Malvina
The sun is nearing the horizon, the sky is a beautiful shade of orange and pink, and birds are flying back to their homes. The streets are pretty much empty as everyone is approaching their homes.
I sigh. What a lovely evening to be sprawled out in front of a car that looks like it can pay for two of your generations and a man the size of an electric pole, extending his hand towards you.
The kind gentleman stepped out of the car when I was busy gawking at it. I glance towards his outstretched palm and gingerly grab it.
He pulls me up on my feet. "Miss?"
I take in his appearance. He looks like someone straight out of some spy movie. Probably in his early thirties, with short stubble, in a black suit and tie, with his deep brown, slick hair gathered in a bun at the back. I am sure I even catch a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out of his collar. Scary but charming.
But definitely not my type. Why are you even thinking that? I shake my head and jerk my hands out of his.
"I apologise Miss." He nods and takes a step back. Now I feel bad for reacting in such a way.
"No! No, that's fine." Shut up. I bend down to grab my bag. I stuff in the pasta box and zip it close.
The moment I stand straight a sharp pain shoots up my left leg. I must have probably twisted it. A painful sob leaves my mouth before I clamp it down. I don't want to cry in front of a stranger.
"Are you okay Miss?" The man holds me by my arm and speaks in a gruff but gentle voice that rather than comforting me, sends chills down my spine. But, His jade eyes look concerned.
I smile awkwardly, "Bad day, didn't see the car coming. I am fine, thank you." I mumble as I slowly backaway . My grip on my bag strap tightens and I take another step back, ready to disappear any moment.
All I want is to watch a nice movie with my brother and eat the damn pasta. Is that too much to ask?
"Are you just going to walk away like that, miss?" he added. His brows pinched together as if judging me.
"Do you want me to compensate for any damage? But I didn't even touch your car." I ask, confused.
"Of course not, Miss!" He exclaimed. " If you will follow me, I will bring you to the doctor. It seems you have hurt your leg." He then explains calmly in a smooth tone with a hint of an Italian accent. I can tell as I hear Mr and Mrs Sutton speak all the time.
I grip my bag tightly. Getting in a car with a stranger? A big no. The memory of that creepy figure watching me from across the street crosses my mind. To much drama for a day, ain't gonna add abduction to the list.
When he sees me hesitate, he looks to his right towards the car, and I follow his line of sight only to be greeted by the tinted glass of the car.
"Miss, I don't want you to pay me for anything but you have to come with me so you can get your leg checked by a doctor, you must be hurt," he speaks again as if talking to a wounded child.
"How about, a no?" He looks at me as if I asked for his security number. Either way, I am not going anywhere with him.
I hear the click of the car door and watch someone step out of the car. No way I want to converse with the owner.
I shake my head, mumble a quick apology, and run away limping, leaving the man in shock and confusion. His problem, not mine.
_______________________________________
I reach the manor's back door and pull it open to step inside the long hallway. Fluorescent lamps on the ceilings, emits an orange glow. Did I mention that it was generations old, only renovated from time to time but never changed in the original style?
I quickly reach the stairs leading to my room. There is another set of stairs in the main hall, but I ain't going there knowing I will probably get scolded for being so late without notice.
I ascend, winching each step till I reach my room. I place my bag and the box of pasta on the chair in the corner. Just as I turn around the door opens and I am greeted by my brother.
Ronan. His tall frame towers over my five feet five body and I tilt my head back to stare at his messy soft brown hair and hazel eyes, both the exact shade of mine, making it obvious of our shared genes.
The usual thin frames are absent, replaced by a quirky gleam in his eyes. He smiles at me, making the small dimple in his left cheek more evident. He is still in his uniform, a reminder that he is just back from his classes. Or part-time.
"What's with that face?" I raise my brow. He drops his bag, picks me up, and starts spinning me around.
"Ro! Put me down!" I shreek.
He chuckles and finally puts me down. "Wait a sec." He slips out an envelope from his bag and places it in my hand with a smile on his face. I eye him suspiciously and pull the letter out.
"Read it." He smiles.
"Okay…I hope its not a lottery ticket this time." I tease him.
"Oh please. That was one time, get over it." He huffs.
I giggle and pull out the letter from inside the envelope. My eyes skim over the contents of the letter.
"We are glad to inform you that your application for Northridge University is accepted. You are invited to join the next session that will commence from…" I look at him in shock and the next minute I wrap my arms around him tightly.
"Oh! Ronan. I am so proud of you." I cry. "This-" A sudden realisation comes to my mind. I pull away slowly, "Northridge? That means out of the country…" I shake my head, "No, it's good. It's great for your career." I smile at him.
"Mev, are you crying?" He pinches my cheeks.
"Crying? Over finally getting out of babysitting duties? Yeah, whatever." I swat his hands away.
"Yeah..more like getting rid of the babysitter. No more making your bed every morning." He points at my tidy bed he made this morning after I ran late for my exam.
I roll my eyes and hold the letter infront of my face, " Northridge is the best place for talented students like you."I then give it back to him and place a hand on his shoulder. "When do you need to leave?" It's fine, he should be safe and away from every hardship.
" Beginning of the new semester. After your graduation." He tries to smile but his lips pulls into a thin line instead.
"That's in..like three weeks. No way they sent a letter this close to the deadline." I search for the date on the letter and I sigh as I see the date.
"Ronan! It was sent a months ago. Why wouldn't you- wait" I grap his arm "Were you trying to let it go?" He doesn't answer and avoids looking at my eyes. He does that every time he lies. "Seriously!"
"I was confused." He mumbles.
"Confuse? About what? What's there to be confused about?"
"I just-I thought it's- Its a bad idea to just leave you here alone and-"
"Look at me." I grab his face and make him meet my eyes.
"You have done so much for me and-"
"Shut up. You don't owe me anything." He sighs. "There is nothing that I have done for you that you haven't done for me. We are family, Ronan. Its not a give and take thing! I love you, all I have ever want for you, is for you to be happy." I caress his face, "Did you think, I could have been fine, knowing that my brother is giving up on his happiness for me?"
"I don't want you to be alone." He whispers, casting his eyes down.
"How can I ever be alone as long as I have you? Do you think any distance would change that?" I ask gently.
He shakes his head.
"Stupid. If that's what you wanted, why show it now?"
"I thought about it for so long. I realised that if I go to such prestigious institute, I can get a good job and then I can support you and we could afford to live happily together as a family, without you having to worry so much." He meekly explains.
"Dummy!" I chuckle and wrap my arms around him, "What am I ever gonna do with you?"
His confession breaks my heart as well as mends it. The way he still made a decision with me in favour, I cannot help but love him. My baby brother. How? How did I got him?
I pull away and bite my upper lip and glance upwards, "It's so dusty in here. I need to clean this room. Agh! Something fell into my eyes." I turn around, gathering a few books off the bed.
Ronan hugs me from the back and rests his chin on top of my head. "I promise I will build a beautiful future for us, I will-" he turns me around to face him, "-work hard for us, so you don't have to worry about anything anymore. Give me a few more years, just a few more years, my sister. I promise."
A tear rolls down my cheek, Ronan just smiles and wipes it off with his shirt sleeve. His own eyes glistening with unshed tears. It so unlikely of him, if anything my brother rarely ever cries. I reach forward and hug him back, placing my head on his chest, while sobbing.
"My baby, when did you grow up so much? Don't you dare worry yourself about these things. I will take care of us." I take a shaky breath, "You. You will live a life, far better than me. You will have everything that I didn't and then when I look at you, all happy and successful. That day, Ronan, I will say, my life wasn't a waste." I look at him through the tears in my eyes only to find him shedding a few himself. He gave a tight nod and a small smile.
"Did I make you upset, Malvina?" He asked in a quiet voice.
I shake my head "You make me feel like the luckiest sister in the world. I am proud that you are my brother"
"I am happy that I have you, Malvina. You are the only thing I need." He said with a smile.
"Same pinch." I chuckle.
___________________________________
An hour later,
"I think it's fractured." Ronan deadpans.
I smack his hand that is inspecting my foot.
We decided to celebrate his news with an old movie and a bowl of reheated pasta.
On such occasions, like today, when we both take a break from regular work, we join the two single beds, bring out the spare cushions from the storeroom, and create a comfy space where we watch some movies on 'our' laptop.
We got to use it after Ms. Lily decided to get a new one, it was as good as new, I don't know why someone would even decide to throw it.
"If it were fractured, I would not be sitting here and watching movies, I would be screaming and crying for the whole of Westwoods to hear. Use common sense Ro." I speak while chewing my pasta.
" Shouldn't we go, get it checked? Like I can't carry you like a grandma when you are only twenty-five. Besides you are too heavy" he says as a matter of fact.
"Did you just call me fat? Look, my bones are visible." I said, pointing towards my collarbones. "Besides, I surely weigh less than you, giant." I kicked him on his shin with my good leg, he hisses and shakes his head, ignoring me as if I am the annoying younger sibling and continues watching the movie.
I roll my eyes and smile.
This is what we are. Siblings, best friends, and family. We care for each other one moment, cry in each other's arms, and in the next moment, bicker and fight.
Even after everything, we were one. Family. And I would do anything to protect it.
Anything.
"What happened to your face? You look like you are plotting someones murder."
I chuckle. "Shut up and concentrate on the movie."
"This is the thousandth time that we are watching this movie. At this point I have memorised the entire dialogues." He whines while shoving another spoonful of pasta.
"I am taking a nap, don;t disturb me."
"Whatever."
I close my eyes. Deep brown eyes. "Rose."
I gasp and my eyes open wide. What was that memory?