Chapter 2

--Dawn: Earth--

Ara

Modern Earth, 20xx

I. The Girl with Multiple Issues – Side Imouto

An apartment complex of eight rooms. The design was quite modern, it was highly maintained but not really quite luxury-looking to make it to the front page of the town's establishment journal magazine. For a girl who didn’t even finished high school, living on my own should be impossible without the assistance of my parents. Also, the Landlady was not some sort of God that would allow me to live here for free. Of course I payed my own rent.

The sad catch on this was about parents assisting my daily expenses:

My papa disowned me.

And as to why, you see: I have dissociative identity disorder.

---

I was sweet, jolly, and always loved my parents. I also made many friends during my early days at school. I was not particularly smart, nor athletic. Anyone could tell I’m one's most average sweet young girl. Another catch was, I could be an absolute airhead at times.

My mama, as you see, really loved me when I was a young girl. She had always been there supporting me every time. Papa loved me too but not to the point that he did it like mama too. You could say that I was really pampered and spoiled kid. Everything changed when mama died in an accident. Me, being in a state of a great shock, had been supported by my papa until I fully recovered.

Papa loved me too, but the way he raise a child had a different approach from mama. I’m not being spoiled anymore.

Attending school after mama died was not the same anymore. At times I will suddenly some back to my senses after a long journey to I didn't know where. My old friends have been avoiding me too. At times they will look at me with fear and sadness. I experienced being alone for the very first time. And with that, I graduated grade school.

It was at junior high I realized that someone else had been dwelling within me. My situation worsened. I couldn't make friends anymore. I tried to associate myself as much as I could like back at my grade school but they will eventually leave. Being alone sure was hard. I was so lonely.

“Papa is worried.” I tried talking to her while facing the mirror. “Please don’t make him worry, he’s all I have left.”

And with that, she stopped appearing for a while. But I couldn't cope up with socializing and making friends at middle school anymore.

It was around high school that this someone inside me started controlling the wheels of my life again. There are times that I would be suddenly approached by a boy, asking me where to hangout after class. Of course I refused. Then a day after a rumour would start to circulate that I dumped 'Guy X' again. I was really getting tired.

---

It was a sudden event. I came back to my senses and was at the faculty office.

Hey hey, this is way too irresponsible!!! You see, you see, this is waaaay too irresponsible!! What have you done this time?! >.

I looked around and try to assess the situation. The teacher suddenly spoke. The sentences pierced me like thrusting lances.

……hey hey, you’ve gone too far...

I was anxious, afraid, and unable to speak. I was being punished for having a relationship and making out with the P.E. teacher. I looked outside, my classmates are looking from outside the clear glass part of the door. There were also bystanders from other classes too.

It seemed like she have trashed the P.E. teacher at the male’s comfort room. That's what the teacher summarized. After going out there have been bystanders everywhere and some brought teachers already to escorted me to the faculty office. I was asked also to confirm the going rumour of my relationship with him.

Of course we did not have one. She was also me at the same time. I knew for sure that she won’t do something as low as having a relationship and making out with a teacher. There must have been a reason.

I was a teen at the peak of my growth. I would try to avoid boasting, but you see, I really do have quite a good looks and well developed body. I must have been set up by those groupies on the class that didn’t liked me. That must be it.

As much as I wanted to deny, I lack proof. One could only defend herself properly at situations like these when she have evidences that would support her statements. Those I did not had, so I only ended up answering “That’s not true” while cowering myself in fear, not knowing what was going to happen.

I was escorted by my papa home. I was forced not to continue class after that. They processed my school documents. I was immediately kicked out of high school.

You see, you see, it was never really a bother to me if I’m kicked out. As long as I live with my papa. Papa loved me, I loved him. That’s all that mattered.

Or so I thought.

Back at house that same night papa was crying.

Papa, don’t cry…

I wanted to tell him, but I can’t. That’s not the face of someone just sad. It was a combination of sadness, anger, regret, and tiredness.

“Get out.”

Eh?

“Pack your things and get out. I’m tired already. Live your own.”

That was not something I could comprehend. Hey hey, I need you now, I called for her.

I broke down.

And that night, I ceased to exist.

---

---

Or so I thought.

“Great! I will be seeing you at the office upstairs tomorrow, okay?!”

“Eeh??.... EEH?!!!”

What? Wait? What’s happening? What are you saying all of a sudden Frederie?—

I know his name. Why?

“Wooow, she really is a split”

“Landlady, what’s going on?”

Why do I know their names? Where am I? How long has it been?

Questions plagued my mind. I was getting dizzy. I blacked out.

---

I woke up from an unfamiliar place. My last memory was a sad parting with my papa. It seems like she managed for me and have me lived all this time. I did not have memories from after that night, but it seemed the names I’ve learnt stayed.

I got up, tidied my bed, and went to the bathroom. This was a spacious apartment, especially for one.

I looked at the mirror.

I was dazzling.

Hey Hey, have I ever been this pretty? Have I ever been this sexy?

I was blushing. My heart was pounding. What’s happening with me? I... for some reason I really wanted to touch myself. This was a feeling I know but haven’t experienced yet.

No! no no no! You sly fox! What have you dooooone!!

I looked at the calendar. What it had been almost two years already?!

After breakfast I immediately went out my apartment unit and almost stumbled with Landlady Ingrid. She’s carrying a pot with beef stew.

“Beef stew??”

“Yes, this is his favourite. Perfect timing, you’re about to start your first day today. Let’s go to his unit together.”

We climbed the apartment complex and entered unit6. We then entered a door connecting to where I suppose was unit7. He was suck a rich guy. Ah, so he’s a manga author. And I supposed I’ll be starting as his assistant today. Good going, my sister. You lived these past years in my body while managing being a manga author assistant.

He’s sitting at the middle desk and there two more desk in front of it faced in front of each other. There were materials already placed on the left desk, the other is empty. I supposed the spot was still free for occupancy. I hope they find one soon to have workload sharing easier.

He stood up “Oh hey Ara! Good to see you today. Again, thanks for accepting my offer. Let’s make arrangements and have you introduced to the Old Man, he’s my editor btw.”

He walked towards me and offered a handshake which I accepted.

He’s a man of early twenties. He looks good, average height, quite shaggy black hair, and jet black eyes. But those pupils were filled with deep and almost endless jet-black color and it seemed like he already experienced years of sadness which won't match with his current age.

What’s with those eyes? Scary.

Quit the appearance check, I was there to confirm something.

I needed to confirm if I will have this doki-doki feeling like one of those high school girls on shoujo mangas. I really think he would sway someone's heart, mostly teenage girls with just a smile and a handshake. I checked the time gap from when I lost consciousness and between me returning to this body last night and I surmised I should be eighteen years of age right now.

Good, I should stll be affected by those charms.

I felt normal, that’s to be expected—by someone who has lived for years of experience with men! Wait?! Seems like I was mistaken.

What have you been doing for two years? >.

“You see, you see, please treat me well. Uwu…”

“Uwu?” The two of them seemed surprised, that’s to be expected too… they only just met the “me” last night and today, they didn’t know that much yet.

I needed to make appearances and not let them notice...

That I, Ara, 18 years of age, am in love with myself.