Leanna-Chapter 187: [Amnesia] [Past 1]

[Estela’s POV]

[Amnesia]

I glanced at the gigantic mansion.

Is this where I live?

Wow.

"Let’s go, dear. You’ll stay here with us until you regain your memories," Lily said and held my hand, pulling me inside.

Regain my memories?

I sighed.

I glanced over at the middle-aged man who was harboring a warm smile, looking at me full of concern.

And . . .

*gulp . . . 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

I shifted my focus on the cold, indifferent man beside Hynes Fay. He was just staring at me with his icy eyes. His face was unreadable as we quietly made our way into the house.

I didn’t know why, but I was uncomfortable at Cain’s, my brother’s, stare. Even though he was emanating a scary air around him, I only felt a sense of overwhelming pride and affection for him.

Funny.

We made our way into the maze-like mansion. Oddly even though the estate was big and airy and bright –– it was eerily quiet, and all the people in uniforms bowed upon seeing us.

And what was even more strange, my feet knew every twist and turn.

I guess this is really my home.

"This is your room, Estela." Lily opened an intricately carved white painted wooden door, and different shades of white assaulted my eyes.

And I was home.

"Well, do you remember anything?" Lily urged when I stood there, taking all the details.

"Lily . . . ," Hynes reprimanded before tapping my shoulder. "Estela, take your time. No need to pressure yourself to remember."

I ignored them and roamed my eyes in the bedroom. It was spacious enough to fit a hundred people with only a bed, study table, chair, and some doors, which must be the bathroom and closet. Everything was rustic and in shades of white like I was in heaven.

Why would I sleep in this room? I could probably do golf here.

"C-can I . . . Can I rest?" I asked, voice meek as I was afraid they would get angry.

"Of course, of course! Anything you want, dear." Lily sauntered to me, attempting to hug me, but I recoiled and gazed at her in suspicion.

Her expression fell, but she quickly returned to her kind, smiling face.

"Get rest, Estela. We’ll show you the other rooms when you’re feeling fine," Hynes said and guided his wife out of the room even though Lily kept looking at me –– unwilling to leave me alone.

". . ."

". . ."

"Uhm . . . aren’t you going to leave?"

I asked my brother, who was not budging inside my room, while Hynes and Lily were now long gone.

My brother only stared at me before he made his way and sat on the bed. His frosty eyes not leaving me for a second.

A nagging feeling hit me, but I didn’t know what exactly. It was not a happy feeling . . . more like . . . a sad and frustrating feeling.

Sad about what?

I let him down.

What?

"Do you want to live like this?"

What?

My brother tilted his head as if examining me. "I know you’re hiding somewhere in there, Estela."

I stepped back. I didn’t know why, but I was afraid.

Afraid of what?

Afraid of him?

No.

Afraid to face reality.

My brother stood and walked towards the door. But before he went out, he gave me a long-lasting glance.

"I’ll give you a month."

And he was gone.

A month?

A month of what.

I didn’t understand what he was saying, but somewhere in me . . . understood.

What the hell?

It was like I have another person living inside me.

----

[Estela’s POV]

[Past 1]

White.

Everything is white.

I raised my arms and cried. Feeling all alone and abandoned.

Then out of the blue . . . I saw the ocean.

The clear aqua.

I shivered from the cold poles staring at me. But when I touched his face, I was enveloped with warmth.

I giggled when my palms touched his lips.

I extended my arms at him as I laughed, and all of a sudden, I felt light before I was hug into his warm embrace.

"Hello, Estela. I am Cain. Your brother."

----

"Brother! Brother! Brother!"

I giggled and hopped to my brother, who I hadn’t seen for almost a year.

Since my brother had turned seven, he only returned every now and then and gone again the next. I asked my parents where he went, but they said he was doing some sort of training.

Ever since I was born into this world, I was always attached to my brother. Others would repulse at his cold personality, but I stick to him like glue even if he got annoyed sometimes. But even so, he just let me. He never once did scold me nor got angry with me. He would always have this indifferent attitude. But every time I was crying, he was always there, by my side . . . sitting on the floor . . . reading while I cried on his shoulder. Every time I was in trouble, he was always there to rescue me. His cold facade was just to mask how warm he was.

Our separation for almost a year didn’t damage my adoration for him one bit even now that I will turn seven years old.

My brother was at the main door of our mansion. Like always, every time he returned home, his coldness intensified. Like every bit of his emotions left him and what remained was a cold, indifferent, unfeeling boy.

Nevertheless, I hugged him tight at the sight of him.

"Brother!"

I giggled and rubbed my face against his warm belly.

He didn’t react and just nodded at me before he walked inside his room while I followed him around.

----

"Cain, why do you keep on failing your intermediate training? Refusing to climb to the advance?" My grandmother smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

I didn’t know why my grandparents appeared on my birthday. Usually, they didn’t show themselves –– ever.

In my seven years of existence, I only saw them once, and that was when my brother left for his training five years ago.

I didn’t like my grandparents. They’re cold and . . .

. . . scary.

"Mother, Cain is only a child. He makes mistakes––"

My mother stopped in her tracks when my grandmother turned her dark, terrifying eyes at her.

My grandfather drank his wine before he swept his eyes at us and said with a throaty voice.

"Cain is a genius. He’s the only child who finished the beginner’s training with the highest score in history, and now you’re saying he’s a failure?"

He sneered and stared hard at my brother. "It’s not because you don’t want to take the advance." He then shifted his scary eyes at me, and I lowered my head –– terrified to meet his gaze.

"It’s just that, you’re waiting for someone. Isn’t it, my boy?"

A creeping terror shivered me upon the menace in his voice that I couldn’t help but whimper.

My brother stopped eating and challenged the gazes of my grandparents with an expressionless face. His coldness contended with theirs.

. . .

. . .

The deafening silence was brutal as neither one of them back down.

Eventually, my grandmother sighed in defeat. With a helpless tone, she said, "Cain. I know you probably think we’re cruel . . . forcing you to do this. You might not understand this now, but we are doing this for you. The world is constantly changing, and you need to be prepared. You may think of us as monsters, and that is fine . . . Blame us. Resent us. If that is what it’ll take for you to become stronger . . . Then do it."

My grandmother stared at me. For a moment, I thought it was love I saw in her eyes, but it was quickly gone as it came.

"We’ll make you a deal. Finish the intermediate training and take up other skills while you wait for Estela to finish hers . . . and then you both can undergo the advance together."

My brother’s face somewhat brightened. My parents, however, clenched their fists and tightened their jaws.

"But . . . ," My grandfather added, "there is a catch. Your advance training will double in difficulty."

SLAM!

"Father! They are your grandchildren."

My mother finally couldn’t take it anymore. Her face was white as her emerald eyes shone no longer. Her whole being emanated a killing intent, ready to wage war at the two elders.

I trembled at the sight of her as I shrunk on my seat while my eyes glistened with tears.

"All the more so!" My grandfather sneered, and the air tightened –– suffocating to the point of being unbearable.

My brother’s warm hand shot on top of mine.

"Deal," he said.

The deadlock broke when my brother’s voice echoed in the dining room.

"Great. Then we will expect splendid results from you."

My grandparents tapped a napkin on their lips and left the dining room, leaving my mother crying while my father comforted her.

I glanced over at my brother, who was looking at me with a smile on his face, eyes melting.

"Don’t worry. I won’t let you go through this alone."