She looked outside the window from her pink cozy bedroom. She sat on the side sofa, next to the window, knees on the chest. Her head tilted a bit and her lips sighed every few minutes.

She never hates people. She finds them some kind of interesting subjects to learn. People were born to be unique in their ways. That means they are complex and confusing as well. That's what makes them interesting, at least according to Peony.

They are not evil by choice. It is believed that people are bad for any reason. Environment, pressure, and even family problems can cause someone's bad behavior. They can change. Humans can't forever be bad!

But this boy probably is a special case.

"Why do I only feel the negative side when it comes to him? Ugh, he makes me mad!" Peony grunted. She hated the anger and annoyance that she had right now. She was never used to that kind of negativity.

Unfortunately, living around this type of person forced her to feel like that! Even more frustrated, she hated herself for hating the boy. She was supposed to understand him, but she can't comprehend someone so damn sarcastic and blunt as him.

She held her chest. It hurts so deep whenever he came across her mind. Something that she never had before. A hurtful feeling of hating.

This is her first time.

***

School ends. She anxiously waited for Benji in front of his locker. Her mentality was still dazed about the incident that happened just now. That boy got some guts to fool around like that! She bit her lower lips and held her anger inside.

"Baby..." Benji came and tucked her hair behind her ear. She tried to smile but she couldn't hide her frustration.

"What's wrong?" Benji asked Peony. He could sense the vibe because she had never acted like this before. And Peony was not a person who can easily hide her emotion. It's obvious if she got angry, sad, or happy.

Her expression tells everything.

"N-nothing! I'm in a blue mood today..." she stared at her red high-top Converse. Lips pouted a bit.

"Really? Why?" asked Benji. She was about to explain things when she saw Yu, leaning onto his locker, watching her attentively. She quickly turned away from his gaze and looked at Benji.

"Ah... Maybe I'm just tired..."

"Baby, you need to relax and enjoy a little bit. Stop working so hard!" she nodded. Benji's words calm her down.

"Honey, can you walk me home? Maybe we can have ice cream on the way?" Benji frowned. Peony never demands something like this before. Well, this is new!

"Baby, you know I'd love to! But, I need to finish up my physics project. The due date is just around the corner! Maybe next time, okay?" Peony looked gloomy. Right now, all she wanted is Benji but even he got no time for her.

"Okay, I understand. Maybe next time?"

"Good girl! I need to go now, and perhaps we can video chat tonight?" she grinned and nodded. Benji hopelessly smiled at her.

"I love you..."

"Me too. Wear something sexy tonight," Peony gasped and playfully punched Benji on his shoulder.

"You bad!" he winked at her before he left. Peony smiled while looking at her boyfriend slowly disappeared into the lab.

"I don't trust him," Peony got startled by a voice behind her. She looked around and saw Yu casually leaning just about an inch away from her. She skipped back and frowned.

"Can you stay away from my business, please?" she's being defensive.

Just now, he looked at her in such a dirty way. Now, he tried to bad-mouthing her boyfriend.

"Why is easy for you to believe others?"

"Benji is my boyfriend. I trust him!" Yu snarled. He laughed a bit before leaning his face closer to Peony. But the girl covered herself with a book that she held in her hand.

"You should learn how to doubt people,"

"Not Benji..."

"Especially Benji. I'm talking as a man. I know how that brain works. Having a virgin girlfriend like you is like holding a holy grail. But, being too conservative is rather boring than fun!" Yu pushed down the book from Peony's face slowly, using his long, slender index and middle finger.

"Can be held, but can't be played..." Peony smacked his hand away with the book. Yu's lips twitched at the corner, crooked a wicked smile while checking upon her.

"Not every boy are dirty minded like you!"

"Unfortunately, the truth is far from that. Everyone has dirty thoughts, even your little boyfriend. Don't say I didn't warn ya..." she pushed him away and ran as far as she could. Her ears caught the evil laugh as she left the school compound. She couldn't conceal her crimson red cheek

That guy is a pervert!

***

"Ah!!" Peony grabbed her hair due to frustration. She unintentionally rolled aside, stumbled on the floor with her elbow kissed the wooden floor. She yelped as she winced her nose, fighting the sharp pain.

"Peony! What are you doing?!"

"Nothing, ma!" she quickly stood up and fixed herself when she heard footsteps ascending the stairs. The door was swinging open and stood a woman in her late 40s with a measuring tape tangled on her shoulder.

"Did you finish your homework?"

"I am," the woman stared at Peony. She gave her a plain smile.

"Then come downstairs and help me with dinner. Pa will come home soon!" the woman whooshed out from the room.

Peony pouted her lips. She slowly packed her bag and went down to the kitchen before the woman unleashed her 1000 Needles Hand Palm skill.

Seriously, no matter what your age, you will be forever afraid of your mom!

Moms are scary!

***

"Look, it's the golden child of the family!" Ang rolled his eyes up while his hand soaked in the plastic basin with soapy water. Peony raised her palm a bit and pretended to hit his head. He splashed the water and almost drenched Peony.

"Ma!! Look at Ang!!"

"I'm done nothing!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Did not!"

"Yes! You almost soaked me with soap water!"

"I brush my shoes a little bit hard. Why are you being so damn sensitive about it?" Peony shot a death glare at him. Ang sticked his tongue out, teasing her all-crimson red sister.

"Pretentious!" she whipped a cotton cloth against his back. The huge tall boy stood up and yanked her ponytail.

"Yarh! You Giant!" she smacked his shoulder. Ang giggled a bit before pinched her cheek.

"Don't get jealous, sis! Thought we are twins but boys will be boys, and girls will be girls! Aha!!" the two bickering like kids. One who held the ponytail, and the other one who continuously hitting and kicking around.

"Yes, boys are annoying, selfish pervert human beings!" Peony yelled.

"Oho, include your boyfriend too! He's the biggest pervert ever!"

"Stay away from him, you big scoundrel crazy giant- Ahhh!!"

Screams alternated. Both Ang and Peony now parted away from each other but seems like the pain stay.

"Yarh, I told you guys to hurry up and finish the chores before Pa comes home. Yet, you still bickering around like kids! Wanna kill each other? Let Ma kills both of you! Who wants to go first, huh?" both yelped as their ears got pulled, Ang on the left and Peony on the right. Even the tall Ang can't surpassed his mother.

"Ma! It- hurts!"

"Ma!" the woman released them. She smirked as she watched her kids whining in pain.

"Fight again and you'll get grounded! No phone for a month!" she warned them before leaving the backyard.

"You and your big mouth!" Peony pointed her finger to Ang.

"I'm not the one who secretly dating..."

"Shut up!" Peony smacked his back.

"Ouch! Ma-" before he could ever yell, she cupped his mouth and brought him to the hot outdoor kitchen next to the backyard.