July 9, 2024, Tuesday
After my father passed away in an accident a year ago in the city of Kazustan—an accident that left a huge, city-sized hole and in my life—I've been living with my stepmother, Fleur, who treats me like her own child. My stepmother has two children, Marisse and Zelaive.
(Kazustan is a fictional city.)
7:00am
My alarm clock went off. I got up, fixed myself in the mirror, and went downstairs. My stepmother was already preparing breakfast. I wanted to help her.
"No, it's okay. I'll handle this. You just get ready for school."
"Is Zelaive still asleep? We have an exam today. Should I wake him up?"
"No, let him wake up on his own. He'll get used to always having someone wake him up. It's his exam today, so let's just leave him be. It's his fault if he misses it."
I followed Fleur's instructions and didn't wake Zelaive. I got ready for school.
Fleur kept calling Zelaive because she couldn't stand that he was still sleeping. He was going to be late for school.
"Zelaive, come down to eat. You still have school later. Next time, I won't wake you up."
Why am I doing this? How will he learn? Fleur didn't call Zelaive again.
Jazel saw Marisse coming down the stairs.
"Can you wake Zelaive up for me? We have an exam today."
"Didn't Mom already wake him up?"
"She didn't call him again. It seems she's not going to wake him up anymore. She doesn't seem to have any intention of waking him up," she whispered.
Marisse went upstairs and woke Zelaive.
Jazel was about to say goodbye to Fleur when she remembered that her friend wanted to see the story she was writing. As Jazel was going upstairs to get it, she bumped into Zelaive, who was rushing down the stairs with messy hair and a frantic look on his face.
"You didn't wake me up, Jazel!"
"Even if I woke you up, I wouldn't get anywhere with someone as lazy as you. You're lazy even when it comes to waking up! I've woken you up countless times before. You even threw a pillow at me the last time I woke you up!"
"I remember you threw a book at me the last time you woke me up. That was about a year ago, so it's okay. Even if you wake me up, I'll forget everything that happened. I'll accept even your annoying voice."
I left immediately because I didn't want to hear his voice anymore. I said goodbye to Tita before leaving the house.
(Aunt = stepmother. Jazel wasn't used to calling Fleur "Mom," so Fleur came up with a solution: "If you can't call me Mom, call me Tita. We can say you're my niece and you're just staying with your relatives. So please don't feel awkward around us, and consider us your family.") Since then, Jazel has called Fleur "aunt."
While walking to school, Jazel remembered the story she was supposed to show her friend. She had forgotten it! She wanted to go back, but she was worried about being late, so she let it go.
I'll just tell her I forgot it at home.
Jazel arrived at school. When she opened her locker, she found a confession letter inside. Just as she was about to take it, Agatha, Jazel's friend, approached her.
Agatha took the letter and tore it up into pieces.
"That's from me. I wanted to give it to you yesterday, but I didn't have time."
"You're a lesbian!" Agatha exclaimed, her expression shocked.
"Huh?"
"The letter, right? It's a love letter."
"Ahh... That's it? I just put it in the wrong locker, hehehe."
"But you said earlier that it was for me."
"....Ahh... I really did have something to give you, but I gave you the wrong one."
"Where is it then?"
"Ahh... It's in my bag. I'll just get it. Bye!"
"Oh, like that? Sorry for asking so many questions."
This girl... I'm not stupid; I know she's lying to me.
"It's okay. It's my fault for giving you the wrong one."
Agatha left. As she walked away, her annoyance was evident. Earlier, before Jazel arrived at school, Agatha had seen Alvin writing something. She asked him what it was, but he wouldn't tell her.
"What's that for? Tell me!"
"Do you know Jazel?"
"Yes, she's in the theater club with me. Why do you ask?"
"I like her. Can you help me? I'm writing a love letter for her."
"Ahh, so it's a love letter you're writing."
I shouldn't have asked what it was. I'm just hurt. Agatha felt hurt. I thought Alvin was different, but he's not. Almost every boy likes Jazel. She thought Alvin was different, but he wasn't.
"hey heyyy waahhhh!"
In surprise, Agatha hit Alvin with the love letter he had written.
"Ouch! That hurt! Why are you spacing out? Are you okay?"
"Huh? I'm fine. I'm just thinking about our exam later." Agatha suddenly ran away down the hallway, crying. You're no different from the other boys! You're all the same! You told me I was the only one you liked, and that you would marry me when we were old enough. You promised me that when we were kids!
It was recess. As Jazel approached Agatha, Agatha started talking to a classmate and invited her to eat.
I guess I'll eat alone today. Recess ended, and Jazel tried to talk to Agatha, but Agatha avoided her. It was almost time to go home, and they still hadn't spoken.
I'm really getting angry. Every time I approach her, she runs away. I'll make sure you can't escape me this time! The bell rang, signaling the end of school. Jazel immediately went to Agatha's seat.
"Tell me, are you avoiding me?"
"Huh... No! I need to go home early today, Jazel." As Agatha was about to stand up, Jazel stopped her.
"I already rejected Alvin's love letter."
"Huh? Why did you do that?"
Jazel angrily raised her voice at Agatha. "Why did you do that? You like Alvin, right? Why would I accept him? Even if you didn't like him, I still wouldn't accept him. Are you worried that I might accept Alvin, so you're avoiding me? Is that right?"
"Please, don't avoid me anymore, and let's still be friends," Jazel said, her voice choked with tears.
"Okay, don't cry. We're still in the classroom."
Jazel was crying. Why is she crying?
Agatha pulled Jazel outside the campus. "Don't cry. You're like a child."
"Are we still friends?"
"Yes, so don't cry anymore. I'm sorry for ignoring you, but I'll be honest. I don't really like you, and I'm really jealous of you. You're smart, pretty, and almost every boy likes you. I'm jealous, so we can't be friends. I'll be honest, I'm not the only one who feels this way about you. So please, don't be too kind to people you just meet, because you'll be taken advantage of."
Jazel suddenly laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Was I convincing? I wasn't actually crying you're so dramatic. I know all that. For a long time, many people have been jealous of me, but I don't pay attention to it. It doesn't mean I'm the one who's pitiful because of you. It makes me want to be even more flawless in my studies and have a beautiful face because that's my only defense."
Agatha was annoyed by Jazel's laughter, but she let it go and she secretly smile. If only I'd known you better from the start...
"Thank goodness you know. Okay, I'm leaving."
Agatha stood up and started to walk away. Before she left completely, she said,
"By the way, you can still be my true friend if you forgive me."
Jazel smiled. "You're crazy. I forgive you, of course."
Jazel left school and went to a burger shop to buy two burgers. She also bought a candle and flowers. She was sad because it was the anniversary of her father's death from the accident in Kazustan.
While walking, Jazel saw Zelaive.
Going home
Jazel just glared and walked away.
I don't want to talk to this guy. It'll just ruin my mood.
"You're going to your father's grave, right? I'll come with you. I don't know why, but I feel like I need to apologize to him."
"Me too. I don't know why, but I feel like I need to apologize."
Jazel and Zelaive went to Jazel's father's grave.
Jazel offered one of her burgers.
"Is that hers favorite?" Zelaive asked.
"I couldn't think of anything else, so I bought this. Whatever I give to my father, he accepts it with a happy face, so it doesn't matter what it is."
After Jazel and Zelaive prayed, someone called Jazel. The person was wearing a hooded cloak, their face hidden by the hood.
"Who are you?" Jazel asked.
The mysterious person suddenly lowered the hood. It was someone who looked exactly like Zelaive.
"Long time no see, Jazel, And my self."