The digital clock perched on the bookshelf by Johan's bed showed that it was forty five minutes past midnight, yet the fifteen-year-old was still hunching over his laptop and navigating between three open tabs. The first tab was a half-watched video essay an actress made to explain a role she recently played, which was that of a mother with anxiety disorder. The second tab was another video essay, this time from a psychologist who worked with the actress to coach her on how a mother's mental health issue could negatively affect the behavior of her children. The third tab was a lively discussion thread on an anonymous forum. Someone had asked how a lay person could tell the difference between a child who acted out because it was developmentally appropriate for her age and a child who did so as a result of shouldering unreasonable expectations from a mentally unwell parent.
Johan chose to finish watching the two videos later and focused instead on reading the replies people had posted in response to the anonym's question. There were hundreds of replies spread over thirty three pages, so he skimmed through the first ten pages and made mental notes of the similarities between them. When he finally turned his laptop off, it was six twenty in the morning. School would start in two and half hours. Debating between going to bed with the risk of accidentally sleeping in and staying up so that he wouldn't be late, Johan decided on the latter.
***
There was something unusual about Johan's commute to school. Having get used to not having any friend, he would normally take the seat beside the bus driver. That morning, however, Bethany had saved him a seat next to her and wouldn't let him sit anywhere else.
"Wouldn't you rather sit with the other girls?" Johan gestured to the middle rows. "It's gonna be boring for you to sit next to me. I'm not much of a talker, you know, unlike your little posse."
"I'm through with them," the auburn-haired teenager replied, "because they're through with me. Yesterday when I told them I quitted modeling and photography club, they said they don't want me to hang out with them anymore. That's fine, though, I have more pressing priorities."
"But I thought you enjoyed being in that club?"
"If I stay there then I won't have time to get tutoring for Mathematics, get it?"
"Listen, Beth, I won't mind being your tutor but I want something in return. Something greater than just you treating me with respect. I think it's a given that you should be nice to someone you're asking a favor from, so I believe I have the right to demand a fair payment."
"I told you already that I don't have any money to spare!"
"I'm not talking about money," Johan smiled reassuringly, "because if I had wanted money I could have easily taken a job at a coffee shop or a fast food joint. No, what I want in return is that you go to my house this Sunday to watch a movie with me and my mom."
"Why would I want to meet your mom?" Bethany scoffed. "Moms are nothing but killjoys."
"Do it or no tutoring for you."
"You're not my boss!"
"And I have no intention to be," Johan shook his head, "because you'd be a horrible employee."
"Since when did you learn to talk back like this?" Bethany's expression was a strange mix of disbelief and pure amazement. "That's one sick burn and wow, I'm not even mad."
"Since I got tired of biting my tongue. Even the most patient people have limits and so do I."
Bethany didn't say anything in reply but she gave him a small nod.
"If you don't mind a bit of a spoiler, I guess I can tell you more about the movie I want you to watch with me and my mom," Johan showed her a movie poster on his phone, "it is called Dark Flaming Horse Unleashed. The protagonist, Jemima Estrella, has a condition that turns her into a giant fire-breathing black stallion whenever she is angry. The movie gets into the roots of her anger. I really like that movie and my mom does too. It's a great exploration of human emotions. A heartbreaking movie, yes, but brilliant. No wonder it received many accolades. I heard it got its inspiration from a 21st century fantasy book that broke the internet with its chilling premise."
"Oh, I've heard of that movie. It's a really old one, isn't it, from 2578, with actress Lisbeth De Mario as Jemima's mom? De Mario is frighteningly good at portraying a perfectionist."
"Yep, it's that 2578 movie. Do you hate De Mario's character, Bethany?"
"I don't hate Mrs. Estrella, believe it or not. As much as she makes Jemima's life way harder than necessary she herself deserves to be pitied. She is mean to her daughter because her own mom was mean to her and her grandma was mean to her mom and so on. She reminds me so much of the women in—"Bethany trailed of. "Never mind, I don't suppose you'd care."
"I care, but you don't have to share anything personal with me if you're not comfortable yet."
"You're insanely good at reading between the lines, Johan," she replied in a whisper, "Very well done. This doesn't make us friends, though, understand? Frankly, I don't think I can be friends with someone from a happy family. They have this annoyingly cheery disposition about life."
"What makes you think I come from a happy family, Beth?"
"Don't play dumb. You make good grades, you're exceedingly nice to everyone, teachers like you, I could go on. Only students with happy families are capable of being that level of perfect."
"I'm anything but. If I'm perfect, why would I have to wear long sleeves all year round?"
"Because you're a nerd with no fashion-sense."
Johan didn't try to refute. Instead, he let out a forced chuckle.
One day I will let you know the reasons. I'm not perfect. I'm just like you deep down and I want to help. I hope Mom can help you too. Dear Lord, please let our plan work.
YOU ARE READING
Dreams Upon A Silver Pine Branch
Teen FictionThe Kinoya family, one of the most financially well-to-do families on their home planet Silver Pine, seems like they have everything they could ask for. But behind the closed doors of their huge traditional Japanese dojo, three members of the family...
