Anonymous Betrothed

Ah, morning bath is always the best. It awakens me from my sleep. I wonder what's for breakfast today?

I walked out of the bathroom after freshening up myself, with a dry towel on my wet head. I blew my hair dry with a hairdryer before getting myself changed, when I heard the sound of a notification coming from my phone that was on my bed.

Ding!

A text at this hour?

I went to my bed to take my phone. I turned my phone screen on and double-tapped on the notification on the lock screen to read the text.

It's Eric again, always sending 'good morning' messages. I kept telling him not to bother me, but he wouldn't listen. I left him on 'read' and resumed blowing my hair dry with a hairdryer after I've changed into my school attire and tied my hair up.

'Hmm... I'll go for a ponytail today.'

As soon as I have done dressing up, I went to the dining room to have breakfast with my family.

"Good morning, Amanda. Go wake your sister up." Mum was already waiting at the dining table, with pancakes ready on the table. It looked so delicious that I had no choice but to wake my sister before it got cold.

I went to her room and knocked on her door.

"Andrea! Wake up!"

I could hear her mutter even though her bed was far away from the door.

I couldn't wait any longer, so I slammed the door open, trying to make noises as annoying and loud as I could to wake her up.

"Amanda! It's noisy!" She finally sat up from her bed. I laughed so hard when I saw her messy bedhead.

"It's breakfast. Don't let mum wait too long." I couldn't stop laughing until she got mad and yelled at me to stop, so I did, but my stomach still hurts from all that laughing.

"Jeez. By the way, Did father leave before us again? He could have eaten with mum before leaving."

Despite her complaint, she still got up from her bed and washed in the bathroom. While waiting, I went to my room to see if anyone texted me.

Bingo! Someone did text me.

A hundred of messages? Seriously? He is so creepy that he creeps me out. What is he doing spamming me early in the morning?

As usual, I left him on 'read' and placed my phone on my table. Luckily, my sister just got out of the bathroom then it means I can finally eat those delicious looking pancakes placed on the table. Now, I have a reason for ignoring that creepy creep.

We went downstairs and met up with mum.

"Good morning, mum." We greeted her before taking a seat by her side.

As expected, the pancakes were already cooled and it wasn't so fluffy anymore. But it doesn't matter much to me, as long as they are still pancakes.

"Andrea, try to wake up by yourself," Mum said while cutting her pancakes into smaller pieces for easier chewing.

"But, mum... I was having a good dream..." Andrea replied with a mouthful of food.

"Pancakes are so much better than good dreams." I budged in.

I could feel my sister glaring at me when I said that.

"You and your pancakes..." She mumbled. "It's cannibalism, you know that?"

Cannibalism? How?

I thought it through for a long time but still couldn't get what she said. Not until I saw her looking at my chest. Now, I get it!

"Mum!"

I wanted mum to help me deal with this sister of mine for me. But she couldn't care less and resumed eating those delicious pancakes that were served on her plate. I, too, resumed eating those pancakes on my plate, ignoring my sister.

It did not take long for me to finish the pancakes because it was so yummy despite it not being warm anymore. I drank a cup of milk and returned to my room as soon as I was done with my breakfast.

I looked in the mirror to secure my bangs to the side with a bobby pin. Then, I packed my phone into my school bag and waited at the door for Alice. Father hired a driver to send me to school every day because the distance is too far for me to walk.

"Alice, I'm ready for school," I called out to her.

"Just a moment, Miss." Alice took the car keys from the top of the shelf and opened the car doors for me to enter.

"I'll be going, mum," I waved at my mum from the car as she stood at the entrance, sending us off.

"Drive safe, Alice. Amanda, have fun in school." Mum says the same thing every day before I leave for school. Sometimes I wonder if she meant it or it was just a daily routine for her.

Alice drove me to my school after ensuring I had buckled the safety belt.

It wasn't too far of a distance if we went by car. It only took roughly 10 minutes before my school's signboard could be seen. Many cars dropped off students by the gate and we were one of them.

"Enjoy your time at school, Miss," Alice said when I got out of the car. I waved to her in response as she drove away.

We've been off for the last two months for the summer holiday, so going back after two months feels like entering a new place.

Some of my classmates arrived early and were talking about the school's top boys and girls. As soon as I placed my bag at my seat, Mia grabbed my hand and pulled me over to join their conversation.

As the conversation was going on, I received a text notification.

Ding!

Who texts when we're already meeting in school?

I clicked open to see what was that this time. Turns out, it was just a mere "have fun in school" text. Jeez! Why is everyone telling me to have fun in school today? The school has never been fun for me in my entire school life.

I ignored him and continued hearing their conversation.

"Number 1 is definitely..."

"Eric Frederick!"

"Kya!"

"And second..."

Oh, So they're judging based on looks alone?

That was about top boys judged by the girls. Now, it's the boys' turn to choose the top girls.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," The boys shook their heads when the girls asked them to choose their top girls.

"Men don't judge women based on looks." They said it with a sly smile. "We judge both looks and personality." They added.

Heh, I never knew they cared so much. Anyway, I'm excited about the results.

"First off, we have..."

"Amanda Asia!" The boys yelled together while pointing at me. I was surprised they knew I was there. No, moreover, why me?

The whole class looked at me and nodded their heads.

"Hmm. Agreed."

Crap. This topic isn't going well for me. Was I chosen just because I was present? No. If it were, the girls wouldn't have agreed with the boys. It was such a rare case!

"Amanda." My best friend, Mia, gripped my hand. "You're too perfect."

Um, we're talking about the top girls. Right?

"She's a rich beauty." The other girls added. "And smart too."

The topic changed to me all of a sudden. I did not pay attention to it anymore because I have no space to budge in.

I spaced out before I knew it, but came back to my senses when I heard a notification from my phone.

Ding!

What now, creeper?

"Agreed." That was the text he sent. You could've just talked to me since we're literally in front of each other!? I faced him straight on and replied, "Your texts creep me, creeper."

After sending that text, I heard a giggle from the person in front of me. Finally, he spoke to me directly instead of texting.

"You don't have to send that when I'm in front of you. Say it directly to my face, you shy woman."

Well, says the person who was texting me even though we're facing each other.