The Letter: Part Three
Kuwabara entered the cafeteria. His eyes darting from corner to corner to look for Ana as he got a sandwich and a soda from the counter.
He found her sitting alone at the table near the exit. He quickly walked at the table just behind her back and sat. His friends followed him.
"This isn't our 'table'." His friend said. They have their 'table' at the other side of the canteen. Not that it is really their table, it was sort-of theirs because they always eat there and no one dared to occupy it besides them.
"Let's eat here for a change." Kuwabara said simply.
"I know what you're up to." Said his friend as he looked at Ana's direction.
"Shh…" Kuwabara said, signaling his friend to keep his voice down. Ana is within hearing range.
"I knew it. She has the green eyes, huh" His friend teased.
"Hey, c'mon. She might hear you" Kuwabara whispered loudly.
"Okay, okay." He was grinning at Kuwabara's flushed face.
Kuwabara saw two of his girl classmates joined Ana. He and his friends fell silent as they try to make out the ongoing conversation at the next table.
"Hi Ana" Greeted the first one with the freckled cheeks.
"Can we sit with you" Said the other with the crooked teeth.
Ana nodded. Her face bearing no expression that she welcomes them.
She hates this place. It was only her second day at her new school and she was already despising everything about it. Actually, she didn't need to see the school to despise it; she had already hated it before she ever set foot on its grounds.
And she hates the people. The boring teachers and her classmates, especially the two who had just joined her for lunch. She had already forgotten their names. After all, she didn't pay any attention to them when they introduced themselves. They have been bugging her ever since yesterday. Telling her that they would like to be her friends.
"Ana, you are what everyone one is talking about." Declared the crooked teeth as she placed her tray on table.
"Yeah. You know why" Freckled face asked.
Ana just looked at her but didn't say anything.
"Koji likes you" Crooked teeth said excitedly as both of them finally sat at the table.
Ana didn't say anything. Instead she continued toying with the food on her plate.
"Aren't you flattered" Freckled face asked.
Ana shot her an annoyed look.
"And you know what's more exciting than that" Crooked teeth said looking like she was about to deliver the most exciting news in the whole world.
Prince William just died? Ana thought.
"We think Koji is going to ask you to be his girlfriend" Crooked teeth exclaimed. Freckled face nodded exaggeratedly, smiling at her crazily.
That was it?
"You should be flattered. Koji is probably the MOST good-looking guy in this school" Freckled face said.
"And the richest." Crooked teeth added.
And both of you look stupid. Ana retorted silently. She tried hard not to say anything. She's near snapping. And when she snapped, only the heavens know what she's capable of doing.
"Oh my God" Crooked teeth with her hands flying to her chest, as if God just showed his face up.
"What" Freckled face asked.
"Ana! Quick! Koji's looking at you! No, he's staring at you" Crooked teeth said excitedly.
"Oh my God, those eyes could kill" Freckled face remarked.
Ana looked at Koji's direction. The boy was looking at her alright. And smiling stupidly. Sure, he is cute. But he looks like an ass.
She returned her attention to her food. She continued playing with it and silently cursing the whole place.
"Oh my God" Ana heard one of them says again.
One more "Oh my God" and I'm going to strangle your neck! Ana is already boiling inside.
"Oh my God, Koji's walking towards us" Exclaimed the other one.
"Okay, that's it" Ana finally broke. But before she could continue, Koji was already in front of her. Handing a piece of paper to her.
"What's that" Ana asked in an irritated voice.
"A letter." Koji asked. Giving her an all-boyish smile. She heard freckled face and crooked teeth giggled.
"So"
"It's a letter for you." Koji said.
"Why are you giving me a letter" She asked annoyingly.
"Uhmm... Because girls like receiving letters from guys." Koji answered. She was right about him. He's an ass. A big ass.
"No. GIRLIES like receiving letters from guys. Some GIRLS don't find that amusing." Ana corrected him in a voice loud enough to make heads turn at them.
"Girls, girlies. They sound the same to me." Koji reasoned. He smiled at her apologetically. He thought that smile would do the trick; it usually works with other girls.
"No. They are not. There are two kinds of girls: The girlie-girls and the plain girl-girls. I'm a sub-specie of the second kind. And I don't find letters amusing, or that stupid smile on your face. Quit it or I'll kick your ass" Ana finally snapped.
"You want a teddy bear instead" Koji offered a little unsure. People are already listening to them and he can't be embarrassed.
"You just don't know when to stop, do you" Ana yelled as she stood up. She snatched the letter from Koji's hand, crumpled it and tossed it on her plate.
"I'm no Juliet, Romeo. If I were you, I'll write another one of those and give it to crooked teeth or freckled face here." She said as she pointed her finger at freckled face and crooked teeth.
She saw Koji, freckled face and crooked teeth reddened with embarrassment. Satisfied that she had done enough damage. She got her backpack and quickly walked out of the cafeteria.
She snapped, that's what happened. And the damage she had just done is nothing compared to the catastrophes she did with her other schools for the past 4 years.
And she usually doesn't simmer down that easily, she's going to take her anger out to the one responsible for all of it. She thought silent treatment would make his father take her seriously. But she can't keep silent anymore; it was obvious her father didn't get what she was trying to prove.
She found her way to the school's parking lot where her driver is waiting for her. She quickly instructed him to drive her home. She was cutting classes, but she didn't care. After all, she plans to be out of this school in no time.
It was a thirty-minute drive from her new school to the house her father's company provided them when he got transferred here. The house wasn't as big as the ones she had lived in for the past years, but for a family of two with a dozen of housekeepers, it was extremely huge.
She tried to slam the door shut as she entered. But the door didn't banged, it was too heavy.
She dropped her backpack as soon as the door closed quietly behind her. She walked purposely towards the grand stairs. She took off her shoes and socks as she walked, leaving a trail of her things behind her. One of the new housekeepers picked everything she drops on the floor.
"Where's my father" She asked aloud addressing her question to no one in particular. Someone is bound to answer her.
"In his study, Ms. Ana." The housekeeper said politely.
"Where is his study" Ana asked.
"End of the hall at the second floor." The maid said.
Ana found her way to his father's study. She slammed the door shut as she entered. This time, the door closed with a bang, making her father and his associate look at her.
"I'm on a business meeting, honey." Her father said.
"I need to speak with my father." She told his colleague, ignoring what her father had just said.
She saw her father nod at his associate. The associate-guy went straight to the door leading to an adjoining room.
"Don't call me honey. It makes me sick." Ana said as soon as her father's coworker was out of earshot.
"You disturbed an important meeting, now what do you want" Her father asked in his business tone.
"I want to go back to my aunt." She said.
"You can't go back there. You are staying here." Her father declared.
"I don't want to stay here" She yelled.
"Give the place a chance. Make some friends. Do normal stuff." Her father argued.
"And then what? You'll just tell me to pack up my bags because you suddenly got transferred again just as when I am starting to enjoy it here? That's not going to happen again, father"
She stopped calling her otoo-san four years ago when he and her aunt had a big fight and he decided to take Ana wherever he went.
Her mother died when she was giving birth to her. Ever since then, her aunt who was also their next-door neighbor took care of her.
Her father would usually be gone for five months or so and would leave Ana to her aunt. He would send postcards often and would drop by for a visit once in two months. After the five months, he would go home and stayed for a week and would fly again somewhere to be gone for another five months or so.
She adapted to the situation. After all, it was what she has grown up with. She had enjoyed her life. Sure, she wasn't close to her father. But she believed he loves her. Her aunt and his father's postcards constantly assure her of that.
But all of that change when her father and aunt had a big fight. She wasn't able to find out what it was all about. But she hated it. Her father decided to take her with him wherever he goes. And they don't stay in one place long enough for her to enjoy her time.
"I want to go back to my aunt." She said again when his father didn't say anything.
"You're twelve, you don't know what you want." Her father said.
"I'm FOURTEEN, father! FOURTEEN! If I'm born 1000 years ago, I'll be having 2 children right now! I KNOW WHAT I WANT" She hollered.
"We'll talk about this next time. I have a meeting to finish." Her father said ending their conversation.
Ana can't believe her ears. Her father is dodging her arguments again. But she didn't retort anything. She just left his study stomping her foot.
He never took her seriously. He never listened to her. What she thinks never mattered. She despises him with every bit of her heart. She was already crying when she headed for her room.