OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 218: Loss—Lily

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Lily's POV

I had always believed in my brother.

And today was no different.

Even though it was judgment day.

I knew he would pull through like he always did.

He's my brother, after all!

My family wouldn't-

...

'Fuck.'

'I can't believe this.'

'I don't want to believe this.'

I didn't know what to think.

I didn't know what to say.

Tears began to fall from my eyes. freёnovelkiss.com

Drip.

Drip.

They fell to the ground like a waterfall.

"Heh..."

'What should I say?'

I went to class like usual.

I had fun with friends like usual.

I enjoyed my day like usual.

As if nothing was happening.

Why?

Because I believed in my brother.

No.

That wasn't quite right.

'... It was because I pushed off those worries in my mind.'

'Yes, I do believe in him, I always will.'

'But he's a human too.'

In my quest to near his stage of excellence....

I seemed to have forgotten that.

'I'm a bitch, aren't I?'

Knock! Knock!

Mother knocked on my door again.

But I didn't respond.

A quiet chuckle then escaped my lips.

This reminded me of the times when we were kids.

My 'fights' with my brother.

Sometimes I would've annoyed him all day, and he would accept it acting as if he was mature.

Then I would hide in my room like this and stay quiet.

And he'd come knocking on my door.

He would threaten to break it, sometimes banging on it with his actual strength.

It might've looked scary to some... but no, not to me.

'Cause he was doing it to entertain me.

I knew that.

And it was nice.

...I always wanted him to pay me attention, not train like the maniac that he was.

I wanted him to have some fun with me.

But my brother always looked serious.

It was as if the weight of the entire world was on his shoulders.

Then I eventually knew that it truly was.

Everything was true....

His back carried Earth's lifeline.

But I always teased him for that.

I didn't regret it, however.

Instead, it was something I dearly missed, as my time with him was always short.

Those days wouldn't ever return...

Yet now I'm doing the same thing as before.

As if I never matured.

The very thing I teased him for was what I needed most.

But I couldn't help it.

This wasn't fun.

It was the exact opposite.

Misery.

I just didn't want to show my face.

My face which rained down tears.

Not to her...

Mom was there, with Emir, alone, against them.

And I didn't even support her.

I assumed my brother would've been enough.

Like always.

But I was wrong.

Mom was mad at me at dinner too, but like usual, I just pushed it off to my brother.

And now....

She came back home with some ex-Elite saying that they lost.

That she would go to jail!

My mother will go to prison for something that she never did.

...No, no, no... she won't.'

I breathed out.

'Emir will make sure of it.'

'I'm sure that he's got plans in case everything turns even worse.'

'He has to.'

'He must.'

Knock! Knock!

"Sweetie, my hand is hurting!"

"Open the door!"

Mom always spoiled me.

And I had never seen her mad like this before.

She might've hidden it in front of Emir, but I knew that she was furious.

'I don't know if it's because I'm her daughter or something, but I know...'

'I know that she's really mad at the Elite.'

'At what happened.'

I also knew that they thought of Dad's death as suspicious.

I was eavesdropping.

Always had.

Emir might've noticed, but Mom sure didn't.

So I knew more than she thought I did.

Since she always hid things.

Which allowed me to live 'freely,' with no 'worries.'

'I get it, though.'

I got that she wanted the best for me, but...

'But I'm a part of this family too!'

...Though I guess by acting this way, I didn't show it.

"Huh..."

'I really am a dumbass...'

'... Mom's dumb too, though.'

When she said that nothing was wrong, it only made me feel guilty.

Even guiltier....

'Is that even a word?'

'Hah, whatever.'

'Anyways, she should be mad at me.'

But she wasn't.

She was more worried about me than herself.

Like always.

'Kyaaaah!'

I screamed into the pillow.

Or rather inwardly screamed.

I didn't dare let out a word.

Knock! Knock!

"I'll let Elijah break the door, you know!"

'What?'

'Holy shit!'

'She's mad.'

'Mom's mad.'

'Like really really mad.'

'No way.'

I quickly got up from bed and rushed towards the door.

Click!

It opened, and Mom rushed in, charging at me like a bull.

My brother told me to dodge if this ever happened, and I could now understand why.

"Augh, moooom! You're killing me!"

But Mom didn't reply and kept me in her tight embrace.

She wasn't crying.

She showed anger.

Only that.

"What were you doing locked in your room like that?!"

Her scream reached my ears.

And her words registered after a few moments.

My heart was filled with conflicting emotions.

And now they were let loose: "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?!"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?!"

"I DID NOTHING!"

"I CAN DO NOTHING BUT WAIT!"

My mother broke her deadly hug and stepped away from me.

Her face showed absolute surprise at my outburst.

"I TRY! I ALWAYS TRY TO ACT NORMAL!"

"BUT I CAN'T! MY BROTHER IS WANTED BY A GALACTIC FEDERATION!"

"PEOPLE THAT CONTROL THE FUCKING UNIVERSE-"

Smack!

'What?'

....My words got stuck in my throat.

My face was twisted to the right.

My mother, my own blood, whacked me across the face.

She, who had never laid hands on me....

Did so today.

My mouth was shut.

"Language."

'Seriously?' 'After all I said?'

"That's what you point out?'

"Mom-"

My words paused again, but this time she didn't slap me.

Instead, she caressed her hand's imprint on my face.

"Sorry.... No, I'm not sorry. You deserved that, sweetie."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Mom.... What do we do?"

"We wait."

Her answer came in a heartbeat.

"That's all we can do."

"Bu-but-"

I tried to rebuke her, but she cut me off.

"No buts, dear, this is Emir's time...."

"We do our own thing in hopes of helping him, but that's it." "We aren't suited for anything more."

"This is his time to shine, so let him have the stage, and we'll be fine."

Mom's words were clear.

Her face showed pain, but she didn't allow that to affect her thinking.

Unknowingly, I began to idolize my mother too. I aspired to be like her.

"Actually, I'm sorry about the slap; I thought it would calm you down."

"...It's fine."

Our chuckling moment was interrupted as Elijah came into view.

"Uhm... are you guys alright?"

'What the fuck does he want?'