Francy's p.o.v

"Honey are you okay? You're not eating well these days." Mom passed me a glass of milk to go with my breakfast.

Despite my mom's vegan phase being over and us coming back to at least having dairy, you'd think I'd rejoice. But I was far from it.

I sighed and took the glass. "I can't eat."

"The last time you said that you had bronchitis." Dad instantly checked my forehead.

"It's because of Ace and Lucy. It's been a few days and they still don't have any answers to why they were disqualified. They're back to working day and night to figure it out." Kai explained.

Just as I thought I was going to have more time with my boyfriend.

Not to mention things in my house were weird. We were sitting down and having breakfast yet the house was really quiet. Rehan wasn't here, Ace wasn't either.

Kai and I had gotten really lonely these days. But, I wasn't that worried about things going back to normal. Rehan was going to get commanded to come back home any day now. Mom and Dad had really put trust in Ace and I was sure he didn't want to let them down. He was a tough cookie and he never gave up even with failure. Whether they fix this or not he was going to bounce back. He even told mom he would come home for the summer.

I just really worried about Elric. This game meant everything to him. To ruin his reputation and put him in a bind like this, I doubt he was going to spiral into depression.

More likely the gates of hell would open and he would terrorize the world until he found whoever was to blame and make an example out of him.

I sighed and took another bite of my breakfast with difficulty. He was a cold and calculated man that few dare to provoke.

I looked at Kai. Right.. They were a similar type of cruel.

"What would you do if someone did that to you? You know, blame you for plagiarism without proof." I asked him.

Kai relaxed in his seat and started twirling the fork in the air. "Let's see. If someone did that to me.. I wouldn't sleep until I find that person, torture them with their biggest fear and just when they think they can run and hide, I'd show them just how tiny this world really is." He put his fork down. "Or something like that."

"Oh no." I pushed my plate away and leaned on the table. "I will have to visit him in prison."

Kai shook his head. "Don't worry. We'll get Rehan to break him out. He'll just teleport him."

Mom smiled. "Why is that all our children are all tad dramatic?"

Dad took a bite out of his scrambled eggs. "They must get it from your side of the family."

We all laughed.

Ah...That joke never gets old. Considering we were all adopted.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. It rang again. And again.

Dad got up, "I'll get it" and went to open the door.

Not a minute later, Remi whooshed into the room.

"Hi." She waved with a shy smile on her face, and Kai waved back.

"Good morning." She smiled at mom.

"Wanna sit down for breakfast?" Mom offered.

"No thank you, I can't eat," Remi said in a hurry.

"I'm starting to get worried about you girls." Mom sighed.

"I bring important news." She declared as dad got back and sat down.

"Bring news?" Dad asked.

Remi pulled out her phone and showed it to me. There was an email from the magazine about the contest.

Dear Remi and Francy

I am writing this letter on behalf of our magazine. Our company has thoroughly reviewed your proposal sent to us on the 19th May, with the idea of your project.

After reviewing numerous proposals from different applicants, I am glad to inform you that the management of our magazine has selected you as participants in the competition.

We find your idea incredibly interesting and we would fund both of you, fully thorough out the project.

The commencement date of the contract will be 31st May and the ending date would remain the same as the rules, which is the contract ends two months after the date of your funding. In your case 31st July.

The payments would start after the beginning of the first month and would continue equally and fully paid at the beginning of the second month.

Additionally, as you are already aware of the critical nature of this project and the short amount of time you might have to finish it, we have few guidelines we would like you to follow.

We think it's in the best interest of your project that you're fully present and living in or near the house you're redecorating so that your recording process of the project would be as aesthetic as your idea. We take into consideration the effort put into it as well. It brings points.

Make sure you submit the project presentation before the end of our contract on the last day to our email and wait for further instruction as your idea is a particular one.

Also please send us letters of approval from your parents as you're still underage.

We are looking forward to seeing the results of your projects and we wish you the best of luck in the competition.

Let me know if you have any questions or need any details by contacting me on this email.

Regards,

Jana Mistodonis

I gave Remi her phone back in a state of shock. "We got in?"

"We got in." Remi smiled.

I jumped from my chair hugging her. "We got in!!"

"We got in." She jumped with me.

"What is this about?" Mom asked.

I took a deep breath and sat back down giving Remi a nervous glance. She gave me an encouraging nod.

"Remi and I applied for an artistic project competition for a magazine we're subscribed to and they accepted our idea."

"Is that the magazine you read every month?" Mom asked enthusiastically.

"Yes." I nodded. "We could win numerous prizes with this. The best thing is they will fund our idea."

"That's great my baby." She got up and kissed me and then she hugged Remi as well. "I'm so proud of you two."

"And what exactly is this project idea?" Dad asked.

"Well.." I glanced at him. "I was hoping to talk about that if we get accepted. We want to redecorate grandma's house."

"In the country?" His eyebrows rose up.

"Yes.. I mean no one goes there at all, but If Remi and I use it for our project not only we can get a prize but we could bring life back to the house."

"I don't like this idea," Dad said.

"Why not?" I asked. "Do you think grandma would mind?"

"No. She hates that house. But I'm worried about you and your projects."

"I'm going to make it really nice. Have you seen how nice my room turns out every time?" I smiled.

"It's the mess afterward I'm worried about," Dad said narrowing his eyes. "I've seen the mess you leave behind. It's dangerous."

"Then I'll just have Kai help me at the end. You'll help, won't you?" I turned towards Kai smiling.

He gave me a "huh" look with a raised eyebrow.

Yeah, Kai never did anything for free nor something that could waste his time.

Remi put a hand on my shoulder. "That's a silly question. Of course, he will. He is so amazing and organized that we would be crazy not to ask for his help." She turned towards him smiling. "You'll help won't you?"

Kai took one look at her and smiled. "Of course. You can count on me."

Ahh...I glanced at Remi. Indeed as I thought. Only certain people can wield such great power.

"See dad." I smiled.

"Okay then." He broke into a smile. "If you're going to be responsible.. "

"Of course." I jumped from my chair and hugged him.

Remi cleared her throat. "But there's another problem now," Remi whispered over my head. "The living requirements."

Oh right. We had to be near the house or live in it. There was no way Remi and I could take a four-hour train back and forward every day. It would be impossible to get things done on time.

"There's also another thing."

I read the email to mom and dad out loud.

"Two months?" Mom asked.

Kai scoffed. " You want to live there for two months? Great. Have fun. No need to tell us anything." Kai got up calmly taking his coffee and left the kitchen.

"Um...Excuse me." Remi smiled awkwardly and ran after him.

"Wow, my children are all leaving me." Mom sunk back in her chair. "First Ace, then Rehan, now you. When I'm old and in need of assistance I can only count on Kai." She looked at dad. " We should leave him with the inheritance and the house."

I took her hand. "See mom.. the drama flair does come from your side of the family."

She burst laughing and pinched my cheeks. "Don't get smart with me."

"Ouch.." I pulled away and glanced at dad. He was really serious.

"Dad.?"

"I don't like this idea." He shook his head. "I don't like this at all."

"Why?" I said disappointed.

"I don't think I can approve of you living alone Francy.  I don't think you understand that as much as mature that you are, you're also very sheltered and I don't want you to get hurt."

Tears welled up in my eyes. I always knew how much they watched out for me and took care of me and I let them, but I never thought I'd be deprived of an opportunity when the time comes for me to do something on my own.

"That is so unfair." Holding the tears back, that burned my eyes was difficult enough, so hiding the rage in my voice was impossible.

 "When Ace said he wanted to work and study at the same time you let him. When he went to live with Elric and got into the world game development championships you told him you were proud and again, let him do whatever he wants. You even trust Kai enough to be responsible, you let him help you with the taxes. Even Rehan who's younger than me got to go to Turkey. Why can't I do what I want? Why am I not worthy of being trusted to grow, and be proud of and learn things on my own?"

Dad sighed and lifted his hand wiping a tear that slid down my face. "It has to be different with you."

"It's not fair," I said.

"When Ace was young I had all the hospital equipment in the house with me cause he would come home bleeding every day. He was so reckless. Climbing trees, wirepolls, falling off the bike, jumping from high places. Your other brothers followed the same road. I would get too panicked seeing them like that and I'm a doctor. There's something so painful about parents seeing their children hurt. However, a father that sees his daughter hurt. ugh... You were such a nice kid you never got hurt too badly. I don't think I ever got trained in seeing you get hurt."

"Awww." Mom got up and hugged me.

No. I was too angry to be comforted.

Then she walked over behind dad and wrapped her hands around him and hugged him lovingly. "Now I know you're extra careful with Francy, but she's 18 in a few days and we have to let her try what she wants to do. I was hoping this would wait for a few years but our children are ambitious, it seems. Let's look at this as a trial run. She's only there for two months, you know the people there and she'll be welcomed. You can make all the arrangements. I know you'll have fun doing so. " She looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Francy has no problem with that right?"

"Nope. Fine with that." I wiped my tears and smiled.

Mom begged him sweetly. "Come on. She deserves it."

I nodded vigorously.

Dad sighed and relaxed back into mom's arms. "Okay. Okay."

"Yes." I slammed my hand on the table.

"Also.." Dad took my hands and kissed them. "Don't you ever say I'm not proud of you. You're my precious girl. Of course, I'm always going to be proud."

I got up and hugged both mom and dad.