Chapter 8: Shopping

"I'm a lady now, bro!" I said.

"Hahaa, oh right," bro Xandrick replied.

"You're going to break up; they're difficult to talk to," bro Alexon said.

I hugged bro Alexon.

I just wanted a hug.

I felt bro's hand on my back, hugging me back.

"Help me, bro," I said and closed my eyes.

I hugged him tightly. I miss brother Ekie; I wish he was like this too.

I let go and sat beside him.

Suddenly, bro lay down and used my thigh as a pillow.

I laughed and messed up his hair, hahaa.

"Lilsis, I just finished making myself handsome; now I'm not handsome anymore," brother Alexon said.

"Bro, even if you don't make yourself handsome, you're already handsome, haha."

"Yiieee, you're so nice, haha, I know right," brother Alexon said.

We just laughed again.

After a while, we arrived at the mall.

It felt like it was from my past life.

"Kyyaaahhh! Prince Alexon is here!!"

"Waaaah! Sis, am I beautiful now?! Prince Xandrick, I'm here!!"

"KYAAAAAAHHHH!"

"Hey, who are they with?"

"Such an attention seeker."

"Hey! That's Princess Azemia!"

"I heard she had amnesia, kyyaaah! Princess Azemia has a beautiful body."

"Oh girls! She's just pretending to get close to the fairy princess she's chasing, hmp!"

"She's still a lesbian!"

"Don't mind them, lil sis," bro whispered.

"Bro, I'm not minding them, and besides, I don't like bees who buzzzz," I said as we walked.

I bought so many things: crop tops, shirts, high-waist jeans, hipster shorts, ripped pants, off-shoulders, heels, powder, lip balm, hats, hoods, jackets, long sleeves, paint for my room, curtains, new mirrors, and more.

There were so many things; some were sent home.

"Bro, let's go to the bookstore," I said.

"Sis, you've already bought so much, and you don't know how to read," bro Xandrick said.

Tsk.

"People change, bro, hahaa," I said and pulled them.

I bought the books I wanted to read—some about this world, others novels and cool Wattpad stories!

After shopping, I saw a potion store.

I was about to call my brothers when I saw them looking at clothes.

So I let them be and entered the potion store, where I was greeted by bottles with different colored contents.

"Good morning, Princess Azemia, what can I do for you?" the smiling shopkeeper said.

So they knew me.

I was wearing glasses, the nerdy type, but I didn't look nerdy.

I looked around.

I bought potions for hair growth, hair dye, pimple and blemish remover, skin smoother, and of course, a potion that works like vitamins for my belly fat.

I'll pair the potion vitamins with my effort to slim down my belly.

This body is weak.

I paid with the money my brothers gave me. They're so kind...

I came out and saw my brothers as if they were looking for someone.

"Who are you looking for, bro?" I asked.

They turned to me and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Lil sis! I thought you got lost and were bullied again!" bro Xandrick said.

"Please let us know next time, lil sis," bro Alexon said.

"Sorry, bro, I'll let you know next time," I said.

My brothers messed up my hair, which made me pout, and then bro flicked my nose.

"Ouch! Bro, that hurts!"

"Hahaa, you're so cute, don't pout!" bro Xandrick said.

"Hahaa, it's a miracle you're not approaching the girls here," bro Alexon said.

"Like I said earlier, people change, so move on," I said.

I walked ahead, and my brothers caught up and put their arms around me.

Why do I feel so short compared to them?

I only reach their noses.

My brothers are like giants, hahahaaa.

We did many more things, enjoyed ourselves, and bro even let me ride a Pegasus.

I quickly learned how, but I remembered something.

"Bro, let's buy a motorcycle," I said.

"Huh? Why, sis? You don't know how to ride one; you might just get into an accident," bro Alexon said.

"Don't, sis! We'll just pick you up and drop you off," bro Xandrick said.

Okay, acting time.

I bowed and let my tears fall.

"Sniff o-ok sniff fine," I sniffled, pretending to cry.

I almost laughed when bro Alexon spit out his drink and panicked.

"Oh shit! Sis, don't cry!!" bro Alexon said.

"Don't cry! Okay, we'll buy a motorcycle, just don't cry, okay?!!" bro Xandrick said.

I wiped my tears and looked at them happily.

"Hahaha, you said it, bro! Let's go!"

I started pulling my brothers, who were shaking their heads.

"Whoa! So many motorcycles!"

My brothers talked to the manager here while I touched one of the motorcycles, but something caught my eye: a black bike with a touch of blue. I hopped on it immediately, laughing.

"BRO, THIS IS THE ONE I WANT! PAY FOR IT, OKAY? I'LL WAIT FOR YOU AT HOME!"

I shouted to them and started the motorcycle. I could still hear my brothers cursing and calling after me.

Haha, whatever. I'll just enjoy this. Now I can be happy with even the smallest things. I can smile without worries. I can be what I want to be, haha.

I sped up until I reached home. I looked at the car there with a frown.

Whose car is this? I took off my helmet and went inside.

"MOM, DAD, I'M HOME—oops! Sorry!" I shouted.

Hehe, how embarrassing! Mom and Dad were eating with my other brothers and their friends.

"Oh, dear! How was the trip to the mall?" Mom asked.

I approached Mom and kissed her on the cheek, and Dad too. They were surprised.

"It was okay," I said.

I heard a car arriving. Oh no! My brothers are here!

"AZEMIA!" they shouted immediately.

They ran to me and pinched my ears.

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?! YOU MADE US WORRY SO MUCH!" shouted my brother Alexon.

I was happy, laughing.

"AND WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE? YOU WERE OVERSPEEDING!" shouted my brother Xandrick.

I laughed while enduring their pinches. I was happy.

"Ouch! That hurts, bros! Hahaha, I'm sorry!"

"AND YOU'RE STILL LAUGHING?! GET BACK HERE, AZEMIA!!"

Haha, I escaped from my brothers, and now we were circling the table while everyone watched us in shock. Mom and Dad were laughing.

I stuck my tongue out at my brother Xandrick.

"Bleh! Catch your beautiful sister, bro! Hahaha," I said.

I was behind Mom now, and we kept circling until I felt tired.

"Whoa! Time out, bro, I'm tired," I said and sat on the bench.

"Enough with chasing your sister, Xandrick. What did Azemia do?" Dad asked.

"Oh, Dad! She left us at the motorcycle shop, hopped on a bike, and sped away. We couldn't catch up!" said brother Alexon.

"What?! Dear, you know how to ride a motorcycle?!" Mom and Dad asked, surprised.

I nodded while drinking water. I was thirsty.

"Uhmm, yes. By the way, who are they?" I asked.

I didn't know who my brothers' friends were. Mom introduced them, and my twin brother Azemin had punched brother Alexon earlier.

Their five friends were Joshua, Ruezze, Hyyze, Jordel, and Gab. I looked at their faces; they were good-looking.

Ruezze and Hyyze were demons with horns and tails. I'm sure girls still chased them despite their looks.

Jordel was a merman, and Joshua and Gab were water users. I nodded.

I stood up when I saw the bags containing the weapons I bought. Crap! They might see them.

I ran over and hid them behind me.

"Lil sis, what's that? You bought something by yourself?" asked brother Alexon.

"Ah, uh, it's nothing, bro," I said.

Oh no.

"That looks like weapons," said brother Lysander, nosy as usual, while drinking water.

They opened the bag, and they were shocked to see knives, kunai, and other stuff.

"Lil sis!!! Why did you buy those?!!" brother Xandrick stood up.

I quickly gathered the items and put them in another bag.

"It's nothing, bro. I can handle it," I said.

"Princess," Mom and Dad called worriedly.

"It's really okay, Mom, Dad. I'll take care of myself, I promise."

They were still worried.

"I mean it!" I said and was about to run when brother Alexon blocked me.

"Wait! We need to see that. And why so many? You only need three!" brother Alexon said.

I quickly moved it away. He tried to grab it, but I didn't let him.

"No, bro! I want all of them!"

My brother tried to take it, and I accidentally threw it.

We were all shocked!!!

"MOM!!!!" we shouted in unison.

My heart raced as I bolted towards the kitchen, grabbing a knife and quickly deflecting the flying blades aimed at Mom. One of the knives came dangerously close to my eye, but I managed to catch it, feeling the sharp sting as blood trickled from my hand.

With a swift toss, I discarded the knife and turned to face Mom, panic etched across my face.

"Mom! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?!" I asked urgently, my voice laced with fear and concern.

Mom's expression was one of complete shock, and when I glanced at my brothers and Dad, they were equally stunned.

"MOM!" I called again, my worry growing.

"P-princess, how did you do that?" Mom stammered, her disbelief evident. She had always known me as someone who struggled with self-defense, and now she was witnessing a side of me she hadn't seen before.

"What?" I asked, genuinely confused by her reaction.

"Lil sis!! How did you block those knives?! How did you do that?!!" brother Alexon asked, his tone filled with amazement.

"That was incredible!!! All the knives hit the wall in perfect alignment!" brother Xandrick exclaimed, clearly impressed.

"Cool," I heard the other brothers and their friends whispering among themselves.

-_-

"I told you I could handle myself, right, Mom? Are you alright?" I said, trying to lighten the mood with a smile. Mom's smile in return was comforting, so I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Sorry, Mom," I whispered, feeling a pang of guilt for putting her through that scare.

"No, it's okay, princess. I'm fine," Mom reassured me, her voice soothing.

"You're amazing, princess. Where did you learn that?" Dad asked, his curiosity evident.

I pulled away from the embrace, momentarily lost for words. What should I say?

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much about my secret training.

"It's okay, princess. You don't have to explain," Dad said with a warm smile, sensing my reluctance.

I smiled back, relieved by his understanding.

"Okay, Mom, Dad, I'm going upstairs!" I announced and dashed towards my room where my weapons were stored.

I retrieved a large container and began packing up my gear, making sure everything was securely stored.

"Be careful with those, lil sis!" brother Xandrick called out as I hurried.

"Yes!" I replied, already halfway up the stairs.

I entered my room, which I had meticulously decorated. I painted the walls myself, changed the curtains, and arranged the full-length mirror and bathroom to my liking. I had hidden daggers, kunai, a katana, swords, and nunchucks around the room, hoping they would go unnoticed. Thankfully, they did. I even adjusted the lock on my door for extra security.

The room's theme was black and blue, reflecting my personal style. I had also bought a guitar and other musical instruments, which added a touch of normalcy to my otherwise secretive life.

After organizing my room, I took a bath and dressed in a loose white t-shirt that reached my knees and shorts, though the shorts were barely visible under the long shirt. My smooth thighs and skin, enhanced by a potion, made me feel almost like Zari.

I had a few cosmetic changes in mind—clearing up pimples, braces, glasses, freckles, and improving my body's strength. For now, I wore a new watch, black and waterproof, equipped with needles that could put someone to sleep. Silver earrings, a black headband, and a silver ring completed my look. The ring could release spikes if I needed it, which I found delightfully cool.

Checking the time, I saw it was 7 pm. My door's color had also changed to black with blue, and I had put up a sign that read "No Trespassing!"

I put on my nerd glasses and went downstairs, greeted by the maids who looked shocked.

"Hello!" I said cheerfully.

"Uhmm, h-hello too, princess Azemia," one of them stuttered, clearly taken aback by my appearance.

I laughed softly.

"Good evening!!"

"Hello!!"

"How are you?!!"

I greeted everyone I passed, enjoying their stunned reactions. I wondered what their reactions would be when my hair grew longer.

I also discovered I was wearing contact lenses, giving my eyes a striking ocean blue color. I liked the change.

As I continued downstairs, the room fell silent. The others had stopped what they were doing, their eyes widening in surprise at my new look. Their reaction was starting to get on my nerves.

I snapped my fingers, breaking the spell of shock. They quickly turned their eyes away from me, trying to regain composure.

Brother Alexon wrapped an arm around me.

"You, sis, you were hiding your beauty! Haha, you should've shown it earlier! Even with short hair, you're cute," he said, pinching my cheek.

"Hey! Sis is already hurt!" brother Xandrick protested, noticing my discomfort.

"Thanks, brother Xandrick! My cheek really does hurt," I said, rubbing it while pouting.

Brother Alexon flicked my forehead, causing me to yelp. I adjusted my glasses, which had slipped askew.

"Hahaha, don't pout!" brother Alexon said with a chuckle.

"Waaah! My princess is so beautiful!!! Pinch those cheeks!!!" Mom suddenly squealed, making me cringe.

I hid behind brother Xandrick, trying to escape the embarrassment.

"Hahaha, Mom, sis is hiding," brother Xandrick laughed.

Mom pouted, clearly enjoying the teasing.

"Because of you, bro! My cheeks are already sore from brother Alexon's pinching, and now you too, Mom. They'll be bruised," I said, peeking from behind brother Xandrick.

Laughter erupted from everyone, including brother Lysander and their friends.

"Haha, come to Mommy, honey," Mom coaxed.

"You won't pinch my cheeks??" I asked cautiously.

"I won't, so come here, my princess. Give Mommy a warm hug," Mom said, extending her arms.

I stepped out from behind brother Xandrick and hugged Mom.

"Ouch! Mom, you said you wouldn't pinch my cheeks. They're turning red!" I protested as she pinched them anyway.

"Haha, you're so adorable, princess. Don't be so cute," Mom said, still playfully pinching.

"Mom, how could I not be cute? I inherited it from you," I replied.

Mom squealed in delight.

"I know, right, haha."

Mom's playful nature was endearing.

"Enough with the sweet talk and let's eat!" Dad interjected, his tone light-hearted.

Mom and I laughed.

"Haha, Dad is jealous!! He's not as handsome as the rest of us," I teased.

"Hmph, I'm handsome. That's why your brothers are handsome," Dad said with mock indignation.

We all laughed, enjoying the lighthearted family moment.