A Story Come True

#1 Sign the form dad!

"Starting from today, your dreams and your reality will merge into one. The more number of days you take to complete this maze, the more disastrous your real lives are going to be. When you wake up tomorrow and realize what the disaster is, just remind yourselves that it is only the beginning."

That's where Cerah had stopped writing her story. She had stopped because she had no idea how to take it further. What would the disaster be? She was still looking for an answer to this question.

With a heavy sigh, she closed the book and kept it inside the cupboard. After today she would only think of the story during the next summer break.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a knotted white t-shirt with blue denim jeans and sneakers. Her long, black hair was tied in a ponytail. She looked into her hazel eyes and pouted her pink lips with a 'V' sign in her fingers, as though posing for a picture. She chuckled at herself for being childish and turned away from the mirror.

Throwing her bag over her shoulder she closed the door to her room and headed downstairs. On her way, she could hear a lot of shuffling about from her eldest brother, George's room. As she neared the hall she could hear her second elder brother Sam saying, "Dad! I'm talking about your one and only daughter's one and only life! How can you be so indifferent about it?"

"What are you talking about my one and only life to my one and only dad?" Asked Cerah sliding her bag onto the couch beside Sam.

"What else do you think? I'm trying to get him to sign the form so that you wouldn't have to stay in the hostel this year." Replied Sam.

"Sam! I can't believe you are still going on about this! I thought we had decided yesterday that I can take perfect care of myself. Seriously? You have woken up early today for this?" Asked Cerah exasperated.

"Excuse you miss we hadn't decided that you can take care of yourself. We had only decided that it was time to go to bed." Sam replied.

"Sam." Said their father giving up pretending to scroll through the phone and joining the conversation at last.

"Our sunshine is 17 years old now, which is a year lesser than you. This is the first time she's gonna be on her own without our support. It'll be an experience for her. Besides, our house is barely a 10-minute drive from school. So stop stressing about it like an old man and behave like an 18-year-old kid." Said her dad ruffling Sam's hair.

"Yes you 18-year-old kid, listen to dad and be a good boy." Said Cerah and made to ruffle his hair but Sam slapped her hand away. Cerah grinned at him and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, mom." She said picking up a box and placing some toasts in it.

"Morning sunshine. What are you packing that for?" Asked her mom.

"It's for Jojie. He's probably late today too, so I thought I'll pack breakfast for him. What can I say? I'm such a thoughtful sister." Said Cerah fanning herself.

"What happened to this thoughtful sister when she was hell-bent on murdering her two brothers because they ate her share of pizza?"

"Don't remind me of those dark times." Said Cerah darkly as her mom chuckled.

Cerah poured some orange juice into a glass when she heard George's hurried footsteps.

"Mom I think I'm late, can't have breakfast sorry. Do this tie for me will you? " Said George breathlessly.

"Here drink this." Said Cerah giving the glass to George. He gulped it in one go and handed the glass back to Cerah as his mom did his tie for him.

"You're 23 and still don't know how to do your tie, George. Pathetic." Said Cerah shaking her head.

"My dear sister, if, when you are 23, you learn what to do with this ridiculously useless thing, then come and tease me." Replied George.

"Why should I learn that?"

"Exactly my point." George shot back.

"Well, sunshine you can't entirely blame Georgie for this. It's in his blood." Said her mom throwing a pointed look towards her husband.

"Mom! Dad knows how to do his tie, he said it was just an excuse to-" the rest of Sam's words were muffled as his dad clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Now now Georgie, you're getting late for work. Hurry and leave. Stacey don't listen to this boy, he talks too much for a kid." Said her dad.

"The air is thick with young love." George sang as he left the house with his bag.

Sam and Cerah laughed at their mom who was now a light shade of pink and their dad who was giving her a flirty wink.

"OMG! I forgot to give the box to him." Said Cerah and jumped off the kitchen counter and ran to George with the box in hand.

"Jojie hold on! Here take this with you." Said Cerah as George was about to wear his helmet.

"What's that?" Asked George looking at the box.

"Breakfast." Said Cerah as she opened his bag and placed the box inside.

"Ah thank you sunshine." Said George ruffling her hair earning a glare from Cerah.

"So I'm not gonna see you until next summer break?" Asked George placing his helmet on the bike as Cerah patted her hair down.

"I guess." Cerah said with a one shouldered shrug.

"My little sister's last year of schooling. Wow, you make me feel like a dad."

"Are you trying to make me cry?" Asked Cerah narrowing her eyes at him.

"Of course I am." Chuckled George.

"But seriously, make sure this is one hell of a memorable year. Do everything you haven't already done. Leave no room for regrets."

"The one thing I haven't done? Are you telling me that I should spend my final year studying?"

"Now that's more like my sister." Laughed George. "But the grades this year are important too. So try opening your book once in a while. And I heard Sam complaining about your friends-"

"Sam's being an idiot. My friends are great." 

"Okay," he nodded.

"Just remember... no matter who leaves you or hates you, in this world four people live just to see your smile. You are and will always be this family's sunshine. " Said George and kissed Cerah's forehead.

"George it's just final year of school. I'm not going to a battlefield or anything." Said Cerah laughing into his chest as she hugged him.

"True that. I'm sure you'll have a great year. Just have fun, okay? I need to leave bye!" He said and rode off on his bike, leaving Cerah standing there.

..

"So sunshine, I think it's time to leave?" Asked Cerah's dad getting off the couch.

"Guess so dad." Said Cerah and went into the kitchen.

"Mom we're leaving." Said Cerah hugging her mom from behind. Her mom turned around and engulfed her in her arms.

"Last year it was Sam and now my little girl. What happened to the baby who couldn't pronounce her brother's name properly?"

"Mom." Whined Sam desperately. "Ask dad to sign the form. We can't let her on her own for 365 days! Remember what happened when we left her alone in the kitchen for 10 minutes?!"

"Shut up dumbo we're trying to have a moment here." Cerah glared at him. Sam sighed when their mom just laughed ignoring his question. Sam pulled Cerah into a hug and told her in a low voice,

"I'm only telling this once you idiot so listen up. I don't know if you've noticed but no matter what happened we've always been together before this. George and mom and dad might be used to not having you around but not me. So you better take care of yourself and call us every day."

Sam pulled away and noticed the silver lining in Cerah's eyes, "Aww, Is our sunshine getting emotional? It's OK sis I'll video call you every day, try not to miss me too much." Sam said ruffling her hair and winking at her.