FALSE IDENTITY – Chapter One

"Oh my freaking gosh! This uniform is in dire need of modifications," Shirley complains in Japanese as she puts on Seigaku's girls' uniform. "Can school uniforms get even more boring?"

I carefully put on mine without complaint. "Well, whose idea was it to study in Seigaku, neh? Oh right! It was yours."

She pretends she didn't hear it. "I am itching to show off my tennis skills. Aren't you just dying to let them hear your music?"

I scoff. "Yeah, I'm dying, alright," I say sarcastically. "Why don't we grab some breakfast and walk to school? It's going to take some time getting used to."

"Wait! I still have to remember myself." She looks at her reflection in the mirror and smiles. "I'm Shirley Charbonnet for New York, USA. I'm sixteen years' old. My parents are Franklin Charbonnet and Louise Charbonnet. I have a younger sister and an older brother. Also, I play tennis." She faces me. "What's your name?"

I sigh. "I'm Annalise Charbonnet. You can call me Anne. I'm fifteen years' old. My parents are Franklin and Louise Charbonnet. My older sister is Shirley Charbonnet and my older brother is Ned Charbonnet. I like to create and play music."

Shirley clasps her hands together. "Perfect! Now, let's go!"

I nervously enter the room. The teacher looks at me expectantly. "You must be the new student," she states. The class stares at me.

"Yes," I reply in Japanese. "I'm Annalise Charbonnet. My sister and I just arrived from America last week. It's a pleasure being here in Seigaku. Please take care of me." I bow down in greeting.

The teacher, who introduces herself as Miyano-sensei, smiles. "Do you have difficulty speaking in Japanese, Anne?"

I shake my head. "Not really. We were taught how to read, write, and speak in Japanese."

"I see. Just to make sure, I'm seating you beside an English speaking student. Echizen Ryoma, please raise your hand."

A boy with black-green hair lazily raises his hand. Miyano-sensei nods at me and I take this as a sign for me to sit on the vacant seat beside him. I do. Some students still stare at me from time to time in between lectures.

It seems that the first subject is biology, one of my weak points. Even though our tutor would explain how meiosis works over and over again, I still wouldn't get it. Fortunately, the class is still in the components of a cell.

Miyano-sensei gives us some papers to answer for the rest of the period. She says the papers will be due tomorrow. I lazily tap my pen on the paper while I go over the questions and write my answers.

What is a cell?

A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.

I finish answering the questions in a few minutes and review my answers. I look around the room, watching some of my classmates furrow their brows over the questions. Some were opening their books and frowning. I therefore conclude the answers are not found in the book. I frown.

"Do you need help in answering the questions? You look troubled," my seat mate asks.

I gently shake my head. "I'm done answering. Thank you, nonetheless."

"I'm Echizen Ryoma," he says. "And you are?"

"Annalise Charbonnet. It's a pleasure meeting you." I finally look at him and smile. "Call me Anne, though. I insist."

"Hmm. How many siblings do you have?"

"Two. An older brother and older sister. Ned's in college while Shirley's here with me. She's planning on joining the tennis team. Good for her."

"Why? Don't you play tennis?"

I shake my head. "I never had the chance to play tennis. It seems to be a very interesting game. Shirley says so herself."

"There will be a ranking match today. Will your sister be joining?"

I beam. "You bet she is! It's the main reason why she chose to study here."

Classes were over and I make my way to my locker. I find Shirley in her tennis attire right next to my locker. "So, how do I look, Anne?"

"Classy," I reply, opening my locker and stuffing my books inside. "How long will the ranking matches be?"

"Not to worry. It'll be over before you know it. Why don't you wait for me and we'll go home together?"

"That'd be nice but I really don't want to stay and do nothing."

"Then join the ranking matches! I brought an extra racket and some spare clothes just in case."

"You know I don't know how to play tennis!"

"Of course you do! As long as you know how to run, hold a racket properly, and do a forehand and backhand correctly, you won't embarrass yourself. Trust me, Anne. You'll do just fine."

"I can run. Forehand? Backhand? I don't know those things!"

"Then I'll teach you! You're a fast learner, Anne. You'll pick up. Now change into these." She rummaged through her duffel bag and gives me her spare clothes. "Go change."

"You look amazingly stunning," Shirley says as I step out of girls changing room. "Okay. We have an hour left before the ranking matches begin and there's an available court in Block B." She throws me a racket which I clumsily catch. "No time for being clumsy, Anne. Time's ticking. We have to move."

Shirley teaches me the ropes of playing tennis while I try to digest everything she's saying and copy every stance she's doing. An hour passes and she grins at me. "I never knew I could actually make a good tennis coach."

I grimace. "I never knew I could actually play tennis. Well, not in this life at least." We walk to Block A where the announcements will be made.

We were shock to see both boys and girls participate. "I thought there are two tennis teams – each for the boys and girls." Shirley shakes her head in disbelief. "The more the merrier they say."

My face turns white. "No way am I making a fool of myself here. So much for a good first impression. Shirley, you can't expect me to join. I'd rather wait for you in the bleachers."

She pats my back. "Don't worry, Anne. You'll do great. Who cares if you'll mess up? We're just regular kids, here and not royalty. Besides, do you think I'll let you put my teachings to waste?"

My legs feel like jelly as I hold the ball in hand. It's my turn to serve and I throw the ball in the air. I wait for it to descend at a certain height before hitting it hard to the other side of the court.

The girl I'm playing up against misses the ball, much to my demise. Her braids are blocking her sight.

"15-Love!"

Another ball is thrown at me and I catch it. I do another serve and this time the girl hits it back. We continue hitting the ball back and forth before she loses her balance and trips over nothing.

I run to her and help her up. "Are you hurt?" I ask. I notice an angry red mark on her knee and take out a band-aid from my pocket. "Here. This will help ease the pain but we still have to wash your wound."

The umpire runs to us and asks if she's okay. He sees the wound and calls one of her friends to bring her to the infirmary.

"Thank you," the girl says. "You played really well."

"You, too." I nod at her and we shake hands. Her friend pulls her away and I watch them go.

The umpire was left with no choice but to declare me the winner by default. I blush. Can't they see that I'm a total amateur? I just had a crash course from my sister.

I get to win a few more games before I'm defeated by a guy who does acrobatic tennis. It turns out that he's a regular. No wonder he's strong.

He suddenly gives me a bone-crushing hug after the game. "You played great. I had to think hard to outsmart you. How long have you been playing tennis?"

I politely pull myself away from him and smile. "You won't believe me but my older sister just gave me a crash course a few hours ago."

His eyes widen in disbelief. "You're joking! Our team could use your tactical skills. You could be the team manager or something. Coach would agree with me."

"What do you think were you doing with my sister?" Shirley's voice booms. "I saw that."

I shrug as she approaches us. "How did your game go?" I ask. "This guy's a regular. He just defeated me and wouldn't believe that you gave me a crash course in tennis a few hours ago."

"Hence the hugging?" She eyes him suspiciously. "I don't think so."

"I'm Kikumaru Eiji," he says as he stretches his hand towards Shirley. "I'm a regular and hopefully, I still will be. Your sister will make a good team manager."

Shirley shakes his hand and smiles. "You have no idea. She likes things to be squeaky clean and in order." She turns to me and gives me a thumbs-up. "I made it to the team. Although the team's heterogeneous, it's cool."

Eiji blinks. "How did you know you're part of the team already! That's no fair! They won't be posting the names of the members until tomorrow."

Shirley winks. "I got to fish out some information from the umpires." She laughs evilly. "You made it too, Kikumaru Eiji. They're still debating whether or not to include Anne. Am I a good coach or what!"

I shake my head. "Whatever. Please excuse my sister for her sudden outbursts of insanity."

Shirley wouldn't stop bragging about how good she was until we got home. "I'm serious, Anne! There's a possibility you'll make it to the team."

"Nonetheless, I'd decline. My knowledge is limited to the basics. I'm a useless team member. I'm not ready for some rigid physical training."

"You don't know what you'll be missing. I'll get half of your weekly allowance," she threatens.

I sigh. "Fine."