Enchantress (Darkest Age)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Oh, noodles!" my older brother exclaimed. He immediately occupied the seat near me and reached for the food. There was nothing I could do but give way so he can move freely. I can’t help but frown.

Is there anything special about noodles that he can see but I can’t? For once, it is just a flour that is full of additives and preservatives.

"Have some manners or at least respect for the food, brother," I reminded him. He just gave me a confused look and later on, laughed. Did I just joke? I was serious though, and I don’t like him laughing at me for no reason at all. But then, I guess the older brother’s role is always irritating their pretty little sister. Well, it goes the same with me.

"Where have you been Rob?” Mom asked. My brother was soaking wet with sweat but he doesn’t look yucky, it is actually making him look hot and I’m hating it. Rob has the same eyes as my mother. I also have the same color as them. My Mom has a white reflection and the both of us have the opposite. No need to ask where we got that from.

"I played basketball with Tom, you know, our body need to exercise,” Rob replied. He was two years older than me and is currently studying at a university. He was a scholar and I have to admit, I am proud of him.

My mom’s job is selling vegetable on the market. Though it is not a job that earns much, we are still happy cause it provided us with all we need.

"Love?" Rob called my attention. Now, before jumping to any conclusion ‘Love’ is a nickname that he and mother gave me. Of course, only some has the guts to call me that way, it’s a little bit odd coming from strangers or even some friends.

"Mmhh?"I mumbled.

"Did you do anything to Cindy again?" he asked. His voice was calm and soothing, but the name he mentioned ruined it all. Tsk, so she already told my brother about it. I really hate explaining but I'm sure, Rob wouldn't stop inquiring.

"I just asked her if she knows what is a leech," I answered. I pretended to be not interested and avoided eye contact with him. That witch must have added some things that really didn’t happen.

"Tell me the whole story," he stated, seriously.

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered that girl.

“Lo—”

"Call me Myrell, we're not close,” I cut her. I know she was just pretending to be nice at me. Obviously, he likes brother Rob. Why of all people, she got to be our neighbor? If a house and lot is just easy to buy, I would have sold ours and go far away— far from her.

"Can you please help me with your brother?" Seriously? I don’t have plans of having a dog as a sister-in-law. Call me rude but, I know her too well.

"Sure." She seemed to be happy at my response. "In one condition,” I added.

"Sure, whatever you ask," she answered back. Her smile is wider now, as if she just won over something.

"Explain to me, what is a leech?" I asked. I wanted to laugh at her indescribable face. I assumed that she was trying to scan up and down to the bottom of her brain for even just a single information about what I have asked.

"Eh, is there anything else?" she asked. I forced a smile in order to suppress my laughter. I could watch her expression the whole day.

"Ok fine, I'll just tell you what is a leech. Leeches are carnivorous or bloodsucking creatures, usually fresh water annelid worms. They came from the class of Hirudinea that have typically flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end," I explained.

Now, her face was like a big question mark. She was just standing in front of me with nothing but a blank face. I bet she didn't understand even just a sentence.

"Don’t you get it? Just think of a leech as you. In that way, you can relate better," I added. Little by little, the confused face became angry and ready to pounce at me.

"And what do you mean by that? I may not understand what you have said but I know it isn’t good! " she exclaimed. But it wasn't as gentle as before. See? That was her true color after all. I just needed to push her a bit and boom! She came out.

I guess her animal instinct is good, she found out.

"What I was trying to say was, you are a leech. I mean look at you, you cling to someone whom you could benefit and in physical aspect," I paused for a moment and gave her a look from head to toe, “you are as flat as those parasites.”

"Why are you always mean to her?" Rob’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts.

With a smiling face, I turned to him.

"I just always forget that I have to be kind to animals. It slipped from my mind that there is an animal welfare act and I could get imprisoned for 1 to 2 years and fined for about a hundred thousand Pesos. But, it's not yet maltreatment cause all I did was tell her the truth and I never hit her with a fist or something." As soon as I finished my sentence, four eyes are looking intently at me. They are even gaping. I didn’t say anything unusual so what’s with their reaction?

"Are you reading about laws now?" he asked.

"No, I just heard that last night from the television," I replied. I focused my attention to the food I’m eating since the doctors said that we should chew our food very well.

"And then, you memorized it? “he inquired again. I can’t find any sense with that question. I stopped eating and faced him.

"Don’t you ever watch news and pick up something important that adds to your learning?" I told him.

"Fine, relax. Let’s just get back to the topic. You should just try treating her better. You—"

"Why? Do you like her?" I cut him. His expression changed from gentle to blank. I guess I have said something wrong. Oops!

"Do you know what, Love? Because of that big brain of yours, you can make someone feel really stupid," he said in disbelief. "Why don't you just tell me your problem about her."

"Mmh, Brother, I think ‘problem' is a big word. She was just a speck of dust. You know, she was so small and yet it hurts my eyes every time she’s around. That’s her. So don't you worry about me, I'm absolutely ok with her," I paused as I sip on my glass of milk. I hope he can smell my sarcasm. "I even wonder why Cindy was her name. She told me it was a shortcut for Cinderella, a princess in distress but she looks more like a Camel than a damsel. It’s confusing, that's why I never read fairytales, witches like her have hopes that they could meet a prince charming too. So sad," I added, conversationally.

Right now, he was looking at me with an eyebrow lifting up. Oh, I’m so used to that, I get that every time.

"Rohama? Can't you just live or act like a normal eighteen years old lady? Go and hang out with some friends. Have fun. Don’t isolate yourself with your books. Look at you, everything you are saying is about data, but you are missing the real thing. Life is not like that; you can’t just calculate everything. There are mysteries that even science can’t solve." Though he said that with such soft voice, I could still feel the stinging pain inside my heart.

Because, I just can't. I can’t make friends. Easy for him to say because he never knew how I felt, an outcast. He has a lot of friends so he will never understand. My books are my only friends, at least they won't tell a thing about my secrets. They don’t gossip about me or even hurt my feelings

I want to let out my thoughts, tell him what I am feeling. But will things change? No, I will still be the same Meryll they knew, weird and alone.

"So you mean to say, I am not normal? Is that it, brother?" I tried to hide the bitterness in my voice. I wasn’t even looking at him; I’m just staring at the floor beneath me.

It hurts cause it’s true.

"No, Love, don't get me wrong. What—"

"That is what you exactly mean," I stated. I immediately stood up, gathered my things and went out of the house. I still heard him calling my name but I ignored him and walked even faster.