The BayRise Initiative had completely reshaped San Jose, Milpitas, and Redwood City into a sprawling, modern urban expanse. Towering residential buildings, gleaming office blocks, and ultra-modern condos rose so densely that the cityscape seemed to shimmer under the sun. This area had earned the nickname "Triple City," a recognition of its radical redevelopment and the seamless integration of three distinct urban centers into a single, continuous metropolitan experience. Every building, from high-rise condos to private houses, came equipped with GPSIS, Nautlix Inc.’s universal AI butler designed to anticipate every need. It coordinated everything from climate control and security to grocery deliveries and home entertainment, ensuring life ran with an almost invisible efficiency. GPSIS was not limited to luxury residences; it operated across all homes in the BayRise zone, making this corner of Silicon Valley some of the most technologically advanced urban space in the world.

Electricity flowed endlessly and without cost, thanks to Teelium’s deuterium fusion power plants, which Nautlix Inc. directly supplied to the area. This constant, free supply of energy had transformed the local culinary landscape. Traditional gas stoves were largely replaced by induction cooktops, and restaurants embraced electrification, optimizing for precision and sustainability. Only a few establishments kept gas open flames, reserving them for chefs who prized the distinctive flavor and char produced by direct fire.

In Redwood City, a massive new convention center had risen as part of the BayRise vision. Built for the citizens as much as for visitors, the center doubled as a sprawling high-end mall and connected directly to the brand-new subway station that had just opened. Its structure featured ten to twelve enormous exhibition halls, along with upscale restaurants, cafés, citizen-friendly amenities, a theater, and a 24-hour open public space that doubled as a concert venue for stand-up comedy, music performances, plays, and even political rallies. The rooftop opened as a lush rooftop park, while smart management was handled entirely by Nautlix Inc.’s GPSIS system, keeping the entire complex running smoothly and unmanned around the clock.

On the day the convention center officially opened, the mayor of Redwood City stood before the gathered crowd and declared:

“We are most honored to open this convention center, and above all, we are proud that this place belongs to all of you, the citizens. Here, you can enjoy shopping and dining, experience culture and the arts, and spend precious time with friends and family. Performances, exhibitions, political and social discussions of all kinds will unfold in this space, and every moment will be kept safe and convenient thanks to the smart management system GPSIS. Today, we are not simply opening a building; we are beginning a new chapter in which Triple City shares a truly connected, modern urban experience with all of you. May this convention center become a central hub where creativity, innovation, and the power of community can be felt by everyone. We welcome you all, and we look forward to the countless memories and opportunities that will be created here.”

As applause rippled through the crowd, many people already viewed the gleaming new center as a future landmark. Some murmured while walking through its bright, spotless halls and the pristine new subway station that served as its transportation hub:

“This place is going to be one of the biggest landmarks for us from now on.”

Another person replied with a grin, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

You step inside the newly opened convention center out of curiosity and find yourself drawn to one of the fresh restaurants, an Ethiopian eatery, one of the rarer choices in the area. The scent of spices and injera fills the air as many patrons tear pieces of the spongy flatbread to scoop up stews and vegetables at their tables.

You take a seat at an empty table and pick up the menu. As you begin scanning the options, a woman approaches with eyes burning with intensity. It is Kylie, your longtime rival, the stepsister you have come to resent deeply.

The history between you is tangled and bitter. Your father and her mother had married, but their union ended in a messy divorce amid fierce arguments. Somehow, the conflict spilled over onto both of you, poisoning the relationship between their children. Neither of you knows the exact reasons behind the feud anymore; the details have been lost to time, distorted by years of resentment. Your father has since passed away, and Kylie’s mother suffers from Alzheimer’s, leaving no one to clarify what truly happened. The mutual hostility has simply become a fact of life, fed by whatever each parent had said about the other in private.

Kylie stops beside your table, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Well, well. Never thought I’d run into you here.”

She pulls out the chair across from you and sits down without waiting for an invitation, still glaring.

“My mom used to say your dad thought he could make her happy, but it turned out he was just a sex-crazed asshole. And you, his son, you’re nothing but a selfish prick. You never treated me any better either.”

She leans in slightly, menu in hand as well, her tone laced with weary resignation.

“Looks like you got a job around here too. Same as me. The problem is, even if we’d rather die than see each other’s faces, this damn Silicon Valley is smaller than it looks. We’re bound to keep bumping into each other.”

You look at her. Kylie stares back, eyes narrowed, the weight of years of unexplained family drama hanging thick between you both.

The menu remains open in your hands, and hers as well. The spicy aroma of Ethiopian food drifts through the restaurant while distant sounds of the bustling new convention center echo faintly in the background. The tension between you feels as unresolved and heavy as ever, the old wounds still raw despite the passage of time.

Neither of you speaks for a long moment.