Painful Smiles

“Really?” Michael said sadly.

“Yeah!” Tom answered cheerfully, his countenance changed when he remembered Michael’s sad tone, “Why’d you sound sad? I’ve been nudging my dad to let me do my senior year at your school. Didn’t you know?”.

“Don’t get me wrong, I mean, I know you wanted to come to my school but… I don’t plan to stay in France for senior year. I wanted to have it at US.” Michael announced.

Tom went back slowly. “For Clara?” he sounded disheartened. Betrayed.

Michael wanted to say something but his mouth refused to speak.

“Um.. Th-That’s okay. Yeah… its okay. See ya” Tom stammered and moved away towards his car.

Michael watched him leave.

“I messed up” he mumbled as he went over to his own car. Today was supposed to be wonderful.

They just finished the cross-over party to final year. And he had to spoil it with his stupid news. He wasn’t even sure if he still wanted to go back. For some girl.

Who’d have moved on already.

Who perhaps made the wave, that made him long for her, out of politeness.

He was really angry with himself, he’d been trying to ignore all Clara’s memories. Going back to the US would bring back memories of his mom, series of suicide attempts.

“What should I do now? Go back or not?” he asked himself. By now, he’s father is making arrangements of his relocation back to US. Should he stop him? Then does it mean his five years of being executive director was a waste?

He sighed deeply as he drove.

And if Clara didn’t remember him? He’d have lost Tom as a friend by then.

He groaned and hit his hand on hus steering wheel. The traffic wasn’t helping matters as it was slow.

His phone buzzed and Mrs. Peniel popped on his screen.

“On my way home. In traffic” he said when he picked the call.

“Oh, hurry. I have news” she replied and hung up.

Theses days, her “news” we’re always good news. And her “good news” were always bad news. For Michael.

He had an air of positivity and strangely patience as he drove back.

“Michael?” Mrs. Peniel called as she heard hum downstairs. He hurriedly ran upstairs to meet her to prevent her from coming down the stairs.

She was older and couldn’t be jumping down stairs all the time. He was grateful for her presence and didn’t want her leaving him anytime soon.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Here” he answered when he was in front of her.

She patted his back as she led him to the dining room, it was kept upstairs for convenience. No one visited them anyways.

“You’ve grown to a beautiful young man, Michael” Mrs. Peniel said as she drew out a chair for him.

“Your father wanted me to be sure you don’t have a girlfriend” she added and sat beside him.

“I don’t” he answered.

‘Then guess what?’ she asked, suddenly grinning.

‘What?’ he asked quizzically.

‘You’re in. Clara’s school accepted you’ announced Mrs. Peniel and she hugged him.

Underneath her tight embrace, Michael didn’t know if he was to be happy or sad. He has always wanted this and Tom knew that. ‘Why was he acting so hard to please?’ Michael muttered.

‘Aren’t you happy?’ Mrs. Peniel was now searching his face. Michael stared at her. She seemed more happier than he was. All this years because of him, she didn’t visit her younger sister. This was her chance. And he wasn’t going to take it away from her.

‘Yes, I’m glad’ he answered.

*************

**School Bell rings**

It was the last day of their exams. Everyone was super excited planning for the cross-over party. Everyone except Claudia.

She’d use the time Clara isn’t around to distract Paul and teach him how to make a toy for himself.

She was written down some notes when she heard the bell ring.

Wright rushed into the empty class he and Claudia are in. He nearly banged his head at the door.

She smiled at him. He was clumsy, in a cute way. Sadly, she still wasn’t interested in him.

He held a Fanta drink behind him. Claudia scribbled something again on her notes and scrambled to place them in her bag.

‘Okay, I’ll be going now. Won’t want my driver to wait’ she picked up a book that fell.

Her pen flew the opposite direction, she sighed but didn’t go after it expecting Wright to help her with it. But he just stood there.

‘Um.. please help with my pen?’ she looked up to him.

He wanted to say something but then shook his head and went to get the pen. She saw the drink behind him but ignored it.

‘Are you thirsty?’ he finally asked.

She shook her head.

‘Um.. Okay. But if you’re, you can have this Fanta’ he stretched his hand to make visible the drink.

He withdrew his hand immediately when he saw her twisted face.

‘If I am thirsty, I’d need water not Fanta’ she rolled her eyes.

He looked down. Emotionally, a knife was poked on his heart.

‘But then, its cute you thought of getting me something’ she added. He looked up and his eyes lit up when she called him ‘cute’.

She snatched the drink from his hand, ‘Thanks. Bye. Look forward to my own gift. And please be free for another revision’ she waved as she left. He stood there momentarily, then waved back. She always gave him many mixed feelings.

Claudia snapped the drink open and gulped its content. That Wright could be really cute sometimes.

She bowed to her driver and threw her bag in. ‘Konichiwa’ she said cutely. That was how ‘hello’ was said in his dialect. At least it sounded like that.

He was Japanese and was always nice to her. Amongst the few people who we’re. She hoped to keep them.

‘Thank you. Where’s that one?’ he asked looking at the door hoping for Clara to pop out amongst the other students with her clique. Claudia smirked, he called Clara ‘that one’ all the time.

‘I’ll go find her. She doesn’t come out till she signs everyone’s autograph’ Claudia said the first part to the driver and the last part to herself.

Her sister always acted like a real life Barbie.

Dolled up and loved. It disgusted her. Even made her hate the fictional Barbie.