Missing Piece

Anne

Out-stretching her arm, Anne tried to reach Clarence's shoulders on the row in front of her. The legs of her chair slowly rises, wobbling like a pole danced by an earthquake. Seeing that only an inch stood between her finger and Clarence's back, Anne gave one final push that sent her falling down the floor.

"Hahaha, you look like you tried reaching for the stars." Clarence looked at her and laughed.

Anne's limbs were entangled in the armchair. Making her look like an awkward star on the floor that made Clarence laugh.

"Did I aim way too high?" Anne said. Laughing with a sunny tone that slowly sunk to the horizons as Clarence waved her goodbye.

"See ya." he said.

Anne squirmed like a yarn trying to untie itself. But her methodical and calm approach slowly became trashing on the ground.

"Hey Kaiho, just going to stand there?" Anne shot a stare at her friend.

"Smiling like an angel when in front of him, then bare your fangs when things go wrong." Kaiho sighed as only the wind listened to her as Anne continued to squirm.

Upon getting unstuck, Anne wore an annoyed look while she puffed the dust off her uniform. Before leaving, she eyed an angry gaze that sunk the classroom deep into her bad mood. But Kaiho didn't care.

Like a raging stream, students came pouring out of their classroom. Their desire to go home roaring came gushing out. Waves of voices splashed the hallway as Anne tried to paddle her way out. But Kaiho easily slipped through the crowd before her hand bit down on Anne's wrist.

"Hey idiot, you forgot your bag." Kaiho casually swang the bag to Anne's face. Before Kaiho wrapped her arm on Anne's shoulder.

"Heard you were skipping practice for the art competition." Kaiho slowly tightened her grip on Anne's neck. Hoping to squeeze out an answer she'll be satisfied with.

"Why do you care?" Anne clawed Kaiho's arm.

"We've been friends even before we were born. And as far as I can remember, you absolutely loved art. So tell me, Annie," Kahio squeezed harder, almost making Anne's eyes go white. "what is the reason you're skipping practice?"

"Remember your quote: Art..."

Kaiho wanted to keep squeezing until the answer bursted out of Anne's mouth, but seeing her balloon head inches away from popping, Kaiho released her. Anne gasped, wolfing down as much air as she can while her hand scrambled her neck. Making sure her neck is still intact.

"You fully know who is the reason I am skipping class." Anne barely finished the sentence as she gasped.

"I just wanted for you to admit it." Kaiho said. Her smile reminded Anne of a little child using it's innocence to be forgiven.

"Why don't you join the baranggay's art competition? It should serve as good practice."

"That contest is below me. My neck still hurts. " Anne said.

Hearing this, Kaiho immediately patted Anne's back while her mouth moved faster than a cornered rapper. Seeing this, Anne chuckled inside. Knowing Kaiho is this active because she is worrying if Anne might tell her parents.

But Anne's laughter slowly rusted to annoyance as Kaiho made her walk in circles on the school grounds. Morning shift ended, and the roaring crowd of students for the afternoon shift already settled down in their classrooms.

Only the roaring, plastic laughter of Kaiho and the students hoping not to be late remained.

"Anne, you shouldn't just throw away your passion for art just because someone." Kaiho the laughter stapled on her face came off, showing a blank face.

Seeing the sudden change in Kaiho's mood, Anne didn't know what to think. Kaiho's personality was always unpredictable. Almost making it look like the painter that colored her personality, just splashed around random colors on a canvas.

But seeing this serious look, Anne didn't know if she was just messing with her.

In the silence, Anne noticed Kaiho's pupils go wide before forcing herself to remain calm. Her blank face too forced a smile as she wanted to think of something to say.

"What's wrong?" Anne answered, but in response Kaiho landed both her hands on her shoulder. Forcing her to look only at her.

"Anne… I think I want ice cream. Come, let's go back." Kaiho almost screamed at Anne's face, before tugging Anne's wrist as she forced her go back.

Anne wanted to complain how Kaiho's grip on her wrist was starting to hurt, but the words fell flat off her mouth as her feet were almost being dragged by Kaiho's pace.

"The cafeteria is that way."

Anne's feet rooted itself on the ground as she heard that voice. She didn't know why, but for some reason the raging-hot afternoon suddenly sunk into a cold embrace, while her heart retreated deep in the dark trenches in her chest.

Anne looked behind her, and saw a girl. Her laughter and smile made the tree's branches sway as it danced alongside the wind. While the sun helmed her head with a crown of light. She even made her rumpled and wrinkled uniform look like a dress tailored for Cinderella. Anne knew that girl was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.

But what really hammered a nail to Anne's heart, was she was with Clarence.