"We shouldn't have met Leonardo."

1.1

"She's not coming with us? You told us that she'd be with us this time. I promised youngster already." I told my dad after his revelation that Topaz would not be able to go to school with us for this school year.

"Are you going to go against me Corundum?" Castielle asked in a stern tone, his blue eyes glistened with animosity.

I rubbed the back of my neck, pretended to act coolly, a hand inside my pocket, "Nah, just wondering. I'm cool with anything, plus Topaz is crazy just as you said."

"That's a good girl." he remarks with a chuckle, raising his right arm to pat me, but my body reacted first – I flinched and took a step back.

"Hmm, you must tired. Run along now." Castielle stated as he puts his hand down again, urging me to join Laurice for breakfast.

Back in junior high school, I remember how naíve I am to make demands from my benefactor, my father Castielle Adelsten. He feeds us, he buys us clothes, and he accepts us in his shelter.

Were we rich? Yes, we are, but only financially. I mentioned it before, it was an abyss of wealth, solitude and torture. No amount of nickels and dimes could fill the lack of warmth in our home.

I was 10 when Casteielle introduced me to my half sister Laurice. My life began to change ever since I met her, and it only made me happier when I learned that she was actually a half-sister of mine, just like Topaz. We had lots of fun, we played together.

It doesn't matter how many bruises and red skins I got after 'playing' with Castielle. I knew that I would have something to look forward to at the end of the day. I knew that I would be greeted by my sunshine, my youngest sister, since I was a middle child.

I was not able to get the gist as to how she was suddenly introduced to me, and that it only lately dawned me, that this joy I was experiencing would be short-lived. One day, just like me, Laurice was also filled with cuts, injection marks and bruises, but with open arms she still waited for me with a smile.

My mind went blank.

We need to run.

We need to bail out.

We need to escape.

"Hey, hey. Snap out of it, I was asking if you want your boba tea level 2 or 3 in sweetness." Leonardo's voice pulled me out of my trance.

"Was I staring into space?" I asked with a brow raised.

"Pfft, gurl, you should have seen your face!" laughed Laurice.

1.1 END

"Was it really Leonardo's fault?"

©2021.04.29