"This is my selfish wish, and all of this is for my family."
AEITH'S / MYRIANA QUEVAS' POV
"Ah, dang it!" I tripped over my foot. My partner is Thirtwen also known as Karson. He almost laughed at me, but I glared at him.
"Hey, where are we?" he asked as I sat on the ground and touched the wound on my knee. He just stood there compassionately examining his pistol.
"In war," I philosophically answered him.
I'm irritated. Aside from the fact that I fell on my knees, my partner is crazy. There are times when we can't sync. I don't know why Karson has changed a lot, maybe because of his memories. He was a normal guy before, but during our virtual game stuff, he's a bit zestful. I guess he's matching my energy. My only weapon is a grenade while Karson has a gun with him! What am I even gonna do with this grenade?! Tch!
"That's mine," I seized the pistol he was checking. He annoys me for being unfair. He got a pistol that I want, that's why I seized it from him.
"What are you, a thief?" I was unlucky. He snatched it from me instantly.
Hmp, thief? Yes, I have experienced the life of a thief.
"Sis, we don't have any more food. Pop hasn't come back yet. Mom hasn't come home to Aunt Edna yet," my third younger sister told me.
"Here, share it with them," I handed her a plastic bag containing five loaves. It came from the kind heart that provided food as I wandered down the street. I just drank a lot of water to relieve my empty stomach.
"Myriana! Martin has left again!" news from my fourth younger brother, Mark. Martin was second.
"What? Did he go billiards again?" Mark nodded in response.
How many times do I have to tell Martin that there are many dangerous people out there?
I was about to go out the door to look for my rebellious second brother when I heard our youngest, the sixth, crying.
"No more milk for baby," cried my fifth younger brother.
I went back and approached our youngest sister, who's still a baby and lifted her up. I did everything I could to make her stop crying. She doesn't want me to leave.
"Watch her first, I'll buy milk," I put her back in the crib.
I reached into my bag pocket, looking to see if I had any money leftover from my meager pocket money. What? Just this? Yesterday I still had enough money to buy more milk and food. I'm sure I didn't spend that!
"Hey, will you all be honest with me? Did someone steal from my wallet again?"
They were quiet, but Mark was the one lying the most. This is not new. He's always the one who steals my stuff.
"You're a dead child." I approached him and slapped him in the ass. "You, how many times do I have to say that stealing is forbidden? It doesn't make a difference just because I'm your sister, understand?"
"Whaaa! That's enough!" he cried and begged to let him go.
I was about to strike a few more times when someone grabbed my right hand, it was Martin.
"Another one. Where did you go?!" I asked Martin while frowning. Mark hid behind Martin.
"Hey, I'm not done with you yet," I called Mark, but he ran. I would have chased him, but Martin stopped me.
"Enough of it," Tch, the nerve of this guy.
"Why? Are you the eldest? If you don't want me to beat them, teach and discipline them, too! It doesn't have to be me all the time. Do your part as the second eldest!" I scolded him.
"Why are you acting like this? You weren't like this before."
"What am I?" I pointed to myself. "I've changed? You're all naughty. We don't have parents, so who else can be expected, none other than but the eldest! It has always been me."
"You can just scold us. And don't ever excuse that we can follow you just because you're the eldest."
"Curse my life! Now you're saying this to me?" I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Where were you, huh?"
"B-Billiards"
"Oh, you see? You're the oldest brother here, yet you're playing around, neglecting your siblings while I'm working?"
"We wouldn't be like this if you weren't like that!" He went out the door and ran away from the house.
I rubbed my forehead, and the pestilent water was about to drip into my eyes.
"M-Myriana, the baby is still crying," the third said hesitantly. I might have scared them off.
My little siblings are scared when I'm angry with Martin. He's already fourteen, he must be mature so he's already having an argument with me.
I was blown away by the wind because of my problems accompanied by the crying of our youngest sister. What kind of life is this? A thief. Daughter of a notorious city snatcher. Mom's a mistress. Poor—poorer than a rat. Almost all the bad images our neighbors call us have been branded in our family. I am the eldest of six. My good-for-nothing father is a thief and a drug addict who left us because our mother saved herself alone. My mother visited our treacherous relatives to ask for and borrow money so that my mother could go abroad, but our relatives betrayed us. Mother was told that she was dirty and sinful. The way they judged her made them feel like saints. Without my mom, I would be the mother of my five siblings. At the age of 17, I had already experienced extreme hardship that a minor should not experience.
I robbed several people. I learned to curse just as a form of expression. I am always starving and struggling. Always hot-tempered with reproving brothers. I instantly became a second mother. I lost interest in studying and wanted to work. I nearly got addicted to smoking and almost tried doing illegal drugs. I dropped out of my former school. Despite these, I'm still thankful and I didn't get addicted nor bear a child. I also tried killing myself. It didn't go well because I couldn't stop thinking about my little siblings.
Many of my classmates say that I have a knack for academics. Because of that, I decided to study again in a public school and became a scholar. I corrected myself differently from my parents because I have no intention to follow their steps. I poured out all my emotions by working, studying, and taking care of my siblings. I love them... I love my family. I'll finish this no matter what—even if it means trampling upon others I just met here. This is my selfish wish, and all of this is for my family.