Unlike other kids, these siblings didn't have a story about their family.
A local riot took away their parents who were about to return home with gifts, when Ryxin was just 2 years old and his sister Rinae 6 years older than him.
A funeral was held locally for those who were caught in the shoot, and Rinae stood beside the photo frames of her parents, sobbing uncontrollably while keeping ryxin in place. She occasionally knelt down and hid his eyes by adjusting his front hair, standing back up when her neighbours visited her.
Born with a condition where his originally grey eyes changed to red from high blood pigments as time passed, ryxin stood out a lot from his peers and elders, making their neighbours refuse to take him along.
Rinae, in all obviousness, did not go with them and stayed with her little brother in their family home. She had to use the savings their parents left behind till she finished middle school, eventually carrying the burden of supporting themselves at an inconsiderably young age.
Ryxin was eventually home-schooled till he turned five, since Rinae couldn't tolerate the thought of him being left out.
His sister adored him, after all she was the one who gave him his name.
Years later, Rinae entered her second year of high school, while ryxin joined middle school. she works a few part-time jobs and receives a decent amount enough to hold the both of them from being on the streets.
Growing up as an alluring girl of her age, she easily got along with everyone, and could top the class easily with her ability to grasp what she learns.
While ryxin had his middle school life completely flopped up.
He walked through the school halls, already marked as a standout target of criticism in the first week.
Smacked on the head for god knows how many times, thrown cups of water by a few delinquents of his class at every break, being involved in fights during recess― he naturally became arrogant.
The boy always arrives at the doorstep from school, with at least one wound in a limb, quite often that rinae would go through the trouble of tending his wounds everytime he gets refreshed.
"Why won't you put in some contacts or something? you're aware of how much you're being criticized." she spoke with worry, her hands away from his elbow after tending to them.
Ryxin looked away slightly, sighing under his breath.
"I'm aware. I'll buy a pair once I attend high school." he replied.
Although with an arrogant tone, there was a slight contrast of his reassuring tone in his words, a tone reserved for his sister only.
She fell silent afterwards, nodding back as a response.
Her first thought would always be to ask him about his school whenever he comes back home, but usually she keeps it aside, knowing how obvious his own days are.
"I can fight back now."
he spoke in a low voice, His naturally hostile tone growing softer with each word.
"Don't worry." he reassured as the young boy looked at her.
She smiled in response, "I know, you're my brother⎯ Our parent's blood after all." she spoke like she was their mom, giving him a tinge of shyness.
He instantly turned away, flushed cheeks heating his face up in awkwardness making her chuckle.
He got up from the sofa, rubbing his neck a little while making his way towards his room, closing the door behind him.
An incoherent mumble was heard from Rinae, "I wish he enjoyed his time more...." she worried for a fraction of a second before getting up as well.
Inside the room, ryxin laid flat on bed, trying to stir his mind to be as amnesic as possible for a day.
But not a use in his actions― he's gotta wait until a day or two, if it doesn't repeat that is.
Not an hour of 'swirling in his thoughts' later, he dozed off laying in an uncomfortable position, with his feet touching the floor and his torso on bed.
A short knock was heard in the silent room, and rinae opened the door, meeting the sight of her brother already asleep. she sighed to herself and adjusted his position, finding ease in moving him around for this period alone.
Gently tucking in the sheets, she patted the pillow and left the room silently, not waking him up at all.
"geez, what are you gonna do when you become a teen...?"
Weekend had fell the next day. Rinae woke up later than usual, while Ryxin extended his time of sleep till broad daylight. Her morning started fresh with a pinch of drowsiness as she boiled a pot of water in the electric stove, adding a spoon of ground coffee that spills a strong aroma across the kitchen after a few minutes of boiling.
"What's the time now..?"
Ryxin's drowsy tone broke the silence in the open kitchen, his voice laced with morning laziness.
"Hey, where are⎯ "
"Oh, you're awake ryxin?"
Rinae stood in the kitchen, holding the pot of coffee and an empty cup, her head peeking out from the open counter. Ryxin was looking at her with one eye, the other being rubbed slightly by his hand.
"I am, and handle the pot carefully unless you want to get yourself some good burn marks."
"Thanks for your concern, but I'm not as clumsy as a kid like you." Rinae snickered, finding his morning expression awfully pathetic.
Ryxin wanted to curse out yet the fact that she's his sister completely restricts him from pulling his arrogant attitude.
"You win this time, sis." He threw in a towel.