[ Chapter 4: ]
[ August 29: Saturday... 7:15 A.M. ]
[ Franzine's POV ]
The rustling of trees, chirping of birds, blowing of the wind... That's everything I could hear, courtesy of the surrounding forest.
Gracing, warm sunlight adorning my skin with morning warmth through the glass doors of my balcony... That's everything I wanted to feel along with the soft hugging of my beanbag seat.
A very dramatic way to say— finally, saturday.
I don't know why I even bother attending school at this point. Everything they teach, I could just read off the books. Everything they say, I could just read off the books.
I should just be allowed to teach myself, read books instead of listening to someone reading what's in it so they can be paid. The only thing I get from them are these pointless homeworks. They must be hella lazy, giving out some random activities and expecting us to learn from them. They might as well give us guns, have us shoot some pedestrians, and ask us what we learned.
A sigh couldn't help but roll out of my mouth. The relaxing sensation of being cradled by this beanbag seat is slowly getting to me. Five days of 'Studying' in school really does drain the life out of just anybody.
Weirdly enough though, my mind felt numb. Bored with nothing to do.
I go to school, work my wits off and hate it. I stay at home, don't do anything and hate it. Life is complicated you see?
"Ughhhh..." Groaned myself.
Why can't this soft seat just swallow me whole and not let go?
I need to do something or my braincells would definately dry up.
I bolted up and paced around my bedroom room while rubbing my temples, trying to maybe squeeze some of those good ideas out.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"I need motivation..." reasoned myself, laxly leaning back down onto the the beanbag.
"...Maria!" I called.
Not a second later, my beautiful maid came knocking on my door.
"You can come in!"
Well that's how things work around here. Everything at my beck-and-call, like a princess bathing in her family's wealth. Pretty boring, right?
My door gently opened, soundlessly she strode in.
Blonde pony-tail bouncing as her graceful walk swayed. Models wouldn't be able to compete with her, I'll tell you that much. Hazel eyes deeper than any ocean on Earth, simply waiting to entice anybody who dares to glance over. A fit, busty body that even women would fall in love with. A living, breathing, perfect doll with a great attitude to boot.
"You called, ma'am?" she politely inquired.
I grinned, stood up and faced my partner in crime.
Her maid outfit, hugging the right places as always.
Just seeing her, waiting for my next order gave me a little spark.
'Sparks' are what I call these random ideas that shoot out of my head from time to time out of boredom. All it needs is a little 'motivation' and vuala.
"Yes, I actually came up with it just now gorgeous." My answer itself was a hint, a familiar phrase we shared over countless 'adventures'.
She might've had a conserved smile at that moment, but I knew this woman knows what should be done.
"What can I do to aid you this time, ma'am?"
Oh mama, that sweet sound of mischievousness could be my breakfast no further questions.
"First, call Erika and Jana."
If anyone had an idea on what to do for extreme enjoyment, be these two were the women to go with. Crazy, walking disasters just waiting to cause trouble for anyone who dares to interact with them. My kind of friends.
"Understood." Without anymore wasted idle time, she brisk walked for the phone downstairs.
"Good girl." I followed suit, lips curling up into what my friends call— 'Franzine's psycho grin' as my arms coiled under my chest.
Judging by the things I had in mind, 'Sadistic' definately made most sense.
A name that I would gladly accept.
____________________________________
[ August 29: Saturday... 7:18 A.M. ]
[ Erika's POV: ]
"I'm off!" I yelled, not minding that nobody but the walls and maids—all over the mansion—could hear my voice.
Stepping out and closing the door behind to take in the fresh morning air and generous sunlight that the courtyard offered, dressed in a pair of casual jeans and shirt.
That right there, was a perfect way to start lazy saturday.
Purse slung over my shoulder, phone in hand—I walked through the perfectly crisp combination of cone-trimmed trees, rose bushes, and of course the brick path itself.
A bunch of gardeners roaming around with their tools, tending to the properness of the garden—I guess, added to the fresh aesthetic of things.
"Good morning lady Erika! Going somewhere?"
This, I like.
I turned around with nothing but a smile and waved at Miss Rosenthia, our head gardenerette.
Perched up on a ladder and holding a huge scissor—which I guess is what they used in pruning—while levelled with a tree that was yet to be trimmed.
"Just visiting a friend!" Answered myself.
"I see! Well have a good one ma'am!"
"Thanks! You too!"
With that short exchange, we went back to what was before. Her, cutting away some stray branches to fulfil mom's very unnecessary request for cone-shaped trees and me...
...well, just walking away actually.
The breeze hugged me as I treaded across the garden, following the brick path straight towards the exit where two huge gates were set. The smell of wet, morning grass filling my nostrils with an earthy sense of ambiance.
"Your car is waiting outside ma'am."
A little smile crawled itself onto my face the moment I heard. Finally stopping infront of the close gates, I turned to one of the two guards—giving them both a thankyou nod before asking them, "Could you open these now though? I'm kind of running a little late, my friend just might die if I don't start zooming."
"Of course!" said one before the both of them ran towards their cute little guard-huts on both sides of the gate—which I assume is where all the fancy buttons and other technical stuff that I won't understand are located.
A few seconds later, the gates opened... slowly.
"Damn." I clicked my tongue. A little curse might've slipped out though.
I waited, and waited until there was a big enough crack for me to squeeze through and so I did.
"You can close them back now!" I yelled.
"Got it ma'am."—one of the guards, I guess—spoke...
...
...through a conveniently placed speaker, that is.
My face turned deadpan the moment I turned around and saw a keypad with a speaker on it—which I could've used instead of yelling like a madwoman—and a small gate on the left side of the huge, slow one I just went through.
"I should've just used those..." I mumbled to myself.
About how I didn't know what and where everything is in my family's house? I'll never find out.
Letting the highly self-degrading topic go, I twisted on my heel and walked ahead.
Another three-minute tread through a tree-shadowed path, great.
The rustling of leaves whenever the wind blew past was the only thing keeping me company.
The moist bricks that laid on the ground, ready to meet my feet.
It felt calming—me walking through a peaceful, sunny morning after a rainy yesterday.
I couldn't resist my urge, surrendering to the breeze and just inhaled all that fresh air. The smell of the damped, well-maintained grass entering my nostrils to present another wave of summer ambiance.
Being under leaves and seeing the contrast between the few sunlit spots that littered the shadowed ground below made it seem like I was traversing through a serene forest.
"Wow..." Said myself.
Just like that—this three-minute walk that my lazy body once dreaded to tread through—didn't seem so bad afterall.
Minutes of this relaxing atmosphere, the path finally came to an end and opened itself into a very unlively road. No cars whatsoever.
Then again, considering that we were the only people that lived in this area—because Mom wanted it to be like that—it was just something within expectations.
I fired a sigh and simply let the thought fade into nothingness.
On the other side of the road though, my parked car lied in waiting.
I smiled.
Oh baby, the sight of ferrari 488 in the morning? I'll take it.
Running towards it, I fished the key from my purse.
"Come to mama." a very weird—yet very accurate—phrase to describe what the hell it was that I felt.
I ran my hand on the hood, crossing from the passenger side to the driver's side—my throne.
Fumbled a little bit over the buttons—not going to lie—before I was able to unlock it and step in.
"Ahhh~" I sighed, feeling the warmed seat.
Placing my hand on the steering wheel, I could already imagine that underaged-driving law ready to be broken by yours truly. I didn't have a license either, no sir.
A little chuckle escaped me, making me sound like gremlin doing mischevous things as usual. Without further adue, I placed the—admittedly gorgeous—key fob on the slot and pressed the huge, red start-up button on the steering wheel.
Was this beast convenient or what? I never really went for speed—only Jana is crazy enough to do that without a second thought in mind—but this car was just too beautiful to pass up.
The sound of the engine roaring when I revved the gas was all I needed to hear before driving off.
The speed meter climbing up at a steady pace while my view outside the windows blurred as I zoomed past.
Zack would definately love this, just imagining his face while asking me if he could—why was he there again?
"I'm visiting him, of course my mind would go to him too." reasoned myself. A little nagging voice told me otherwise though, particularly the voice of my oh-so-wise mother when she mentioned him earlier.
Me liking Zack? A tease, possible. But for real? Not a chance.
The guy is just my boy friend. I don't really want him to be my boyfriend, same words with totally different meanings.
Yeah, that's just it.
A little shaky sigh came out of my mouth, releasing all of that held back breath I had.
"God, I really need to stop listening to her weird theories."
For sure! I nearly lost my head back there, just a little more and I might just start banging my head on this steering wheel.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Who the freak is it this time?" Irritatedly, I asked myself.
If this is her, I'll throw my phone out the window—I swear.
I slowed down and glanced at my phone currently held by the phone holder. Well, it isn't exactly her but just as worse in a different sense.
Another sigh shot out of my mouth before answering the phone.
"What is it this time Franzine?" Knowing her on a saturday? When she's bored twenty-four-seven? Oh boy should you expect something crazy will come out of this woman's brain.
"Where are you now?"
"Atlantis." Sarcasm, world's greatest weapon. A little grin of absolute triumph displayed itself on my cheeky self.
"Ha. Ha. So, where are you actually?"
"Driving, keep it quick."
"To where?" she asked.
Oh, maybe a little payback for making me jump into a stingray aquarium while wearing jeans last year is in order.
A smug grin may or may not have leaked through the faked innocense I usually put up, its a good bad habit if you must know. "A guy's place." I so proudly informed my also-single-since-birth friend. Not that i was any different though, but hey. I'm going to Zack's—a guy's place—that's definately a plus.
"Ummm, have you been taking your pills miss Hera? You seem to have developed, ohh I don't know... madness?"
A little giggle escaped the chambers of my untouched lips. Me, Jana, and this little psycho?
A lot of admirers to be honest but never boyfriends.
"So, what do you need?" I asked, getting back into topic.
"How about cancelling your plans with whoever this little boy is and hang with us? The pact, may I remind you woman?"
Ahh yes. The pact, a binding of absolutely understandable conditions between us three.
"Yeah, pact shmact. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure this guy's gay..." Another giggle shot out from myself. The blackmail materials I could use against Zack? Endless. "...Plus he's got a cold, I'm just going to take care of his small little boy boo-boo."
"Boo-boo my ass. What can you even help him with, I'm sure whoever this is has relatives."
"Yeah but didn't your mom ever tell you? There are things only non-related women could do to a man."
"Yeah, I don't think making him have sex with your virgin-self would help with that cold."
"What the...? I'm not talking about that! And stop shooting that virgin thing on me, the right guy just isn't there yet."
"Whatever. Not that I'm any different though."
"See!"
"Well anyway, I'll just call you later then. Still gotta ask Jana if she wants to fire some shotgun rounds."
As jealous as I may be in regards to those epic shots their going to have at the firing range, I still have to take care of Zack.
"Gotcha, have a good one."
"You too! Don't forget that the guy needs to wear con—"
And the call that I wished to never had happened, ended.
"Not getting the contraceptive joke in on my watch you little psycho." Mused myself before placing the—now probably cursed—phone of mine back into its holder mounted on the black leather dashboard beauty.
And so continued my little drive, finally entering the city streets.
Couples sitting on the nicely lined-up seating arrangements just outside the countless cafes sprawled all over Tuwbey city, sipping their cups of coffee while merrily conversing with one another.
Moms, Dads, and Kids walking down the streets hand in hand, enjoying a sunny saturday stroll.
The number of neatly dressed businessmen and businesswomen I see was a far cry compared to the busy hordes of them that I see monday to friday.
Not much traffic, the few vehicles on these huge six lane streets were not nearly as many during the last five days.
A chill saturday for many.
I took a couple of turns—incredibly confusing split-ways—before I managed to find Zack's street. Been here only once and didn't memorize the entire route so yeah.
Stopping infront of their gate, I lowered the window. A metal plate bolted onto the metal gates confirmed my blind shot.
"Valdez residence..." I read aloud before moving my car just a little bit forward enough to unblock the driveway of theirs—its not polite to do that here, or in any other place for that matter—parked it, grabbed my purse and phone then stepped the hell out.
____________________________________
[ August 29: Saturday... 7:30 A.M. ]
[ Zack's POV: ]
A nice warm bowl of mushroom soup on my over-bed table, my electric blanket serving to keep my legs warm, and finally my idiot friend who was currently watching Highschool DxD right next to me on the bed while I suffer from this horribly painful load on my head also known as the headache of satan.
Great way to 'rest' my fever away.
"Hey Zack look! It's your favourite scene!"
"Not in the mood Fred."
"It's uncensored! Not being in the mood for that is just plain crazy!" Oh boy, here he goes.
"You're plain crazy."
He even goes so far as to lift the laptop off his lap and shove it infront of my face, the lengths that this guy would go. I swear.
"Come on!" he pushed, smiling like a devious merchant trying to sell off his goods.
Inhaling a ton of air to calm myself, I turned towards him. "Just. Let. Me. Eat. The damned. Soup. Fred."
"Just look at it and I'll stop. Promise." Seriously, how can this guy ask me to look at a borderline hentai anime with a straight face? He looked like the president giving orders to his men, what a beast.
Surrendering to this madness, I sighed. And as irritated as I was, my eyes trailed towards the impure scene my laptop monitor presented.
Right there infront of my eyes was a white-haired priestess being molested by another priest, inside the church of theirs no less. Boy, talk about holiness at its finest.
"I looked at it Fred. Move it or I'll break it with your face altogether."
"Alright, alright. Chill out mister perverted cranky pants." I could only imagine the teasing grin he had when he finally pulled the tainted electronic device away from me and jumped out of bed.
"Where're you going?" I asked, watching the king of erotica himself walk towards the beanbag seat in the corner of my room, not caring to even look back and answer my question.
And right then and there, he continued his pleasured viewing with a fantastically mimicked grin belonging to one of those creepy perverts in anime. My oh-so-pure friend ladies and gentlemen.
I sighed another wave of held back air and refocused myself onto the untouched food on my lap table.
"Better get cracking on this baby or mom's going to kill me." Strict household rule—always appreciate everything that anyone has given to you, regardless of what the hell it is.
But...
Barely given the chance to pick my spoon up, the door flung open.
"I'm going to eat it mom, thank—" the moment I even thought about raising my head, I wanted to kill myself immediately.
Waltzing into my bedroom like the queen she is.
"You... You really came?"
"Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world." She so smugly said before closing the door shut and continued to walk towards my bed—which mind you, has never entertained the body of any woman.
"Is my cold just that popular or something? Exactly what is it that you wouldn't miss even for the world itself, your very high highness?" I grinned right after.
I'll be damned if I was just going to take this treatment lying down—atleast not literally. Saturday is meant to be relaxing, I really won't stand for this. Unfortunately though, that one sarcastic line was my only ammunition at the moment as I watched her continue on treading towards me.
"Calm down class clown..." she so wittily replied, now sitting on the edge of my bed just beside my leg. "...I'm really worried about you."
My eyebrows raised in curiousity at almost the same moment her hand picked up and held one of mine from the over-bed table with genuine sincerity. What the hell is this?
"Really?" I asked...
...only for her to bust out a chuckle.
"No, of course not. I just needed someone to tease and you obviously don't want to be bothered, so who better to bug compared to you?"
Ahh, the pain.
"Well, thanks for the burn." I tried to pull my hand away from her hold, only for my face to be slapped by the fact that I was weaker than a girl. Nice saturday. "Come on, give my hand back."
"I don't wanna." Her grin told me everything I needed to know, and let me tell you that all of my thoughts right now are saying anything but good things.
"Hey nerdie number two." props to her for that short-thought nickname though.
Even with the insult though, Alfred still didn't—or maybe couldn't—take his eyes off the monitor, looking like he's so relax that his body actually sunk into the beanbag.
Erika proceeded to turn back towards me, an eyebrow raised painting an image nothing short of wonder. "What's up with him?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Well try calling him by his real name, not a painfully obvious ranked down version of my nickname."
"Okay then smarty. What's his name?"
With a deadpanned face, I stared at the woman infront of me with most intent—the woman who, despite being in the same class as Alfred, didn't know his name or even cared to catch it somehow.
"How horrible can you be, woman?"
"Oh? Is your image of me being destroyed without me knowing?" she mused.
"Maybe it is. And his name's Alfred, please remember it this time."
Fortunately, she nodded without any other objections and turned her attention back to my hentai immersed friend. "Hey, Alfredo."
Close, but not so close.
Regardless of the mocking, Alfred managed to atleast take a glance at Erika enough to recognize her. Immediately raising the laptop to head-level, probably trying his pathetic ways to hide.
"She really came?!" he mouthed towards me, definately freaking out again.
All I could give him was a nod before he decided to lower the device and face Erika—albeit still with his nervously terrified expression.
"Hi..." meekly, he greeted.
"Yeah, hello. Anyway, could you step out for a moment?" as plain as how she said it, the statement was still forceful. Her blue eyes' blank stare into his retreating confidence was enough to convince me that she wasn't asking for 'no' as an answer from him.
"Hey, cut it off. Can't you see the guy's scared of you?"
"Why would anybody be scared of me?" she asked, still not taking her eyes off of him. I could only imagine how my bullied friend must feel right about now.
I turned to him. "She says you should get out for a moment."
"Exactly." She repeated.
His eyes moved from me to her. "But aunty said I should watch him."
"I'll watch him starting now, Alfredo. We'll tell you if it's good and you'll continue your make-out session with that screen in no time." Well she's looking really pissed for some reason. Her jokes aren't usually this... erm, hot? Sassy?
Without any answers left in his noggin, he got up and took himself together with the laptop outside my room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, the queen of the day gave me the weakest smile I have ever witnessed from her.
"A'ight, what's up?" I asked.
She giggled and for whatever reason she had inside that loose-cannon head of hers, began rubbing my hand with her thumb.
Now something was going on, I bet my balls on it.
"Come on, you can tell me right?"
She sighed. "Okay. It's just that guy, Alfredo."
"What about him?"
"I heard him saying that me being friends with you makes you a bigger target for guys like Earl? That true?"
Well... "Yeah." being blunt was the way to go in times like this.
"Well what do you want to do about it then?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... you know, maybe lets try hiding from time to time and stuff."
"Okay, I don't know about you but I don't want to put in all that effort just to be exposed. Lives aren't easy to hide you know? Unless I kill myself and have you throw my corpse into a lake or something, those guys are going to find me."
"It's that complicated huh?"
"Yeah, so stop worrying and just do what you want to do."
"You sure?" she asked, the relaxing sensation of her finger tracing the shape of my hand vanished. The look she had wasn't something I expected, not at all. Worried actually became an understatement at the moment. "I'm pretty sure getting beaten up isn't like winning the lottery."
"I'm sure." it's always been like this, nothing's going to change no matter what she or anybody does for that matter.
I didn't know the freaking reason but I couldn't stop my lips from curling up into a smile. Maybe her face? Scrunched up and all worried about things she didn't even need to think about.
"The fuck are you smiling at?" she asked.
"I don't really know, but I can't stop."
"What the...?" well for all that dumb answer was worth, she began smile too. The same old upbeat her is back I guess.
Well, now that that was all sorted out... "Could you let go of my hand though? I need to eat."
"Oh yeah! I'll feed you."
"I caught a cold, I didn't lose both my arms."
"Come on! Boys would kill to be fed by me, just saying."
"I told you, don't lump me with those animals."
"That's what I told mom too..."
"Should I be worried about that or...?"
"Shut up."
[ To be continued... ]