was missing, and there were four suspects.

When one of the guys came on screen, I pointed at the TV and yelled, "It's him! He looks like a bad guy!"

Gennifer rolled her eyes and ignored me.

I got excited. "Wanna bet? If I win, you have to give me half your allowance."

She didn't say anything, pretending to be all cool.

I stared at her with wide eyes.

She got annoyed and clicked her tongue. "What's your reasoning?"

I said, "You can tell by looking at him! He has a bad face!"

"Oh," Gennifer said casually, "He kind of looks like you."

I got angry and was about to hit her.

My mom's voice boomed, "Gennifer, it's time to practice your piano!"

Gennifer's face immediately fell, and she got up reluctantly.

I was happy and stuck my tongue out at her.

I went back to watching TV.

My mom yelled again, "Sunny, turn off the TV! Your sister's practicing piano, don't bother her!"

I said "Okay," turned off the sound, and kept watching the show silently.

That stupid TV station.

It always cut off at the crucial moment.

Who was the killer?

I had to wait another week.

I was very bitter.

So bitter that Fred noticed.

We were each on a swing, rocking back and forth.

He asked, "What's wrong with you?"

I complained about the TV station.

After hearing the story, Fred slapped his thigh. "I think it's the guy with the rat face, too!"

We looked at each other and high-fived. "Great minds think alike!"

"Hey, did your mom yell at you last time you came home late?"

"Nope," I said.

He was envious. "Your mom's so cool. She doesn't care about you."

I didn't say anything, but something felt wrong.

As we were talking, Gennifer came back from her lesson.

She was wearing a pink dress and a shiny headband.

My mom was holding her hand and walking towards us.

I yelled, "Mom! Gennifer!"

My mom waved her hand and yelled, "Don't play too late."

Gennifer glanced back, then walked away with my mom.

I turned around and saw Fred's popsicle on the ground, covered in sand.

"What's wrong?"

Fred stared at Gennifer, his mouth wide open and his eyes bulging.

"That's your sister?"

I said, "Yep."

He looked at the direction Gennifer disappeared, then at me, then back at her.

"You were adopted, weren't you?"

I freaked out. "You were adopted! Your whole family was adopted!"

Fred was still muttering, "Your sister's like a princess."

I also thought Gennifer was like a princess.

But I didn't want to hear him say it.

When he saw I wasn't listening, he leaned in. "You two don't look like sisters at all."

"Then what do we look like?"

He thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Like a princess and her servant."

Some friend!

I got so angry that I pushed him hard.

He wasn't expecting it and fell into the sandbox, getting sand all over himself. "Hey! Why'd you hit me for telling the truth!"

"Jerk!"

I stormed off, crying. "We're over! Don't talk to me again!"

I was so angry.

When I got home, I tore up all the superhero cards that Fred had given me.

Fred was such an idiot.

Even if his brother was a hundred times better-looking, I never said it to his face!

There were pieces of paper everywhere.

My mom saw it and exploded. "Sunny! What are you doing now!"

"Making a mess! Can't you keep things clean?"

I picked up the pieces while arguing, "Gennifer spilled soup last time, but you didn't yell at her!"

"She didn't mean to!"

"I didn't mean to, either!"

I got emotional and burst into tears.

"Does that mean that I'm doing it on purpose?"

My mom put her hands on her hips and glared at me. "You're talking back now? Why can't you be more like your sister? She's so much better behaved!"

"What are you crying for? Don't be so embarrassing!"

I yelled back, "That's because you never yell at her!"

My mom laughed angrily. "So it's our fault?"

She made a move to grab the clothes hanger.

I got scared and ran back to my room, locking the door.

She didn't chase me.

After a while, I heard the door close.

My mom had taken Gennifer out again.

I pulled out the small mirror that I hid under my pillow.

I bitterly thought that everyone loved Gennifer.

Was it just because she was pretty?

I wasn't that ugly.

The mirror reflected a face covered in tears and snot.

It was dirty, like a bitter melon.

I scared myself and quickly turned the mirror over.

When I thought about Gennifer crying, it was beautiful, like an angel crying pearls.

People are so different.

I felt a little resentful.

Why did my mom make Gennifer so pretty and then just throw me together?

I felt like the world was out to get me.

My parents were biased.

Even my friends betrayed me and couldn't take their eyes off Gennifer.

I decided I would be a cold-blooded killer.

They would all regret it!

The next day at school.

Fred said hi to me.

I pretended not to see him and walked right past him.

Fred insisted on getting in my way, waving his hand in front of my face. "Are you blind?"

I said coldly, "Please stay away from me. We're over."

He smirked. "Are you really mad?"

"It was my fault. Don't be angry."

As he said that, he took out a bottle of milk from his bag and gave it to me.

There was writing all over it, I couldn't read it.

"Here, my aunt bought this. It's imported milk, really expensive."

I was a little tempted.

At home, all the good food was for Gennifer.

I was about to reach out and take it.

Then he pulled out a pink bottle with big strawberries on it. "This one's for your sister."

My hand recoiled like I'd been shocked.

Fred didn't realize what he'd done. "This strawberry one is sweet, girls love it. Your sister will definitely like it."

I didn't say anything.

I sped up, went around him, and walked away without looking back.

Fred yelled, "Hey! Sunny!"

"Why are you running, Sunny?"