It's the next day and I'm at school. Hikaru starts poking me, trying to get my attention. "What is it?" I ask him, annoyed. "I'm trying to do my work." I turn to face him to see what he wants. "Most of the girls here are guests at the host club, so why aren't you?" He asks me. "Well, it's just not my cup of tea." I answer. "Why not?" He persists. "Well, to be frank, I think it's pointless. Not to mention pretty stupid." I answer honestly. "Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine this morning?" He retorts, sarcastically. "Oh, because you are always so pleasant, right?" I shoot back.
He turns around and faces the representative, who is now in the front of the class. So now he wants to pay attention. The class rep. is talking about some new project we're doing. "To encourage unity between the classes, we are doing a joint-project with classes 2-A and 3-A. The point is to get to know more people, so try not to pick people you already know. There will be four to a team, two from this class, and two from another class." He says. Great, exactly the kind of project where everyone picks their friends, and I never fit into that equation.
Everyone scrambles to find a partner, and I soon find Kaoru leaning against my desk. What does he want? "Hey Aislin, would you be my partner?" That's sort of surprising, as I didn't expect anyone to want to be in my group. "Hikaru and Haruhi are a group, and I need a partner." He explains. "Sure" I say. "The second and third years will be coming right now to pick the rest of the group." He tells me. I haven't talked to him much, but he doesn't seem to be that much like his brother, other than looks of course.
Classes 2-A and 3-A come pretty soon after that. It seems like only some of the students came to our class; most of them probably don't want to group with first-years. I see Haruhi and Hikaru quickly join with two second years. A blond one, that I think I've seen before, and a smart-looking guy wearing glasses. The blonde says something about a family-group. Are they related? I turn to Kaoru to ask when I see he's over talking to some third-years, so I go to join him. "Aislin, these are third-years Takashi Morinozuka and Mitsukuni Haninozuka, would you mind grouping with them?" I shake my head 'no'. I think I have seen Takashi before, but I'm not sure. He looks pretty mysterious, and serious. I'm also tempted to ask if Mitsukuni is really a third-year, but that would be rude.
"Most people just call me Hunny, though, and they call him Mori!" Mitsukuni says cutely. He looks and acts like he should be in elementary school. I wonder if he was put ahead in school at we have our groups, a teacher begins to announce what our project will be. "Every group must design, make, and sell a product on campus. The product may be anything you like, however it must be completely original. The group that sells the most products wins."
This is an interesting project. After it is explained, we each get a little space to work on our project. My group is sharing the abandoned 'Music Room 3' with one other group. It's a big enough room, lots of space to work. However I have been told that this is also the place where the Host Club meets. Of course it is.
The room is divided in half, to give each team privacy, and we start to brainstorm ideas. "Our project should be something that benefits the other students, or helps them in some way." I throw out, and Kaoru nods "That way more people will buy it." He adds. "If it works." Mori says. I think this is the first time I've heard him say anything. I suppose Kaoru and I look confused, because Hani elaborates on this for him. "I think he means that we can't focus on making it look nice, we also need to make sure it's effective." I think that, no matter what he says, Hani makes everything sound cute; like a five year-old. Mori nods, "Yes." He doesn't say much, does he?
We take down notes on everything that's said, and decide this is all we'll do for the day. We have some ideas, but we're still not sure what our product will be. School ends and I go to the front of the school, where my driver is already waiting for me. I notice Mori sitting on a bench, waiting for someone, and I realize he was there yesterday too. He looks at me and I wave to him, before getting in the car.
When I get home Dad is already waiting for me. "How was your day?" He asks. "It was good, we're working on a group project." "Oh, that's nice. Who is in your group?" he seems very curious about this, and I answer hesitantly. "Kaoru Hitachiin, Takashi Morinozuka, and Mitsukuni Haninozuka. Why?" He ignores my question. "Are they friends of yours? If not, you'd do well to make the so." They must be important families or something, because Dad has entered business mode. This happens often: me having to befriend someone, or at least make them like me, because their parents are business associates or just important people. I got used to this, and it became the main reason I'm nice to most people.
"So, what is this project about?" Mum chimes in, I didn't even notice she was in the room until now. "Well, we have to successfully manufacture and sell a product on campus." I explain, I also tell them some of the ideas we've been coming up with. Dad compliments every one, but I'm not sure if he's being sincere, or if he just doesn't want to insult me. Dad expects me to carry on his business one day-and I suppose I probably will- however at the moment I don't want to. I've often wished that I had an older sibling, for many reasons but mainly to have someone to look up to, or spend time with. Now I have another reason to add to the list: so I can be who I want. I wish there was someone else to take on the expectations of my father, someone else to be the 'perfect child'.
I often hear adults tell my parents that, that I am the "perfect child". I often would plan to be rebellious and ruin something that was important to Dad, however I realized that I wouldn't gain anything from that, only loose. I don't think there is a "perfect child" out there, only an obedient and personality-less one. I think this, because if you spend your time pleasing others, you lose who you are. I'm such a hypocrite.
And yet, I don't know if I'll ever be able to change that. I put up this "perfect" appearance, as I always have, to please other people-namely my parents. I'm afraid that if they could read my mind, even this thought now, they would find that a very different girl lies underneath the perfection. A girl that is very imperfect. A girl that questions everything and everyone around her. A girl that thinks differently than society (and is therefore wrong). A girl who thinks suck fowl things about society, authority, and people in general. A girl that grew up way to fast. A girl that wishes she hadn't matured, who wants to be childish and have fun. A girl who is trapped. A girl who no one has ever seen, but many have met. This girl is the real Aislin Monique Reid. Nobody knows her, though. All they know is the Aislin that is pretty, perfect, kind, and obedient. What they don't know is that a completely different person lies behind her emerald-green eyes, someone strange.
"You should go do your homework." Mum says, waking me from my day-dream like state. Did they notice I was deep in thought? What did they assume I was thinking about? i go to my room and do my homework.. A maid brings me my dinner to my room. She tells me that my parents will be out this evening, and all of tomorrow. That's just great. Something else strikes me, is the same maid as yesterday. I remember that I wanted to ask her what her name was. "Would you sit, and talk with me for a moment?" I ask, and she looks confused, but does sit down. "Have I done something wrong?" She asks me, of course that's what she thought.
"No, I'd just like to talk for a moment. Do you know where my parents are going?" I knew she didn't. They probably don't want me to know, although I don't see why. "You know, I never caught your name, and I see you so often, but I don't know what to call you." I say. "My name is Sophia." She says softly. She has a very gentle voice, and I think it fits her personality. "That's a lovely name." I say, honestly. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but how did you come to work for my family?" I ask, actually pretty curious. "Well, I knew your mother when she lived in France, and when she got married and decided to move to Ireland, she took me with her. See, she knew I needed work, so she convinced your father to hire me." She finishes.
"That's nice," I say, "but why work as a maid? Doesn't it bother you, serving someone else like that?" It seems like it would bother her. "Not really. Essentially, everyone works for someone else. There's always someone above you. And this way, I do get the nice room that comes with it." She laughs. "Besides, I quite like you and your family. You're kinder than most rich people." I think that was a compliment. I think about this for a minute. She has probably the worst job-at least in my opinion- and yet she's still so grateful for it. I really admire that. I talk to Sophia for a while, getting to know her. I like her, she's a really nice person. I guess I fell asleep talking to her, because next thing I know it's morning.
I eat breakfast alone, just like I did dinner. I go to school as usual. When I get there, I accidentally run into Mori-literally. "I am so sorry!" I say as I back up. "No problem." He says, and then it's pretty awkward. Suddenly I remember the last time I say him. He was sitting on a bench in front of the school, he was the day before too. "Mori-senpai?"I begin, "Why were you waiting after school for so long?" He looks kind of surprised at my question, but answers anyway. "My younger brother is in the middle school. I wait for him." He says. "Oh, that's nice! I didn't know you had a brother." The bell rings to go to class.