Chapter 3

2015.01.19

The bell rang for our break. Our lunch boxes were open wide and all hands dug in. It was sometimes messy and I would fire up at tell stop spilling it everywhere or keep quiet and refuse to eat because I became disgusted. My friends are messy and a bit filthy. I am not that hygienic but to an extent. Wait, I will give you an example of their habits. One day we went to canteen and bought mango with chili, sugar and salt. We all ate and some of us took it home. Some didn't, they just tossed it in the drawer and it remained there for a week (We change seats week by week). The next week when we changed our seats, it was there in my drawer decaying along with her books. You get the picture right? "Anna what is your lunch?" Masha asked me. "I didn't bring any, I have to get it from the canteen." "Then treat us with ice cream" Amy told me. I nodded and headed to the canteen to get 11 ice cream cones. I was short of money. Masha came in and paid for the rest with no hesitation. She was absolutely flexing (in a good way and was very thankful).

We were busy licking our ice creams when my other classmates ganged up and were asking to share. They were flocking up to lick off our ice creams. "Don't touch mine" I said in rather a commanding voice and everyone knew not to mess with me. But Lily thought it was fine and she licked. Kate gave a 'don't get mad look'. "Here you go, you can have it" I handed the ice cream with disgust. She was happy licking with her fellow members. Masha and Alice shared theirs with me.

School was finally over. I walked home. Yep, my house is in a walking distance. Till I get home I am going to tell you about how I and my friends look like. It was dumb of me not telling you right? Let us start with me. I am colored with thick eyebrows, lashes and a high upturned nose on a heart shaped face. My height 5 feet and 3 inches. Next up is Amy; tan, oval faced, thin high nose with a petite body. She is tall around 5 feet 6 inches. Masha is Indian fair with a round face with pimple scars (oddly the pimple scars are pretty on her, but she got rid of them 2018) and her height is 5 feet 6 inches. Kate is 5 feet and 10 inches, she is the tallest in our group. Alice is 5 feet and 5 inches. She is fair with a round face. These are the friend list you want to know. They are the main characters in my story. My other friends are not in this story for this book.

2015.01.20

Engel kept saying she didn't want to go to school and her bus comes in just 10 mins. "Engel, get ready now. You are going to school. And you have no reason to be absent." My mom kept telling her in a tired tone. "Engel, get ready. I will pick you up today and we can go to the comic store and the café. What do you say?" I tried convincing her and she said okay. She got ready in a flash and came down on time for the bus. "Thanks, I don't know what is got into her lately. She keeps cutting school." "I'll talk to her today evening." "Please do. And take some bills with you. It is in my purse, be careful and spent wisely." "Yes ma'am. Love you, see you in the evening." I gave a kiss on her cheek and left to school.

The school day spent as usual but this time Lily kept winking at me. And as always I was ignoring. I walked down the street to get my sister as soon as the school was over. I had to pass by my cousin brother's school. But I didn't bump into him thankfully or else he would have stuck with us and I won't be able to talk to Engel about her situation.

Engel was kicking a rock with her shoe laces untied. I kneeled and tied her shoes. "Sorry, did you wait for long?" "No, it was fine. Just 20 mins and I know you walked all the way." "Let's take the bus to the comic shop." "I thought you hated comics." "No. I don't hate comics, it is just that it is addictive and I want to keep studying hard." "Still you need a break and it is just the beginning of the year." We boarded the bus and I recognized a boy from my Math class. He sat near the window and was all to himself. He wears t-shirts with skulls and dinosaurs or full shirt to classes. And he was handsome. "Sis?" "Hmm, Yes?" "What is like to lose a best friend?" I didn't know how to answer because I got 11 of them, then I remembered Polly. "It is painful and lonely but with time they become beautiful memories. You will find more friends." "But they won't be like her." "Yes, but you will someone even better." You can right? I wasn't sure myself, but I wanted her to have hopes. I don't know what happened but it is definitely about friends.

The comic store is by the corner and it is slightly shabby attracting homebodies. We sat on beanie bags and started reading our comics. An hour passed. "Anns, can I get that comic collection?" I was not sure I had enough money. It was 99.9 US dollars. Luckily I had bought my savings with me. "Uncle Roger, can I get that comic? I will pay 75% and the rest later?" He had known us for more than 10 years. "You sure that you will pay?" "I always did." "Okay, here you go." I paid 75 US dollars and handed the book to my sister. "Enge, no mall today." "Sure, this is more than enough." We headed back home.

2025.05.13

Tiffany had been stweeting and trying to protect me. Instead he got criticized. I rang her. "Anna, I am so sorry. They won't believe me." She started apologizing as soon as she picked my call. Her voice was sore, I knew she have been crying because of me. Because she couldn't support me. "It isn't your fault tiffy, I shouldn't have called you and got you involved." "No, I should definitely get involved. Does mom know?" "No, not yet. I don't want her to worry. It was already stressful last time." "I think she should know. She will come with a solution." "I'll try." I hung up the phone after about 10 mins. I am zoning out. I don't know what to do. I don't want my mom to know either. She has already had been through many things.

It is the 3rd day after the rumor broke, Dongmin is being quiet and wasn't pushing me around. I was happy that he was listening to me calmly and trusted me. I thought of getting him lunch and started packing up. I took the bento I made him and left the apartment. I walked down the street as a foreigner but it isn't hard not to recognize me after all. I called his manager before I went in. He came down and was waiting for me in front of the company. "How are you Anna?" He asked me with a warm smile. "Not that great oppa" (Elder brother in Korean). "Are you not going to do anything?" "I am. But I want her post about me even more. It is not still the right time." I walked in and I heard three staff crowded in a conversation. "Dongmin should have married someone in Korea." The first staff said in a disappointed tone. The next one agreed, "Yeah, he was already having a hard time when he got married and now his wife turned out to be bully." That word 'Bully' was me. I enjoyed letting out my temper. Just letting out.

2015.02.03

The sun was blazing. It was the time for Sports Day. We have 4 houses in our school. I was in the purple house with all the brains. Sadly, they were not suit for sports. I should not judge, they are quite lazy actually. They barely run in the P.E times. We signed up for some of the sports. Lily was in our house. No she has to be in the Yellow house. My friends in the Yellow house told me that she was in their house. I just casually said "Lily aren't you in the Yellow house?" "No. I am in purple house." She was absolutely lying. I could see through her. She participated in the long and high jump and she did pretty well. But this isn't right.

2015.02.04

"We will be able to disqualify her while she is playing in the games." "Yeah you guys will lose points." We were Champions in a row for 3 years. And this was a perfect chance to beat us. "Anna go and tell your Captain." My friends kept insisting me. So I thought I should and met my house Captain. "Sis, I want to tell you something." "What is it?" "Lily is not in our house. She is in Yellow house. If we don't take her away we will be disqualified and lose points." "I didn't know that. I will look into it. Thanks Anna." She wasn't suit to become the captain. She let the cat out of the bag. Lily got to know that it was me who told the Captain that isn't in our house. She got pissed off and grabbed my bag. I was leaving to home after the basketball practices. She had the long and high jump practice. "You are a witch. You mind your own business. You are just like your mother. And yeah, they grow up to be just like their moms right." And she kept saying more that she was very loud. Some of the students were watching far away. And she suddenly went straight to the Sport in-charge Teacher and complained. The teacher wasn't exactly happy about her attitude. I went into the staff room to make sure that teacher understood the situation from my point of view. I excused, my class teacher was present too. It was a relief. "Ma'am, It is about Lily." "Go on." I explained what happened and told her that I just did it in sake of the house and not to harm her. I suddenly broke to tears when I said that she ridiculed my mother. She stood up and patted me saying, "We will see tomorrow. Go home and don't cry." I didn't know why I cried and it was very odd. But it did make my teachers bad for me. No I didn't fake cry, it just happened.

2015.02.05

It was the first period and Lily was throwing gazes at me. Some of my classmates saw the incident yesterday and told me not to worry. And Lily was busy telling it to her best friends. My class teacher came in and asked if the class was cleaned as usual and wasn't bothered. After about 10 mins, the Sports-in-charge teacher came in with a record book of students houses. She excused my class teacher and my teacher nodded in return. "Anna and Lily stand up. Yesterday there was a fight." I nodded calmly with guilt while Lily rose her head high and told with an attitude, "She started it." "Lily you are in the Yellow house." "I should have my freedom to choose whatever house I want. It should be my choice." She said in a loud voice with no respect. The class was in a silent shocked state. We have not seen her in this state and it was the first time she threw tantrums in the new school. I have only heard her stories but this was first-hand experience. "You cannot change the houses as you will and this is a school rule. This goes to all of you." "Yes, madam" we all replied. "I don't want to see any more fights." I wasn't scolded but was given a nod to stay away from it. Lily was furious and kept complaining the whole time. Half of my classmates were laughing in secret at her. And my friends were congratulating me for winning the battle. I was smiling the whole day and was in good mood.

But little I knew this was the starting milestone. She has never lost in any arguments she has had. This was the first time. First time her attitude and ego was crushed in front the whole class. She was the Boss in her previous class. This time it wasn't. It was stupid of myself to get involved with her. I should have ignored. I was a dumb-ass. Or was it the Captain's fault. She should have not exposed me. She might have got shouted at and she would have said. Or was it her fault for making such a small incident a lifelong fight? This is ridiculous. How can I have done this even when I knew I would be her enemy for the eternity?