Hotel Selten

Chapter One

5 years ago...

A noisy digital alarm clock woke up a girl on her blue pajama with Minnie Mouse spammed over it. It was 7:00 o'clock in the morning. She rose up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, as she looks at her clock. "Huh.... Seven am..." She pressed a button to shut her alarm. She set aside her blanket as her bare feet touches the ground. She searched for her fluffy bunny flip-flops. "Lia! Breakfast is ready!" Just in time, she lazily stretched her arms, grunting a bit as she shouts, "Coming mom!" She twisted the door knob and opened her so designed door with a lot of her drawings, she exited her room and walks to the stairs which is just a meter away from her room. She went to the dining table, which is in their own kitchen, there awaits her mom and her stepdad, sitting on their typical chairs. Her mom smiled and greeted her 'Good Morning' in an enthusiastic way while her step dad just munching a lot of his favorite pancakes, mumbling a faint 'Morning' to her, with a lot of stuff in his mouth. She sat near her mom, their circular brown table is good for four people, which the fourth chair is empty, always.

She started eating her pancake, topped with butter, with a few whip cream and maple syrup, she hates foods that are too sweet, yet she like foods that are salty enough. She eats fast, she inherited it to her real father, which her mom said it to her. "Do you need anything, sweetie?" Her mom asked, while sipping her cup of white coffee. "I just need 10 bucks, that's all." She said, drinking her soy milk. "10 bucks it is, get ready or you'll be late for school." Her mom handed 10 dollars, which she accepted, "Thanks mom." She dashes off the dinner table, went to her room to set her things up. She set aside the money in her small money purse.

She went to the bathroom and takes a bath; she smirks as she excitedly opens the shower. The water started dripping on her and such, with the gesture of her hand to stop, the water stopped flowing to her. The water droplets froze on their positions, floating in the air. She giggled; she knew these old tricks. She told her mom about it, but it's either her mom ignores it or change the topic. She just shrugged about it and continue her fun.

She never says anything to her father, well, step... Father. He's nice anyways, it's just, she doesn't like him, unknowingly. Her guts hate him, she doesn't know why. Well, he is being a good father to her, even though they are not even connected. She always shrugs the feeling and smile willingly to her acting father.

Out of her deep thoughts, she continued to bathe herself and prepared after. She grabbed her bag as soon she's on her uniform, then went downstairs as her dad waiting for her. She made a confused face as the man in front of her spoke, "I am going with you, I need to fetch something just near your school, a company might sound fun, right?" He said in assuring tone, as she nods, "Yeah, you can. I can showoff to my classmates that I have a dad, at least lessen their bullying to me."

Her stepdad is in middle 30s, a 5'9 height, fair skin tone, he's a bit muscular too. His hair is brunette, just like Ophelia. Their kinda look alike, people might mistake him as her real dad. He's wearing some red T-shirt and jeans and flip-flops for his feet. He chuckled on her, as he taps on her shoulder with the strap of her black bag. "Don't mind those little brats, come on, let's go." He taps twice again then they go ahead to the door. "Mei! We're going!" Her stepdad bids goodbye to her mother which is in her apron, washing the dishes. "Yeah! Be safe sweeties!" Her faint, a bit echoing voice was heard in the kitchen as her stepdad smiles and exits their cozy home with her. They walk on the streets, no talking, just walking. It's a pretty awkward silence, since the street is pretty calm and quiet, with few noises to be heard, just people's voices. Her dad coughs and it broke the silence, then he speaks up, "Hey, Lia, uhm... I know you are getting shy on me or whatever, it's been 8 years since I became your father. I just wanted you know... uhm.... like...." She cuts him, "Close? Hmm... Well, we are close... Dad... But not really open to each other."She smiles at her dad a bit, to assure she meant those, since he's her dad, well, an acting one. She still needs to have a warm relationship with him. Her dad is nice and organized, so she doesn't need to rebel to her mother. She actually has a perfect dad, but she can't honestly feel the connection, well, she actually hates him a bit, in manner that she doesn't know. Her dad smiles back, "Well, I guess we are good?" She looked at him confusingly, "When is the time that we aren't good? I mean, we are good always, I treat you like my dad and you treat me like your own daughter. So, what's the point of this... Treaty?"