"Maybe you're right, my birth was a mistake…"
I open my eyes, I think I had another strange dream again. It's been happening often lately, but every time I wake up, I can't remember anything.
While I'm still trying to find the meaning of life in the wooden planks of the ceiling, the door opens—or rather, to be precise, it's almost smashed down.
"KIAN, RAYAN, ARTHUR, GET OUT, BREAKFAST IS READY!"
"Mmmmmm, cookies…"
"Five more minutes, just five more minutes…"
I look around like a lost dog because, unlike my two roommates, I was lucky enough to wake up 30 seconds before Rita came into the room. Why lucky? Well, usually anyone who isn't awake when Rita arrives in the room magically falls out of bed.
THUMP
"I'M AWAKE! I'M AWAKE!! MERCY, RITA!!!"
"If you're awake, then start walking while I'm still asking nicely."
"And exactly when did you ask nicely—"
BAM
"Did you say something?"
"Ugh… I was just thanking our angel Rita for waking me up so carefully again today!"
"That's what I thought."
…Thanks Arthur for the very clear example. I'm very glad not to be in your place right now.
I blink once more and get to my feet, even though I'd like to sleep a little longer. I slightly turn my head and see a girl with short green hair and black eyes "gently" waking up—at least that's what she calls it—a boy with blue hair and matching blue eyes.
Those two are obviously Rita and Arthur.
I walk toward the window of our room as I pass by the bed of our companion who, judging by his closed eyes, is still in the world of dreams. You'll regret that soon, Rayan.
Rayan is a boy with ash-colored hair and red eyes and, very soon, another victim of Rita.
As I look into the window at the reflection of a boy with black hair and brown eyes, I pause to think about something very important and profound.
Honestly, I wonder every day how it's physically possible for a 12-year-old Rita to throw Arthur—also 12 years old but twice her size—out of bed as if it were nothing. A question that still hasn't found an answer.
I stop to reflect intensely while watching the birds flying in the sky and chirping happily.
Maybe when I reach her age in two years, I'll develop the strength of a gorilla too—or does that only apply to Rita? More unanswered questions.
Maybe I thought too loudly, because Rita turned toward me with a smile that didn't hide her hostile intentions very well.
"Kian, are you thinking something rude???"
A shiver ran down my spine. My instincts told me to bow my head in submission, my mind told me to run as far away as possible, while my heart had stopped beating and was currently unavailable.
I'm slightly intimidated—yes, only slightly—but in my defense, I just woke up and until a moment ago I didn't know gorillas had telepathic powers. I need to calm down. Alright, Kian, take a deep breath and act like a real man.
"Who??? Me??????? Never!!! Oh, is breakfast ready? I have to go! Rayan, Arthur, see you downstairs!"
"..Co..wa..rd."
"Mmm? What's that? Oh...Rita… I see… yes,I accept my fate."
While I ignore Arthur's whining and carve Rayan's last words into my heart, I grab my book from the bed blanket and leave my room, running toward the orphanage's common hall to have breakfast.
Oh yes, my heart has started beating again—I think that's great news.
THUMP
I swear I heard a rumor coming from my room, but it must have just been my imagination. I should focus on more important things, like the number of wooden floorboards.
THUMP!! THUMP!!
23, 24, 25—yes, there really are a lot of wooden planks.
"I'M GETTING UP!!!! I'M GETTING UP!!!!!!"
Hmm, was that Rayan's voice??? No, it's probably just an auditory hallucination.
"MY ARM IS BREAKING!"
I wonder what there'll be for breakfast today…