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The main character, Kairi *her otaku name* has a hairless scalp since birth and never ever experience having hair to comb or brush all her life. Because of this, her parents fully supported her wig collections, costume collections, as well as her lifestyle in the Otaku world.
Unfortunately, Kairi woke up in reality that there's no such things exist: otaku university, otaku village, otaku mall, otaku town, otaku city, otaku country, and of course - otaku world. Her foster parents really don't support her and wants her to stop collecting anime, playing games and read fictional books. Her life changes as she meets Sora, her new neighbor.
This story I started on while dreaming of what if there's a university existed with anime, games and fiction fans come together entering not just to study with sponsors paying for their education, but they also cosplay everyday.
My real name is Ave Maria Foster. Actually, I was born when my mother died. My father died before my mother told him that she's pregnant. So why am I born in this world and staying in a foster home. No one adopted me. I don't know everyone who would be in my level. I do study hard *I have straight A's actually* as long as I'm fully guarded in home study program. I did experience going to school, for only one day, but, I never gained a friend because I'm hairless.
So let's see as I type along about my life in my blog, telling the world that I have been a freak: not just bald, but, say, what is it like to have a friend? Tell me about it!
My foster parents never had kids. Both of them are barren. Can you imagine that? They've been trying to have at least one until they decided to come to a nunnery and help out with their charitable income. They did go to several churches and places of superstitions just to be able to have at least one child. Until a superior mother told them: "I suggest that you create a foster home and thus, fill them with values and love." And since then, I was placed in their hands.
I was newly born, with fair skin, eyes that turn colors depending on the area of the sun rays, the climate, moods and all that you can think of. I should have been called Rainbow Eyes, but, red has never appeared in my eyes. I don't know why I was called Ave Maria by one of the nuns, but that's what she said when I came out of my mother's womb. My mother was not able to register her own name because she was mute.
My life is a real mystery that I really need to figure out, especially my identity. But how will I do it? Who would know me?
As years go by while babies come to grow up here in a foster home and therefore, my foster parents, Ethan and Emma *they are not actors, wish they were; but then again, they have divorced...* always parade us by age. And therefore, I felt unwanted because nobody ever wanted to adopt a bald child like me. Even if I wear a wig will never make a difference. The diary became my friend after I got tired of teddy bears. When the computer existed, here I am typing. Would I ever have an internet friend? And meet me? I did that in a messenger once, but an ugly guy stalked someone else instead.
Then, I thought, what does a man want in a woman? Is it looks or personality? I even watched the show called the Dating Game. Actually, a man just wants to be with the woman who could be his best friend like the man calls a dog his best friend. Or the woman wanted a man who will not leave her like a diamond ring. No wonder why the saying goes to Emma getting Ethan tied around her fingers.
I shook my head thinking what I am thinking...
Anyway, I thought of the television programs and movies in the DVD I have watched; the books I've read; and both from the computer. But hey, I have been listening to music, as well as watching videos on you tube that my parents never approve of: Japanese music. I favored Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro. I just like their songs, not actually wanting to be in a concert and be seen by other people. I have developed a phobia to go out of the house because of my experiences. One time, my very first old wig was taken by naughty street kids and threw it over a yard where a family were having barbecue.
Ever since I wouldn't go out of the house, Ethan suddenly brought in a psychiatrist who asked me dozens of questions that I answered yes and no, with written questions of what I really wanted to do with life. I wrote "I want to play computer games, read manga and novels, watch anime on crunchy roll and sing some soundtracks and any foreign songs." If you want to see her face, there's no emotions coming out like the way Emma have her jaws dropped on the floor - um, that's my imagination. Her mouth just gasped with a scream. As for Ethan, he yelled, "Is that what you really wanted to do with your life?"
So my collection of anime has to be stopped, as well as playing games and reading novels. But there's one thing I didn't rather stopped on: listening to all kinds of music that both Ethan and Emma called noise. As long as Ethan and Emma left for their affairs out of my world one day, I have the music from the speakers bombarding "Because of You" by Ayumi Hamasaki. I didn't hear the first door bell and thus, a window beside me opened.
I froze for a while and see Sora stepped in and said, "Can’t you play anything simple and clean?" I played Hikaru Utada's track from Kingdom Hearts, but Sora said, "Lower the volume please."
"Just who do you think you are the owner of the house?" I asked while checking my Kairi wig and looked at the window. Blame it on the tree that's... so hard to climb on? "And how did you get to climb up here?"
"I'm just a neighbor who rang the doorbell but you can't hear me," he said, "I recently moved here and asking if it's alright if I could make friends with you. I've been climbing trees and rocks since I learned how to climb."
"After 15 years, wow, someone finally comes in the window to ask me if I would allow someone to have a friend," I said as I get up from the armchair and fold up my arms. "Would I ever believe you?"
He nods. "I'm Joseph," he said as he offers his right hand for me to shake.
Darn! He's not Sora, but he's okay. I shook his hand. "I'm Ave."
"Ave?" he asked as his eyes widened.
"Ave Maria is my name, and I don't like it," I said, folding my arms again. "Don't ask me where the name came from."
"I won't," he said. "I read your name from song book, as well as I saw a place of institute, university and orphanage called Ave Maria."
"I beg your pardon? Where's the place?" I asked.
"The place is where I came from."
I clapped my hands once. "And where would that be?"
"If that's so easy to go to, but it's a long ride unless you have a ticket for an airplane." His smile faded.
"Oh, sorry, and it's not easy for me either," I said. I remind myself that it's not easy to leave the house and I'm not really comfortable talking to him, but, he's harmless.
He approached me in a few steps and asked, "By the way, why do you want to go to that place?"
"And how come you were there?" I asked.
Curiosity kills the cat.
"I asked first so you answer it," he said.
"If you want to know without my saliva being wasted, read my diaries and my blogs," I said. "But if you want a very short explanation, I want to know the whole truth of my biological parents."
"It was you," he said.
"Me?!"
"The orphanage was named after you."
"What?!"
"Your mother died after you were born."
"And my father?"
"I can't say."
I knew it. He might be alive after all.
"He died actually. Your mother's parents kept silent and thus, paid the orphanage a large sum. I don't know about your father's parents."
Errs! So he's dead.
"So how come you're alone?" he asked again.
"You're so annoying," I said. "I have a lot of foster brothers and sisters come and go. Only my collections stayed with me, even though I didn't add up."
"Add what?"
"Stop annoying me, Sora," I said. Oh-oh, I forgot his name. He might not be a-
"You called me Sora?" he asked.
I felt myself getting conscious. Am I turning red?
"You must be a KH fan," he said. Finally he's at my level.
"I finished playing the game," I explained. "I haven't started on Chain of Memories, but I read the manga. I already started playing the part two but, I'm still playing Roxas for his collecting munnies." I fixed my Kairi wig as I'm still thinking what to say. “And, I’m not able to add collections to my favorite things.”
"Cool!" he said. "Shall I call you Kairi?"
"Yes." And I can't help smiling back.
"Why don't you come out and go with me to my new home?"
"Pardon me?"
"Wow, you're so polite," he said. "I'm just wanted to bring a new friend there." He points out of the window pointing to a house next to mine. Just a tree is between my room and his room. Is there romance in real life?
"I have to ask permission first," I replied as I looked down on the floor, "and, my parents aren't here."
"Okay, I'll stay for a while until your parents arrive, if it's alright with you." He sat on the floor. Is he for real? I could get in trouble, but who cares? He's not doing anything bad after all.
"Sure," I said. "Tell me about the orphanage." He was quiet for a while and said, "Mind if I won't tell you? I have a very hard life there."
I thought my life is harder than his. He has known my identity that I should. But does he know his? But it’s unfair of him not to tell me about his life either.
"What's the school like?" he asked.
My turn! "Let’s talk about another topic please."
"So what do you want to talk about?"
Your hair, I thought. But if I said it so, he might ask about my wig. "Um, how did you know about Kingdom Hearts?"
"I watched my bro and sis play," he said. "If Adam was playing and Eve gets dizzy, I just follow the character with my eyes wide open."
Nice names, I thought.
"And then," he continued, "I love all the characters. If only it was real." Same goes with me. I wanted it to be real until he arrived here through my window.
A beep from the garage door alarmed me and I went to the door immediately. Sora followed me as I ran through the hallways until I opened the front door. I picked up the groceries from the trunk of the van as well as Sora helped and followed me to the kitchen. “Just drop it there,” says Emma and then she shrieked. “Who are you?”
“I’m Sora,” he said. Smile flashed in his face. I could have screamed if I didn’t control myself. He said like the way the character did in the game. “I recently moved next door.”
“Oh,” said Ethan. “Ave has taken the first step on having someone around.” He puts the milk and juice boxes in the side door of the fridge and the fresh meat in the freezer. Emma puts the vegetables in the fridge drawers and put the toiletries and detergents aside.
“I thought of keeping Kairi accompany around until you arrive,” says Sora.
“Who’s Kairi?” Ethan and Emma asked. Oh-oh…
“I’m calling her that actually, if you don’t mind.” I wish they don’t.
“Ave is her name and you’ll call her that, properly,” says Ethan. “And since we’re here, you may go.”
“Wait,” says Emma as Sora’s about to leave. Is she requesting for him to kiss me? “Thanks for helping out.” That’s all? No snacks to offer?
“No worries,” says Sora. “Oh, um, shall Kairi come to my house?” Hey! I said I’ll ask permission. Can’t he wait?
“We’ll talk about it first,” he said as he gestured Sora to sit at the bar chair. I sat beside Emma after she sat in the cushioned loveseat. Ethan just remained standing. My hands started to get cold from waiting who will speak up. And aside from getting nervous of how will I explain of Sora’s entering through my window.
“Since when did you moved there?” asked Ethan as he looked on Sora’s house.
“Last night,” he said.
“And how did Ave catch your attention?” Goodness gracious! Am I a flirt already?
“She didn’t catch my attention. Her music caught mine.”
“Oh, the noise,” says Emma. Sigh! “Are you done with your homework?”
“Finished before you left,” I said. She has forgotten my tutor left before she left with Ethan to buy groceries. A part of me wants to leave, but another part of me doesn’t want to leave and have Sora the whole time until I go to sleep.
“Okay, be back before dinner,” says Ethan. Yeah, my jobs to cook, set the table, serve the food, and after eating, wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. I followed Sora as he gets up from his seat and thus, I paused at the door after I close.
“Come on,” Sora said impatiently. He’s getting on my nerves again. I followed him again as he get up on the tree.
“Hey! I can’t get up there!” I yelled when he’s already in his window.
“I’ll open the door for you,” he said. “The doorbell doesn’t work.” Oh. Within before a minute, he’s behind me that I could have screamed. “Come on,” he said again. I followed, again as I walked through the front yard and at the front door. He opened the door and closed after I got in. “This way,” he said as I looked through the lounge.
Shelves stacked with different titles of mangas, novels, DVDs, game consoles, magazines, anything you can name it-
“This is what I can call Heaven,” I declared. “Wish I live here.”
“Oh really,” says Sora as he put a bag of popcorn beside a basket of fried potato strips.
“Ethan and Emma considered those junks,” I said. “But you’re alive.” Sora frowned so I added, “Don’t worry I eat them when they’re not around. There’s the street food, fast food and ice cream.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” he says.
“Wish I am,” I said. “So, what do you do? Don’t you have company here?”
“I work on my own,” he said. “And I have a job tomorrow.”
“You’re working?” I asked. “How old are you?”
“Old enough to work,” he said. “I got out of the orphanage. I have no parents. No relatives. The nuns just realize that I’m old enough to be on my own. Since then, I walked.” I’m having doubts on this guy. I munched on the fries as he continued on. “I looked for a place to stay on the street as well as doing odd jobs after applying. One day, someone dropped a wallet that has a lot of money inside. Thinking of Sister Theresa who raised me, I gave the wallet to its owner after I found his home. He gave me food and shelter. He asked for my name-”
“What’s your surname by the way?” I asked curiously.
“I’m getting to that,” he said. “I told him, ’My name is Joseph Fairbairn.’ It’s not my real surname. It was given to me-”
“As announced,” I butt in. “Like how I was named. So how old are you?”
“Eighteen,” he said.
“I don’t believe you,” I said as I put the basket down. “You don’t look like eighteen to me at all.”
“I knew you wouldn’t,” he said. “But I’m telling you the truth. It’s up to you to believe me or not. Just go home.” I stood up and went out. “You may come back if you want to but not on my working hours.”
“How would I know that you’re back?” I asked.
“When you hear and see me climbing the tree,” he said.
As I arrived at home, I started writing how I met Sora, a real life Sora.
 Village Brain · Thu Jan 08, 2009 @ 10:03am · 0 Comments |
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