Chapter 1: Newly Built

I always dream to have a perfect family and I had that. We enjoyed the family that everyone is dreaming for. But the universe is too cruel to make it forever.

I was just 10 when he passed away because of a serious illness. We fought for it for so many years. We really tried, not caring how much we would spend just for his treatment. But still, fate didn't let us win.

We cried and mourned for so many years, my Mom tried to be strong enough to be the head of the family, even she's breaking inside. Whenever I saw her cry again, while staring at my father's photo, I want to cry as loud as I can, so the universe will hear it and just bring my father back.

But I know, that's not how life work. We can't bring back someone to life, I know that I'm not living in some fairytale that everything is possible. I'm their princess, so I'll stand for them.

I tried to be strong enough, I distracted myself, by studying so hard that my brain would bleed. I became a brilliant girl and made my Mom so proud of me. I'm happy because somehow, I can make her happy. I can see smiles on her face and she's lively again.

I'm Moissaite Red Arosa, the red rose of this family.

I promise to myself that I will make sure that my future family will never be like what we have. I will be a strong girl and I will fight for my love’s life. 

I love my Dad so much but sometimes I hate him. How can he just leave us like that? How can he die like that early? How about us.

But no, it's just when I miss him, I just wish the universe is much gentler to us.

Then, after almost a decade of grief, I finally noticed my Mom genuinely smile again. She looks like a teenager that fallen love for the first time… again.

I'm not shock anymore when she comes to me and told me that she will marry him.

I'm happy for her, totally. Because I know, she's starting to live again.

“You're not really mad?” she asked while I'm busy with my notes.

I look up to her and I saw those sparks again. She's definitely happy and I don't have a reason to ruin it.

“Why would I, Mom? I'm happy for you, I love Dad, and I know you loved him enough. But I also know that you need to continue your life without him. It's not about replacing him, it's about moving on, for better. I'm happy Mom. Of course, I am. If I just have enough savings I will definitely throw a big party just to celebrate this moment, “ I genuinely said to her with a smile.

She hugged me so tight and I know for sure, I'll never regret this.

I would be her bride's maid for her second wedding—a dream that we had before… but with my Dad for their renewal wedding.

But it's okay, I still have my Mom and she's happy right now. That's the most important thing I could think right now.

The next day, I met her fiancé. A tall and handsome man. He looks fierce and hard to deal with, but when he smile, I know for sure why him. Why mom fall for this rich handsome man.

But when I saw the boy that sitting with him, I know this wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

He's like a child that just got drag form his bed. He didn't even bother to fix his hair. What a messy child.

“Stop looking at me with that kind of eyes. Are you killing me already?”

I look away when he started to get mad of me.

“Vance, don't scare her, she's your sister,” his dad said while patting his shoulder that he just shove away.

“Sister my ass, I don't have a sister, especially this crippy little girl,” he said and rolled her eyes.

“Is he gay, Tito Vunce?” I can't help but asked Tito Vunce—my mother's fiancé.

Once I look at his face again, I saw how dark his expression is. It's as if he's ready to kill me infront of our parents.

“I'm not,” he defensively said and both of our parents laugh.

I thought that would be our last fight, but no, we always find something to argue whenever our eyes met. He's like a cold guy that starting to burn by just seeing me.

Why does he hate my existence so much?

We're in the same age, well, not really, because he's a few months older than me but he acts as if he's just a little child, around five years old.

He have the same features with his dad, but he's way taller. A soft feature but hard personality.

He's name is Ethan Vance Harriet. A man that as cold as ice and as childish as a little boy.

He's the best man of his Dad but in their wedding he walk like a fucking child that forced to. He didn't even smile, even a fake one. He's just there as if saying that “Just be thankful that I fucking go to this fucking wedding”. What a total asshole.

Whenever our eyes met, he will roll it and I will just not my lower lip to stop a laugh, because I really find him funny.

In the reception, instead of blending in the guests, he just stayed in a corner, pretending that this whole thing isn't happening.

I sighed and walk over him. I sat across him and his left brow automatically rise by just sensing my presence.

“Why are you acting like a sad boy here?” I asked.

“I'm not a sad boy, and acting is not my thing,” he replied immediately. “Can you just leave me alone. What do you want? Trying to impress everyone with that ‘I'm not a mad child’ ‘I’m happy for my mother’ card? That's bullshit, I will never accept you as a sister.”

I rolled my eyes, oh, fuck this boy. He really thought this is the worst thing that ever happened to him?

“You know, this is normal. Loving is normal, marrying is normal, loving again is normal and marrying again is normal too. Why you're making this whole thing a big deal?”

“Easy for you to say,” he said and just leave me.

What the?

I want to just ignore him but I keep on seeing him. I can also feel his eyes lingering on me even if he's saying that he hate my presence.

Maybe he's still adjusting in these whole thing. I hope I can get along with him eventually.

I stand and reach for a wine in the table but we accidentally reached for the same glass and our hands brushed. We pulled away almost in the same time but I could feel something inside me that brought by that simple touch.

Fuck, what's that? My heart is beating so fast. 

No, I'm just shock, that's all.

“You go first,” we said in union.

I sighed and reach for a new glass. I walk past him after and tried to avoid him.

Later that night, I stepped outside to get some air. The music faded behind me, replaced by a quiet calm. A few seconds later, I heard footsteps. I didn’t need to turn to know it was him.

“You follow people now?” I asked.

“You’re not that interesting,” Vance replied.

I scoffed. “Could’ve fooled me.”

He stood beside me, looking out into the distance. Silence settled between us but it wasn’t empty. It was… charged.

“You really believe in this, don’t you?” he said after a moment.

“In what?”

“This,” he gestured vaguely. “Family. Second chances. All of it.”

I thought about it, then nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

He was quiet for a second.

“Must be nice,” he said.

I glanced at him. “You could try it.”

He looked at me then. And again, that spark—undeniable, unwanted, unavoidable.

“Or,” he said slowly, “I could keep arguing with you.”

I smirked. “Seems like your favorite hobby.”

“Maybe it is.”

We held each other’s gaze a second longer than we should have. Then I looked away first.

“Would you be able to love someone else after claiming for years that you're drown in love with your first love?” he asked after a minute of silence.

I look at him and he's already looking up the sky. Watching the shining stars and the half moon.

“I don't know, I don't even know about love. But one thing is for sure, loving someone else after losing your first love doesn't mean you're betraying him or her. It just means you're letting your love free so they can continue their lives,” I answered and he look down at me. “We all deserve a second chance, we can't just cage ourselves into something just to say we love that so much. Love doesn't hurt, it should heal you.”