Chapter Three : Unexpected

I arrived at my home face flushed and out of breath. I dash upstairs and close my bedroom door before my mom can even see me.

Once I changed my clothes and have finally clam myself, my brother have already arrived. AS I walk down the stairs, I can hear him talking to mom in the kitchen.

"Hey," I greet them as I grab some of the snacks my brother is eating.

"Hey! Ask first next time will you?" my brother sarcastically said as he tried to shield his snacks.

I only grinned at him before sitting down.

"Oh you two... how's school today?" mom asks, as she continues to cook our dinner.

I think she is cooking alfredo chiken tnight. Mhm~ I can imagine how deliscious it will be~!

I glance at my brother, who is also glancing sideways at me, before we shrug. There is nothing eventful happening anyway. Its all teh same old routine. 

"It's... fine. same as always," we both said at the same time.

"How's Jane, Jake? I haven't seen her since the last time you brought her here."

Jane is my brother's girlfriend. I remember the first time he saw her, it was instant love struck. He can't stop talking about her nor stop glancing around looking for her. It was really weird...

Though eventually, I helped him gain the courage to try to talk to her. And well it works, turns out Jane also has the same feelings for him. And they've been dating since.

Jane is the most adorable yet kind person I've met, ever since we transfer to our school. She's been also coming to visit here, not only for my brother but also for me. Yup... I'm pretty close to her. There are times when my brother gets jealous of how easily we got along.

"Don't worry mom. She's doing great. She's been busy lately because of her paintings, but she said she would try to visit again soon," he answers with such soft smile on his lips and love-struck eyes.

"Yuck! Brother, please! You look creepy!" I teases him as I grab more of his snacks.

"Oh shush! You're going to experience this soon, when you meet someone who can turn your world upside down. And trust me when that happens... I will be the first one to tease you and embarrass you in front of him," he said as he smacks my hand away.

"Hey! And that's not going to happen anytime soon brother!" I answer as I roll my eyes.

"Don't talk like that, or you'll end up regretting it!" he said as he moves his snacks away.

"As if!" I stand up from my chair and grab the bag of snacks.

"Hey! Give me that back!" I run away from the kitchen and tried to head upstairs when he caught me.

"Gotcha! Do you think you can run away with my snacks?!" he lifts me and carries me like a sack of potato.

"Put me down!! You bully brother!!" I shout as I try to wiggle out of his grip.

"Not a chance! Clumsy!" he starts laughing as he runs around the house while still carrying me.

I keep on screaming while trying not to laugh. We kept on going like that until mom called for us since dinner is ready.

.

.

.

I kept on tossing around my bed trying to sleep, but the events that happened earlier keep on popping into my mind.

I don't know what's the deal with that weird girl. And how did the people disappeared and appeared like that in the first place? Was that supposed to be magic?

Pfft... who am I kidding? Magic? As if! Everyone knows there's no magic here.

"Man... I should sleep."

I yawn again and force myself to sleep.

—

I can feel myself floating once again...

It feels a bit peaceful this time. I wish I could stay like this for a moment.

But... it's just wishful thinking. I suddenly feel a pull of gravity pulling me down. I open my eyes when a light suddenly shines around me.

"Where is this place?" I stare in wonder at the view below me.

I'm currently being drawn towards a tall tower standing proudly surrounded by beautiful tall trees and different unique flowers.

"What's that?" a few meters down below the cliff where the tower is standing, a strange-looking maze appeared.

I stop falling just a few feet away from the rooftop of the tower.

"Please... stop this madness!" a gentle voice echoes from the tower.

I tried to move forward to peek through the window to see what's going on but... I can't move.

"Why should I?" I felt a shiver went down my spine the moment I heard the cold tone of that voice. 

"I know you're still there deep inside! We can fight this together sister!" The gentle voice pleaded desperately.

For some reason tears are forming in the corner of my eyes, threatening to spill out. And my heart... I can feel my heart aching in such sadness?

"Sister...? such familiar but strange word. Tell me... who are you looking for? Your eyes are staring at me but at the same time..." the cold voice trails off.

My heart feels like it's breaking in half... what is this feeling?

——

I woke up with a gasp, tears are falling from my eyes. I can still feel my heart breaking into pieces.

"Why? Who are they? Why do I feel like this?" I tried to remember the dream again.

But the dream has already faded away from my memories. I hugged my pillow as I quietly sobbed trying not to wake anyone up.

.

.

.

My eyes are red and puffy, as I continue to stare at my reflection in the mirror.

"Argh! What should I do? They will ask what happened," I mutter to myself as I try to apply some baby powder on my face.

It's still slightly visible, but this will do. I don't know how to apply to make up to cover this up. Besides applying to makeup will make things more suspicious. I walk out of my bathroom, grabbing my bag from my desk and my fake eyeglasses for me to wear.

It's a good thing I have made a schedule of me wearing fake glasses just because I can. With this, they won't ask me much.

——

The bell rang signaling its lunchtime.

As expected, mom and brother didn't ask me when they saw me wearing the fake glasses. They got used to my weirdness that they ignore it.

As usual, I went to the greenhouse to eat my lunch, while eating my food. I heard footsteps walking in my direction.

I looked up and saw... Airel?!

What she's doing here?!

I cough when I tried to swallow the sandwich I was eating.

"Are you alright?! Here drink some water!" I heard her asks in concern as she hands me my water bottle.

I grab the water bottle and immediately drank it.

"T-thank you!" I stutter to answer as my face flushed red.

Airel smiles at me before saying, "Is it okay for me to sit beside you?"

"Y-yeah! S-sure!" my voice raises a bit higher because of the unexpected question.

She gracefully sat down beside me which made me stare at her. I can feel my heart pounding loudly insdei my chhest from this unexpected turn of events.

"Is there something on my face?" she asks when she notices me staring.

"N-no it's nothing, I'm sorry," I shake my head and looked away. Gosh... how can I stare at her face so openly??

"It's fine. Umm... I should probably introduce myself first. Hi, I'm Airel Weston, you can call me Airel," she introduces with a bright smile on her lips.

I want to tell her that I already know her, but I decided not to.

"Nice to meet you! My name is Aimee Cassandra Dela Via. But please call me Aimee," I shake her hand as I introduce myself.

"Then Aimee... I'm going to ask you a question. It's going to be weird but... did you meet someone yesterday who is wearing a unique dress while holding a flute?" Airel asks which made me freeze.

Is she talking about that girl from yesterday? How in the world did she know abou that?

"Umm... why do you ask?" I fidget with my fingers while waiting for her answer.

"Well... she informed me last night that she met you at the park. And she may have said something to you that will require some explaining?" she answers hesitantly.

So she know the identity of that girl? That is a bit...

"I... Yes, I did meet her yesterday," I decided to just answer her honestly. I'm just really curious about what kind of explanation there is to what happened yesterday.

"Oh, I see. Well... How should I explain this? Maybe showing this will make things more understandable?" I heard her mutters to herself as she turns to look at me.

"Everything that you will see in here, please keep it a secret," I was about to ask her what she means by that when I felt something strange in the air. It felt like some sort of energy is buzziing around us?

My eyes widen in surprise when Airel's eyes glow a bit, then she started floating as a light breeze starts surrouding us.

"W-What in the world?! What's happening?!" I started to panic when I fell myself slowly floating in the air.

"Don't worry you're safe. Calm down Aimee," she softly smiles at me as she reached toward my hand.

I don't know how she can be this calm but... I hold on tightly to her, as we float around the greenhouse.

"This is fun!" I exclaim the moment I ease into this weird situation. 

"Want to try to race from here to over there?" Airel suggested while pointing on teh other end of teh greenhouse.

"Yeah, sure!" I accepted her suggestion as we position ourselves.

.

.

.

We had a lot of fun playing around the greenhouse but soon enough we have to stop before anyone found us. Although Airel said that no one would be able to enter the greenhouse because of the spell she cast. I honestly have no idea of what she ahs said but I jut nod my head.

She also said she would explain to me everything later. We decided to hang around the park after school since it's not suspicious to spend time there.

There was something about her power that draws me in. A familiar feeling that seems to be forgotten.

Or maybe I'm thinking too

much into it?

Who knows? I'm just grateful to be able to get close to her.

——

We both arrived at the park at the same time. We didn't walk together since she was talking to a teacher when I left but to think that we would just arrive at the same time... how fast did she walk?!

"Let's go somewhere quiet, how about there at the swings?" she said as she points towards the swing where no one was playing.

"Sure," I simply answer as I follow her to teh swing set. 

"Okay, I'm going to reintroduce myself to you. My name is Airel Mae Weston. I came from a different world. From a dimension called Endalia, it's widely known as a magical dimension. That dimension has an abundant source of magic, although no one knows exactly why. The planet I'm living in is called Celestial Planet. Currently, it has only one Kingdom, the North Star Kingdom. The ruler of that Kingdom is our Queen Louise. She is also your... sister," Airel explains, while staring at my reaction.

"... I'm sorry did I hear that correctly? Sister? Me? How?" I ask in confuison. THere was a lot going on with her introduction that I choose to ignore it and only focus on the part I can understand.

"Yes, the Queen of our kingdom is your sister... older sister to be exact."

I'm sorry... but I think this is just a dream. How are we having this kind of conversation?? NO.. calm down. Let's process all of this later.

"How did that happen? I'm from this earth, not that place you are talking about," I asnwer as I took a deep breath. 

Airel let out a sigh, "It's hard to explain but... I'm telling the truth. Ah! That's right! Do you remember anything about any accident when you were a kid?"

"Yes? Why do you ask?" 

"Is there anything weird about it?" she asks as her eyes shine with hope.

I meann eveyrthing is weird right and what happend back then is just... I let out a siggh befroe caressing my throbbing head. I don't know what will she gained by asking that but... fine I will answer her.

"Yes, there is actually... I never mentioned this to anyone. But, I never remember entering the car or being with my 'parents'. The only thing I remember is the feeling of falling in the air and a warm light enveloping me. Then next thing I know I'm laying at the hospital bed with wounds all over my body," I explain while recalling that day. I never really understood that event but... I had a feeling that I should not mention it to anyone, well except Airel.

"I see so that's what happened. That only proves more that you are the person I'm looking for. Aimee, you are the Queen's missing sister! That accident, that you remember didn't happen here on Earth, but during the battle between the Dark Queen!" Airel explains.

The what now? Dark Queen? Ugh... I think I keep on heaargn weird things now.

"Umm Who? Dark Queen?"

"Yes about that... will you believe me if I tell you she's also your oldest sister?" she hesitantly answers.

"..."

"..."

I stare blankly at her as she also met my gaze. Silence surround us aswe continue to stare at one another. Until I blink first, I glance away form her before closing mye eyes and letting out a tired sigh. Just what has become of our conversation??

One day I woke up without any family members but now she's claiming that I

have

sisters who are Queens of another planet?!

"Please... if you are joking it's better to stop now," I pleaded to her.

I can believe about her having magic and all since I experience it first hand. But to make me believe I have that kind of family is a little... too much.

I'm not that desperate to easily believe anyone that will claim they are my family. I grew up perfectly fine on my own without relying on anyone until my current family adopted me.

"I'm not lying at all! You have to believe me! If only I can show you a memory of that place but my powers have been locked. I only can use a little bit of it," Airel desperately explains while holding my hand.

I took a deep breath before letting out a sigh, "I don't know... give me some time to think about it. Besides it's already late, I should get going."

Airel also let out a sigh as she let go of my hand.

"Alright... then please take care on your way home Aimee," she bid me goodbye with a small smile on her face.