WEINI - Starting With 'U' - Chapter 8

First time reading this story? CLICK HERE FOR PART 1

It's two days now and I still feel so guilty for sleeping off when I was talking to Alyse on the phone. I tried talking to her, but it feels like the world was preventing me from talking to her today. Or is it that she's avoiding me? I can sense that she's really upset about the Nerd being un-singled by Stephanie Weatherly. Seriously, what does Alyse sees in him anyway?

I went to school, determined to apologise to Alyse. I feel really bad. It's rude. But I can't help it... so, I made sure I woke up extra early today and got ready. I spent about 20 minutes in front of the mirror, combing my hair down (bad hair day... bad sign??) and also practising my speech.

"Alyse, look, I'm sorry..." I tried with my puppy-dog eye. Weird.

"Alyse, look, I'm sorry..." I tried with my guilty-look expression. Pathetic!

"Yo, Alyse! Hey, look, I'm sorry about..." I tried casually. Nah, too fake.

"Erm... Alyse... look... I..." not confident.

"Hey... Alyse... I..." too... flirty..

After about a hundred tries, I finally decided to start with my usual line...
"Hi ALICE!" I greeted.

After about 15 minutes of waiting by my locker, Alyse finally came. I was going to walk up to her when Lara went up to her and hit her, really hard, on the back. Lara grinned when Alyse winced in pain. Alyse subconsciously rubs her back.

Lara said something perkily and Alyse mumbled something in return. Somehow, I feel that this girl, Lara, is up to no good. All the time. I mean, I might be too sensitive or something, but she seems to do things on purpose to hurt Alyse and then laugh or brush it off as joke. It might seem like a joke to others but to me, it's just plain mean.

When I greeted her, she didn't seem to have heard me.

"Alice?" I tried again.

"It's Alyse!" Lara snapped. The Mean B*tch, I call her.

I rolled my eyes at her and I looked back at Alyse. Her face was turning violet now. Okay, maybe she heard me...

"Sorry, Uh-leaaaase..." I emphasized on her name," I kinda slept off, that night... I am really sorry... really..." I explained but she held up her hand. So I stopped talking. I sighed as she walked away, leaving me feeling helpless as I watch her back.

After she disappeared down the hall, into the classroom, I made my way to the class too. I tried talking to her in the class. Saying how sorry am I and then changing it to other topics. I felt like I was talking to a dummy. Erm, a mannequin. She didn't reply, nor did she told me off. She just sat there and did her own work.

After school, I was thinking about a way to make her forgive me. Does she like flowers? Hmm... she doesn't look like the kind who gets impressed by flowers... nor chocolates. Teddy bear is out. How can she be the kinda girl who doesn't like what girls like? Maybe that was what made her different.

See? I knew Alyse is different from day one... anyway, back to the topic.

I was thinking what I should do just so she would forgive me. When I finally dug out an idea from my brain, that is, to call her. It was already 2 am. But she might be sleeping late. Who knows right? She hung up on me. After the 5th try, she picked it up.

"Hello? I think you called the wrong number..." she said in her drowsy voice. I suppressed my laughter. She's funny that way... how does she knows that this was a wrong caller? This is not even wrong!

"Uh... I don't think I called the wrong number, Alyse," I said, still trying really hard to control myself.

"Oh, you know me?" she asked sleepily.

"I'm sorry for calling you this late," I apologised.

"If you're sorry, you wouldn't call me at 2 AM IN THE FREAKIN' MORNING! Now, it doesn't like an emergency, can I go back to sleep now?" she said, suddenly so angry.

"Sorry, but it is an emergency," I explained.

"What emergency? And who are you anyway? How'd you get my number?" she asked suspiciously.

"Oh, erm... please don't hang up," I pleaded desperately. Please don't let her hang up! This is my only chance!!!

"Wait, you're... Aaron!!!" she said, as it dawned on her that it was I, Aaron, on the line. I started panicking. PLEASE. DON'T. HANG. UP!

"Yes, please let me explain...3 minutes?" I begged. Please please please, GAWD please! If she doesn't hang up, I promise I will stop watching porn for 1 year!

"30 seconds..." she said firmly.

"1 and a half minutes?" I tried to bargain.

"15 seconds..." she replied with a yawn. She's gonna sleep!

"30 seconds..." I agreed.

"29, 28, 27, 26..." she started counting.

"I'm sorry that I hung up. I can't help it, I was too tired. I slept... I promise you that won't ever happen again," I explained as fast as I can.

"Hmm..." she said. Then, I heard her breaths become soft and steady.

Then there was a soft snore. Like a baby's. I can't help it now. I laughed. I recorded her snoring and hung up about a minute later. Wait, so did she forgive me or not?

I sighed and went to sleep.

RRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

Shit! I'm late! Again! When can I ever NOT be late? Why am I asking myself that question? Of course it's NEVAAAAARRRR!

Anyway, I rushed to school and met Alyse on the way into the school. Actually, it was more like a collision. No, actually, it WAS a collision. We were both late, as usual. We didn't even miss the Tardiness Lecture. She's an old fag. That teacher. Oh! Don't mind my language.
I leaned towards Alyse and whispered to her, on the way back to our seats, "I guess we're equal... now that you've slept on me too. And hey! I recorded your snores..." Alyse's jaws pratically dropped to the ground. I thought I needed to help her pick it up. I winked. Suddenly, her surprised look changed into a deep frown. She's creepy that way. It's like, she keeps some face expressions masks somewhere and flip them when she wants to. I know right? Just creepy.
"Don't worry, I'd just post it in the school's website," I teased.

"Try doing that, and you'd understand why girls wear panties instead of boxers!" she hissed in reply. I gulped. Oh my God! What did she mean? She's not meaning my... my down there, is she?

She smirked. She SMIRKED! What the heck was THAT supposed to mean? Man! This woman is freakin' me out! Wipe off the smirk! WIPE IT OFF! I closed my eyes and opened them again. I looked at her. The Smirk was still there! Oh my God! That recording is going into my recycle bin! The instant I reach home!

WEINI

Previous part

WEINI - I Can't Tell You

It's been 15 years since I last heard his voice. His laughter and his contagious smile, is slowly fading from my mind. I am desperately trying to grasp them all... but they are slipping away... slowly... but so soon... too soon...
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10 years ago...

When we were 17...
Alex and I were friends. Really close friends. Since 9 years old, as far as I can remember... In fact, we only had each other. One another and both of us. That's all we had. No one in school took notice of us and we didn't bother to show off our friendship.

Alex and I did everything together and I loved him a lot. I still do. As a sister, as a friend... as a girl. No, we're not biological siblings. We led different lives. He loved games and I loved books. We were different, but somehow, we clicked.

Alex liked a girl, Fiona. Fiona was the most popular girl in the school. It was no surprise that Alex, as a guy with hormones flying all over, fell for her too. I didn't really know her. However, I have to be honest that I didn't like the way she had Alex's attention by doing nothing. After all, who was there when Alex cried? Who was there when Alex was upset? Who was there for Alex at 3 am in the morning because Alex just had a fight with his brother?

One day, I told Alex. I told him that I loved him. He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Penny... I can't tell you the same thing back..." I shrugged it off. It's okay, it didn't matter if we were friends or couples. We're together and that's all I want. No... that was a lie. I wanted us to be together together. I want him to be my boyfriend. I want him to hold me and kiss me. I want him to tell me that he loves me back. I want him...

As days pass by, Alex was closer to Fiona than the day before... as for Alex and I, we drifted apart...we were talking lesser and lesser and lesser... until one day, we stopped talking altogether. And it hurts me.

One windy Saturday, Alex asked me out for a movie. So we did. Alex gave me a box wrapped neatly with a crimson red wrapper and a silver ribbon tied over it. He said, "Don't open it until 10 years later..." I asked, "Why?" He shrugged and said, "I can't tell! It's a surprise. And I hope I'd be there to share the moment when you open the boxes." I said, "But 10 years? That's long! What kind of surprise is that?" I was really curious but Alex was determined not to tell me anything... no matter how much I bugged him.

For the next 8 years, Alex gave me identical boxes and reminded me not to open them until the 10th year from the first gift. Every year, I was getting more and more impatient. They were not even heavy! They all felt empty. There weren't any clanging and noise when I shook it. Yet, every box was slightly heavier than the previous one.

On the ninth year, before the day he was supposed to give me my ninth box, Alex died. In a horrible car crash. Before he died, he told his mother to pass the ninth box and the tenth box with an envelope (which I was supposed to open also on the tenth year) to me when the time comes, to which his mother did. When Alex died, I was devastated. Now, I am all alone. I lost someone I loved for as long as I lived.

When the day where I was supposed to open all the boxes came, I was so... excited because I waited for 10 years? Proud because I didn't give in to temptation? Scared because I don't know what is inside? Sad because Alex is not here to share the moment like he said he would? Euphoric because it's the last thing I had from Alex? I don't know. It's a mash up of everything.

I made sure I was really alone to feel the magical moment. Or I thought it'd be a magical moment. I went to the spot under our favourite sycamore tree, near the cliff over-looking the sea. I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air. I can almost feel Alex's presence.

I felt my hands shaking when I loosen the ribbons. When I opened the first box, there was nothing inside but a piece of paper that said:

Dear Penny,

I love you.

Alex.

I felt tears forming in my eyes, blurring my vision. I wiped my tears and inhaled deeply. I thought I smelt Alex's bubblegum-flavoured shampoo... maybe it was just my imagination... I gathered my courage and opened the second box. Inside, was two pieces of papers:

Dear Penny,

I love you more each and every year.

Alex.

The second piece said:

Dear Penny,

I love you more and more every single day.

Alex.

In the:
Third box, there were 3 pieces : I love you because you're more beautiful than the year before. I love you because your smile is my sun. I love you because you're you.

Fourth box, there were 4 pieces : I love you because you're the first girl who touched my heart. I love you because you're the only person who showed me that tears are strength. I love you because you're the centre of my universe.

In every box from the 5th to the 9th, there were a number of papers, an additional one every year with Alex telling me why he loved me. In which my heart felt like it's being pulverised every single time I opened a note. Every single note made me feel sadder. But I smiled. Because Alex told me why he loved me in every each of them.

I felt so... I don't know how to describe this feeling. I want to cry and at the same time, whoop with joy and also, I felt frustration. If only he'd told me earlier. If only he was here. What if he IS here, right now, at this moment, what would have happened? Will there be awkwardness? A rush of happiness? Will we kiss?

When I reached out for the 10th box, I realised something different. This one had weight. I shook it. There was a blunt sound. Something was definitely inside. My heart pace quickened.
In the 10th box, there was only one piece of paper, somehow, my heart fell, why is there only one piece? I inhaled deeply and opened the note:

Dear Penny,

I love you. Will you marry me?

Alex.

There in the box... was a ring. At this, I cried harder. Alex... is not here anymore. Alex is gone. I want to say yes. But... there's no Alex to say 'yes' to. I took the ring and rolled it between my fingers. Finally, I slipped it in my fourth finger. I suddenly felt 'married' and also so disappointed. It's the end... this is it... the last thing from Alex. Something that I wanted the most...

Then I remembered! There's an envelope.

I reached for the envelope in my bag pack. I slowly opened it. Trying to absorb every moment... I took out the letter:

Dear Penny,

If you receive this letter... I really want to apologise. I didn't want to jinx myself but you never know what might happen next. If you're reading this letter, that means I'm not around anymore. I really love you, Penny. From the bottom of my heart. I love you since before you told me you love me. I lied. I never liked Fiona... she was just someone I went to because I didn't have the guts to tell you I love you because I wasn't sure how you'd react. I was scared. I'm sorry, Penny... I hope you can find happiness.

Love... Alex.

I can't cry anymore. This hurts so bad. Alex jinxed himself! I'm sure he did! Why can't he just tell me he loves me? Why can't he just tell me that he loves me when I said I love him? Why can't he just tell me?

WEINI

SUMITRA - Ugly.

"Dude, who are you taking to prom?"

"Man, I was thinking of asking Roxanne..."

"No way, I wanted to ask Roxanne!"

"Shh, you nut! She's standing right there!"

"Shoot. Do you think she heard me?"

"Nah, man. I don't think so."

"Yeah, she looks kinda busy..."

Roxanne heard everything. She closed her locker and looked right at the pair. Her eyes moved down and then up, examining her victims, sizing them up. The boys detected her attention immediately and started waving their hands nervously. Roxanne snickered. She was amused.

"Dude. Dude, I think she's smiling at me..."

"What are ya talking about? She's smiling at me, not you."

"What the- no she isn't! She's obviously attracted to me!"

"Don't flatter yourself, John..."

"Ha! Look who's talking!"

"You!"

"Hey, where'd she go?"

Roxanne had turned her back against them and walked away a long time ago. "They're all the same," she thought. Just then, Gautam Gupta from Social Studies caught up with her.

"Uh...hey there, Rorrrorrroxanne..."

"Hey"

"Hey I was just uh wondering if you'd uh maybe wanna uh..."

"Go to prom with you?"

"Uh yeah..."

"Sorry, I'm not even sure if I'm going."

"Oh uh it's OK then..."

"Bye."

It's not that Roxanne was little Miss Fussypants or anything. She just knew the boys at school, or almost every boy she knew didn't like her for her. Heck, they never even knew her. They only knew her curves. Roxanne was waiting for someone to share conversations with, real conversations, someone she could text, late at night, in bed, someone who'd always be there to listen to her problems, understand her but most importantly, someone who admired her for her, someone different.

She felt everyone staring at her. They were all talking about her because they all saw how she had turned Gupta down. They were just pretending not to. See, when there's a whole bunch of people who admire you and who'd do anything to get in your pants, there's gonna be a group of people who hate your guts for no apparent reason. "She is like, so mean!" Roxanne heard one of them say. "Yeah, poor Gautam..." "Who does she think she is??" Frustrated, Roxanne entered the only room she could stabilise her emotions in -the girls' bathroom.

The toilet was empty, much to her relief. Roxanne opened the tap and washed the light makeup off her face. She looked into the mirror, glaring at her reflection. She saw the deep, brown eyes, the dark, wavy locks of hair, the long, curly eyelashes and the lush, pink lips.

"This is what everyone sees." she muttered. What everyone failed to see was her hard little mouth that spoilt her pretty face, the little frown lines that told of bad temper and the dark circles that were forming around her brown eyes because of the nights she spent crying in bed and the nights she just couldn't get any sleep.

Nobody noticed the bruises on her body, or the scars. Nobody knew about the bitter fights she has with her parents, every night. Nobody heard the words she has used. Nobody found out that Roxanne was actually an orphan, who lived with foster parents who were very fond of alcohol.

They never saw how ugly she truly was. No, they only saw a pretty face.

She closed the tap. Slowly, Roxanne took a deep breath. "I will not cry" she told herself ", not in front of these people." And then she exited. Home Economics was going to start.

SUMITRA