The Stepsisters - English [Completed]

Seven

MY HEAD is aching so badly. The moment I woke up earlier, I felt that excruciating pain inside my head.

According to Lily, I was drunk last night. Mom was really disappointed but I insisted that I did not drink. I meant, I did not drink any alcoholic drinks.

We argued for a bit but when Lily whispered something from my mom, her expression changed. Then mom was tending me again like her little baby.

Wow. Lily's power was really awesome. I wonder what she whispered to my mom that changed her mood that instantly.

Anyway, good thing that the "drinking" incident happened Friday night and we don't have any school today. But I still need to go to school because our coach, Miss Lyra, said we will have a quick meeting and it can't wait.

So I had to still go to school. Mom dropped me off and will fetch me back after we finish the meeting.

Though mom has given medicine for the hangover, I still feel dizzy but it was manageable this time. I went straight to the cheering squad room and sat beside the girls.

"Are you okay?"

"How are you feeling?"

These are the questions I heard from the girls. I just said okay even if I am not that actually okay.

They looked worried and were about to ask me more when Miss Lyra spoke. On her side was our cheer captain.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone on a job well done. Congratulations, champions! Let's pat each other's back and congratulate one another." We followed what the coach said. "Alright. This is just going to be a quick meeting because I know some of you still have a hangover from the party last night."

I heard several 'oohhhsss' from the squad. Ginger and Sally were teasing me but Sharpay was awfully quiet and just looked at me.

"Now, as you all know, that Lara here is your senior, and starting next week, all senior students are required to concentrate with their academics and stop all the extra-curricular activities including any club activities. So, with that, all senior cheering squad members will be graduating on the team today." It was not a new tradition. That's how it goes actually. It was so sad but the school just wanted the best for the students. Especially for the graduating students.

"So, we are here because we will announce the new captain of our team." I felt Sharpay stiffened when Miss Lyra said that. I can see the hope in her eyes. "Please do the honor, Lara."

"Thank you, Miss Lyra. I will surely miss you all but we know that nothing is permanent in this world and life must go on. Don't worry, if I have spare time, I will make sure to visit you around. But so much for that, I know you are all excited to know the new captain of the squad. I am asking everyone to please respect your next captain as much as you've respected me. Don't forget about the teamwork and camaraderie. Anyway, I am sure the next captain will be awesome and I know you all love her. Let's all clap for your new captain, Jenny Jane King!"

I was appalled. Like seriously? Why? Why me?

I am hearing my teammates clapping and congratulating me but I... What is happening?

"Come here to the front, Jenny." Lara waved her hand asking me to come near her.

"Congratulations, Jen. Go!" Sally said and pushed me towards Lara.

"So, we all knew Jenny here is a sophomore turning Junior and even though she's still in sophomore year, I believe we all agree that Jen has the capability of being a captain on the team, right?"

"Yes!" my teammates said. 

I looked at the girls but only Sally seems to be genuine in cheering and smiling at me. Damn. Even Sharpay is smiling; I can see that she's not happy with the turn of events.

"We had three candidates for being the squad captain. You might not have noticed but since the start of our practice this year, I asked help from the staff to get their candidates from the team and score each based on their performances, academically or extra-curricular activities. So that is why Jenny has been chosen. Congratulations, captain," Lara gently patted my shoulder as she said those words. "Can you give us a small speech?"

I still can't believe what was happening so I stuttered when I tried to talk.

"Ah, I-i wanted to thank everyone for the support. Let's work hard more and I promise to do my best as your captain." I couldn't think of anything more to say. I am still surprised by what happened.

As Miss Lyra said, the meeting finished quickly and I am still feeling high. I was fully sober now. I am just overwhelmed but at the same time, I was delighted with the announcement.

The team kept on congratulating me but I did not see the girls after our other team members circled around me. I feel that Sharpay is not really happy about what happened so I sent her a message to check on her instead.

Mom was outside the school before I could text her. She even brags that she was so on time. She said it was a mother's instinct. I just laugh at her.

I was excited to tell her what happened but she said that Uncle Primo was home and we might be having dinner at our favorite restaurant, so as much as I wanted to tell her the good news, I kept it to myself first and will announce it later in front of the family. I wanted to see their reaction. I know they will be happy for me but I want to share this success not only with mom but the other two people who are really important to me.

+++

We went to Yuan's. One of our favorite restaurants. We chose their private room as usual. An advantage for me because I don't have to be careful about my surroundings.

"So how was school?" Uncle Primo started the conversation as we were eating.

"It was okay," Lily answered.

"Hey Li, I heard you are the top one again for this period. Keep up the good work," Mom said.

Yeah, Lily is actually really intelligent. She's just a quiet, low key, humble girl but she's really excelling in academics.

"Thanks, mom," she said and smiled. I don't know but every time Lily calls my mom "Mom", I am getting this tingly satisfied feeling.

"I wish Jenny will get higher grades, too," Mom said.

"Mother, wow, I belong to the top three. I am not the number one but I am number three." I pouted.

"Just joking, dear." Mom smiled. "That was more than enough for me. Seeing you both excel in your studies."

"No big deal, mom," I said.

"But I heard that someone has been announced as the captain of the cheerleading squad," Uncle Primo said.

I was the one who got shocked instead.

"Congratulations, captain!" my family exclaimed and I was amazed when a waiter came with a cake and placed it on our table.

I can't help but smile from ear to ear.

"Make a wish!" Lily exclaimed and she really looked excited.

"It's not my birthday," I said, chuckling.

"There's a candle so just make a wish. Come on, Nini," Lily persuaded me.

I just smiled and do as she says.

"How and when did you know?" I asked them when they finished congratulating me.

"Well, it was all over i********:. Did you forget you are famous at school, Nini?" Lily said.

"Really? Who posted it?" I asked.

"It was Lara," She answered.

"I am so proud, Nini," Mom said. Is she holding back her tears?

"Thank you, mom. Thank you, Uncle Prim and Lily."

I couldn't be happier. Everything is going so well. Ah, my wish for a joyful experience in high school is certainly coming to pass.

After a delicious dinner, we went home. I was hanging out in Lily's room as she was playing on her Nintendo Switch again. You can only hear Lily talking a lot if she's with me or she's playing with her games. Yeah, she's one of the loud players.

I was lying down on her bed and she was sitting comfortably beside me.

I was checking on my social media accounts. Mostly on i********:. Sharpay posted a picture of us with the caption of a heartfelt congratulation. Sharpay assured me that she was okay and that she was glad that I was the one chosen as the captain of the squad. Though she admitted that she was hurt at first but she was happy that one of us was chosen instead of a random member of the squad. I believed her.

Ginger and Sally posted photos of us and the girls as well and congratulated me. I am really glad that they are so supportive. It felt so surreal but I have to admit I like the attention and the position I acquired in the squad. I was done checking my social media accounts, so I went to bother Lili.

"Li, are you not done yet?" I asked her and hugged her from her back. I peek at her Nintendo screen.

"Almost done," she said. Her hands were so fast at tapping whatever she was playing. It was pretty gruesome and there were a lot of zombies. I don't know what she's playing. I am not actually into games.

"Let's watch Netflix," I urge her.

"Yeah, sure. What do you want to watch?" She asked, still playing.

"There is this Korean drama that seems to be interesting. It has a lot of good reviews."

"Alright. Just one last time and... Done. Yes! I won!" she exclaimed. She was so happy that she strangled me and gave me light kisses all over my face.

I was giggling on what she was doing. Lily's really an affectionate person but you can only see her like that with me, mom, and Uncle Primo.

"So what are we going to watch?" she asked and positioned herself beside me. She was laying down now.

And naturally, I lay down on her shoulder and opened her laptop. 

We started watching the Korean drama “It’s okay not to be okay” when Lily's phone keeps buzzing and I can clearly hear it, as I was near at the bedside table where she put it.

"Someone's flooding your inbox," I told her.

"Who is it?" she asked. She was focused on watching the drama. It was actually really good. The reviews were all true. It was an awesome story. I was just distracted on who's flooding Lily's inbox.

I took her phone from the bedside table and checked the person who's messaging her. Yeah, I know her lock code.

"It's from... Bun-bun? Who is she?"

"Ah, that's Jesu. She might be sending me a lot of memes again. Let me..." she said and was about to get her phone when I opened the message myself from "Bun-bun".

Lily was right. It was all memes. She took her phone from me and put it beside her.

"I told you. She might be bored. Let's just watch this. Let her find another person to disturb. This is a really good Korean drama, Nini," she said and hugged me tighter.

Luckily, she did not see me pouting. That Jesu. Bun-bun, huh. But why would Lily need to hide her phone? Grr. Jesu!

The whole duration while we were watching the drama, I was imagining that I was Ko Moon-Young and Jesu was the antagonist who kept trying to put the protagonist down. I imagined that Jesu was the reporter that Moon-Young pushed on the stairs or the man she grabbed his hair.

Good thing, Lily hugged me so tight every time there was a scary scene. At least I was getting calmer too. Like Ko Moon-Young, Lily was my Moon Kang-Tae, she was my safety pin.

If not because of Lily, I would love to bald that Jesu Bunny girl.

And why are you being like that? Are you jealous?

My alter ego is speaking now, eh? Of course, I am jealous because I am the only best friend of Lily.

Is that the real reason?

Yeah! No other reason. So stop asking me and making me overthink things!

I am really fighting with myself now. Is this the effect of watching Ko Moon-Young? Well, I am not sure anymore.

After watching, I slept at Lily's room and I always have a peaceful sleep every time I sleep near her.

Lily's not only my safety pin. She's my safe haven. I think.