35. FOUR HOLIDAYS AND A PROM

Love Day has arrived, but romance and passion are the last things on Maja’s mind.

Maja: Hey, I heard what happened. I'm really sorry about your dad.

Enue: Thanks.

Kaliya: Are you going to the prom? It falls on Kindness Day, so the main theme will be a charity fundraiser.

Maja: No, I'm going with my mom to San Sequoia to tour the campus there.

Enue: You can't miss the Farewell Prom! You have to come with us!

Maja: But… I already talked to my parents, and everything is set...

Enue: No "but." I'll talk to your mom. Besides, I'd love to go to San Sequoia with you, and I'm definitely not skipping prom!

Maja: Okay, okay… you're pretty persuasive.

The last day of school means… exams. This time, Maja breezed through most of the questions and passed with a solid grade. The Sulani Class of 2023/2024 is saying goodbye to high school. Ananya was missing that day (no one knows what happened to her), and Artur was also gone (rumor has it he transferred again). And on Saturday—the big prom!

Bea brought her boyfriend home after school—after all, it is Love Day. 😉

Bea: Dad, this is Vaea. Vaea, this is my dad.

Filip: Nice to meet you, young man.

Bea: Dad, can we go on a date?

Filip: WHAT? No dates until marriage!

Bea: Daaad, come on…

Anna: Oh, Filip, don't forget—we met when we were their age… You can go, but I need to know where you'll be and when you'll be back.

Bea: We're just going right here, next to the house, to build sandcastles. We'll be back soon—it's not even that warm outside. Byeee!

Bea: I love spending time with you!

Maja has been feeling excited about prom all morning.

Anna: See? And you almost missed it! On our way back from the charity march, we’ll get you a new dress.

Maja: Whoa! Thanks, Mom!

Bea: "Thanks, Mom! Blah blah blah..."

Maja: What is your problem…?! You keep insulting me.

Bea: Because you're stupid.

Anna: Excuse me?! You’ve been crossing every line lately!

Filip: You’re grounded, young lady. Take some time to think about your behavior!

And while the rest of the family went to the charity march to fight illness, Bea stayed home doing her homework.

Evening came before anyone realized, and the long-awaited prom finally began.

Enue: If you don’t win this time, I swear this whole event is just one big game glitch. Look at everyone staring at you! You look STUNNING!

Maja: Haha, thanks! You look amazing too. Should we take a picture?

Enue: Duh!

Maja: Oh, this one turned out way better than the one with Artur. And it didn’t cut off half our faces.

The cheer squad performed their final dance routine. They looked absolutely incredible! Maja had the time of her life and realized that she was really happy to be here.

And the competition results are in!

Maja: We won?! Why wasn’t there a speech? Why didn’t we go up on stage?!

Enue: Probably a bug! But who cares? WE WON!!!

Sunday morning, everyone is busy cleaning up the house for a major event—Maja and Izi’s birthday and, of course, the official start of Generation Three.

The family has finally gathered.

Bea: Oh, you showed up again, other grandma.

Penny: The Watcher doesn’t forget about me during big events anymore.

Maja: I still don’t get why we’re celebrating today—our birthdays aren’t for another two days.

Izi: Just roll with it. The Watcher didn’t feel like planning a separate carnival party.

Candy: I don’t think we’ve met—I’m the sister of the wife of the founder’s son.

Dorota: Nice to meet you, but I’m the sister of the wife of the founder’s son.

Yuki: I told you not to drink the fizzy juice before we left.

Klara: That Tamarang place looks amazing on the travel brochures. We need to go there on vacation…

Attention, attention! Someone is turning 18 today! Happy birthday to both birthday girls!

Maja: That’s it? We’re adults now?

Izi: Amaaazing!

Maja rolled the Loyal trait and got the Friend of the World aspiration.

Izi rolled… Unstable. And I gave her the Musical Producer aspiration to follow in Aunt Candy’s footsteps.

Klara: I’m so emotional—my makeup is running! My grandbabies are all grown up. So tell me, have you applied anywhere yet?

Maja: Not yet, but tomorrow Mom and I are visiting the San Sequoia campus.

Klara: Oh wow! So you’re planning to move to another continent? I bet your dad is thrilled.

Bea (to herself): Oh yeah, I’m totally thrilled too.

Klara: Here, a little something from your grandparents—to help you conquer social media.

Anna: And this is from us, but please… don’t film the family. Haha.

Piotr: I heard you’re into fashion—this sketchbook might come in handy.

Penny: And of course, let’s not forget—a camera, as befits an heiress.

Yuki: I heard you’re grounded. Someone’s got quite the temper—takes after his uncle, huh?

Piotr: Haha, that’s probably true. I did give my parents a hard time at her age.

Akito: Confirmed. …Excuse me for a moment.

Akito: You need to drink the potion now. You don’t have much time left.

Klara: I thought I had more time… What about you?

Akito: I still have a few bottles left from my victory against the Original. Here—your family still needs you.

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