Chapter 4: Awakening

Pai was waiting in front of the school entrance. She was thinking about what her friends said the other day, and came to the conclusion that she and her brother really could be mistaken as a couple. Weird images popped up in her mind that made her shiver, then she quickly dismissed them. „Hei and I love each other as siblings." she kept telling herself. „It's all Lina's fault that this keeps bothering me."

'Hey.' someone greeted her from behind.

'Hei! You're here! Did they make you work overtime? '

'Nope, it was something else. ' he said with a big smile. Pai noticed his huge bagpack.

'What's that you're carrying?'

'It's a surprise. I was working too hard recently and I thought it would be a good idea to have some time for myself.'

'So you're gonna be home tonight?' she asked totally nonplussed.

'Yeah, it's all arranged.' Hei was glad to see her sister smiling. It has been a long time since they had time together, and from her reaction, he could tell she was feeling the same way too.

'So what's int he bag?'

'I'm not telling you.'

'At least let me guess!'

'Fine. Go ahead.'

Their way home eventually exhausted Pai. not because of the lenght of it, but because she coudn't figure out what kind of present her brother brought home for tonight. Then Hei finally gave her a clue.

'The sky looks clear tonight.'

'Even though it's fake it's still pretty… Wait! A telescope! You went to the observatory didn't you!

'A friend there let me borrow one. It's a Satake, one of the neer models. Do you still like watching the stars?'

'You bet.' Hei and she used to have to do a lot of stargazing when they lived in the country. Things were different then. But Pai didn't let the memories of that time ruin her excitement. She grabbed the bag from her brother's back and rushed into the house. 'Uh, heavy.'

'What are you planning?'

'You prepare dinner, I will set this thing up by the window.'

'Are you sure you can handle it?'

'Well the roles are either this way, or reversed, but I doubt you can eat my cooking, and I'm sure that I can't so I have no choice, do I?

So they both started doing their respective duties. In the end Hei had to put together the telescope as well. Finally they sat down to have dinner, bot of them now awaiting the big event. Then the phone rang. Hei ran to pick it up.

'Hello… Yes it's me… What?... But I…' the joy suddenly vanished from both their faces. Even from half words she could guess what's happening. Her brother finally put down the phone and walked up to Pai.

'I'm sorry Pai.'

'It's okay, don't worry. We'll do it next time.' they both knew the drill. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last time either. All that's left for them is the hope that there really will be a next time.

'I know I won't be here, but you should still check out he sky. It would be a waste.

He put on his coat and left, his feelings burdening him. Most of all he felt shame, for he could not keep his promise. Pai was left alone. She sat down next to the telescpope and remembered what the old days were like, when they still had a father and mother, when they had all the time in the world.

She cried a little. Then she looked up to the sky. She saw a falling star and she remembered how those stars would grant you a wish. Not anymore though. That is not the old sky and these are fake falling stars for there are too many of them and if they really fulfilled wishes, this world would be a much happier place.

Still, she could not help it. She closed her eyes and whispered her desire.

'I want to spend more time with Hei.'

She opened her eyes and from the corner of her eye she saw something flickering int he sky. She looked into the telescope, and the ray of the new star reached her through it. The sight of it was beautiful, yet she didn't care. That's irrelevant. She looked at the clock and then at sky for the final time, and then she did the only rational thing to do in this situation.

She went to sleep.