Nova Tia: The Saga Begins

8

"W-WHAT?!?!" Tia hollered. "T-there's no way that's true...! I don't have a brother! I'm an only child!"

The boy shook his head. "Mom and Dad TOLD you that. They were supposed to have twins. I didn't make it through birth, sadly."

Tia was speechless. On top of that, she felt partly angered. Why would her parents not tell her this? Why did they keep this a secret? On the other hand, she felt like crying. She could have gone through the first 15 years of her life with someone to help her through it. Not a friend or parent, but someone who has more of a connection. A sibling.

"S-so you're saying... that I could've had a big brother all this time...? And mom and dad didn't even tell me about you...?"

He looked down. "Yeah... I know, it's hard to be hearing all of this..."

"W-why...?! Why didn't they tell me about you?!"

The boy crosses his arms, feeling guilt rush through him. "I... don't know... I'm sorry Tia..."

Tia felt tears forming in her eyes. She was overwhelmed with emotions. She didn't know what to feel or what to say. All she knew is that she felt anger and distress. The brunette looked down, trying her best to push away her tears. She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.

The brunette was convinced, however, she wanted to test if he was messing with her or if he was telling her the facts. "O-oh yeah? T-then... then what are the names of 'our' parents?"

"Easy. Dad's name is Afuku. Mom's is Haruka."

Tia's jaw dropped nearly to the floor. 'H-he got it right...!'

"Its supposed to be a normal thing to know your parent's names, you know."

Tia blinked a few times, analyzing what he had just said. 'I didn't speak outloud...'

"Yeah, I know. You forgot that I'm dead. Spirits can read peoples minds, you know."

The baffled brunette kept her mouth closed. She couldn't begin to process all the information she had just heard. Not only does she have a maternal twin, but he can read her mind.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked me."

"Asked you what?"

"My name."

Tia scolded herself in her head for not being smart and asking this sooner. "Sorry, I completely forgot. What is your name?"

"The name's Ryota. Ryota Nozomi."

"..." Tia thinks back to the past Christmas celebration at her grandmothers house. Her mother and her aunt were talking in one of the back rooms. She walked out of the party to have some time to herself. As she was walking by the room, she could hear them talking.

"Have you told Tia about Ryota yet?"

"Not yet, I don't think she's ready to find out the truth... I'll tell her on her 16th birthday. That's been the deal with Afuku."

"Mom and Auntie Akira were talking about you once..."

"Ok... I forgot to ask. Where the hell are we?"

"We're dead." Ryota states blankly.

"W-What?!" Tia freaks out.

"Take a chill pill! I'm just kidding!" He facepalms.

"Thank god, I'm too young to die!"

"..." Ryota crossed his arms and gave her the look that says 'Um, hello?'