1 1: Every Success Story started with a dream

Alyssa and her mom were seated in front of their TV with a lot of cushions and blankets around them, their favorite foods, chips and drinks were all laid out in front of them, just beside their pet cats.

"What's taking your brother so long?" Emily - Alyssa's mother, craned her neck towards the direction of the stairs. Gideon, one of her sons was at home and had promised both of them that he'd accompany them in watching his elder brother's award ceremony.

"Don't expect that he'd be here this early mom. He's just bummed that he didn't make the cut this year." Alyssa teased, knowing fully well that her brother was already on his way down the stairs but decided to stop a few flights of stairs away from the last where he could hear the television clearly without him being seen.

"I heard that Aly!" Gideon groaned. He had no choice but to continue to walk down the stairs, there was no point in standing there when his cover was already blown. He ruffled his sister's hair before squeezing himself in between his mother and her.

"See mom? I was right!" Alyssa beamed at their mother who only gave her a laugh. Her youngest sure knew her brothers the best.

All their attention was then transferred to the television screen when the emcee announced the arrival of Devon Wright, a singer, songwriter, dancer, actor and overall famous celebrity - who was also Emily's eldest son and the reason why all three of them were sprawled on the floor like kids earning a few funny glances from the house helps.

A lot of the house helps in their house have been working for them for a long time, but they still couldn't get used to the weird things the family did - one being them huddled together in front of the television with countless of cushions, blankets and food around them.

"Helen! Get the others! Devon's out!" Emily called out to their longest house help who was smiling widely just looking at them all huddled up together.

Startled from Emily's sudden call, she almost exposed herself and the others who have been silently watching the scene before them by knocking over a glass ornament. Thankfully she caught it on time. She then gave the other house helps the signal, making them walk towards the living room.

"Sit. Sit." Emily never took her eyes off of the screen - marveling at how handsome his eldest was. "I have such exceptional genes!" She complimented, patting herself on the shoulder.

Gideon and Alyssa looked at each other before looking at their mother who seemed to be having one of her 'episodes' - where she does and says the weirdest things ever, again.

"Mom. It also took Dad's genes to make us, you know." Gideon pointed out, popping a chip inside his mouth.

His mother looked at him with hostility before throwing chips at his face with a frown. Gideon could only close his eyes and purse his lips while his sister and their house helps chuckled at what his mother just did to him - it was his fault for mentioning the D word.

"That man is history! You're my children! Mine alone! Ever since he left us for that younger woman when we were so down on our luck and when Alyssa was just born, he, himself, removed his right to be called your Dad! Do you understand Gideon?" Not satisfied with what she did, Emily took another handful of chips, throwing them on his second son's face once more.

How could he mention that god forsaken man during such an occasion? That man's name never fails to bring back bad memories for her.

She even had all her children's surnames changed into her maiden name - Wright, when divorce papers were sent to her in the mail. A manifestation that her sorry excuse of a husband wanted to part ways with her but was too scared of the possibility that he'd get beaten to a pulp if he dared to show up in front of her and their kids.

"I get it mom. I get it." Gideon conceded as he wiped his salt covered face with the nearest cloth he could find - his sister's sweater.

"Hey! Gideon! That's new! No!" Alyssa said struggling to get his brother's face away from her 1 day old sweater.

The latter only laughed as he continued to tease his sister.

On the other hand, the family's eldest son - Devon, was feeling lonely and bored just thinking of how things were like at their house. He was sure that his mother and sister had found a way to drag his brother to watch the live broadcast of the awards ceremony he was in.

He was also sure that Gideon would annoy his sister to the fullest before the awarding even began just to get back at her for some petty things they fought over a few days before like her eating the last slice of cake, her drinking the last drop of his favorite chocolate milk and anything that was related to food.

"Devon." A voice said from his back. He turned around only to see one of his persistent admirers who was dawning a floor length gown that just didn't fit her height, body shape and face. She had so much make-up on that he was sure that if she trips and her face lands on his suit, it would leave a very noticeable mark.

"Martha." He curtly greeted as he lifted his glass of champagne. The woman has been one of the persistent ones. Always coming to him during events and parties - which he found annoying. How could this woman expect him to like her back? She couldn't even compare to his sister's foot! And for the Wright brothers, their standard for women was their sister.

"I see you don't have a date." Martha beamed at the man. Devon was tall, well built, handsome and famous - qualities in a man that she had always wanted. This could probably explain why she has clung to him since he shot to fame a few years ago.

"When have I ever had one?" He nonchalantly replied. Taking out his phone to send an SOS to his brother.

"Why are you fiddling with your phone during a party?"

"I wanted to check on something."

"Girlfriend?" At the mention of a girlfriend, Devon's phone rang. He gave Martha - who now had one of her perfectly trimmed brows raised in question, an apologetic look. Masking his obvious glee. Finally! He was saved from the woman's clutches.

"Hello?"

[Who is it this time?]

"It was bitter?"

[Oh~ Martha? A persistent one I see!]

"I see, I'll get you new ones. Is Aly there?"

[The perks of having a sister? Am I right? Ouch! Aly!]

"What were you doing?"

[Planning Gideon's murder.]

"Don't stay up too late. Turn the broadcast off after my category finishes okay?"

[Do you mean 'categories'? You were nominated 5 times! Besides, Mom wants to see some 'young handsome men'.]

"Fine."

[I'll hang up! But before that, do you guys only see me as a cover up when your admirers look for you? I feel so used! Both of you do this every time!]

The line went dead as Devon let out a soft chuckle. His sister was sure something!

Martha - who had been listening intently to the man's conversation, was sure that this 'Aly' was someone of great importance to Devon for him to smile and chuckle the way he did. Devon was a serious man, his quirky side was only reserved for those closest to him - thus, her guess.

When a group of Devon's friends approached him, Martha had no choice but to leave him be.

Seeing that the woman has retreated, Devon breathed a sigh of relief. Finally! He was safe for the time being.

"Dude, you hate her that much?" One of his co-actors in the most recent drama he was shooting asked as he followed the woman's retreating figure.

"Who wouldn't?" The man's date rolled her eyes. Martha was known in their industry as a scheming and manipulative woman who only saw her self above all else. Who wouldn't hate a person like that?

"How'd you manage to ward her off before we came though?" His senior in the industry gave him a questioning look. Women who were as thick skinned as Martha wouldn't have gone without a fight - that was for sure.

"Perks of having a sister." His circle was quick to catch on. They laughed with him, sharing their own 'awards night survival' stories.

"I've been itching to ask you this." A junior asked him when the laughter died down. "When can we meet this sister of yours? From your stories, she seems to be an interesting character."

Devon's eyes glossed over before he looked at his junior with a smile different from his previous ones.

They wanted to meet Alyssa? No way! The entertainment industry is something she was set to avoid - as far as her brothers were concerned. The industry was just too cunning for a pure soul like Alyssa.

Being the youngest, Devon and Gideon were both very protective of her. She was their Achilles' heel. Everything she wanted, they'd gladly give her.

Anything but being part of the industry they were in.

"You have to find out who she is first."

~

Devon arrived 20 minutes before 2 in the morning the next day.

Just as he entered their front door, the evidence of his mother and sister's weird way of watching his and Gideon's TV appearances greeted him.

He shook his head as he imagined how it was like there when he was at the award's ceremony.

"2 AM? This is the earliest yet bro." His head shot towards the direction of the voice.

Gideon was sitting on the couch, his phone in his hand and a brow raised with a smile. Alyssa was laying on his lap, peacefully sleeping.

He hadn't noticed them because he was too amused at the fact that his sister and mother were still so much committed to their antics.

"Why'd you let her sleep here?" He changed the topic as he walked towards them. He lifted his sister's legs and sat himself on the spot, carefully placing her legs on his lap.

"She wanted to wait for you as usual." Gideon turned off his phone as he watched the sleeping woman on his lap. "And as usual, she fell asleep."

Both men chuckled as they looked at their darling sister.

"How was it? I won't congratulate you yet, Aly would kill me if she knew I said congratulations to you before her." Gideon stroke his sister's hair. He was poking her nose once in a while and chuckled softly every time the woman showed her displeasure by scrunching her nose.

He continued his playful actions. But when his brother said his next words, his hand was left hanging in the air.

"People asked about her again." Gideon placed his hand on Top of Alyssa's head again as he sighed.

2 years after Devon decided to venture in the entertainment industry, a 20 year old Gideon followed suit. Alyssa was only 17 at the time and their mother was struggling to make ends meet. Like any other celebrity, Devon didn't achieve fame instantly. To be real honest, Gideon and him kind of took off in the industry at about the same time - when he was 5 years in and his brother 3.

Recalling all their hardships and all the underhanded deals the industry had. They were dead set on cutting the entertainment industry off of their sister's possible venture points.

"Why are people so curious about her?"

"I think we have ourselves to blame." Devon shook his head. They were too proud to have such a lovely sister that they put her on a pedestal every time they talk about her - piquing the interest of a lot of celebrities her age, as well as celebrities that have a good impression of both Devon and Gideon.

"Still, I won't allow her to step foot in that industry." Gideon had a determined look in his eyes.

"Who would really?" Devon answered, mirroring his brother's determination. People had to walk over their dead bodies before they could drag their sister towards the complicated entertainment industry.

Alyssa woke up in her bedroom. She smiled - just thinking of her brothers who had most probably fought between themselves on who was to carry her back.

She left her bed and headed to her bathroom with her phone in hand. She was about to turn the shower on when her best friend called.

She put on her bathrobe and answered the video call.

[Alyssa!] Her best friend - Kathleen, greeted her with a huge smile.

"Why'd you call so early in the morning?"

[Girl? Are you high? It's 5 minutes to 1 in the afternoon!] Alyssa checked her phone's clock and Kathleen was right. It was almost 1 in the afternoon and no one even woke her up!

"I stayed up last night to watch Devon's awards ceremony." She explained as she sat down on the little bench with a cushion on top located in between her drawers.

[Oh! That explains it. By the way? Have you talked to your brothers about it?] Kathleen asked, her face laced with worry and concern.

"I'm still finding the right timing Lee." She sighed, making Kathleen sigh as well.

[Alyssa, we've been delaying this for 2 years now. There's only a month left before you finish your arts degree. When will you tell your brothers you want to study fashion design?] Kathleen wasn't mad, she was actually very worried.

They've known each other ever since their first year in University. Kathleen was a business student while Alyssa was an arts student. They were in the same dorm room with 2 other girls their age - one also studying business and the other - tourism. Because of her hard work and dedication, Alyssa would finish her 4 year course a year earlier than her family expected.

Alyssa had always wanted to venture into fashion design. She always talked about her dreams with her friends but that was it. She never really voiced out her wants in front of her brothers because her wanting to dabble in fashion would mean coming in contact with the entertainment industry - something both her brothers didn't approve of.

Seeing that her best friend had no intentions of talking to her any time soon, Kathleen sighed - taking Alyssa back into the conversation.

[When are you planning to tell them? It's only a 3 year course at most and with you talent for design, I'm sure it would take you more or less 2 years to finish. Just enough time for me to graduate and have the capital for the business.]

Yes, Kathleen and her were planning to put up a business for entirely different reasons. Kathleen wanted to break free from the clutches of the title 'The Lewis' Young Miss' while she just wanted to do design and see her work and style being worn by other people.

"I'll tell them over late lunch."

With that said, Kathleen said her goodbyes - allowing her to finish her shower and get things over and done with.

~

"No." Was Devon's answer to her plea.

Her mother, Devon, Gideon and herself were seated at their dining table for a late lunch when she unceremoniously blurted out the fact that she was planning to take up fashion design and start a small business with Kathleen.

"Why?" She looked at her unbothered brother while he sipped his coffee in all calmness.

"Fashion is linked to the entertainment industry." His answer was direct. They have been reminding Alyssa to stay clear of the industry from the get go.

"But you and Gideon are in the entertainment industry! Why can't I be in it too? Aren't you being ironic? Besides, I'm not exactly in it, I'll just be in contact with people who are."

"That's exactly the reason why we don't allow you in it. The industry is way too cunning for an innocent soul like you."

"I am not a child anymore Devon!"

"You are!" Devon roared, looking straight into Alyssa's tear stained eyes. He had not realized how much it meant for his sister to have his approval to the point that she had tears in her eyes. She was his Achilles' heel, everything she wants - he was sure to give her. But even so, he wouldn't go down without a fight. He'd go through hell just to stop Alyssa from entering the industry they were in. Even if it was just a mere connection to it.

"I think Alyssa is old enough to make her own decisions boys." Their mother said in a tone of finality that shocked both Devon and Gideon.

Like them, their mother was no fan of the idea of her darling little daughter under the judging eyes of the public. But Alyssa only wanted to design clothes. Yes, she'd be in contact with the industry but she wasn't part of it.

For Emily, it was better than Alyssa entering the entertainment industry due to rebellion because they didn't allow her to reach her dreams.

"Mom! You couldn't possibly agree to this!" Gideon was appalled. How could their mother agree to Alyssa so easily? And here he though he and Devon were the one's wrapped around their sister's little finger.

"And what if I do? Will you have a problem with that?" Emily eyed her second son before cutting her egg on toast in half. "Besides, what's so wrong about letting your sister chase her dreams? I let the both of you do it. Why can't I let her do the same?"

Both Devon and Gideon had no words to refute their mother. She was right. She did allow them to go for the dreams they wanted to chase and there was no point for her to stop Alyssa because they said so.

With a sigh, Devon considered everything his sister and mother said. He and Gideon may be the men in the family, but their mother was still the boss. Everything she says - goes.

"Okay."

"Devon!" Gideon was more surprised to hear a word of approval from Devon than he was with his mom.

Devon was the perpetrator of this whole argument in the first place! Now he's left everything on Gideon's shoulders.

Alyssa looked at Gideon with hope in her eyes. How could a sister doting brother turn a blind eye to that?

He sighed.

"If I don't approve, then what does that make me?"

Alyssa squealed in glee before standing up to hug her family one by one.