I sat down and flipped to the next page.
It's been a week since my birthday and that guy keeps on popping up wherever I go. Didn't even gave me a chance to be alone for a second. He would be at the intersection near our home every morning, he would eat lunch with me at the rooftop, and wait for me after school. And I was actually ready for something but nothing happened for a week. He apparently have a fanclub and all the girls there hated me. They would glare at the sight of me, not that I mind. But that guy is giving me bunch of problems.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! You had a major jump for a week and the next thing you wrote is complaints. What sort of problem did I give, huh? Tell me! I mean let me read your explanation!
"Hey!"
"..."
"Ms. Iya Larrine, I'm talking to you!"
"Don't shout. My ears are functioning properly, as always."
"Yeah, they do? Then why aren't you answering, hmm?"
"Because apparently, I have a name."
He pouted. Is there something to pout about? You're 17, grow up! That's what I wanna say but I stopped myself.
"Are you in a club? I got invited by the soccer club!"
"No, I'm not."
"I'm planning to join them. For your information, aside from my good looks I am also athletic. Come on, congratulate me!"
He said waiting for a praise. He looked so proud.
"Oh, really? Yay, another unwanted information! Good for you."
I said bored.
"But it's kinda sad. I mean I won't be able to go with you to school and we won't be able to go home together. Aren't you sad?"
"Oh, wow! How sad."
I said drably with a sarcastic tone. He actually did look sad about it. He didn't respond and kept quiet for a while. What golden retriever? More like a pouty child!
I sighed.
"There's still lunch break. You can always go here during that time."
His eyes lit up and I think I'm hallucinating. I kinda saw a wagging tail. Nevermind. Probably due to lack of sleep.
"Too much energy. Does anyone tell you how easy you get happy about things? Y'know, so positive or something."
"My mom said that sadness doesn't look good on me. So here I am. What? Jealous?"
"I'd rather not."
The bell rang and we went back to our room. The atmosphere was tense. Especially when we walked in. I can feel everyone's eyes at us. This is really bad.
I also wondered why they're looking at us back then. I just smiled like usual and class went on. Well, now I know.
The next day was the start.
The start of what? Oh, soccer club!
It was Liose's first day as a soccer club member. I honestly felt an odd feeling when I didn't saw his weird face at the intersection. But it is what it is. It's not like we're that close. It's just a simple interaction with a bit of affection, I guess.
I was walking peacefully, yep, was. A group of girls cornered me. Yay! Took you long enough. I was actually bothered by the fact that they didn't do this for a week. I know Liose was always with me, but still. They have a lot of time back then.
"Hey, you freak! Who told you to get all chummy with Liose? Know your place weirdo."
And that is it. The Queen of all Queens, that's what she wants to call herself. She signaled the other girls beside her and they hit me again and again. Shall we make a little introduction.
That's Runa Yournei, 17 years old. If you're going to ask my relationship with her, well you are in for the drama.
You see, Runa, she's my step-sister. Yup, one and only. My dad are hardworking, so much so that he died doing his work. He must have love that job. More than me and mom I guess. I was 10 when he died. That makes it 7 years ago. My mom suffered a lot. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. We don't have any relatives, it's just me and her. To lessen her problems, she decided to marry someone again.
That is where Uncle Rac Yournei joins the picture. He had a daughter, same age as me. He and my mom were friends back when they were college. And Uncle Rac was divorced with Runa's mother, for reasons that me and my mom didn't know yet.
He was abusive to my mom and it looks like that's what happened to her former wife. My mom endured it for 3 whole years, for me. Until she can't take it anymore. She killed herself. And I don't blame her.
The thing is, Uncle Rac cherished Runa. He would never raised his hands, or voice at her. He spoils her. I would always wonder. Why was he abusing Runa's mom when he loves Runa? It just doesn't make sense. Does he love being a father and not a husband?
I brushed it off. Yeah, maybe he's just like that. We can't do anything about it. He doesn't like me, for obvious reasons. Back when my mom was still alive, he would make me do all the chores. Just that. Yeah, because he still had a punching bag at that time, my mom. But if you guess it right, you'll know. After my mom died, he started hitting me. Making me do chores all day. Starve me to death when I did something he doesn't like. Like C*nd*r*ll* but a little bit different.
I'm used to it. Runa would blame me for everything. For her grade, her mistakes, and for her whole d*mn life. She still does that. Nothing new.
This was actually something she never said to me. I know her parents died but I just found out about the abuse 'that' day. I never suspected anything. But maybe I did, and chose not to see it.