“That’s just nothing, Nash. Are you sleepy?”
“Ate Alyana, let’s watch a Disney movie.”
“Disney movie?” He nodded. I bit my nail, I do not know enough about Disney movies.
“Pfft... what are you, a girl? Disney, for real? What kind of Disney is Cinderella?” asked Stephen, laughing.
“Yeah, Cinderella! Why do you care?” he seriously questioned. Hayst, there they go again.
“There’s nothing like that here—“
“There is when if you have a laptop. You’re rich, aren’t you, Mr. Driver?”
“Wait!” Stephen stood up, went to his room, and when he came back there, he was already carrying a laptop.
He sat next to us, we had Nash in the middle. Stephen searched on YouTube and found what Nash called Cinderella.
“Sis Alyana, I want to be the prince and find someone like Cinderella.”

“Why do you want someone like Cinderella?” I asked, wondering.
“I feel sorry for her because her stepmom and her stepsisters were so cruel to her. I want someone like her because she is kind, and generous, even though the ones she considers her family maltreats her, she still doesn’t forget to smile, and be happy...” I didn’t hear what Nash was saying anymore when something suddenly flew through my mind.
That just reminds me of myself...
_
(Flashback)
I’m already here in front of the house. I touch my chest because my heart was beating so hard. I am scared of what my mom will do to me right now.
I don’t know what time it is because I don’t have a phone. I had a phone before but mom threw it on the floor and it got broken. I’m the only one who doesn’t have a phone.
I opened the door.
The surroundings were quiet. Are they still sleeping? I guess they haven’t eaten yet. I went inside and went straight to the kitchen.
I was just gone only last night. It was only for a while, but it looked like a storm has passed through the kitchen. The plates have not been washed and other glasses and plates are still scattered on the floor, our kitchen looks like a trash.
I took a deep breath and picked them up.
I was surprised and immediately confronted my mom. “Where’s the money?” She asked and opened her hand. It’s like she’s waiting for me to give her something.
“W-What do you m-mean money M-Mom?” I asked stuttering. She looked at me badly.
“Money! The one that given by the old man who was with you last night! Give it to me!! You slut! I thought you would never come back here!!”
“I need money! I have something to spend on.” She added.
“I-I don’t have any money. I have to spend my money on the way here,” I said.
My knees and hands are shaking.
“What the hell!! You had s*x with that old man and then you didn’t even ask for money or he didn’t give you anything!!? I sold you so that if you ever come home, you can give us more money!”
Old man? What does she mean?
Stephen isn’t that old, I guess, he’s the same age as Xenon.
I guess it is better that Stephen got my virginity than to that old man last night. But I might get sick? Isn’t that a f**kboy? He just f**k different woman out there??
“You really are stupid, Alyana!!” she pushed my head with her index finger.
“Oh, how was your night?” Kelly asked. She had just come out of her room. That room where Kelly is sleeping was actually my room before.
Since dad died, everything seems to have changed. Since then, they have treated me differently.
“What are you talking about, Kelly?” Keil asked. He just arrives. I guess he slept at his girlfriend’s house again.
Sis Kelly walk towards Keil and held on to his arm. “Oh! Brother, you don’t know because you didn’t sleep here last night. Well, you know what! Alyana didn’t come home last night because...” I didn’t hear what she said because she whispered it to Keil.
“Oww... really? Who’s that man Aly? Is he going to be your first ever boyfriend now?” He smirked.
“Old man, pfft! Can you imagine he had s*x with someone older than her? Ew! It’s disgusting, isn’t it, bro?"
“Yeah! So, you’re planning to be a prostitute now?”
“O-Of course not!” I immediately said. I had no intention of being like that!
“Just come back there!” Mom shouted at me so, I was surprised.
“W-Where?”
“At that old man!! never come home here if you don’t have any money to give! Go back to that old man, don’t forget he owns you! Last, pack your things you’ll be living in his house.”
“M-Mom, I still have class t-today and I-I need to go to work later! And I won’t go b-back to that man! N-NEVER!” I was trembling when I said that.
“You will earn more than the job you are working, Alyana!! Just one night you can make a thousand or million as long as that man likes your performance!”
“M-Mom,” I couldn’t help but cry.
“Are you not really going to listen to me?!!” She raised her eyebrow.
“I guess, you want me to cut off your fingers so that you can’t write anymore!!”
I knelt in front of her, sobbing, tears keep falling down to my cheeks. “M-Mom p-please, I’m b-begging you!”
“WON’T YOU REALLY LISTEN TO ME ALYANA!!”
“I... I d-don’t want to c-come back there M-Mom.”
“What did you say?!!”
“I SAID, I DON’T WANT TO COME BACK THERE!!”
I cried, and those tears continued to flow.
I cried more when Kelly walk closer so I backed away, I’m scared. The way she looks at me now.
“Who said that you can shout at my Mom!!!” she pulled my hair.
She is also my mother, stepmother.
“All right, I will go to my room first! I’ll just sleep. Kelly, you take care of that woman.” Keil said and entered his room.
“Teach that woman a lesson!” Mom said angrily. She left the house.
“Hey! Look at me!” I slowly looked at her. She was still holding my hair.
She quickly slapped me on both cheeks. I sat on the floor and cried even more.
“That’s for you to shout at my Mom!!” she pulled my clothes and that made me stood up and slapped me again very hard on the cheek.
“That’s for you to talk back at her!!” she grabbed my hair again, she pulled me to the bathroom. She took a bucket and filled it with water.
She pushed my head into that water. I tried to hold her hand and stop her, but I can’t. My hands are weak also my feet. I couldn’t breathe...
I gasped when she let go of my hair.
I am breathing so fast.
I thought I’m going to die. “S-Sis... p-please.” She just glared at me. She hit my head on the wall.
I groaned in pain.
“Sis?! Seriously!? Don’t call me sis because I hate you!! And you’re not even my real sister b*tch so, don’t you ever call me Sis!!” I just bowed my head, and bite my lower lips.
“You have cooked nothing, and the plate hasn’t been washed yet because you didn’t come home last night! Did you enjoy it, that’s why huh??!” the only answer she can hear from me is a sob.
“Damn! Stop crying!!” I covered my mouth so that I could not invent any noise. I touch my forehead, my left hand is shaking when I saw there’s a blood on it.
Maybe this was when Kelly hit my forehead on the wall.
She screams in anger. “Sh*t!! You are giving me a headache!!” after that, she left.
I looked at the bucket that’s still filled with water. I could see myself there, but not clearly. I could see the little blood was dripping on my forehead. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears.
I started washing our plates, cook, and clean our house.
_
I’m nervous, I’m here in front of my haft sister’s room. I gently knocked on the door. “Si-- Kelly. I’ve already cooked a food, you can eat now.”
After a minute, she came out. She glared at me and hit my shoulder, using her shoulder.
“Brother! Come here already let’s eat-- the f**k! Is that a fried fish here?”
“I-I don’t have any money to buy dish today, I just saw it there on the table I just heated it up.”
“This is our dish last night!! You’ve must have been flirting, that’s why you can’t give us some money and food to eat!!” she said angrily and even threw it on the floor.
“K-Kelly!”
“What?!! If you want to eat that, eat it alone!! It’s even better if you go back to the bar like Mom said or maybe ask that old man to pay you! You should ask for money so that you can give provide food and things to us!” I swallowed my saliva.
“Go back there now!” She even pushes me and tried to drag me out of the house.
“I-I have class today at 9:30 am, A-Ate Kelly.” Stuttering to say, I bite my lip so hard.
“If you don’t have a class, will you come back there?!!” she raised her eyebrows at me.
“N-No,” I said and shake my head at the same time.
“What?!”
“No!” She approached me and slapped me hard on both cheeks.
“You are stupid!! We already told you not to go to that school!! Argg!! Dumb b*tch!”
“Put that brain in your head next time!!” she said and pushed my forehead using her index finger.
Do you think I can live if I don’t have any brain?
Kelly kicked the chair, so it fell down, and she left.
“What did you do to my sister?!!” I got nervous when I heard Keil’s voice behind my back.
I was about to speak but he suddenly punched me in the stomach; I close my eyes, covered my mouth so that I won’t create any sound.
“That’s what you get every time you’ll do something bad to her!”
He left as Kelly did. I was the only one left here in the house. I slowly entered the room and closed the door.
I lay down on the bed and bent down. I burst into tears as I held my stomach. I slept for an hour. When I woke up I immediately took a shower and got dressed. I had to go to school today because I didn’t go in yesterday. I’m sure proof will scold me.
I cleaned the floor before leaving the house. I didn’t eat because we don’t have any food. I just ran to school I don’t have any money.
When I arrived at school, it’s near 10. I was very late for our first subject.
When I enter the classroom, they all looked at me.
“You’re late Ms. Perez,”
“S-Sorry prof,” I said and sat down on the vacant chair.
“What happened to your forehead?” my seatmate asks me.
“A-Ahh... It’s n-nothing.” I replied and just listen to what our teacher was saying.
***
After class, I was about to leave the classroom, but then Xenon suddenly entered and approached me quickly.
He frowned as he stared at my forehead.
“What happened to your forehead??! Did that two do that again? Did they hurt you again!?” he asked me angrily, he clench his fist.
“What the heck!” He gently touches my cheeks.
“O-Ouch...” It’s hurt when his hand already touches my cheeks. My cheek still hurts. “Kelly did this! Am I right, Alyana?!”
I faked a laugh. “What are you talking about, Xenon! They did nothing to m--okay fine, they did it again. It’s my fault, anyway...”
“Don’t defend them, Alyana! It’s not funny, so don’t laugh. Why are you always forcing yourself to smile and laugh? Saying you are okay but the truth is you are not. Do you know it hurts me seeing you like this?” I averted my eyes.
“I-It’s my f-fault, I d-deserve...”
“And? They hit you?!! Even if you did nothing wrong, they still hurt you, Alyana. Why are you always letting them do that to you!”
I tap on his shoulder. “Calm down! Why does it look like you’re the one who’s angrier than me?” I smiled at him.
“You! You don’t know how to get angry with them or with anyone! You are too kind and because of that, they use it to abuse you, Alyana. It’s not bad if you’ll fight and talk to them back, as long as you know you’re right and they’re wrong.”
“For me, they are always right and I am the one who’s wrong,” I muttered and he hold my shoulders.
“Why don’t you just think about what I told you before, Alyana. You can leave there, you can stay at my house.” I shrugged.
No, I can’t. I can’t just leave them!
“No! I’m fine, don’t worry, Xenon. If I am going to leave them, who will going, cook? Who will going to wash the dishes, do the laundry, pay for the electricity and all the household expenses...” I stop talking when I heard him took a deep breath and looked me in the eye.
“They can do that, Alyana. All of that, it’s not your responsibility-- “I cut him off.
“It’s my responsibility, Xenon.”
He crossed his arms. “No, it’s not!”
“Yes, it is. All right, I need to leave now, I still have a work to do.”
“Let me drive you to your work.” He said.
“Nah, it’s okay.”
“I insist."
I just agreed. He won’t stop until I will say yes, anyway. I know him very well. I don’t argue with this for now; I have no strength. I’m tired.
We are here in the parking lot. I smile at him when he opened the door for me.
He’s so gentleman, no doubt most of the students have a crush on him.
I was about to go inside, but suddenly I felt someone’s hand holding my wrist and pulled me out.
(End of flashback)
_
We're about to finish the show and it’s as if I see Cinderella to myself. I can’t help but look at Stephen. Is there a prince waiting for me? Can Stephen just be that man?
“Alyana, I might melt.” My eyes widened when I realized that Stephen was already looking at me.
“Let’s go to bed now, Nash. It’s already late, your Mommy will be angry when you won’t sleep early. Stephen, both of us will go to sleep now—“
“What do you mean the both of you? Are you the only one going to sleep? What about me?!”
“Oh, okay, then the three of us will sleep now, Stephen,” I rephrased. We entered Stephen’s room and I laid down straight on the side...
“Move over, Ate Alyana and I will sleep next to each other,” Nash commanded, pretty authoritative.
“Wow, isn’t your face getting thick? You must have forgotten that you’re at my house, you dwarf.”
“I won’t forget that because I’m not someone who often forgets things, tsk.” He pushed Stephen’s shoulder and quickly squeezed to my side.
Stephen got up and darted gazes at Nash, he stood up and came to my side. “Move,” he ordered me. I asked Nash to move and then I did, too.
I felt Nash’s hand wrapped around my waist, I looked down and saw that Stephen tapped his hand and removed it, and then Stephen’s hand was replaced there. I’m just annoyed because they look like kids fighting over a toy from what they’re doing. Wait, Am I the toy? The heck?
“Your hand, dwarf, remove it.”
“Nye, nye, I didn’t hear anything.” Ugh, it’s already time yet they look like they don’t have a plan to sleep. They’ve been like that since earlier. Even I can’t sleep because of these two.
“Both of you, please, sleep now. If you won’t, I’ll leave here and sleep on the sofa,” I spoke with my eyes closed. They both stopped and they just hugged me.
“Good night, Nash.” I turned my gaze to him and kissed his cheek before closing my eyes again.
My eyes grew wide when Stephen suddenly touched my shoulder. “Hmm?”
“You kissed that dwarf but you won’t do that to me, too?!” he questioned lowly while he was still looking at me seriously but it disappeared when I quickly kissed him on the lips.