Missing Piece

Betrayal

The grass danced to a song the night breeze hummed, but the cheerful duo was stomped by Anne as she returned home. Only the painful rustles cried beneath her foot.

When Anne opened the door, a spacious emptiness filled with laughing shadows welcomed her. With the emptiness howls of mocks to Anne.

Anne's heart weighed her legs while the humming sound of the wind inside the house tormented her. But despite it she still went to her room.

She flipped the light switch, revealing a wall painted with layers of drawings pinned on the wall. In the corner, the tubes of acrylic paint cried in loneliness as their smell roamed the room like lingering ghosts.

Anne took a heavy pencil case from her drawer, then placed it on her desk where several unfinished drawings were stacked on each other and pinned down. She stopped for a second as she stared at the pencil case, her heart begging her not to do it.

"Tch, it's not my fault, it's that Catherine's fault I am doing this." Anne said to herself.

Unzipping the pencil case felt like slicing open a person's chest for Anne. But her disgust for Catherine made her comfort herself that it's not her fault. Several coins bled out from the pencil case while there was a note between the stack of peso bills.

"From Kaiho

I know you're going to win regardless of what coloring materials you're going to use. But I wanted for us to save money to buy those materials for the national competition at school. It's childish, still, I want you to use the coloring materials we'll buy with this money. "

Anne's heart sobbed in pain as it heard the sound of the note being crumpled in Anne's fist.

"It's all your fault, Catherine."

The next day, Anne rode the train alone. The train looked abandoned as rows of seats silently took the ride with Anne. With the once refreshing air-conditioner felt like a cold lick from a tongue made of ice. Only the sunlight felt welcoming to Anne, but behind that warm embrace she felt that even it was disgusted by her.

Anne looked nervously at her pencil case, with her hand twitching as if she was holding a person's heart. She then leaned on the seat, hoping the raging storm between betraying Kaiho and fulfilling her desires would calm down.

"Kaiho, it's your fault for befriending me." she said as she finally resolved her heart to buy two tickets for the movie.

"You did what?"

Monday soon came, and immediately Anne called Kaiho to talk.

"You're joking, right?" Kaiho asked Anne with a shaking voice.

"Don't worry about it. The teachers are going to provide the materials needed for the competition. And if it's money you want, I'll pay you double…" Anne's selfish explanation stirred anger in Kaiho's heart that exploded with the latter ramming her fist in Anne's face.

Anne stumbled on her feet before falling to the ground. Standing on top of her was Kaiho's shaking body as tears were starting to form beads on her eyes. She still couldn't believe what Anne did to her.

"It's not my fault!"

It's a lie, Anne said to herself.

"Did you think I would have done that if Catherine didn't ruin everything! I wouldn't have done that!"

Stop it.

"I am only doing this because of her! "

Just stop!

"Besides, isn't it your fault for being such an idiot in the first place for trusting me?"

Anne felt something in her break as the words slipped out of her mouth. In front of her, Kaiho stood motionless as tears came bursting out from her eyes.

"I see. Sorry if I always stood in your way. You always did like Clarence. I, I just wanted to see you be happy in doing arts. I didn't know I was becoming such a bother." Kaiho wiped the tears on her face, she forced a smile and extended a hand to Anne.

"Just get out of my sight" Anne couldn't find the courage to look at Kaiho.

Hearing Kaiho's footsteps growing fainter with each step. Something inside Anne snapped as she smiled. A twisted smile that shattered into pieces with a loud laugh that sang the tale of her betrayal.

Anne's body was cushioned by grass as her mentally exhausted self collapsed. The tickling blades of grass comforted her a bit, but her sobs soon started.

Standing up, Anne dusted the dirt off her uniform and the flakes of dried tears on her face. Looking at her reflection at her phone, she saw the disgusting person that ruined her life.

Heading to the bathroom, she heard two familiar voices. It was Clarence and Catherine eating together.

"Starting to get used to school yet?" Clarence asked as his hand ruffled a bag of chips.

"Yeah, but I do hope I ain't getting in the way between you and your friends."

"I mostly hang around with Anne and Kaiho. Those two had been friends for as long as I can remember."

"Is it true that Anne is unbeatable at arts?" Catherine's eyes glowed of admiration.

"She is! Even the adults are having a hard time finding the proper students to befriend her. It would take a genius to even start going toe to toe at her in talking about arts." Clarence proudly boasted of Anne.

"Really? I don't know anything about painting, but I hope we can be friends."

"Sadly, it's been so long since I last saw her paint or draw. It's almost as if she gave up on it." Clarence said as he threw the bag of chips to a trash can.

"So, Catherine…" Clarence scratched the back of his head, while his heart hammered hard on his chest. "Are you free for Saturday afternoon."

"Sadly I'm not, I am going to watch Train to Infinity." Catherine said, but instead of being sad, Clarence jolted with happiness.

"Really?! Let's watch it together." Clarence held Catherine's shoulders, unable to believe what she just said.

But before Catherine could respond, Clarence saw Anne standing motionless while staring at the two of them. Seeing Anne's dirty uniform, he immediately went to her.

"Anne are you alright-"

"I am." Anne said.

"Anne, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Catherine followed.

"I am. I, I just need to wash the dirt off." Anne smiled at the two. "See ya at class." she cheerfully said before running as fast as she could.

"Watch out, Catherine." Anne mumbled to herself as she stared at the spear-like designs on the school's walls.