Fantasy, Meet Reality

Chapter II: A Day At A Time...

(Please play the video above as you start reading. Just thought the song fits the chapter quite perfectly. ☺)

Rise and shine... Natsumi thought to herself as she prepared for another day's work. She was, in fact, already wide awake for some time, and the sun's not up yet.

"Ok, let the games begin," she said, rolling up her sleeves and tying her hair into a high ponytail. Another day to struggle and strive, another time to fight and survive.

Where to start? What to do first? These questions were running through her mind as she took a sweeping glance around her home.

Should she clean the house first? Cook breakfast? Tend to the garden? Prepare what she was going to sell? So many things to do, so little time....

"I'd better prepare breakfast first," she thought. Cleaning the house was no biggie, given how small it is. Tending to the garden can wait. She also remembered that she had already prepared her goods for sale the night before.

So she went off to the kitchen and proceeded to cook, which was finished in no time at all. This also gave her the chance to set the table.

As she passed by their bedroom, she happened to glance upon her siblings who were fast asleep. All the better to wake them up now....

"Hey guys. Time to get up. Haku, Sayu, it's morning already!" she said, loud enough to rouse them out of sleep.

"Just five more minutes, Natsu nee-chan. We're still sleepy," answered her sister, who could barely open her eyes.

Haku, on the other hand, shot his older sister an "I-could-care-less" look. From a lively and cheerful boy who sees the good in even the worst to an apathetic person who lives only for himself. Such a drastic change....

A change that didn't occur for no reason at all. It had started a few months ago when a freak accident rendered him unable to walk properly.

A deep sigh escaped from Natsumi. A failure... That was what she was as a sister. To protect her siblings and try to give them a better life. Those were her responsibilities.

Things which she hadn't been able to do by far.... What she wouldn't give just to be able to have her brother back to his former self.

Though she was saddened because of her brother's indifference, Natsumi was determined not to let this drag her down.

She fixed a smile on her face and said in a teasing tone: "This is why our economy remains as it is. People don't even bother to get up early in the morning."

Her efforts to cheer her sister up were rewarded when Natsumi heard her sister's light chuckle. "You're just waking us up nee-chan. What's the economy got to do with it?" Sayu said. "Haku-nii! Let's go!" she squealed.

Natsumi could only watch as her brother got dragged to their kitchen slash dining room. Her sister's cheerful demeanor livened up what was otherwise a silent meal.

When they had finished eating, she and her siblings went off to attend to their other chores. Their home gleamed while the garden looked inviting when they finished.

All that's left was to open their stall and start selling for the day.

Most of the time, Natsumi does business in the city's bustling marketplace. But she also set up a small near their home upon her brother's insistence.

This move turned out to be for the better since she now had the option of doing business in the comfort of their home.

"There, all set up" Natsumi said to herself. She was always prepared for a day's work. Swarms of customers who flock to her at unexpected times were what overwhelms her.

And now here comes her first customer...

"Ohayou, Kotaro- kun. What can I do for you today?"she asked.

"Ohayou, Natsu-chan. I'd like to buy several kilos of all your vegetables here,"he replied.

He was a regular patron of hers so she was expecting him to buy from her almost everyday. It was the first time he was purchasing this many produce. She wondered why.

"Pardon me for asking, Kotaro-kun. May I know why you're buying a lot of produce now?"she ventured to inquire.

"Oh, that. My mother's celebrating her birthday tomorrow. We're cooking dinner for her," he replied. "You're invited, by the way."

Tomorrow... Was she gonna come? Kotaro-kun and his family are good friends of hers. Might as well do so...

"Sure,why not? But I'm afraid my siblings and I won't be able to be there for long,"she said. "They can't stay up too late and I have work in the morning, as usual."

"It doesn't matter, as long as you come," he replied. "Say, Natsu-chan. Are you free this coming Saturday?"

Why that question all of a sudden, Natsumi couldn't help but wonder. "I probably am," she choose to say instead. "That is, when I have done all I need to. Why?"

"I thought you'd like to wander off in the city proper with me and then eat afterwards. Will you-"

"No, she won't." A curt voice cut through the conversation. "My sister needs to rest on that day."

"Haku, please..." she said in a whisper. Her brother would never do this thing before. One look at him and she knew what was up. "I appreciate you wanting to protect me. But, not this way."

Jealousy and insecurity... These were written all over Haku's face. What was running through his mind? Natsumi had to ponder for a while.

Is he thinking she would leave Sayu and him alone and run off with a man? She ,then, had no choice but this...

"Kotaro-kun, do you like me?" she asked. "As more than a friend, I mean?" Somehow, in a way, she already knew the answer.

"I do, Natsu-chan. I have always had, for the longest time," he answered, determination lacing his tone.

"I like you too, Kotaro-kun. But only as a brother and friend." Hurt was all over his face as he processed what she said.

"I-It's fine, Natsu-chan,"he replied. "H-here's my payment and see you tomorrow."

She looked at his retreating figure with a heavy heart. Had she done the right thing?

"Onee-chan, why did you reject Kotaro-nii?" Natsumi's emotions were in a confused mess that she didn't notice Sayu talking to her. "I like him for you."

Why? She wondered herself. "I don't need anyone else for now," Natsumi said. "You and Haku are more than enough."

(Hello everyone! Apologies to those who might be waiting for this story's new chapter. I'm not always online for many reasons, so... Anyway, here is it, just for you dear readers.

I often say this and will never get tired of doing so. I love meeting people and making new friends on Wattpad.

So vote and comment (if you want to.) Drop me a private message. I'm harmless, I swear. LMAO!

Good morning/afternoon/evening/day wherever you may be.

Next Chapter's Sneak Peek:

A beautiful sunrise beckoned to me as the ship I was on finally docked on the harbor.

"Tokiya-sama?" a voice called to me. "Welcome back to Japan."