Mess Series #1: Faded Smiles

Faded Smiles #18

Aryl's POV

My mood was light as I opened my eyes. My cheeks were uplifted as I glanced to the side table where my alarm clock is located when it rings continuously so that I grab it and turn off the clock as I leave my bed to prepare for the competition.

Yes, it is the quiz bee day and I fought the clash between my head as I hold the bath towel firmly.

I took half an hour to finish my rituals and stepped out to my room and went down using our grand stairways.

As my feet finally landed on our carpeted floor, I saw my mom and Uncle Rommel who is happily watching a movie in our living room. They are sitting together on our long sofa while Uncle Rommel's arm was in the backrest of my Mom's side.

I diverted my attention and went to the kitchen and saw Yaya Mina who was busy preparing the dining table for breakfast.

I slowly walk to the table and got Yaya's attention that I gave her a reassuring smile.

She walks towards me and puts a few part fried rice on my plate and a piece of hotdog and bacon. "Aryl, you must be ready. You should wait for you to have strength and knowledge."

I lifted my cheekbones slightly as I glanced at her quickly and began to eat, "Ya." Her gaze shifted on me while putting milk on my transparent glass.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"I just want to ask something." I glance at the milk in front of me, trying to ignore her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Do you notice the sudden closeness of Uncle Rommel and Mommy?" I fought the lump on my throat which is a hindrance for me to talk.

"I think it is nice. They are best friends after all," she answered and patted my shoulders with a smile on her face.

Best friend? But Tristan and I were not like that!

But all of the thoughts in my mind were frost when I saw my mom and Uncle Rommel walking with their hands intertwined at each other.

"Yaya, what is for breakfast?" she asked with her uplifted cheeks.

"The Cinderella is in here," Uncle Rommel's voice with his embarrassing laugh filled the air."are you ready to lose?" he added whilst pulling a chair for my mom and guide her to sit.

I glanced at my mom to smile but it fades when I notice that she is reading newspaper silently. Her forehead was creased.

"I'm finished. I think I gotta go," I said as I walk towards her for a goodbye kiss but she moves her head for me to kiss the air.

"Your Uncle Rommel and I are getting married." I quickly shifted my gaze to her with a mixture of shock and disbelief on it.

My heart pangs in me and I felt my tears slowly tracing my cheeks whilst looking at her and Uncle Rommel.

I can see that they are happy.

But why marriage? Dad had not celebrating his death anniversary yet she was announcing marriage this early?

"It-thought... I thought you are best friends." I gaze at their hands that are in the table while intertwining with each other.

"How can you ask that? You don't have the right to ask. Because I am just fulfilling my dreams that you destroy!" she said as she stood up and point her finger in my direction.

I destroyed her family.

I shifted my glanced to Uncle Rommel whose smiling from ear to ear. "what's with the look, my soon-to-be Cinderella stepdaughter?"

I took the lump in my throat and smile slightly to them." nothing Uncle. Best wishes." I said as I took my step outside the kitchen.

When I stormed outside the house, my fist clenched while my eyes watered in tears."why it needs to be that fast? It's only two months for Pete's sake!" I asked as my blood boiled in anger and frustration.

"Hey Aryl!" a loud horn filled the air and as I heard a familiar voice called my name.

I quickly wiped off the tears on my eyes and uplifted my cheeks before looking at the left side of me to see the owner of that voice.

"Let's go. I am going to the meeting place, now," he said whilst taking off to his car and open the passenger's seat for me.

I walk silently towards the passenger's seat without a word.

"Hey!" he got my attention and I don't notice that the car finally stops to the school's parking lot.

I quickly glance at the window and I saw Miss Arabella who's in her teacher's uniform while tapping her pointed shoes in the ground whilst looking at her wristwatch.

I rashly open the car's door and run towards her."Miss!"

She uplifted her cheeks when she saw me taking a run to her.

"You are just in time, our service will be here after a minute, so let's just wait until it arrives, okay?" she said whilst biting her lips and looking at her wristwatch.

"Sure Miss, we can wait," a familiar voice answered as his hands travel to my back.

I glanced at the owner of the hands that are holding my waist and gave him a death glare.

"Enjoying each other's company, huh?" Miss Arabella got my attention when I notice that she teases us together.

"Yes Miss, we are," Timothy said whilst looking at me with her mocking eyes that makes mine roll and pinch his waist secretly.

"Hahaha. Nice, so are you together, now?" she teasingly asked.

I quickly glance at her and shook my head for disapproval. "Of course not, Miss."

But Timothy got my attention when he holds his chest like he was hurt. "Ouch babe, you are hurting me."

I would have refused and cleared my name but we heard a car approaching us.

"Oh, there it is. Let's go, guys!" Miss Arabella said as she leads the way through the van.

I walk towards her and I felt him following me, but I didn't pay for his presence whilst walking towards the car.

"Are you ready to win, guys?" Miss Arabella asked as she has a beam on her face.

***
To be continued...