The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 75~♫

 'A dream...'

Heavy with thoughts and sore body, Ueno dragged her body into the bathroom. From the mirror stared at her ghostly girl. Pale face with dark circles under her eyes and smeared make-up would attract zombies or vampires at best.

Splashing water over it didn't wash away the circles, but it cleaned her skin form the messed make-up and awoke her a bit. Rubbing her face, she jerked back as she glanced herself in the mirror.

Her hand moved to her blouse, finding it ripped and dark stains of blood across her skin. Clenching her teeth, and cursing the woman that dared to demand to be called mother, she returned to her room.

School, her home, or any other place could burn do ground, and she would care less. However, staying in this house suffocated her. The everlasting presence of her dictator mother followed her every step.

On the other hand, in school, she could breathe a bit as her mother wasn't present every day, leaving a huge chunk of her duties to unfortunate subordinates. Grabbing one of many school uniforms, she prepared herself, glancing she had woken up sooner than she was used to.

"I'm leaving for school," she said to one maid she had met.

The woman bowed. "Have a pleasant day, young lady."

Sour taste gulped Ueno's taste buds. When did she have a pleasant day? Ignoring others around her, she made her way to the waiting limousine.

"Y-young lady!" One maid called her, rushing to her.

Ueno turned around, opening her mouth to ask in bored tone why she was bothering her. A strong stab pushed all her words back her throat. The maid had a bandaged head, and a big plaster covered almost her whole left cheek.

"Your school bag."

"Ah," Ueno said, unable to find the right words. She took the bag from her and got inside the car. A few streets later, she realized an important detail.

'Wait? Didn't I leave my bag in my locker?'

Opening the bag, she noticed it didn't hold any of her books or school supplies. Instead, it was full of sandwiches with a fizzy drink.

'Why did she?' She picked one, and as if puzzle pieces fell on their places, the mystery was solved. 'Did she... argue with my mother yesterday? Was it her voice I heard?'

Then those wounds had to be a result of her careless actions! 'Why would she protect me?' Her stomach growled like crazy, she dug her fingers into her belly. 'Right, I barely ate yesterday. I was so occupied helping that stray cat, I lost track of everything!'

Hunger is the best cook, as one saying says, and right now, Ueno would eat anything. Digging her teeth into the soft dough and crispy vegetables, she sent her taste buds into heaven.