The cousins

My day has been completely ruined thanks to Stephanie. I was quiet throughout the class because I’m still upset about the community service. When the bell rang, as a sign that the class end, I immediately fled out of the room. I didn't want to go to my journalism class this afternoon, so I will ask my cousin Clark to drive me home since he has a motorcycle. I went to the college's building and searched for my cousin, but he wasn't there. His classmate told me that he is playing in the field because they don't have class today and that it will resume at 4 p.m. Compared to me, my cousins and my brother are living a normal life. My older brother, Jensen Salvador is taking up IT. He’s normal and even though we’re not biologically related because my mom adopted him when we were living in Manila, our relationship is quite good. We’re not sweet to each, in fact, we always yell and mock each other but in times of crisis we always have each other’s back. On the other hand, Zaphaira Santiago, known as Faira my cousin and Clark’s elder sister is quite famous because she’s hot and gorgeous but she is quite a straightforward person and sometimes she doesn’t care if she offended someone for her, it’s just her telling truth so she has quite some haters which are mostly girls. She’s taking a course that is related to fashion.

When I arrived at the field, I immediately saw my cousin playing football. I know his bag so I sat on the bench next to it and when he looked in my direction, he saw me and waved at me then the girls near me giggled. I quietly watched him play while there are other girls here too, cheering for them as if they’re playing for a national competition.

After they finished playing, Clark run towards me with a wide smile.

“Hey, what’s up!”

I heard some girls giggle again as he got his towel and wiped his sweat away.

Obviously, Clark is a heartthrob at school, especially at their college which is engineering. He’s handsome, smart, gentleman and he is kind to everyone plus he has a really good body built because he is a football player.

“Let me guess something bad happened?”

He knows me too well. He opened his tumbler and drank his water. I sigh as I remember that community service that I need to do because of Stephanie.

Some chick got in the way before I could even respond.

“Hi, Clark! We will be having a party tonight at my house and you're invited!” the girl with full make-up said cheerfully.

And before Clark could open up his mouth, I already answered for him. Clark isn't the type of person who enjoys going to parties like that. If it were Faira, she would go in a heartbeat, but Clark would rather study or play football.

“Sorry dear but he is not coming”

The girl frowned at me. “Excuse me? I’m not talking to you. Weirdo”

She pushed me aside. Clark and I were both taken aback by what she had done.

“Hey, that’s not cool!”

My cousin immediately helped me while the girl looked shocked.

“She’s not a weirdo, she’s my cousin, and yes I’m sorry but I won’t go to your party”

The girl’s eye widens and she scoffed in disbelief because my cousin rejected her. I smirked at her and she had no choice but to leave.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry for what happened”

Clark gave me a worried glance but I just nodded. It’s nothing new for a person like me but for me who’s popular, people respect him so he didn’t experience this rough patch in high school.

“I’ve been treated worst, that’s nothing”

Unfortunately, the world is unfair and it sucks but you have to deal with it. Good thing I have mastered the art of not giving a damn.

“Don’t let them treat you like that if someone bothers you, tell me, okay?”

He looked concerned but I just shrug and took my things. He started preaching but I couldn’t care less besides it's not like I let them bully me. I could stand up for myself when I feel like doing so.

“You done?”

He sighed, “Are you even listening Celestine?”

“Yeah” I smiled at him but he still looks serious.

“You’re not listening”

Before he could even finish his teammates call him so he jogged towards them. They talk for a while and Clark returned to me, his friends waved at me so I nodded and smiled at them then we left.

When we arrived at Clark’s motorcycle, I was about to get the other helmet but he put it in my head instead.

“Thank you,” I uttered and I climbed behind him as he rode his motorcycle. We reach the house in less than 15 minutes. Clark was the first one to get off the motor and then he helped me. I removed the helmet then handed it to him and brushed my hair using my hand.

“Are you really sick?” Clark put his hand at my forehead to check my temperature but I immediately removed his hand.

“I’m not sick. I just don’t feel like going to school. I’m pissed because I need to do community service for a week!”

His expression changed as if he was trying to stop himself from laughing.

“Why?”

I rolled my eyes seeing his expression. See, he finds it funny.

“I don’t want to talk about it, I just don’t want to see Stephanie for a week if possible.”

My blood starts to boil whenever I see her face or even hear her name.

“That would be impossible, she’s your classmate.”

“Yeah, how unfortunate of me”

I just hope and pray that she would not be my classmate in college because I swear, I’m so done with her. When I was in second grade, we left Madiville and I thought finally Stephanie is out of my life then we came back to high school, I can’t believe that she was still my classmate, which was a bummer.

“Anyway, thanks for the ride!”

“Sure, anytime. If anything’s up just call me like if you need someone to help you in your community service”

I shake my head and wave him goodbye. I went inside our house after seeing Clark leave. It’s quiet because my mom is still at work, she is a journalist in the town. I went upstairs to look around in my brother's room. I wasn't expecting to find my brother lying on his bed, watching TV like he didn't have any classes.

“Excuse me, why aren't you at school?”

I sat next to him and watched television, where he is currently watching The Maze Runner; I've heard it's a good film and it's based on a book.

“Why aren’t you at school?” he mocked me while his eyes are still on the screen.

I sigh then took some of his chips and watch silently beside him.

“You should pay me”

I stopped eating and stared at him, puzzled.

“for the chips.... don't you know according to economics, there’s no such thing as free lunch” I rolled my eyes in irritation and continued eating the chips like I didn’t hear any of the words he said.

“I hate you”, I uttered.

“You hate everyone… except Clark”

Clark is my favorite person because he’s always at my side, he believes in me and listens to me plus he never bullies me. He’s just so nice and you can’t hate him.

I didn't expect the movie to be so good that I became so absorbed in it and both of us were silent and watching it seriously but suddenly the doorbell rang.

Nobody dares to move, and our eyes remain fixed on the television as if we haven't heard anything.

The doorbell rang once again.

"Get it Celine", Jensen said

“Why don't you go get it yourself?”

I didn't bother to get up because the movie is like in its climax and I just couldn’t miss it.

“I’m older than you”, he glared at me

“So?” I crossed my arms and faced him.

“So, you should obey me”

I hate his logic, whenever I say no to him, he goes tells mom that I don’t respect him that I don’t know how to listen and I’m a bad sister when in fact he bullies me every day!

Before I could even answer, he kicked me out of the bed.

“I hate you!”

I shouted as I stormed out of the room. I went downstairs and when I opened the door, there’s no one there. Maybe just some kids doing a prank, I was about to close the door when I saw a classy envelope on the floor and I pick it up. I scanned it and noticed a seal with a letter R on it, other than that there’s nothing else written outside the envelope.

“Hurry up! The movie is about to end”

I immediately run upstairs and left the envelope at my mom’s office.

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