#adolting gen 2

[storiesbyjes2g]

Later in the afternoon, we went back to Senbamachi for a hike. As much as I enjoyed the snow, it was nice to not need a coat. The rain met us when we arrived, and I didn't have any other plans for that area, so I suggested we go back to the rental and have a chill day. But Luca proposed we stay and hike anyway. We all had umbrellas, and the rain was light, he said. Plus, there was no reason to waste the trip down the mountain. He made good points, so we hiked the soggy trail.

Everyone enjoyed it, though. True, it would have been nice not to walk around with wet pants legs, but we all wore smiles. Our lives are so busy and mostly contained indoors. It's rare that we're out in nature for this long and on purpose. I think the fresh air was good for all of us.

We came upon a cemetery. The kids ignored it, but I suggested we stop and pay our respects. Graves aren't just stone sculptures on top of holes in the ground. They are the homes of our dearly departed who still deserve respect. Ali cried for them just like he did on our first date when the chess lady died. It warmed my heart to know, despite everything I put him through, he's still the same sweet, sensitive guy I fell in love with that day.

Alessia rolled her eyes. "Daddy, you're so weird."

I don't understand how or why Ali gets so emotional so fast. But I understand him. She should take the time to understand him as well, and I won't have her brushing him off like that.

"Some of these sims have been dead for hundreds of years, Less. Somebody has to cry for them."

Once Ali gathered his composure, we continued our hike. I saw a huge, impressive looking temple in the distance, so we headed that way. In front of the temple was another place to write wishes. I love how spiritual this culture is. It seems like everywhere we go, some being is going to transport wishes somewhere on our behalf. Once again, I cast my lot and wrote another wish.

After writing wishes, we headed back to town since it was getting dark and we worked up an appetite. By the time we arrived, the rain had stopped. We found a local restaurant a couple of blocks from the trail. I casually observed Alessia and Ali as I looked over the menu. I enjoyed watching them together and witnessing how their relationship has blossomed. Even though she acted like spending time with him was some obligation, they always had something special, just like Luca and I did. She's not exactly a daddy's girl, but she is certainly daddy's little girl. I think spending weekends with him has caused her to see him in a different light. He's definitely not the sad, boring, stressed out man she's used to. They both light up when they're around each other.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Ali Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo #Luca Winston Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

Luca has extra bass in his voice now. I think it might take me a few days to get used to him being a young adult. I don't wanna be one of those "you'll always be my baby" parents, but it's hard when I still see my little boy when I look at his handsome face. Speaking of, I hope he's ready to dive into dating and relationships because I have zero doubts he has a line of girls waiting for him to get back home.

This trip was my present to the kids, so I didn't intend to give them gifts. But there is one thing I want to give Luca. I should probably wait until we get home, but I feel like the moment will be lost so far after his birthday. Luckily for me, Ali hadn't come downstairs yet, and Alessia went for a bath after she cleaned the dishes. As soon as the coast was clear, I took Luca to the living room.

"Why are we hiding from everyone?" he asked.

"I have a gift for you, and I don't want anyone else to know about it."

His eyebrow went up. "Okay. But, why?"

"Well, for one, I don't want Alessia feeling left out. Two, I don't want to hear it from your dad. Three, this is specifically for you."

He flashed a crooked smile. "Why me?"

"You're my firstborn! I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time."

"Wow. So, what is it?"

"It's a relic from the jungles of El Selvadorada. I went there when I was younger because I wanted to learn the Rumbasim."

He snorted. "You know you could have just watched SimTube videos, Mama."

"I know! But I wanted to meet the locals and take in the culture. And I wanted to take a vacation without my parents. Anyway, my friend I went with wanted to explore the jungle, so I got some gear and excavated a few things. You've seen some of them around the house."

"Oh shoot! Those are real? I figured you got them on Plopsy or something."

I giggled. "Yes, son, they are real! But this one is special. I've kept it safe in my inventory this whole time because I got it appraised and it is very valuable."

His eyes got super large. "How valuable?"

"Roughly 10,000 simoleons."

"Holy Watcher!"

"Wait, listen to me before you get ideas about selling. After I got it appraised, I decided I wanted to keep it and give it to my first child as kinda like a legacy thing. I always thought it was cool how some people have family heirlooms and stuff, so I started my own tradition."

"That's cool, Mama."

"Yeah. So, keep it if you can. Give it to your heir. But if you run into trouble, and you desperately need money, don't hesitate to sell it. I've always made it my business to provide for you. This is my way of doing that after I'm gone, maybe."

"Stop. You're not going anywhere anytime soon."

"I know, but still. It's never too late to plan for the future."

"That's true. Wow! Thanks, Mama. This is really cool. I'll keep it. Don't worry. And I won't tell Less about it."

"Thanks. I love you, Luca. Happy birthday!"

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

Later that night, we traveled south to Senbamachi for the Festival of Light. I expected fireworks and fairy lights all over the place. You know...literal light. But after some observation, and speaking to a few locals, I realized the light is figurative. We were celebrating beauty and light in the world that is also inside of us. And because the light is inside of us, that means we are the light of the world! So, in essence, the Festival of Light is a celebration of us, the community. I thought that was so beautiful! It reminded me so much of the community events back in Sulani...except we have to pay for the food though, heh.

We found a tree called Tanabata that was covered in hundreds of colorful notes and were told to write wishes on cards and hang them on the tree. The tree would then send our wishes to the stars. Ali surprised me with his enthusiasm. He doesn't believe in ghosts, but this is okay? Invisible celestial messengers? I believe in spirits and need all the favor I can get, so I wrote as much as I could on that card. Maybe he, too, is desperate.

Ali and the kids were hungry and explored their options at the food stall. I was more interested in getting into this Japanese folk music and seeing what kind of moves I could come up with. It didn't really have a beat and was kinda hard to dance to, but that didn't stop my hips from dipping and gliding. I'm sure I looked ridiculous to the locals, but they'll be just fine. I wouldn't mind if they taught me the local dances.

When I saw they had ordered and settled at a table, I joined them. Dinner was just like old times with Alessia heckling Luca and him letting it roll off like water on a duck.

"I want to say something," Ali said.

The kids stopped their fake fighting and tuned into Ali.

"Your mom and I didn't have didn't have siblings. It's a special thing for you two to have each other. You're both about to start your own lives. One day you'll go in different directions, but promise us you won't lose touch. Always take care of your sister, Luca."

"Yes, sir."

"What about me, Daddy?"

Ali thought about her position for a moment. "You're the gatekeeper. Make sure he stays in line."

"HA! I get to interview all your girlfriends!"

"He doesn't mean it literally, Less."

"He said what he said!"

I could only shake my head. I love these two, and I'm gonna miss this when they're gone.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Ali Murillo #Luca Winston Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo #this trip has to be weird AF for Emmy and Ali #but it's so stinkin cute!!

[storiesbyjes2g]

After one or two more rides, I left Alessia to go inside and bake Luca's cake. I was much more calm than I thought I'd be. Mommy was a wreck before my birthdays. I remember her holding me a lot, and her eyes were always red and puffy. She was the strongest person I knew, but always fell apart in secret because of my transitions. My firstborn is about to become a man and begin his life's journey, and I am ecstatic. I want a front-row seat for every event he goes through. I'm pre-ordering tickets and buying all the #TeamLuca merch! No one will ever be able to match my enthusiasm for this man. No one. I am ready for this!

I called everyone inside once the cake cooled. Luca tip toed toward the cake, closed his eyes, and made a very serious wish before blowing out the candles. He must have stood there for a good minute before taking a deep breath. I wonder what he wished for. Hopefully not for me and Ali to get back together. It's a little late for that one. And he's too old.

We made noise for him as he blew out the candles in one breath, like he always did. Then, in the literal twinkling of an eye, the new Luca stood before us with broad shoulders and a slender, more chiseled face. My dad's face! I don't think I ever noticed he had my face shape before. How cool is that?

We ate cake in silence, but it wasn't awkward. I imagined we all had different things on our minds. But everyone was all smiles.

When we finished, I collected the plates to wash. Ali remained at the table, stuck in his thoughts, while the kids went back outside.

"Ali?"

"Hmmm?"

"We did it."

He looked at me, then back at the table. "We sure did."

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo #Ali Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

When I looked for a rental property, I wasn't pressed about being in the center of the action. Yes, I had the money to get something nice, but I needed to be smart. Being self-employed is a risk, and spending money like it grows on trees is not what I need to be doing. But as luck would have it, I got us a house on the foothills Mt. Komorebi, right in front of the bunny slopes! I couldn't believe it!

Alessia was awfully quiet, so I watched her while Luca and Ali talked. Her eyes were fixed on the slopes. She didn't even look terrified, like she was at home, so I asked if she wanted to sled with me. She nodded, and we trekked up the hill for our sledding adventure.

I was super excited about playing in the snow all weekend, especially because I never got to live out my snow dreams properly when I lived in Brindleton Bay. But as much as I was excited for snow time, having more fun with my daughter was at the forefront of my mind. Our dinner date the other night was the beginning of a new chapter for us, I think. It's weird because we don't fight or anything. Our relationship has always been good minus the standard hiccups here and there. But we struggled to find our rhythm. To be honest, we're kind of weird around each other a lot. I don't want to upset her, and she pushes the boundaries to see how far she can go. But I think we're on our way toward a healthier relationship now, and I couldn't be happier.

We got our sled and prepared to board. I looked down at it, realizing how low to the ground it was. Alessia caught me staring and heckled me.

"You're not gonna chicken out, are you?"

I laughed. "I was just trying to figure out how I'm gonna get back out of this thing. My knees aren't what they used to be."

Luca and Ali eventually caught up with us. It's always cool to see how alike they are when Luca does something similar to Ali. But when they are together, it's uncanny...and kind of annoying. It's like hanging with a pair of brothers or two best friends. The trash-talking duo slid next to us with cheeky grins, armed to the teeth with big talk and hollow insults.

"I bet we'll beat you down the hill," Luca said.

Ali snorted. "They look scared."

"This isn't for wussies," Luca said to Alessia.

"Come on, Luca. Let's leave them in the dust."

Alessia rolled her eyes. "Boys are so dumb!"

I shook my head at them. "They sure are. Let's go before they get back."

I pushed us off, and we were on our way!

We coasted down the hill at a nice, relaxing pace. Alessia gripped the handles kinda hard, though.

"You okay, babe?"

"Y-yeah! This is fun!"

The joy in her voice eased me, and I enjoyed the ride better. That is, until we reached the bottom of the hill.

"HOW did my face end up in the snow, Less?"

"I don't know. Are you okay, though?"

I rubbed my back. "Yeah. If this keeps happening, I'm gonna need several trips to the hot springs."

"Okay, good, cuz I wanna go again," she said and walked off.

We went for another round—which went smoothly, by the way—and Ali and Luca went their separate ways. Ali stuck with sledding while Luca tried his hand at snowboarding. I love watching him try new things. But honestly, I think I enjoyed seeing Ali smile more. He's been in deep pain for so long. It's nice to see him live again.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Alessia Amina Murillo #Luca Winston Murillo #Ali Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

Me and my baby strutted into the restaurant like we owned the place. We looked so good, I'm surprised no one hit on us, tee hee. I love how confident Lessi is in her own skin. She reminds me so much of myself at her age. I didn't care about clothes and makeup, to Mommy's dismay. But I was pretty, and I knew it. She knows it too and is perfectly content with letting her natural beauty shine, and I love that.

She asked if she could order a drink. A drink drink.

I chuckled at the memories of my parents letting me drink with them but admonishing me not to tell the other.

"Sure, babe. But don't tell Luca."

She grinned so hard. I think it's cute how she is attached to her brother but loves having this separate, secret life from him.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

I didn't realize my smile had faded.

"Nothing, babe. I was just thinking about my mom. We used to hang out like this a lot. I still miss her so much."

She nodded slowly, like something I said intrigued her.

"What was she like?"

My smile returned as I remembered how bored she was at the cemetery that day. That's when it hit me. She's not apathetic toward everything like I thought. She just needs to see them in the right context to understand their importance. Besides, she was just a child then. How could I expect someone so young and energetic to enjoy a history lesson in a cemetery, of all places?

"She was...fierce. She exuded confidence like I've never seen before. And she was a big deal in the fashion industry. That woman stayed dressed. You know how we got dressed up to come here? Mommy would have already been dressed. Heh, I bet she could turn a garbage bag into the next trend. She was the best mom. Super protective. I never had to worry about anything. Even as an adult. I named you after her, you know."

"My middle name."

"Yes. She loved you guys so much. I could barely spend time with you when you were an infant. She always had you."

"I wish I could remember her."

"I wish you could too, babe. I wish you could too."

"I think you're fierce too," she said.

I almost broke into tears.

"You do?"

"Yeah! I mean, you always look great, and you're not afraid of anything."

That warmed my heart so much.

"That's not true, but it means a lot to me that you'd think so."

She smiled.

"This is fun," she said. "We should do it again."

"I would love to."

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Alessia Amina Murillo #awwwwwww

[storiesbyjes2g]

I woke up sad on our last morning in Mt. Komorebi. Not boo hoo sad, but just feeling a bit blah. As much as I have enjoyed making memories with my children, and even reconnecting with Ali, I missed sleeping in my own bed, my dog, my work, and my man. He missed me too and sent me a text saying he can't wait to see me. I never have to doubt his feelings for me because he showers me constantly with them. It's weird. I've been married before, but this is the first time I've ever really dated someone. Even though I have many regrets, I'm glad I get to have this experience now. I've always been the one to chase the guy and steer the relationship. It's kinda nice to not have to do that.

I went downstairs immediately and prepared breakfast so everyone could fuel up for the big slopes. Luca joined me in the kitchen, already dressed and ready for the day. I guess my mood was showing because he asked if I was okay. I said I was just ready to go home.

Nosy Emmy reared her messy head and asked about his friend at the lounge, but Cool Hand Luca remained vague. I asked if he saw her again. He said no. I asked if they were going to keep in touch. He said maybe. I asked if he liked her. He said, "she's cool." I took the hint and stopped asking questions. Whenever there's something to tell, he'll tell me, I hope.

Alessia wanted to have her birthday before we headed out, so once everyone was dressed and ready to go, I brought out the cake and we made a great ruckus for her.

And just like that, all my babies are grown. What fine young adults they are! I hope the world is ready for them because I know they will leave their mark in their own ways, and I am already proud! I can't wait to see what my baby girl gets into.

It was a very cloudy day, so it got dark much sooner than we expected and I wasn't sure how I felt about barreling down the mountain in the dark. But this was our agenda, and I didn't want to be a flake, so I got out there and did my best. Snowboarding was more my speed. Or, at least, I could concentrate better on keeping one stick balanced versus two. I wouldn't say it's my thing now, but it was a nice experience. And I will not return home with a broken hip.

At some point, I had my fill of adrenaline. But Luca and Alessia kept going, round after round, trying to perfect their technique. I felt like such a mom, standing at the bottom of the mountain, waving at them and cheering as they returned. I may or may not have also taken a few pics and snuck in some video, tee hee. They're totally coming back here soon. Alessia already put the bug in my ear, and I can see Luca getting into extreme sports. Whether or not they invite me is the big questions, heh.

Ali decided not to join us on the slopes. I hope it's just because he's not interested and not because he's still tripping about his weight. Maybe he just needed some alone time to relax and get himself together before getting back to work. But I fear he's having a moment like I had yesterday, though. I know this is totally selfish, but I hope he's healed enough to not let his thoughts drive a wedge between us again. I feel like we made big progress this weekend. Things don't have to be tense or awkward. We can have love for each other from a respectful distance and still be a family. Just not in the traditional sense. But it's different for him, I know. As we enter this new season of not having the kids to keep us in each other's lives, I hope he doesn't cut me completely out.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo #Ali Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

With two days to spare, spring finally hit. I almost wanted to be mad at the warmth for being so late, but I welcomed it with open arms. Luca worked on homework in the kitchen while I ate. It occurred to me he never gave me an answer about his father joining us on vacation, so I asked him. Just as I suspected, Ali wasn't able to make it. Luca was really bummed about it, and it pained me seeing him like that. I hated wishing for Ali to be the bad guy and almost wanted to call him myself and convince him to come just to see a smile on my buddy's face. Even though I'm not the one who let him down, I still felt responsible.

"I know you're upset, but it'll still be fun. You and Ali can do something cool together when we get back."

"But it's my birthday. All I wanted was for us to be together one last time. I hate this!"

My chest ached as cracks spread, threatening to fracture my heart. All I ever wanted to do was give my children the world. But because of my sins, my child is sad. I knew the days of celebrating everything together would end, but living through it is harder than I expected.

"I know. I'm sorry, bud. Life is like that sometimes. We don't always get what we want. Can I give you some advice, though?"

He nodded.

"I'm sure you and Ali already talked, but I want to give it to you from my perspective because I don't want you and Alessia going through this."

The pressure separated the cracks even more and sent a surge of tears to breach my eyes, but I fought back. This wasn't the time to break down.

"I really hate how me and your father's problems affect you guys, so you listen to me, okay??"

He looked at me wide-eyed, as if he were in trouble. I didn't realize my voice had escalated.

"I'm sorry. I promise I'm not mad or yelling at you. I just don't want you to end up like us. You're gonna be a man soon. You'll start meeting ladies and dating. If you're serious about getting married one day, I want you to take this time seriously. Have fun too, but think about what you want for your life and find someone who fits. Don't settle until you find her. Ask yourself the hard questions, and answer honestly. Make sure she is the one person you can't live without. One and done, okay?"

"Okay."

"And be honest about how you feel because strong attractions and love can feel the same in the beginning. Don't rush it. Take your time and figure out what it all means."

"Mama?"

"Yes, Luca..."

He opened and closed his mouth a few times as if to weigh his words.

"Do you... Nevermind."

"You can ask me. I'll always tell you the truth, remember?"

"Okay," he said, hesitantly. "Do you regret marrying Dad?"

"No," I said without missing a beat. "I cared for him a great deal. I still do. But I realized I wasn't truthful with myself and there was someone else I also cared about. I will always cherish the time I spent with your father. It wasn't a mistake. I did exactly what I'm telling you not to do. I rushed dating. We didn't talk about things. I wanted to have kids, and that was all I cared about then. I did so many things wrong even before I cheated."

What is it like for him to listen to his mother tell him these things? After I'm done with my speeches, I always feel like such a dunce for saying all that. What mom tells her kids about her business like that? But at the same time, I'm serious about them not repeating my mistakes. I have the experience, so why not share it? If only there were a manual on how to handle these situations.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

The kids are on spring break now, so they didn't have school on Monday. We all slept in a little extra, but not much. When I entered the kitchen, I found Luca sitting at the table, staring at nothing.

"You ate already?" I asked.

He jumped, startled by my presence. Whatever he mulled over was quite serious.

"Oh...yeah," he said.

I continued eating, hoping he would share whatever plagued him. But he continued staring at the wall.

"What's got you so perplexed over there, bud?"

He sighed. "I was just...thinking. I don't know what I'm gonna do after my birthday."

Gosh. He sounds just like me during the week of my birthday.

"I see. Is anyone pressuring you to figure it out right now?"

"No. Not really. It's just... My teachers and the guidance counselor are all talking about university and scholarships and careers like they expect us to have it together already."

I chuckled. "Son, you're not going to have it together for a long time, and that's okay. That's just how life works. No one ages up and immediately has a great job, big house, a family, and whatever else people think you're supposed to have when you 'make it.' I don't have any expectations, okay? You won't feel any pressure from me. I'll support whatever you want to do. You want to do university? I got you. Want to get your own place? I'll help you. Want to stay here? Cool!"

"Thanks, Mama. I'll stay here for a bit. Until I figure it out."

I pat him on the shoulder. "You stay here as long as you want. I mean that. I love you, Luca."

I think I embarrassed him a little, but he'll be okay.

"You don't have any ideas about what you'd like to do?"

He shook his head.

"What about yoga? I think you'd make a great instructor."

"Really?"

He sounded surprised, though I'm not sure why. People love him. He's so chill and clearly has a passion for it. Of course he'd be a great instructor.

"Do they even make money?" he asked.

"Oh yes. Those classes are very expensive. And even if you only did it on SimTube, you could still make money. But, Luca, take it from who has experienced both sides. I don't want you to get caught up in chasing money. You should do something that brings you fulfillment and joy. Trust me when I say that is a million times better than a big salary. Sure, you might not be able to live how you want, but you'll sleep peacefully at night with no regrets."

A cheeky smile grew across his face, and I braced myself for whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

"So like, if I make 50 simoleons a week and can't afford to live on my own, and I get married and have nine children, you're saying you'd be cool with all of us living here...forever?"

"Oh, so now you're a funny man?"

"I meeeeeeean, you said you'll help me, and I could stay as long as I wanted."

"Hmph. I did, didn't I."

All jokes aside, I know he's challenging my love for him. I think he knows I'm still his number one fan but isn't sure about the I'll do anything for you part. I will do everything for him. Even if it means playing grandma/nanny to his fictitious nine children. Oy. I want him to give me some grandbabies one day, but I'm not sure I could handle that many. Let's hope he's joking about that.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

My head was in the clouds, and my feet hovered just above ground as I returned home. I really, really, really hate how we got to this place. I really do. But I'm glad we made it. I was in a drunken-like stupor until I reached my address. Even though I said I would deal with the consequences of the kids' feelings about us being together, I was still nervous about them finding out. Well...Luca finding out. Alessia seems to be on a mission to find out what exactly I do in my spare time, heh.

I opened the front door carefully, expecting them to be in the living room, and prepared for an attack. But they weren't there. I breathed the biggest sigh of relief and ran upstairs to change my clothes before they spotted me.

Luca was in the kitchen doing homework, so I assumed Alessia was in her room doing hers. Is this new, older Alessia going to cut the cord? She's usually right up under him. Maybe she liked her room a lot. After dinner last night, I let them decide which bedrooms they wanted. Luca offered Alessia the bigger room with the bathroom since her old room was so tiny. But she chose the smaller room without a bathroom. She said she felt safer in there—whatever that meant. Sometimes, I worry about her. I'm not quite sure what it is, but she seems to be...paranoid about things sometimes. I'm probably just seeing things.

Luca asked where I had been. I told him I was checking out the community center because I would start working from there. Hopefully, my answer satisfied him. I didn't need two sleuths on my trail.

I asked how he liked the house.

He looked around and nodded approvingly. "It's nice. I like it. Feels really big, but it's not."

"Good. I'm glad you like it. I can't wait until it warms up so we can get in the pool."

"Me too," he said.

Willow Creek spoiled me with its warm springs and falls. I would have broken out my shorts and flip flops by now.

I finished my dinner and went to Alessia's room to check on her. She sounded a bit bummed when I asked how she fared. I thought it was something related to her friend, but she said she didn't like school. That sentiment sounded painfully familiar. I guess I didn't have to worry about putting either of them through university, though I would have gladly done it if they were interested.

"How do you like the house?" I asked.

"I like it."

"Are you comfortable in here?"

"Yup."

Oh boy. I guess she's in a mood. Just as I was getting up to leave, Tofu crawled from under the bed, looking and smelling like she'd been rolling in puddles again. Even though I know Alessia hasn't accepted her yet, I won't give up on our original plan. I want to connect with my daughter, and if taking care of a dog together was what she wanted, that's what we'll do. I haven't forced Tofu on her, but I think little nudges may help.

"Tofu needs a bath," I said. "Want me to show you how to do it?"

"I don't want that plumming dog in my room!"

"Alessia!! Watch your mouth!"

I scooped up Tofu and held her close. "It's okay, sweetie. She's just having a bad day. I'm sure she loves you deep down."

I took her to the bathtub, hoping one day Alessia would come around. I know she's upset about us not picking out a dog together, but this grudge she held against Tofu had gone on long enough. Did she intend to despise her forever?

"Even if she doesn't like you," I said to Tofu, "it'll be okay because when they leave, it'll be just you and me."

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo #Tofu #poor Less #she's in the loud phase so she drops forbidden words quite frequently now LOL #plus she's always scared because she's paranoid

[storiesbyjes2g]

This morning, just as we were on our way out the door, Ali called, saying he would join us on vacation after all, if it was okay with me. But he couldn't stay the entire time and could only come for two days. That meant he'd be there for Luca's birthday, but not Alessia's. I couldn't imagine her being upset, as Ali's presence was Luca's idea. But I cringed at the possibility of her feeling less important. At least Luca could have his wish after all. I told Ali I wouldn't say anything to the kids so they could be surprised. I also invited him to stay with us. We had enough room for him, and it was only two days. He and Luca could bunk together. That should give them all the guy time they need since he couldn't stay for the whole trip. Plus, I know even just two days is a huge sacrifice financially. I hate to keep pointing that out, but I used to be married to him. I know what his situation is like. Why not help if I can? Besides, I'm doing it for my son. I totally expected him to get mad again and veto my suggestion, but he accepted (with marked resistance, of course).

Ali and I are in a delicate place. After our last conversation, things will either get progressively better or tank really quickly. We haven't spoken since then, and I have zero idea how he received my story. I'm hoping for a fun, drama-free vacation, but I recognize things could go south. No matter what happens, Luca's face when he realized Ali had made it, and watching him run into his dad's arms, makes it all worth it. My job here is done.

When they came out of the embrace, Luca shoved him playfully.

"I don't appreciate you tricking me like that."

Ali smiled in my direction.

"It's all in good fun, son."

I nodded. Luca never needs to know the real story. He has his dad now. I hope this trip is everything he dreamed it would be.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Ali Murillo #Luca Winston Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

Hey, guys! It's me, Jes2G! I'm running the show today. Emmy woke up VERY excited about telling her CEO where to shove the job AND to move into their new house! It looks small on the outside but is really spacious on the inside. They live in Bridgeview, which is the lower income neighborhood in Newcrest where Nick and Kameron are from.

I like neighborhoods that match, so I chose houses of the same style to drop in this neighborhood. I usually don't care what the fake houses in the background look like, but this time I wanted my neighborhood to be a similar style, so it all looks connected and not gentrified LOL. Here are the other houses in this 'hood.

Emmy is pleased!

Here's the back of the house.

The pool.

A ready-made space for her soybean plants.

And an empty area that Luca will probably commandeer for yoga.

I'm mostly happy with this house. Decorating is not my strong suit, so I tend to choose houses that are decorated nicely that I don't have to touch. But I'll be tweaking things here and there over time. This living room is too blue, but I don't want it to be white or beige. I'll eventually figure it out. I got some routing errors, so things have changed already. This house came with a lot of cc I'd never used before that borked things up.

Luca's room. That painting is way too bright for me and I'll eventually evict it lol. He has a small ensuite.

Alessia's room. I had a loooooooot of trouble picking the wallpaper. I wanted to keep it green, but I'm veeeeeeery picky about wallpaper. We'll see how long I'll keep it. I'll probably end up changing out the whole room lol. Or...maybe I'll just do that for their birthdays. 🤔

This kitchen has already changed a lot because of the aforementioned errors. I don't like eat-in kitchens in real life (at least when there's no other dining area), but I love them in my games because it keeps them together. I'm happy they have this space.

And finally, Emmy's master suite! I like and don't like the style lol. I mean...I like it in general. But it clashes with the very Maxis style of this save. But will I feel like doing it all over? That's the million dollar question lol.

The only thing I don't like about the master suite is that it doesn't have a door. You just walk upstairs and BAM you're in her room, so there's no good way to keep the kids out or have privacy. I might add a door.

Anyway, this is the new house! I hope you enjoyed the tour.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2

[storiesbyjes2g]

My children returned home late the next morning, and I immediately whisked them away for lunch. It was all part of my plan to make them agreeable to moving. A new restaurant named Viviana's had opened recently in Newcrest, so I thought eating there and letting them see the area might help. But before I could make my move, I inspected my children. I was so focused on my agenda, I almost missed how different they looked!

My baby girl let her curls out! And was that...lip gloss and eyeliner I saw? Did her little friend have something to do with this? She embraced her femininity more and more, and I was glad to see it. I didn't dislike her tomboyish style, but I worried her admiration for Luca may have gone too far. She dressed like that because he did. It was almost as if she wanted to be Luca. I loved my son, but I didn't want her to be him. I wanted her to be herself—whoever that would be. If she wanted to wear baggy pants and flannel shirts, I wanted it to be because she wanted to, not because she attempted to be someone else.

My handsome son got a haircut, and I could have sworn I saw fuzz on his face?! How had they changed so much? Winter break was long, but was it that long? I sent Ali a text asking what he had fed my children. He returned a laughing emoji.

Once the server took our order, Alessia focused her attention on me like a detective honing in on her prime suspect. I tried to ignore her, hoping she'd stop, but that only made her laser in on me even more. Instead, I began a casual conversation.

"Did you enjoy your time with your dad, Less?"

She glared at me a few moments more.

"You're so smiley," she said suspiciously. "Why are you so smiley?"

"Smiley?"

"You won't stop. It's annoying."

She examined me more intently, and I squirmed under her gaze. What was wrong with smiling? Didn't I always smile?

"You got laid, didn't you?" she asked.

"Alessia," I shouted. "What is with you today?"

"So did you?"

"That's none of your business!"

"She totally got laid," she said to Luca, who was completely unamused.

"I did NOT get laid, not that it's any of your business! This isn't proper table conversation!"

She giggled like she enjoyed making me uncomfortable. "But you went out with him, didn't you?"

"Alessia, I am not playing this game with you."

She sucked her teeth and left me in a tailspin. Was she just that bold and outspoken? Or did my open communication plan backfire on me? Don't get me wrong. I thought it was great she was comfortable asking me that. I want my children to feel like they can talk to me about anything. But I'm her mother, and she treated me like one of her pals. It's great she sees me as a friend, but I want her to respect the boundary too.

I waited a bit for the awkwardness to die down before continuing with my plan.

"This is a nice restaurant, right?"

They both shrugged.

"It's straight," Luca said.

"What if we made this our new place?" I asked.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "The other place is closer."

"That's true," I said. "We could move here..."

They looked at me like I was one of those weirdoes in the city. Showtime!

"I've been thinking we all could use a fresh start. At least I could. I'll always love our house. We've made great memories there. But we also had rough times, and those stick out to me the most. I think it will be good for us to get away from all that and make new memories. What do you think?"

A staring contest began, as if they communicated telepathically or something.

"I guess it's cool," Luca said. "I don't really care where we live."

Yes! If Luca was in, surely Alessia would follow. But I never knew with her and held my breath.

"Less?"

"A new house could be fun."

I was sooooooooooooo HAPPY! I couldn't wait to tell Dwayne we're moving.

"Great! I actually found us a house already, and I think you'll love it."

"What's it like?" Luca asked.

I told them about it, and at first I worried about my private suite. They were waaaaay too excited about it, and I thought I might have to let them have it. But then I told them about the pool. They lost their minds and forgot all about my room.

"There's one more thing, guys."

They beamed at me like I was Father Winter, fishing for another gift at the bottom of my bag. The butterflies in my stomach began flying again.

"Tofu has returned. She's living with us now."

Alessia's eyes narrowed so fast I thought they'd crush me. I waited about three seconds for a response, but decided that was a bad idea. My decision was final. If I let her respond, she'd find a way to make me change my mind. I needed to stop her before she even began.

"Less, I know you have concerns, but I love Tofu and want her to be part of this family. I enjoy helping homeless animals, but I would never bring one into the house if I thought it was dangerous or very sick. I took Tofu to the vet yesterday, and she is perfectly healthy. She's super sweet, and I know you'll love her. There's nothing to worry about, okay?"

She said nothing. She just sat there, pouting.

"Come on, Less," Luca said. "It's just a little dog. Mama won't let it do anything to you. Didn't you want a dog? We have one now. I thought you'd be happy."

She didn't respond to him either, but I really appreciated him stepping in. With any luck, he'll win her over.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Alessia Amina Murillo #Luca Winston Murillo

[storiesbyjes2g]

Once dressed, I thought about where to go. The clubs would be crowded, and as much as I loved getting out there and busting a move, I wanted a quieter evening. Ugh, maybe I was getting old. I decided on a place I hadn't been in ages. The bar where I had my young adult birthday had a lounge vibe, so I texted Dwayne and told him to meet there. We could pre-game, watch the countdown, and go somewhere else to dance the night away.

Dwayne and I spent the night laughing and chatting it up. He was the constant in my life. My stalwart friend. I could always count on him, no matter what took place in my life. No wonder I risked everything for him. I probably should've felt bad for thinking that, but I didn't.

Later, I spotted a blast from the past: my first blind date. He remembered me. As we caught up, I realized asking about his life was a mistake. It was natural to inquire about his marital and familial status. (married, no kids) It was also natural for him to return the same questions. But when I turned to Dwayne to introduce him, I got stuck.

"This is Dwayne, my... My uhhhh...my date."

Luckily, he excused himself to find his wife. As I turned back to Dwayne, I dreaded finding him offended by my hesitation. What if he expected another title? One could say we've been dating casually, but we weren't in a relationship officially. But, as always, I worried for nothing and found him unphased and laughing at me.

"Who was that egghead?"

I appreciated his levity so much! Back in the day, Dwayne knew I had given up on Laurant, but I never told him about the conversation with Mommy about getting out of my comfort zone. So I told him about my blind date adventures with the SimDa dating app.

We were three or four drinks into the night, and Dwayne needed to pee just before the countdown started.

"You're gonna miss it," I said.

"Ki, I gotta go! You not gonna have my bladder failing in front of all these people!"

"Fine! But hurry!"

He penguin walked to the bathroom, and the other patrons gathered around the small television behind the bar. New Year's Eve was one of my favorite holidays. I loved the symbolism. It was like an annual do over. Whatever occurred in our lives over the past 112 days, we could let it go and start fresh at the stroke of 12, like magic!

The clock struck twelve, and everyone cheered. Everyone except me, that is. At 11:59, I looked around and realized I would bring in the new year with strangers. I should have been with friends and family—people I loved!

I did have someone I loved, and I wasn't really alone. But standing there with strangers, celebrating a special moment, made me see how much I wanted someone to celebrate all the moments with and how dumb it was to have that person and not allow myself to be with him. But honestly? It had nothing to do with loving Dwayne and everything to do with holding onto Ali. I felt indebted to him. Accepting Dwayne might sting, and I'll hate doing that to him again. But the facts were that was something he'd need to deal with, not me.

Dwayne came out of the bathroom and asked if we were staying there or going some place else. I suggested we walk down the street to Solar Flare, and I used that time to muster the courage I needed to confess.

A performance was in progress, so we slipped into the back row and listened. My stomach rolled as I thought of what to say. I never had trouble telling a guy how I felt before. And this was Dwayne. It's not like I'd tell him anything he didn't already know. But this was more than simply telling him how I felt. I was about to give him my heart, and it terrified me.

I cleared my throat. "Dwayne?"

"What's up?"

"I gotta tell you something."

He smirked. "Obviously."

I swallowed a huge lump. My breaths increased with each passing second. Ever since Dwayne showed up at my house that night, I'd been anxious a lot. But even my worst freak out didn't compare to how afraid and unstable I felt at that moment.

"I just want to say... What I mean is... Umm... I love you."

He remained cool, like always, but I saw that little blip of surprise in his eyes.

"I love you too, Ki."

Saying those words wasn't the hard part, though. I've felt that sentiment for a while. My next thoughts were the challenge.

"I don't want to keep running from you."

He nodded. "What about your kids?"

"I'll figure it out."

"What about Ali?"

"He doesn't have to know!"

He sighed. "KiKi... You know he's gonna find out."

I sighed too. "I know. But Dwayne, I can't continue living my life in a way that makes him comfortable! What's done is done."

He gave me a concerned glare. "Are you sure? Because once we're in this, I'm not letting you go."

"I'm sure. I'm letting him go. My heart belongs to you now."

"Well...okay then."

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Dwayne Pancakes #that kiss looked hungry lol #I saw tongue did you? #🤣

[storiesbyjes2g]

After playtime, I took Tofu to the cemetery since we were right next door. I told her all about my best girl, Shiloh, and how on a night similar to this, my dear friend, Hunter, came to live with me. Hopefully she appreciated knowing I'm an expert at taking in strays, heh. Of course, I told her all about my parents, too.

"You'll meet the kids again in a few days. I hope Alessia likes you."

It was quite cold, and Tofu began whimpering again. I thought we should head home, but I wanted to try to see Mommy before we left. It was quite early for ghosts, but it couldn't hurt, right?

"Mommy? Are you here?"

No sooner than I put the punctuation on that sentence, she popped out of the grave and gave me the best hug I'd had in a while.

"Hello, my baby! It's so good to see you!"

"Mommy! You're here! I didn't think you'd show. Wait...why are you red? Are you mad at me still?"

"Girl, no! Your lil' friend you left here has way too much energy for me!"

I laughed. "You always thought Hunter was too rambunctious."

"He needs to sit down somewhere sometimes! Anyway...it looks really cold out here, so I don't want you staying long. Tell me everything quick!"

Not even death could stop her from being a mom. She's so amazing.

Too much time had passed since my last visit, and I had much to report. But it was cold, so I gave her the highlights. She was so proud of everything: Proud of me working; Extra proud about my business; Super proud of me becoming the primary parent of my children. I whipped out my phone and showed her the most recent pics I took of them. If ghosts could cry, I'm quite sure her cheeks would have been wet.

She thought Tofu was adorable and jumped for joy when I told her we may move to Newcrest. Hopefully, that would make it easier to visit.

I kept the Dwayne part of my life to myself, seeing as that was a sore spot last time. That and there isn't much to tell at the moment. Maybe one day I'd be brave enough to tell her we were hanging out.

After I'd told all the appropriate stories, I told Mommy I still missed her a lot and I wished she were around for all of this. She did too, of course, but that wasn't how life worked. Before I got too deep in my feelings, she grabbed my neck and told me to get home before I turned into a Freezer Bunny popsicle. Oh, Amina Pope. You're still one of a kind.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Tofu #Amina Pope

[storiesbyjes2g]

I swear, every time my daughter comes back from Ali's, she is more beautiful than when she left. What do they do over there? I can't imagine him teaching them about style because he too needs help in that department. But whatever conversations they have are favoring her. I bet he affirms her all the time. Us girls need that from our daddies.

"Mom...I can feel you staring," she said.

So I'm Mom now? I feel like I've been demoted or something.

"Sorry. You're just so beautiful, babe."

She might think she's grown and too cool for me, but I saw that tiny smile she let slip.

Before they retreated to their rooms, I had to share with them a totally awesome idea I got while I was at the gym.

"So...I have a proposal. What if we take a family trip to Mt. Komorebi for your birthdays? We can stay long enough to celebrate both of them there."

Alessia gasped. "Mt. Komorebi?? And no school??? YES! Count me in!!"

Luca had a happy, confused expression, like he halfway believed me. "Really?? Can Dad come?"

Ali? On vacation with us? Absolutely not!

"Ummmmmmm...I'm not comfortable with that, son."

"But it's my birthday. We're always together for our birthdays."

Ugh! I am such a sucker for this kid. Ever since the moment I knew he existed, I've wanted to give him the world. I can't stand that little croak in his voice.

But maybe I don't have to be the one to break his heart. Ali won't want to stay in our vacation rental, and he definitely can't afford a trip like this. I'll let him be the bad guy for once.

"I still don't think it's a good idea, Luca. But if he agrees to come, I'll be okay with it."

"YES!! Thank you, thank you!"

I turned to Alessia to say something but noted yet another long face.

"What's wrong, babe?"

"We don't know how to ski," she said. "What if we trip and fall off the mountain?"

"Awww, baby, don't worry about that. We won't go near the big mountain until we're ready, okay? Besides, the part where you ski isn't at the top, so no one will fall off the mountain. We'll hang out on the bunny slopes and sled together. It'll be fun!"

"If you say so," she said warily.

"I think we should prepare our minds and bodies for this trip," Luca said. "Everyone, follow me."

Admittedly, this take charge attitude surprised me. But I loved it. He's coming into his own, and it's beautiful.

He led us to the backyard and arranged our yoga mats like a class at the gym, with him in front leading us. I can already see my precious son being the greatest yoga master of all time. So proud!!

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims story #adolting #adolting gen 2 #Emerald Pope #Luca Winston Murillo #Alessia Amina Murillo