Introduction

CINDY

SOMETIMES Mariana have that tendency to become barbaric when someone annoyed her. But that’s not the concern right now. What’s alarming is her having a boyfriend. Like seriously?! As far as I know Mariana is not interested in any men. Her standard is way above the top to the point no one became her type anymore. She has a perfect expectation of the boys. However, what’s up with this one? How did he become Mariana’s boyfriend?

Mariana suddenly pulled Marina and dragged her outside the room but before they could leave, I saw that Marina was holding a paper bag. That was a very twisted part, but Happy and I just shrug it off. Those two are already weird and doing weird things are not a surprise anymore.

I get up from sitting and room around the place. While exploring, I ended up in the area where there is a bookshelf. I realized that they have lots of books here. Who might be reading this? I asked myself but something suddenly caught my attention.

DON'T OPEN OR YOU'RE DEAD BOOK II

Wow! I can’t believe that the book I just finish reading have a book two and it is here in front of me right now.

I took it and about to read it but—

"Hey! Don't touch that," the jerk said talking about the book.

When I looked at him, I noticed that he had removed his nerd-look. That’s a good news. What’s the bad news is? Him interfering when I’m about to read a book.

"Why?" I asked while holding the book.

"I'm not done with that yet!" he said as he took the book from my hand. I realized then that the book is his.

"I'm just looking at it for a sec! It’s not as if I’m going to eat it whole," I murmur. He's really a difficult man.

He glared at me (looks like he heard what I just said) while he is returning the book in the shelf. Since that book was his and I don’t have a say in that, I just took another interesting book but again!

"Don't touch that either!" he weaned.

"Why?!" I lost control and raise my voice. It’s not my fault. It’s because he’s being annoying again.

"All the books place in this shelf is mine so don't touch any of it!"

This man is really an ugh!

"Then eat it, jerk!" I shouted back at once. He's pissing me off. I was just looking. What’s up with that? It’s not as if I’m going to stole it or so. He’s such a jerk.

Out of annoyance, I went back to my previous seat. The door opened just in time.

"We're back!" Mariana shouted and it echoed inside the whole room.

But wait, they came back too fast.

"And where's the food?" Mariana's boyfriend shouted.

Mariana lifted the paper bag held by Marina.

"Here!"

"Isn’t that the paper bag you brought outside? You didn't go to the cafeteria!" The man stood up in anger.

"So? Whether I want to the cafeteria or not, that's none of your business!"

"And why did you even take the money if you will not buy anything. Worst, you took 5 thou! Give it back, you wicked bitch!" The guy tried to approach Mariana but he stopped when Mariana glared at him.

"So what I’ve done wasn’t enough. Seems like you need harsher beating," Mariana grimaced.

"Huh?!"

"Bruises or money? Seems like your other foot also want to experience the pain of my heel?"

Hesitation crossed the man’s face, especially that Mariana don’t sounds like joking. I’m quite shocked, actually. It’s true that between Marina and her, Mariana looks more mature. However, she being scary and threatening to the point that she can make a man hesitate is quite new. I don’t know if I should be happy about that or should I be wary? Anyway, it’s not as if I actually care.

"Tch! Whatever, I’ll let you off the hook today," the man said as if he is giving Mariana a favor not the other way around. Looks like Mariana won. Well, that runs in the blood.

The guy went back to the couch he was sitting on before. Meanwhile, Mariana put out the containers and put it on the table and arranged it. Happy went to the bar set-up and help herself to the utensils. The boys were actually planning to stop her but too bad, Happy already got a hold of the things she needed. I just saw Eijun exhaled a large amount of air out of annoyance. I smirked secretly.

"What are those?" at the same time, the boys asked when Happy opened the covers of the containers. It spread a delicious smell that even made my tummy growl. The boys walked towards the table and stared at the food with a confuse look.

"What are you, cave men? You don’t know things called food?” I can’t help but interfere.

"That’s a … food?" Eijun face was mixed with disgust as if what’s in front of him is garbage.

Hell, if only it’s okay to eliminate such a jerk.

"It's called homemade foods, fools," Mariana said.

"Homemade foods? That's different from what our maid cooks. Is that even edible?" Mariana's boyfriend allegedly interrupted.

"It's middle class Filipino's food, idiot. You didn't even know that and you call yourself a Filipino?"

"Tsk. In other words, a commoners' food?" Eijun.

Now I'm pissed with this freak. Do he really need to say that?

“We learned that from Cem and Happy,” Mariana added. Although she didn't say yes, she also didn't deny what Eijun had said.

"And you think we'll eat that kind of food? You even sounds proud with that cheap foods!" said Mariana's boyfriend.

I heard a sudden snap around Mariana. Seems like she reached her limit and she's done dealing with her boyfriend.

"You know what, Gabriel, people like you should be thrown in the trash. You don't know how important that kind of food is. It was done 'with the heart' and not 'with the money'. It is because you don't have a heart that you can't even appreciate such loving thing. Although it's cheap, it was made with effort. Unlike you who do things out of selfishness. Asshole like you don't deserve to eat such food, 'cause surely you'll spoil it."

I was dumbfounded. Where did that came from? Why it felt so deep? As if she' s expressing herself through it.

"Listen boys, if you don't want to eat, don't. No one forces you to eat," I told them. Also stopping the flame of argument Mariana started with her boyfriend.

"Okay," Eijun replied. "It's not in my vocabulary to eat cheap foods from you."

This jerk is definitely pissing me off. What the hell is his problem? Who the hell he think he is that he can just simply belittle poor people like us?

Wait, I'm not poor.

But still, he's so annoying!

"Oh, yeah? Then tonight don't eat what I'm going to cook, you ungrateful jerk! Tsk!"

"Okay, I don't really want to eat foods that don't taste good. I'll rather eat outside or have it delivered." And he even said that without any hesitations.

I hate this guy!

Eijun turned around and was about to leave when …

"Uhm, delicious," Tom suddenly said caused Eijun to stop. With a reaction that looks so funny, he looked at Tom. "It's delicious' buddy! Who cooked this?" he asked while smiling.

Marina pointed at Happy who bowed because of embarrassment. That's my best friend. She's very lady like. But because Marina kicked her, she was forced to look again at Tom who was waiting for her

"H-Happy Charles," Hap introduced.

"Well, I'm Tommy Edora. Tom in short."

I smiled because I felt like I'm some what victorious against Eijun. Good thing he still have a friend who have a good taste. Unlike Eijun who is tasteless.

"What, jerk? Someone in your group has already betrayed you." Wahaha, this is fun.

"Yeah, it's delicious," said the guy next to Tom. "Did you really learn and taught it to them? I thought you're the Principal's daughter?" he asked me.

"I learned that from my older brother so I also taught Happy since she is the younger sister of my older brother's friend." I pointed to your food he was eating. "It's called adobong manok. We just added string beans to make it more delicious. Well, most of them are also from Happy's big brother. So her older brother's knowledge of cooking just came back to her."

The person I was talking to nodded.

"By the way, Ryosuke Hanaka. I'm from a Japanese family so don't wonder why my name is like that."

Riyosuke? Or Rosuke?

He seemed to read my confusion on my face so he smiled. I realized that the narrowness of his eyes was accompanied by dimples. Cute.

"You can just call me, 'Ryo'."

"Roo? Or Rio?" It's hard to say. His accent was different.

"'Rou'. It's easy," he said again.

"Oh, I will just call you Rio, it's easier." He agreed and smiled. Well, two down.

I looked at Eijun with a proud face.

"What's that his name?" I asked while pointing at Mariana's said to be boyfriend.

"Gabriel Elymando," Rio replied.

"I see, so this is Marina." I pointed at Marina. "And Mariana Bartlett. I know you know they're twins. Then me—" I stopped. Didn't they already knew me especially that jerk? "...nevermind."

Then Eijun suddenly pulled Tom and Rio away. I don't know what they talked about but when the two came back …

"It tastes disgusting," Tom said obviously compelled. Rio nodded.

Brainwashed! Tsk … tsk … tsk …

"So we'll just eat outside than eat your foods!" Eijun insisted.

And then all left, so we were alone in the room.

Maybe they thought we would be sad when they are gone but in fact, we partied even more.

At the best part, I got bored reading the book DON'T OPEN OR YOUR DEAD BOOK 2. Eijun forgot about it so right after I ate I read it. Until …

"It's time!" Happy announced.

"Wrong timing, I'm already in a good part!" I said and pout.

"You can just continue that later," Happy said. She took the book I was holding and returned it.

"Come on, we're going to be late. What if it affects my grades?"

And for the first time I found out that Marina was also afraid of such thing.

"Yeah?" I teased. I stood and walked towards Marina. I playfully shook my head. "Whoever you are spirit who possessed Marina. Keep up the good work," I joked to her.

Hahaha, she looks priceless.

Did you know that in elementary school we were always late because of Marina. She always had only one excuse.

"What's wrong with in being late, huh?! That will not affect my beauty-ness so it's just okay!"

I laugh when I remember that. I just patted the idiot Marina on the shoulder.

"Come on," I said while smiling.

*****

MARINA

"YEAH?" said Cem and playfully shook her head.

What was she thinking and she seem unable to believe what I just said?

"Whoever you are spirit who possessed Marina. Keep up the good work," she said.

B-But wait! Is that a joke ?!

She suddenly smiled and for a long time, I've seen that smile again.

The smile she can only make.

The smile I thought will be gone forever.

Cindy's smile that had long disappeared since that day.

I was speechless because of that.

"Come on," she said still smiling.

I … I can't move. I was so shocked by her actions. Ever since her big brother died, she has not been with us. She was always alone and crying. She was always in her room and when she comes out, she is angry. Angry at everyone in their house.

When she left and we saw her again she rarely truly smile. The kind of smile that includes her eyes as well. If Happy isn't beside her, she wouldn't smile at all. But now, she just—

"Hey, don't be too surprised," my twin said. "Look, they're far away."

I just nodded.

"It looks like the former Cem we know is slowly coming back. The Cem who is naughty, funny and cheerful."

I just smiled at what she said.

"I hope so."

*****

*****

Belle-flora A.K.A Flame Flower at your service