RAINED DOWN

BECOMING A CINDERELLA?

Zeya's pov

It had been a whole week since that  bustop incident. After that day I went to school. I had done my monotonous routine that I had been doing right after being born. Go to school. Get back home. Study. Study. Study and perhaps fail another one of my tests.

When I went to school after a whole week and was met with Aster, she looked pained and a bit glad as well. Even though I still can't get over the fight we had, one can't even call it a fight. It was a disagreement. But we still keep going on as friends. I sound like a heartbroken person.

The classes after lunch breaks are a different kind of hell. Mr. Smith was busy describing the preparation of salicylic acid, and I was trying not to doze off right at the front seat.

In my mind, I tried to remind myself, "We just need to keep up for another ten minutes, and after that, it will be literature class."

The gruesome torture was finally over with, and with the last class being my favourite subject, school ended peacefully. I didn't mention the incident that had taken place that day to anybody, but I felt a bit sorry to keep it away from Aster. So I spilled the story to her.

We were walking down the gate to the parking lot. Aster had frozen in her tracks after hearing the  whole of it.

"It completely sounds like a fantasy story. What did the guy look like? Was he old? Was he handsome?" I was now caught in a chokehold. "He looked okay, I... guess. It was dark where we were standing, but don't you think it's a bit unusual that he, like out of nowhere, asked for a napkin?"

Aster looks at me with mischief in her eyes, "He might have wanted to meet up with you again. That's why he didn't return it back."

"Did you even hear me clearly? I don't think it's supposed to be like one of those novels, where the dude is a gruff ceo and the girl is your cutsy kitten."

She rolls her eyes at me, "There's no harm in imagining, you know." I know, I do know that I would like to imagine myself with billions of dollars than a dramatic life.

I leave with my cycle after her mum comes to pick her up. Aster's house takes about twenty minutes by car, but mine is a bit nearer. On my way home, I try to think how Ster told me to think, but I dont think I could ever imagine something like that.

When I get home, I'm greeted by my dad, who's rarely home at this time of the day.
"How was school today? Are you making any progress in the portions that were lacking?"
I keep my reply brief. And then get to my room.

I know they're concerned about my future, but every time I'm in their presence, they don't forget to bring up the mistakes, which I'm trying to bury down. I freshen up and head to the kitchen to get some coffee, which I'll need in gallons to keep me going for today's study session.

Mum was also watching the TV with dad, but as I was going upstairs with my cup. She asks me to sit with them. "We wanted to talk to you about this Sunday. Are you having any plans?"

I was surprised, but then again, all my plans included being at home, either studying or else reading, or sleeping or binge watching anime. And none of that could be said out loud. "Not really." I had a questioning look on my face.

Dad started speaking, "There's going to be a party held on Sunday, organised by the Stryer's for their yearly investments and projects that they had done with other companies. You already know about Uncle Markov, who is the host. Last year me and your mum had gone there, this time you should accompany us. You are big enough to make an impression and should start getting accustomed to social gatherings."

I had to take more than a few seconds to process everything. Uncle Markov is my dad's closest friend. They had grown up together and were literally diaper buddies. I haven't seen him for Lord knows how many years. All I know is that he owns a large company, and both my dad and him are good partners. My dad is a surgeon and has his own hospital. My father's plan has been successful because of him, and due to that, he respects Markov a lot.

Even if I were to say no, they would still force me to go to this boring rich people's party. "I will go, but you will let me get home right after we are finished eating the dinner. Please."

Mum sighs and puts her hand on her forehead as if I had asked them to get me a piece of the moon. I agreed and went back to my room, but who knew I would've to endure long hours of shopping trips on Saturday for this. The only thing I enjoyed was the spa.

It felt as if all my stress was taken off from my body. Mum and I then got back home. As I was so busy with everything going on, I had completely forgotten about the suspicious hanky thief.

While trying on the dresses and gowns, I felt out of place. The boutique was made for people who loved fashion. I, on the other hand, thrived on t shirts and fluffy trousers. In the dressing room, I almost had a panick attack, trying to get inside the dress.

I already knew it was going to cost a shit ton of money. Mum made me try on, I don't know how many dresses as I had lost the count of it. Finally, we settled with a flowy gown, navy blue in colour. Mum was satisfied with it, and that was all that I needed because all I wanted was to get in my bed and sleep and never wake up. After a physically and mentally exhausting day, we got home. Dad came to pick us up. Even though he is always busy, he tries to find time to spend with his family.

The dress itself is beautiful but I don't know what to feel about it while I'm the one wearing it. I was already this tired the day before, then what the hell will happen to me tomorrow. It was late, when we got home. It had been a long day of trying to become a cinderella, so I dived right into my bed and fell asleep.

"Where am I again?" It looked like I was in the school. Out of nowhere, Aster comes in front of me, and she starts crying. "What is the matter, Ster? Why are you crying?"

"You're asking me the reason why I'm crying? It's your fault that the project has completely failed. It was your idea to make it more perfect, isn't it? And now you have the audacity to question what has made me upset."

I was startled by this. Now I was completely awake. Tears leaking from the corner of my eyes was warm. I should stop thinking so much about things that have already passed.

We both had been working on our Psych's project for months, but there was an error in calculation, and the whole data collected based on it became useless. It was my fault, as I was the one getting the calculations done. Our months of sleepless nights and stressed hours of work became trash in no seconds.

Even though we are talking like nothing has happened, I know that she is more than just disappointed in me. I couldn't say anything to her that day as I knew I was at fault. After I came back home, I didn't have any courage left in me to get back to school. It took me a whole week to recover both physically and mentally.

I look at the clock. It's past 2 am. in the morning. I went back to sleep, but all I did after that was twist and turn under my warm covers. It became impossible for me to sleep after what I had dreamt.