The sun shone in my eyes as soon as I opened them. Not considering my hatred towards morning, it made me fully awake not wasting a second.

Every school for some reason starts at some time around 7am, and sure enough mine is no exception. So I grabbed my uniform and coat and set off for my school.

After that I work part time at a cafe somewhere in town. It's quite lively and it gives me enough money to help my parent's expenses at bills.

The bell rings as soon as I open the door.

"Ah Maria! Right on time!" The cook greeted me glancing from the kitchen.

I rushed in to change into my uniform to be able to serve the buzzing customers. The cafe is fully packed, picking today as some sort of special day.

I tightly tied the apron around me and my hair to the side, cause it's my favorite style, and grabbed the tray and meet the customers.

"Hey Maria! Good thing I get to see you today."

I recognize them as some of the old geezers hanging around my shift just to get a glimpse of other hot women in the cafe.

I smiled "You too Mr. I'm glad you could go all the way to visit our cafe."

"Haha! Well the drinks here are amazing! Speaking of drinks can you get alcohol for me and my bud over here."

"Yes sir of course." I quickly set off for the kitchen to prepare.

If you're wondering, the cafe is separated into two. Men lounge and the women and children lounge.

Drinks are the specialty in the men while sweets are on the women.

But anyways, those are my usual days. A highschooler, doing part time job in a cafe.

"Mom I'm home."

"Ah Maria dearie how's your day?"

"Pretty fine mom." I made my way to my room.

"Good, oh yes. Can you go to your sister's school and bring her home? I'm still not feeling that well."

"Yes mom." Then I closed the door behind me.

Yah just a regular highschooler....

I drifted to sleep as I embrace the softness of my bed...

....Working a part time job on a cafe having a normal family...

I was about to sleep and go to the world of dreams-

"Aahhh!! MARIA YOU'RE HOME!!"

I knew she's gonna do something.

"Not now Mara...I'm tired,besides I have to go out again. You know the rules."

"The rules states that I can't go out if you're either working or at school. But you have to get your sisters right? So I can go out with you!!" I can hear the cheerfulness in her voice.

"Wait you went downstairs to eavesdrop?! Mara, that was against the rules!!" I was panicking inside as I stood up.

" Maria! All you kept on saying is rules ruled rules!! Don't worry, they can't see me remember?"

"Ugh..."

If you're wondering at the 'they can't see me' part, it's true.

I lied about being normal, for some reason the word normal left me when I was around 3 years old. I was stuck with Mara, a lost soul. Or at least, that's how she described herself.

When I complained to my parents that she was bothering me,they looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo. And from there I concluded that they can't see Mara at all.

My sisters however are an exception.

"Tell me again why my sisters can see you ?"

"Well that's because they're children! Children can see me!" She posed like she was some kind of Goddess. "Besides, I haven't spoken to them for two days. I want to talk to them again you know."

I sighed "Fine you can come with me. "

Light came to her eyes. "YAAAY!!" she spinner around jumping, while her hands were in the air.

I smiled. Well it was reasonable, I forbid her to go out because she's not actually human, she's a lost soul.
I began to remember what she said to me. Years ago.

"Why are you here anyway?! What is your purpose?!" I shouted out of irritation.

But Mara bent down and pat me on my head. "I'm here for two things. I can't explain the first one, but the second one is easy for you to understand. "

"What is it then?" Tears can't stop flowing from my eyes. " mom and dad thought I was weird because they can't see you... and now they won't believe anything I say..."

She patted me more comfortably. "I'm here to fulfil my mission."

"Mission?"

"Yes..."

"C'mon Maria! We need to go!!" She grabbed my hand, and dragged me downstairs

"Woaah!!" She's way too excited.

It's kinda weird to see yourself everyday in front of you.

Yes, Mara looks exactly like me. As I age, she also age. We're almost exactly the same. Except for one thing.

We walked for another mile -

"We're here!!"she said, Her cheerfulness not leaving her voice

"alright....." I crossed my arms and waited for my sisters.

We have different attitudes, she's so cheerful she might be a representative of the sun, while I'm not.

I don't really see the point of wasting my breathe and keep on talking for a whole day nonstop. I'm only gonna talk when I need to.

Not a while after that children came running from inside the school. And soon enough I made eye contact with my sisters.

"Maria!!!" Ella shouted as she ran towards me. "Look! I drew a picture of a cat!!" She proudly showed me her drawing.

"Yay." I said sarcastically. "C'mon we better start walking, I still have homework you know."

Ella pouted but she walked along. Bella caught up with us. "Yay! You brought Mara along with you!"

Mara smiled and she waved to the twins. "Hi! I haven't seen you two for a long time."

"Mara, two days is not a long time."

"It is for me! " then posed like she was dramatically hurt.

Both Ella and Bella laughed "what kind of pose is that?!"

"Ya! That's hilarious!! "

"That hurts you two."

While the three of them chatted, I just listened to them, not saying word. I think my sisters would prefer Mara as their sister more than me. Not that I care about it.

"So, what did you guys do in school today?"

"Oh Ella! Tell her the story time!!"

"Yah! Our teacher in class told us a story."

"Oh? A fairy tale? " Mara sounded excited.

"Yahh! I think so. Anyway, it was a story about 4 friends. They we're all childhood friends looking for adventure."

"Yah! Then one day, they found a door leading to another world."

I chuckled. That doesn't sound lie fairy tale to me.

"And then behind that door was people full of magic!! "

"Wow!! That seems fun!"

I rolled my eyes

" and then there they found out that those 4 we're actually born in that world. They we're just banned for some reason. Hey Bella, why we're they banned again?"

"Aw man. I also forgot..."

"They were banned because of a bad guy in the royal palace. Once the people knew their real names they we're ignored, and gave disgusting looks. But the 4 didn't gave up, and they searched for the bad guy and killed him. In the end the whole world learned the truth and gave them rewards. The end." I finished the story without thinking and the three of them gave me surprised looks. "What I also heard that story when j was around your age."

"Oh right I kinda remember that scene now." Mara said as she was lost in her own thoughts.

"Wait! After that story the teacher asked us who's our favorite character. "

"And Ella and I picked the 4 friends right?"

"Yah! Ne sis. Who's your favorite character?"

I gave my answer without giving it a second thought. "Maybe their teacher of the cat in the sidewalk. Or maybe their parents?"

All three of them we're shocked. "HUH?!"

Ella was the first to express her opinion. "Those are all side characters!"

"Heck their role is so small that they're not even side characters anymore!"

"Maria?! What we're you thinking?! Don't you like the 4 main characters?!"

I bit my lip. "What are you talking about... the only thing I feel for them is pity. I pity the 4 of them. "

A wind of silence passed by.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"...we're going home."

Nobody said a word after that.

We quietely ate dinner after that. Then I walked upstairs and read a pocketbook.

Mara timidly went inside... "uhm... Maria can we talk?"

"Yah...? " I turned the page of the pocket book I'm reading.

"...why didn't you answered the main characters earlier? I thought they were your favorite when we were-"

"That was in the past Mara... and the past is so long ago. Time changes us people..."

"Yes but you even promised-"

"SHUT UP!!" I loudly closed my book and glared at Mara. "You don't ever shut up do you!?" I can't contain my anger anymore.

"I-i just thought maybe-"

"No! You know what?! I can't wait for the day you disappear in my sight!!"

I crossed the line on that one.

It was too late when I realized what I said to her. But my pride didn't let me do anything.

"...it seems you wish didn't changed master... But you know I can't accomplish that."

"I told you! Don't call me master! Leave me alone!!"

She was pretty far but-

"..OK..."

I heard the sound of the door slamming.

She was definitely crying...

---
I closed the door behind me. Then I wiped the tears in my eyes. I looked up in the ceiling.

Ah...I never get tired of hearing those words...

"You'll be named after your partner, Maria.welcome to our world and life. Mara."

"Remember the world of souls is not easy."

"What do you mean"

"Maria will most probably hate you for saying the truth that lies in her heart. Only you have the ability to do that."

"You have to stay by her side until your mission is complete..."

"After...that's the duty of a-"

"Mara!! Why are you here?" Bella ended up interrupting my thoughts.

"Yah." As always Ella is beside her, wearing both of their pajamas. "I thought you're going to sleep with Maria today."

"Haha well, I thought maybe I could get some fresh air.

"Oh really?"

"Yah!" I smiled so I could avoid the topic of what happened earlier.

But Bella pointed at me. "Then why are you crying?"

Dang it!

"H-huh?" I quickly wiped of the tear. "Must be a dust or something.

Ella crossed her arms, and had a face of someone who doesn't trust the person she was speaking just now, meaning me. "You can't fool us you know. For some reason you're a big crybaby compared to Maria, who ...well, is just born stone hearted."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I love the two of them and all, but sometimes they're sharper than I could give them credit for.

The two looked at each other, worried. "Well we can't make you spit out the truth can we?"

I smiled at them.

They both sighed."Well then! " I didn't even noticed that one of them were hiding a story book behind their backs. "In exchange-" Ella shoved Cinderella into my face "-tell us a bedtime story!"

"What?"

They gave me pleading eyes. "Pleaseee."

I had no choice but to take the book."Ok ok, let's go to your room and read this.."

"YAAY!" the two of them rushed to their rooms.

I stopped for a second. "Wait."

they turned to look at me. "What is it?"

"How about I tell you another story?"

"Uh whaat! NO!"

"Yah! Our favorite is Cinderella!"

I gulped, they're so terrifying when they want something. "Now now, don't get mad. Or else i wont tell bedtime stories to you."

"what?!"

"Mara! You're so mean!!"

"Hear me out! I got a book somewhere here. It's a secret tale kept from this world." I bent down. "And you two must keep it a secret from others ok?"

Their eyes were sparkling. "mm!" they nodded at me. "But how do you know where it is?"

I smiled at them. Finally I can share the wonder of that tale. "Of course. You two go on ahead, I'll get the book."

"Ok!!"

They were out of sight before I knew it, and then I returned to our room.

~To be continued~