"Ru-Ru!" My eyes are remaining closed. I don't care what day it is, just give me ten more minutes of peace. "Ru-Ru, you gotta get ready for class!" Her voice, usually pleasing to my ears, was now the warning siren to what should be another rough day. She's not going to win this time; I will not succumb to her attempts to wake me.
"Ru-Ru…" No. Don't do it. Don't you dare, that's cheating. "Y-you h-have to," Her voice was wavering, sounding as though she were about to burst into tears. ""W-w-wake uuuuuuuup!"
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!" I sat upright in a shot and looked at my little sister. There she stood at my bedside, beaming because she won, yet again. "You little devil." I smirk and rub my eyes.
"Well, you weren't getting up," Ayanna was rocking on the heels of her feet. "And I know that you know that I know how to get you up." She stuck her tongue out cutely.
"Well, I suppose you're right about." You little shit, you're lucky you're cute, I think. I decide against saying that. "What's for breakfast?" I ask.
"Since Uncle left early for work, I made breakfast today." Ayanna explained while I got out of bed and put on slippers. "Eggs and bacon, the way you like it!"
"Thanks, Ayanna." I patted her head, which was rewarded with a pout and scowl after. "Let me shower, I'll be there in a bit." With a nod, my little sister left me to do my stuff.
I enter the only bathroom in the house, lock the door and quickly disrobe. Many thoughts are racing through my head. Start of high school's here. Gotta do good. That thought resonated the most. Entering the shower, I was met with one of my best friends, hot water shot out of the showerhead and covering me in a relaxing warmth; this was the only way I could ever really wake up in the morning.
Uncle Bokono is back to work nowadays because I'm going to school full time. While I did attend regular middle school classes, I was also working a part time job at the same time. While not the best thing for any normal kids under 13 to be doing, but it was necessary with a little sister in the house. Bokono Shen, our uncle, has been taking care of us for a good while, but his health isn't as good as it used to be. So I had to work at a local diner. I was just a busboy at first. Then some guy in a suit came in early one morning while I was opening the place. I insisted that the diner was closed, but he insisted more that he be served something.
I panicked. This guy wanted a meal. And he was asking it from a mere child! I've only been watching what the chefs have been making. But I had no idea how to cook. I barely trusted myself to clean knives, let alone use one!
About ten minutes and a miracle of a memory later, I managed to create a decent looking version of one of the more popular, hence the one I've seen prepared most often, and supposedly best tasting dishes: a beef stew with potatoes, carrots, and celery. I decided to hide while the man ate his meal; I didn't want to be yelled at for just throwing something together just by watching it being made. I heard the chef's voice enter the diner, and the eating man answered. He sounded happy, glad to have eaten my food. The chef of the diner found me later and talked to me. It was then he decided to take me under his wing and learn how to cook.
The water flowed and pushed the suds out of my hair and off my body. I was just staring out into space now, reminiscing. I waited for the suds to be completely off of me before turning off the shower and exiting the bathroom with a towel around my waist, and made for my room.
I got dressed in the school uniform, but decided against wearing the suit jacket. I put on one of my many thin, gray zip-up hoodies to go on top of the uniform's white dress shirt. The blue pants and blue tie that finished off the ensemble complimented the sweater.
Looking at the mirror in my room, I saw a miserable young man. Of course, what right mind would ever find the first day of school enjoyable? My short gray hair remained unruly and I remained too lazy to do anything about it. The bags under my eyes showed how tired I was; I hate mornings. I had my dress shirt sleeves rolled up my forearm; it's too hot today for me to wear it full out with my sweater. I got my messenger bag of school supplies and suitcase of personal knives, and headed to the kitchen.
"There you are!" Ayanna exclaimed. "Took ya long enough." She placed the aforementioned eggs and bacon on the table. "Eat up, Ru-Ru! You're gonna need the energy for that test!"
"Right." I mumble. "The test." See, I was just transferring into the Spring semester, as many have tried and failed. I was too busy during the fall reorganizing my personal and work schedules to have been enrolled in the school.
Taking a bite of my breakfast, I sighed. It was good; just another basic breakfast that was pleasing to my taste buds. After more than three years of experience in the nondescript diner under the tutelage of a very talented chef who taught me many things, it was going to take something unique to turn my head.
I look up to Ayanna, my sweet little angel of a sister. Her long, dark purple hair was pinned up into twin tails and bounced with every step. She was much more bubbly than most 11-year olds these days, and her presence never fails to leave me smiling.
"Be careful on your way to school," I said after several mouthfuls of her cooking. "And make sure to listen to Uncle Bokono while I'm gone."
"I will," She answered. "And I'll do my best to write letters as much as I can!"
"You mean e-mails, right?" I asked, to which she confirmed with a nod. "I'll do my best to respond as soon as possible to each of them."
"Y-you better!" Ayanna suddenly sounded sad. Tears were in the corners of her eyes. "You don't even get to come home, so you better e-mail me back! I'll tell you all about what happens, and you should do the same!" I looked down at my little sister, slightly taken aback. An awkward silence filled in the space.
"Ayanna," I break the silence after a moment of contemplation. "I promise, as your big brother, to answer back to every e-mail, call, letter, or whatever you send to me, as soon as possible. You're my little sister. I'm never going to forget about you."
"Y-you better n-not!" Ayanna smiled, still teary-eyed. She then approached me and gives me a hug, which I gladly return. "I love you Ru-Ru."
"I love you too, Ayanna." I reply. "And uh… make sure not to use that nickname whenever you visit my dorms, ok?"
"Um… no promises?" She answers cutely. I rustle the top of her head before handing the empty plate to her. "Please be careful out there, Ru-Ru."
"Well, I'm headed off now." I announce. The clock chimed eight times; the scheduled cab should be out in front by now. "I'll keep in touch. Take care of Uncle." I walked out of our little home, and was greeted by the sight of a black cab idling in the street.
After getting into the rear of the cab, I look out the window and see Ayanna rushing out to meet me. Now, what? I think. I'm gonna be late, Ayanna. I roll down the window and she manages to say through her gasping breaths.
"If you ever have a girlfriend," Ayanna starts, and I'm instantly somehow interested to what she has to say, "You better let me meet her first!" Her normally placid, light blue eyes flashed with such an intense fire, all I did to respond was nod and as reply.
"Yes, ma'am." Note to self: Ayanna can be scary. Note taken. Oh dear me and whoever is unfortunate to be my girlfriend and is therefore to be subjected to my little sister. With my answer sounding sufficient enough to her, she slapped the back of the cab.
"He's good to go cabbie!" She yelled to the driver, which elicited a quiet chuckle from the man in front of me. "Have fun, Ru-Ru!"
The car left the front of my home, and I watched my little sister's figure disappear into the early morning mist. There was still enough time for me to get some shut-eye, then contemplate on what could be the start of my career as a chef: the Totsuki Transfer Exam.