Never Not Hate You

“Wohooo!!” I shouted. Waking up with the news that we will be staying at grandma’s house this summer is totally a game changer this year.  Since I was seven, it has been a tradition to stay at Meemah’s house on summer but it stopped four years ago. Mom and Dad got divorced and the next things that happened were all just sad and boring stuff. “You seem so excited.” Mom said with a raised brow. She seems suspicious of my reaction. What does she mean anyway? Mom walked through the kitchen joining me in the dining table.  “It’s been four boring summers already, Mom. We are finally going to spend the summer again with Meemah. Who wouldn’t be excited?” “Yeah, but you always talk to her in the phone. Yet you seem to be so giddy when I told you about our plans this summer.” She’s throwing me a skeptical look. I seem to know what she’s trying to say and I’m annoyed. “What are you trying to say mom?” I glared at her. She gave me that innocent smile. “Oh well, just thinking if you are dying to see him. I hope he’s there this summer, I heard he’s taking college seriously last year. His mom said he barely comes home.” Mom said, while handing me a plate of pancakes with strawberries. I grabbed the pancake syrup and stared badly at her. Here goes my mother again!  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stopped looking at her and just focused on eating my breakfast.  I know who she means anyway. My ultimate summer enemy who she thinks is one of my best friends. “What? I was just informing you about what he’s been up to. Seems like both of you haven’t kept in touch for a long time already.” She sounds a little sad about it.   “Mom, Kevin and I are not besties. We don’t need to know what’s going in both our lives. It’s not that I care where he is now anyway.” Every time we talk about our summer plans, mom never gets tired of pushing me to Kevin. She always makes it look like I like him and he likes me.   Kevin’s  family lived next door with Meemah. Kevin’s mom and my mom are childhood best friends, and they spent much of their days doing things together. That ends up having their kids be together during summer too. Unfortunately, we did not end up like our parents, we ended up as enemies. We always argue when we’re together.  We play video games and end up hitting each other with the game controller. We play in pool and the next minute, we are trying to drown each other. Things always get out of hand when I’m with him. As I have remembered, I hated every inch of him. Yet, our parents think is just the way of showing our love. Who on earth thinks of that idea? How absurd. “Honey, you’re spacing out.” Mom called. “Seems like you’ve been thinking about him a lot, huh?” and she laughed. “Mom, will you stop it? I told you I’m not interested in him and never will be.” I stood up and placed my plate on the sink. “Okay, Quinn. If you say so.” I turned on the clock and noticed I’m almost late for class. I hugged her from the back. She chuckled. “Let’s stop this nonsense. I’m late. See you after class.” I quickly fix myself, carried my favorite black bag and hurriedly went outside. I’m quiet lucky to have my school just a block away from our house. I don’t need to use my car often and it saves me enough from gas expenses.   Just as the bell rang, I already entered the halls. I luckily arrived on time. I entered the class and saw my best friend Kate waiving at me. I sat on the chair beside her while I grabbed my notebook and pen out of my bag. It’s actually the last week of class for this term. We will be seniors in the coming year. Everyone’s talking about their summer plans. Some are taking this time to work and save some money for college.  “Hey, you excited for summer? What’s your plan? Kate asked. I was about to tell her when our teacher arrived. The day ended not so well. Everyone was so busy taking down notes on all the reports and homework that we need to submit this week as the term ends. Kate and I only grabbed a sandwich for lunch and agreed to just have a good dinner later on.