HIRO’S POV

The scent of the flowers filled the house. I never liked that smell—neither I like flowers. But now, the whole place surrounded them.

My eye bags are heavy. I’ve been sleepless for two nights now. But I’m trying to look fine. In times like this, I don’t wanna look pathetic. I should be strong.

I lifted my aching head, looking at their jarred ashes, and there stood Hino.

The neighbors whispers are deafening, the tone of it was so pathetic.

“She’s been standing there for two hours now.” One neighbor said.

 “Poor kid. Orphaned at young age.”

I ignored them and just stood and walked towards my sister.

I stopped when I’m already right beside her. I looked at our parents’ picture, then a glimpse at her. She held her head bowed down as her left hand clenched the side of her black dress.

“Hino.” It was almost a whisper.

She didn’t move. I had never got the chance of talking to her after our parents died.

“Hino.” I completely faced her.

I saw her lips shook and she suddenly hugged me.

“It’s okay.” That’s the only thing I can utter right now.

I felt her shook her head in my shoulder. She cried harder now. And all I can do is rub her back and gently her hair. This is the first time I saw her like this.

My twin sister is always tough. She supposed to be tougher than me. But now, all I see is the glass-like-fragile Hino. And this is the very first time I saw her cry like this. She didn’t even cry when we found out mom and dad died and found their dead body in the hospital.

“D-dad…a-nd..m-mom..they…How could they..” I can’t completely understand her with all the hiccups and sniffs.

“SShh…It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“No…It’ll never gonna be fine…It wouldn’t.” Her voice was held low but she kept stamping her feet as she slipped in my arms. I have to hold her tighter because she’s almost to break down. Her voice is gibberish. She’s catching her breath.

 “Hino!” I shook her shoulders.

“Hiro~” Her voice is shaking. “What will we do now?”

I gritted my teeth. She’s right. What will we do now? The future is uncertain. How could we keep on moving?

Looking at her pitiful face makes me wanna cry. I just hugged her back. And the words came slipping from my mouth.

“I’m still here. I won’t leave you. Do you understand me? Huh? Hino?” I gulped as I leaned my left cheek on her temple. “Hiro’s gonna take care of you. I promise. We’ll gonna make this together. Just believe in me. You unders