Love Born From Revenge

Chapter 01.

Pree


Dear Diary,


Welcome to the circle, and congratulations on being the seventh friend I can share joy and pain with.
Let me make a proper introduction.

I am Preeda Chan, 16, born and raised in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. It is a small country, and just like me, not many people know of our existence. Some don't even know that it is a REAL country that appears on the map.

Just like how people never notice I exist.

This explains why I spend most of my time alone, staring at the white ceiling of my room and pretending that I am being taken to Hogwarts, Narnia, or other fantasylands. Any fictional world is fine, as long as I can escape from this real world.

If I could, I would shut myself entirely in my room and never go out. But, sadly, I couldn't. I need to go to school.

Speaking of school, I'm in the last year of high school starting today, meaning that it is the last year of my carefreeness. Starting next year, I will be working myself off, trying to figure out what major to choose and what kind of life I want to live. But let's put that aside for now. I still have three-hundred and sixty-five days more to get to that. So, for now, let me live the last year of my freedom.

I am a reclusive, laconic, and the suffer-in-silence type who rarely complains verbally yet is good at lamenting my dissatisfaction with an ocean of words.

And this explains the existence of you, Diary.

Now, what should I confide in you today? How about一


"Pree, it's noon now.
Shouldn't you have lunch and get ready for school?" a voice from the kitchen is calling me, and I know exactly whose it belongs to.

I pause my writing, keeping the tip of the pen a mere inch from the sheet before replying, "I'm coming, mom." I dip the pen back into the paper and use its black inks to form a few phrases as a goodbye.


Okay, Need to go now.
Talk to you later.


Closing my diary, I hop off the bed and grab a towel, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Picking any clothes that drop out from my wardrobe the moment I open the door, I put on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt before walking to the mirror and debating whether to comb my hair or not.

"Pree, you're gonna be late!" My mom calls out to me again.

Having no time to find the brush, I use my fingers to split my hair into three parts and make a loose braid out of it.

While girls my age spend no less than an hour getting ready, I only take five minutes sharp.

*******


I walk into class to find Su, my best friend since middle school, already reserves a seat for me next to her.
She is the best friend I could ever ask for; cute, smart, kind, and helpful, making her one of the shining stars in class—the complete opposite of me.

"She's here," says Su, smiling at me before furrowing her brows at a messy quiff with a tapered side dye-blond hair guy sitting next to her.

"Who is ‘she’ exactly, Suda?" he asks.

"The owner of this seat. My best friend. Now, get up and go away." The glare she gives at him is no joke, for he obeyed with no delay.

I chuckle and shake my head at what I've just seen. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this has happened. Ever since we have known each other, I honestly lost count of boys chasing after Su, but I remember they fall into two categories.

The first one is a straightforward type. Those who literally chase after her, trudging behind her wherever she goes like lost puppies. They are also the sweet talkers who shamelessly flirt in the open with all kinds of words that can make one diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, my best friend's temper is no joke. The more they pursue her, the more she keeps brushing them off in a not-so-discreet way.

The second is the secret crush type. Learning from the straightforward boys' mistakes, they don't dare to approach Su openly. Instead, they spend time looking at her from a distance, trying to make a friendly chat with her every night, and lastly, seeking help from me.

Last year, my notifications were flooded with their messages that I had to deactivate my account for a while to find peace. When Su found out, she grouped those guys into a chat and warned them all in one go to never disturb me again, to which I couldn't thank her enough.

"Hello, my dear. Long time no see," Su winks at me.

I roll my eyes before sitting down next to her. "Please. We just met yesterday. You came to my house, remember?"

"I meant," she sighs, "long time no see in the outside world."

"Oh."

"Tell me, when was the last time you stepped out of the house during this summer break?"

I stare at the ceiling briefly as if the answer is there before turning to look at her. "I don't remember."

"Exactly!" she exclaims, making me almost jump at the sudden loud voice.

"So what? I've been having fun with my readings. I finished all the to-read reading lists."

"What are those? Fantasy or romance?"

"Both."

"Pree, for someone who's been reading romance novels to where the pile of all those books is ten times taller than me, how come you haven't had a boyfriend yet?"

"What's with all this 'boyfriend' thing all of a sudden?" I frown. "Besides, I'm not a shining star like you, Su. Guys aren't attracted to me the way they are with you."

"Bestie, let me tell you something." She puts her hand on my shoulder. "Quality outweighs quantity."

"Meaning?" I arch one of my eyebrows, giving her a questioning look.

"It means that you don't need all those annoying guys chasing you. You only need just one guy. Sometimes, the only one can be the right one."

I shake her hand off my shoulder and sigh. "Yeah, let's say that when at least that one guy exists. You know that even when I'm walking right next to you, all those guys never notice I am there. I'm invisible to boys, to put it shortly."

"Don't worry. Something tells me that a guy who doesn't find you invisible will appear soon." Su's expression turns austere as if she is saying something profound.

"What are you? A psychic?"

"No, but I can't shake this feeling off. Bestie's instinct has never been wrong, Pree."

"Whatever. Like I even care."

"You should. My dear, you're eighteen. It's time to experience some teen romance. Teenage love can't be experienced twice. Once you've passed your teens, then there is no turning back. Done."

"I. Don't. Care," I enunciate each word clearly. "I already know what love is. I read romance, remember? But even knowing it doesn't mean I want to experience it."

"Why?"

"Just because."

"Ugh. You've never changed." Su rolls her eyes. "But don't worry. Perhaps, you'll change your mind about this."

"Never."

Su wriggles her eyebrows and says in a singsong tone, "We'll see about that."

"See what?"

"I've told you, haven't I? I've never been wrong about you. I predict that you'll find love this year."

"Enough of this topic. We're getting nowhere. Let me continue my reading. The climax of the story is about to come."

"And so is the climax of your love life."

"Can we drop this subject?"

"No. I think it won't be long for me to invite you on a double date," she says, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "I can't wait for it. I've always wanted to do that with my best friend. I'll brainstorm the places that we should go to since you don't know anything about it. I better note down before I forget."

I sigh, looking at Su scribbling on the little yellow sticky notes. She is the outdoor type while I am an indoor one. She finds staying in the house boring, whereas I find it fascinating. Whenever there is a holiday, she is happy to spend the day out. She either goes with her boyfriend or her family. She knows a lot of places, without a doubt. Even though I live in the capital city, I am no different from a cavewoman. Besides my way to school, I know nothing. So I am keen to spend the day crawling into my bed with a book in hands and keep on reading till the last page.

The differences lead us to quarrel many times; but, we make up briefly after. I guess that's what it means to be true friends.

You may have to see what it's like to have your psychic thing wrong for the first time, Su, I thought to myself. Indeed, Su's instinct has never been incorrect, especially when it comes to things related to me. However, there is always a first time for everything.

I'm not getting a boyfriend any time soon. Not today, and especially not this year. I need to focus on my studies. Besides, I've already fallen for those male leads in the book. My heart is fully occupied. Keeping the thought to myself, I divert my attention from her.

Taking out a Kindle from my bag, I unlock the screen and start reading. People usually say they can only read when there are comfortable chairs, a cup of coffee or tea, a sofa, or whatever. But for me, I can read everywhere, even in noisy places like my classroom. Being able to shut the unwanted voices out is one of my talents.

But this time, it is different.

There is a conversation that catches my interest. Even though I want to shut it out, I just can't.

The subject of that conversation marks the beginning of how my life is turned upside down.

And I am just about to know it yet.


<TO BE CONTINUED>

©️StellaKMary | Love Born From Revenge

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