Chapter 1
Whilst she’s happy that her mother is now engaged to marry again after being a widow for years, and to the man she once loved during her teenage years, Bonnie Pattraphus Borattasuwan was a bit apprehensive of her future stepdad’s daughter as she seemed to not like her that much, though, the older girl appear to really not like many things, but eitherway, she can always feel when she’s not welcome in someone’s home.
Bonnie, with her mother’s request, have uprooted her entire life from Changmai to Bangkok six months ago, and in the middle of the school year, mind you. Luckily, the school where her step-sister goes to was too keen to transferees even halfway through the academic year, and with the large amount of donation her future step-dad have contributed for the school’s new gymnasium, she was immediately accepted. And much to her chagrin, and unfortunate is she, really, that she’s been placed to the same homeroom as her step sister’s.
God knows how hard she had tried not to cause any trouble in the new school she just moved to, but as it seem, trouble is the one always looking for her, either in Chiangmai or now in Bangkok, and it eventually found her when she accidentally spilled juice on the school’s infamous bully six months later.
She didn’t mean to spill her juice on him. It was an accident, really. She didn’t see the banana peel on the floor and have blindly stepped on it and, thus, splashing her juice to the person in front of her.
The bully, not appreciating the unplanned shower of mixed fruit juices, decided not to be kind on Bonnie and made her his official next target. And so, from then on, Bonnie had been bullied everyday for the past week.
It started off harmless, really - if pushing to the ground can be so called harmless, if being called names can’t hurt her feelings, if being a laughing stock isn’t embarrassing enough, and if coming home with occassional bruises on her legs and arm isn’t innocuous enough, then Bonnie’s comprehension mmight’ve been defected or something, because she still think those things were a benign teasing.
But in all seriousness though, Bonnie might’ve really hit her head on something hard to even think that way still, for real.
And it’s not like she enjoys being bullied. No, she doesn’t. But the senior is much bigger and way sturdier than her, so what could she possibly do to stop her bully from bullying her?
Nothing.
Nada.
There’s nothing much for her to do to avoid or escape her bully.
Telling about it to teachers won’t help her situation at all as it would only add more fuel to the fire, and God know’s what the bully could do more to her if she were to tattle-tale on him to the school’s administration.
She has never used violence in her entire life either, and she trully believes that violence is not the proper solution to her problem. And so, while she’s still figuring out whatelse she can do about the person making her life in her new school a misery, she tried to steer clear of her tormentor. She could have just stayed home and lied being sick, but she like studying so much she cannot afford miss a single class.
And then it has been proven that she can only avoid her bully just for a time, because as she was just going to her gym class after break that day, she bumped into her bully.
Great!
Just great!
Out of all the students in the school, she just had to ram herself against the unbelievably compact body of her bully.
Picking herself up from the floor after being thrown back by sheer impact, Bonnie came face to face with her tormenter again.
She was about to run for her life, seeing the devilish smile upon her bully’s face, but the latter managed to stop her by her hand, pulling her back in full force.
But before the bully can even utter anything, a loud and intimidating “Let her go!” roared along the hallway, making everyone’s head turn towards the familiar voice.
Few feet away from them stood Emi Thasorn Klinnium, the school’s short-haired resident racketeer, who just came back from her one-week holiday trip from Italy to see her mother.
“I was just gone for a week. A week. And now you think you’re the king of the school, huh, Soodyacht?” Emi says, taking dramatic steps with each words till she’s close enough to see the surprise mixed with worry on Bonnie’s face.
“Mind your own business, E.” The bully warns pulling Bonnie even more.
“Can’t do that Sood. I just can’t.” Emi says, shaking her head. Her voice were light compared to the piercing look she’s giving the bully as he pulled Bonnie once more.
Emi and Sood weren’t enemies per se, but they do get on each other’s nerves sometimes, so much so that one of them ends up getting hurt. Mostly it’s Emi, but who’s counting, right?
Emi’s propensity for roughness have sprung during her younger years as she spent all her time playing with brutish boys - something she obviously did not manage to quell till this day.
And when the bully seemed like he’s not letting Bonnie’s hand go no matter how hard the latter pulls it back, Emi yells on top of her lungs, clearly not liking the display of power. “I said let her go.”
Everyone’s eyes were now on them, equally curious and perplexed as to what exactly was happening.
No one had seen or heard Emi yelled like that. Sure, she was the most unserious student in school, always the trouble maker, but she never let anyone see her implode like that. Only then did the other students figured how it was probably about something serious for Emi to act in such a way.
Students who knew her know that she’s never one to meddle with anyone’s, especially Sood’s, business, certainly not when it does not concern her; so seeing how she intervened and made it, whatever is happening between Sood and Bonnie, her own business, was quite a sight, really.
Emi and Bonnie goes to the same class, but never did they have a conversation longer than five minutes in the classroom or in any part of the school’s premises, really. Sure, they’ve worked on some activities together when needed and studied together within a group if necessary, but they were never seen together this close before. They barely even look at each other, and when they do find themselves looking at each other, Emi would look away just as quick. It was as if Bonnie was something she cannot bear looking at.
But Emi had always been like that - aloof, unconcerned, unbothered. Her indifference was what made her look cool and stand out in their class, and the class seemed to like her like that. But ever since Bonnie’s arrival, their classmates noticed some little changes on Emi’s behavior, however, no one questioned that as they have all gotten so used to Emi’s nonchalant personality and her ever-changing moods.
But the student body were in for a bigger surprise though, as they watch as Emi pulls Bonnie’s arm off of the bully’s tight grip as she exclaimed, “No one touches what’s mine, Soodyatch!”
And if it wasn’t clear enough, she rephrases it and reiterates every word.
“No one messes with what’s mine.”
Gasps were heard. Questions were asked. Looks were given. Eyebrows were raised.
Since when did the new transferee became Emi’s?
Because as far as the students in the school knows, Emi had never expressed any emotion akin to fondness to anyone. It’s always other kids who finds Emi attractive, not the otter way around.
Bewildered by what she heard, Bonnie whispers, “What are you doing?”
But it was not soft enough that the student nearest them heard her, and she smiled awkwardly at them as she repeats through clenched teeth, “What are you doing?”
But instead of answering, and clearly not caring that she’s causing a scene bigger than what the bully had intended, Emi pulls Bonnie towards her and hid her behind her.
“She’s mine, Soodyacht. Do you understand that? She’s mine.” Emi announces, before dragging Bonnie away from the crowd.
Hours later, much, much later… Bonnie finds herself inside her room, exhausted of her day, mind clearly in shambles with how unpleasant the rest of her day had been, and all she wanted to do right now was to have a shower, eat dinner and sleep.
But undortunately, her future step-sister has a different idea as she just barged in without so much so as a knock or respect for her privacy.
With every student asking her how her and Emi happened throughout her classes, this unsought conversation with her step-sister would probably be the pinnacle of her day
“What were you doing, huh?” Her step-sister asks as soon as the door flew open.
Bonnie, who was in the middle of unbottoning her uniform, stops and replies, “I was just about to undress and take a shower, what else do you think should I be doing in my own room?”
“I was not talking about that.”
Realizing what she walked in to, Bonnie’s step-sister looks away and asks her to button up, which Bonnie freely did, as she replies with, “How was I supposed to know what you’re talking about? Geez. And you just barged in here without knocking, mind you.”
“Sood has been bullying you for a week now.” The step-sister, after checking that she’s decent enough, looks at her again and crosses her arms onto her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“When did I ever tell you things that’s going on in school?” Bonnie asks back as she ties her long black hair in a ponytail.
“The day you started getting bullied, obviously.” The step-sister replied as she watched the room owner suddenly starts to clean up her room.
Bonnie, confused at her step-sister’s unanticipated concern, busies herself with the clutter she had left inside her room earlier that morning before going to school, though there’s not much of a mess, really, it’s more of a distraction; a distraction to not feel awkward, to not be weirded out at her step-sister’s sudden display of unease at the fact that she got bullied in school. “But why do I have to tell you that?”
Last time Bonnie checked, her step-sister does’t really like her that much and would probably have their parents’ engagement canceled if she only says so. She knew the power her step-sister has on her future step-dad. She knew that whatever her step sister say, her future step-dad would do so willingly, engagement revocation included.
“Because you’re my… you are…” Her step-sister starts but fails miserably to continue whatever it was she was going to say next. “Never mind. You should’ve told me he was bothering you. I could’ve stopped him from day one.”
“You were kind of busy with a lot of things.” Bonnie replies, knowing how her step-sister had been very busy lately with her after-school curricular activities and all. “And besides, you can’t possibly do anything when you’re gone for a week.”
“Even so. I could’ve done something more. I wouldn’t want our parents to think I’m not looking out for you in school, now, would I?”
That made Bonnie’s head turn so hard it might’ve snapped. “Oh really? You can’t even bear to look at me at school, in class. You don’t even want our classmates to know that…”
Bonnie trails off, not knowing exactly how she’d phrase their supposedly so-called sisterly relationship.
The step-sister scoffs. “Can’t even say it, yourself, huh?”
“Well, can you blame me? It’s not like you’re showing some enthusiasm, yourself, as well.” Bonnie retorts as she continued cleaning up her rather not-messy room.
“That’s because calling you sister isn’t something I was looking forward to.”
The admission made Bonnie stop and freeze.
For six long months, Bonnie had never felt so out of place. She’s in a house where the only person close to her age and were supposed to make friends with had never made her feel welcome, and now, had just admitted that she wasn’t looking forward for them to be sisters.
“I knew it. I knew you hate me from the start.” She says, her voice not hiding the disappointment and dejection she now feels inside.
“I don’t hate you.” Her step-sister instantly interjects. “Where did you even get that idea from?”
“Well, you just said that you don’t like me to be your sister.”
“Because that’s the truth.”
Okay, now, that’s just plain cruelty.
“See? You hate me.” Bonnie turns around to hide her teary eyes.
She doesn’t want her step-sister to see her cry and know that her words affects her that much. If she hates her and doesn’t want to be sisters, fine, it’s not something she has a say to anyway. They just have to find a way to coexist till and after the wedding, and that is if there’s still a wedding happening soon.
Bonnie can hear her step-sister sigh loudly before footsteps echoed inside her room. She then feels a warm hand on her arm, pulling her gently to turn around.
I don’t hate you, Bonnie. When did I ever gave you an impression that I hate you?”
And then Bonnie couldn’t take it anymore. The tears that was threathening to fall earlier, shed like waterfall, as she answers, “Everytime. Everyday. You can’t even afford to be in the same room with me.”
“I’m in your room right now, arent I?” Her step sister replies, reaching out to wipe her tears dry.
Bonnie notices the drastic change in her step-sister’s voice tone. The soft look on her face. The mellow glow in her eyes. The visibly significant licking of her lips.
Wait, what?
And it somehow had Bonnie choking on her next words. “Well, except now. Before. For the past 6 months. You barely made an effort to get close to me.”
“I did.”
Again, the admission made Bonnie stop and freeze.
And all she can do was ask.
“When?”
Because when did her step-sister ever did something close to trying to initiate anything that resembles normal sisterly relationship?
“Everyday. Everytime. But then I’ll be reminded that you’re going to be my sister once our parents gets married and I just couldn’t.”
Sorry, but what?
“What?” Bonnie ends up asking.
“Bonnie, please, don’t play dumb with me.” Her step-sister pleads, her voice breaking just a little bit.
Only when her step-sister took a step back and turned to walk away did she notice and feel the absense of warm hands that was enveloping hers earlier.
And then Bonnie unconsciously reaches out for her step-sister’s hand.
“No.” She starts, tightening her hold, pulling her step-sister back. “You need to explain. You need to make me understand, Emi. Because right now you didn’t make any sense to me.”
“Never mind that.” Emi, her future step-sister, pulls her hand away. “Just don’t worry about Sood. I’ve already fixed that.”
“No. No.” Bonnie says, rushing to close the door and effectively blocking it by opening her arm wide. “You’re not going to leave here until you explain to me what you meant. I’m not going to let you go till you tell me what you’re not telling me.”
Emi groans, palming her face. “This is not exactly how I planned to tell you. God, I wasn’t even planning to tell you. This is not how I want you to know.”
It was now Bonnie’s turn to plead. “Emi, please, just blurt it out. Just tell me.”
Emi heaves a sigh, clenches her jaw and finally decides to come clean.
“I love you, okay? And not the sisterly kind. Definitely not in the way our parents wants us to be.” Emi admits and continued to spill her deepest, darkest secret.
So apparently, meeting Bonnie in the house when she arrived from Chiangmai wasn’t the first time Emi had seen her. It wasn’t the first time Emi had laid eyes on her.
Emi have already seen Bonnie in Chiangmai two years prior to Bonnie’s arrival at their house. It was when Emi traveled to Chiangmai and stayed there for a week with her cousins for a vacation holiday.
Emi had fallen head over heels for Bonnie the same day she saw her playing a guitar at a cafe, ultimately experiencing love at first time the very moment Bonnie started singing.
And as it appeared to be, Emi had a picture of Bonnie from two years ago saved in her phone till to this day as a keepsake of the moment she ever felt her heart beat erratically inside her chest. And as a hopeless romantic that she is, knowing that she might not see Bonnie again after that day, she kept the picture as her screensaver to remind her of the first girl she ever liked.
Bonnie’s arms animatedly goes down to her sides, mouth hanging open in a trance, as she stare at her own picture on her step-sister’s phone screen. And then as if brought back to reality by something unseen, she shakes her head, exclaiming, “No. No. That can’t possibly be. You can’t love me.”
“But I already do.” Emi counters as she follow Bonnie walk further inside her room towards the window.
Turning around, halting Emi’s steps towards her, she says, “No. Emi. Do you have any idea what you just said?”
“Yes. Of course I do.“ Emi replies. “I’ve been in love with you for two years now. I’ve been in love with you even before I get to meet you. So of course I know what I’m saying.”
“No. No.” Bonnie profusely shakes her head. “Our parents is going to get married next month, Emi. We will be sisters on papers.” She points out as she starts to pace back and forth the expanse of her room, her mind clearly in disarray.
“You’re the one who wanted me to say it.” Emi points out, halting Bonnie’s steps who replied her with, “But I didn’t think it was this. God, Emi. Do you really hate me that much? Did you just say that to mess with my head?”
“What?” Her step sister ask, clearly offended. “No, I didn’t. I’m a lot of things, Bonnie, but a liar is not what I am.”
“Emi, you hate me. You do not love me. You can’t bear the idea of us being sisters because you don’t like me at all.“ Bonnie says in denial. She still can’t wrap her mind on the fact that her future step-sister just confessed to liking her more than sisters should do.
“Bonnie, you’re spiralling. Jesus, will you please calm down.” Emi tries to calm Bonnie down but fails, as the latter kept on pacing the floor, mumbling to herself how Emi can’t like her. Can’t love her. How things will be different between them knowing what she knows now. How it’ll affect their dynamics as a family from now on.
Bonnie stops and exclaims, “Oh my God, what if our parents find out?”
She knows she’s making such fuss out of everything Emi have said.
How could she not? It’s not everyday she findsout that the person she should treat as a sister harbors deep feelings for her for some time now and even before they met each other?
How could she not? Knowing that her supposed future step sister confessing ever liking, nay, loving her will definitely change everything between them?
How could she not? Knowing that behind her step-sister’s coldness and nonchalant behavior towards her was nothing but a masquerade to hide her ever growing feelings for her?
Bonnie was about to say something again but her next words gets stuck up in her throat as she realizes that Emi’s soft and deliciously rosy lips were suddenly on her quivering ones, preventing her from further spilling her opposition to the unplanned confession.
Emi’s lips are on hers. Still at first, till it starts moving ever so gently, as if trying not to scare Bonnie away.
Emi’s lips are on hers - warm and devout.
Emi’s lips are on hers. Moving. Coaxing. Indulging her to kiss back.
And she did. Bonnie did.
Eyes closing, Bonnie kisses Emi back.
At that moment, all of her worries dissipated in thin air, replaced by this inexplicable calmness brought by Emi’s sensuous lips, and kissing her, Bonnie realizes, were overwhelmingly mollifying.
It was Emi who leans away from the kiss and Bonnie, God bless her innocent soul, almost follow Emi’s lips for a second kiss. Luckily, she manages to stop herself just in time to hear what her step sister said.
“I only said I like you, I’m not asking you to like me back.”
Bonnie blinks and then finds herself muttering, “Yeah, okay. But why did you kiss me then?”
And then she realizes just how unprepared she was for Emi’s question when she asks back, “Why did you kiss me back?”