Howl's Moving Castle
Sophie fell asleep on the couch again, 4th time this week. Howl have been coming home late lately. Sophie trusted Howl, she just didn't trust any of the girls around town. Most of them giggle like mad people when they see Howl. It's like a curse, actually. When Howl walks by, the girls giggle then they whisper at each other. Howl, obviously liking the attention, would turn around and smile or wink at them. Which ever comes first. And then Sophie, the quiet one, silently cries. Okay, she doesn't cry like scream or anything, she just keeps her emotions inside.
She never cries, but deep down, her cries are louder than the girls' giggles, their whispers, their insults. They usually insulted her by calling her 'lucky'. Now, I know you're thinking 'What? How could that be an insult?' Well, you see, Howl is a womanizer. And people are used to seeing him with a girl. But, his relationship with them never last long. The longest is 2 weeks. Shortest? 2 days. Now Sophie, she's been with Howl for about a month. So the people are wondering. But Howl and Sophie's relationship isn't that great. You see, whenever Howl gets home, he doesn't even say a simple hi. Not even a smile. Whenever Sophie says hi, he ignores her. She looks like a fool. But as usual, she keeps her emotions. There are more insults thrown to her.
"Seriously, how could she be the 'lucky' one?"
"Ugly."
"Simple."
"Not even interesting."
"Nerd."
"Ew, a bookworm."
"Boring."
"The only thing that makes her interesting? Her hair."
"Brown eyes, seriously?"
And the list goes on. But she never cries.
Never.
_
"Calcifer, why didn't you wake me up?" Sophie's soft voice asked. "But Howl said he didn't want any distractions." Calcifer answered. "He said distractions, not me!" Sophie jokingly said. "Actually, he said 'Cal, don't wake her.' So, yeah." Calcifer explained. "Oh.. Where is he now?" Sophie asked again. "Um.." Calcifer mumbled. "Oh never mind!
Cal, I'll just go to the market." Sophie said, hiding her sadness with smiles. Calcifer nodded.
-
Sophie was walking, she was looking for a certain shop who sells fresh fish. "Have you seen them? They look so cute together." A high-pitched voice inquired. "I look cuter with him." Another voice said. Sophie got that strange feeling that they were talking about Howl. She ignored those feelings and laughed at her 'silly' thought and continued walking. It wasn't that silly when she saw them.
There he was, looking as handsome as ever. His arm was lazily draped around another girl's arm. Sophie stood there, her body trembling. Was she supposed to go there and make a scene or stay there and suffer? The girl was beautiful. Her blonde hair, dazzling blue eyes, tanned skin. She was the exact definition of perfect. Sophie didn't do anything. She just stood there and watched Howl laugh and say "Coffee and treats on me for the most gorgeous girl ever." The girl was giggling. That horrible giggling.
She felt her eyes drop a few tears. Then she ran. Away from him. Away from everybody. She didn't need anyone. She needed no one. She was strong.
Sophie went back to the house and dropped her basket on the table. "Sophie, something wrong?" A worried voice asked, Calcifer. Sophie didn't reply, she let her tears be the answer. She ran out again, she didn't need him. He obviously didn't need her. She was just another one.
Moments later, actually hours, the wonderful Howl finally returned. He looked like he won the lottery. "Hey, Cal." He greeted. Calcifer didn't answer and continued burning a log. "Snob." He jokingly said and went upstairs. He walked past Markl's door until he heard Markl crying. Hard. Howl was shocked, he never saw Markl cry. He went in Markl's room and asked "Markl, what's wrong?" Markl looked up at him with his swollen red eyes. "YOU!" Markl yelled. "Huh?" Howl said, confusion laced every letter.
"You made Sophie cry! And now she left us! SHE LEFT US! It was all because of you! You're so selfish!" With that, Howl's guilt turned into something more..
-Lana
Hey, this is my first story... Be kind. :)
