Chereads / THE STRICT HOUSE / Chapter 6 - Dinner table.

Chapter 6 - Dinner table.

Praw and Bright are playing chess. His first move was the pon, just like a normal chess game would start. His next move was the horse.

Both players were well into the match, but it still seemed like a draw. Bright's pieces only consisted of a pawn in B1, in front of his king in B6, while Praw's side had a queen in the B5 square near the king and a knight in the A5 square. As the match progressed, Bright advanced his bishop to B3, causing Praw to frown looks and behold the ominous guy on motor riding fast behind their fight

Bright said, "What's the matter?"

"N-n-n-nothing." Praw said stutteringly.

Praw got curious and ran outside, he saw Ploy entering the door.

I'm a bit tired after school, I noticed that everybody was silent. Praw was arranging the chess pieces and putting the board away.

I went to my room, changed my clothes, lay down on my bed and checked my phone. As I was scrolling through social media, it seemed that everyone was getting into a neighbor's gossip. Some of them had commented and shared the post. But I did not bother to look it up because I was so sleepy, and I don't consider it a big deal.

I, also, do not watch TV because I feel that it is biased now. Shows are not as interesting as back then. The dramas are cool, but Thailand's Netflix series are better – it has more originality, feels more contemporary than your average rags to riches teledrama, and a diverse selection of genres.

At the moment, I'm reading Wattpad. Most of the authors are Filipino teenagers and they mostly do English works. These always make me feel unique and inspired at the same time.

I felt drowsy while reading and didn't notice that my phone slid from my hand and fell asleep.

I woke up around six o'clock PM and I heard my mom upstairs that she was crying while arguing with someone outside, it's a guy. I can clearly hear their conversation.

"Then, it's not my problem! He said he's going to pay you! Why would you do that to him?"

"To whom?"I spoke to myself.

Then the police came and settled the situation. Sometimes I wish I could just live in a peaceful home, not in an alley where there is a lot of gossip, arguments from neighbors, frequent thievery and pickpockets day and night, if I could only choose to live in a safer town or inside a subdivision.

I didn't pay much attention to what's happening, I looked outside the window instead and focused on the puddle reflecting the flickering orange LED street lights and the neighbor's noise.

Little by little, the noise died down. My mom went back inside the house and it was just dead silence – deafening silence.

I went down the stairs and my mom looked at me, "Let's eat already."

I sat in my chair, mom handed me the plate and food. She then hit Praw's hand,

"Just get two! Leave some for tomorrow!"

I took my share and she was about to serve more to me, "You want another one?"

I shook my head, then Praw grabbed his fork and was about to take it, "If she doesn't want it, then it's mine!!"

Mom replied, "I said that it's for tomorrow! Are you even listening?"

Anong tapped his elbow aggressively, "You can't just do what you want, you're not the only one who eats here!"

Everyone went silent while eating dinner.

After eating, everyone put their plates on the sink and I had to wash the dishes.

When I was about to finish, Bright came with a devious look while slowly bringing his plate to me.

"Really, Bright? Really?" I sarcastically said.

He couldn't speak because there's food in his mouth, but he was smiling menacingly. I laughed and threw bubbles from the sponge to him.

"Why do you have to eat slowly?" I asked annoyingly.

Then mom sat on her sofa to watch TV, she heard me and Bright arguing and said, "I told you to wash the dishes, Ploy!"

I replied, "But he took his time! He should wash his own dishes!"