My name is Tan, And we with my mother came back to the country side after 7 Years in the capital. I meant some of my old friends who I used to play it. Back When I was 15. Now that I'm a full grown Adult. 22. And also Graduated in College. I still haven't have a Job yet. I want to join as a teacher. On the school I used to enroll to.
While I'm finishing removing the boxes everything I have. I was given a Call to my Auntie to come to our house.
I haven't seen My aunt Samantha for 5 Years.
I replied to the call and accept it. While I'm driving to the Motor bike I have. I came to the front door of my aunt's house. But I feels in ruins.
I look around and a Neighbor recognize me and said.
"Oh Tantan! It's been so long how have you been!"
"I'm still good, Is there someone here?"
"Oh it's Aunt Sandy. Samantha yes, they move out. To her Husband's house"
"Oh! Thank you Ms."
While driving, I received a called by my Aunt. And told me where it is.
"We move out like 4 years ago"
"it's fine, I'm almost there"
"Wait you're on foot?"
"I'm at my Motorcycle"
"You shouldn't drive while on the phone! I'm stopping the call"
For a few minutes later. With another turn in at the house. I called Aunt Samantha and sure enough. She is there.
"It's been so long! Tan, Your so old and you already pass my height!"
My aunt let me inside the house.
"This is your husband's house?"
"Yeah"
They got married a year before I left to the capital. Their about to be 8 years together. If I remember.
"Oh Tan, Good to see you"
"Oh good morning, Sir...?"
"Eric, Eric is fine also"
I was sit down. And My aunt gave me water. I look around. And it feels empty. Photo case without a photo inside. Nails at the wall.
Something isn't right here.
"Oh right, Hun! I got accepted, and I can able to work abroad!"
"That's nice to hear"
I want to butt in. But my aunt used to be a teacher so I'm surprised when she mentioned it.
When where finished eating. I was given money by my Aunt.
"Aunt I'm old enough, you can keep it"
"I guess that's fine... Also I want to tell you something"
"What is it?"
"Can you... Help..." My aunt whisper in my ear.
I knew it something is wrong... I have superstition, that happen. But my aunt knew something is wrong.
Middle in the night. I came back again. And sure enough. I heard in the walls.
"Pa! No! Please!" I heard a women. Getting hit. And my Aunt's husband is angry. Calling my Aunt and the women insufe this wall bad things. And wasting money on other people. Probably talking about me.
Since the house is full of concrete. I can't hear what their saying until I carefully listen.
I listen as he brutalize. And hurt the person inside.
This person... Is probably husband's old Daughter from a different mother. My Aunt told me about it. She doesn't saw her unless she's going outside for school. Or trying to escape... She also said she's only 12... But only been here for 2 years.
The next day. I came back here.
"Good morning"
"Oh come in!" Auntie's husband look at me. In cheerful way.
"Oh where are you both going?"
"Where going for a date. Since this is going to be our final until. I came back home" My Aunt said, but she whisper at me and said
"I have, an extra key on the window outside. After we left. Please help her"
I left. And a few hours later. She's still away. I sneak by. And used the keys. I given.
"There... That used be..." When I open the door. It's a girl in bruises. Walking trying to find food in the refrigerator.
"H-hey"
She look at me.
"Who are you!?" She immediately used the chair as a Weapon. I immediately calm her down.
"He-hey, I'm with your Aunt Samantha. I'm her cousin"
"Cousin... You're with Aunt Samantha"
"What happen to your face?"
She look in shocked and runs toward the door. But immediately grab her hand
"Le-let go!"
"Shh! I'm here to help you"
"Help?"
"Yes"
She look relief. But still in cautious.
"What's your name" I told her about it when she calm down.
"My name is Valkyrie Col..."
"Valkyrie... That's a wonderful name"
"It is..?"
"Yes! It's a unique name for sure, back in the capital city. There's nobody name "Valkyrie" "
She rub her stomach.
"You're hungry?"
"Y-yeah... I only been eating left over food once a day..."
That's horrible... I hope that person get to jail...
After buying something outside. I came back. And she's still waiting in the table
"I thought you already left..."
"Nonsense, while I just left my 2nd Cousin, hungry on the side"
"But... I'm not related to you... My father always said that I will never be love... My mother dump me in the streets, so I was forced to be here"
I look in shocked what she said. She started, to cried. Then I said
"Don't think about that, My aunt trust me to save you, so here and now. I don't see you as stranger but a family member, now eat"
"Right!"
Thank goodness. I was right... About her food condition. If I bring a lot of food. She could die because of it. I only bring bread And pasta. It sure be enough
"Don't eat alot, you could die because of it"
She sniff. And said
"Thank you, brother! I haven't eat this good for so long"
I don't know how worse is condition are. I don't really wanna know how bad. But the more I look at her. The more Imagine what happen.
My aunt called me. And said
"Hey, what I said earlier... Change of plans. Please let her live in your house for a while"
"Is something wrong?"
"My... Husband is super drunk. And brought like dozen of Alcohol to bring it home, It could be dangerous if he came back. I will try to keep him behave until sober"
She hang up immediately.
"Hey Valkyrie..."
"Yeah?" Still eating.
"Do you want to... Live in my house?"
After saying that. She began tearing up.
"Woah, woah! Did I say something bad?"
"N-no" she said while she's began crying "That was my f-father said when h-he told m-me to sta-stay here..."
I see... So her father isn't a bad person before... Rather if he's drunk when it's awful...
"Did your father... Done something bad to you like-"
"N-no! He didn't... He Haven't done something like that... Everytime he got drunk... that's when I fear him the most..."
"So... Do you want to stay on my house?"
"I... Don't know... I don't have any money and-"
"You don't need to. It's only a few days"
When we arrived to my place. I got a phone message by my mother
"Oh? She's gone back to the capital city... I guess it's only two of us here for now..."
I unlocked the door and enter in.
"No need to be afraid, come in"
"Is this your House brother?"
"Ain't much, but it's my father's house actually"
"You're father?"
"Yes, My father is in the military, well rather navy"
"That's cool!"
I look at her.
"Well since where here. Do you want to eat something"
"Eh? I already ate a while ago-"
"Don't worry I haven't eaten yet, and It's about to be 7"
While I'm preparing with the ingredients, She looks at me.
"Is something wrong?"
"Are you a construction worker brother?"
"N-no, well... Used to be haha..."
After I finished cooking it. I prepared the service
"You're not eating?"
"Erhm..."
"You don't like Fried rice?"
"I... Haven't taste that... is it good?"
"Yeah, Fried rice is always good! Especially if it's left over rice"
"Left over Rice?"
"Ah... Not that type, Well You can understand that if you cook rice before, have you?"
"N-no" She shake her head.
"Well if I have time, I could help you with that"
"Really!?" She look at me smiling.
After eating. I told her to take a shower.
"Is the cloth good?"
"Yeah, It's too big for me..." *Sniff*
"Hey don't sniff it out! *Ehem* Sit down to the chair"
She sits down. And I bring out a box.
"Can I... Remove the bandage on your left cheek?"
"N-no!"
"Does it hurt?"
"Ye-yeah"
"I will carefully remove it. Just brace it okay?"
"O-okay..."
As I remove the Bandage on her left cheek. I can see a large line. And it started to bleed.
"A-ahh..."
"Just hold still. Don't move much..."
I remove the Bandage and add warm cloth on it.
"It is still in pain?"
"Yeah"
"When this happens?"
"Yesterday... Father... Smash a beer bottle on my face..."
"Do... You have other Incident like that also?"
"On... My arm... My back... And also back of my head"
"Excuse you!?"
I immediately look behind her head.
"It's seem to heal... Did Aunt know this?"
"Yes. She's the one who check me in the local hospital"
I look at her arm. It's still in bandage.
"This is... You been cutting your self..."
"I..."
"I should be mad. But Right now you need emotional support. But please never resort to that, Does it hurt?"
"Yes..."
"When did you started this?"
"6 months after My father let me in"
"How many times you cut your self"
"Too many to count"
After I patch her up, I told her where her room.
"This is my mother rooms... You can stay here for a while"
"Is that okay? It's your mother's room after all-"
"Don't worry, we only been here for 1 month, but she already left to the Capital"
"Oh..."
"You can sleep alone right?"
"Ye-yeah, I can"
"Can you sleep without lights?"
She nodded. And I turn off the lights.
Good damn... Never knew is going to happen... Nevertheless... It should be fine by now. Tomorrow I guess I will contact her old school, to rechange Guardian.
The next day. Saturday. While preparing for Breakfast. Aunt Samantha called me.
"Hey, Tantan, how's your first day with Valkyrie"
"Where fine, she recovering... Pretty well"
"That's wonder"
"Is... Her dad still there?"
"He's still a sleep, anyways. I should tell her about her school"
"Ah, I was about to message about that"
"Her grades are failing. And probably going to left behind this school year"
"How terrible is it?"
"Almost all exception to Literature"
"... How her grades before?"
"Their above average with 92 Average... In the first quarter but slowly fail at 2nd quarter and 3rd quarter where she doesn't go to school"
"I think that's impossible to recover"
"You mentioned Tan Your going to be a teacher on your old school, when your back in Capital. Should you applied their and transfer Valkyrie over there"
"That's actually what I'm going to do, Only need is me actually passing"
"What did you finish?"
"psychology"
"Eh I thought you want to be a Teacher-"
"I found out that even without a teachers degree you can in public schools"
"Hmm... If you say so... I will contact the school about it"
"Ah wait! Don't forgot to change the guardian to me"
"Ya ya, I will contact you when a schedule happened"
After the phone calls. Valkyrie open the door in her room.
"Did you have a good sleep?"
"It's... One of the best, I haven't experienced this in years"
"I guess that great, you can wait till the breakfast is finished"
"Okay!"
Hmm come to think of it. I should buy her some new clothes. She only bring her school uniform. It's also Saturday.
"Hey Valkyrie, do you want to go outside?"
"Erhm..."
"Well if you don't want to, I can go buy it my self"
"What is it?"
"You're clothes, I don't know your size but I can buy it"
"I can come!"
"That's great, After breakfast, wear your School Uniform"
After eating. I drive to the City.
"Is this your first time here?"
"It's my second time. First time when I got Injured, I told you yesterday"
"Ah! That"
If my memories is correct there should be an old Clothing shop here. But seems like it got move.
"Well no choice but to head to MM"
When I got to security. I got ask about Valkyrie
"Are you her guardian?"
"Yes sir. I have contact with her Step mother, whose my Aunt"
"Hmm... I will contact her, What's her number "
"It's 09xx xxx xxxx"
"Right. Just stand still don't move anywhere"
After my Aunt was message, we where let free.
"Clear, I'm sorry for suspecting"
"It's fine, you're doing your job"
We head to the clothing store.
"What do you want Valkyrie"
"Can I?"
"Well yeah, Anything except higher than 1k"
We pick for a while. But everything she pick one is always white T-shirt
"Do you have something else than white color?"
"Well... I don't know....all my clothes has White on them. Some have black stripes"
"I guess I could get help"
I talk one of the workers there. And a few minutes later. She got a brand new clothes.
"How much is it?"
"3k"
"Eh? All of them?"
"Yes"
"Erhm... She look satisfying looking her self in the mirror... I guess it should be fine, I will also buying all of this also"
"I'm just gonna ask... Why is your child have brushes and scars in her face?"
"It's not my child... Rather a Guardian. I was told to take care of her for a while"
"I see... It's the father or the mother?"
"Both... Her biological mother left her in the dump, after taking care of her for 10 years... Her father, abuse her when he's drunk"
"Oh... So it's an broken family?"
"Rather than that. My aunt or her step mother is the only one who taking care of her until I showed up"
Damn. To think I spend 4k haaa.... I should find a part time soon or get that job...
I look at Valkyrie and see seems looking at something.
"Have you experience that before?"
"No my mother told me to not play with one"
Ice skates, I used to play them back when they have a small area where you can Ice skate. Seems like it's only open once a month.
"Wanna try one? I can Ice skate"
I order two and we equip our equipment and I slide to the open ice.
"Right! Valkyrie, Came here just a little push"
"I can't!"
I ski toward her. And hold her on the tip of the hands
"There. Try having balance"
"Balance..."
She tries to move her legs.
"There, You can do it. Just slow and steady"
As she repeat moving her legs. I told her
"I will letting go okay?"
"Wait no!"
I let her go
"Wait brother Tan!"
She tries to balance her self. Without support. And she managed to stand still
"Haha! You're still angry about that?"
"Hmm..."
Brother Tan... I don't...
During when where Ice Skating and I fell down.
"Kya!"
"Valkyrie!"
He doesn't hesitate to grab my hand. Which also lose his balance. He started laughing. While I was about to cry. He pat my head and said.
"It's already-, wait for a minute"
He stood up and reach his hands
"Here, let's go"
That's the moment. I truly believe that He is a Good person... I smile and said
"Thank you"
After that. A few days later...
Valkyrie and I, able to live comfortably in my house. We have chores to do. And I already applied to the public school. As a teacher.
"Is it a good time to go back to your parents house?"
She stood still and said
"I don't want to..."
I understand what she said. And I replied
"I figured you will say that"
"What's this box?"
"Open it"
"This is!?"
"Books I have when I was a kid. I was arranging on the 2nd floor. When I found some of my books it might be useful for you"
"Thank you Brother Tan!"
In the few months. We stay like this. After the confirmation of me able to get the teacher job. And Valkyrie or During that time She wants me to called a different name. So I called her Rei, Because of Kyrie in the end of her first name.
"Rei, Your going to be late"
"Yeah"
"Hurry up and finished dressing"
I look at the mirror and I said to my self.
"You can do this Valkyrie... Brother Tan help you in the past 4 Months together. It's your first day in a different school in Grade 5"
During the 4 months. My step mother Samantha have gone to overseas. I was allowed to live with Brother Tan. My Father on the other hand. Is a way after getting a contract with someone in the Capital city.
"Rei!"
"I'm coming!"
I closed the door. And Brother Tan is waiting. On his suit.
"Hold tight!"
"Yeah!"