The Beginning Of All Sins

“I’ll go

with you when I have time?”

Naomi used to care a lot about her looks, but ever since she got sick, she hasn’t been taking care of herself as much. She can’t even remember the last time she got dressed up. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Smiling, she explained, “I was just a bit confused when I got the message. That’s why I asked. I mean, how can I go shopping looking like this?” She paused, then continued, “olivia is really careful with her money. Even though she’s my sister, my mom doesn’t treat her the same because they’re not actually related. It’s pretty sad.”

Tyler was listening but didn’t say anything.

Naomi added, “Her mom died when she was fifteen. She also got her period really late. I remember her accidentally staining her pants red the first time it happened. She thought she had a serious illness and cried by herself in her room. I was the only one at home, so I went to see why she was crying. I was the one who had to explain periods to her.”

It seemed like she was just sharing a story without meaning to, but then she suddenly asked, “Don’t you think Olivia’s had it tough, Tyler?“!

Tyler looked at her calmly and said, “How has she had it tough? She has you.”

“I’m just her sister living in the same house. A young girl really needs her mom at that age, and she didn’t have that.”

“Weren’t you independent when you were fifteen?”

Naomi smiled. “You’re right. I was at a boarding school when I was fifteen, but my mom spoiled me

whenever I was home.”

“Look, lots of people have it tough. Olivia’s doing okay, and at least she’s not starving. You need to look after yourself first,” Tyler replied, putting an end to the conversation Naomi started.

She chuckled. “You’re right. I thought I was the one having a hard time. I should be envious of her

instead.”

“People have their own paths. Life’s not always easy. Now, take your medicine.” He always kept her company when she had to take her medicine.

“Indeed. We need to make sure we’re there for Olivia when the baby comes.”

“Mm–hmm, we will.”

After taking the medicine, Naomi felt tired and fell asleep. Tyler stayed with her for a bit, then left when he saw she was sleeping well.

As he walked down the hall, Naomi’s words played over in his mind.

Did Olivia really have it tough? Tyler wasn’t sure. When he saw her old, ill–fitting clothes, he could

&

guess what her life at home was like.

Whenever he saw her scared and shaking, or when Hillary was mean to her, he felt bad for her,

Wasn’t her situation sad? She was over twenty and wearing clothes that didn’t fit right, She grew up in a place where no one paid much attention to her, especially living in the same house where Naomi was treated so well.

No matter how you looked at it, Olivia’s situation was sad,

As Tyler walked, his grim expression slowly faded.

But really, he thought, he shouldn’t feel sad or sorry for her. How could he?

At the cocktail party, Olivia stood quietly in front of Claude.

“Go ahead. And remember, call me if you need anything,” he said, smiling gently.

Olivia couldn’t understand why he was so nice to her when they hadn’t known each other very long.

She couldn’t help saying, “You’re like a brother to me, Claude.”