What a home means

I was born in the cold, winter night of year 3021.

Unlike how people described it in books, everything is fairly normal. Well, we did have a lot of technological advancements, and our quality of life had become more comfortable.

Just that, this world is still how it used to. Unfair and cruel, sometimes it's ridiculous.

But there are still those things that makes us go on and be happy.

I am an orphan and as a young girl in an orphanage housing a lot of kids, I was often bullied since I was weak and practically useless. I didn't have much friends, occasionally I would play with others, but as for bonds, there has never been one.

But there was this older brother, who took me in as his own and saved me from sadness. Unlike other kids, he stuck with me and provided for me. Even getting into fights for me.

I love this older brother. He was my everything.

Humans really have no heart sometimes. They wanted to separate us, me being adopted by a well-off couple because I was cute and everything, and him being left behind since he was skinny and looked dirty all the time.

He was like that because of me, I don't want to exchange his love for something so shallow as a family who only wanted me because I was cute.

Right here is my family, right here is my home.

But we were nothing but children, they wanted to force me to go.

"Brother, I don't want to go..."

I remember pleading with him, and remembered the dread in his eyes as he hugged me into his tiny, thin frame.

He whispered reassuringly, words that made my heart warm.

"It's okay AhSu, I won't give you up."

At age 10, he ran away from the orphanage with me, a five years old in his arms and the whole world in front of him. I always think about it and admired him for his bravery.

Such an indecisive move, he was willing to bite the bullet in order for me and him to never separate.

To live in the streets as children was not very good. Both society and world was not good to us. I remember him begging even in winter so we could eat, and I would be inside our small hut in the back alley.

We also had to hide from other strays and gangs that lurk in that area. They were not so kind with us.

Brother would get beaten by them, and he would still go work the next day. Some of them offered him weird, odd, illegal jobs. But he never took them.

Brother, even if he had the personality of a scumbag, never resorted to evil means in order to feed me and himself. He was a bit of a trickster, but he never conned anyone. I always marvel at house smart my brother was.

I aspire to become someone of use to him, and also raise him. Because my brother gave me a home, I want that home to last forever.

Nothing can change my heart, nothing.

Although I hate school, when things were looking up my brother wanted to send me to school. Of course I hate school since it means I won't be with my brother anymore and I had to face those mean people at school.

Every single one of them would surely look down on a poor orphan.

"AhSu, I have money now and ability! You can go to school and get an education. Can you do this for me?"

I sighed and looked at him.

"Aish, sure."

As long as he is happy, I can try my best.

My brother got a job in an organization that handles his school. In this era, things like flying cars and trains or space travel isn't the hottest sensation.

It's the abilities that awaken once evolution is achieved.

My brother is as such, and so the government values him too. His ability is of the agility attribute. A skill which is very useful as he said.

He looks so happy with his ability, and I also praised him for it. Although we get into childish fights over it sometimes, I still praise him subtly from time to time.

Hmp, he always seems to be working really late or overseas.

Also, we don't live on the streets anymore, nor do we beg. Brother often sold eggs, noodles and tofu in the morning or at the early hours of night so he saved up for at least 3 years, and finally we could rent out own apartment and live comfortably.

I don't care if it's not ours, it's still home.

Usually I would be studying, but brothers clothes needs to be cleaned and dried.

After all, he's a scholar at the Middle East Highschool. He must look presentable at times. I do our laundry since he's always working outside for food and shelter, this is the least I can do!

But I really have a sickly body and so I get sick from time to time. The laundry washing here is done by hand, and winter made it harder to do our laundry.

Well the good side is that we can save water since we learnt to use the piled up snow on the side of the yard to wash clothes.

First, I bring out the small pail, then go outside wearing winter clothes and scoop out some snow to bring into the house. Then I would heat it up in the big pot and use that to wash clothes.

It was so cold I got bedridden for Ten days.

Brother looked so terrified and worried. He was constantly beside me, taking care of me. Then he would be hesitant to go out and make a living, and even neglected some of his studies.

"It's okay, Reom. I'll be fine."

He would hold my hand so tightly as if he was afraid I would be gone. I made sure to reassure him, made sure he go to school and not worry.

"I can handle myself."

But he would only go out to find food and medicine, so I knew that after ten days later, he was scolded by the teacher for not attending class.

I pity my brother, he was so good he had to endure a sister like me.

"AhSu? Are you alright?"

"Ah yes! Let's go buy some wonton!!!"

I ran ahead of him like every other day, and he would chase after me with a smile.

If this isn't home, then what is it?

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