CHAPTER 5
WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET, PERHAPS MORE.
Two days that I haven't left the house. Since it's the weekend, Della and some staff here don't expect me to go outside, and I refused the offer from Irin and Tytas. I don't have the energy to see anybody or talk with anybody. I lay down on my bed for two days straight, and I still don't have any strength to get out of bed. I turn my eyes to look at the half-open laptop. The project is waiting for me, my stomach waiting for me, the volunteer hospital waiting for me,
I exhale a long breath,
Rolling myself to another side, I see the jacket that has also been lying with me all this weekend. I grab the sleeve, and I slowly close my eyes again.
"Hello, Miss Serafinne." Miss Quinn greets me with her usual sweet smile as I sit down across from her. "How is it going?" she asks, waiting for me to say something or open my mouth. How about your project?" She changes the subject.
"You mean English class?" I ask,
"Yes," she replies and looks at me for my answer. Mr. Wealth's project is pretty interesting, and to be honest, the topic is very relevant for our graduating students." She explains after noticing my question and my reaction.
I agree; the topic is 'What made you to be you today.'
"I think to rewind and think about your life before graduating, making you know more about yourself, and you might know something—a blindspot you haven't seen before." She says, "And it can lead you to the far future, what you would like to become, which job you are really interested in, or even the near future, like which college or which major." She adds with a smile. I look at her and give her a tiny smile. "Something like that." She feels a bit awkward, I can tell.
"I've been working on it," I reply,
"Great…" She starts to smile again. "How about the extra classes? or activities that we talked about. Have you found anything interesting?"
I nod,
"Wow, that's great. What is it?" She asks joyfully.
"The hospital field, but I haven't asked or discussed anything yet."
"That sounds amazing. Do you mean the Apollon Hospital?" She asks.
"Yes, it's the only one in town," I say,
"Sounds amazing. How about I help you with that. They never open up for students to learn or hire a high school student, and the one that is open up for volunteering is only the elderly care—you can join that also, but if you want to learn more about the general stuff, any other departments, I can write the letter and give you the support. How about that?"
"That sounds delightful, Miss Quinn," I say with a smile. "Thank you,"
"You're welcome. I'm happy to help." She says happily.
Then my face turns cold too quickly. Miss Quinn must sense something different.
"Are you alright, Miss Serafinne?"
I look at her, "There's too much to process—that's all." I say. "Thank you for asking," I add.
She smiles, "A little bit at a time, Miss Serafinne. And everything will be checked on that list in no time." She gives comfort advice.
"Thank you," I say.
I leave the consultant room and walk through the hall to get into the class, I try my best not to search or look around for a golden-haired person. I don't want to give a fuck about him or wonder what would happen to him after I left.
Then, suddenly, a tall figure creeps in through the crowd and bumps me on the shoulder. Before I even glance at him, he pushes me onto the locker.
Speak of the fucking devil,
I look at Vik and observe his face. The bruises are on both sides of his face, and his right hand is wrapped with a hand splint.
"I told you not to come near me," I say.
"You're fucking crazy, you know that?" He leans closer, not begging like he's under me on the dirt.
"The one who was waiting for her at night...abducted her, forced her…seems like you're more likely in that category yourself."
"Heh…" He chuckles,
I snap my hand out and try to walk away from him again. He grabs my arm back to him, ignoring the surroundings.
"I'll tell everyone what you did and what you are—you're not just a quiet girl, princess." He moves his face beside my ear. "You're a crazy, sassy little whore—princess, Letizia." He gulps a little, "And I fucking love it,"
I don't open my mouth or gasp the air in.
"Have you told your prince charming? That I fucking lick your pussy so good." He whispers.
"Get off me if you don't want to be beaten up again—-like a trash toy you want to be so bad," I say.
"I fucking loveeee this sassy side of yours, heh." He halts and glares at me. "Should I warn Tytas? That you're fucking crazy girl, not a little sweet, gentle, quiet one anymore." He says.
"Go ahead. Do you think I care? You're the one who was beaten up by the girl, golden boy. You're the rising star athlete who did something disgusting with a young girl…I ask you, who will be more disgusted and who will be more pitiful?" I raise an eyebrow.
He stares at me, caring nothing about himself, "Who the fuck was that guy?" he asks.
"Vik, what are you doing?" Felicia comes in.
I stare at him and take back my arms aggressively.
"I told you to keep your paws away from my boyfriend," Felicia says.
I can't believe these two.
I glance back at the jerk, "Then, you should tame your boy better," I say as I glare at Vik and turn to Felicia. "before it gets out of hand." I say, and as I walk past her, I care nothing that my shoulder hits her. Seeing the bruises on the right side of Vik's face that look more disgusting than the left one makes me want to grab it and smash the other side on the wall so that it will be equally perfect.
Another two days later, the big final game is here. The audience seats are complete with the fancy crowd with fancy dresses, fancy hats, and fancy drinks. I'm wearing a baby blue mini dress with thin, long white gloves, and I put my hair in the braid crowd, showing my pearl earrings that my father bought for me last year.
Mrs. Oskar takes me to her area to watch the match more explicitly, or she wants me to admire her son with her. The seat next to her is Mr. Oskar; I can say he is tall, taller than Tytas. It is hard to meet and be in the same place longer than thirty minutes. He's wearing a classic brown suit; the brown hair and light brown eyes match everything very well, and he's enjoying his tobacco cigar and his whisky drink in his hands. He looks calmer and more sensible than other million-dollar old men in this particular town.
I glance at him, admire his aura, and think about my father. He's not like Mr. Oskar at all, and he wouldn't enjoy this sort of event. Then, I notice Mr. Oskar acknowledges that as I watch him, I flinch. I quickly give him a tiny smile and look ahead to the field full of horses.
"You're not feeling any comfortable, aren't you?" Mrs. Oskar asks me as she leans closer to me. She's wearing a beautiful green dress that complements her stunning orange hair. "This view is the best to see Tytas—To be honest, I think he wants to see you more clearly."
"Tytas asked you to, Mrs. Oskar?" I ask.
She chuckles, "Yes, but I was the one who offered." I smile mildly, and she looks at me as if she knows what I am thinking. "I know you don't like the crowd and loud noise that much—this zone is lovely, don't you think? Away from the loud background." She smiles.
"Yes, thank you so much," I say.
"I haven't seen you as much—" Mr. Oskar holds his cigar and says, "as before when you were a kid—Letizia," He says with a tiny smile. "You're not fond of our house anymore?" He asks with a teasing smile.
Since I've been living alone, I've never stepped foot in Oskar's house, and the party was the first time in two years.
"You guys were so close back then," He says,
Close? I can't say that Tytas and I were that close, but he was the third person after Irin and Ivan, with whom I interacted the most.
"Well, she's not a kid anymore—" Mrs. Oskar says,
He drinks his liquor, "Heh, yes—I couldn't believe that my son hasn't stopped after you." He says and giggles. "He couldn't stop asking for you when you guys were kids." He adds, and Mrs. Oskar laughs. "When is she coming back? I want to take her to the playhouse. Dad, can you build the dollhouse for Letizia?" He tries to adapt a sound and imitate the kid's voice, but his grown, raspy voice doesn't help him much. "That kid was so over you." He adds and puts the cigar between his lips.
I chuckle at everything he says,
"I have heard that you're interested in Harvard." He says,
"Yes, Mr. Oskar," I say,
"And what are you aiming for?" He asks,
"Pre-med," I say,
He smiles and glances at his wife. "You will do amazing, I believe it." He says,
"Letizia's grades are unbelievable, darling—it was just—how? How can someone do that—full scores, all A's in the row." Mrs. Oskar says.
Wait, how does she know?
"Really?" He asks,
"But the grades aren't special enough to catch the eye," I say humbly.
He nods and leans towards, "But it takes you to the position you want to, right?" He says, "I admire you—Letizia, sweet girl. You have been quite an interesting young girl since you were a kid; you're not just smart but wise. You know how to get things done, know how to have what you want, analyze things to achieve your goals—and ignore things that don't align with you." He says and gives an empty glass to a staff member to pour the drink for him. "But the little things also make you see a different perspective, too," He says, drinking his glass.
As I look at him and listen carefully, praising me and preaching to me at the same time.
"But for my son—he's all over the place. He's good at everything but not—-great. He pursues what he does best, so he tries everything, little things." He pauses, "You see what I'm trying to say? If my son could add that strong suit of yours, he would be on fire—no one could follow his steps, I can bet. On the other hand, if you have another aspect that my son has—no one would catch or reach you, you will be at the top of the pedestal." He chuckles, "I know I exaggerated, hehe, but you guys can help each other, so I think you'll do great," He says with a smile.
"Wow—what a long preach you have, darling, but I agree." Mrs. Oskar says and turns to me with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Oskar. I'll keep that in mind." I say and smile genuinely to him. "I have to disagree on one thing—" Mrs. and Mr. Oskar look at me curiously, "Tytas probably has his own goal—why he has been or done all that, I don't think he would just be all over the place. He's actually great—people admire him a lot." I say
He's surprised and drinks his whiskey with a smirk on his face.
Suddenly, Tytas comes in with his uniform and straight to me, holding me up. "I'm glad you're here." He says I'm a bit stunned because he ignores his parents' existence. "Tytas," I say lightly.
"We're here, too." Mrs. Oskar waves to his son.
"Yes, mum—dad." He greets his mother and turns to his father.
"And he's over you even now," Mr. Oskar says. Tytas glares at his father confusedly. I hide my eyes from him.
Not just Tytas, who enters the Oskar's area, but the other grown man decides to join, the golden-ashy hair with a black suit with a cream-yellowish handkerchief on the blazer pocket over his left chest, and there's his son—Vik. He's wearing black pants with a beige shirt, and his hair is gold, getting along with the sun above the sky. They have a conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Oskar, as Tytas and I have our own.
"You look gorgeous today." Tytas says, I tilt my head and smile at him, "Really—" He holds my face and rubs my cheek gently. "I hope my parents don't bother you too much."
"Heh, why did you say that?" I chuckle, "Should I be honored that Tytas' parents are talking to me." I tease as I lower my voice.
He chuckles, and as he is about to lean his face closer, I pause his action. "Your parents," I say.
"They don't mind." He says, and I glare at him. Then, he licks his lower lip. "And how can I have a good luck kiss?" He asks.
"These two love birds." Vik's father says, Tytas and I turn to him. "You must be Serafinne—" He says,
"Letizia, sir." Tytas corrects him boldly.
"Her name is Letizia Graziella Serafinne, Paul." Mr. Oskar also corrects him with a smile, making them stunned that he defends me and also knows my full name.
Vik's father smirks a little, "I see—you're so grown up now, look like your mother each day." He says with a smile—positively or negatively, I barely want to know.
"Thank you, Mr. Vanderbilt," I say and glance at Vik, who looks at Tytas and me with a steady face. His right hand is still wrapped in a splint.
"Aren't you supposed to be ready in the field, buddy?" Vik's father asks Tytas. You're looking good at the practice, though—the same as my son, but he decided to break his hand before the game. How awesome." He adds and glances at Vik.
He didn't tell his father about that night; of course, he didn't because it was fucked thing to do.
"So, how did you get your hand messed up, Viktor?" Mrs. Oskar asks,
I hold Tytas' hand as I listen to Vik answer. Tytas holds my hand back properly, brings my hand up, moves his body to block the view, and gives me a kiss on the back of my hand. I look at him curiously,
"You can go, it's okay," I whisper,
"I got into an accident—during the practice," Vik says as I glance at him, and he already looks at me.
"What a shame today the scout is coming as well," Mr. Oskar says, looking at us and then back at Vik's father.
"Hmpt—yeah," Vik's father makes an upsetting sound lightly as he turns to look at Vik. "You should get ready, Tytas—you're a star today." He turns to us, and Tytas slowly turns his face to him, "Love can wait, but the future can't, right? Hehe," His jokes make me realize why Vik is the way he is.
"Not for me, sir. Love motivates me—now and future." Tytas replies as he looks at me. I'm stunned by what he says. I can't even look him in the eyes,
Love? Did he say the word love?
"I'll get going." He says,
"Yes, honey—go have fun and rock out there." Mrs. Oskar.
Tytas shakes his head, "Rock out there—" Tytas looks at me one more time,
"Why don't you send him off, Letizia?" Mrs. Oskar suggests,
I look at his parents, "Yes," I say, but my face and body are a bit awkward. Tytas holds my hand and takes me away from the seating area,
To be honest, I feel that there is so little around them.
Mrs. Oskar gets up. "Hype him up for me, Letizia." She raises her voice a little, and I quickly turn to Tytas—cover his face and shake his head. I giggle beside him. "This young lady is very reliable—you have no idea," Mrs. Oskar says to others. Hahaha," Mr. Oskar laughs.
Tytas stops at the field's entrance. He holds both my hands, pulls me in with his little smirk, and rubs my hands through the thin gloves.
"Can I have a good luck kiss now?" He asks,
"Say please," I tease,
He chuckles, leans his face closer, and lightly rests his forehead on my head. "Please," he says softly.
I tilt my face, tip my toes, and give him a good kiss on the cheek. He smiles as he looks at me. "Good luck," I say, and then I bite my lip. You better win," I add.
His smile is wider and wider. "I will." he says,