"About others I don't know, but if we were to die, this girl will throw a wild party at our funeral so wild that even the neighbours will think she's lost her mind!" Seth said, sitting on the floor, his back against the couch, a paper of something unimportant sprawled out in front of him. He grabbed a crispy fried chicken drumstick from the table, the golden-brown skin crackling as he took a bite, the savoury aroma wafting up to his nose.
"Careful of what you say, Seth. Those drumsticks you're devouring right now? Ama could've slipped in a little 'extra' just for you," Sophia teased, lifting a roasted potato, its skin glistening with oil, a playful glint in her eye. Seth shot her a mock-serious look, shaking his head dramatically. "Oh please, I witnessed her taste it firsthand. It's as safe as a hug from a grizzly bear!"
"No doubt about that, boy! So why don't you just kick the bucket right now? I'm itching to throw a party for the ages, packed with all your favourite wines, foods, and desserts," Ama declared, stepping out of the bathroom with her hair dripping, water glistening like tiny diamonds. She plopped down next to Sophia, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she leaned in closer to Seth. "And guess what? I'll be savouring every bite right in front of your goddamn corpse! Honestly, I can't imagine a happier day than that."
Seth erupted into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. "You better not kick the bucket before me, or I'll be the one enjoying everything! And guess what?" He leaned in, his playful smirk growing wider, "I'll be feasting everything in that house I'll get after you bite the dust. So, you might want to live carefully around me. Who knows what kind of mischief I'll get up to!" He narrowed his eyes playfully, a mischievous glint dancing in them, as if already plotting his grand takeover of her house.
Sophia gulped, her throat dry as her gaze darted between Amaya and Seth. Their smiles were painted on like a mask, but beneath the surface, she could sense the anger hiding behind them. It felt like a heavy weight in the room, making it hard to breathe. Amaya's eyes narrowed, showing the storm of emotions inside her, while Seth's jaw tightened, his frustration clear. Sophia's heart raced, each beat matching the tension in the air, making her hard to breathe.
Sitting on her bench, leaning against the wall, Sophia glanced at her friends, her eyes wide with urgency. "I swear to god, I seriously wanted to run away yesterday! They were talking about killing each other!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. Elli and Fred exchanged puzzled looks, their brows knitting together in confusion. "I don't get it. What led to that tension though?" Fred asked, his tone laced with curiosity. Sophia sighed, the weight of the situation evident in her expression as she shook her head. "I was with them the whole time; I'm still totally clueless," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Didn't you ask Ama?" Elli inquired, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Sophia's face. Sophia curled her brows, her expression softening as she looked at Elli with wide, pleading eyes. She whispered, "I dare not ask after seeing her eyes. I wanted to ask Seth, but Ama was near the whole time." The tension in the air thickened as the unspoken fear of Ama's wrath lingered between them.
"I told Ama to apologize to her momma," Seth announced as he entered the classroom, his presence bringing a shift in the atmosphere. He walked toward his friends, confidence radiating from him. "Weren't you suspended till next week?" Elli asked, her brows furrowing in disbelief. "Hailey ma'am canceled our suspension since Ama threatened her again," he replied, plopping down at the last bench with a resigned sigh. Fred lowered his gaze, guilt washing over his features. "Ama didn't punch you after you said that?" Sophia asked, concern etched on her face. Seth stared at his desk, his shoulders slumping as he whispered, "Someone has to say it. She didn't apologize to her momma, but she did seem to have realized a little that she was wrong." Nods of understanding passed between Sophia and Fred, their expressions mirroring the weight of the revelation. Elli glanced at everyone, her lips pursed as she licked her lower lip, her voice steady but tinged with urgency, "Actually, I talked with Hailey ma'am and found out Ama's stepdad lives in Aqua City." The revelation hung in the air, thick with unspoken questions, as the tension in the room seemed to swell.
In a flash, Seth, Fred, and Sophia turned to Elli, their eyes wide and lips parted in disbelief, the weight of her words sinking in. "Are you out of your mind? If Ama finds out—"
"Who'll tell her? You?" Elli interrupted Sophia, her gaze fierce yet pleading. "Listen, guys, Hailey ma'am is her Aunt. Yeah, Ama hates everyone from her stepdad's family, but Hailey ma'am wants good for Ama too, like us. She thinks of Ama as her own niece!" Her voice trembled slightly, but she pressed on, "You saw what happened at the stadium. Even Seth couldn't stop Ama, neither could you, Sophia." Elli's eyes softened, and she moved closer to Sophia, her tone shifting to one of compassion. "At least Ama wasn't so reckless when her momma was here."
Fred shifted in his seat, a furrow forming on his brow as he asked, "So you want Ama to go to Aqua City and live there with her momma and step-dad? But you know she'll refuse to leave this city." His voice held a note of concern, a reminder of the challenges ahead.
"She'll have no choice but to leave if we all leave. Sophia's dream to become the world's best dancer and my dream to win the Basketball Olympics can come true from L.R. University too, which, fortunately, is in Aqua City. You and Seth will also have a lot of opportunities for football matches since one of the biggest stadiums lies there." Elli's eyes sparkled with determination, her resolve shining through as she laid out the possibilities, the weight of their dreams hanging in the balance.
"But Sophia said she'll join Moomin Dance Academy. Ama will definitely doubt if she suddenly changes her plan." Seth's brow furrowed, his voice tinged with concern as he crossed his arms, the tension palpable in the air. "Then I'll tell her I need a bachelor's degree to go further in my dreams," Sophia said, her eyes sparkling with determination, "and then I'll say I can get a bachelor's degree from L.R. University while I can participate in national and international dance competitions."
Elli and Fred exchanged glances, nodding their heads in approval, their expressions brightening with hope. However, Seth remained silent, his lips pressed together in a thin line, worry etched across his face. "But Ama will never agree to live with them," he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur, as if afraid to voice his fears too loudly.
Elli, sensing his unease, placed her hand gently on top of Seth's, her smile warm and reassuring. "She doesn't need to stay," she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. "She needs to make up with Aunty, and we know despite everything, she loves her momma and papa the most."
Seth's shoulders relaxed a little, and he nodded, placing his hand on top of Elli's. Sophia and Fred followed them, their hands forming a united front. "To Aqua City!" they exclaimed in unison, a flicker of excitement growing in their eyes.
*Ting*
"Where is Ama?" Zeya asked, her bright voice slicing through the silence as she stared at Sophia and Elli, her curiosity evident in her wide eyes. Elli and Sophia slept like two sleepy cats, their limbs sprawled out in a comfortable tangle. Demi, meanwhile, was busy tying her shoelace, rolling her eyes. "She is running some errands for the School Captain Mina and Vice-captain Jen," Sophia mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper, looking like she had just emerged from a deep hibernation.
"Aren't you going to join us at PT?" Demi asked, finally standing up, her hands on her hips. Elli and Sophia exchanged a glance with a little smile on their lips, their expressions a mix of resignation and mischief. "We don't attend PT when Ama isn't around, but I don't think anything will go wrong joining you guys today," Elli said with a playful smile, walking toward their locker with purpose, as if on a secret mission. "Here, Somiya. You can wear Ama's dress." Sophia tossed the PT dress to Somiya, as she rummaged through her own locker.
"I don't get it. What could go wrong in PT class?" Demi asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Zeya blinked her eyes innocently and turned to Sophia, "Are you guys really on bad terms with Subash Sir?"
"Sir... ha!" Sophia scoffed, rolling her eyes so dramatically that they almost seemed to threaten escape. Somiya, Zeya, and Demi raised their eyebrows in amusement, quite speechless by her sudden coldness. "A few years ago, Sofy wanted to skip PT for her competition since she was way too tired from practice and was afraid she'd mess up at the real competition, but he refused her," Elli explained, her voice taking on a serious tone with a sigh, "leading to Sofy bunking the PT. From that day on, we are on bad terms. He always makes things hard for us, especially Sofy and Fred, but not when Ama is around."
"Why wouldn't he do anything when Ama is around? Is she some kind of gangsta?" Somiya asked, her voice laced with playful curiosity. Sophia and Elli burst into laughter, their giggles echoing like music in the room. "She's not afraid of getting expelled! Honestly, she's like our own little gangsta," Sophia said, wrapping her arm around Somiya in a dramatic embrace, her smile bright and contagious. "And trust me, we're just as fierce when it comes to her. So be careful~"
"Okay, okay! Girls, you can go ahead. We'll catch up after changing our dresses," Elli said, clasping her hands together as she playfully nudged Zeya and Demi toward the door. "You definitely don't want to be on bad terms with your Subash Sir!"
Zeya and Demi exchanged nervous glances before stepping outside, joining the lively buzz of the schoolyard. Meanwhile, Sophia, Elli, and Somiya stayed in the room to change the dress.