How She Can Be Loved
Chapter 5: Brother Not Blood

The smile sounded again. Thin blends with the wind. Almost no one could hear the soft chant except the source of the sound. The source of the voice was standing on the oak tree branch. A branch that was much larger than the body of that ten-year-old girl. Looking towards the village near there. Put on

black hooded robe. Covering his thin and pale face. The wind began to scatter black strands of the little girl's long hair. It's cold enough to be the size of an autumn breeze in a slum village at the end of the country.

“ARGHH! FUCKING THIEF!!” The cry of one of the owners of the bakery raised an ear. The owner of the stall was in the fog. Looks like the goods sold this time again became a target of theft. Loss again, loss again.

“Again, yes. Too bad the owner of the bakery.”

“You feel sorry for him? He's his stingy for mercy.”

“You don't pity?”

“Not really. Thieves shrewd it only targets stingy people who like to hoard. Just imagine the price of one bread that has almost moldy he sold four times. The village chief even doubled the tax. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer Whoever the thief is, the hoarders deserve to be stripped of their merchandise.”

“Hush!! Keep your voice down! Do you know the people who were the target of the theft were the lackeys of the village chief? If your babble gets to their ears, it can get to us!”

The gossip of the mothers standing right under the oak tree stopped there. Unleashed their nyiny was heard by the jet-black-haired little girl who had first stood on the branch of an oak tree behind them.

Lately, the suburban village was shocked by thieves who targeted the hoarder like the owner of the bread stall. Some residents fretted, but some condemned the hoarders. Of course, they only dared to curse the hoarder in their hearts alone. Not to forget also the village head was also cursed by his citizens. How not? The village chief was notoriously corrupt. So much help was sent from the Kingdom. But not a dime, not a handful reached the hands of its citizens. All the aid was restrained in the hands of the village chief and his minions. Divided only for them. We were saved because there was too much. The people can't do much either. The village, although still diligently received help from the Capital, but actually the village itself has long been abandoned by the Kingdom.

Mana wants the Kingdom to send someone to solve the problem in the rural slum. It's a waste of money and time. So said the pessimist of the people.

The existence of the thief was enough entertainment for the oppressed citizens in the village. The thief is famous. Either alone or in groups. Just targeting hoarders. Not jewelry, or gems, or any other luxury item they steal. Food is their sweetest target. Stolen directly from the hoarder warehouse. Already several times the hoarders mixed poison into the traps they had prepared. However, like the psychic, or the thief is only smarter than the hoarders, the trap they do not even take. Perhaps out of annoyance, the thief stole even more food than before. Even once, the thief trapped the hoarder by pretending to take a trap for them. But they were simply exchanging the trap for ordinary, non-toxic food. The original trap they mixed with other food. Making hoarders who try to trap them have diarrhea to severe dehydration. Lucky hoarder because it has not come to death to pick him up.

The little girl was silent. I realized something, but it didn't surprise her. He seems to be the only one who knows who masterminded the theft.

“Hah..There are just those boys.” He let out a long sigh, smiling wryly in the face of reality. I don't know how many times he had to warn his sisters. Don't look for trouble with hoarders. It's none of our business!. Once-twice-three times-four-even five times. He said the same thing over and over again. His two sisters were stupid. Tau their eldest brother only wanted them to live peacefully, but still did not listen to the advice of their eldest brother. Ja. The shrewd thieves that the villagers said comforted them were Kananga's two younger siblings. Elfad, the middle nine, and Enrich, the youngest six. The elder brother, Kananga, had now prepared the punishment and what advice he would give to his two younger siblings today.

Grasak-grusuk. Kananga realized there was someone else on top of the tree. Their steps sounded light. Nimble up the oak tree. Lightly jump between one branch and another.

“Kak! Brother Kananga!”

No need to turn his body completely. No need to turn around quickly. Kananga already knew it was the voice of her youngest brother, Enrich. Elfad and Enrich had now climbed onto the branch where the elder stood. Enrich cengennesan's. While the Elfad is in charge of carrying a sack full of their stolen products.

“You're. You guys stole again?” Kananga did not escape to pay attention to the behavior of her two sisters. Enrich as usual. He smiled when he saw his elder brother's face. Different from the middle, Elfad. This time, the nine-year-old was more silent.

“Hehehe” The youngest is still a whiny. The six-year-old boy certainly did not understand the consequences of their actions. Unlike the Elfad who had understood all the advice from his brother.

“Enrich, stop laughing. Brother doesn't praise you now.” Kananga was getting upset. It was very difficult to get his two sisters to comply. All the advice from Kananga was solely for the safety of the two of them. Kananga really does not want to happen anything bad to her two sisters. Are really. He'll do anything

so that his two dear brothers are protected from danger anger. This was the third time they had to move from village to village. All just to protect the middle and the youngest.

“But not by stealing, Elfad. Moreover, you guys stole it from the hoarder. I know you're also upset about the hoarders, but it's none of our business! We were never even considered as citizens of this village!” Annoyed Kananga once again had to pull out the same sentence repeatedly from her mouth. Although upset, Kananga did not escape to pay attention to the behavior of her two sisters. Elfad and Enrich, they automatically lowered their heads when scolded by their brother. The thing Kananga realized the most from them was the face of an Elfad who looked regretful. And helpless. Resigned to his family situation.

Elfad, that boy is stupid. That kid is nosy. But that doesn't mean the boy doesn't understand what responsibility his brother is holding right now. Without asking, the boy knew. All for the sake of protecting him and Enrich. Whether it had been a few weeks, Elfad realized his brother had deliberately reduced the food rations on his plate. Their food supplies are dwindling, making the firstborn must succumb so that his two siblings can eat with normal portions. Even though he himself was still in the healing stage after recovering from the malaria outbreak. The boy was indeed quite sensitive to read the situation and mood of the people. That was why, this time she would not say anything if her brother scolded her. Very different from his usual behavior.

“...I'm sorry” Still bowed, the ignorant boy finally apologized. Kananga. Really the middle one, the Elfad, doesn't want to steal either. That's why he only targets hoarders.

“No.. No. gabe. I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry I'm completely useless. At a time like this, all I can do is scold you.”

“Not so. You have helped us a lot. You think I didn't realize that you always cut down on your rations so we could both be full? Our lives are not your own responsibility, Kananga.”

That's right Elfad said. If from his point of view, his life and Enrich is not tanggun Kananga replied one. Kananga was only thirteen months older than him. It's not fair to charge all that to her brother. But for Kananga, since living in the new body of the frail little girl, as an adult woman trapped in her frail body now, subconsciously, is, he had already regarded the lives and safety of the two boys as his responsibility.

Kananga rubbed the middle head. Smiling at his sister. When a boy of their age lives in a warm house, spoiled with their families, his two younger siblings grow up more mature than they are. Makes her feel proud as their sister.

“I'm very lucky to have you guys as sisters. I love you guys.”

Hugged his two younger brothers. Even if they have no blood relationship at all. Not even born to the same parents. Elfad and Enrich knew that his brother loved them very much. But very rarely did they hear that sentence coming out of their brother's mouth. I love you guys. Make the middle and youngest silent. Smilingly. Hugging back the warm embrace of the firstborn. Tears have been shed at the edge of Kananga's eyes. It was immediately removed because it did not want to be realized by his sister.

This time, Kananga again showed the gesture will wipe the heads of her two sisters. Instead of rubbing the heads of his two younger siblings, he even snapped their heads.

“ADUH!”

“I hugged you guys doesn't mean you forgive me! If you repeat it again, I'll make you regret it!”

Both of his sisters complained because of the story from Kananga. Also because of the threat of their eldest brother. If the firstborn had promised, then he would have kept it. And so is the threat this time. Even though the eldest was scolding his two younger siblings. Although the middle and the youngest complain. For some reason, the atmosphere around them was filled with warmth. Brothers of fate without blood relations are indeed very harmonious. Without any awkwardness. Without any anger. Without any revenge. The relationship of the three orphan boys will never be timeless. Even up to ten-twenty-or thirty years into the future, until the next. Their promise is sad and happy. In health and in pain. They will feel together. They will go together. As hard as it is.

***

986, Empyrean Kingdom. In one of the royal villages. The territory of Duke Ambrosh. The village is said to have been abandoned by the government of the Kingdom. A few months ago, three orphaned boys, who people were touting as dark denizens. The children who were cursed from birth, had just moved to that suburban village. The village that the elder thought was safe for their escape. To hide the magic of his two sisters who are in fact much larger than humans in general. Like the incarnations of the gods.

“Oh yes, Brother. Isn't it that Kananga doesn't know how to get down from the tree?” Enrich, the boy, either because of his innocence or ingenuity, again managed to destroy the focus of Kananga who was ready to shower him with millions of sentences of advice.

“E-Elphad...Please help me get down..” Kananga. Considering he only knows how to climb trees, but can not get down from the tree because it can not stand the height. His feet began to shake. “E-Elfad, I beg you.” Legs limp. Like a kid who just learned to walk. Lost already the charisma of an older brother of Kananga. Elfad laughed out loud, followed by Enrich who also laughed. The middle expression is back to normal. He started to disturb his brother.

“If you know how to go up, you should also know how to go down. You should try Kananga too! How long do I have to help you get down every time you climb a tree? Nevermind! You're angry at us. You go down by yourself! Enrich, let's go home!” Of course, Elfad did not mean to leave his brother. This is his chance to disturb his older brother, Kananga. It wasn't hard for Elfad to help her brother down from the tree. The bodies of the three orphans were indeed frail. But when compared to his two younger siblings, Kananga is the one who has the most frail body. Malnutrition. Even more so after getting sick and recovering from malaria. Luckily the little girl was still able to survive. Luckily, there is also Kak Asa and Grandma who always help the orphan. It is now several months after the malaria outbreak is over. Grandma said, Kananga's body is still in the healing stage. Mercifully. Kananga is slowly recovering, but surely.

The plague was like a nightmare in some suburban villages. The change of summer to autumn. High rainfall, making the parasites thrive. Not many sufferers survived. Especially if the treatment is done too late. Fortunately, at that time, Kak Asa was the first to realize that Kananga had contracted parasites from the Anopheles mosquito. Dying four. Surprisingly, the little girl managed to fight off the parasite that was tripping on her frail body. Grandma said, it might be her two sisters who kept her strong. Not giving up on the parasites that eat away at his body. So special is the existence of the middle and the youngest in Kananga's life. It is not the blood relationship that makes them brothers. It is their care that makes them brothers. Even their relationship was tighter compared to the siblings out there. There is no need for blood ties to show each other their affection.