Beyond the Iota

Chapter 1

"Hypatia! Are you gonna use your phone all day?" I rolled my eyes when I heard my stepmom's voice going around the house early in the morning.

"Hypatia!" she called me out again yet I did not listen to hear and continues to watch some dance challenges in Treks. 

Treks is an application where you could watch short-form videos, from different genres like dance, comedy, singing, and education, that have a duration from fifteen seconds to three minutes.

"Hypatia! Are you deaf? or do you want me to cut your ears instead? I did not know Hedy raised a kid like this." I glared at her just saying my real mom's name.

"What the f**k is your problem, old hag? My real mom is much better than you." a slap was planted on my face.

"And who told you to speak to me like that? Hedy was not better and she can not be better than me. If she's better why did she leave all five of you in here?" I raised my hand and slapped her.

"Do you think she is happy about leaving us here? In this hell? f**k no." I clenched my teeth and grab my tote bag lying on the sofa bed.

"And where do you think you are going?" she grabbed my arms and pulled me away from the bed.

"Away from you. Get off me." I shrugged her off which made her forcefully sat on the floor which made a loud bang.

I heard steps from the staircase and discovered that it was the footsteps of my dad and my siblings.

"What happened here?" my dad opened the door widely and I saw my four siblings peeking.

He looked at me with a worried look yet he walked towards the old hag's position and held her up in his arms. I rolled my eyes to stop myself from tearing up. 

"Hypatia. What did you do right now?" he asked me in a calm tone.

Felix Klein is the name of my father. I was 10 years old when he and mom decided to separate and have their own ways. Until now that I am 18 years old, I don't know where she is and I don't know the reason why she would leave us. My 10 years of existence were pleasant. We have a perfect and happy family and I can't wish for more.

"I just called her to eat for lunch but she began slapping me and pushing me on the floor." the old hag explained while clinging her arms to my father's arms.

"Did he ask you though?" Lise looked at her with disgust.

Lise Meitner is a second-born child. She has two split personalities which make her likable. She can be a cinnamon roll in an hour yet she can be deadly furious. She also hates this old hag since she's the closest among us with mom and she definitely looks like mom. 

"Lise," Dad called out her name that made her glared at the old hag clinging like a monkey to my dad's arms.

"I want to move out, Dad." I simply said.

"What?" they shouted in unison.

"Move out." I declared while pointing at myself.

"Why?" he pulled out from the witch but he smiled at her.

He walks towards me and gave me a sly smile.

"I am suffocated in here dad. You can't persuade me on living here anymore. It's tiring. I want to grow on my own. And I can't live here anymore. I'm really sorry, dad." I looked at him. 

"I'm sorry if I can't do anything about that, Hypatia. I'm truly sorry." he pulled me for a hug that made me burst into tears. I cried in his arms and let my tears flow into my face. He hushed my mumbles as he hugged me tighter that made me feel safe in his arms. He kissed the top of my head and whispered.

"I'm letting you go, Hypatia." I nodded.

"Dad," Lise called out for him.

"Yes, Lise?" he pulled out from the hug while looking at my siblings.

I wiped the tears in my eyes and directed my gaze to the group of people who are sniffing. I saw my two brothers, two years and three years younger than me, trying to stop themselves from crying, and Ada, the youngest looking at me, gave me her sweetest smile. 

She ran in my direction and hugged my legs. She looked up at me and directed me to lift her. I lift her and she suddenly kissed my cheeks. 

"I hope you'll be happy there, Hypipi," she told me as she kissed my cheeks and the tip of my nose.

Ada Lovelace is the youngest among us. She's still a 10-year-old girl but she thinks maturely. She was still months old when mom left her with us. She let herself grow into the surrounding with us, guiding her. And I know, of all people she will understand me. She will understand my decision.

I embrace her tightly and kissed the top of her head. I looked at both of my brothers who is looking at me, with worry. I just smiled at them and nodded.

"Hy, I'm going with you." Lise declared.

I gave her a confused look and look at dad. He nodded at me.

"Why?" She winked at me and left the room.

"I'm going to prepare now!" she shouted and run away across the hallway of our house.

"Wait! Felix? What is going on in here?" the old hag began to nag.

Ada told me that I should let her down. As soon as I put her down, she ran towards the old hag and pulled her away from the room.

"Ada! Where are we going?" I heard their voice outside of my room and Ada's giggle.

I saw both of my brothers talking with dad and looks like they are arguing because of something

"I'm out of here too, Dad." Henri declared.

"Same." Linus seconded.

I gave that a confused look and directed my gaze to both of my brothers. They just shrugged me off and walk away from the room. 

"Dad? What are they talking about?" I asked him.

"They want to come with you." he chuckled.

Henri and Linus were the closest among us. Henri Poincare, the third-born child, is one year older than Linus, but both are in the same grade. Henri is the wisest among us but he held himself back for a year for Linus since he finds school boring without Linus. Henri is logically smart and academically wise. Meanwhile, Linus Pauling, the fourth-born child is the most active among us. He knows how to play most of the sports and he's smart when it comes to playing those. 

"Dad. Why?" I asked him.

"I want you all to grow. I'm leaving your three siblings under your care. Ada will stay here with us." he declared.

"Dad, isn't this too much?" I looked at him but he just gave me a warm smile.

"Hedy knows that this time will come, Hypatia." he started.

"Wait? Mom? How?" I continuously asked.

He walked towards my bed and decided to sit at the corner of it. He looks at me and smiles, tapping the seat beside him. I followed the taps and decided to seat at that part. 

"Your mom was paying for an apartment for almost 8 years. Yes, when you were 2 years old. She buys off an apartment but in Kyoto, in the Kansai region." when I was 2 years old? what is she planning?

"She was also saving money for your college. She wants you to study in an international school. So don't worry about where to go now that you're in college. There are lots of good international schools in Kyoto." he continues.

"How about Lise? Henri and Linus? Lise is in his senior year, Dad. Henri and Linus are in their first years. Isn't it too much for them to transfer?" I asked.

"Lise told me that you would gobble up like this about her studies. Lise, Henri, and Linus will be enrolled in the same high school, not far away from your apartment and I'll take care of that. So still have two weeks before classes start." he smiled.

"Dad," I called him off.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Do you really love mom?" he nodded.

"Then why did you let her leave us?" I asked.

"Hypatia. When you love someone, you'll let go of her if you know that she's not happy anymore. Your mom wants to chase her dreams, I let her because I loved her too much." he stated.

I sighed at what dad had said. I know that he really loves mom because he really loves all five of us too. I know he wants to see mom again too, the same as what we feel but I feel sad about dad since he can't anymore.

"One more thing Hypatia, love your siblings wholeheartedly. I want to make sure that everything fine while you are leaving far away from me." I pouted at what he said that made him chuckle.

My hometown is in Tokyo, in the Kanto region while we are going to transfer to Kyoto. My life starts definitely today. I want to find my mom while studying at the international university where both dad and mom met.