Caleb looked interested and smirked, "If Luke won't take you I'm open, I've always wanted to try the intellectual kind." As if that was funny, they all laughed.
She was dumbfounded and somehow got mad and hurt. "I only told Luke I like him, why are you treating me like a whore..."
"Because that's who you are," Luke firmly and clearly interjected. He stood up and walked toward her, Caleb moved away so Luke faced her. They were so close, he towered over her, her head reached below his chest so she tilted it and they looked in the eyes. His eyes were void of any emotions while hers showed hurt.
"Luke...why would you s-say..." her voice sounded weak from the hurt she felt.
"I saw how you looked at me earlier. You unclothed me with your eyes"
Her eyes nearly popped out at the accusation, "I did no such t-"
"Or when you told me that you're athletic, you were obviously trying to seduce me...sounds like a whore to me." She heard others hypocritically gasp, She even heard Mark chuckle and mutter something she didn't care to catch.
"I wasn't tr-"
"So what did you think would happen? That I would actually like you back? You actually thought I'd get naked with you?" He clicked his tongue disgustingly.
Ana was left speechless. She knew those things happened between couples but she had actually never really thought about such things. She fantasized about him all right, but not in such high detail. All she thought about most was spending time together, having fun, maybe finally seeing him play in a match, kiss, go to college together, and eventually become her family. That's all she ever wanted, a real family.
Tears started welling up in her eyes and she bit herself hard that she tasted blood.
"Tsk, people are gonna think I've bullied you."
She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, "I did not think about that." She answered his previous question.
"Sure you're not a child not to know what happens between couples, what then did you think you would do with me, do my homework?" That earned laughter yet again.
"Luke I know what happens between couples, and... what I thought we could do is... spend some time together... and... hang out and...get to know each other...a-"
"Pfft! What a joke," Caleb chimed in. "You actually thought of that? Tsk, I've lost interest in you"
This was such entertainment to them, they laughed and laughed.
"I just...hoped." She murmured so only Luke could hear, but some heard and repeated her reply loudly so the rest knew. He frowned while everyone else burst out laughing. "Isn't she supposed to be a genius, why is she so stupid?" Someone laughed out.
She sounded dumb to her ears too but she said the truth. She bit her bottom lip again and it stung from the earlier cut.
"Hoped? Are you dumb? Have you ever looked at yourself? The mere presence of you right now disgusts me. Spend time with you? Do I look boring like you? Get to know each other?" He darkly chuckled. "You just called me an old man, Ana. You insult me in the most polite way, clever, I give you that. Since you like me so much, do me a favor and never ever think about me in this stupid dumb head of yours." He tapped her forehead, his eyes filled with detest.
"I hate girls like you. I hate everything about you, it irks me. You're so desperate."
Her body became stiff and felt cold at the same time, his words reach the core and her heart felt shattered into pieces. She blankly nodded and squeaked, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disgust or insult you. And... you're not boring. I shouldn't and won't think about such things again. P-please, forgive me." She couldn't look him in the eyes anymore, all of a sudden it was really quiet, her heart beat violently, she wanted to cry but couldn't make herself do so in front of them all. She slightly bowed and turned to leave. But, Luke grabbed her and put her back in place. Seems Luke wasn't done breaking her heart and properly humiliating her, so she broke down, tears fell from her eyes without making any sound, and she just stared at him waiting for his torture.
"Don't you have cleanliness to do" He flatly stated instead
She stood still with her head down and he left. Everyone else followed, and when she was left alone, she burst out crying.
**********************
"Ana wake up! It's the weekend!" An energetic eight-year-old girl violently shook sleepy Ana.
"Ten more minutes, Lisa" She begged.
"Okay, one two....ten! Times up!"
"Arggh, why do you always have to be such a morning person," she lazily pinched Lisa's cheeks.
She finally woke up and was ready for the day. It was going to be a busy day. She prepared herself first, then prepared the baths for the kids. There were a total of fifteen children, her being the eldest. She would be turning seventeen this year and was excepted to move out when she turns eighteen. The eldest after her was a boy named Tom. He was thirteen. Today was his special day, a family was coming to adopt him. They slowly started their day, Lisa being responsible as always, helped Ana to wake the rest of the children up while she went to the kitchen.
Soon the kitchen was filled with delicious scents. Freshly baked bread, jam, cottage cheese, milk, and eggs were served. They all joined.
"Mmm smells delicious," said Christina who joined shortly.
"Morning Christina!" They chorused and began eating.
Ana remained in the kitchen and hurriedly ate her share. She was going to surprise Tom with his favorite carrot cake. Christina approached, "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I prepared a surprise for Tom" She whispered excitedly. "Are they done eating?"
Christina smiled. The girl never failed to surprise each child who left as the years went by. She had a beautiful heart. "Almost, your eyes look swollen though, are you okay?" She chimed in.
"I'm fine, I forgot to use my medicine last night." She lied.
"Tsk, silly girl, you should go get spectacles already or you'll turn blind by thirty."She warned.
"Okay okay, I will, come on" She took the carrot cake, "but now we celebrate."
Thirty minutes later was filled with laughter and happiness. Tom loved the cake and cried from happiness and sadness. Soon madam Mirabelle joined and that was a sign that it was Tom's time to go. A beautiful couple came, signed some papers, and off he went with his new family. During his departure, Ana had Kept everyone to sleep, a trick she learned so no kid would get hurt like she used to. Lisa and Marian who was seven refused to sleep.
"We know he's adopted." They argued.
Ana awkwardly laughed, "He'll come to see us some days. It's okay"
"I wanna be adopted."Lisa wailed. "Me too, I'm a good kid." Marian joined.
'These girls could end up like me, I need to find a way to make them feel that they aren't missing anything.' Ana thought and silently comforted them.