Okay, so did the 'get sent back in time with a magic pill' gif I commented on include a 'get involved in regression story flag' tropes too?
From the looks of it... I guess that Auntie Yue practically adopted April's mom or something?
Auntie Yue nodded and smiled at April. "Your mom and I are friends. It's fine."
April gasped again and then let out a bright smile. "Mommy has a friend! Finally! She doesn't have to spend time with those stinky men anymore!"
I froze.
Serena flinched.
Auntie Yue caught my reaction and subtly shook her head.
I quickly schooled my expression and played the part of a normal kid by nodding along with April. "That's right! And now we can hang out together after school and stuff! Right, Big Sis?"
Auntie Yue rolled her eyes, pretending to be exasperated. But she nodded and said, "Fine... April can spend time with us after school."
April jumped out of her chair and stuck her hands in the air. "This is the bestest- I mean, BEST day ever!"
I smiled at April, enjoying how happy she looked.
It seemed like Serena felt the same as me, as she looked at April with a soft and warm gaze. But after a bit, she shifted her gaze over to me and said, "So you're Alex." She placed her hands over her heart and said, "Thank you, truly, for being my daughter's friend. God bless you."
"Um..." I tilted my head. "You're... welcome?"
April giggled and said, "You made Mommy super happy, Alex! Mommy never says the lord's name unless she's serious!"
...Huh.
Was April a Christian? I didn't think she was. I mean, she never brought it up in my past life. And I remember her family didn't do a proper burial either...
More deep lore to keep track of, I guess.
Serena smiled and said, "Well. I have to thank the lord for the miracles we've had recently."
Auntie Yue hummed and said, "I don't know if I would thank someone who let 'those' things happen... but good things are good things."
The waiter, a lanky teenaged boy with curly red hair, dropped off our order. He blushed when he saw Serena and Auntie Yue, stammering a bit. But after that, he left us alone.
I noticed that there was also a bit more than what we ordered. Like a box of chili fries for me along with my four boxes of chicken nuggets.
April also had a small ice cream cone on top of her kid's meal.
Pretty privilege was real for sure...
While thinking that, I pulled my food close, along with a small cup of water that Auntie Yue got for me.
Speaking of Auntie Yue. She sipped on her vanilla milkshake and then gave April a onceover before nodding approvingly. "No wonder Little Fatty said it was fate. You're definitely pretty."
I choked on my nugget and quickly chugged my water to clear it out. "A-A-Auntie! That was a secret!"
April gasped and said, "Be careful, Alex! Here!" She shoved her cup of orange Hi-C over along with her straw. "Drink!"
"A-April, I can't do- MMPH!?" Before I could protest, she had shoved the straw in my mouth, forcing me to drink it. I sighed and sipped on the drink before handing it back. "There. I'm fine. Happy?"
"Yep!" April beamed and sat back down, happily swinging her legs as she sipped on her drink.
Serena watched the interaction with a warm gaze before shifting her blue eyes back to me. "Fate, was it?"
I froze.
Auntie Yue nodded, mischief clear on her face. "Oh yeah. The day that Little Fatty met April, he was all serious and said... what was it?"
"Auntie, no." I quickly interjected.
But then Auntie Yue continued. "Oh right. 'I don't believe in fate. Or the red string of destiny. But I do believe in consequences. And today, I'm choosing to make sure that girl stays happy...'" She smirked at me and said, "Word for word. Right, Little Fatty?"
Aaaaahhhhhh.
Damn Auntie and her stupidly good memory from memorizing scripts...!
April froze. Then her eyes started to tear up as she said, "Alex wants to make me happy...?"
Ah.
That.
That was a flag.
We were absolutely going down the childhood to lovers arc in the future unless I broke that flag, weren't we?
Serena let out a soft sigh and smiled. "How cute..."
Aaand April's mom was completely onboard the ship.
I was doomed.
Auntie Yue grinned.
I glared at her.
Note to self: Shamelessly use her money from now on. She deserves it. Hmph.
===
After a couple hours, I headed home with Auntie Yue.
April had wanted to come for a sleepover right away, but April's mom managed to convince her to wait a day so April could pack her things.
On the car ride back though, I noticed Auntie Yue was a bit tense. Probably thinking about the situation with April's mom.
Hm. I guess I'll call her Miss Serena. It fits better. And she's her own person too.
Anyway, I was 100% sure that Auntie Yue wouldn't explain the situation to me. But I had the gist of it.
Judging from how haggard Miss Serena had looked and how young she was, as well as how old April was...
Well. Teenage pregnancy and running away from home was common around this time. So was disappearing off the grid and working as an... I guess 'escort' was the nicer word for it.
April never mentioned anything about it.
...But in hindsight, I DO remember that the only member of April's family that had been at her funeral were some gruff hyper-conservative boomers who were told off by dozens of people for saying that April was going to hell.
...Huh. Guess I did remember some things.
Oh yeah. I remember now.
I definitely scratched their car up with my keys and punched a hole in their car tires while gaslighting them to think it was some other people by playing my honor roll valedictorian card.
That was fun. Gaslighting idiots like that made up for them pissing all over April's grave (figuratively).
But anyway.
April never brought up her parents. And considering how I didn't remember she was in elementary school with me...
Even if I wasn't a genius (I was) I could connect the dots.
The first time we met was when April was a kid. Her mom probably either died or was deemed incapable of taking care of April and she got tossed in the shitty foster care system by CPS. Then she eventually ended up with her grandparents, where it got so bad that she ended up unaliving herself despite seeming happy on the outside.
Totally fucked me up too for about two decades afterwards since I sat next to her every morning and chatted with her while missing every fucking sign she was struggling. But this wasn't about me.
The point was, it looked like the butterfly effect was unfolding.
I'd managed to meet up with April earlier this time and connect with her. Then since Auntie Yue had also changed and had more resources now, it looked like Miss Serena would be fine.
No more trauma in high school by having a good friend suddenly unalive herself before summer break! Huzzah!
...Ignore the dark humor. It's how I cope.
Anyway.