Chapter 1

▪︎ Mina's Point of View ▪︎

It's November now. The first day of second semester in school ended. I am here now in our classroom all alone. Everyone had already gone to their homes.

I touched the teacher's desk and put my head on the table and closed my eyes. I can still remember those days when we can walk home while holding our hands. I thought you were my soul mate. There is no one better than you.

"Oh, you are still here, Mina?" I can hear a voice from behind. I can feel my cheeks redden as soon as I recognized that voice.

"B-brother" I opened my eyes and stood up properly.

He walked toward me while holding a folder in his hands.

"That is 'sir' here at school, Mina" He chuckled.

"And you know it is not 'Mina', sir" I stated.

"Oh, that is right, Ms. Laurier" he replied while making small laughs.

I turned around so he will not be able to see my tomato-colored cheeks.

"That is very uncomfortable to use. After all, I've known you ever since you were little. But that is the right way to address you here at school." he said.

"Sir Martin," a soft voice from a female said.

"Oh, Ma'am Parker," my brother said.

I turned around and saw a blonde haired woman.

"Hello, there, Ms. Laurier," she said while smiling.

"Hello," I simply replied.

I looked at her coldly as if I were checking her out.

"Is there something you need, ma'am?" my brother asked her while walking towards the entrance door where Ma'am Aliyah is standing.

"Nothing really. But you left your lesson plan in the teacher's lounge. I guess you forgot to bring it with you" she replied.

I walked to my seat and took my bag. I silently left the room through the exit door.

"Thank you very much for bringing this to me. I will definitely be needing this tomorrow" I can hear my brother thanking her shyly.

I walked down the hallway with my head down.

~BANG~

I can feel a sting in my head as I bumped into something hard. I can smell a familiar scent lingering in my nose. I looked up to see a handsome blonde-haired guy in front of me.

"Oh, I did not see you there." I simply said.

"I saw your highlights and sticky notes inside" I can hear the voice of that woman since we are not that far from my classroom.

"That is very embarrassing" my brother replied.

They both laugh happily and shyly.

"I thought, you will cry," the guy in front of me said.

"Stupid. Why would I?" I asked.

Hopeless love. Painful love. Unrequited love. Are those really fun and beautiful? I don't think they are beautiful.

He hold my wrist and pulled me towards the rooftop. He put his hands behind my head and comes closer to me. I looked into his eyes.

He kissed me passionately. He put his arms around me and I did, too.

After the shared kisses, he hugged me tightly.

Yes, we are dating. But...

We are each other's replacement for someone else.

|•FLASHBACK•|

A sunny and fine weather in June. It is my first day as a senior in high school. I looked out the window and felt the chilly breeze on my skin.

"Everyone, please take your seats," a familiar voice said.

I know that my brother will begin his new job here in my school as a teacher, but I never expected him to be my homeroom teacher.

I am so happy. I can see him every day now. Nothing can compare to the happiness I felt now.

We had an activity and I volunteered to submit the papers after class in the faculty room. As soon as the class ended, I collected the papers so I can see him. I ran as fast as I could towards the faculty room. When I arrived, I sigh multiple times to calm myself before opening the door to the faculty room.

"Br-Sir," I said while opening the door.

I can see my brother and ma'am Parker talking about something. I can see the shy expressions and replies from my brother.

"Oh, Mr. Martin. It is one of your students" ma'am Parker said while pointing towards the door, where I stood with the papers in my hands.

"Ms. Laurier, you brought me the handouts, thank you" he replied.

He walked toward me and took the paper handouts from me. He put them inside his drawer and walked back to where Ms. Parker was.

I have been watching for my brother for quite some time now. And that is why I realized, even before he did, that he was making face he never did before. 

I'm so stupid! I let my guard down. Who would think that a stupid middle-aged chick could...

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

I am currently in my house now. I am eating dinner with my mom and brother.

"I can't believe how much Mina became a lady now." brother said in between his chewing.

"Really? She is just acting now that you are here, Chester" my mom replied while giggling.

"Mom!" I glared at my mom.

"Alright, alright. HAHAHA," she said while going back to the kitchen.

"It is so delicious!" brother said after slurping all his food.

"Obviously," I said shortly.

"Your mom is really a great cook," he said.

"Thank you, thank you." I was startled by my mom who popped out in the window between the kitchen and the dining area. "But Mina actually helped out, too. She rarely does"

"M-mom!" I embarrassingly said. I can feel the heat running to my cheeks now.

"But really, it is so delicious!" he exclaimed.

I am so angry right now. To feel so saved by such a meaningless little thing. It is a special occasion even though it's pointless. We are neighbors, after all.

My mom asked me to walk brother home. We talked about a lot of things like how delicious my mom's homemade food was.

"I need one soon," he said.

'I can't wait to have a wonderful wife soon.' It is something he'd always say.

He's been saying that phrase since his high school days, but he hasn't lately. Is it because he had someone specific in his mind right now?

Back then, during our family day, I needed my dad but he left me even before I opened my eyes. I was bullied for not having one, but he attended the event with me. We won but again, I was bullied because they said I was a cheater for not having an old hag dad, they could've won instead of us. I ran towards the playground and went inside a small moving train and hide.

"Mina," he softly said.

"It's not unfair that we won the race," I say said.

"I know"

He hugged me from behind with the packed lunch box in his hand.

"It's also not unfair to eat the homemade lunch your mom packed for us," he cheerfully said.

We ate together and laugh as if nothing happened.

"This is so delicious," he said.

"This is just average" I replied while munching my food.

"Mina, you can't appreciate having a mom that can cook for you." he sadly said.

"You also went with your dad fishing the other day. I don't have a dad so I'm jealous" I sadly replied.

"I see. We both have something the other is jealous of. We'll be able to help each other when we are feeling lonely, then."

-----

We both waved at each other as soon as we arrived at his house.

Liar

●○Flashback - to be continued○●