My Time

Chapter 3

"Mama..."

The word came out as a broken whisper.

I turned.

A small boy stood in front of a freshly covered grave, his tiny hands clenched into fists as tears streamed endlessly down his face. His shoulders shook with each sob, his voice trembling like he was so hard not ot break.

Thiago.

He was only nine.

Behind him, two smaller figures cried just as hard. Mateo, barely five, clinging to the edge of Thiago's shirt, and little Denver, only for, kneeling on the damp ground with red, swollen eyes.

And there I was.

Fifteen years old.

Too young to understand everything but old enough to know that nothing would ever be the same again.

The sky that day had been gray. Heavy. Silent. Like, even the world itself was mourning.

Our mother was gone.

Her body couldn't take the exhaustion anymore. Working day and night... raising four children alone... abandoned by four different men who never looked back.

She held on for as long as she could. But in the end, she still left us.

I swallowed hard as I walked toward them. Each step felt heavier than the last. My chest ached, but I forced myself to stay strong.

Because I had to

Because if I broke... They would break even more.

I knelt beside Thiago and gently supped his cheeks, wiping away his tears with my thumbs. "Why are you crying?" I asked softly, even though I knew the answer.

His lips trembled. "Mama... Mama's gone..."

My heart clenched. "I know," I whispered. "But even if mom isn't here anymore..." I pulled him into a hug. "...I'm still here."

He froze for a second before burying his face into my shoulder. I looked at Mateo and Denver, who were still crying beside us. I reached out and pulled them in, too.

"Big sister will take care of you," I said firmly, tightening my hold around them

A promise. A vow.

And from that day on. I kept my promise.

After our mother's death, life didn't become easier. If anything, it became harder because there was no one left to support us.

I started working at my aunt's small restaurant not long after the funeral. At first, she only let me do simple tasks.

Washing dishes.

Cleaning tables.

Running errands

But I insisted on doing more.

Anything.

Everything.

I became a dishwasher, a waiter, and a cashier. Switching roles depending on what was needed. I learned how to handle customers, how to calculate quickly, and how to stay polite even when people were rude.

Eventually, I even helped in the kitchen.

The chef was strict, but I paid attention to everything. How to chop ingredients properly, how to control the heat, how to cook meals that could feed not just customers... but my brothers too.

Every penny I earned mattered. Every hour I worked meant food on the table, school supplies, electricity... another day we could survive.

I was tired. All the time. But I never complained because every time I looked at them sleeping peacefully, laughing over something small, arguing like normal kids, I knew it was worth it.

Still...

Working at the restaurant wasn't enough. The pay was small, and the hours were unstable.

We needed something more secure. Something steady.

So I searched and searched until finally... I found a stable job.

It wasn't easy, and it wasn't something a normal fifteen-year-old should be doing... It's not illegal, but I didn't have the luxury of being normal.

The income was enough.

Enough to support us.

Enough to keep my brothers in school.

Enough to make sure we wouldn't starve

From that moment on.

I became their provider

Their protector.

Their home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to the present.

"Who are you?!"

The door burst open. A man in a brown suit stormed in, his expression filled with alarm as his eyes darted between Thiago and me. I didn't even turn to look at him.

"Get out." Thiago's voice was cold. Sharp. Commanding.

The man blinked, confused. "Yeah! Get out---wait...me?" He pointed at himself, clearly unsure.

A woman standing behind Thiago chuckled softly. "Who else?" She said, grabbing the man by the arm. "Now go."

Without another word, she dragged him out, closing the door behind them.

Silence returned. I leaned back slight tehn I pushed Thiago aside and plopped down onto this chair like I owned this place.

"Go," I said casually. "Get me a glass of water."

He didn't argue. Not even a little.

"You have no idea how I managed to dodge security just not get to you," I added, stretching my arms slightly.

A few moments later, he returned, handing me a glass of water. At the same time, he grabbed a folder from his desk and started fanning me with it.

I blinked.

"Wow..."

CEO? More like an obedient younger brother.

I took a sip of water before speaking again. "Starting right now," I said, pointing at him, "stop clearing malls just because you feel like it."

He stiffened slightly

"And call the manager. Tell them to open it again."

There was a pause.

"Sis..." His voice was quieter now. "...Is it really you?"

I looked at him. Really looked at him. The same face. the same eyes. Just older. Colder. But right now, there was something fragile in them. Something I hadn't seen in years.

I frowned slightly and smacked his arm. "Do as I say."

"Right. Yes. Wait for a moment."

He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed a number. "Mr. Park," he said, his tone shifting into business mode. "Please reopen the mall for the customers. I apologize for the inconvenience."

He ended the call quickly and then crouched beside me.

"Sis," he asked softly, "how did you... How are you alive?"

I exhaled. "Would you believe me if I said I was reborn?"

"Yes."

No hesitation. No doubt.

I blinked. "...You didn't even think about it?"

"I'd believe anything you say."

My chest tightened slightly. I looked away for a second. "I mean, look at my clothes," I said. "These are the exact ones I was wearing the day I died."

His expression darkened. "Don't say that word," he muttered. "It's bad luck.

I smiled faintly. "Fine. I won't."

I took another sip of water before continuing. "That day, I went out to buy a cake," I said quietly. "On my way back, the brakes failed. Then... the accident happened."

I paused.

"So many things happened after that... and then I woke up here."

Silence filled the room.

"I'll never forget that day," Thiago said.

His voice was low. Heavy. I could tell he carried it with him all these years.

"It's fine," I said gently. "Let's not talk about the past."

I stood up, stretching slightly. "Let's go shopping."

He blinked. "What?"

"I'm going to make up all the shopping I missed these past few years." A small smile tugged at my lips.

"And you're paying."

~~~~~~~~~

At the mall

When we arrived at the mall again, things had returned to normal. People were walking around. Stores were open. Laughter and chatter filled the air like nothing ever happened.

Thiago insisted on buying me the latest phone, but I refused.

"I already have one," I said.

He frowned slightly. "Since when?"

"I have my ways."

He looked suspicious for a moment... but eventually let it go. Instead, he dragged me into store after store.

Clothes.

Bags.

Shoes.

Accessories.

"You're enjoying this way too much," I muttered as he handed another item to the cashier.

"You deserve it," he replied simply.

I paused, then looked away.

"Still."

"It's been eleven years," he added. "Let me do this."

I didn't argue after that.

Somewhere in the middle of trying on clothes, Nova's voice echoed softly in my mind. "It seems like spending your little brother's money feels good."

I smirked slightly. "I'll repay him someday," I replied internally. "He knows I don't take things for free."

I glanced at Thiago, who was busy finding more dresses with his secretary.

And for the first time since I returned... I felt it.

Relief.

Warmth.

Hope.

They were still here. Still alive. And this time...

I was here too.