I am now a writer. Do read my story! (:
Haha, it is rather entertaining. Maybe.
Enjoy! :D

Remembering Kailey

"Why are you not doing the dishes? Why have you not ironed the clothes? You, YOU are living UNDER my roof. Zana, you are supposed to do YOUR work. This is NOT a hotel. This is outrageous! I will.... drop down and.. get.."

"Shut up and die." Zana thought. "I will leave the moment I turn twenty-one. I shall endure it and leave as soon as I can. But why is he like that? Does he not have emotions? Does he not understand that I have needs? Does he.. But he doesn't know it."

"Mummy, I miss you terribly." This very thought ran through Zana's mind for the nth time.

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Her hair was tied with those beautiful blue ribbons they used to see when they passed by Sheila's, the most well-known hair accessory shop in Shikane Town. The two delightful little strings cost Mummy Kailey two weeks worth of her salary. Mummy Kailey was poor, and she was a part-time picture slut with little cash to spend. Kailey was perfect, and her lovely brown curls framed her foxy little face, oval and sharp. Kailey had the most slender body and the sweetest smile, and her light tanned frame drew stares at every street. But Kailey was also naive.

"Yes, lower. Lower. Ahh, perfect. Bend more, to the left. A smile. Yes, that's it."
Click.

"She's such a good prawn." They laughed. Kailey glanced, and turned away.
She did it for money. Her poor daughter. How was Zana going to attain a proper education?

Kailey did not want it. But she did want it. It was successful in numbing her.
They thought she was a slut anyway.

Zana's sweet voice drew her back. "Thank you Mom-my. Preee-dy ribbons." Zana's 7 year-old face lit up and it never failed to cheer Kailey up.

Those were truly the days.

Kailey truly loved Zana's father. But he left her. How Kailey abhorred his newer love. She was older than Bricky and she was a petite little present. Kailey hated her smile. Kailey hated her maturity and how natural she was. Kailey was just a picture beauty. She was merely a slut in their eyes because of her job. She was nothing.

It was no wonder that Bricky left her.

"Mummy, mummy. Are you listening to me?"
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Zana snapped out of it. Mummy was long gone. She was still alive, but her mental state was terrible and she would have been better off if she died in that tragic fire years back.

"Bye, Aaron. I'm off to school. I did my chores."

"Bye. Come home early. You need to tidy up the house."

Zana ambled across the same path she tread for the past years, when Mummy was still alive at heart and when Bricky did visit. "I wish I had a choice. Why can't I be free? I want to be just like Mummy. I want to do what she used to do." Zana kicked a tiny stone. It bounced off the grey road and landed nearby with a thud.

"Woah girl, easy on that!" A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Haha, Shaynie. It's you! I should have known. That annoying voice."
"Shayne. What Shaynie. Zany you. Hahaha. Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Haha. How can I not be. I always am happy. Don't I look happy?"

"I know you haven't been happy all these while. Stop pretending. Smiling doesn't mean you're glad. It merely means you're smiling, Zan."
Shayne stopped. He looked down and gazed into her eyes. Those emotionless peepers and that little dimple on her cheek that appeared when she tried to force a smile. He wanted to make her happy so badly.

"Nah, I'm just thinking. I miss my mum.
She warned me not to follow in her footsteps, but I did.
She never knew about my double life.
And she will never know."

They took little steps across the grey path.

"Hey, wanna follow me to this new spot I discovered? Come on Zan!"

Shayne ran. "Dude, we're gonna be late!"

"Who cares! Haha come on girl!" Shayne's voice trailed off.

The splendor of the magnificent place shocked her. She had never noticed. The trees were exceptionally green and the luscious leaves were spectacular. The air was simply refreshing and Zana loved nature.

"I knew you would love it, Zan. I'll bring a camera here one day and we'll take a picture for keepsake. (:

"Thanks, Shay. It means a lot. Let's go now. We're gonna be late!"

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"Bye Sheena. See you tomorrow! I'll be going to the park for a while."

Zana sat down in the prickly grass alone. Will Shayne be here the next time? She buried her face in her hands and tears ran like a toppled glass of orange juice.
Of course he will be. He promised.

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"I'm sorry Kailey. I need to leave.

"No, Brick. No, no. You can't leave us. Zana needs you. She needs you. She's your..rr child."
Kailey was kneeling and she clung on and wrapped herself around Bricky's legs pathetically.

"Go away. Stop it."

He pushed her and she fell flat. It wasn't the first time she cried.

Zana was at the corner, watching.
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"Zana, are you paying attention?"

"Sorry, Ms Lay."

Shall continue another time!

Shayne looked at her and smiled. She will always remember his smile.

The bell rung and the students quickly exited the classroom.
"You know, you're here but you're never really here. Where are you, really?" Shayne asked.

"I'm in your fantasy.

"Haha, very funny." Shayne attempted to look angry but he was trying to stop his smile from appearing.

"Zannyyy. Haha, stop sticking to Shayne. You inseparable couple. Follow us!" Sheena and Jaye giggled and dragged her away.

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Sheena and Zan decided to go for a girl walk after school.
"Zan, I'm officially in love with the Korean hunk I saw on TV last night! He's so uber cute and oh, like heaven! Hahaha. Save me babe!"

"Haha, are you serious? Hm, he is not real, girl. He is merely commercialized and sold like pretty make up. " Zana replied.

"But he's so cute. You mean you've got someone real?"

Zana stopped abruptly.

"I think I like Shayne."

Silence followed. Sheena stopped walking and turned to Zana.

"Um, I am sorry to burst your bubble. But come on, don't be stupid, he is dating Tay. He won't like you anyway. We were just teasing?"

Zana paused for a slight second, and then burst out laughing.

"Nah, I was just kidding. Haha. April's fool!"

Zana continued laughing and tickled Sheena, but in actual fact, she was extremely hurt.
Shayne. Shayne. Oh nice Shayne.
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She walked home alone that day.
"Oh why can't you seeee, you belong with me--"
Zan's beautiful and melodious voice went on playing.

"Why can't you see."

"Why.
Am I gonna be like Mummy?
Daddy left her.
He's not even my Dad.
He doesn't even permit me to call him Dad."

Zana sighed, and she took loud and heavy steps home.
Time to do housework and please Aaron.