1 The birthday party

The heavy downpour drowned out all sound, while the heavy breeze toyed with the trees of this once-peaceful area. Barely audible was the banging of heavy hands against a wooden door which sounded like they would give way at any second.

The door was flung open with such force the small house shook with tremors. In it, the doorway stood a large unkempt figure whose clothes were stained with beer on his night outing.

An old woman opened the door, highly disappointed at the man in front of her.

"How could you get drunk on a day like this, Luke?! Emily is pregnant and is about to give birth to your child tonight! And… look at you!"

"Money," he muttered.

"Give me money!" He yelled, pushing the woman in front of him against the wall as he made way inside the house.

"Get a hold of yourself!"

The woman yelled, going back to assist the woman screaming in pain from giving birth.

"It's okay, Emily. I'm right here."

The old lady was reassured as a doctor was helping her give birth.

"M-mother…" She panted. "I don't think I can handle this."

Emily was sweating. The pain was unbearable to her. She never taught giving birth would be so hard. Yet, she wanted to let this child see the world she had seen. She wanted her child to have a happy life. She would bring every happiness of their feet, if needed. That's how much love she already developed over the nine months she had the baby inside her.

"Don't say that. Everything will be okay, Emily."

Gianna, her mother-in-law, reassured Emily as she held Emily's hand.

"It's a baby girl," the nurse held the baby in her arms as she gave the baby to her grandmother.

"However…" The nurse's face soon became dark.

"What's wrong?"

Gianna enquired, feeling anxious as she saw the nurse's expression.

"The mother is… no more."

The news shocked Gianna; she almost dropped the baby. And she realised. The new born child wasn't crying.

She shook her head in denial. She wondered, how could this be? She couldn't have lost both of them in one single night, right?

"The baby isn't breathing," the nurse sighed, understanding how unfortunate it could be for the old lady in front of her.

"I'm so sorry," the doctor bowed slightly as she left along with her nurse, leaving the old woman in shock who's legs went numb, causing her to sit on the bed silently.

The drunk man came inside the room after searching the whole house and making a mess of the whole house, unable to find more money to gamble with.

"Where is the money?! I kept it inside my wardrobe! Did you touch it?! To pay the doctor?!"

His mother didn't utter a word and stayed silent.

"And what is this useless thing?!" He yelled as soon as his gaze fell upon the baby. "It's so ugly!"

He pulled her away from the old lady's arms and realised she wasn't even breathing.

"Such a useless thing! Maybe I should just throw it into the river." He quickly stepped out of the house and headed towards the river as he held the baby in his arm carelessly.

His mother, despite being old, ran behind him desperately so he wouldn't do anything wrong.

As he was preparing to throw her on the river, the reflection of the moon fell on the baby girl. She started to open her eyes and soon began to cry again.

She was reborn! No, she came back from the dead!

The old lady hurried towards her and took away her granddaughter.

"Don't you dare, Luke! You have lost your mind!"

She yelled as she rushed before the man could think of anything else.

"It's okay, sweetie. I'm here."

She calmed down the crying child.

"I'm right here, Selene."

***

- 19 Years Later -

The alarm rang, waking up Selene from her deep sleep. She opened her eyes quickly as if she had just fallen asleep.

"I wish I could sleep more." She sighed as she got off her bed and went to get herself ready.

"Granny?"

"Yes, dear?" Gianna smiled as she was making breakfast for Selene.

"Why are you making breakfast? I told you I will make it on my own!"

She pouted.

"It's okay. I can do it."

"Oh, and where is that man?"

She whispered.

"He is your father, Selene."

"He is not," she mumbled.

Selene quickly grabbed the toast her grandmother made for her and put on her shoes.

"I'm off. See you later."

"Eat properly on the table!"

Gianna yelled but Selene was already gone and closed the door.

Once she arrived in front of the college, she took a deep breath.

"Finally!"

She smiled as she went toward her class.

After a long time of searching around, she finally found her class.

She went inside and went toward the second first row and took a seat. She loved to study and she was one of the top students in her high school. A nerd is what her classmates called her.

However, all she ever wanted is to give her grandmother the very best possible for as long as she is alive.

Although her drunk father would often use all the money and gamble, she always managed to hide some for her grandmother and lie to her father about him already having all the salary Gianna got from her job. Her life wasn't easy like most of the rich people in this school, but she isn't among those who give up easily.

"We are in deep thought again, aren't we?"

Lysana caught Selene off guard.

"Oh, just… you know. Studies."

Selene smiled at the sight of her best friend.

Lysana was among the rich kids but she is the only one who treated Selene properly. Gianna works for her father so they have been friends since they were kids.

Lysana sat on her seat beside Selene.

"It's my birthday, I hope you didn't forget."

"How could I?"

Selene sarcastically rolled her eyes laughing.

"Good. I'm having a birthday party tonight. And you have to come. No excuses. You promised that last year."

"I know I promised. But I need to ask granny."

"No need to. She will be there too. She will help with the organisations anyways. So you are coming!"

"Fine, fine."

***

Lysana's house was more of a mansion than a house. It was pretty huge. She has a big backyard, a pool, and a garden. She was pretty much spoiled but she was well-mannered.

"Lysi."

A middle-aged man appeared, smiling as he hugged her. He was dressed in a black suit, quite fancy. His dark hair couldn't cover his small amount of grey hair though. Even without any wrinkles, we could understand he is quite old because of his hair.

"Happy birthday, love."

"Thank you, Dad."

Lysana hugged back her father.

"You look beautiful."

"I know, right?" She giggled.

She was always filled with confidence thanks to her father.

Her blonde hair was quite common but her grey eyes made her often stand out. She used to get bullied and it was Selene who had stood by her side when she was younger. Which is why she will always have a soft spot for her best friend.

"Happy birthday."

Everyone was wishing her.

One by one, everyone finished but Lysana was restless.

She was waiting.

Waiting for that one person to appear.

And just then, he appeared.

Her eyes fell upon a young man with dark blue hair and light blue eyes. His eyes looked extremely pure and harmless although his aura spoke otherwise. Just looking into his eyes, she knew it was him; her elder brother, Samuel.

He was sent abroad to study ever since he was five or so, and he finally came back! He never said he would but she knew he would surprise her on her birthday.

A sibling kind of connection? Who knows!

"Brother!"

Lysana ran towards him and held him tightly, very excited to see him there.

"Hey, Lys."

The man smiled and gave her a soft hug.

"Happy birthday, my dumb sister."

He flicked her forehead teasingly.

"Brother!"

Lysana pouted but soon burst into laughter.

"I'm so happy to see you! Come here, you will meet all my friends!"

Lysana started to introduce every single friend of hers.

"They seem cool." He nodded in approval of her friend's choices.

"Oh, wait. You haven't met her."

"Her? Who?"

"My childhood best friend."

"Ah, her. You always talk about her. So much that I lost interest in getting to know her."

"That's rude!"

"Lysana."

Selene finally arrived at the party.

Her long black sleeveless dress covered her beautiful curves perfectly. Although her long legs were slightly exposed by the cut in front and because of the transparent fabric. Her brown hair covered most of her shoulder and back.

Selene smiled and walked towards

Lysana was shocked to see this new look of Selene. She never saw Selene wear such clothes that made her seem so cute yet pretty. She would always wear hoodies, shirts, etc.

However, Selene would still look pretty in them. She would wear anything but dresses, skirts, etc. Although, to Lysana, it never gave out the girly vibe she expected from a girl, which was supposed to be cute since she was raised like a princess who needed to wear dresses most of the time because of all the parties she had to attend.

"Oh, dear! You look gorgeous!"

Lysana hugged Selene who hugged her back as well.

"Thank you. And you look magnificent, like always."

Selene smiled and gave her the gift she was holding in her hand.

"Happy birthday again."

"Thank you." Lysana took the gift and put it on the gift table next to her.

"Brother! Come here." She gave her brother a sign to come join her and he walked towards her.

Frankly speaking, he wasn't very interested in any of his sister's friends, however, this one made him feel very weird. The sight of her made him feel as if his whole body was burning. Not like fire; he would have preferred if it was fire, but it was another kind of burning.

Selene was speechless as well. She knew Lysana had a brother but they never met all these years because he lived out of the country since birth. It was Lysana who would go along with her father and meet with him outside of the country.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Selene Iridessa."

Selene reached her hand out for a handshake.

"Same here. Samuel Archen," he shortly greeted her.

Samuel nodded and held her hand to shake it as well, but he felt like an electric shock ran through his body.

He quickly let go and looked at her curiously.

Was it just his imagination, or was it real?