"How was school today?" Jaya asked.
We were walking home after the classes ended. She looked at me as if I was going to tell her something extra ordinary. Looking at her reminded me of my mother. I wanted my mother to ask me that. I wanted my mom to show me some affection and attention, even if it was for a millisecond.
I smiled at Jaya and whispered an okay.
Her face was enough for me to know she was disappointed. And it hurt, because everything normal was not normal to me.
"How was School, Jaya?" I threw back the question at her hoping she would loosen up a bit.
"It could be worse, I guess. Honestly, people in school should stop discriminating me because of my race." Jaya complained as she blew her shiny strand of her hair back. She always assumed they were picking on her because of her being Asian but she never realised most of the girl was envious of her. She was a masterpiece and her being unaware of that made her more beautiful.
I nodded.
The best possible thing a friend could have done was to show concern, strangle every person that made racist remarks at her and start a riot holding a cardboard written 'Jaya's Life Matters' but I didn't. Instead I nodded like a coward.
"Thank you for listening," Jaya said as if she expected that from me. But her face showed disappointment.
I pressed her hands with mine before she left and looked her into the eyes with as much sadness I tried to feel. She smiled.
"It's okay, Anna, I am used to you. I think it's how you are and I am okay with it"
Jaya hugged me before we parted when we reached her home. Her words made me relieved. The relief made me feel less bad about being a shitty friend.
When I reached home, I found my mother on the kitchen's countertop going through some bills. She rubbed her forehead instinctively as her left hand punched some numbers in the calculator. I always found her doing calculations when she received her salary so she could pay the monthly bills.
"Good evening mom" I stood at the entrance hoping for her to reply.
The fact that she didn't reply and continued acting as if I didn't exist hurt. I didn't know the extent of my pain but it did. I hated myself for once thinking everything was going to be okay. I should start accepting the fact that I will always get her love in bits. I was nothing but an obligation to her.
I walked to my room and freshened up. I then went and lay down, opening up a thermodynamics book. Suddenly a pair of brown eyes flashed in my mind . Brown mysterious eyes like coffee under sunshine. Like silky chocolate.
Fantasizing about boys wasn't my thing. Sometimes I felt that I lacked the energy or the stamina to be in love. Still those eyes had some kind of magnetic force pulling me in, refusing to leave my mind and worse, giving me hope to being normal around them.
I closed the book and decided to come up with something. Then an idea struck me - what if I got a job? I will be helping my mom, she might be happy for once and it's a good distraction. I needed as much as distractions away from my mind.
I kept on my only pair of black Snickers and went downtown. There was a new bakery nearby and I was sure I could get a job.
Upon reaching, I was welcomed with the warm aroma of the pastries and the strong smell of coffee. I saw an old lady who was cleaning the table tops and approached her.
"Hello, I am Anna. Please can you show me who I am supposed to inquire a job from?" I gave her a light smile.
"Hey Anna, I am Angie. Just head straight up to that corner over there, you will see the office. I hope you get a job here because I have been looking for someone to help around. It can get quite busy here, especially during the evening hours" Angie explained.
she disclosed a lot of information but from the tone of her voice, she seemed like a good person.
As I was about to head up to the office, I saw him. I saw the stranger with the brown eyes again…
"Come in" Mr Brown said.
The owner of the bakery was called Mr Brown. He was a cheerful man in his mid thirties. He had Ash blond hair and a stubble. One could easily notice him from a far away distance because if his big ocean blue eyes and tall figure. He welcomed me and requested I sit.
I sat opposite to him and inquired for a job vacancy. Considering my age and the hours of my shifts, he suggested that I will be serving pastries to the customers. I was delighted for the job offer and agreed.
"If it will be okay, can I begin tommorow?" I asked.
"Tommorow sounds good!" He smiled.
As soon as we finished I went home. I read a bit and fell asleep.
My eyes shot open at 5 am from the noise my stomach made.
When was the last time you ate?
I lazily dragged myself to the kitchen and prepared some instant noodles. I took the bowl full of noodles and went to my room to eat it. I emptied the bowl in less than five minutes and I was proud of how satisfying it was.
I got ready for school and read before 7 am reached. As soon as the clock hit 7 am I sprinted out of my room and started walking to school.
As soon as I reached class, I did my usual routine. Sit back and read my notes. I checked my timetable and realized I had chemistry this early morning.
I just hope the teacher chooses Jaya as my partner.
When the bell rang for classes, I moved to the lab and sat at my usual spot.
"Good morning class! Today we will be pairing up. So the pairs are as follows. Jaya and parkour…"
Damn, Jaya was given a different partner.
"…And finally Alan and that short girl whom I forgot her name" He finished with an awkward silence.
"It's Anna, Mr John" Jaya chirped in.
What the hell!?! Short girl? Seriously! Isn't my name in the school system or something?? Ughhhh
Soon people started swapping places to sit with their respective partner. I wasn't that stupid to give up this spot to anyone because I liked the view from here. The entire class was visible from here. And I think I was more invisible in this spot.
I heard a loud bang on the desk caused by some heavy books and the mysterious stranger was standing right infront of me. I realized my partner was the mysterious stranger with brown eyes. He was no longer a stranger though, he was Alan; the new guy in school, the guy I will be working with in the bakery downtown and my chemistry partner.