So far, I had made enough money to give to my mother. I made closely $3000 to pay my mother in a year. Well, had it been one year already? I also could not believe it. The year itself had some pros and cons. The pro is not that my attitude changed, but it became better. I became more friendly than ever. My mother was not concerned about that. She was only concerned about the money. She nagged me saying I should have made up to $10,000. Well, how was that my fault? I gave up a whole year of learning just to ' make mother proud ', you expect me to do more than that? You got to be kidding me.
"So, he is returning to school right?" My sister asked.
"Yes sure. Since he tried, I guess he should continue learning. "She said. For the first time, my mother said something I would be pleased with not until...
"And he would be working after school."
"Mom!" I shouted.
"You're sure you're okay? You just shouted. "My sister whispered to me like it was not proper to shout, like she also never shouts.
"Are you kidding me? You expect me to go to work after school? Mum. I made enough money for you. I tried to make mother proud like you said."
Honestly, it was a big tantrum I threw that day. I kept on going that my mother gave up. I won the fight. Entering into my room to have a quiet time with myself, my sister followed me.
"So, how are you doing?" She asked. Literally, that was the dumbest question I ever heard.
"Do I look like I am doing fine?" I replied.
"That's not it. Turns out that working at that convenience store makes you a little bit exposed. Do you have anything bothering you? You can tell me. "She said. I calmed down as I sat on my bed.
"Nothing exactly, I am just tired of this life."
"At your age, you are tired of life. I was worse than you. At least you are fifteen, I became tired when I was nine. But here I am living happily. "
"Are you trying to console me? If yes, you know you are not living happily. You are relying on mother, father is in jail, you have no job and you're expecting me to believe you are living happily?" I asked. That was the truth.
"Ewan, what do happiness mean to you?" Well, there she goes with the motivational talks.
"I don't know. To be happy? To have nothing to think about? To have peace of mind?" I asked.
"Then, you think I don't have peace of mind?" She asked this time, sat beside me.
"Yes, you don't. You know that. "I replied frankly.
"Maybe you are right. But at least, I got a boyfriend." Anytime she said that, she would expect to say,
"Oh! Congratulations. "I was sick and tired of all that. "
"So, what about that girl?"
"What girl?"
"That Diane girl. You heard from her?"
"No, and I don't care. She lied to me. "
"So? I lie to you almost all times, you don't know? What is the big deal in someone lying to you? Lie to me that you have never lied to anyone. "She said.
"I am not lying, I have never lied."
"You did when you were five. You said you did not eat meat balls when you clearly did." I don't remember that till now. So, I could not verify whether or not she was lying.
"I am worried about that girl. You told me that her mother was being threatened. What if something bad happens to her? You should also be worried, she was once your friend. "She insisted.
"I am not sure anything would happen to her. But just in case, what should I do about it?"
"Call her and ask how she's doing." I had to think very hard about that before agreeing with my sister. Literally, checking on people was something I had never done and would not want to. But I did not want to seem like the bad guy there. So, I called once. It rang but no one picked. My sister insisted that I leave behind a voicemail and I did.
"Hello Diane. How are you doing? Even though you did apologize to me once despite your offense, I forgive you. How is your mother? I hope your father did not make any dumb move. She is not dead, right? I know she is not, so help me extend my greetings to her. "
Days passed, she did not reply to my voicemail.
"Maybe something bad happened to her." I concluded.
Thinking about Diane was not really my issue. I hardly had feelings. I was prepared to go to school. As usual, dumplings as breakfast.
"Who eats dumplings for breakfast?" My sister would say that again and I totally agree with her. I ate slowly and hopefully.
"Eat up or you will be late to school." Lily whispered to me.
It was so nice returning back to school. I did not care that I had to sit with my juniors as I skipped a year. All I cared about was learning. Even when teachers made mistakes, all I did was to write their mistakes down, discover how on earth they made such mistakes and learn from it. That was my strategy. Entering my classroom made me relaxed until I saw someone I could not believe I would see. Like why on earth was she there? Why basically would she be attending my school? What the heck!
And the person was my strongest enemy...
Kate! Oh! I did not tell you guys about her right? She was the one that made me hate girls at all costs. Thinking about her right now seems not to be right. Did she know that I attends the school? No! It was sure that she got admitted when I quitted school. Oh gosh! That day was not my day!