Chapter Text
The Past
21st June 21XX
I remember that bittersweet day… the day where I was filled with nothing but questions… in that room, in the Belobog City Hospital
In a raspy weak voice, the ill man in the hospital bed called out “Seele, Natasha…”
Seele spoke softly as she got up from her chair “Y-yes Oleg?”
Natasha, who sat beside Seele got up as well and stood behind her “Oleg, try not to speak too much. You’re not in great condition.”
Oleg gave a small chuckle, “Hah it's okay, former doctor. I feel like I don’t have that much time within me left anyways.”
“Don’t say that! Everything’s going to be okay!” Seele said in a slightly loud and shaky tone in her voice.
Natasha put her hand on Seele’s shoulder, “Seele, you’ve already heard what the doctor said earlier, Oleg’s time is about to be up. He’s lived a long fulfilling life, it's the natural course of it.”
Seele could only turn her head down to the floor. Left with such a hopeless and empty feeling inside. Oleg was the one that took her in as a young child in the orphanage that Natasha used to work at. No one wanted to take her in as she was a lonely child that did not like strangers very much and was very aggressive compared to the other kids, who were well behaved. She was only well behaved when Natasha was around with her, and with no other options left, Natasha asked Oleg to take her in. To which he agreed with and raised her. Her younger self was reluctant at the time to leave Natasha, but she had that trust in Natasha that Oleg was a kind man as she told her that they have been friends for a long time. And now, she owed practically everything to him. And yet despite all of that, she’s struggling to speak a word.
“Keep your head up Seele” Oleg said.
Seele slowly looked up to face Oleg, with visible tears in her eyes.
Oleg reached out for Seele’s hand and held it gently. “You’ve grown into a strong young woman. You have a bright future ahead of you going to Astral University. Do what makes you happy. Find your own purpose in life.”
Seele, still trying to keep herself together, kept her shaky voice, “T-thank you Oleg. You always felt like a true father to me.”
But just how am I going to find that happiness? That purpose?
“Thank you Seele, you’ve always felt like my daughter to me” Oleg moved his head to look at Natasha. “Natasha, keep looking after Seele will you?”
Natasha nodded in response, “Of course Oleg. I will.”
The Present
1st September 21XX
Morning ~8:00AM
Ever since Oleg passed away, Seele moved out of the apartment that they lived in and now lives with Natasha. It was a nostalgic feeling for her to see Natasha everyday once more just like when she was a child.
The small, but simple room that Seele lived in was serviceable to her. A comfy bed, a book shelf off on the opposite side of the room along with some boxes to keep her clothes in, and a desk that was messy with college related papers on top.
It's only been a few months ever since that day, why do I still dream about it! Ugh every since then those two questions keep on haunting me. What am I going to do that will make me happy, just what is my purpose? I need to get these thoughts out of my head, it's only the morning.
Although her body disagreed as she struggled to get out of bed until she forcefully lifted the blankets off of her and rolled out of bed quickly. Then, she looked at the clock just barely visible among the heaps of paper that flooded her desk.
It's 8:00AM, I woke up earlier than I thought I would. Nat should still be home making breakfast.
Then, she walked over to her desk to pick up her phone atop the stack of papers and made her way to the kitchen.
As she entered the kitchen, she was right on the mark and saw Natasha at work cooking up breakfast. “Morning Nat.”
Natasha turned around and gave Seele a smile, “Good morning Seele, you’re up earlier than usual. This time I didn’t have to wake you up for breakfast before I leave for work.”
“Ha yeah. It's just a dream that woke me up and did the job for you, that’s all.”
“Well take a seat at the table Seele. Let’s eat together. I made omelets today.”
“Thanks Nat.”
As the two were eating, it was a simple silence for a bit. It was peaceful and comforting for Seele. The food was a great distraction from her thoughts as she ate Natasha’s delicious cooking rather than her own subpar culinary skills (which Natasha disagrees with) that she has to deal with when she cooks for herself while Natasha was at work. Natasha is often out at work until the evening as she works at a local elementary school nearby her home. During school hours she helps out any teacher that might need additional assistance and takes care of children after school is over for the kids that are waiting for their parents who are still at work to pick them up later in the evening.
After a few minutes of silence, Natasha spoke up to break it. “Say Seele, how is your college dorm situation? You only have a week left until you start to move in.”
“Well I’m going to be rooming with another girl. We have our own separate rooms, but we share a kitchen, a bathroom, and a small living room space. But I don’t know who I’m going to room with.”
“Ahh that’s exciting Seele. I’m proud of you attending Astral University. I was once a student there myself, and it is definitely one of the best universities out there. To be honest, I’d never thought you could become so studious.”
Seele blushed at that comment. But Natasha’s words did ring true as Seele definitely knew herself that she didn’t excel in academics. “W-well, Oleg did give me the push that I needed to put in the extra effort in my last year of high school. But…” Seele slowly turned her head up into the ceiling of the room. “I’m really grateful to him for that.”
“Oh? Is that gratitude coming out of Seele? You really have changed a lot since you were a child.” Natasha said teasingly as she gave the young woman a smile.
Seele felt her cheeks heat up even more, “W-what do you mean?! Besides, you still came to visit me and Oleg often so it's not like I’m a completely different person to you!”
The older woman gave out a small laugh, as she got up to put her plate into the sink, “I know Seele. I know, I’m just teasing you. That’s one part of you that never changes And thanks for the quick talk. It's around the time I should be leaving for work now.”
Just as she was about to leave the kitchen for the front door, Seele interrupts the silence, “Ah wait Nat uh… one more thing before you go”
Natasha turned around and slightly tilted her head. “What is it, Seele?”
Seele looks down on the floor and takes a deep breath, then faces Natasha with a sweet, genuine smile on her face, still with a slight hint of a blush on her face. “Thanks for the food. It was great like always. And also… thank you for everything these past few months.”
Natasha returned the favor and gave a bright smile back. “You’re welcome Seele. I know it must be very hard on you. Never forget that we’re still family.”