PEPSI'S POV

"You've got some explaining to do, young lady."

I've resorted to putting my phone on the dresser so I can do my make-up while I Facetime my brother Sprite. His eyebrows crash against each other as he speaks to me. He really sounds like our dad, and it's really weird.

"What about it? I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant, Sprite." 

"Of course, you're not. Who would even waste their second to give you a quick glance?"

"Thanks, Dad. I'm flattered." I flatly respond while I concentrate on outlining my eyebrows with the pencil.

"Anyway..." I take the phone and properly position it in front of my face. "What about the explaining thing?"

I seriously have no idea what I have done wrong.

"Someone told me that you are using half of your monthly school allowance for a freaking face powder." he squints his eyes as he moves closer to the phone, and the very clear shot of his nostrils and everything inside it makes me believe that I also had a glimpse of his brain.

Thanks for the nice view, Bro.

"Sprite, please." I groan. "Do you really believe everything that comes out of Grams' gummy mouth? Do you know that she's actually the one who's always using up my face powder because she would often mistake it as sugar for her coffee?"

He readjusts the view. "You're really something else, Anika. Girls your age are doing everything to become prettier and finer but you? You just want to become uglier."

He prefers to call me by my second name because, for him, it suits me better. Also, according to him, Anika sounds like an ugly doll, which perfectly describes my appearance.

"To become the ugliest girl in the world is actually my goal, Daddybro."

"Oh, you already are. There's no need to make it a goal as you have already achieved it."

I just shrug my shoulder and didn't say anything. I am not affected by all these insults because I am already used to them.

"Whatever, Daddybro."

With his pixelated eyes glaring at me, he then continues, "For crying out loud, Anika. Stop calling me that! It really sounds ridiculous!"

"Like a sugar daddy? Oh, so you're not?"

"Watch your words, Pepsi Anika Lane!"

I'm not sure who he sounded like more; Dad or Mom?

When my older brother starts talking, it will be non-stop. Maybe it's the effects of stress in his workplace. Being an emergency nurse can be really difficult and hectic. Maybe that's another reason why he doesn't have a dating life.

"And one more thing, Grams also told me that she often hears you cursing. Is that how a fine young woman acts?"

I roll my eyes. First, we're not in England and I am not a princess and second, Grams is being a baby again. Last night, before we went to sleep, she forced me to play this basketball thing on Messenger with her and she got mad because I won without even trying. And now, she's having her revenge by telling this nonsense stuff to Sprite.

"I don't give a damn about how a woman should act, Sprite."

"Watch your words, Anika. Watch your words."

"How can I watch my words if they literally just came from my mouth and I can only hear them?"

"ENOUGH!" The intensity of his voice is comparable to a super typhoon, and I bite my lip to stop myself from giggling. One of my favorite hobbies is to annoy him because he really looks so adorable when he's mad.

"Whoa... Easy, Daddybro,"

I wonder if he is menopausal or something. But one thing's for sure; he badly needs a girlfriend ASAP.

"No school allowance for you this month." he flashes me a stern look through the camera.

"Cool," I nonchalantly shrug my shoulders again then grab my bag. "Guess I have to consider my friend's suggestion of becoming a hooker downtown then."

His pixelated face twists into a clearer look of frustration, giving me the chance to visualize some smoke that is coming out of his nostrils and ears.

I finally decided to behave, as I didn't want to lose my allowance this month and hear him blabber about teenage pregnancies, HIV, and all stuff concerning sex.

"I'm just kidding, Sprite. You know how much I love you, right? Please, give me that smile now so I'll stop being a very bad girl..."

"Your last sentence...Please don't ever say that again."

We continued to bicker for a few more minutes until he finally bid goodbye as he needed to prepare for his afternoon shift. When I finish college, I swear I'll spoil the hell out of him and Grams to repay him for everything.

I check myself in the mirror for the last time and my outfit just dawned on me; black skinny jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt with a white cat design in front. I don't usually wear jeans because it outlines my legs and ass, and guys love gawking at girls in tight-ass jeans. You're just calling yourself to be noticed when you wear that, and I don't like being noticed in a positive way.

Then why are you wearing it this time?

I am stunned at the little offensive question inside my head. I actually don't know why. I just feel like wearing it today and besides, I haven't done the laundry from last week yet.

Oh, really...

Damn you!

"Sweetcakes, is anything wrong? Why are you mad at the mirror? Did it bite you?"

I turn to Grams and watch her as she slowly inches towards me with her crane. It would probably take about seventy-six years and nineteen days before she could finally reach me so I decided to walk up to her instead.

"No, Grams. It just gave me my own beautiful reflection." I casually reply before walking towards her and giving her a quick peck on her wrinkled cheek. "Gotta go."

"I need a rematch later, Darlin'," she says in a near growl.

I just dismissively waved my hand at her before running across the road for the cab.

****

A wave of uncanny energy fills up all the spaces in my body the moment I enter the school's premises. My teeth are kind of chattering and I don't know why I'm excited and nervous at the same time.

I walk towards our building with my eyes scanning the place, seemingly looking for someone.

Oh, girl. You're just looking for Jake.

I roll my eyes at my very own subconscious. I'm just worried he might approach me again and ruin my morning.

In the midst of all the students scattered around, I finally see him happily chatting with his popular circle near the entrance of our building. Sierra's arms are wrapped around his waist like a female snake deprived of its male species for trillions of millions of years. They are both listening to whatever Marcus is boasting about, while Zeus is just leaning against the wall while quietly listening to them.

My heartbeat seemed to have stopped when our eyes met again. I'm expecting him to wink at me or throw me his signature fuckboy smile but to my surprise, aside from teleportation, I suddenly have these invisible powers; he ignored me.

I held my chin up as my eyebrow rose in question. I hold my composure as I continue walking in their direction. I have no choice because they're literally just beside the entrance hanging on to the railings in the side.

"Hey, guys. I've got a little trivia for you today. Do you know that my Jake has a new stalker? And guess what, she's not an ordinary stalker. She's a witch who posed as a manhater but actually has the hots for my boyfriend." Sierra eagerly rattles in a louder-than-normal voice. I'm not sure if I suddenly had some supersonic hearing or the queen bitch meant it for me to hear.

"You have nothing to worry about, Sierra. She's not even Jake's type. Right, Bro?" Zeus gently elbows him.

Oh, so the jerk actually has a type after fucking half of the women in school?

"Of course. And besides, there's no need for me to become a dog—I'm already one; and Sierra's my master..or mistress, whatever," Jake says like a stupid schoolboy. 

I seriously want to puke at what I have heard. Why didn't the universe warn me that there will be a cringefest today? Without even looking, I can tell that they are doing some disgusting public display of affection right now. Those jealous fangirls aka the ego feeders around them are surely their number one motivators for doing such shitty acts in public.

While nearing the locker area, the sound of Jake and his bullshit squad's laugh reaches my ears and is now echoing inside my brain. After getting a book inside my locker, I close it with a loud bang and gradually exhale a big puff of air.

If they only knew...

Calm down, Pepsi. Calm down...

*****

It's five in the afternoon. I should be heading home by now, but I feel like Mother Nature is calling me to bond with her in my favorite spot for a little while.

No one really dared to sit on this particular bench since the rumors of me being a witch started. I always find this vacant, and I'm really thankful that I don't have to scare a student away. It's just a waste of my time and energy.

I really like the ambiance here. The colorful sky of late afternoon is my favorite. The shade from the tall tree behind me is just so relaxing and comforting, and the fresh, warm air is soothing my always grumpy nerves. The green grass relaxes my strained eyes, and the view of the beautiful sunset over the admin building has been always a sight to behold.

I slipped on my earphones and played a random song from my playlist.

Just the Girl by The Click Five starts massaging my eardrums.

🎵She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'
She pushed me in the pool
At our last school reunion
She laughs at my dreams
But I dream about her laughter
Strange as it seems
She's the one I'm after🎶

🎵[Chorus:]
'cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for🎶

I close my eyes and smile at the lyrics and melody of the song. For some reason, they remind me of myself.

I wonder if there would be someone who will sing this song for me someday. Someone who will sing each lyric from his heart...

I like listening to 90's music. They seem to be more genuine compared to the songs of today, which are usually about sex, drugs, weeds, superficial love, fame, and money. It really bothers me, you know.

"I wonder what you're thinking right now,"

Jesus!

Flabbergasted, I turn to the owner of the voice beside me and my eyes widen in surprise.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I exclaim. Jake's sudden and unexpected presence has definitely caught me off-guard. He is sitting beside me on the bench but is facing the opposite direction. And how in the universe didn't I notice him approaching?

"I'm just really curious about something, and I have been dying to ask you this."

I scoot for like six and a half inches away from him before blinking at his handsome face.

"WHAT?" I'm pretty sure my nostrils just flared.

He looks up at the sky and rubs his chin with his fingers. "I'm just wondering what kind of juice are you if you are one."

What? Did I hear it right? A fucking juice? What is he up to? Is he trying to throw a pickup line? 

That's impossible.

He turns to me and intently pierces me with those deep-set eyes of him. I unconsciously lean back and blink away, as that look of his is like sucking some of my energy out, for some reason.

"What kind of question is that?" I try my best not to stutter.

"Just...give me an answer, okay?" he scoots even closer, prompting me to slither towards the edge of the bench.

"I don't know! And I don't have any time for some guessing shit." I snap at him. "WHAT?!"

There is silence for like twelve seconds before he finally opens his mouth again.

"GOR-juice," he reveals with a sensual voice and dreamy eyes.

An awkward silence ensues for like three seconds as we just stare at each other's eyes.

Is the universe punishing me or something? Someone should stop me from picking up that huge rock lying on the grass nearby and throw it at his stupid face.

I finally break the silence,

"You should leave at this exact second if you still want to live," I warn him with my lips pressing into a hard line.

I expect him to be terrified but his eyes just lit up in mischievousness. I then look away and act like I'm immensely intrigued by my black nail polish.

He suddenly bursts into laughter and I'm not sure it is really soft or the sound of my heartbeat coursing through my eardrums is just muffling it.

Why do women easily swoon over attractive guys?

I should not fall into his trap. He definitely planned this ahead and has already prepared a lot of traps to soften me out because he knows what women are capable of. He's a fuckboy and he's here to mess with my feelings and destroy my heart...

...and I should not allow that to happen.

I get up and without a word, start walking away.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

I just keep on walking while convincing myself to ignore him on every step.

"Wait! I'll give you a ride home." My head snapped back to face him the moment he grabbed my arm.

"You really don't have any plans to stop, do you?" I give him a deathly glare.

He looks stupefied and scared the next second. With widened eyes, he is gazing at me as if my eyes just glowed a brighter shade of eerie green or something.

Did they?

I scoffed at him and finally hailed a cab, leaving him standing behind me like a complete idiot.

I heard his friends calling him from a distance and I'm now certain that he won't follow me anymore.

I finally throw myself inside the cab and drown myself in the backseat in infuriation. I had been enjoying my peaceful life in this school for the past three years until this jerk decided to play a little game with me.

Of all the other girls that he didn't break yet...

Why me?

I don't really understand why he will waste his time flirting with me when he already has the hottest and the most popular girl in school who also happened to be a total bitch and the overly jealous type.

Why are boys like that? Why aren't they contented with one girl, or sometimes two, or three, and the count continues? Do their egos solely run their lives? Are their cocks that big enough to overpower their brain? I am aware that males, in general, are naturally polygamous but it's just unfair, right?

Unfair because girls are weak. We easily fall into their charms. We easily give them our trust and let them break our hearts in the process. It really sucks because we are always deemed as the losers in the end.

A part of us will always be broken then.

While them? They have nothing to lose anyway. After quenching their lust and thirst, they will just slip on those fuckboy clothes and leave us to conquer the world again for another heart to break.

But the question is, would I allow myself to be like those girls?

Hell fucking no. I swear to my parents' graves that I will be an exception to that.

You'll see Jakey boy. Someday, I'm gonna teach you a lesson...

A lesson that you will never forget as long as you live.

*****To be continued*****

A/N:
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