Fifth Story: Two Sides of The Same Coin

Chapter 5

26 January 2022

Throughout the week, neither spoke as much as one word to the other. One could cut the atmosphere in their household with a knife, and even their parents are beginning to be uncomfortable. Dinners would get interrupted because one sister refuses to eat with the rest of the family when the other one was present. They refuse to sleep in the same room and decline their father's offer to take them to school by car. The last case might be justified by the fact that it was only a five-minute walk from home to school, but no one bought that explanation.

"I'm getting some angsty vibes coming from you two sisters," Châu Anh comments. "The hell happened last week between you girls?"

"Nothing much," Oanh lethargically answers. "My big sis was being stupid again, so I told her off."

"That wasn't really nothing. Let me ask you something, are you content with things staying like this in the future? Even in five, ten, or twenty more years? Answer me."

"You sound like a clichéd wing-woman from an anime. I don't. Unless I move to another country and cut all contact with her."

Châu Anh does not know what to make of her half-joking reply. Knowing her friend, she could very well be serious and decide to go through with it.

"Anyway, where that pretty girl?"

"Thủy? She's got remedial classes. Failed her test again," the swimmer sighs in defeat. "Even after I got my smart friends Thảo and Mai to teach her, she is still about 2.5 marks (6) shy from the passing threshold."

"Good luck to her, then. Our school's tests are really hellish and unfairly difficult. Guess they really want to beat those egoistical people from 'H-A' School. I kinda get the sentiment, their arrogance really ticks me off."

"Right," Châu Anh laughs merrily. "That reminds me, the principal wants to see you in her office after school today, am I right?"

"Congrats, you got first prize," Oanh responds with mirthless laughter. "At least, that means I don't have to see my annoying ugly sister at home early."

"'Ugly', you say... she's one of the most popular girls in my grade, I guess the school even. Anyway, the bell's just rung. Go to class, Comrade Chairwoman. See you around."

After school hours, Oanh finds herself in the principal's office, sitting in the comfortable leather sofa while waiting for the principal to break the silence. The woman, sitting opposite the girl, is just perusing some papers related to the Youth while sipping her Darjeeling tea. Oanh wants to say something, but her throat is too dry for her to actually make any sound but voiceless thoughts. Then, Mrs Ngọc puts the papers down and looks at the Chairwoman for a few seconds with a piercing stare that is enough to unnerve the girl.

"So, your proposal that we should allocate more budget to the baseball club... I'm afraid to say this, but I can't accept it."

"Why, Mrs Ngọc? They have a match against 'H-A' in about two weeks, and they desperately need new gear and uniforms."

"That's the problem, they're playing against 'H-A'. And I sincerely believe that investing in sports is a waste of precious time and resources. At any rate, I think today's discussion is over. You can go back..."

"I refuse, Mrs Ngọc. I promised them that they would have a greater budget this year."

Now the principal is getting even more agitated, and her voice is seemingly on the verge to break at any moment now. Oanh is taken aback by her sudden change of expression. For the first time in her life, she is afraid of looking in the eyes of the person sitting opposite her. Those eyes, they are dull and lifeless, devoid of any warmth.