Chapter 2: ✴HOW IT ALL STARTED✴

Silence.

A few strand of his business cut hair fell in the middle of his deep set eyes, he arranged them emulating a shampoo model I've seen in TV commercials.

I winced upon the sight and regretted that I did. His shoulders moved, followed by a long hearty laughter which reverberated inside our small home.

"I win again," Rob said, still giggling.

"I can't stand such ugly face," I reasoned, it made him laugh even more. I intend to vex him using sharp comments but it never happened. I was always the one getting riled even involving simple things. I frowned.

"We have the same genes. Don't you forget, all people see our resemblance and can easily distinguish we are siblings."

He got a point. Hence, it made me wonder why we were still different. He, for example had a lot of friends. When I say a lot, the numbers were serious. He had friends even at the furthest corner of our district, and I can't even keep one.

He loved going to school, attending seminars, joining contest and many others that concern associating with people.

The only thing we got in common, pertaining to everything except our physical appearances was, we were both scholars.

We need it since we were not born with a golden spoon but with a shovel instead. We need to shed sweat before getting what we want and that's fine. Atleast, we were raised seeing the world at the hardest side.

"Whatever, why are you perspiring anyway?" I asked.

He took a sip of his coffee, not minding the tiny drops of clear liquid in his face and gazed at me. Why am I feeling bad about this? The dark brown eyes, same as mine were viewing me with such intensity building a doubt inside my head. What did I do again?

I tried to recall every contact I made.

"I went to the basketball court for some exercise. How about you, love? What did you do?"

I grew up with that sobriquet but only two people are allowed to call me that. Now, disregading his sweet tone, there was something hidden underneath. I'm absolutely sure I did something.

"Is it about Cindy?" I inquired. There was no other unfortunate circumstances that my mind could remember other than the encounter with that woman.

Rob need not to speak, his expression was the confirmation. I scowled. So she spoke with my brother already. I wrinkled my face in displeasure.

"Before anything else, it's not my fault if she was born that stupid. I asked a common question, what is a leech? Tell me, is that hard?" I stated.

Rob's face was still looking at me, unmoving. I sighed.

"She didn't know. And so I, being the kind one explained it to her. I said, leeches are carnivorous or bloodsucking creatures, they have this flat segmented body that are shaped like a lance head. They came from the class of Hirudinea which have suckers at each end. See, I even gave her knowledge. Something to stick inside her empty head." The last line came out like a whisper.

"What is that?" Rob asked. Probably didn't hear the latter words which was a relief .

"I said she should be thankful."

"I heard something about her being one."

A tiny smile was threatening to escape from my lips, it's hard to hide it.

I creased my brows, pretending to be ignorant.

"I had no idea."

"The exact words were: Oh, you still don't get it? Leech lived among us, the perfect example was you, flat and syco. . . syco---"

"Sycophantic." Busted. I almost slapped my face for such idiocy. Why did I even supplied the words for him? Now he can read between the lines. 

It's true that I did tell Cindy those harsh words, but many could agree with me. I mean, the whole town knew about her being like that. She just tried to befriend me in order to get Rob's attention. I'm not gonna let that happen. But then, I must commend her little brain, she was able to memorize the exact lines I told her. On the other side, I am in trouble.

"See? What else did you do?"

"Relax, Rob. I did nothing more than telling her to back off. I don't hurt animals. I always bear in mind the animal welfare act everytime I conversed with her. I don't wanna get imprisoned for 1 to 2 years and fined for about a hundred thousand pesos."

Rob gawked as if I said something incredible, or perhaps unbelievable.

"I don't know what to do with you anymore," he said in disbelief. "Why don't you just tell me your problem with her?"

"Ugh! Problem is a big word. She's just a speck of dust. She's too small but  irritating for the eyes. So don't you worry about me, I'm absolutely okey with her," I paused and quaffed a glass of milk. I hope he can smell my sarcasm. "And I don't understand why she's called Cindy? She told me it was a shortcut for Cinderella, a princess in distress but she looks more like a camel than a damsel. Confusing, that's why I never read fairytales, witches had hopes to find a prince charming. So sad," I added, conversationally.

My eyes suddenly veered at the doorway. I think I heard voices. But nothing was there.

"Rohama?"

I shifted my gaze to Rob, who was now looking at me gravely.

"Can't you just live or act like a normal eighteen years old lady? Hang out and make friends. Then, you might have a wider view 'bout people than what you see in books. You can't just expect everyone to accept your point or to act like the way you want them to be. We differ in perception as well as capabilities.  Life is not always about data and you should not treat people based on intellectual value," he said. I was appalled by that long statement but more than that, I was hurt.

"So you mean to say, I am not normal? Is that it, Rob?" I tried to hide the bitterness in my voice, but failed. Maybe because, everything he said were true.

"No, love, don't get me wrong. What—"

"That is what you exactly mean," I stated, cutting his words. Immediately, I gathered my things and went out of the house. I still heard him call my name but I ignored it and walked even faster.

Upon making sure of our distance, I vented all my frustration on everything my feet could touch.

What can I do? I know I can't socialize well.

And anyway, why do I have to put up with some people like Cindy? In my annoyance, I kicked a stone infront with a force. It flew somewhere, followed by a woman's voice.

I instantly tried to find where it came from and spotted an elderly woman, sitting on a rocking chair just a few meters away from me.

"Grandma, are you hurt?" I asked.  I fear I might had hit her somewhere vital. I breath upon seeing her smile.

"I'm fine little child, but don't go around kicking things. You may hit something around us," she reminded. It almost made me snort, considering my stand about unseen creatures.

"Ah, I don't believe into such things Grandma," I replied as polite as I can.

Her wrinkled eyes gazed at me and said, "Well, I can't force you to do so. But don't you have a class?"

Oh shoot! I almost forgot. I bid goodbye and hastily ran as fast as my feet could carry. I could now see the gates closing. Oh no, just a bit more.

"Wait!" I screamed. Fortunately, the guard noticed me and let me in.  Goodness! That was tiring one.

I let some fresh air inside my lungs and breath a couple of times. Upon getting a grip of myself and resting my wobbly knees, I went inside my room.

There were snickers around me. I'm used to it anyway.

I ignored those nonsense things and took my seat. Our teacher wasn't here yet, making my classmates ramble like lost children at the park. Alya, the self-proclaimed beauty queen was standing by the doorway with her troops, enjoying their hooey chitchats. She hated me for correcting her grammar infront of the class. 

Cleiv, the class' escort, deemed to be handsome, but I can't see it that way, was throwing papers at everyone. The whole room was chaos, and I had no choice but to read my notes and books enduring the noises.

"Teacher was coming!" exclaimed Marvin, the naughtiest of all. And as if a miracle had pass, everyone was quite.  I'm very much thankful that the lecture started, finally had my peace of mind.

However, due to some reasons that I don't know, I suddenly felt sick. Like my head was about to break in half.

I asked my adviser if I could go home and she let me. What's wrong with me? I continued walking, but was oblivious to any movement around me anymore. I couldn't hear a thing, not a single sound.

Fortunately, I'm almost home and was now crossing the street when I noticed people's worried countenance staring at me. Huh? I looked at the direction some of them were facing. A car was approaching fast and was about to hit me. I stood motionless. Time stopped and I felt nothing. And maybe it was hallucination, but all I can see was a blue smoke.