"Your cousin's coming tomorrow. Go pick her up from the station."
Tony Snow was lying in bed, watching a lecture video on his phone, when his mom walked into the room with her usual no-nonsense tone.
Seeing him still lounging around, she immediately started in on him.
"Don't just stare at that phone all day. You're in college now—use your time to actually learn something. Don't end up like your dad and me. We didn't study hard when we were young, and look at us—we still can't afford a house of our own."
Tony paused the video and sighed. He was used to this speech by now.
"Which cousin?" he asked. Between his mom's side and his dad's side, Tony had more cousins than he could count—thanks to their large families back before the one-child policy took effect.
On his mom's side, there were four siblings—three sisters and one brother. His mom was the second eldest, meaning he had an older maternal aunt, a maternal uncle, and a younger aunt.
On his dad's side, the family was even bigger: five siblings—three sisters and two brothers. His dad was the eldest of them all.
"Your older aunt's daughter. You know, the one from your mom's side."
Tony nodded vaguely. "Which station is she arriving at?"
"Don't you have her number? Just message her and find out. Her mom said she'd call when she arrives, but I told her we might not be home by then. She's got no sense of planning, that one. You text her. Ask what time her train gets in and which station."
Tony gave a resigned "Okay, okay," and switched out of the lecture app to open Messenger. He hadn't talked to his cousin in ages, but her profile was still there—cute animal avatar and all.
Tony:
Mom said you're coming to Haverford tomorrow? What time do you get in and which station? I'll pick you up.
His cousin, now 16, had just started high school this year. They were six years apart and hadn't spent much time together as kids—only really seeing each other during family holidays. But they'd always gotten along.
A few seconds later, the message bubble popped up with a reply.
Lina:
Yeah! I get in at 2:34 PM, Haverford South Station 😊
Lina:
You're on break already, right?
Tony:
Yeah, I've been off for a week.
He updated her contact name from the screen name "@FrostByte" to her real name: Lina Song.
I can't believe high schoolers have phones now, Tony thought. Back when I was in high school, I couldn't even afford an MP3 player…
As far as he knew, Lina was an average student, just like he'd been at her age. But now, she was carrying around a smartphone and texting like a pro.
He tapped back to the lecture video and hit play again.
"So, the Beta function can be used as the—"
Ping!
Another message.
Lina:
College life looks so relaxing… I can't wait to get there 🥺
Tony chuckled.
Tony:
Don't buy into the hype. Back in middle school, our teachers said high school would be all about self-discipline. Then high school teachers said college would be easy and all fun. Total lies.
Lina:
Σ(っ °Д °;)っ Wait really?? Nooo 😭
Tony:
Sure, college isn't as strict as high school. No one's hovering over you 24/7. But it's not a free-for-all either. Classes, clubs, assignments—there's always something. The group chats never stop. If you join a club or student council, freshman year is basically all grunt work.
Tony:
But hey, none of that matters yet. You've got more than two years ahead of you. Focus on high school. Get into a good university first. Otherwise all this stuff I'm saying won't even matter.
Without realizing it, Tony had become the very adult he used to roll his eyes at. The irony wasn't lost on him.
Lina:
Got it! 🙋♀️ So… have you been to all the fun places in Haverford yet? 🎡🍜
One question led to another, and soon the chat that had started with a single logistical message turned into a flowing conversation. They hadn't talked like this in years.
Eventually, Lina asked the inevitable.
Lina:
Hey… do you have a girlfriend yet?
Tony:
You're too young for that kind of question. Focus on your grades. Don't go learning bad habits 😂
Lina:
Excuse me, I'm just showing sisterly concern for your romantic life. It's totally normal for someone about to graduate!
Tony could imagine her giggling behind her screen, loving every second of the gossip.
Gossip truly is humanity's universal hobby, he thought with a smirk, typing back.
Tony:
If I hear you're dating, I'm telling your mom 👀
Lina:
Hmph! I'm not. But even if I was, I wouldn't tell you! 😤
Tony didn't reply. Instead, he tapped open Clara's chat window. His fingers hovered over the keyboard… and then stopped.
He knew she wouldn't be online now. Her village back home had poor signal, and she rarely connected to the internet during holidays.
Sighing, he backed out and reopened his lecture video.
On screen, an old professor with silver hair and thick glasses was pacing in front of a chalkboard, explaining complex math to a half-attentive classroom.
The next day. 2:15 PM. Haverford South Station.
Tony sat inside a fast-food joint just outside the main exit—"King's Chicken," the local knockoff of KFC. He sipped his drink and texted Lina.
Tony:
I'm by Exit 7. You'll see me as soon as you come out.
If the train wasn't delayed, she'd be arriving in about ten minutes.
He set his phone down and stared at his own reflection in the glossy black screen, thinking… about nothing in particular. Just letting the moments pass, waiting for his cousin to arrive.