[Trouble] Chapter 7 - Staying with Big Sis Lina

Riz lean back to the seat and glanced to Angela and Damian, who is sitting next to him just by the window. Damian seems to be taking an evening nap, while Angela was yawning as she start to nods off. Riz smiled and pats her, as he know that she is trying to hold back from sleeping off. “Don’t worry, I’ll wake you up when we arrive, okay?” He said with a smile.

“But Angela not sleeeepyy…” She said and yawned again. She cover her mouth when she yawned, and she shake her head and pinch her own cheeks a few times and puffed them, trying to chase away her sleepiness. 

“Now now, don’t force yourself.” Riz pats her more and smile. Though in the end, a few minutes later she also snoozing off. Riz took out their small blanket and cover them and with that he then took out his mobile phone and play with it.

An hour soon passed by, and then two hour more passed. The train has passed by a lot of stations and now they were already out of the town. The town where they live at before are full of green trees, huge and tall, giving one a calm feeling whenever someone came by. It is full of tranquillity and this were shown by the people whom are living there. Those people were gentle and calm, no matter what the case were, they does not become aggressive or anxious. 

While now as they has come out from the town they lived, Riz can see that the number of trees are decreasing, and now they are entering grassy area, where it seems like a endless grassy field. Riz close his eyes to take a nap.

.._..

After half a day, they finally arrive at their destination, so Riz wake Angela and Damian up, as he take their stuffs to get off from the train. It is almost night time when they arrive, but there is a young girl around the age 16, waiting at that station and she called them over with a smile. The young girl have a medium length hair, and her black hair look healthy and glossy, matched with her oval face, not too big bright eyes, and a thin lips, makes her look like an matured elder sister.

Riz and the two kids look at her and then went to her, and they ride a public bus together with her as the lead, and they soon get off in front of a hotspring inn front gate. The gate looked a bit old as if it was there for quite a long time, and the road after the gate is all paved with stone, surrounded by a lot of flower vases. 

Angela tilt head and was the first to walk through the gate with an excited manner, because the little flowers in the vases look so nice, making her want to go pluck all of them. Damian followed her while holding a book, he also look at those flower without blinking, showing that he also liked them a lot, and the two of them run from vase to vase to see those colourful little flowers. Riz smiled and shook his head upon seeing them behave like that.

“Well, Riz, it’s been awhile,” The girl said with a smile, “Anyway welcome to our little inn, we can take care of you for this end year break, but it’s going to be a bit busy so I hope you are okay with this.” She pats Riz head and chuckle.

“Um, well, big sis Lina, thank you for letting us stay here.” Riz said politely with a bit blushed cheek, he look up to her and was happy to see her again. Lina is one of his neighbour, she and her family stay the house opposite of Riz’s house. Lina’s father is an acquaintance of Riz’s mother, so when Riz was found in the mansion, Lina often came to their house to interact with Riz because based on the other doctor suggestion, they said that someone young may be able to help Riz socialize better.

So due to that Lina are just like an elder sister to Riz, and even after Lina’s family moved away two years ago, their two families still keep contact with each other. Riz and Lina even add each other as friends in facebook and Instagram. So they are able to keep track of each other news, and as two years passed by, they got much closer and there are almost nothing that they keep out from each other now.

Lina also know that Riz’s parent just passed away not too long ago because Riz contacted her few days after that. And she comforted him almost every day since it was close to end year exam already, she does not want to see her little neighbour fail the exam because of that. 

Riz and Lina then walk to the inn together while Angela and Damian follow them happily. In Angela hand, there is a bunch of the little flowers that she plucked randomly, and she smiled happily with looking at them. Lina only laughed seeing Angela like that, Damian walk next to Riz while holding Riz’s sleeve, and Angela was walking too fast at the front due to her excitement.

.._..

Lina’s parent welcomed them warmly, and her mother gave Riz and the two kids a hug, and smiled as they bring them to dining hall first to eat dinner together. Angela ate without any reservation, while Damian looked at the food and then at Riz, since the food served here look different than the usual food. They were used to eat spaghetti and salads, while here they serve chicken curry with white rice. 

Riz ruffle Damian hair and he then feed some to Damian, and he also show how to eat these so that Damian can eat by himself after that. Angela blink blink when she see Riz feed Damian, so she puffed her cheek.

Lina and her parents smiled seeing the three sibling behaviour. And so after dinner, Lina bring them to a guest room that they have prepared for them earlier.

“Big brother! We stay here?” Angela asked after she look around, her big eyes sparkles and she run to the window to peek outside. She throw her bag at the side and then run to the sliding door, and she tilt her head again.

Riz smiled and answered her, “Uhu, we’ll be staying here until next year.” He said as he take her abandoned bag and also Damian’s bag to put them into the closet. Damian stayed close to him despite feeling as curious as Angela.

“Ohhh kay” Angela then continue explore the room, she turned on the tv when she found the remote, then she open the sliding door, which cause the futon to fall. She panicked a bit and tried to push the futon back inside, but with her little hand, she failed to do so, and she gave up and next went to the cupboard. She open the cupboard door and can see a small fridge and some plates and cups. 

Riz shook his head seeing the little mess that Angela did. Tomorrow he will tidy up, since at the moment he is hanging their clothes and put in the closet nicely and it is also already night time. He is doing this because they were going to stay there for quite a long time.

Since it is already late night, he lay down the futon and also their pillows. Damian pick the blanket he liked first, and Angela soon took one and also bring one for Riz. The run to the bathroom to take a bath first, then after they are done, it was Riz’s turn. The two of them lay on the futon as they wait for Riz to finish bath.

When Riz is back, they then turn in for the night and slept together, with Angela hugging Riz’s right arm, and Damian sleeping very close to Riz, and they all then fall into the dream world.

.._..

The next morning, after eating breakfast with Lina’s family, Riz bring the two of them around the inn to sightseeing since the place around it is big. There was a pond full of carps, where the two kids almost run to jump into them, but luckily Riz managed to stop them fast. After a while, they continue their walk and arrive at a place full of small temples, and they can see there is a lot of small locks being hung at those temples.

Angela and Damian tried to see some of them, and can only see a few because their height are not enough. But from what they can see, all that was written on them were either their names or wishes, which make Angela and Damian tilt their head, curious why people hung their wishes and names there. Riz ruffled their hair and then took out two flower and heart shaped lock along with a permanent marker pen.

“Big bro? Lock for?” Angela asked while blinking as she took one of the lock. She turn the lock around and can see there is nothing on it yet.

“Lets write our wishes on it, then hung there too.” Riz said as he pats them, and Damian then take the other lock after what Riz said. He nodded a bit as an okay, while Angela hopped a bit with sparkle as a yes. And so Angela wrote down her wish fast then ran to the small temple as she jumped a bit, trying to hang it at the highest part.

While Damian is writing, Riz went on and help Angela by lifting her and lending his shoulder so that she could reach the part she wanted. Just after they are done, Riz can feel someone poke him a bit, so he turned and can see that it was Damian, and he is done now.

“Damian.. done too..” Damian said with a mumble and then look up at Riz. 

“Alright, lets go hang them.” Riz pats him more and Damian while holding to Riz’s hand lead Riz to a small temple farther than other temple. There it was a bit desolate and there are not that many lock that was hung there. “Over here?” Riz ask, with Damian nods as a yes again.

And so, Riz lift Damian up too as he then let Damian hung the lock to the chain. When that is done, Damian smiled and get down. Then the two of them play hide and seek there for some time with riz watching over them as usual.

Riz could not help but laugh when Damian lost each time he become a seeker, Angela was too good in hide and seek, making Damian search for her become very hard. She always pick the weirdest and unthinkable hiding spot each time it was her turn.

-To Be Continue-

[Trouble] Chapter 6 - Who is she? Idk, Idc, weird!

The next day went on as usual, though through Jyu Niel persuasion, Riz finally went to school again starting today, however he did not talk to any of his classmate and didn’t return their greetings back either. The teacher who know about Riz recent incident did not try to make Riz answer any question as they thought that it is better to give some space to Riz, in hope that their top student will be able to pass this unfortunate incident bravely.

Joseph who sat next to Riz noticed Riz’s different behaviour, but he just ignore and do his own stuffs as usual. However he was startled when the exam result came out, Riz final term exam result is rather bad, and Joseph name is on the first spot on the whole grade list. Before he could go ask something at Riz, Riz was no longer attended the school.

It seem that Riz transferred to other school soon after the last day exam is done.

.._..

Before the exam started, which is two week earlier, Riz brought Angela and Damian to a kindergarten school not far from his own middle school. Though as he is sending them there, Angela and Damian kept pulling onto Riz hand as if they wanted to bring Riz away fast.

Riz wondered why they are acting like that, but thought that they are just excited to go to their school for meeting lots of new friends. So he just shrugged and think of it as something normal, and went to school as usual. He is now used to living alone with his two younger siblings, because the housekeeper are no longer working with them.

Despite that, the housekeeper still come once a few days to make sure that they are fine. She make sure to teach Riz how to do the housework, and sometimes Riz asked her to teach him how to cook and etc. So in this few months, Riz can already make a few nice dishes for Angela and Damian, and he can do most of the housework such as cleaning up, doing their laundry, mop the floor and etc. For the simple housework, Angela and Damian often helped Riz when he is doing those.

And so, the few days Angela and Damian keep rushing Riz when they are on their way to the kindergarten, Riz felt that there were someone watching them, because he felt a chill on his back. He frowned and ran to his middle school as fast as he could, and calmed down when he is inside the school gate.

.._..

On the second last day of the exam, as he as preparing to go pick up Angela and Damian, he met a woman, where she blocked the road using her car. Riz stop walking, he retreated few steps back because she looked like someone really suspicious, since she wore a pair of black glasses, face mask, and also a cap.

“Hey there, little boy.” She said with a smile, her voice sounded really gentle and that caused the retreating Riz to unconsciously stop, and because of that he did not notice that there were someone else behind him.

“?!” Riz jolted before he fall to the ground, he could not move at all as if he was being paralyzed, and which he was then carried by the person into the women’s car. The person put him by laying him on the back seat of the car, with a soft pillow supporting his head. “Who?” Riz asked with a frown.

“Ah, don’t be scared, little boy. I’m not doing this to harm you.” The woman said as she turn around to look at Riz. She reached up to his head and pats him slowly. “I’m sorry that we do this because you looked like you are going to run away.”

“Don’t pats me.” Riz said with more frown, “I will not run if you don’t dress like a suspicious person..!” 

“Mn is that so? Anyway I just want to talk to you about something.” She said with a bit sigh, “Well I will take them off if you felt so uncomfortable then.” She said and took off her black glasses, showing her sharp deep red eyes, then next she took off her face mask, showing her small red lips, and her small chin. She looked really young, probably aged around 20-30 year old. 

“…Why the need to wear like that?” Riz asked while raise his eyebrow.

“It’s because I’m easily recognized I guess.” She said with a chuckle. “Anyway, I’m actually here to inform you that starting tomorrow you are going to come and live with me.” She took out a piece of paper from her handbag, and showed to Riz before he could say anything. 

“Why, Mr Niel did not say anything about this before…!” Riz look up to the woman after he finish reading that, “How did our custody fall into your hand? Did Mr Niel… sold us to you?!! Why…?” He find that it hard to believe. 

“Hey hey, that’s not it.” The woman blinked twice and laughed a bit, “Mr Niel did not sell you all. It was I, going to him, because I quite liked you and your little siblings. So I wanted to take you under my wings.” She said with a smile.

“I… I refuse to follow you..!”

“Ah hey, I already got you under my custody. So don’t make it hard, alright?” She said with another smile. “Anyway I guess I should let you got for now.” She then gave signal to the other person, so the other person lift Riz and bring him out of the car, and when he put Riz at the side of the road, Riz then can move again right away.

With that the person returned to the car and they left fast like wind.

“…” Riz blanked a bit due to the fast speed of the car.

.._..

The following day, the last day of the examination, Riz has already prepared all the important document into a bag pack, and few of their clothes are in a luggage that he put in the infirmary, thanks to the infirmary nurse permission. He also did not send Angela and Damian to their kindergarten today, and instead left them at his school infirmary.

Riz then went to his class to finish his last exam today. He answered his paper in a rushed manner, despite maintaining a calm face, he sweated a bit as he filled all the answer in half of the exam time, before he then stood up and left the class. As soon as he is outside of the class, he walked fast toward the infirmary.

“Big bro!” Angela called for him when she saw Riz enter the infirmary, “Where we going?” She asked while she tilt her head. Damian perked up his ear to listen too, while he is reading a story book next to the window.

“Uhm, we’ll go to a… Vacation.” Riz said with a smile as he pats Angela head, “Because big bro felt bit bored. That’s why.” 

“Eh really? That’s so fun fun!” Angela sparkle and Damian put down his book and tackle Riz, he was also quite excited for that. “Big bro, really really?” Angela asked with more sparkle.

“Yes, really really.” Riz chuckled a bit. “We’ll, we need to go now… or we will miss the train.” He then hold their hands and take their luggage. He thanked the nurse for helping him keep a watch on them for today. The nurse smiled and wave her hand as a goodbye. Riz then leave the school by taxi, heading to the train station.

.._..

Past afternoon, a maroon car stopped outside of the school gate, and a woman, wearing a beautiful red dress, with a black fluffy coat, came out of the car. Her three inch high heels make her look really taller, plus with her slender leg and slim body, she is a beauty that can topple a country down easily. She took off her black glasses as she walk into the school gate, heading to the office building of the school.

The other students that are going back home was frozen on the spot, as they were unable to stop looking at her, and some even accidentally bumped into a tree because of her. Not long after, the school headmaster came out personally and invited her to his office with a smile full of flattering to her.

“Wow, who is that? Even headmaster came out…!” 

“Must be someone really important? Else why that old man would came out personally.”

“Shhh… We better not involve in this” The students whispers around with their friends as they glanced at the office building. After she was gone from their sights, they then gradually left and went home, deciding that it is not their problem and they have no need to care about this.

.._..

“Amy~ My dear cousin.” The school headmaster said with smile as his secretary serve tea for the woman and the headmaster. “Why did you come without telling me earlier~ I could have prepared your favourite cakes!” He said while laugh a bit.

“Ah no need, I’m only here to process a transfer for a student.” The woman, named as Amy, took a few sips of the tea with a calm smile.

“Which student?” The school headmaster asked as he sat straight up. He wondered who that lucky student, since he has been trying to make a student exchange program with the institute that Amy is working at, but has never yet been successful because all his proposal were rejected by them almost immediately.

“It’s a boy, that I heard just recently lost his parents, leaving him and his two young siblings alone. So I just recently got his custody, and am intending in taking them in.” She said like it is nothing much, as she drink more of the tea.

“A boy? Do you have his name?” The headmaster asked, but he sweats since he can somewhat guess who that boy is, and to his school that boy is quite important because he could help the school reputation increase.

“What, you afraid I’m stealing him from your school?” She said while she laugh, “Since I am now his guardian, of course I want him to come with me.” She smiled.

“Uh, well, okay” The headmaster said with a sigh, and so he then receive the student name from Amy, and he face palmed. Then he asked his secretary to go fetch all documents related to him, and pass to Amy, and then he signed the transfer document that was filled by Amy, and that conclude the transfer process.

They chatted for a bit and Amy then stood and leave, but when she went to his class, all his classmate told her that he already went home earlier. “…” Amy can only smile and walk back to her car.

“He… Ran away…” Amy said to her driver, as he driver then start the car and drive away from the school. Amy lean to the seat and close her eyes to think, she could not understand why Riz would be unwilling to come stay with her, she wonder if she was being too forceful about this, so she sighed and took a nap. She decided that she will find him after the next few days.

.._..

Meanwhile, in a train at a passenger seat are three children, one is a middle schooler, and the other two is only a kindergarten. The other passengers glanced at them whenever they passed by their seat because of how young they were, plus there were no adult sitting next to them.

The middle schooler is a young boy, with dark blue hair, and a calm blue eyes. He seems to be a really caring elder brother to the other two children, where he is currently feeding them some food that he bought when the staff with the trolley came by. The two young children seems a bit excited as they keep looking around and peeked out at the window, they wondered where they are going to. The little girl are rather active as she always ask questions to her elder brother, and the brother would always try to give her a good answer. Meanwhile the little boy just munch on his food, as he is rather quiet, nevertheless he also can help but look around curiously.

Some of the elderly smiled when they saw how excited those two children were. The granny sitting next to their row offered some snack to them, and open a small conversation with the elder brother, which cured some of their boredom during the journey.

-To Be Continue-