A week had slipped by, and today was the day Papa and Mama would finally return home.
During that time, I thought long and hard—harder than a five-year-old should, maybe—about whether I should really pursue acting. Every night I stood before the mirror, studying the face that stared back. A face too neat, too striking for someone my age.
"It'll be a waste if I don't use it… right?"
I whispered, pressing my fingertips to the cool glass, as if testing whether the girl in the reflection was truly me.
Yet a knot of nerves twisted in my chest.
"But still… I feel nervous,"
I admitted softly, lips pursing at the thought of what I would have to say to Papa and Mama.
What if they thought it was silly? What if they laughed?
Before I could sink too deep into my worries, Ryo's voice boomed down the hall.
"Rai~! Papa and Mama are here!"
My heart jumped.
"Coming!" I called back, scrambling off the stool and hurrying toward the door.
As my bare feet padded across the polished floor, a quiet thought lingered.
'I shouldn't be this excited… but still… I already treat them as my own family.'
The corners of my lips curled into a small smile, my chest tightening with a warmth.
When I finally stepped down from the last staircase, my legs couldn't keep still. I bolted forward and threw my arms around both of my parents. Their familiar scent, warm and comforting, instantly melted the nervousness I had carried all week.
Papa swept me up in his arms with ease, spinning me slightly before holding me close.
"Watashi no taisetsuna musume wa genkidesu ka?"
Papa said in his deep, steady voice, his Japanese accent rolling warmly off his tongue.
I frowned and puffed my cheeks. "Papa! You know I can't understand Japanese!"
He laughed, his shoulders shaking as he kissed my forehead.
"I said, how is my precious little daughter, huh?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, Ryo beat me to it.
"Papa! You should see the magazine Rai and I covered! We look amazing!" he blurted out with his usual dramatic energy.
"Aww!" Mama's eyes softened immediately. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on Ryo's forehead, then turned to me with a tender smile. Her lips brushed my cheek in the kind of kiss that made me feel safe and cherished all at once.
"I heard from your Aunt," Mama said, her voice proud and lilting. "But still, I can't believe you two volunteered for a photoshoot."
Papa chuckled, still holding me up. "Looks like we've got two stars in the family now, huh?"
His words made my heart leap, though a tiny knot of guilt tightened inside me.
'Right..I have to tell them in dinner later..'
At dinner that night, the table was full of warmth and chatter.
"Where's Seraphina?" Papa asked as he unfolded his napkin.
"I don't think Sera will be able to come tonight," Mama replied gently, helping the maid place down steaming dishes. "She had to finish their shooting in Manila."
The delicious aroma made my stomach growl, and I had to stop myself from drooling. I wanted to eat as soon as possible.
"Papa? What is that?" Ryo asked, pointing to something in his hand.
I looked over and saw Papa holding a glossy magazine. His eyes narrowed teasingly before he smiled wide.
"You two look amazing!" Papa said proudly, flipping the magazine around to show our photo spread. He tapped a finger at the page, right at where me and Ryo were smiling side by side.
"Wah!" Ryo's eyes lit up with joy.
I, on the other hand, felt my cheeks burn. Seeing my own picture like that made me want to hide under the table.
"Little Rai here looks like an angel," Papa declared, his grin so wide his eyes nearly disappeared.
"Right!? Rai definitely belongs to the entertainment world!" Ryo added with unshakable confidence.
"Shhh, stop it, you two. Rai probably doesn't understand it fully yet," Mama cut in, shaking her head though her lips curved with a smile.
"Awwww," both Papa and Ryo groaned in unison before we finally started eating.
The meal passed with laughter, clinking utensils, and the sound of Papa sneaking extra servings onto Ryo's plate. Then, midway through dinner, Mama set her fork down and looked at me.
"Rai~ is there anything you want for your birthday?" she asked warmly.
"Oh, right! Rai's birthday is coming up!" Ryo chimed in, nearly bouncing in his seat.
All three of them looked at me expectantly. I blinked, unsure of what to say.
In my past life, birthdays were nothing but another day to work, another day to scrape by. I had never once blown a candle or received a gift. But here… in this life… my family never forgot me. Every year, they remembered. That alone made me want to cry with gratitude.
"I…" I fiddled with the hem of my dress. "I just want… to celebrate it with you all."
The room went silent for a heartbeat. Then, all at once, their faces softened.
"OF COURSE!" they said together, their voices overlapping in happy unison.
"We'll celebrate your birthday together forever!" Ryo shouted, his eyes sparkling with determination.
Papa and Mama leaned toward each other, already discussing what kind of celebration they could plan this year.
I smiled faintly, but in my chest, something heavy stirred. Because no matter how much I loved them, no matter how grateful I was, I knew there was something else I wanted. Something that had burned inside me ever since that night I saw Yeira's face on the screen.
I set my fork down quietly. "Papa… Mama…"
Their conversation stopped immediately. Both of them turned to me. Even Ryo quieted, sensing something different in my tone.
"I…" My voice wavered, but I forced myself to meet their eyes. "I want to be an actress."
The words tumbled out awkwardly, but they echoed in the silence of the dining hall, heavier than anything I had ever said before.
"Sure." Papa said it so casually that I almost choked on my own breath.
"Wha—?" I stared at him, wide-eyed.
He only chuckled at my reaction, lifting his glass as if nothing unusual had been said.
"Why? You are free to do whatever you want, Rai." His warm smile made my chest ache.
"An actress? Then so be it. We will support you with our whole hearts," Mama added without hesitation, her tone as gentle as the hand she laid on mine.
Something inside me cracked. My heart felt sore yet so utterly relieved.
'If this is a dream… I don't want to wake up just yet.'
In this home, I was happy. Loved. Cherished. How could I not feel emotional when I remembered that in my past life, all of this was stolen from me? Childhood wasn't something I got to keep—it was ripped away the moment I had to work just to survive.
But here… I was allowed to dream. To choose. To be whoever I wanted.
'It must be such a privilege to be born into wealth, huh?'
"Huh? Rai? Are you unwell?" Ryo's voice cut into my spiraling thoughts, laced with panic.
I blinked at him and only then realized that tears had begun slipping down my cheeks.
Quickly, I shook my head and scrubbed them away with the back of my hand.
"I'm just… happy!" I forced out in a childish tone so they wouldn't suspect anything deeper.
"Oh, dear…" Papa sighed in relief, though his brows still knitted with worry.
Mama reached out, brushing a stray tear from my cheek with her thumb, her eyes full of warmth.
"Then keep being happy, mi angelito"
Ryo leaned forward, grinning as if he could shoulder all my worries by himself.
"Don't cry, Rai. You'll ruin your pretty face!"
That made me laugh through the last of my tears.
'I believe in this lifetime, I could be myself.'