This chapter is dedicated to the amazing person who made the breathtaking book cover of this short story, as well as a good friend of mine.

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"Be a good girl, 'kay?"

The little curls from the tiny person's black hair bounced, "Yes, Elena!"

Elena straightened up with one hand waving as the little one ran off and disappeared beyond the kindergarten gates.

She turned her heel around and walked on, one sigh after another escaping her lips for how long while staring at her phone's screen.

That's another part-time work crossed out.

How was she supposed to know how to deal with that customer? She just started working in that retail for a few days. Plus, wasn't she the one getting harassed for simply having dry hair?

Elena stopped upon reaching your regular convenience store.

The door screeched lightly at her entry. The tiles almost made a mess of her with how slippery they were.

She grunted, making way to the staff room and leaving all her things there but her phone that she slipped into the pocket of her apron. Just in case Ella's adviser contacts her for anything urgent.

The day went on like any other. One up to three customers were going to and from the store, either staying without buying anything or simply window-shopped, with one person occasionally facing Elena at the counter.

"Here's your change. Please come again." The door squeaked right after.

On cue, her front pocket buzzed. She peeked at every corner she could steal a glance at in the store, and it seemed safe enough to check her device.

It was just a notification from her social media account she made solely for Ella's teachers to contact her quickly.

It read as an announcement to all parents and guardians about the kids' recent activity the other day. So they posted a video of it?

A smile slipped on Elena's face. Ella must've done so well in here. She should watch it later once she gets off work.

"Elena." Her hands instantly shoved her phone down her pocket. "Your shift is almost done, and Gina is here to take over. Go and prepare to leave."

Elena nodded, tucking a loose lock of black behind her ear. "I'll do that."

Again with a series of deep breaths while walking in the streets of budding snow piling up in several areas, rubbing her hands together to at least formulate some heat.

Elena reached a tall building reflecting the sun's gentle rays with its glass walls. The moment she stepped in, a lady in a greyish purple blazer and pencil skirt stopped in front of her.

"Ms. Albert, what's wrong?"

"Elena, I know you're supposed to be delivering the package that came a few minutes ago today, but unfortunately, we're having trouble with the initial delivery from overseas."

What does this mean for her, though? She can just deliver a different package today.

"All our deliveries for today will be delayed, and we won't be doing any of that until tomorrow."

Tomorrow? "Why is that?"

"The snowstorm got to them. We'll have to make sure the plane land safely for now." Elena nodded her head, unsure what she was supposed to do now. "For now, you go home. There's nothing for you to do today."

And that's how Elena ended up sitting idly on the worn-out mustard couch of her humble home. She checked her phone, and there was still a whole hour before Ella's dismissal.

She stood up and took the broom on the side. It's so hard not to do anything.

After just a few minutes, their one-room house is already spotless, probably. What else is there for Elena to do?

She sat back on the couch with their old laptop in hand. Elena opened her social media and clicked on the notification from earlier.

The video started playing, and a teacher discussed the activity: the kids were asked to tell everyone about something they don't like, then give five other things they don't like about it and draw them on paper.

Interesting. What could Ella have said here? Cucumbers? Tea? Rats?

Elena stood up to get one throw pillow and a biscuit from the tiny pantry beside the couch. More kids went first, but eventually, one corner of Elena's lips turned up in anticipation.

"Good morning, teacher. My name is Ella Maddison."

The black curled-haired kid in a summer yellow dress looked up to the camera, holding more than one piece of paper.

"Hello, Ella! So, tell us the things that you don't like!"

Elena folded the biscuit wrapper and threw it in the small trash bin, but what came from her laptop's screen made her stop chewing.

"I don't like Elena."

Elena froze as if an unexpected bomb had gone off inside her system, but her fingers quivered.

Ella doesn't like her?

Ella switched the paper that said what she said with a different piece.

"I don't like Elena when she doesn't play with me."

Elena looked down at Ella's knees in the video.

She always played with Ella with the few dolls Elena carved for her while they wore matching colored clothes and sat on the floor full of smiles and laughter.

Oh, but the last time they played a week ago was cut short when someone from the delivery company called her and informed her of the urgency...

Was it because of that?

"I don't like Elena when she doesn't look at me."

Elena tried not to drop the remaining food in her mouth by covering it with one hand.

She had always been looking after Ella.

Oh, but there were times when Ella kept calling out to her, asking her to look at whatever Ella was doing.

What was Ella showing during those times again? Some doodles? Elena barely even looked...

Was that what Ella meant?

"I don't like Elena when she doesn't talk to me."

Elena gripped the table and lowered her head. Tears from the corner of her eyes were preparing to slide out.

That's right. Whenever they're eating together, and Ella tries to talk to her, she just looks. Whenever Ella asks her what's wrong, she just smiles and shakes her head, encouraging her little sister to continue eating her food afterward.

How could she not notice how Ella really felt? How could she just disregard her little sister like this?

Sure, she's working hard for them because their stupid parents abandoned them, but that's no excuse to neglect Ella, right? She'd be no different from their so-called parents.

"I don't like Elena when she doesn't eat."

Elena's head shot back up. Ella, in the video, was holding a paper with a rough drawing of a plate full of colorful doodles resembling food.

Wait.

One hand cupped her belly as it silently grumbled. That's right. She barely eats and always gives more to her little sister. But, Ella never complained about it being too much, nor did she say anything about it.

She always just ate quietly while Elena prepared for work.

Elena pursed her lips and gulped all the remaining food inside her mouth, a tear making its way to her chin.

Ella showed the last piece of paper drawn in pink and blue crayons. It was the face of someone, droplets of water doodled on their cheeks.

"I don't like Elena when she's sad."

Elena covered her mouth and decided not to put a stop to the stream of something warm that flowed to her cheeks and dropped to her hands.

Elena jumped when someone knocked on the door. She closed her laptop, desperately wiped her face with her wrists and arms, and shoved her messy, curly black hair back.

"Y-yes, who is-"

Elena flinched. "Elena, what's wrong?"

Elena bit her lip to maybe stop more tears from falling, and for a short while, she succeeded.

"E-Ella," She used her shirt to wipe her face. "Why didn't you wait for me? It's dangerous to walk alone in the snow."

Ella pointed to the street, "Teacher walked me and my classmates home because my classmate wanted to surprise her brother for birthday today, and we all went to cheer for her." A familiar tall woman was walking away from their house with two more kids beside her.

"Ah, I-I see."

"Elena, what's wrong?"

Elena bit her lip and let go of her shirt, revealing her face to her little sister. "Ella."

The corner of Ella's lips was curved downward, her eyes not leaving Elena's.

"Do you still..." She crouched to Ella's level, her fingers clasped together. "..don't like me?"

"Elena."

Elena shifted her head down and shut her eyes. It's no use. She can't stop crying in front of a child—in front of her little sister. The independent and robust image she tried to have Ella see shattered with every minute that passed by.

"I'm sorry, Ella." Her voice squeaked when she tried to hide the crack. "I'm so s-sorry...."

Elena's eyes widened when petite fingers touched her wet cheeks, her small hands trying to lift Elena's head.

"Yes, did you know?" Ella beamed, attempting to wipe Elena's face with her bare hands. "I don't just like you—I love you, Elena!"

Elena wasted no time enveloping her little sister's small and fragile frame with her arms, pulling her close as she sobbed without any more restraint.

All her hard work for the desperate betterment of her little sister's life that no one else cared for back then became the root of her building failure of genuinely looking after Ella. She should've been more attentive, not just to Ella but to herself too, because who will take care of her right now if Elena stopped?

"E-Ella." She choked. "I promise I'll play with you more and give you all the attention you need when I can. I promise to eat more, so we can both grow healthy together. I promise to talk to you when I'm troubled; in return, can you promise always to be there when I'm sad?"

Ella nodded her head. "But, please don't be sad all the time."

Elena's embrace only tightened when Ella's arms wrapped around her.

"Thank you, Ella. I'll do my best to make you happy while I can."

How stupid.

Why didn't she see this sooner?

A sister wishes nothing more but the happiness of her little sister.

"I want Elena to be happy too."

But a little sister also wishes for the happiness of her older sister.

-

(previously known as) neechanrinMi | Starina Séaris

starisredy | Mari Crystal
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