Chapter 4

I initially thought after I yelled at Elara yesterday,

She wouldn't bother with me anymore.

After all, she and I were essentially rivals, and now I was like a burden, intruding on her happy family.

But to my surprise, the next morning, she knocked on my room door again.

First, she told me breakfast was by the door.

I didn't answer.

Around mid-morning, she knocked again, saying she'd prepared some fruit for me and left it outside my door.

I still didn't answer.

It wasn't until almost noon that the door was knocked on again.

I was incredibly annoyed. I climbed out of bed and went to open the door, ready to shout, when I saw the little boy standing there, looking pitifully, his eyes brimming with tears, holding an Ultraman figure.

"Big sister, my Ultraman's leg is broken! Mom won't fix it for me, but she said you can!"

With that, the little boy rushed forward and clung tightly to my leg.

"Please, big sister, help me fix my Ultraman! My Ultraman is broken, I'm going to be so heartbroken!"

My pant leg was smeared with the boy's snot and tears.

Just as I stood there, flustered, Elara stood at the end of the hallway, holding a spatula, yelling at me.

"Aubrey, quickly go comfort your brother! He's being so annoying!"

"I'm cooking right now, I don't have time!"

With that, Elara disappeared back into the kitchen.

My hands clenched slightly. It took me a few seconds to find my voice.

"Give me the Ultraman."

The boy, like a seasoned actor, instantly stopped crying.

Fearing he'd see my face and start crying again, I took two steps back, ready to close the door.

The boy, however, zoomed past me, darted into the room, kicked off his shoes, and rolled twice on my bed.

"Big sister, come here quickly! Fix my Ultraman on the bed!"

My fingers tightened around the Ultraman figure again.

But seeing that the boy hadn't been scared into crying, I sat down sideways on the bed, my feet on the floor, my upper body stiff.

As soon as I picked up the Ultraman, the boy suddenly launched himself into my arms.

"Big sister, I want you to hold me while you fix it!"

The sudden warmth against my chest made my body instantly tense.

Even my fingers holding the Ultraman trembled.

Ever since I was disfigured, I hadn't had such close physical contact with anyone.

After all, Lorelei wouldn't even look at me after I was disfigured, let alone hug me.

And everyone else just found me repulsive, a monster.

They would even walk several feet away from me if we were on the same path.

But before I could react, the boy kissed my scarred face.

"Big sister, I like you."