Time pass so fast…it was the last day of grade 8 but it turns out to be the last day till grade 9, high school, starts. Here I am being dragged to go shopping along with my three friends. Well, mainly two, Sakura and Ino. Tenten just hates shopping because of all the changing. Not to mention the clothing that seems to expose her skin chosen for her from Ino and Sakura. I'm different…I believe that shopping is a waste of money. Unlike any other families, us four are orphans; we depend on our guardians for survival. Trust me, they aren't so great.
I closed my eyes and felt a chilly breeze on my neck. The horrible moment haunted me as I thought back of the Vietnam War we escaped from and the death of our loving adopted parents. The weak smiles that appeared on their faces as they said their last good-byes. The last hugs they gave as I felt liquid down their backs. Suddenly they pushed us away into the boats. The sky turned grey with clouds filling the sky…then it happened, rain fell from the pitch dark sky, thunder roamed loud as ever and lightning flashed every second before our eyes. We held on tight in the tiny space we had; afraid that lightning is going to break the boat in half. We closed our eyes shut to get the horror out of mind. Waves colliding into the sides, trying to knock us out into the deep polluted under ocean. I'm glad that we survived out of that but…unfortunately; it risked two people's lives that appreciated me and accepted me into the family of warmth and support.
Tears formed in my eyes from the thought that my most loved people left me. Since it was 3 years ago, I remembered a faint image that I turned around as I saw a bomb exploded where they stood, the gushy red liquid everywhere. My friends/sisters was about to turn around but I distracted them so they don't have to same horrifying image I experienced which I still have nightmares of.
I really miss them very much of all they had done for me. I was born in a rich family full of pressure and discouragement. My dad wasn't expecting me as a girl but a boy to continue his huge business of selling cars. Supposedly, I could be put to death but under my mom's love, I was still raised and educated until I was 7 because that's when my brother was born. Everyone paid attention to him, cared and treated him so much better than me. I held then jealousy and envy in mind and heart but knowing that I can't do anything to change this matter.
One night, when I was on my way to the restroom and passed my parents' room, I heard my parents talking about selling me because there's no use now to raise a girl in the household anymore. I tried to be brave and hold in the tears but they kept rolling down my cheeks. I quickly ran to my room, cried and cried but no one came to comfort or even wonders what's going on. I couldn't take it anymore, I escaped out of the mansion and bumped into Sakura who asked if I'm okay and gave me my first and most warmed-hearted hugs. She brought me to her house which is not as big as my house but not too small. There, I was acknowledged and was adopted by a missionary couple; Deborah and Adam. In return, I believed in the Lord and went to church every Sunday.
I still remembered perfectly the day when we first stepped into Toronto. We walked out of the airport to the outdoors with suitcases hanging from both of my hands. Wow, the weather was so beautiful. It was getting really hot by second as the sun brightened. Now, I could feel sweat dripping down my forehead to my cheek and down my blue shirt as I crutched tightly onto my suitcase. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in out direction, never felt so GLAD.
For once I felt smart for putting my hair up so the wind wouldn't mess it up. Around on the corner of my eyes, I can see Sakura and Ino trying to put the strains of their hair behind their ears. There was an awkward silence as we stood to wait for a read Honda civic car with the license plate 3G57 12K. I guess Tenten decided to break the silence…which was not a really good idea right then.
"Why are you guys so quiet for…this would be a fun experience…it's not that we don't know English and that we don't know how to defend ourselves…" Tenten said harshly.
"Tenten, it's not that…"I responded softly with a big sigh. I know that Tenten could tell that I'm trying to keep her tears in. At that…Tenten knew what I meant.
"Hinata…our parents said they will be fine as long as we're safe…which we are right now, right?" Tenten comforted. However, inside, I know, I KNOW, that they didn't make it… I saw the IMAGE.
"Tenten, you're so self-centered! No wonder your real parents kicked you out of the house!" Sakura said hastily.
At that moment, it seems Tenten's heart started to beat faster, and that all her blood was reaching to her head.
"Sakura, let's not go that far," Ino defended and turned towards Tenten, "Tenten, this is war we're talking about, everyone die at war… you've watched those movies before.
Tenten totally blanked out of what Ino said because those words…"NO WONDER YOUR REAL PARENTS KICKED YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE," echoed through her head. Her grip weakened then we heard her suitcase went "THUD" on the ground. More people were looking our way now due to the impact. Tenten quickly dropped down to her knees with her hands on her face when the "SCENE" popped in her head. The weird thing at that moment… I could sense Tenten's feeling like, I'm her… I could see Tenten's image that she's seeing.
The last thing me and Tenten could remember was Ino murmured, "Now you've done it, Sakura," and yelling at the spectators, "What are you looking at! Can't you mind on your own business?!"
"Get out, you piece of trash! We are already poor enough without you messing up the family." yelled a lady holding a broom.
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Tenten murmured as she held to the other end of the stick.
"I'm not your mom, okay! Your real mother died when you were 1 year old," the woman yelled as she tugged the stick away from me.
"I'm not real? I don't exist! Why did you keep it as a secret for 8 years!" Tenten cried.
"Your stupid father wouldn't let me…but now that's he's gone to HELL, I have total control of you," the woman snickered.
"How dare you say that about my father?!" Tenten screamed as I bravely stood up.
"What's that… a mere girl talking back at me! Don't make me laugh. You'll just get in the way…get out of my house now"! The woman glared as she pushed Tenten out of the door.
"Over my dead body I'm I going to listen to you!" Tenten said strongly as she cringed to a wall.
"Have your father ever taught you to respect your elders!" The woman spoke strictly as she used the stick and hit it against Tenten's fingers and her ankles and kicked her right in her stomach.
"And stay out," those were the woman's last words before she slammed the door shut.
Tenten could have run and pushed the door open before it was locked but blood was dripping down Tenten's shirt. I tried not to panic as tears went non-stop down her cheeks. There, Tenten sat with knees held against her chest, her head tucked to her chin, trying to hold in the pain. A dog barked somewhere in this melee of village houses yet she had no response whatsoever. The moonlight mingled with the streetlights to form a soft glow that fell on the vacant lot and old, battered hoops. A breath of chill wind stirred the leaves that lay scattered on the old chalked-up court. I shivered as I went towards her…
At the thought of that, Tenten grabbed her ankle where the scar was located which never healed for these past 5 years. Tenten shook her head to take all these nonsense away. It took a while for her to recover…well, me too, like I secretly discovered that I could make out Tenten's image. Sakura apologized and gave Tenten an affectionate hug but Tenten sort of pushed Sakura away.
Finally, the car arrived in front of us. A couple came out of the car and looked at us with disgust. I took a deep breath as the guy came closer, reached and helped put the luggage in the trunk. The women quickly opened the door and hurried us in. It seems as if we're criminals trying to hide our shame quickly. Everyone was inside as the engine started to run.