A Year of Unfamiliar Things

Chapter 2

THE party started at 8 PM, now's already 9:30 and my curfew is at 11:30 PM. When I arrive here at 7, almost of the whole house of Roselle's were crowded. Most of them are our schoolmates and some are from other schools, that's how big Roselle social circle is.

Their house is too big, I could call it a mansion but it's not. Just a big house. I'm in the second floor of their house with Pharaoh who's busy drinking with her margarita and chitchatting with her friends while me, I'm just watching them. Looks loner, right? But I can't drink alcohol even if it's weekend the next day, I still can't. My Mom will kill me if I would.

Party did continue. They're all screaming and laughing, most of them are drunk already. Pharaoh is also in the dance floor, at the first floor. I sigh when I realize how lonely it is to be here but I can't say no to Roselle.

A group of girls with their high heels sits on the couch in front of where I sit at. They are holding a red solo cup while gossipping which I ignore and chose to open i********: to scroll down.

My feed is full of Roselle's photos with her friends. It's not new anyway but a video caught my attention.

A video of Lucas and unknown girl making out at the teacher's comfort room were posted by a dummy account. I turned my phone off.

“What the hell?” I whispers and storms out of Roselle's without saying a goodbye to her and to Pharaoh.

My Mom let me to take my car since Roselle's house and mine is just 1.4 kilometers away. Not that far. I'm driving my way out of their gate when a boy is running so I quickly step the break.

I get out of the car to check if I bumped him but gladly not. I'm facing his back so I don't know who is him but I'll say sorry.

“Oh, uhm... Are you OK? I'm really sorry–”

He speaks, “It wasn't your fault. I should have check if there's a car coming out,” and then he faces me.

Surprise across my face when Lucas turned around to see me. I gulped and I am out of breath and so as he.

“Nice to meet you, Miss.” He said, marking the word Miss before running again.

Is he still mad at me?

WEEKEND comes and I'm stuck inside my room, cleaning it up. Saturday is clean day base on what Mom told us so that's what I did from morning to afternoon.

In dinner, Rhianna, my twin and Mommy are talking about transferring which I regret hearing to.

“Mom, my school is too small and Rhodessa's too big. Isn't that unfair? Give me a chance to transfer there, at least. Also, next year is the last year, right?” Rhianna said audibly and Mommy shakes her head.

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. “Didn't you said that you don't want to be with me in the same school because you feel like i'm copying you? But look who's copying and insecure of me now.”

Rhianna frowns but before she can speak, Mommy spoke up. “Can you please stop it? We're in front of our dinner. Rhianna, it's already last year. You spent five years in that school and now you want to transfer? How come?”

“It's just– argh!” She stood up and storms out of the house.

I look at Mommy and a small smile appeared on her face when she caught me looking at her. “I'm so sorry, your sister is being brat again.”

Mommy is the sweetest and Daddy is the one who's need to be soothe. That's why Rhianna's attitude is more likely Dad's.

Smile across in my face and continued eating the pizza that Mommy ordered. “Do you think it's a good thing for her to transfer there, Mom?”

She stops eating and wipes the side of her lips with a napkin. “I don't know. Do you think so? But if she do, her attitude will be more braggy. I know the students in your school, I'm glad you aren't one of them.”

“Yeah, so please let me take the car please?” I changes the subject because it's annoying to think about my sister's decisions in life.

When she shakes her head, “No. Next year probably.”

I jumped in delight. Yay!

SUNDAY afternoon when I decided to go to the department store for a grocery shopping. Pushing the cart and stop to examine every shelves of foods, that's what I does and guess, I stayed on that department store for two hours. I have not noticed though.

“What took you so long?” My Sister asked. She's coloring her nails again, well, every Sunday she does.

“Why are you asking anyway?”

“Can you please stop talking to me like that? I'm your big sister for f**k's sake.”

“Then stop being brat to me. And don't you dare cursing in this house again!”

She rolled her eyes and takes a sip on her tea beside her before changing the subject. “I'm preparing my papers for transferring.”

I almost choke! Is she serious?!

“Stop that! You won't fit in that school. Gosh,” I took a deep breath and takes upstairs to go to my room.

How difficult to understand her in this matter. Really, I can't stand her. She's so mean to me or should I say... we are both mean to each other that's why?

I suddenly remember Lucas. Our past friendship.

It was Saturday morning and we are playing truth or dare. Lucas and I are best friends that's why we are so close to each other that I can tell him my secrets and so he does. He told me a secret... A secret that shocked my whole system.

He likes me. But I don't, and I only see him as my friend so he told me to keep that as a secret. It was my turn and Ryker asked me truth or dare, since I don't like dares, I picked truth but I didn't expect that Ryker will ask me a such unbelievable thing.

“Does Lucas likes you? I can feel it but he keeps denying so, what?” It was a straight to the point question. It takes me 5 minutes before I slowly nodded. Lucas gets angry, he's mad at me to the point that he tells everyone that I'm a liar and they shouldn't be friend with me. It hurts but it was my fault after all.

For you it's just a small fight but for me and for him, it's not. Secret shouldn't be told especially if the person who tells you thinks that you are trustworthy and Lucas doesn't want to feel embarrassment because of his secrets but because of my dumbness, I did and our friendship broke up. My friends in school has been distant to me except Roselle and Pharaoh came up.

“Goddamn, is that you?!” Roselle asked in shock, she's asking Pharaoh who is not in her nerdy braces anymore.

“You look amazing, Farrah,” I say sincerely but when she heard her nickname she frowns.

“Dude, stop calling me Farrah!”

Roselle and I burst at laughter which made Pharaoh roll her eyes.

“Vega, your outfit looks goody today,” says Roselle.

I turned my gaze to my outfit. It's just a black flannel shirt, jeans, flannel tee which I leave unbuttoned and paired with black-n-white coloured shoes. Nothing special, simple at its finest.

A moment of silence came up before Roselle spoke up. “Did you see the video?”

“What video?” Curiously, Pharaoh asked.

“The scandal.” It's a whisper already. Roselle's gossipping again and I think she's talking about Lucas.

“I did.”

“Sheez, I can't believe that Lucas will do that things.”

Shrugging, I say, “Well, it's none of our business anymore.”

They nodded but Roselle's still staring at me. I glared at her so she gave me a small smile.

In lunch, we didn't ate in cafeteria because load of students are there so we stayed at the field's bleachers. My friends are fine with it since they are already accustomed.

“Who do you think is that girl?” Roselle.

“Ugh, screw it off, L. Let's just wait for the another episode,” Pharaoh winked at her and she looks cool by that.

We talked about the costume day and I regret staying at house yesterday and keep talking to my sister. I should have go to fashion houses for my costume but I don't know who will be mine.

“I'll look for my costume later. Can you guys please come along with me?” I asked and they agreed.