Chapter 3: Start of something new
I thought this year will be like the other three years of my life in high school. School, study, no problem, school, study, no problem. But what's this?
I can hear my teacher and my classmates coughing. It's not an epidemic disease okay? It's just that I ruined..more like destroyed our TLE kitchen.
***TLE: Technology and Lively hood Education***
"Ms. Hanazono!" yelled by Ms. Lee—our TLE teacher. 33 years old. Old maiden.
"Y-yes ma'am." I slowly stood up. Before the explosion happened, I immediately hid in the table. I knew that this thing would happen.
"How many times would I tell you, not to panic when you're cooking!" She looked angry now.
"Im really sorry ma'am". I bowed my head.
"I know that you can fix this mess, but please.." she stopped. Well, I already know what she is trying to say.
"..or else, I will give you an F! Class dismiss." Then she immediately got out from the room. I bet, she will fix herself since her face were full of black coal.
I sighed. Remember? I need to get straight A's! I don't know why I never learned how to cook. I already had a thousand of tutors for cooking. Some of them were professional cooks, but one thing is the same. Everybody of them gave up on me and quitted. I never thought that this thing will be the biggest problem of my life! I saw Kei in the corner of my eye, He is leaning in the wall. Reading. All of sudden he looked at me. What now? Like I care!
"You alright?". Akira asked. One of my classmates. But I consider her one of the closest friend I had in my entire high school life.
"Yeah. Thanks for asking". I half smiled.
Three girls pass by. "Who would have thought that, the most intelligent girl in the campus, doesn't know..More like suck in cooking". Then she laughed, and so with the other two girls she had with.
I wasn't angry or shocked of what they did. This is the first time they insulted me right in front of my face but I know that they already insulted my behind my back. They are fakers. They discovered my weak point so they had the courage to do that.
"Hey, aren't you gonna fight back?". Akira asked.
"No. I'd rather think about my problem." I said, coolly. I smiled at those girls. They walked out.
"Good!"
"The problem is, where do you think will I find a good cook who's willing to teach me whatever may happen, no matter how long the time that I will learn?"
"Uhhhhhh…"
"Yeah you don't have to say it, its completely hopeless."
"Who knows? An angel will save you.."
"Right! an angel". I laughed.
_The next day_
"Oh my! You didn't say that you're good in cooking." The teacher complimented Kei.
Kei smiled.
Darn. If only he wasn't an ill-mannered guy I would say that we can be good friends.
"Class dismiss".
I closed my fists. Why do I feel like im insecure? Arg! I stood up from my chair then suddenly Akira came rushing over me.
"What's with that grin?". I asked.
"I think, I already found a solution on your problem". She said. She was more excited than I.
"What? I mean who?"
"Kei Takishima".
"…" Haaaahh?
"Hey! You okay?"
"yeah, yeah.."
"So what do you think?"
"NO".
"Why?" She was disappointed.
"It cant be, we aren't friends."
"You're kidding..The both we're practicing acting on the first day of school right?"
So she still remembered that. I sighed. It's funny that they believed it.
"Fine. Im just helping you. No matter what your decision is, I'll be out with it." She left.
She got a point. Why don't just forget all what happened and just start it a-a-a-a-a-a-all over again. Why not?.
After class, I went to library…and im with the most annoying person I my whole world—Kei. But still my mission is more important. Its already five minutes and still he wasn't talking. There was a long SILENCE.
"Can we be friends?" I asked. GREAT! Can we be friends? Nice start Hikari! Agh! What was that? Why do I feel like I wanna hit myself. I cannot take back what I said. All of a sudden, he started laughing.
"Now, if you don't want to its fine with me!"
"Wait—I was just amused okay? And what favor do you wanna ask?"
"Fav—" I paused. This guy. He's a mind reader.
"Alright! Mr. Takishima. I just want you to teach me how to cook." At last, I said it.
That face. It's obvious that he's preventing his self to laugh.
"Look. Im serious".
"Well, Ms. Hanazono, I cant"
"Give me valid reasons!"
"I don't want to and I don't want to."
"Please! Please! I will do everything, just teach me!" Yeah I know. In sounded so desperate. Wasn't I?
"EVERYTHING?"
"hmmm…"
"Then Im sorry.."
"FINE! Im gonna do EVERYTHING just to make you say yes."
"Repeat it."
"Okay. I know there's something you want me to do. What?" But before he could speak I snapped. "no crazy things!"
"Don't yell."
"Im sorry"
"Be my personal assistant for one month."
"SAY WHAT?" I was jaw dropped.
"You heard it right."
"wait, wait, wait, wait..You want me to be your slave?"
"I said personal assistant."
I ignored what he said.
"I said no crazy things!" He's really testing my patience.
"Its my best not crazy idea that popped in my mind. Its not my fault." He said. Looking at me like an innocent kid.
"NO"
"Okay." Then he acted like he really doesn't care. Was it just me? Why do I see these words: okay-im-just-gonna-watch-your-grades-sink written all over his face. I realized whether he speak or not, just by having his presence makes me sick. Such an annoying brat!
Take it or leave it. I asked myself. I can see that there was no other option. It's just answering a question whether you like it or yes. I cant blame myself. Cooking is really my weakness.
"Wait. I'll do it."
"Start tomorrow!" he said. What was that? He's really making fun of me.