"Once upon a time and a very good time it was, there live a beautiful lady named Cinderella who was loved by everyone. But a tragic knocks when she is left with her step mother and sisters who made her life as miserable as they could. Then a prince who was in love with her took her away to his castle and they live happily ever after.....
That was a bed-time story mama used to narrate before I go to sleep. I don't know why but out of all Disney stories this one's my favourite and it turns out that Iam the Cinderella in this world but it is no a fairy tale like story because there is no Prince charming here and the villians are my dear Step Brothers.
A voice was calling me. A voice kept echoing in my ears. Who is this person? And why do my body feel so light and tired? I barely could move on my own as if I was immobile and squeezed in a tiny space or trapped in a black hole. It was the voice that was drawing me out of that strange blank space. "Amehana Chan...Your brothers are here to see you." A voice call me and a tender hand held on one of my pinky finger and I could tell because it was a young boy's scent.
I calmly opened my tired eyes, "Who called my name beside mama?" Gently rubbed my eyes as though I had just woken up from a sleep. The first thing that attracted me was these very round dazzling golden eyes and as my sight widened there stood very handsome majestic young boys and two other young man whom I thought for a second had came out right from a manga.
"This must be a fate. We thought you had eternally went to sleep, heh . So how was your sleep lil sis?" The second sentence was in a more of a teasing tone. He was sitting closer by my side with his elbow resting on the bed and his head leaning on that hand. I watched him confusedly, not understanding what he meant while he smiled at me like he knew all the wonders and mischief of the world.
"Sister?" A river where there is no turning back I was tangled in the world of the past, life seem to have been paused the moment I was trapped in a sleep for hundred days until I was told thereafter.
How would a young girl feel when she is suddenly waken up by unfamiliar faces only to find herself in an unusual manner. They were still a stranger regardless of how appealing they were to my eyes. And I don't recall having a brother! I pulled my hand away from him and asked curiously, "W-who are you?"-
"Oh good Lord, how long have I waited for this miracle !" Mother appears dashing in from the door, exclaiming whom I thought her to be somebody else for a minute. All it took was the touch of the warmth familiar scent of hers to bring me back.
"Mama!? Why are you crying? Where am I? Who are these people?" I still had this belief to have woken up just from yesterday yet it feel to have been a long time ago.
"Iam sorry honey, I know this gonna be difficult for you.." She waited to breath. "And it might take a while to accept this but-" She turn her head and looks at them. "Meet your step brothers. We are going to be a family!" There was cautious joy eyes filled with patience to prevent the confusion waiting for me to respond.
"W-what!?" I gasp in disbelief.
"You had always wanted a family right? Remember you would whim everyday to have a sibling?" She went on to tell me stories to settle me down and bring back the old fond memories.
"Yes mama." I nod my head with a smile. That's true I had always wanted a large family but why is my heart unable to accept this?
"I always knew you were fond of brothers." She chuckles a bit as to show her bliss. She begin to introduce them one by one to me. "Here, the one just a while ago is your fourth brother Aito and the other one sitting beside you is your third brother Sora." She smiles at me.
"Aito? Sora kun?" I blink my eyes and study them then smiles.
"Yes, and the other brothers are Haruto and Daichi. Daichi is the eldest brother so call him brother Daichi am I clear Amechan?" A tear escape from her eyes.
"Yes mama, Ame-chan will obey you so please stop crying..." I say softly and wipe away her tears.
"Dear, it's just happiness." She then shift her eyes to the handsome middle aged man standing by the door. "And your new dad..."
"Father?" I ask. She nod her head in reply.
The man replied approaching towards me, "Yes, AmeChan call me father."
Unaware of my movement I lifted up my arms, wanting to be embraced when I recalled my real dad was no more and he hugs me in an instant.
"Father!" Voice cracked as I hug him back and emotions overwhelming me. Just how long I yarned for a father's love and care? The last time I was embraced by my dad was when I was about nine. Only some fragment of my memories remained. And how strange I find for not able to remember the face but his scent, given that I have a really sharp nose. But if he were to be alive Iam sure he will be at this age... I wonder why he smells so much like father. Is it maybe because of the desire to see him again?
They then took me to a castle-like mansion. The place was so large and beautiful to the extent of giving me the reflection of my dream world. Iam beyond grateful to have been taken in by these amazing people because if I remember, before all this great drama it was only a fantasy I read in story books.
And a really weird coincident when I was told that it was my tenth birthday.