The Only Reason

02: Chivalry

"Papa said he will enroll us to school tomorrow, Ate." My youngest brother, Arvin informed me.

It's our second day here and I was just sitting in our living room, facing my laptop.

Andreu isn't online because he's probably at school and sitting at his physics class—the same class we used to attend together—so I just entertain myself by scrolling through my f*******: and Twitter feeds and reading some blogs on Tumblr. Also I searched for new released books to buy; I need a new book.

"What school?" I asked, not looking at him.

"Don’t know. Maybe the nearest." He answered, sitting beside me.

I heard him sighed. "Are you nervous?" I asked, facing him now.

He shrugged leaning his head on my shoulder. "Kind of." He admitted. "And kind of sad. We're back at square one again: new school, new people and no friends." He added.

I sighed also.

He was right. We are back at zero again, like before. It wasn't the first time that we moved home and transferred into another school. It happened before and it wasn't easy to cope with the nature our new surrounding has, it took us a week to have acquaintances and another week to have people we can call and consider friends—sad to say I only had one and it was Andreu—and being at the same situation again now honestly scares me.

"Says from the extrovert," I teased him. "You'll be having a lot of friends again, that's for sure." I added.

That is what good with boys: they can easily get a company, a friend like they have known each other for a long time even though they just met.

"And you too," he said. I laugh.

That's impossible. I am not like him, I'm not an extrovert and finding a new friend is really impossible for me; as in. And I can consider myself lucky because Andreu settled with me despite of my weirdness.

"Try to have more friends now, Ate. Be friendly; stop hiding behind that thick eyeglasses and bangs of yours!" He shook his head. "I really don't understand why you keep on wearing that fake eyeglasses. You look like a fish, really," he added.

"What?" I reacted.

"You heard me right, sissy. You can even ask Kuya and he'll tell you the same," he answered.

My eyes grew wide and before he could react, my hand held the throw pillow and flew straight at his face.

"What the f—."

"Don't you dare!" I cut him off, smashing the throw pillow in his face. "You i***t! How dare you comparing me to a fish!"

"Ugh! Stop it, Ate!" He yelled.

I didn't stop and continue smashing him, but he caught my hand and snatched the pillow in my hand. He stood and about to smash it at me when someone spoke at the end of the staircase.

"What are you two doing?" he repeats his question.

I looked at my youngest brother then back to our eldest, Axel. "He started it, Kuya." I answered, pulling my hand.

"What? You smashed me first and I fell on the ground!" Arvin said. I rolled my eyes.

"Because you teased me!" I yelled.

"I'm not teasing you! I'm stating a fact," he yelled back. "She really looks like a fish, right Kuya?" he turned to Axel. I threw him the pillow.

"Ouch!" He reacted. I looked at my eldest brother.

Kuya arched his brow before shrugging his shoulder.

"What?" I asked disbelievingly. I look at both of them. Arvin is trying to suppress his laugher while Axel shows no emotion but his usual bored look.

"Just cut your hair short and remove those fake eyeglasses, Reis." He said.

My eyes widened for the second time, while Arvin burst in laugher while saying, "I told you right?"

"What the f**k?" I asked, disbelievingly again. I looked at Axel but he just shrugged his shoulder at me again before turning his back and climbing upstairs.

"Ariessa the fish," Arvin teased.

I turned to him and pulled his hair. "I'm not a fish, you i***t!" I yelled. But he just laughed at me while keep on saying I look like a fish.

"Ugh! Stop it shithead!"

"No. I won't, Ariessa the fish." He continues. I pulled his hair harder.

Our voices echoed at the whole living room making our mother went out of the kitchen; she's holding a car's key and his hand bag. I wonder where she's going.

"What's happening here?" She asked, arching her brow.

Why they keep on doing that? Arching their brows?

I let go of my brother's head and sat back at the couch. I gave up; my brothers were born to bully me.

"Ariessa?" Mama called me when Arvin didn't speak.

"Nothing Ma, we're just having our 'sibling's bonding'." I answered, emphasizing my last two words.

She looks at Arvin. "Sibling's bonding, Ma." He confirmed. "That's our 'sibling's goal'," he added while smirking

Oh, how much I wanted to erase that smirk with my foot.

Mama shrugged then turned to me. "Fix yourself, Ariessa. We'll going to shop for our supplies." She commanded me. I nodded, picked up my laptop and headed upstairs to my room.

I changed into a white printed shirt and denim shorts which I paired with my sneakers; combed my hair and I'm good to go.

"I'm ready." I announced. Mama looked at me then nodded.

"Okay, let's go." She said; walking out. I followed her.

"Don't forget to bring her to the Salon, Ma!" Arvin shouted.

"Shut up!" I shouted back. I turned to my Mom but she just shrugged, again.

"He's right. You need a haircut, Aries," she said. I sighed; giving up again.

I hopped inside our car and wear my seatbelt as Mama started the engine. I rested my head at the window while resting my elbow on it and started blowing my bangs up and down.

I don't see anything wrong with how I look; I love it honestly. I love how my hair falls straightly on my back to my waist, how my bangs mess on my face when wind blows it, and on how my glasses protect my eyes from dust. I feel comfortable and light. That's why I don't understand why they are all against my look, I've been sporting this look for years and I have never heard anything from them until we arrived here in Sydney. I don't understand.

Our drive to the nearest grocery store is not that long; we only took half an hour to get in there. And all the way to the store I've done nothing but compare all the things I see here to where I came.

Well, that can't be avoided, I guess. That when you're new to one place you can't stop yourself from comparing the things you were used to see or have to the new things that were presented in front of you. You will feel alienated somehow.

"I'll go at the fresh option, yours at the dry, 'kay?" Mama said after handing me the list of the supplies we need to buy. I nodded.

I pulled off a cart and started doing the task I was asked to do. I first went at the toiletries section: I took three bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and liquid bath soap; five boxes of toothpaste, and twelve pieces of razor. My brow arched; twelve pieces? I shrugged. I also grabbed five bottles of shaving cream and lotion then, four packs of sanitary napkin.

Next was for snacks and the likes: I grabbed three boxes of cereal—one for me and the others are for my brothers—then, five boxes of pasta and five packs of tomato sauce, cheese and other dry ingredients needed to cook a spaghetti. Three packs of loaf bread, and two big packs of powdered juice and chocolate powder. Also, I put ten big packs of junk foods making my cart half full.

I looked at my cart and to the paper I'm holding. There's still one item left; sandwich spread.

I sighed.

"Last one, Aries and you can go to the dairy section and have your favorite flavor of ice cream," I cheered myself. I really don't like shopping, because aside from making my feet and hands aches, it also give me headache searching for the item I need; especially when all the supplies were not arrange under its category.

I shook my head.

I started pushing my cart again from end to end each aisle until I found the precious spread at the last aisle of the dry section. I grabbed the two jars near at me: peanut, strawberry jams, and was about to put the jar of cheese spread when someone hold it too.

I looked at the owner of the hand only to find out a guy whose way taller than me. He looks familiar but that's impossible since this is the first time I went out after arriving here. And I know for sure that we're at the same age but standing just in front of him makes me look like I'm a grade schooler!

And I think he lift weights too, based on his biceps and the built of his shoulde—hey! Stop there Ariessa! I mentally smack my head for checking him out. Gosh! This is the effect of hanging out and listening with Andreu! Ugh! That maniac! He infected me with his virus!

"I-I held it first," I said, and s**t! Why am I stuttering?

Maybe because this is the first time I talk to someone whose mother tongue is English. Right! I'm just conscious! I mentally nodded.

I pulled the jar but he tightens his grip more. I looked at him straight in the eyes but he shows no emotion aside from bored.  Uh? He reminds me of Kuya Axel.

"Could you please let this go? I held it first," I repeated.

His face becomes more bored; he even yawned. "So?" he replied.

My brow arched. "I got it first," I said.

He also raised his brow. "So?" he said again making my eyes rolled 180 degrees.

I glared at him.

"Can't you just be a gentleman to let this jar to me and just get another one?" I asked; irritation on my tone.

He looked at the shelves and shook his head. "This is the last jar so... no." he pulled the jar and because he's obviously stronger than me, he got it effortlessly. I even almost fell on the ground if I didn't get a hold on the shelves!

This bastard!

I glared at him, fisting both of my hands. "What the hell? Do you really have to pull it that much? I almost fell!"

But this guy...ugh! He was just f*****g smirking at me. As if our situation is something that entertains him.

"It wasn't my fault that you're weak," he said with that proud smirk. 

"You're an ass," I spat.

He just shrugged and turned his back but before he could walk farther, he stopped and faced me again

"I don't do chivalry, Misss. That's been dead." He said before turning his back again and walking away.

And I was left with my mouth parted; shocked for what just happened.