Oliver’s POV
I didn’t like how Ava had been crumpling her arms and always thinking about the twin brothers. When would everything stop? Before we met the brothers, our life has been peaceful without a modicum of unhappiness.
What was happening to us? I guess I was losing my sister and my best friend. Seeing her like this pained me. What should I do? She was behaving similarly to when I first met her.
***
Flashback.
“Oliver.”
I was inside my room when I heard my parents call my name.
“Oliver, we’re back,” they announced.
I rose from my bed to welcome my parents. They were back from the trip they went on.
“Father, mother, welcome back!”
I greeted them when I entered the living room, but I was met by someone else.
“Who is this father?” I asked him when I saw a little girl of my age in wretched clothes like a rag. “Why is she looking so sickly? Where are her parents? Who made her like this?”
Despite all the scars and burns on her skin, she is still gorgeous. She is heartbreaking to look at. I keep staring at her.
I heard my father cough.
“Why are you looking at her like that, Oliver? Well, Oliver, meet Ava. She will be our daughter and your older sister from now on, and I hope you welcome her into the family as well,” my father announced. “Ava, meet my daughter, Oliver. She will be your younger sister as of today. Since you are a year older than she is.”
I was happy. I finally have a sister, a sister who will always be with me, a sister who will always fight for me, a sister who will love, protect and care for me. I am happy I am not the only baby in the house again. I have a sister. She is my elder sister, sister Ava.
“Father, I am so happy. Thank you for letting me have a sister I never had. I am pleased with your decision. Thank you, mother,” I happily said to them.
“I am happy as well that you accepted her into the family. I am also happy you accepted her as your older sister. So, Oliver, show Ava her room,” he said.
“Come, sister Ava. You’ll be sharing a room with me starting today. Stand up, sister. Let’s go.” I grabbed her by her hand. “Oh. Before I forget, father and mother, where is the gift I asked you to get for me? I asked my parents.
“Oh, baby girl. I didn’t forget the gift you asked me to get,” my mother answered me back.
“Thank you, mom. I love you. You are the best!” I blew a kiss on them. “I love you too, father.” I smiled.
“Sister, Ava. Let’s go to our room.”
When we reached our room, she yanked her hand away from me. I was sad. Did she despise me?
“Sister, what is wrong with you? What did I do wrong?” I asked her. With blubbering eyes, I mumbled, “Do you abhor me?” I was waiting for a response, but she never answered back.
She stayed mute for months. For months without her speaking to me, I would always bring up something funny just to hear her speak or laugh, but she never did. She never chatted with anyone in the family. I thought she was mute, but my father told me she was not, since she talked to them the first time they met her. That is how they got to know her name, just her name, nothing else. They know nothing about her. They were kind people. That’s why they rescued and adopted her as their daughter.
Another month has gone by. I keep trying my best to make her feel at home. We sleep in the same bed, yet she never talks to me. She eats alone. She never dined with us as the family we were supposed to be. But we never forced her to do anything she never wanted. We all hope she feels at home, and she feels safe.
“Sister, Ava,” I called her, but she never answered.
“Sister,” I touched her, but she flinched.
“What is wrong with you, sister?” But as usual, she stayed mute. I was sad. Did she feel hostility toward me this much? I asked myself.
I want to get to know her more. Why is she always screaming in her dreams? I eagerly wanted to know her, but she never allowed me. She built a gigantic barrier around herself without letting anyone in. She will never get away from me. She must like me and accept me as her little sister.
Five months later, she started chuckling at the funny words I said, but she has never talked to me. She is still mute. This is a good improvement. I am sure she will open up to me soon. I’m happy.
“Sister,” I called her when I trudged into the room we both shared.
“Oliver,” she called me.
She finally said my name. My sister spoke to me. I was overjoyed.
“Sister Ava, you finally talked to me. Oh my goodness! Sister, you finally spoke to me!”
She smiled. Her smile lightened up my sorrow.
“Oliver, can you stop calling me sister?” she asked me.
“Why, sister? Do you loathe me?” I asked with teary eyes.
“Stop crying, sister,” she grumbled as she helped me wipe away my tears. “I don’t loathe you, I just don’t want you to call me sister. Can you call me Ava?” she uttered with a smile. She was just like an angel.
She was willing to be my sister, but she asked me to call her by her given name. I would do whatever it took. Even if she wanted me to call her by her name, I would do that.
“Ava,” I called her.
“Yes, Oliver,” she answered and tugged me to her chest, giving me a cozy hug. I was happy. I finally succeeded.
From that day, she began to open up to me little by little before she tore down the barrier she built to permit me into her world. I got to know everything about her, about how she was mistreated, and I pledged to always protect her from any danger.