LUCKY STRIKE - I

Vacations and holidays were the events most of the students anticipated. Especially during summer. Getaways like swimming trips or other types were always planned ahead, of course. School work is exhausting even for an elementary student.

“Hello. Earth to Kenny,” her friend Bella, sings-songs and waves a hand in front of her face. She returns her approach with a smile and looks at her as if she's watching. “Finals! Ahhhhh!” Bella squeals as she swirls, the effect it has on her mini skirt was cute and Tristen only smiles wider. People really are excited for it. Who won't, right? “Ah, come on! Don't tell me your dad's going to bring you again to that boring lake house.”

Tristen only looks at her, tightlipped and Bella sighs.

“Okay. At least you did not tell me,” she sits on the former's desk and combs her black shoulder level layered hair. Tristen appreciates the sweet little gesture. “Can't you just tell your dad to bring you somewhere else?” The question made Tristen shake her head. “No, I can't. Mom and dad have loved that place since the ancient times. They had their honeymoon there. I was born there. And the other eventful things that my dad wishes to cherish for his lifetime,” she sighs after she answers the question. “Sorry, Bels. Maybe next time.”

When their professor arrived, they took the exam and Tristen had to stay after to help the professor.

“It makes me sad that after an academic year, my best student council president will have to leave,” Mrs. Andres sighs and Tristen beams. “I've not been the president for almost a term, Ma'am. Mina grimaces whenever you say that and she's around,” the older woman only smiles and looks at her. “Still, I'm thankful for your service. And for other things including this weird friendship,” the younger one chuckles at her. “This isn't weird, Ma'am.”

They shared a smile knowing they both recalled that they didn't just find a friend in the form of one another but the younger saw her as her mom just like how the older saw her as her late daughter.

After they finished arranging the papers, Tristen left with a present from her favorite professor. She can only open it once she's home. Mrs. Andres told her it's a congratulatory gift since Tristen is now a senior college student.

Once she arrived home, her dad was in the garage so she helped herself to snacks and sat on the sofa. Her low waist jeans were helpful when she removed her thin sweater so she stays with her tank top. Cookies and milkshakes are her to go snacks because she believes she would never get old for them. She spends some minutes watching until her dad approaches.

“My dearest,” his dad leaves a kiss atop of her head before he goes in front of her. “Tomorrow, I'll go to the town to check up on grandma then the following day, we'll leave for the lake house. Yeah?” Tristen nods and smiles. “Don't watch too many cartoons. You're not a kid anymore,” he ruffled her hair. “Says the one who said he'll cry once I bring a guy home claiming as well that I'd forever be his baby.”

It wasn't long when her dad went back to his garage and Tristen's left alone once more. Her eyes fell on the kitchen counter where she had left her messenger style bag together with the present. She stands up to get the present and tries to ignore her phone which flashes a message notification.

Her gift was a nice sage green halter summer dress which flows three fingers above her knees. Tristen swirls like what Bella did just two hours ago and smiles at Mrs. Andres' thoughtfulness. She runs from her bedroom back to the kitchen counter to send her a message.

When her phone vibrates against the coffee table, she sees that it's a message from Mrs. Andres so she doesn't bother to open it anymore. Accidentally, her eyes land on the glass surface of the door towards her dad's garden and she sees her reflection. She doesn't like it. She dislikes seeing herself in the mirror— dislikes seeing what she's expected to dress and act.

Because at times like this, she will just realize more how freedom is almost impossible for her. Tristen looks up to her parents, and she would never forget how she should be thankful for giving her the basic needs a child may need or want but there were times she wishes they would trust her like how they'd been telling everyone. A little bit of trust that she wouldn't do things which could lead to mistakes.

Her dad keeps on telling her that she's smart, but Tristen thinks not smart enough to decide by herself and choose the clothes she wants to wear. Or to pick friends she wants to hangout with. Deciding what kind of guys she wants to be with would be nice too.

Well, one and a half years ago, she was planning to escape from her parents' strict guidance— maybe do something a bit reckless for once. But her mom had become bedridden because of ****** cancer and soon passed away. Tristen knows better than to be selfish. She had to be with her dad, and occasionally see her grandma because they were all mourning for her mom.

Befriending Bella was the least she can do to be her real self but to the lowest degree. Although in the past months, she hasn't revealed everything to her friend yet. Thinking she'd say Tristen's crazy for her ideas. But like what people say, when someone has been caged for a long time, they are thirsty for what they're deprived of and it'll be hard for them to get sated.

She tears her eyes off the glass and looks at her  neck instead where her mom's necklace was that she got from her when she passed away. Tattoos, she imagines having them near her collarbone. One of the things Tristen badly wanted to have but she can't, because her dad told her that it's unhealthy and that she won't be able to donate blood for some time which the girl does from time to time. Maybe when she's in her 30s, she can finally decide to get it. Maybe.

Another buzz from her phone cuts her train of thoughts and she gets a warm sensation against her face when she sees a certain name pop out on her notifications.

From: Z.

Summer time, u down?

Her heart sinks. Okay. Perhaps her heart should not react that way in the first place. But now that she remembers it, Tristen stands up and heads to her bedroom to pack some of her clothes and change to her usual getup at home. By dinnertime, her dad arrives with a box of pizza.

“Dad. I cooked,” she slowly shakes her head and her dad only offers her an apologetic smile. “Don't worry, darling. I will eat what you cooked first then we can watch something you'll pick as we eat this pizza,” he cocks his brow and waits for her answer which she can never turn down. “That slaps.”

The man looks at her with a puzzled face.

“Er, uh, I mean, yeah? I'd like that,” she turns around to gather the cutleries and when she faces her dad, Tristen knows she has to say something again. “I probably watched too many American movies,” she shrugs when her dad only nods and adds his final comment. “Too much that you sounded like some Californian guy or something.”

They laughed at that. Tristen mentally curses herself with her weird responses. And as planned, they watched some John Wick as they munch on the pizza her dad bought. After that, Tristen cleaned up and his dad slept, a bit fuzzy while he talked again about the summer vacation because of the beer.

The next day turned out fine, she turned off her android phone where all her group chats were and got her other phone to log in on her social media accounts. Her dad knows about her other phone because he was the one who bought it but questioned why Tristen needed another phone.

Well, the sole purpose of it was because her android phone was for her 'good girl' side and the other was for her other character. Her phone which contains Tristen's thoughts, the type of people she envies because of their freedom and her photos which her dad might not like for one bit.

Twitter was one of her favorite apps but nothing tops Instagram although Snapchat was also charming because of its cute filters. She did not expect the amount of notifications bombing her phone but the girl was only interested in seeing a message from one certain guy.

Zeji's name appears at topmost of her chatlist next to Bella's and Tristen was not eager to open the conversation thread now that she was left on 'seen' by the boy. Instead, she watches his Instagram stories. Ah, that was the reason for his text message. He'd already arrived.

The next few hours were spent on messaging back to her left unread messages and leaving replies to people who left comments on her latest IG post. It's not like she's a conceited person but she appreciates and sometimes feels flattered with the compliments she receives.

When her android phone vibrates, Tristen reaches for it and answers without too much thought because she was in the mood.

“Hello?” She greets first with a smile and hears a short chuckle followed by someone clearing their throat. “When did you learn how to greet?” His mocking voice came and her reaction was quick. “Kidding. Sup, Angelface?” he chuckles again and Tristen composes herself to respond. “Fine until you.”

“Ooh. Feisty. Like that for you,” his annoying tone sends vibration in Tristen's ears towards her bones. “Is that all? I'm hanging up,” she confirms with an unfriendly tone. “I don't think that's how you should answer someone you're friends—”

Call ended.

Tristen shuts her phone down and sighs. Maybe she shouldn't have started that thing at all. Now, she knows that whenever it's vacation or holiday, she would have to meet that guy.

She should've known better. Tristen is smart, isn't she?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***