A LITTLE TOUCH OF ROSE - EPISODE 2

I stared at her in complete shock and disbelief. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Everything father told me was a lie, a complete lie. It didn’t make any sense but at the same time, it did. I chuckled to myself and shook my head as my mother continued to cry. That would explain why he never wanted me to know her location. I gave in to the urge and pulled her in for a hug.

My darling mother had been suffering because she fell in love with the wrong man, because she loved the wrong child; and that child made her miserable. I made her miserably poor as my first punishment after her husband died. I made sure no company hire her, made sure my siblings got kicked out of school and rejected from every other school because I was mad. I made sure when my other sister was sick, the hospitals refuse to treat her. Unfortunately and fortunately, she survived. I had done so much to suffer them, but I would fix it. But first, I must get to know them better.

“Thank you for today,” mom smiled genuinely. We were out of the park and walking where she was going.

“I love helping, you remind me of my mother.”

“Oh? Where is she?”

“Dead, they all are,” I lied. She froze on her step and looked at me with wide eyes. “Yes, I’m an orphan and don’t have anyone.”

“Where do you live? What is your name?”

“My name is Rosita Fiero,” I used My fake surname like I always do.

“Rosita, queen of roses,” she smiled. I smiled back at her. “Sorry, I know a lot of flower names because of my daughter. Can I call you, Rosy?”

“Too common, I usually go by Roe or Sita,”

“I guess I’ll be the first to call you Rosy because that’s what I’m calling you. Now where do you live?”

“Hmm,” I took my lip into my mouth and rolled my eyes away with feign sheepishness. She gasped. “You don’t have a home!”

“Well, sort of,” I lied. I almost laughed at the lie. I had houses allover the world. Oh mother, you don’t know how wealthy your daughter is. Once I’m done with my mission, I’ll spoil you rotten, spoil you with money.

“Oh my goodness, you sleep wherever you end? I will not let a young girl like you love under such…such… Circumstances! You are coming home with me, don’t argue.”

“But you don’t know me,” I protested.

“Who cares? I know how it feels like to be homeless because I once was. Even right now, I don’t have a home, living in my boss’s house but that doesn’t mean I will let you live like this. If you can, you can work and you’ll be fed. Don’t you think?” I nodded with fake excitement. The truth is, I barely smile, laugh or even show emotions. I only chuckled a little when speaking with my best friends, Romi, and the two annoying brothers, Terrison and Tennyson. Nevertheless, I never show much even with them.

“I need to get my things first and I think you should talk this out with your children as well, so you won’t get in trouble. If you’ll give me your address, I’ll be at your place tomorrow evening.” I said. She nodded in agreement, though it was clear she wasn’t happy about the me spending one more night outside.

Nice, mom is nice.

“Then, your address,” I knew where she lived, but I wasn’t going to tell her I did.

_______________

“Welcome home, Altansarnai,” my first best friend, Romi greeted. Yes, Romi is a computer. I created her when I was ten, she was my first intelligent life creation. Every three months I gave her new upgrades. She was my everything since she was everything. The second reason I was so successful. And she had emotions, she loved me as much as I loved her.

“Romi, I missed you,” I chuckled.

“You were only gone for eight hours, thirty five minutes and fourteen seconds. Am I that amazing?” She asked with her computer voice. Most times, she spoke with two seconds separating her words. It’s not like she can’t talk well, she just choose to because she said it makes her cute. Don’t look at me, ask her.

“I missed you so much, baby,” I teased. She laughed.

“You are happy, you are not always happy. Did you finally kill the person you wish to?”

“I didn’t, I found something more unbelievable.”

“You found out that I am right, your mother didn’t abandon you. I know I am amazing, you can thank me now.” Yes, she had been telling me all my life that my mother isn’t bad. According to the research she carried out, my father’s words didn’t add up to what she found.

“Yes, Romi, you were right. I am so sorry I didn’t believe you,”

“Apology accepted. Now, what do you wish to do to correct your mistake? You have frustrated your family a lot.”

“I am going to live with them…”

“What about me?” She cried. I laughed.

“Romi, don’t you follow me everywhere?” I asked. She chuckled.

“Oh, that’s true. So, would you like me to give you a different disguise? Something to suit the character you will take?”

“Yes, I’ll love something that would make me cute, breathtaking, innocent and not scary.” I said as I took off my jacket, walking to the changing room.

“You are always scary, no matter what look you take. All you need to do is show them the eyes,” she chuckled.

“Yes, but I want something that would make me different. I’m beautiful,” I smiled at my reflection in the mirror and stroke my fake black hair. “All of these is not easy to come by. My beauty comes with a strong sexiness and gorgeousness lace up with it and again, scariness. I am scary no matter how adorable I am, because that’s just the Donahue way. So, I want you to give me something to hide that scariness, make it less. When I need to scare them, I’ve got the eyes.”

“Ooh, what about pink?” I threw my head back as she laughed, she knew I didn’t like the colour.

“Pink is too girly and everyone’s brand. I need something else.”

“What other colour speaks cute than pink?” She snorted.

“Romi, I need something less popular,”

“Try lavender,” I glared at the camera on the wall, like I was glaring at her. She laughed again. “Okay, what about green?”

“Do you want me to look like cartoon barf?” I rolled my eyes as she giggled again. “Come on, Romi, What good are you if you can’t dress your best friend properly?”

“I’ve been doing that all my life,” she said accusingly, “you never listen to my choice of what to wear,”

“Are we talking about the rainbow thing again?” I asked with amused brow raised.

“I still think rainbow suits you,” she said pettishly, “but whatever, try gold,”

“Altansarnai’s look, not for normal day. I need something unique but won’t make me look like money bathe me. Try something I have never tried before…”

“Can I really go crazy?” She asked excitedly, “really, really?”

“Sure, why not?”

“White! White, white, white!”

“White? I have never worn white before,”

“I know, that’s the point. I’ve always pictured you with white, you will look cute and totally adorable. With white, your cuteness would look like an anime character,”

“Exaggerating,” I sang. She chuckled.

“Please, use white, please…?”

“Alright, white it is. Your eye colour?”

“What do you think?”

“You share the same pupil with a cat, and your almond shaped eyes would make you cuter and unique if you use silver and steel or gunmetal blue.”

“Silver?” I asked with wide eyes. “Silver?” I murmured.

“Yeah, so, would you? Would you?”

“Yes, let’s do it.”

“Yes!” I chuckled. I took off every clothing and walked to the machine I created. Instead of spraying or dying my hair, the machine scan and change my hair and eye colour to whatever I choose. It looks natural and cannot be removed until I use the machine to remove it.

I laid on the machine bed. The cap closed against my head and entire body.

“Hair colour code, white with silver shimmer. Eye colour, silver, gunmetal blue. Lips, change from rosegold to vivid red. Transformation completion in thirty five minutes. Transformation begins in T-minus ten seconds, do hold still.”

Here goes nothing.

Sakura’s standpoint

I sighed sadly as I washed my hands, mom was yet to return. I used my arm to wipe my eyes as I sniff. If only mother could tell me what was wrong. I used to ask father, but he would tell me that it is my mother’s secret to tell. I knew she was protecting me from the pain she was feeling, but I deserve to know I probably had a twin sibling that died.

Why else would she hold a baby blanket every year? Huh? It was pretty obvious.

“Sakura, mama is back!” My younger sister shouted. I gasped and quickly rinse my hands. I ran out while wiping my hands with my butt.

“Mama, welcome,” Bloom greeted. I walked out to meet mother at the door already feeding her sweet.

“Where is Reece?”

“He is cleaning Mistress’s wine cellar. How was your day?” I asked her. She fed me with sweet too.

“It was fine, really,” she was smiling which was surprising. “I’ll bathe first,” she kissed my forehead and then Bloom’s. “Love you, be back.” She pushed pass us and rushed into the house.

“Huh?” Bloom said. She looked at me in confusion. I shrugged. My beautiful twelve years old sister shrugged and walked inside to finish her assignment. Just like me, Bloom looked exactly like mother but had father’s brown eyes. Our brother, the one between us was my father’s lookalike, brown hair and eyes included. We were a happy family, until dad died and things went south. I miss him.

I went back to washing the dishes and cooking dinner. By the time I was done, Reece was back and helping Bloom with her homework.

Reece, at fifteen, he was already breaking hearts. He had never taken interest in any girl because he believes only rich boys can have girlfriends and until we are comfortable, he doesn’t deserve one. His heart is as cold as stone and that made him break people’s heart mercilessly. Reece was good-looking, just like my father. He loved us, really, really. And maybe too much.

“Mama,” he smiled at mom as she joined us for dinner. Mother kissed his forehead too before sitting down beside him. “You are smiling?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why?” She only smiled and picked up her chopsticks and quietly started eating. We all exchanged looks before continuing eating. After dinner, she made us all sit in the living room then told us about the homeless girl she met and wanted her to stay with us. Mom went on to tell us about how she made her happy and every other thing that brought joy to my heart.

Mother had never smiled, ever since father died and yet she was smiling because of the stranger.

“Is she cute? I’ve always wanted a cute sister that I could show off,” Reece blunted out. I gasped and smack his arm, causing them to laugh. “What? You are ugly.”

“What about me?” Bloom asked poutingly. He pinched her cheek and she giggled.

“You are adorable,”

“Mom, I don’t mind as long as she can work hard,” I said. “And yes, she has to be cute.”

“Yeah, like you aren’t,” I nudged Reece with a laugh. He laughed too.

“Then it’s settled then, she’s coming to live with us. I’m going to tell the mistress, who’s coming?”

“Me,” I stood up. Mom nodded. We left our apartment and went to the mansion to talk to her. Mother’s mistress was a somewhat kind woman, if you exclude her stinginess. She was the mother of a member of one of the top idol group in Japan. I’ve never met him before, at least not in person. I’d only seen him from afar when he came to visit.

Hate him by the way.

“Ah, Yvonne, you are back. How was today? You are smiling?”

“Yes ma’am, I got good news.” Mom said happily. Mistress looked at me, I shrugged.

“What is it? Is it something that needs money?”

“No, my first daughter is coming back to Japan and needs a place to stay. I promise she can work very well, really. She will work for her food and…and…”

“If she can make you smile, then she is welcome to stay, as long as she doesn’t live here for free.” See what I mean by stingy?

“Okay… Erm, ma’am?”

“Yes, if she is intelligent, I will sponsor her education like I am doing to your other children. Bring her to me when she returns.” The woman smiled.

Don’t be deceive, she’s not doing it for free. After dad, we ended up getting in debts we don’t even know how it came about. Then Bloom fell ill and mother lost her job. We didn’t know how to do it, but we found a way to treat her through the mistress. In return for her help, mother and us would work and our monthly salaries use to repay the money. After bloom got well, we moved into the mansion as maids. The mistress decided it was important we go to school so that meant more work for us to pay up for what she was doing. At least she wasn’t harsh.

I wonder how this new girl looks like.

_______________

The next day was school, the next day was Monday. Monday is a terrible day… In fact, school is a horrible place. The mistress had good intentions when she sent me to school, but being at the bottom of the social class didn’t make my life better. I was one of the school’s rags, the one the older kids and much higher class students turn to slave. I wasn’t a nerd, I wasn’t even that intelligent, but they bullied me.

What school do I attend? Gempire high. It’s the combination of gem and empire. The school belonged to the entertainment industry Gempire, the biggest entertaining company in the whole of Japan. They founded the four top idol groups and the current top anime series and movie drama. The school was the cherry on top as many other idols and politicians attended the school, both from their company and others. Being surrounded by rich judgmental kids wasn’t a good thing. Rich people are mean. Especially the ones being controlled by cruel idols. I always wonder why they were different and cruel but who am I to speak?

My plan for the day was to move like a ghost, be invincible. But it isn’t very easy to be invincible when you are one of the top marked bullied. I was a slave to the rich, beaten or humiliated when I didn’t work. It was a miracle I hadn’t been raped or force into any sexual relationship like the others. I call myself lucky, but how long will that last? Being beautiful didn’t help me as it made many girls hate me. I knew I was listed in the top twenty gorgeous of Gempire high; it was unarguable. That alone made my bullying worse.

The school as you will guess is technically musical and somehow an high school and at the same time, university for art. I don’t know how they manage to do it, but they did. If I could graduate from high school with Gempire certificate, I could get into any university in Japan easily. That was why I was enduring everything. Couple with the fact that all high school rejected my admission for reasons I was yet to understand.

My family bad luck was high.

Eventually, I got caught by one of the bully crew and dragged to the cafeteria.

“Hey guys, Thing Four wants to eat expensive meals, who wanna give her?” Of course, they loved seeing me in pain. The first student poured her food on me, followed by the second and third until the entire cafeteria turned me to a all you can eat buffet.

The idols didn’t move a muscle, it wasn’t their business and their cafeteria was above ours. Same room, but above ours, like a staircase. They acted like they had no idea, but I knew some of them made the rules in the school. I loathe them, I loathe them all.

One day, I’ll be the president like I dream to be and make idols illegal. I wish that could come true.

I returned home in tears, body covered with different kinds of food from head to toes. The guards were use to seeing me like that so they quietly let me pass. It was late in the evening when I returned home. I was sure mom wasn’t back yet, but I’d have to answer to Reece Paranoid. But as I got closer to the maid quarter, I heard soft singing and the sound of a broom.

“Then you took my hands
Finish my drinks
Say “shall we dance”? Oh yeah
You know I love you
Did I ever tell you
That you look better like that…” She was singing the song very slow but so beautifully. Wasn’t sure if the lyrics was right, but she was singing it too perfectly for me to think about it. I hurried closer until I saw a girl bent over as she swept the front yard of the maid quarter. She had a white headphone over her long white hair, a green sweater tied around her waist and over her tank top and denim shorts.

My mouth slightly parted as I stared at her long beautiful legs, the smooth baby skin that looked too glossy to be cheap creamed. There was no doubt she used something expensive to take care of her skin. Her shoes, the sneakers she wore wasn’t a cheap one because I’d price it before. And her hair, those white locks were glowing under the fading sunlight and glittering like she poured pixie dust over it.

“I don’t care
When I’m with my baby and
All the bad things disappear
And you’re making me feel
Like maybe I am somebody
I can deal with the bad nights
When I’m with my baby, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Cause I don’t care
As long as you just hold me near
You can take me anywhere
And you’re making me feel
Like maybe I am somebody
I can deal with the bad nights
When I’m with my baby and…”

“Neesan!” Bloom called as she ran out of the house. The girl stood up straight. Bloom stopped running as she saw me. “Oh, ane, you are back.” The girl turned around to look at me. My jaw literally dropped as a gasp left my mouth.

She was cute, really cute. She wore cat-shaped silver glasses over her amazing and mesmerising eyes. Her lips were red, like she wore lipsticks but I knew she didn’t. Her rosy cheeks gave her a natural blush. She didn’t need makeup to nail it. The girl was extremely cute and adorable. No man would glance at her face and not return to look at it.

She tilt her head in puzzlement as she stared at me. That was when I remembered I was covered in food.

“Ane, did you get beaten up at school again?” Bloom whimpered. “Come, I’ll heat your bath…”

“Wait, she gets beaten at school?” The girl ask in English. Her voice was familiar and she used an accent, Australian or British, not sure.

“Almost all the time.” I murmured.

“Why?”

“I’m a scholarship student and I’m poor, that’s why. Who are you?” I demanded.

“Ane, don’t be rude, this is our new sister…”

“The one mama said was coming?” I gasped. Bloom nodded. My jaw dropped again. If she should ever go to Gempire, she would be bullied for her cuteness and amazing voice. “Neesan, this is my older sister, the one I’ve been telling you about. Her name is…”

“Sakura,” I closed my mouth in shock.

“You know my name?” I asked quizzically.

“Hmm, yes? When I look at you, all I can think of is cherry blossom, don’t know why. And plus, you work at Peach Blossom café, right?” I nodded. “Why don’t you go inside? Erm, your brother cooked.”

“Our brother, neesan, your brother. Come on, ane.” Bloom said and ran inside. I quietly followed her as the lady watched me. I couldn’t keep it in so I turned around to see her eyes glinting with anger and malice, but not at me.

“Neesan… Can I call you that too?” The emotions in her eyes changed to an affectionate one before she smiled and nodded. “Tell me, are you really homeless and poor?”

“No, I ran away from home. Don’t tell anyone, I don’t wanna be found.” She replied honestly.

“May I know why?”

“Let’s just say my life there wasn’t mine and I want something else, something more of me. Is that okay?” I smiled and nodded. She looked at my body once more and smiled painfully. “I promise, My Blossom, I’ll fix this, very soon.” I nodded, even though I didn’t understand what she was talking about.

She bent down and went back to sweeping. All the while, her headphone was still on…