Inconceivable Lie

[Myka]

"We're home," Jullie says as we enter her house and remove our shoes.

"'We're?' Is Myka with you today too?" I could hear her mother's lovely voice that's coming from the kitchen.

"Yes, she is," Jullie answered. As we walked through their living room, her brother greeted me with a smile and a hug.

"Good evening big sister Myka," he says, genuinely happy to see me.

I wish I'd go home to my apartment, being greeted by a smile and a hug too...

I brushed away my thought as it might affect my mood and I don't want to look depressed around the Rozellett household.

"Good evening to you too, little Troye" I squish his chubby little cheeks as he giggles.

This is Troye Rozellett, Jullie's only younger brother. He's in third grade of elementary school, has the same features as his sister and he's only up to my waist.

"I'm home," their father just came after us and wasn't even a bit surprised to see me. "Hello there," he greeted me and I greeted him back with a smile and a little bow.

"Dad!" little Troye ran to his father to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Here you go Ms. Rozellett," I handed her a plastic from what we bought from the convenience store.

"Darling, you didn't have to," she turns to her daughter, giving her an intense stare as if she wants to scold her.

"You don't need to worry, I insisted," I smiled and she finally accepted it. "And Jullie specifically told me that you enjoy some of those so I just had to buy it," I got a hard smack in the stomach from Jullie's elbow. But it didn't hurt if you compare it to the death glare she just got. And she made embarrassing giggles while avoiding her mother's warning as she sweated.

"I wanted to buy everyone deserts too, so please don't pay any mind to it Ms. Rozellett," I covered for Jullie after I saw her about to cry.

"You bought ice cream?" little Troye jumped with joy as he snatched the plastic bag from his mother's hands. "You're the best!" he put all the ice cream in their freezer in a hurry so it wouldn't melt.

"Just share it with your parents and leave nothing behind for Jullie," I whispered to him and he started sticking his tongue out to his sister.

"You're not getting any ice cream" he teases.

"Hey, that's not fair," Jullie protested about to smack her brother.

"That's not fair? You already ate the limited ediー" She covered my mouth to prevent me from leaking any secret she wanted to hide.

"Okay, We'll go ahead and get changed," she then started dragging me to her room on the second floor and locked the door.

It was small but also tidy and pretty just like her.

How I wish my room and personality could be like hers...

There goes my negativity again.

"You can take a shower first, I'll go help Mom with the dinner preparations," she said smiling while zipping her mouth with the motion of her hands as a sign for me to follow.

"Thanks," I waved goodbye as she closed the door and left me alone in her room.

In her little room, I have my cabinet. It's small but it can fit all of my pajamas, underwear, and other clothes that I've been bringing over. They're so used to me being here that they even bought an extra closet, a spare cushion, blankets for me to sleep in, and a towel for when I shower.

Words can't describe how thankful I am for the Rozellett household and everything that they're doing for me. It's like they're willing to accept me as one of them already. And that is one of the reasons why every time I visit them, I always bring food or things with me to share with them. Because that's the least I could do.

~~

After I took a very quick bath, everyone was now at the table, only sitting and chatting, waiting patiently for me. Just by watching them, my stomach churns with jealousy as I imagine myself, alone at the dining table with both my parents busy with work. I suddenly started reminiscing.

*****

"Good morning little miss," one of the maids greeted me as they dusted things here and there.

"Good morning, did you see Mother?" I greeted back by rubbing my eyes as I had just woken up.

"Mr. and Ms. Lloyd already left for work," she then ordered other maids just by signing with her hand. "We'll deliver your breakfast to your room little miss, so please wash your face first and change," she started leading me back to my room.

"I want to eat at the dining table," I blurted, squishing my teddy bear with rage. But my hands were too little to even damage it.

"Understood," she then whispers to the others while showing me the way to my room.

*****

I still remember how the food tasted delicious but also stale at the same time. And that was because it was a special day for me. I also know that they're doing those exhausting jobs for my sake and I'm thankful but, they could've at least stayed for a little longer and dined with me.

Nevertheless, all those emotions were buried and time after time, my breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all the same, with only me at the huge dining table eating alone.

Although I already know that dwelling on the past is futile, I don't think being jealous of their household is a bad thing because rather than destroying it, I want to protect it at all costs and see them happy until the end.

"Sorry for the wait," I apologized and sat on my designated seat, they also bought me an extra chair.

They then smiled and we started eating.

I wish my parents and I could've waited for each other and dined together just like a real family would do. But I already know that that's one impossible and a greedy desire.

~~

After all that, I was the one who volunteered to wash the dishes as Troye did his homework, their parents chatted while watching some television, and Julie took a shower.

Finally finishing what I was doing, I went ahead and prepared my bed. And the second I lay down, I was fast asleep as I was exhausted by all the things that had happened that day.

~~

I woke up, groaning to the sound of my cellphone ringing violently at around four thirty-seven.

"What's that?" it woke up Jullie's precious sleep as I tried and end the call as fast as possible when I finally got ahold of my cellphone.

"Don't worry about it," I did take a peak but instantly pressed the end call button when I saw that it was an unknown number.

"Who was it," she asked, still half asleep.

"No one, just go back to sleep," which she did as I put my phone on silent mode. But just a few minutes later, my phone vibrated so I decided to step out on the veranda to deal with it.

"Hello?" Yawning while rubbing my eyes, I waited for an answer. Then I heard a chuckle at the end of the line before someone spoke.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Shuu answered. And to my surprise, at this late hour, I hear the busy sound of people from his background.

But most importantly, "How did you get my number?" I asked, trying to recall if I had ever given it to him as I got chills from the cold breeze of the morning air from where I stood.

"I got it from someone we both know," he says in a riddle but I'm sure that Jullie must've given it to him. She's the only person I gave it to anyway. "Don't worry I'm not stalking you," he says in a firm voice.

"How can I misunderstand when I know full well that you like my best friend," I commented to make him know that I wasn't naive.

"Sorry, what did you say?" he says, making me confused if he really didn't hear it or if he's just playing with me. "Hello? Are you still there?" he continued to find my presence while I forgot that he was in a busy street.

"Nevermind. So what do you want?" I asked.

"Give me a minute," he said abruptly. But then I heard a loud sound. As if it was a gunshot which then was followed by a scream.

"What was that? Was that a gunshot?" I whispered while shouting. "What's going on?" I hysterically asked.

"What? A gunshot?" he scoffs. "They just popped a balloon," he explains which made me relieved.

"They just did a gender reveal of the baby," he explained in much detail and according to him, the scream was from shock and happiness. As he was explaining it, I could tell that he was stepping out of the party as his background was getting quieter and quieter. "Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I won't be attending school for a while," he said.

"Because?" I cut him.

"I'll be going abroad for Father's new business partnership proposal. They will be working on a huge project and I just need to be there to support him," he sounded happy as he delivered his good news.

"And you're telling me this because?" I sounded rude with how I expressed it.

"So that if Juliana asked, you'd know the answer," I was about to answer him when I got lost behind the speed of his excitement and eagerness. "And if someone's hitting on her, keep them away for me, will you?" I can imagine him smiling from his tone.

"My best friend will decide who she dates and doesn't," I answered back with an annoyed tone.

"Fair point," he chuckles. "That's all I wanted to say. I'll get going now," he says as he hangs up.

The audacity of this boy is just on the next level.

After a few breaths, I started to get sleepy again so I went back inside and slid into my blanket.

~~

Another day started and time flew by so fast today.

I stayed for a few more hours at the campus to study some notes from the lectures that I couldn't understand well. It took me quite a while to fully comprehend the matter and by the time I finished, I was the only one left in our classroom. But the shouts from the soccer field and the baseball field were still lively.

I can't bother myself participating in club activities as I am not that sporty and I hate getting sweaty. But I did try the art club for a few weeks before quitting because of my incapability of drawing.

I was already walking home from school when I stopped by a nearby convenience store near the school campus. It was already rather late, around six thirty-two in the afternoon.

As I was lining up at the counter, I decided to leave Jullie a message that I wouldn't be staying the night at their place again, she'd probably see my text after her club activity.

"Thank you for your purchase, please come again," the registrar cheerfully sent me away as I walked out of there.

Today, Jullie asked me about Shuu and I answered her what he told me in the disguise of hearing it around people from his class. I don't want her to know about the call. And for the first time, Sharon had a sick absence, which was great because I had no one coming after me to give me a sermon.

~~

As I was walking out of the elevator, a hooded guy bumped into me and just took off running down the stairs as if someone was after him, without even batting an eye or a moment of apology.

I kept walking towards my door but halted when I noticed my Aunt's door was slightly open. When I peeked inside, she was taking support from the walls as she walked slowly to her living room, holding her sides. I was supposed to tease her sarcastically for ditching work to spend time at a bar.

"That bitch," she groans. "Damn, it hurts," her constant swearing made me think things through and made me comprehend her current condition that everything I was carrying fell to the ground, lifting her attention to me.

"What happened to you?" I didn't mean to sound so cold and heartless, not to mention I crossed my arms as if I were mocking her.

"It's just a cramp," she scoffs. "My partner for today was so good," I don't think she knows that her words can't deceive me from the current state she's in. "So good that we did it until just a few minutes earlier," she's trying so hard.

"So good that your sides are bleeding?" she turned quiet and avoided my gaze.