Chapter 1 After the funeral

I got down from the bus and looked up at the sky. It was bright, sunny, and a bit annoying. I was in mourning so why couldn't the sky even mourn with me?

My identical twin sister, Eve, died for reasons no one knew. Even the police didn't know who caused her death. All we knew was that her body was found floating close to the harbor.

Though we were twin sisters, compared to me, she was always brilliant, coming up with new ideas and providing lavishly for the family. It was thanks to her we had a comfortable roof over our heads, a kind helper and food on our table.

I couldn't do half of what she did, not even quarter, and if not for her, I wonder what we would've been reduced to since my father fell ill five years ago.

Because of my father's illness and inability to work, we both ended our education in high school and didn't go further but we had been doing well thanks to Eve.

She was always so brilliant and I felt it wasn't fair that she had to end without a proper education. But even when she had the money, Eve showed no interest in going to school so I felt it was her choice.

And since she, who was the brilliant one among us, didn't want to go back to school, I felt it would be a waste for me to go to school since I wasn't really smart.

"Hah!" I sighed and wore my confident face.

I needed to get a job and that was all that mattered, the matter of the past could stay in the past. This was my present.

Though we still had a fair amount of resources, if I didn't find a stable job soon, it would run out and we would starve. I'd need to restock dad's medicines at the end of the month and pay the helper.

Also, it would seem we would have to park out of that apartment soon since the yearly rent wasn't something I could afford. It would be better to get a cheaper place and manage the resources we had and not lavishly spend just because it was there.

I sighed once more and wondered, 'were things this difficult for you too, eh, Eve?'

I entered the first shop that had a 'sales girl' signboard up. It was a local restaurant with a lot of customers.

"Welcome." I was greeted warmly the receptionist standing at the front of the door. She was a lady with brown hair, thick eyebrows, freckled cheeks and small lips, and I smiled awkwardly,

"Um, I'm not a customer. I came to apply for the job of a salesperson." I said and she scanned me thoroughly with judging eyes.

I was dressed in all black since I was still in my mourning phase but I hoped she wouldn't mind.

"This isn't a cemetery. Why did you dress this way when coming to apply for a salesperson?" She asked, her hospitable appearance turning sour in a second.

"Oh, that's... My sister died so I..."

"That's not my concern." She said. "If you dress like that, you'll only scare the customers away. Go back and change before you think of applying again."

Her tone was so rude and disrespectful that even I, who was slow to anger, wanted to yell at her. My sister died, couldn't she just be a little bit understanding?

If I didn't know better, I would assume she was jealous of me. Ugh, I was overthinking it again. Who would be jealous of a girl who just lost her sister?

"What are you still doing here? Do you plan to garner sympathy from me and her the job because your sister died?" She asked and I took in a deep breath.

I smiled and said,

"Have a nice day. I hope your business doesn't fall with that attitude of yours." I turned around, leaving her dumbstruck.

I clenched my fists as I made my way out. I couldn't be like my sister. If it were Eve in this situation, she would've certainly put that rude-tongued girl into her place but I couldn't even spit out hurtful words to her back at her for disrespecting my condition.

I was so pitiful.

How was a girl with a soft attitude like me going to survive in this world? It was no wonder Eve always said,

"Your heart is too big, allow me to do the dirty job and just take care of Dad and our siblings."

She sheltered me so much that now I feel so useless and guilty for putting all the burden on her alone.

I sniffed and wiped my eyes with my sleeves.

I stood at the roadside while wondering where I was going to go next. I looked at my clothes. Maybe I should have her changed so as not to get accused of trying to garner sympathy.

Just then, a flashy black car pulled up in front of me. I stepped back, thinking I was in the way of someone important but to my surprise, a tall bulky man wearing dark sunglasses, got down from the passenger's seat and approached me.

"Eve Newton? You need to come with me, you've hidden yourself for too long." He said and I blinked my eyes twice,

"Eh?"