The wind howls as the students arrive through the gates, hustling and bustling down the corridors. Friends are greeting each other with a hug or a playful punch while newcomers stand looking scared. The seniors stand, tall and proud, confidence born of experience. Soon the bells ring and everybody runs except an occasional slowcoach or chatterbox.

Everyone who has ever attended school heard of this name once

“Bully”

“Hey dork! Give me your money!”

The male student dropped his knees, giving him everything he wants.

In the corridors, a teacher stood in front of a group of students with different style of uniform.

“Can you wear your uniform properly?”

“At least I wear my uniform” that guy from my class never skip a word.

Because of someone else's standards, some kids got called bullies. Those who didn't get good grades, but speak loudly.

“Buy me Soya Milk, stray cat!!” he slapped the nerd’s head. James, the retarded student who always alone. James looked up with a pair of pity eyes, looking for a mercy. Soon, the big guy Dennis slapped his head one more time until his glasses fell off from his head. Nobody dares to speak up for James, because that Dennis person is the bad guy in this school, everyone scared of him, except…

A student stood up from his afternoon nap with squeaky sounds of the table moved, his name is Ross, sitting right behind James. Not the bully, but the one I told you earlier, the one who doesn’t get good grades but dare to speak louder.

“Can you stop? I want to take a nap”

Dennis clicked his tongue, laughing wickedly, “So you want to be a hero?” he shook his head as he giggles “Wanna have some gay parties after school with him? Huh?” poking James’ cheek. James head down, doesn’t dare to speak a word.

Ross scoffed, “You have legs and arms, or do you need somebody to break it?”

“YOU!” Dennis pulled his collar and clenched his fist. At the same time, Jimmy stops him. Inside the class, students are watching, like enjoying a reality show.

“Stay away or I’ll break your nose” spoke Jimmy.

“Arghh!” Dennis hit the wall and disappeared behind the door. “Coward!” Kendrick snickered as he walked past him.

That heroic scene doesn’t make me amazed or admires Ross, Jimmy, or Kendrick. For the girls, they are the flower boys. For me, they are just the school rules’ rebels.

(picture from: https://pin.it/6ytQUVa)

Ross is handsome, every girls in the school admires him a lot. He has a pair of black Korean eyes, full rosey lips and about 1,8 m tall. He has a tiny mole under his side of right eye. But I never think the same. Ross never studies or ever listen to the teacher. I have no idea how could he pass into this grade. Plus I don't like him because he is so arrogant.

(picture from: https://pin.it/6qc8H0v)

Jimmy is the class president. He is better between 2 of them, the student that always listen to the teacher. He is wearing a pair of glasses, complete tidy uniform and he is friendly. He has a tiny mole under his lips. Jimmy is the best basketball player in our school. But I never admire him even though he is the cutest among all… I guess? Just my opinion.

(picture from: https://pin.it/6faDJn5)

Kendrick, transferred student since 10th grade. He is the tallest among all, maybe because he practices Taekwondo? His hair dyed in light brown, his eyes are sharp and fierce. Nobody dares to lay a finger on him, he beat 2 bullies last year, ended up getting 2 months of detention.

Outside the class, Dennis blocks his way. But this time, he isn’t alone. Gaby waits just behind him, and Amanda the punk style female –student with hip jutted out leaning by the wall. Ross was just standing with hands on his pocket, he isn’t alone too. Kendrick stood beside him, and then Jimmy, the good, easygoing, decent, nice guy Jimmy, an athlete, a student, the class president.

The only thing everyone knows about Ross is –he hates troublemakers and bullies.

The halls are crowded with people, and the chaos is so perfect, like a movie, waiting for the next winner.

Dennis says, “I better not catch you staring at me again..or even disturb me” pointing finger at Ross.

“So?” Ross answered as he popped a bubblegum from his mouth. Dennis clenched his jaw. “You are dealing with the wrong person, Ross”

Ross sniffed a smile and says “Fagg*t”

Gaby shoves the books out from a girl passing beside them, slamming the book into Ross’ head. Ross didn’t say a word. The girl stood up froze, either want to take the book back or just stay away from the betta fish.

“Pick them up, btch” Ross said.

“Do you think I will take it?” Gaby sniggered.

“Sure” Ross walks past him and whispers, “Because in the end, you have no guts to fight me”. Oh, I forgot, Ross and Gaby have been sworn enemies since middle school, they fought a lot but Ross always win. So.. Gaby still has no guts to fight him back, cause he isn’t ready to lose. Pathetic.

The final bell rang for class to start. Students quickly rushed inside the classroom and the two groups of troublemakers has finally dispersed.

(picture from: https://pin.it/41Vr23q)

(Me, before I cut my bangs) (Me, first make up by mom)

Talking about me, I have never interested to be well –known like most female students want to be. I am just a regular teenage girl, nearly invisible, or I am already invisible. But I love how inconspicuous I am.

***

I dropped my school backpack on the floor and collapsed onto the couch. Mom asked how school had gone.

“Nothing special, mom”

Mom approaches me, sit down beside me “Baby, you have to make friends...”

“Mom, I am hungry” I cut her off, mom wants me to make friends but I hate socializing. I hate school and still prefer being at home, it isn’t because I don’t have any friend or my overwhelmed anti -social shyness, but I always think that I'm more mature than the other students. Mom smiles and stood up “I cook ham noodles today”. Mom doesn’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but she can cook very well. Ham noodle is her recipes and one of my favorite.

The moment I slide into my chair, I’m served with enormous platter of food. Omelette, ham noodles, and piles of fried potatoes. There's an elegant cup of orange juice, with Peppa Pig printed around the cup.

I tool a bite of the omelette, cheesy with dark leafy greens. I smile, “Mom, this is so good, what's the green stuff?”

Mom grin as she raised her brows, opening up her eyes, “Stinging nettle, chives and dandelion leaves”

I paused as if my thoughts had stopped entirely, after all I still don’t understand what did my mom mention, I know it only as SPICES.

“So, Irene” my mom chuckles.

“Hm?” I mumbled in question. Mom is in a good mood ever since she dates a guy she met from the café last year, Mr.Park. He is a foreigner, Korean. Moved from South Korea to Indonesia, a professor in this city, live with his only son. He is a single parent too, he lost his wife when gave birth to his son. I heard my mom said Mr.Park barely has quality time with his son, that's why he wants to find a loving mom for him. His son was raised by his grandmother until 10 in Korea, then moved to Indonesia with his father, which is strange for him. I heard he found it hard when he first arrived in Indonesia, because he can’t speak Indonesian or English at all. In 2 years he mastered both language. He must be a smart –*ss kind of kid. It would be okay if one day I have to live with him, since he is smart. Maybe he could help me out with my homeworks?

Talking about my mom, she is single since 5 years ago. Mom is still pretty even in her 50s, which she found it easy to attract man in her age. As long as my mom doesn’t date a younger man, I'm okay with it.

“Anything good to hear?” I asked, slurping down a bowl of noodles. Mom smiles sheepishly, she looks like a 17 years old girl who has a crush with her classmate.

Mom says, “Maybe Mr.Park will move in for a while” with a low chuckle.

Once I heard that words from my mom, I was choked by noodles. I poured water from the kettle and drink it.

Mom taps my back immediately, “Are you okay, Irene?”

I cleared my throat and begin talking again, did I misheard mom?

“What did you say mom?” I lifted an eyebrow.

“Mr.Park will move in?”

This is insane! “Mom?! Are you sure?” I raised my voice, mom is out of her mind!

“I heard his son is the same age as you, and both of you are going to the same school”

She is so excited when it comes to the topic about Mr.Park. The way her lips lifted upward. The way her dimples crinkle. The way her teeth are perfectly aligned. The warm glow her happiness gives.

I clicked my tongue, “It doesn’t matter mom, the thing is… Why move in?” I gave her a shrug.

“We plan to get married.. next year.. maybe..” she bit her lower lips “You don’t like it?” Ah, that puppy eyes. The only strategic she uses whenever I was about to say no, exclude when she sets me up for a date with her friend’s son. I never care about how she expresses.

“Stop it mom, I didn’t say anything”

“So? You agree??” her eyes shone in excitement.

“Yeaa..yeaa” I nod my head, the noodle became tasteless, I lost my appetite. I was very comfortable living with my mom alone. Still, at least I need a proper reason “But why? Again?”

“Mr.Park is renovating his house, so if we get married..” my mom exclaimed as she keeps on fidgeting her fingers. I like being alone with my mom, but my mom was never happy about it. She keeps on saying how she is going to be left alone when I got married which is impossible because I never interested in dating. Plus Mr.Park sounds nice, if my mom likes him that much then I'm happy for her. Am I doing the right thing?

“So, after renovating his house, all of us will move there?”

Mom nods her head. “Are you okay with that?”

I like to be alone, if there’s a brother in the house, then I have to share things with him. I hate it. I don’t like sharing, I am being too comfortable to be selfish.

“Irene?”

“Oh.. umm.. okay...okay mom”

“My good girl” she stood up and hug me like a 5 years old kid.

“Mom.. you make me blushed!”

Her chuckle is low and soft, “I like it when you blushed!” she pats my hair softly. Mom’s love is a bliss, a peace of my heart. But I never wanted a sibling. When I was 5, I remember my classmates talked about their mom’s pregnancy, how he or she admires their newly born baby brother or sister. When my mom asked me about having another baby, I never got to answer her, I ignored her.

Until the day Mr.Park arrived with a big luggage beside him.

“Hi” he greeted me, he is tall and chubby but not fat. He is also good looking, his smile is very calming, he seems nice and wise.

I greet him back nervously, “Hi”.

Then a younger man appeared. My eyes popped up wide.

ROSS?

He looks at me with an eyebrow quirked, like either he knows me or he doesn’t know me at all because I am just his invisible classmate.

But after all, this is a disaster.

We gathered in the living room after Mr.Park and Ross loaded their belongings into their own bedrooms, while I was playing with my computer.

We had little time for chit chat but Ross was just sitting on the couch busy with his phone. He hasn’t said a word since he arrived, doesn’t even pay attention at us.

“You two will get along together” Mr.Park said with a friendly smile on his face. “Can’t imagine how the two of them will grow up together!” mom said with a low chuckle. Talking about how the 2 of us will get along is making me sick. I rolled my eyes and moaned, “Mom”.

“Ah.. so” mom stood up. “Anything for dinner, Ken?” she gave a naughty smirk to her lover. Then he grinned at my mom, “Oh.. maybe Ross could drive Irene to the groceries and buy something for us to cook. So both of us could…”

Mom covered his mouth before he got to finish his words, as Ross just staring at his dad with poker face. This is so embarrassing, is that mean they are going to f*ck or something when we are not around? They sleep together but they still plan to f*ck in the living room? Is that what they are going to do?!

“Quality time..I mean I mean...for a while” Mr.Park stammered, what a terrible liar. I take a glance at Ross and Ross did the same. Mom angled him, he jumped a little and then he clears his throat and says “Ross and Irene”. Well this is not a good idea. I shook my head immediately and Ross starts talking, “Dad..” the first time he talks ever since he arrived.

“O O O” Mr.Park lifted a finger, acting silly. “You have to listen to your daddy, Ross” he added. Oh my god, he has just treated his 17 years old son like a 3 years old toddler. Ross exhales a harsh breath, he stood up and took the key from the countertop.

“Irene” my mom winked.

I rolled my eyes, “Mom…”

“Irene\~”

At last, I still listen to my mom. Imagine that I have to live the rest of my life with these people around me.

I followed him and slammed the door close. Ross clicked his key and his car sounds beep, yap new BMW, his father is a god damn rich professor. Buying BMW is like spending lunch for them.

Inside the car, he turned his engine on. Does he still thinks I am invisible even though there’s just 4 of us in the house?

“Hey” and now he looked at me in a cold way, scanning my face then…my chest. I narrowed my eyes, what’s wrong with him?

“YOUR –SEAT –BELT” he gave me a death glare.

“Oh”

He blew a harsh breath, “Do you think I am a pervert? To an ugly step sister like you?”

“Hey, what is wrong with you?” I can’t accept the word UGLY. I inherited my mom’s beauty even without make ups on, except my brows.

“Me?” he scoffed, “Nothing” how can he be so sarcastic to me.

At first, I thought I could fix my first impression towards him, but I was wrong, he is still the same annoying and rude. Me and Ross will never gonna make it, plus I hate him since the first day of his school –the 7th grade.

At the grocery store, this place is packed with people. Aisles would transform into traffic jams of people and shopping carts, and checkout lanes would be ten people deep and counting. When I was a very young girl around the age of five or six, I enjoyed going grocery shopping with my mom. Going to the grocery store was considered a major outing to me. In my eyes, the grocery store was a place in which adventures could happen. I was always amazed at the seemingly endless rows of groceries and household items inside the chain grocery stores we went to on our outings.

“Hey” a tap on my shoulder startled me.

“Are you kidding me?” he raised his voice, it’s Ross. I almost forgot I was with him all the way here.

I speak emotionally in whispers “You are the one that left me!”

He clicked his tongue, “You are too slow!”

We went to the fruits and vegetables area, Ross is checking his phone for the shopping list and put some vegetables inside the cart, he seems like getting used to this. Does he grocery –shopping alone every time? I’m even overwhelmed by vegetables and fruits; I don’t know how to differentiate leeks and lemongrass or peach and nectarine, I am the actual spoiled kid.

“Let me…” I was about to help him but he is really ignoring me.

Another desire that I have while in the grocery store is to have fresh cookies from the bakery. I look at the baker busy packing the cookies. But no, that man is going to insult me later. Hold it, Irene. Cookie later.

When I was a kid, cookies are unavoidable. I would beg and plead until mom bought me a warm and gooey M&M chocolate chip cookie. These are still my favorites! I love it when I bite down on this treat, and the chocolate immediately turned into liquid inside of my mouth.

“Hey! Frog princess!”

I tilt my head to Ross, I don’t think he will ever call me with my proper name.

Finally, Ross and I headed toward the checkout lanes. I was about to help him with the groceries bag, but he ignores me again. He gave me the ATM card and say “Keep this for me”.

After loading our groceries into the car, Ross slammed the trunk close and walking towards the driver seat.

Going to the grocery store was always a pleasure to me when I was a kid, but because once I came here with this man, the grocery stores left nightmares to me.

“What?” he gave me a death glare. I don’t remember do anything wrong to him.

Inside the car, we don’t even talk. The road is nearly empty near but low visibility made driving treacherous. I looked at Ross as he gazing straight ahead, only half-aware of a world outside the claustrophobic comfort of the car, his hands stroking the wheel, the almost soundless changing of the gears, the pattern of traffic lights. Can I turn the radio on?

“Arrived” he spoke as he turned the car off.

I was asleep because it was too boring inside the car, plus no music was played during our way, he is torturing me. Ross walking to the trunk and holds the groceries himself without waiting for me.

“Hey! Little princess! Please open the door for me! You are the key holder right?” he yelled from the far.

“Urghh” I moaned and get out from the car.

“Mom we are home” I said as I open the door widely for him.

“Dad I am home”

I am home? Am I still invisible? Even though I open the god –damn door for him?

“Hey!” both of them appeared from the kitchen. This two love birds are going to make my life more complicated, especially when I have to live in one roof with this guy, Ross.

He puts the groceries on the countertop.

“Take a bath, dear! Dinner served soon” my mom said.

We both walking in the same direction through the hallway, he tilted his head and paused, “Are you following me?” like I’m a criminal.

I turned my body and speak sarcastically “Hey this is my room” I point the door with my thumb. I don’t want to be rude, but this is my house.

“This is mine” he pointed right across my room.

What the hell is going on?

“Mom?” I yelled.

“Yes baby?”

“Mom, why Ross’ room is in front of mine? We have a lot of rooms in the house”

“Baby, Ross is your brother” mom replied, followed by the sizzling sound of the pan. Oh no, this is so annoying. When I lifted my head looking at him, he is just poker facing me –flat and –emotionless.

I slammed the door close and throw myself to the bed. At least I have my own heaven, my room is where I spend my beautiful lonely life. Painted in blue like the color of the sky. I drew the clouds around the wall with paintbrush when I was still in Junior High School, never get bored of this theme. I looked up to the ceiling of my room. Watching the moon shaped lamp above me. I have no idea how could I ask my mom to buy that moon shaped lamp inside the morning themed room.

ping ping ping ping

I tilted my head to the blinking phone on bedside table.

“Oh..” I sit up abruptly and grab my phone immediately.

I LOVE YOUR STORY! UPDATE MORE!

This chapter is driving me crazy! Still waiting for another chapter\~

AUTHOR! I LOVE YOU!

UPDATE MORE MORE MORE!

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I may be the most introverted human –being in my school, in my house, anywhere in public. But in the internet, I am so f*cking famous.

I earn money from writing novels online, people love my works, they even want more and more every time I update the story. My mom knows about how I earn extra money from this and I told her to not tell anyone. Nobody knows the writer is me.

Writing story is a fun thing for me since I was a kid, especially when it comes to a Sci-fi, Horror, Thriller stuffs, mostly with mystery in it. Romance? Nah, in my 17 years living, I've never experienced fall in love before. I hate men, but I am not lesbian. I just hate how my mom being betrayed.

I never tell anyone about this, but I ever sneak into the kitchen at midnight and spit inside the bottle of whisky. When I woke up in the next morning, the bottle is empty, saw 2 empty glasses with whisky smell on the countertop. I feel so f*cking awesome. I was just 7 that time, young and cunning.

In my age of 11, I know what c*ndom is. Mom explained them to me, because I heard it from my classmates and was curious that time so ask my mom.

When I found a new c*ndom in my living room, I took a needle and stab it several times, nobody will ever notice the tiny pierce I made. A day later, after my dad left the house with his b*tch, I saw the c*ndom wrapper in the dustbin, the c*ndom I stabbed. Then I heard my mom speaking to my dad, like few months later. “I told you! Even protection isn’t safe at all!” my mom yelled in depression.

“I MADE HER PREGNANT SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?!”

“GO TO HELL HENRY!” my mom yelled and slammed the door.

And then, I don’t know how they solve that pregnant problem. But yeaa, she is just a b*tch, she’ll deal with it anyway.

My dad never give up f*cking b*tches. In my age of 12, I found his flight ticket with his name and a woman name Rebecca, which isn’t my mom of course. I took the flight ticket and burn it in my backyard. 2 days later my dad busy looking for his tickets.

He looks so depressed, “The flight is today! I have business! An important business!”

Mom ignored him, mom knows his business is b*tches.

Talking about bullies. I did bully my dad, the difference is; he doesn’t know about it at all.

bip bip bip bip bip bip bip bip

The rambunctious blaring of the alarm jarred me out of my peaceful sleep and I jolted up, smashing the snooze button from the screen as hard as I possibly could. I turn my body, looking up to the ceiling of my room where I can see a moon shaped lamp was hanging. I hate school.

I sit up and brush my hair, then I put my Peppa Pig slippers on, walking lazily to my wardrobe. I hate school uniforms.

I clicked the door open, at the same time I saw a tall white man doing the same in the opposite way.

ROSS?

I was startled by a man in the house. No, two men. I almost forgot Mr.Park and his son moved in.

Mom is preparing our breakfast inside the lunch box. Mr.Park is talking on his phone. I sit on the couch playing with my phone while Ross is busy looking for his car key.

“Irene?”

“Yes mom?” as my eyes still looking at my phone.

“Get ready! You are going to school with Ross”

My eyes popped up wide looking at my mom, “Mom? You used to..”

“Yes, but you are going with Ross starting from today”

I am beyond speechless. “Mom” I pouted.

Mom pulls my arm and dragged me to the front door while Ross busy checking his tires with bag shifted on his shoulder.

“But mom...”

Mom ignores me, “Ross! Irene is ready”.

Ross turned around, waving at my mom.

“Quick! You gotta be late” she implied.

This is so f*cking awkward, Ross turned his car on. “SEATBELT” he said as his eyes busy looking for the surroundings, switching gears and step on the gas pedal. I do as what he said, again, without music or radio on. I gaze through the window, watching the neighborhood and trees passing. I can’t believe I go to school with the famous dork at school. I don’t want people find out about my mom and his dad’s relationship, but what is the other better reason for us?

We walk separately starting from the parking lot, taking the different direction. Inside the school, along the hallways, I could feel everyone’s eyes are on me. Especially girls, some of them staring me with disgust, I can hear a few people murmuring as their eyes are on me.

Then outside the classroom, a girl blocked my way. I lifted my head and saw her looking at me fiercely, she isn’t alone, there are two girls standing between her –Yaya and Cate. The fierce looking girl in the middle is Sierra, the queen bee, the most beautiful student in this school, they say. She has long and wavy hair, her eyes are big and pretty, she has a pointed nose complete with her full sexy lips. She is a cheerleader, dancer, the barbie of the school.

And now she seems like messing up with me.

“Are you Irene?”

How does she know my name?

I really don’t want to get in trouble. She wants me to follow her but then Ross stopped right in front of me. Everyone is watching, gasping, shocked and start talking to their friends again as their eyes are still on me, Ross and Sierra. I think I am really in a big trouble.

“Ross?” Sierra smiles, a beautiful smile, I guess she is trying her best but then Ross was distracted by Kendrick, who was suddenly appeared from the classroom.

“Is this the girl you are dating?” he teased.

My eyes popped up wide, I feel like sinking in the sea. I lifted my head looking at Ross, but he doesn’t react to Kendrick’s nonsense.

The girl next class, Sierra and her friends jaws hanging open. Ross wrapped his arm around my shoulder and walk me to the class, ignoring the three girls outside the classroom. At some time I peek behind as Sierra is giving me the deadliest glare. Yes, I am really in a big trouble, my very first enemy is the high school barbie.

Since then, I didn’t ask or talk about what Ross did earlier. The school turns out creepier for me, eyes are always on me, girls are glaring at me. Wherever I go, whatever I do, they are watching. A week passed, I became hate school more and more. Sierra and her friends never skipped a glare when I walk past them, every single day. My classmates finally know my name, and so the other classes too. Going to school with Ross makes me famous.

The restroom is deserted, it used to be so crowded during break time. I wash my hands then pull the tissue to dry up my hands. When I push the restroom entrance once I’ve done, the door feels heavier all of sudden. Am I locked inside? DAMN! My heart is hammering inside my chest. I want them to slow down a bit so I can breathe but they won't. I feel like I will black out. I keep on clicking the handle, I want to get out from here, the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in my abdomen.

“WAIT!!” someone yelled behind the door, her voice is soft and tuneful “I SAW SOMEONE PUT A PRANK ON YOU” she added, then I heard a full heavy bucket fell off hardly, splashing on the floor.

“Now open the door” she said.

I pushed the door hardly. I almost fell of slippery, the floor became disgusting. This is a kitchen waste. I tilted my head and found a girl, a short haired girl, pale and cute but unfamiliar. She lifted her head a little bit to catch my eyes since she is shorter than me. Her sharp and small eyes gazing me without a single smile, then she quirked her eyebrow. She has the aura that will make you goosebumps. I am hesitate to call cute or creepy.

“Hey, Ummm.. Thank you..” I said to the girl.

I don’t know her name so at least I have to ask her in the proper way, this is the very first time my own, without a kindergarden teacher besides me, persuade me to shake my classmate’s hand and introduce myself. I extend my hand and smile nervously, hands trembling don’t know why but I can’t control it shaking.

“I am ...I -Irene..” I am such an embarrassing awkward stuttering mess.

She looked at me like I’m a criminal, in 2 seconds she finally says “I know, and...... ” then she quirked her eyebrow “I am your classmate by the way but.. ” she finally shook my almost rotting hand “I am Freya”. Ah, my bad. I feel bad all of sudden. But...

“Who dares to prank me?” I feel enough and I want revenge.

“That wicked b*tch” Freya points her finger to the hallway and I can see 3 girls including Sierra stomping her feet to the floor as she pouted. The school is stressing me a lot nowadays. But this girl is tough, how can I not recognize her?

She tilted her head staring at me, like reading my mind.

“Don’t mind me, I am the same invisible as you” with a shrug. At least, I was lucky enough to meet Freya. I must have poured by a dirty kitchen waste if she didn’t help me out. She seems sarcastic, but she is actually kind.

ping ping ping

Mom: Baby

Me: Yes, mom.

Mom: You home?

Me: Of course, mom. It’s late 7

Mom: I have a date night with Ken, so Ross is going to cook for you

What? Come on mom, we don’t even know how Ross’ cooking is

ping

Mom: He told me to not worry about it and he can handle it.

What a shameless guy, he will feed me instant noodle instead. How dare he assures my mom.

I click my bedroom door open, curious of how the instant noodle will look like. I can smell butter from the hallways and onions?

There stood Ross, with pink apron on. Even mom never wear that while cooking. He turned his head checking on me, without saying anything he turned back to the kitchen. I walk towards him, watching him doing his job.

Ross clicked the stove on, he picked up the chopping knife and cut the vegetables into perfect matchsticks in the time it took most people just peel the carrots. Every motion was precise from intense repetition and he prided himself on the machine -like perfection of his shapes then he picked up the basil and looked at each leaf like an art appraiser, sniffing a ripped leaf before chewing it. This is the first time he looks so charismatic to me. I was in daze, then he stop chopping, “Can you just sit down and let me do my job?” again with a cold stare. I was wrong, he is no charismatic at all.

I took a step backward, insist to look. “What are you cooking?” I asked, since I was curious. His eyes are on the sliced salmons, busy seasoning it in a transparent bowl, “What for? You won’t know either”

I have no words for him, I was trying to be nice but he never gives me a space to breath. I clicked my tongue, glaring at him. “Then, call me when you done” heading to my bedroom.

“Sit on the table, almost done” he implied shortly before I got to walk further from his sight. I paused and turned back with an eyebrow lifted, “I said I almost done” he sounds a little pissed. He clicked the oven and pulled something out, something looks like a bread, but smells so good. I quickly take a look, damn it. This looks delicious!

Ross gives me a cold stare, “I bet you don’t know what is this too”.

I shook my head. He clicked his tongue as he busy cutting the bread, “Beef Cutlet Stuffed Garlic Bread”

“Oh” I replied.

“Now sit down. I don’t have much time to call over you”

I do as what he said. Those bread looks too delicious to waste.

Dinner served 10 minutes later, he finally took off that ridiculous apron. It is just the two of us here, dinner without talking. I don’t want to lie but he is really a good cook, he is so talented. We don’t talk since we start eating, it is only silence and I feel awkward since I get used to chew loudly. But he doesn’t say anything.

He clears his throat “How are the girls?”

All of sudden and I was shocked, he did talk to me for the first time in a proper way, asking about my school life like a mom.

“You mean school?”

“Yes”

“You mean Sierra?”

“Yes”

“I can handle it”

He doesn’t nod or answer me, he stood up and put his plate at the stack of dirty dishes, “Oh” he said, like forgetting something. I tilted my head.

“Mom said I cook and you clean the mess” he pointed right to the dirty kitchen. Then he leaves the kitchen.

What is wrong with this man?

I ended up cleaning the mess, brushing the oily pan, the messy vegetable waste, rubbish, cleaning the table, the countertop, and the dishes. ALL ALONE. I never wash the dishes ever, mom is the one that cook and clean it herself!

“Clean this” he appeared suddenly beside me but I was lucky cause I get used to every jumpscare –both in movie and real life.

“This is still oily” he took the pan from the rack and put it back on the dishes. “Wash it properly” like a boss. I turned into my scary looking but he ignores me again, he opened the fridge and says “And the strawberry milks are mine”.

Then he took a carton of milk and leaves the kitchen again.

“Oh” he paused.

“What?” I groaned, without looking at him.

“Turn off the lamp after you finish” he added, then he really disappeared from the kitchen.

I wash the dishes until my hands turned wrinkly, he is really torturing me. I turned my head to the digital clock on the bedside table glowing in 21:09. Mom hasn’t come home yet, never come home early since they moved in. She has to wait for Mr.Park to pick her up, sometimes for a date night. I threw myself to the squishy bed, I was the grateful spoiled kid before I have step sibling. I miss being spoiled.