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Tabitha wasn’t looking forward to meeting Ava again. She had suceeded in avoiding her for the past year. As she had the year before. Except for this [[unavoidable day|Prelude]].
It won’t be just Ava, she told herself, the rest of the family would be there too—it was just Ma, Pa, and Trish. Besides, she couldn’t not be there for [[chu yi|Noticed]], her parents wouldn’t allow it.Trish had noticed, of course. But she didn’t understand. Who wouldn’t love her Ava? Let alone her [[aunt|Aunt]]?You ask about Ava everytime we meet, she would say.
I don’t get why you won't just [[talk|Talk]] to her.Why won't you be her [[aunt|Ocus]], she would ask.Tabitha knew her sister would not understand. After all, she was the one that had gotten Ava her [[Ocus|Past]].Every kid had one. They came in <<cyclinglink "yellow" "lime" "pink" "blue">>. They used it for school, for play. It even had some sort of smart filter.
When you get your first kid, you’ll know why you need it, Trish had said.
But Tabitha never understood the [[appeal|Reunion]].Tabitha went over in the afternoon. It’s a joyous day, she told herself. She [[swore|Home]] silently when she saw Ava’s pink rubber sandals.Trish was sitting with Ma and Pa. Pa looked older, his head was all silver now. Ma was telling Trish about how one of her mahjong kakis’ son was going to China for university and how she should send Ava to China to study there too.
Where’s Ava?
She’s over at the [[balcony|Balcony]], Trish said.
Then to Ava, she yelled, Ava! Remember to wish auntie!Tabitha walked towards the balcony. She saw Ava sitting in Pa’s rocking chair. She saw that Ava was in a beautiful red qipao. She also saw the pastel pink Ocus covering half of Ava’s [[face|Face]].Ava heard her and pressed a button on the left side of her Ocus. That meant that she could see, Tabitha had learnt.
Hello auntie! Xin nian kuai le! She broke into a toothless [[smile|Smile]].The beautiful smile lingered. Yet, Tabitha could tell that Ava had already gone, to some place behind her Ocus, sidelining her. Still, Ava kept her [[face|Reflection]] towards her aunt.Tabitha caught her reflection off the plastic pink. It was one of grimace. She turned her face away and reached into her purse, taking out the [[red packet|RedPacket]].Ava, she forced the words out.
This is for your studies, okay?
She pushed the red packet into Ava's hand.
Thanks auntie, said Ava, grabbing the [[packet->Silence]].Silence lingered. At least, for Tabitha. No [[words|Say]] came to her. When was the last time she had [[seen|Seen]] Ava?There were in fact many things she could ask Ava.
What school was she in? How old is she? How tall is she?
But these were questions about Ava, not questions to [[Ava|Sit]].Tabitha took a seat and watched Ava, staring off into a world Tabitha knew she would never [[visit|Again]].[img[media/startscreen.png][Intro]][[End|Start Screen]]Config.loadDelay = 2000;Ava was beautiful. She had Trish’s round face. Tabitha wondered how Ava looked now. She wondered for the [[child|Sit]] behind that device.