Genes.
Or destiny.
Or whatever you call it.
I always thought I was unlucky with it.
Born with an idiopathic disease, weak since I was a child.
I wasn't fugly, luckily, but I obviously wasn't beautiful—although that was probably the least of my concerns in life.
I had always been shy. Socially awkward. Easily scared.
A cry baby, weak—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Life wasn't easy.
But I never envied anyone for having more.
Of course, I wish I could have what they had too.
But I've grown to admire good qualities in people, rather than hating people for having them when I don't.
And some people seemed to have them all, like Abigail. She was truly blessed.
Standing here, looking at karuhi07, though, I came to a realization.
Blessings didn't always come in perfect packages.
Karuhi07 was a petite girl. She seemed about the same age as me, and hit that weird balance between looking very youthful yet certainly not giving an impression of a child.
She was cute but alluring, pretty but scary, eyes that seemed both serious and playfully mischievous at the same time. She was a pretty doll crafted by someone with a very warped taste of beauty, and somehow it worked.
"Hi, Bree. We finally met."
Her words tickled my skin and I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
Mesmerized, I wasn't able to say anything.
"Er… you okay?" Brian asked me, a little concerned and a little confused.
Still, I said nothing.
"Hey, Bree. She's saying hi to you."
I finally snapped out of it with a little hiccup as Brian tapped on my shoulder.
"Hi—hi. Karuhi zero seven."
Brian cringed and looked at me as if I was some disgusting insect.
"That's her NAME! Don't look at me like that!"
"Pfft," karuhi07 laughed.
Ignoring his stupid sister, Brian asked, "Would you like to come in?"
"If I may, then yes. Thank you very much."
Brian gestured for her to enter, which she accepted with a nod.
She headed straight toward the stairs.
"Hey, where are you going?!" I yelled, slowly coming back to my senses.
"To your room. If I may."
"NO! You CAN'T go to my room now!"
I panicked. Senne was there and god knows what might happen when this pretty weirdo meets a devil.
"I want to see your lady," she said, walking upstairs.
It was then that Brian rushed past her and blocked her path.
"I'm sorry. But it seems my sister doesn't want you to come to her room."
"Oh?" Karuhi said, not exactly surprised.
"I don't want to be rude, but how about you guys chat in the living room? I will bring some tea. Or would you prefer some coffee instead?"
Karuhi stood there, blinked her big eyes a few times, then leaned forward a little to inspect Brian's face closely, smiling.
"You are interesting."
Brian was a bit taken aback, and well, literally took a step back too.
"Tea is fine. Earl Grey please."
"We don't have Earl Grey," I said.
"We… do actually, Bree. I bought them earlier today," Brian said.
"Huh? We never drink Earl Grey."
"It was on sale."
I had a bad feeling about this.
"And a toast with marmalade would be very nice too. Thank you," karuhi07 requested as she sat on the living room couch.
I had a really bad feeling about this.
"What are you playing at?" I asked her after working up some courage.
She sat there without a word, but with a smile on her marionette face.
"You just wait here. I will be back."
With that, I ran upstairs and slammed the door shut behind me when I entered my room.
"Senne, this is bad news. Karuhi is here."
"So it's real," she said.
"Aren't you freaked out?"
"Nothing fazes this devil here," she declared, looking smug.
"Can't you take this a bit more seriously?! She KNOWS things she shouldn't!"
"Such as?"
"She was asking for MARMALADE!"
"I want marmalade."
"THAT'S NOT THE FRIGGIN' POINT!"
"Now you made me think about it, I really want it…"
I was pulling out my hair.
"You are so useless!"
"So can I come down?"
"NO!"
"Why not?"
"BECAUSE!"
"Because of what?"
"JUST BECAUSE!"
I then ran out of the room, slammed the door shut again, and ran downstairs.
Karuhi was still in the living room, sitting elegantly, and now sipping on her tea with her pinky raised as she held the cup.
Witch… she's a witch.
I'm having tea with a witch.