Lonely Kid's Stupid Friend

 I tied my hair in a low ponytail as I continued painting my artwork. The only thing that needs some attention are the detailed part of the sky. You know, the formation of the clouds, the birds, and some shades on it.

After finishing it, I stared at it long enough to the point I started to hate it. Always like that. Everytime I wrote a poem, I read it over and over until it sounds very corny. It's a very weird habit.

I washed my hands and clean my nails that are now stained with paints. After some minutes, I went downstairs and sat down by the sofa. It's boring and I can't escape since my parents are here. Mom is in the garden and Dad is chit-chatting with our neighbor. There's always a time like this. Where everything just seems so fine but, it's not.

Yesternight, while staring at the ceiling, I imagined how pretty it is to lie on the ground while the moon is shining up above you with stars forming different constellations, that would be mesmerising. I want to experience that. But for now, it sounds impossible.

And I've been thinking about meeting new people for awhile, but honestly,I am socially awkward. It's hard for me to adapt new personalities since my life only revolves around here.

When I was like 9, my Aunt Nila came over to our house with her kids at my age. I was at my room that time when they came and I told Mom I don't want to go downstairs, but she protested and told me I will receive a new set of acrylic paint if I play with the kids. For the sake of acrylic paints, I let Mom won.

But the moment they saw me, they run to their Mom as if they saw a ghost. I didn't pay attention to them and continued walking going to the counter are in the kitchen.

My eyes widened when Aunt Nila's daughters played with my stuffed toys. I immediately run to Mom grab her by the arm and whispered something to her ear.

“ Don't let them play with my stuffed toys! Those are precious!” I said in a very low voice but in my eyes, you can already traced the anger.

Mom patted my shoulder and smiled.

“Just let them, honey. This is the first time they visit here.”

I stomped my feet as a sign of disagreement.

“ But Mom-”

“ No more buts,okay. Acrylic paints, right?” She said, raising her brows.

“ You just blackmailed me.”

We ate lunch together that day. While we are eating, this kid named Olivia asked me.

“Do you have friends?”

I nodded. She didn't specified it. I got a lot of friends. Fictional.

“ Really? You looked like you don't have any friends.” She said causing me to almost choked.

“Olivia, where are your manners?” said Aunt Mila giving her a warning look. She then faced me.

“I apologize for that, darling. She really needs a lot of discipline.”

“ It's okay. As long as she won't do it again.”

Before they left, Aunt Mila talked with Dad and Mom. I sat down in the sofa waiting for them to finish their talks then suddenly Olivia, and her younger sister, Yena, came closer to me.

“ Do you know any long word in English?” Olivia asked me while her arms are crossed and with her I-bet-you-don't-know face.

I ignored her, but I am mentally slapping her.

I saw her smirked and stood up as her Mom called them. They are already near the doorway when I called her. She then turned her head and all of the attention is on me.

“ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Since then, I told Mom that she should tell me first if there will be visitors so that I can keep my stuffs and hide them in my room. That day, I felt like it's really hard for me to befriend kids at my age. That's why I became socially awkward and get labeled as the 'lonely kid'.

While eating dinner, Dad and Mom are having their conversation about business. I suddenly feel out of place. After drinking a glass of water, I waited for them to finish eating since it's a very bad table manner if you leave the table when someone is still eating.

I took a half bath ang changed into my nightgown. I reread a book but my mind is somewhere else so I need to read from the top again. My eyes felt sleepy so I turned the lamp off and covered myself with the blanket. I am almost drifting to sleep when I felt like someone is throwing stones on my window. 

I stood up and open the curtains of my window and saw someone in bike outside our house. I opened the window and saw an idiot. My brows furrowed and showed him my fist telling me I want to punch his face. 

He took off his hat and open the zipper on his hoodie. He unfolded the paper and showed it to me. It says ' sunrise, together '. He then smiled and waves goodbye and left.

“ You haven't watched ' My Neighbor Totoro'?” I asked Tim while munching cupcakes.

He shake his head no. “ I don't even know what you are talking about. And animated movies are not my type.” 

We watched the people past by us. The sun is almost rising and I'm done eating my cupcake. Tim and I talked for almost an hour. He told me about this place in Japan. He told me he wants to move to Japan because it is his dream place. Japan is really a dream. I got excited by the thoughts of Japan since most animated I watched are from Japan and someday, I hope I can visit or live in Japan.

I also took some pictures of an antique store we visited. I want to buy those pretty miniatures because it looked really cute. Tim asked me why I didn't bought the miniartures and I explained to him that if Mom would notice it If I display in my room.Might cause troubles.I really felt disappointed that time with just the miniartures. So I told myself, it's just miniatures, don't make it a big deal.

I was home earlier just to be sure I won't get caught. I was on my way entering the garage when Tim called me.

“ Kathareen, I-”

“My name is Zoe.” I lower down my voice knowing it's so early in the morning.

“Here.” He threw something in the air and I catched it.

A bracelet.

“ Friends?” he said, showing the same bracelet he gave me.

I give him a stare and a nod. I can't help but to smile as well.

“Bye, my stupid friend.”