A LITTLE TOUCH OF ROSE - EPISODE 5

Zedekiah’s standpoint

“Wait, what?!” I shrieked with shock. “You can’t possibly be serious, you can’t.”

“I am, except you want to fail…”

“Yes,” we both said simultaneously and then glared at each other.

“And what about me?” Odin asked. “I don’t want to fail, my dad would kill me!”

“And so? One death isn’t the end of the world,” I said with a scowl.

“Have you met my father?” He gasped. “We are working together whether you both like it or not.”

“Definitely not, and you can’t make me.” Witch said firmly.

“Oh yes I can,” Odin growled with his authority tone. He barely uses it but when he does, no one can turn him down. I do, but not every time. For this, I had a reason to.

“Oh yeah, make me,” we said simultaneously.

“Rosita, you are going to work with me so I won’t fail. I don’t care what issues you both have. It’s either you do it or I make sure you fail the entire year…”

“Who cares,” she scoffed. She folded her arms stubbornly.

“Zed, you don’t want me blabbing out that thing, do you?” He asked with a smirk. I looked at him confusedly. He looked me deep in the eyes, conversing a silent message to me. “Agree and convince her because I know you can. It’s either you do or I’m telling the world you two are betrothed to each other and also, I’ll post that video of you from last year Halloween.”

“Seriously, blackmailing now?” I groaned. “I thought you were better than that…”

“Tell me,” Odin and I screamed from her sudden appearance. She rolled her eyes and looked at Odin. “Tell me what you have on him and I’ll work with you, even endure him.” My eyes widened.

“Odin, don’t you dare,” I said with despair. Odin grinned. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered something. She frowned and glared at me.

“You told him,” she said coldly, her words spitting out like a hissing venomous snake.

“Unlike you, I have friends who I talk to. It’s not my fault you are born to die lonely.” Oh wow, really, Zed?

Odin snorted. “You only told me because you were drunk, you don’t even talk to anyone. You are both dying alone with “Lonely Fool” written on your headstones.”

“Hey,” she shouted. “You can’t compare me with this idiot,” she pointed accusingly at me. “He tried to kill me!”

“Only because you tried it first,” I defended.

“No, I didn’t. You were already killing me with your existence so I decided to help you end your miserable life. How is that a bad thing?” She scoffed again. Odin looked between us with amusement.

“Your life is more miserable than mine, princess,” I mocked.

“Better than yours, pauper,”

“I am an idol, what have you been doing with your life?” I taunted.

“You call leaping around on stages like a crippled leg frog, singing with your nonexistent voice while swinging your hair and trying to act cool something? Oh puh-lease, I’ve seen a lot of bad singers with much more horrible faces but you beat them all.” Her insult brought a murmur. Everyone was speaking out their disagreement, my fan girls. I smirked at her.

“They don’t think so,”

“It takes idiots to enjoy something done by a bigger idiot,” she said boldly, glaring at every single person.

“I can’t believe her! She’s so mean!”

“How dare she!”

“She insulted us and Zed Senpai,”

“Whatever, that doesn’t change anything. We are not working…”

“Zed, the video,” Odin reminded me. I whimpered and sank into the chair.

“Do I have to?” I asked with despair. He gave me a look. I sighed and looked at her. “It’s either you agree and kill ourselves in the end, or someone will be calling you Roe Roe soon.” Her eyes widened with alarm.

“You wouldn’t,”

“Try me, I dare you.” I challenged. We maintained a fierce eye showdown for over a minute before she screamed with frustration and yanked her hair.

“I hate you, Grimshaw, I so fucking hate you!” She yelled with English.

“Back at ya, D…”

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned. She turned to Odin. “Fine, you win. I’ll work with this…this…this…” She said while pointing her long nail at me.

“Flat chested ugly open-brained moron?” Darra completed. I shot him a dirty look.

“Thank you guy with the yellow hair? Really, yellow? You look like a walking banana,”

“I know,” Darra winked at her. She smiled and rolled her eyes to amused Sensei.

“Can we at least get another story? One that doesn’t have to do with romance? Please?”

“Yes, give us one that has to deal with a poor miserable girl who lived all her life in sorrow, got raped, beaten, got pregnant, lost the baby and then died. Misery ended. We can call it Withered Rose or Rose of Agony.” I said with a wide grin.

“Why you…” Odin caught her before she launched herself at me and scratch my face off. His hands held her waist tight so she won’t get to me. “Let me have em!” She screamed as she tried to get away from him and get to me. I was laughing at her struggles with delight.

“Okay, okay, enough. You two really need to get along. Endou-sensei, please, can we choose any subject? I promise it won’t be anything they want.” Odin pleaded.

“Why not the story of the girl who went to a graveyard to visit her dead family only to be caught by a sexy vampire and have her blood sucked out of her and then she died to be awaken as a vampire to serve the sexy vampire for the rest of her life?” I suggested.

“Yes,” Rosita agreed, “and then at the end, the vampirina broke free and thrust a stake into the vampire’s heart, ripped it out and fried it. That’ll be a nice ending.” She said with mock excitement.

“Can I still change partners, please,” Odin begged. Sensei laughed.

“Good luck with them. I permit your short story to be anything you choose, even if it’s about death. As long as you submit something.”

“Yes! We can write about a boy who loves singing and dancing then became a singer. One day on stage, he lost his voice. The shock made him break his legs and then his teeth and hair falls off. That’s a nice story, huh Odin?”

“This is going to be a very, very long two weeks.” Odin sighed.

Rosita’s standpoint

I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance. I tried but I failed. Should have tried harder. Currently we were at the same table at the cafeteria and arguing over Odin’s head. The guy was holding his head as he whimpered but we didn’t care. I’ve lost count of the words we threw at each other. And to make sure no one heard it, we were both speaking Czech and mixing it up with Swedish and Arabic. The way we mixed it up, no one would understand. I’m pretty sure they can’t speak Arabic or even Swedish.

Yes, Zed could unfortunately speak five languages fluently: Japanese, Chinese, Russian, English and Arabic. And he can speak, Czech, Swedish, French and Spanish enough and understand two he can’t speak. He wasn’t like me, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hate the fact. We also knew how to talk in a way no one would understand. Somehow, we created some kind of slang talking by skillfully mixing up languages in a way only us understood. Trust me, I still don’t know how we vibe at the same frequent. It’s annoying and makes our parents think we are really meant to be.

“For the unfortunate hundred time, there is no us!” I screamed and yanked my hair. “What is wrong with you?!”

“Me? Tell that to your gold-digger father who won’t stop throwing you at my father. If I need a whore, I know where to get them plenty!” I reached forward across Odin’s head and slapped him. It caused a really loud gasp. His face remained bent to the side. His foolish guards walked forward quick but Odin raised his hand.

“Stay out of their fight,” he warned them.

“Don’t you ever call me a whore again. God knows I rather be dead than spend the rest of my life with you!” I shouted with our mixed language. He turned his face and flipped his hair.

“Tch, you are a whore, deal with it. Even if you aren’t, your father already pass you out as one.”

“That’s it!” I roared. I wanted to take off off my jacket and tie it around my waist, but then I remembered that everyone would be able to see the tattoo of a rose on my right arm and the green stem wrapping around it to my forearm where it wrote “Ultimate Heir” with our secret code. My left arm had a much more scarier tattoo.

“Calm down, Rosita. Use your words, not your swords. Come on Rosita, don’t let him get to you.” What would I do without my Romi who is always in my ear. So far, Zed had made my staying low more worse.

I inhaled and smirked. “You are a fool, always have, always will be. Me? A whore? You are talking to the girl who shot you with a gun and planted a bomb in your car. Come on, Zeddick, try something that actually hits a nice spot. Look at it this way,” I placed my hands on my hips, “even if I am a whore, you’re the last dick I’ll ever suck. Give me a dynamite, any explosive, I will gladly suck it to death than be with you. The mere thought of it makes me wanna puke allover your stupid face.” He glared murderously at me.

“You are the worse female to walk this earth,” he said as he grabbed his phones.

“Keep walking, cockroach,”

“Bitch,” he cursed as he walked away.

“Scream it louder, baby. I’m a bitch and you’re a dick,” I called after him. Many of the students choked on their foods and drinks. He gave me his middle finger. It wasn’t any use answering him, he wasn’t looking. I threw myself down on the chair with a loud puff.

“Now I’m really starting to believe this is a bad idea,” Odin said with a funny smile. “Sure you don’t want me to buy the casket in advance?”

“Make his old,” I said with a frown.

“Nay, he deserves a golden casket,” he said playfully. I gasped outrageously and placed my hand on my chest.

“It’s like I don’t know you anymore. How could you say that to me? That’s just being unfair.” I said dramatically.

“Honey, look at it this way: he gets a casket and you get to walk the earth, isn’t that better?”

I grinned. I totally grinned at the stranger. “So you believe in my victory?” I asked excitedly. “You know I will win?” He nodded.

“It’s actually nice to meet someone who can rile him up a bit, make him show an emotion other than boredom, tiredness, carefreeness and unfriendliness.”

I scowled. “are you trying to say I make him a better person?”

“You make him a angry person,” he laughed. I smiled sheepishly and flicked my hair. “Seriously, girl, you definitely know how to rock his world.”

“Awwwn,” I cooed. I stretched out my hand. “Welcome to the team, Odin,”

“Team Make Zeddick Miserable is now operational,” Odin chirped.

“Mm hm, up top brother,” we have a loud high five and laughed. Wow, he was making me laugh and be happy more than even Terry and Tenny ever did.

“Told you white makes you more free,” Romi said smugly. I chuckled. Odin and I continued to eat and make merry as we made more plans on how to use this project to frustrate Zed. It felt so good to have someone on my size. The bell rang for the end of our fun. It was then I remembered Sakura needed me.

This big sister thing is hard work.

“Thanks for today, Odin-sama,” I said with a playful wink.

“Sama, really?” He laughed. I waved at him before running off.

“You are stuck with that name for the rest of forever, sunshine,” I shouted before entering another hall.

Sakura’s standpoint

There was once a time when I used to worship idols, worship what they did by being a source of inspiration and admiration to others. I wanted to be like them–not that I can sing well–wanted to talk like them too but everything changed because of Isaac Fukushima.

It happened four years ago… Or at least it started four years ago. I had newly gotten into school with all hope of achieving great things, only to have that hope wash away when I turned to the school’s punching bag. Three months into my miserable life, I started hiding out in an abandon classroom to keep them away. Then, the bullying wasn’t even bad. Unfortunately, one day as I was hiding and reading a book, someone tumbled into my safe spot.

Of course I hid under a desk quickly, covering my mouth with fear as tears found it way to my eyes. The door shut and when I listened, it sounded like the person was struggling for air and balance so I came out. You can imagine my shock when I saw that it was Isaac coughing and gasping for air while he rest lazily on a wall. I was a huge fan so I knew what was wrong with him.

Everyone knew Isaac Fukushima didn’t get sick easily, only twice and most times, once a year. But when he does get sick, he is almost impossible to treat. He becomes terribly bedridden for seven to nine days before he starts responding to treatment and very slowly. He had been like that since he was a child like his mother once said, a family disease from his father side that he would outgrow once he’s twenty six… If he gets to twenty six. The sickness only transferred to the firstborn child if the child is a boy. If the child is a girl, the younger brother or any boy won’t have it until their following generation.

The best way they avoided it was once he started getting the symptoms which are sweating and brief vertigo dizziness, his treatment starts immediately to stop the severe one. I knew the best way to help, my paternal grandmother was a priestess and knew a lot about herbs and roots. She knew different plants for different occasions and she taught me how to use most of them. Since I was a fan, I asked her what I could use to help Isaac and she had given me the solution. Grandma was still alive then…

_______ Flashback _______

“Isaac-senpai,” I cried with alarm. I hurried to him and knelt down. “You are sick, I would call your friends.” I stood up to run but he caught my wrist and pulled me down.

“Don’t,” he coughed, “please don’t. If they find out that I’m sick, they’ll cancel the charity concert and might not do it again. Please, don’t tell them.”

“But your health, you are going to collapse either way.” I argued.

“I…I…I… Can m…” He coughed violently again.

“You really wanna do this for the children?” He nodded, “then you’ll have to trust me and let me take care of you, but to do that, you’ll have to follow me out.”

“No one must see me,” he gasped out.

“Don’t worry, they won’t.” I helped him up to his feet and literally carried his whole weight on me. I successfully helped him out through my secret entrance, then got him a big hoody to wear and cover his body. It was a good thing everyone was in class. I was able to take him to his car then took his car keys. Dad taught me how to drive, since I was seven.

I drove out of school and straight to grandma’s. It was a very long ride filled with worry and anxiety. Once we were there, Grandma wasn’t home. It wasn’t a problem. I helped him lay on the bed and quickly ran around to get the herbs and roots that would help. Grandma didn’t return home that day, so I took care of him all night. I didn’t sleep a wink, not even when the sun rose. I lied to my mom that I was spending the night at a friend to study, but told Grandma on phone the truth.

By daybreak, he was strong enough to stand and talk well, even carry on with the concert. However, once the treatment start, it had to be completed.

“Thank you… Uhm…?”

“Sakura,” I said shyly.

“Sakura, beautiful name. It suits you.”

“Thank you,” I giggled. “Senpai, I have to complete the treatment. You have to take the herbs twice a week for six months so it would slowly heal you permanently. The sickness would be wiped from your gene for life, if you take the herbs.”

“That bitter thing?” He cried.

“Do you want to get better?” I asked. He whimpered and whined for minutes before he agreed.

_______ End Of Flashback _______

Our routine started from there. I would meet him at the class every Monday and Thursday then force him to drink the different concoction in three bottles. Most times we talked, I opened up to him and told him things I didn’t even tell my mom or siblings or even grandmother, just like he told me his. We were friends, I knew we were. We even somehow ended up teaching each other. He taught me about music and mathematics while I helped him and taught him every other subjects since he’s a dunce.

After the treatment, we continued meeting up secretly, even outside school. I didn’t mind, I really didn’t mind. Even when my bullying got worse, he was the joy at the end of it. And it was like that for almost two years before I realised something.

Why didn’t he ever smile at me in public? Why didn’t he try to stop my bullying? He was my best friend, I was in love with him, he said he loved me. I might have been a minor but we kissed, he took my virginity, he claimed my heart. Was he ashamed of me? Why? I fought the fear of being used, I believed in him. As long as he loved me, nothing else mattered more to me. Even if he didn’t smile at me in public, it didn’t matter. As long as I had him to myself in secret; the only happiness in my growing misery.

Or so I thought.

One day, I was told to do something by the vice principal. It was very important, really, really. But Isaac called me that something happened. His mother collapsed, he was scared and crying. I left it, I left my job to be with him and comfort him. It got me in trouble, a trouble that could have really messed my future. I had to tell the truth, white lie. I didn’t say we were together, I didn’t say we were friends. I simply told them that Isaac sent me on an errand, nothing more.

To confirm it, the wicked teacher that hate me pulled me to the cafeteria and asked him. I can never forget the coldness in his eyes and the hate in his voice when he looked me in the eyes and said: “what do I have in common with a riffraff? If I want an errand done, don’t I have people to do it than associate myself with a plebeian? Please, don’t involve me in your nonsense.”

God, my heart was ripped out of my chest and used to slap me. I was lucky to get a light punishment: clean the whole school and write a five thousand paged apology note in four days. My bullying got from worse to worst, worst, abso-fucking-lutely brutal. I was a liar, a beggar and so many more. I realise then that nobody is real, nobody is kind, I don’t need friends and trusting people. I realised then that all rich people are the same.

Isaac Fukushima broke me, he destroyed my heart and trust. And it will remain that way.

“S…S…S…Sakura,” there was a time that voice would give me weak knees, a time that voice would make my heart flutter and my cheeks turn red. There was a time I used to love the one that owns the voice. Now, all I feel is contempt and rage.

I raised my head from the desk. He knew where to find me, I never left my comforting classroom. The room that held so much memory. “The same way you came here, walk out.”

“Look…”

“Don’t you dare utter a word, don’t say anything concerning anything. Get the hell out of my sight, Isaac!” I roared. I wish I had a gun. A bullet for every single pain he caused me.

“I just want to talk about the assignment…”

“There is no assignment, there isn’t so get lost.”

“This is very important because I’ve been failing a lot and my father…”

“That is your problem, not mine. Leave.”

“Stop being so hard headed!” He shouted. “Please,” he pleaded softly.

“You are lucky I cannot afford to hire an assassin, or I would have paid a good amount to waste you. Leave me alone, Isaac, haven’t you done enough? Haven’t you already slapped me in the face with my heart?! Leave me! Go! Go away!!!”

“Sakura, please listen to me, I didn’t mean to…”

“Get out! Get out!” I was going feral. I didn’t even know where I got the strength to lift the desk and threw it at him. He was quick to dodge. I grabbed whatever I could reach and kept throwing it at him. His guards came in quick and held me down. I couldn’t help the tears that slipped out.

“Let her go,” he commanded.

“You are bleeding sir,” one gasped.

“I deserve it.” I was tossed to the floor where I gladly fell as I cried. Why was I so blinded by love to see what was really happening? Why?

“Look, I know you hate me a lot, really. But my grade means a lot to me. If you refuse to join, I’ll have no choice than to redraw your admission in this school and make sure no other school admits you. You can use today to think about it.”

Sorry buddy, fate already got that covered… I so wanted to say. Instead I cried, I cried my eyes out even after he left.

The cruel reality was smiling at me, smirking as it made itself known. I had no choice but to agree, to spend time with the devil. Evil fact had proven; I was still in love with Isaac.