Weirdos IV: The Emerald Heart

Chapter 43: Overshadowed Light

"Kuya Franc! Kuya Fred! Play with me!" five-year-old Faye said to her older brothers who are about to enter their family car. Having just finished her breakfast, the little girl dashed after her brothers in the hope of spending time with them.

Her mother emerged from the house. "Faye, they're going to school. They can't play with you."

Young Faye turned to her mother, her doll dangling from her hand. "But they promised! They always say that they're going to play with me, but they never actually do. I always wait for them, but they never come! That's so unfair!"

"Because they're busy. Just understand your brothers, okay? They need to go to school. Come here," Faye's mother said before hugging her sobbing daughter.

"We're heading out, Fatima," Faye's father, Franklin, said. "Don't hate your brothers, okay? They love you. We all do," he said, turning to his daughter. Franc and Fred just kissed their little sister, both of them giving her a fresh set of promises.

Faye finally conceded, and she just hugged her mother's leg as they watched the three drive away.

"I'll play with you," a voice suddenly said behind her. Faye turned around and saw her other brother, Fraeo.

"You always play with me," Faye said, wiping her tears away. "Also, don't you have to go to school like Kuya Franc and Kuya Fred?"

"I thought you want to play? Come here. I don't have classes today. I already set up your doll house inside. Let's go," Fraeo said, taking his sister's hand and guiding her towards the house.

"Okay."

Faye has always felt left out by her brothers. Well, except for Fraeo. After all, he's just a few years older than her, that's why they always spend time together especially during their younger years. Faye was grateful for it, really. She could really feel that he's putting in effort to make her feel that she has someone to play with other than their maids and mother.

Being the youngest and the only daughter in the family brought some issues to Faye's young years. Her older brothers were already focused on studying and achieving their dreams at such a young age. Their discipline and unwavering determination were fuelled by their father. Those traits have ran in the family for generations. The Lena bloodline boasts of generals and directors from nearly all branches of the national defense. Faye's grandfather was even a former chief of the national guards, while her father is a high-ranking official in the military. The Lena surname is undoubtedly synonymous to national defense.

Despite of that, Faye never felt a suffocating patriarchal system in their family. Well, her father used to tell her a lot about how her grandfather was strict and disciplined in every aspect of his life. Her father vowed to himself that he will never subject his children to such measured way of living.

Still, it seems that their bloodline really is inclined to the defense and protection of the country. In the end, her older brothers chose a career dedicated to national defense and security.

"You're probably going to be just like Kuya Franc and Kuya Fred," Faye said to Fraeo while they're busy playing in the living room.

Her older brother raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just because," she said. "Also, I can feel it. You're probably going to get to Emerald just like them."

"What's wrong with Emerald? I thought you also want to study there?" Fraeo asked.

"Well, I do, but you're soon going to stop playing with me as soon as you get older. Look at Kuya Franc and Kuya Fred. They always make promises that they're going to play with me. You're all the same," Faye said.