Chapter 8

Taileen's POV

NCS and I tidied up the room where I would stay. Once we were done with throwing some trash, he didn't tell me anything else but to "please, just stay quiet, and mind your own business, okay?". He didn't even wait for my reply and simply went to his own room.

'Dumb NCS...he didn't even wait for me to say thank-you.' I thought and grumpily entered my room. "Ah...the air is so pleasant," I whispered to myself.

Back in my apartment, the air wasn't the nearest to fresh nor was it clean. I had a cold just because of the air in there.

It's...well, polluted; because I'm too lazy to do my dishes, too lazy to hire a washer nor am I useful enough to wash it myself. I had the money, anyway, so I pay for someone to do all of it in one day every week, so currently, my apartment reeks.

Anyway, damn my dad.

I really miss his presence though, but he's such a jerk. A very nosy and irritating jerk.

I'm not that smart, to be honest, wait no, I'm not the slightest bit, but I am trying though, yet the jerk couldn't see it. He tells me I'm being too lazy, being too "rowdy".

So his plan was to take me to America and enroll me in an all-girls school ran by nuns. I wasn't told why, but it's already obvious that his plans were to discipline me.

I seriously did not want that. First of all, the school had a dormitory with very strict rules. I couldn't even go out if I wanted to. Second, I've read a couple of yuri mangas and almost all of them took place in all-girls schools...I'm not turning lesbian anytime soon just because of loneliness.

Third, I did not want to be apart from my best and only friend, Rin. We've been together for most of my life, not only would we part because of going abroad, I couldn't visit her too because of the strict rules implemented by the school dorm.

'And I also don't want to be apart from this guy I really want to be friends with...JUST friends with, of course.'

~

The following day, I was already half-awake at around 6 AM. 'It's still pretty early, hmm? I'm sure I can sleep some more---'

"Hey, Taileen!! Aren't you going out yet?! Come out!"

'Dammit. I forgot how he's actually a freaking mother.'

"Ugh, could you not yell first thing in the morning?! You're literally one THIN door away from me, dumbass!" I yelled back as I turned around from the door.

"FIRST thing? Are you kidding?! I've called you sixteen times!"

I wiped my eyes and yawned. What a beautiful start!

But I can't wake up just yet~!

Trence's POV

After shouting my wonderful lungs out, the witch still didn't wake up. I groaned and entered Mom's room, the one she's borrowing for the meantime.

I was ready to shout again but I was taken aback from seeing her.

Unlike usual, her hair wasn't tied up into two pigtails yet. They were, surprisingly, neatly spread on the bed, as if she fixed them up and remained still the entire night.

I almost forgot how doll-like she looked.

Taileen was small and honestly, so fragile seeming until she wakes up.

When she does...well...

I sighed and dismissed whatever I was thinking of. I decided to wake her up by shaking her arms that were covered by a blanket, but I found myself hesitating.

I reached out my hand and caressed her face, and it was surprisingly soft. Her cheeks were so soft, like a baby.

'...um, what in the living hell am I doing?'

'...you know what, screw it.'

I unknowingly smiled and my hand was already in her hair. They were so silky, like a spider web. I was just twirling it, playing around and braiding them (and failing to) until

I flew off my feet and hit the wall.

"What the hell, NCS?!" She said, her eyes grown and her face crimson red.

I was startled and unable to speak. 'Was she awake? Did she --- holy crap.'

I tried to explain. "I, um---"

"Two inches!! Stay two inches away from me!"

"O - Okay!" I said. I was too embarrassed to begin teasing her for how flustered she looked. Heck, I probably bore the same expressions.

'Wh - What do I say? I can't even begin explaining what I did...!'

I just stood up and mumbled, "I'll go to school. Just eat whatever's on the table, okay?"

- - - -

I couldn't look at Taileen's direction in the classroom. I could only think back on what I've done earlier to her, wondering what the hell's gotten into me.

Did I have a crush on her? Wondering this made my cheeks burn. No way, hell no. I couldn't have fallen for a brat-looking sadist who waves around her illegal baton like it was normal.

If she wasn't so pretty, I wonder how I would've reacted? Though I was already sure that her appearance had jack to do with this.

"MR. JONES! For the nth time!"

My attention quickly went to my current teacher.

"Oh, yeah?"

She seemed irked at my impolite reply, so I immediately said, "I mean, yes, ma'am?"

My teacher sighed. "Someone's looking for you. Please come out of the classroom."

I gave her a confused look but went out anyway. And much to my surprise, it was my mum.

"Oh, oka-san, what's the visit for?"

*Oka-san: Mum*

"Ha! I thought you forgot my request." She smiled playfully. My mother's Japanese, but she hasn't visited her country in years, according to her. As cringeworthy as it was for me, who barely knew Japanese save for some basic words and Japanese characters, I couldn't help but go along with her request.

I was surprised to see what she wore. She wore black stockings and a leg belt with a fancy kind of gun. Her raven hair was tied up on a pony, she wore a short leather jacket and a violet undershirt, and denim short shorts. She even has a maroon choker.

She smiled casually. "So, anyway, I saw my room fixed, and possibly used. Care to explain?"

I was shocked.

Crap. Freaking crap!!

"Um, uh..."

Then she gave me a malicious grin. "Are you bringing girls home and.." Her eyebrows went up and down.

I blushed profusely. "What?! No way, Mum!"

"AH! Told you to call me oka-san, musuko."

*Musuko: son*

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, oka-freaking-san, I'm not bringing girls home...though...well.."

"Well?"

"..I let one girl stay for a while.."

She gave me a suspicious look. "Why's that?"

"Private reason, though I promise it's nothing, completely absolutely undeniably nothing for you to worry about."

"Are you sure?"

"Surer than sure."

She nodded, though wasn't pleased. "Oh well, may I at least know her name?"

"Uh, Taileen Anderson."

For a few seconds, she shouted in an average loud voice, "Done?"

Then, "Ohh, okay. She's nice. Quite a brat, though. Hmm, pretty delicate, if you say it like that."

"What? I'm not following."

She smirked. "606."

"Okay, I'm getting more lost than you think right now."

"Haha! He's my hacker on anything imaginable."

"Seriously?"

"He has the profiles on everyone in and out this world, even the dead, and he starts on the year '1440', even though he's only 21,"

Then she leaned, "And he's fairly hot."

"Okay, we're getting off track. Is that all the reason why you visited?"

"Yeah, but serious now, don't you think you should just give her to her father, musuko? I personally think she'll be disciplined and proper on the University Of Mary."

Something flew over to our direction in impossible speed, followed by the words,

"No way."

I turned around and saw Taileen, with a very grave aura.

"Hmm, your conclusions are correct, 606,"

My mom said while observing Taileen.

"What I'd call tsundere, though." She mumbled.

I looked at the wall to see what she threw at my mum. A Pepsi can, which was stuck on the wall. It after some seconds fell on the ground, the cola spilling and the wall had a medium-sized crack.

'Is that how much she doesn't want to leave?' I thought.

"That the girl, musuko?" Mum asked.

I nodded. "Taileen, why are you here?"

"Trence, do you agree?"

I was surprised. 'She called me Trence...'

"I-I don't kno---"

"Trence, do you agree on returning me to my dad?!"

"N---No.."

She looked me in the eyes, then slowly gave me a warm smile and hugged me. I returned her hug, though I was slightly blushing.

"Please don't.."

"I think I won't." I grinned.

"G---Great, s---so l---let go..." She said.

I let go, though a part of me...uh, I'm not gonna continue that.

"Okay, lovebirds! I have a question for you, Taileen."

Taileen gave her a snarly look. "What?"

So rude. She's an elder.

"Why don't you want to be reunited with your dad, tora?"

*Tora: tiger*

"What's your business with my problems?!"

I wanted to chuckle, but I held that back.

"Well, I think I've already grown on that attitude!" Mum exclaimed and smiled genuinely. "I don't have any kind of business or whatnot with your problems, Taileen. I just want to help."

"Hmph, such a nosy family..." I heard her mumble.

Mum seemed amused and interested in Taileen.

"Well, even if you want to help, I guess...you won't be helping..."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because these are my decisions, stupid NCS," She snarled. Mum laughed. "Oka-san!!" I shouted.

Taileen glared at my mother. "The only help they'd give is worthless advice."

"Well, at least it helps," Mum giggled. "but, Taileen, I think going to the dormitory and school your Dad tells you to enter will help, really help, you with your discipline. And also, according to Luciel you and your Dad aren't on good terms, yes? I think you two should really bond with each other as daughter and father."

"And why should I listen to you, a complete stranger?" Taileen said, frowning.

"Well! Because you're family, that's already enough explanation."

"You don't know anything about James, Ms. Jones." Taileen scowled. "He isn't your usual middle-class dad."

"Well, just a piece of advice, tora, but respect your elders. He's your father."

"Then he should act like one! I'm going to go, see you later NCS." She said and entered the classroom angrily.

"Oka-san, I think she's right. I think her dad doesn't treat her well."

"I actually think that he didn't teach her good manners," She chuckled. "but I see where it's coming from. She acts like that because she isn't used to people caring for her, does she have any best friends or something?"

"Um, she does."

"She treats her friend well?"

"Yeah, she's really sweet towards her."

"Then she's her family, I guess. Usually, the few girls like her are only sweet and caring to people dear to her. Though to people she loves romantically, she tends to be an...," She winked and chuckled. "I hope she didn't find me too imposing, though,"

She pressed something on her ear and heaved a sigh. "Welp, I'm leaving. I canceled 13 appointments for mere curiosity and almost died because of a Pepsi can!" She laughed and turned around. "Jya ne, musuko!"

I waved goodbye but she ran to the exit and jumped to a ladder rope and climbed to the helicopter. What the heck?

I obliviously went inside the classroom, surprised by the things I've seen.

- - - -