Two Manipulate

"Karlos Ramirez!"

"My childhood... friend?"

He was still the same: Light-skinned in complexion, two-toned, black and brown eyes.

But...

"Hey, ladies,"

He became much of a flirt. Who would have thought?!

I knew there was a saying, 'People change' but I didn't think I would see a live testimony of this when seeing Karlos.

I didn't realize how much I was staring until my Mom poked my back.

"Mom!" I exclaimed.

"You were staring at Karlos like a crazy lovesick puppy."

"You didn't have to be brutal."

"Don't talk back Karina. Know what you are here for."

I simply stared at my Mom as she spoke. I thought I had to be in this school because of "family tradition" but that didn't seem the case now.

"What am I exactly here for?"

The other family looked at us.

"Karina, you are here to learn – do it for your father at least?" Mom asked, eyeing the family that was looking at us.

"Yes, Mom – I will do my best."

Soon after the orientation, we students had to go to class. But since we were a lot of students, we had to be split up before attending class.

"Karina Hernandez, you will be in class 12A of Everest Academy."

My parents beamed with pride as they heard that announcement.

"Karlos Ramirez, you will be in class 12A of Everest Academy."

Not only was Karlos attending the same school as me, but we would be in the same class too! He had a smug face on as he walked past me.

"Nice to see you again, princess."

I looked back to see him standing at the back with some other boys.

"Pervert."

After the split up, we then went to our respectful classes.

I chose a seat in the second last row from the back.

"Hola!"

Another girl came and sat at the table on my right.

"My name's Camila."

"Hola, Camila - my name is Karina. Hernandez."

She had a whole lot of vibrant energy than me.

"Nice to meet you! I love learning my classmates' names each year."

"That's nice," I replied, wanting to cut the conversation short.

"Is this your first year?" she asked.

"Yes. I have been homeschooled for 12 years, including pre-school."

She couldn't stop asking questions until the teacher came through. Our first lesson was Spanish, and our teacher was Mr. Rodriguez.

"Buenos días estudiantes, por favor tomen asiento."

"Good morning sir," everyone said.

"For a smart class like you, I expect students who are fluent in Spanish, ¡por favor!

He was not impressed.

"Listen, sir, you are paid to do your job, not to tell us when to speak Spanish - unless you want to be fired."

Pedro Gonzalez. The only child in the family. Grandparents are still alive. They control the retail stores in Spain.

"Por favor, Pedro, no hay necesidad de amenazas."

"Then do your job... señor."

Mr. Rodriguez continued the lesson.

"I need two students who would be willing to do a language demonstration for the class?"

The whole class fell silent. My mind started to wander out of class, which was short-lived until sir called my name.

"Karina Hernandez."

"Señor?" I replied. Everyone else looked at me with confusion while Mr. Rodriguez was amazed at my fluent Spanish."

"¿Estás dispuesto a ser voluntario para la demostración de conversación?"

"Si, señor."

"I will randomly choose any student to come up."

The class fell silent. In the corner of my eye, I saw Karlos sleeping in class.

"That's not good," I said to myself.

"Karlos Ramirez."

The teacher chose Karlos. He didn't wake up.

"Karlos Ramirez!"

He finally woke up, making some students in the class chuckle. "Lo siento mucho señor."

Mr. Rodriguez was impressed. "Por favor pase al frente de la clase. Proporcionarás una demostración de conversación con Karina."

He stood up, came up to the class, and together we did the demonstration.

"Perfecto!"

"Since Karina and Karlos seem to be the only students who understand the meaning of "Spanish class", they will be let early.

I looked at my teacher.

"¡¿QUÉ?!"

"Oh, your Spanish are all coming out now."

"Señor, no habrá necesidad de---"

"No. You are dismissed from this class - you have shown your excellence in my class, therefore, you can leave early."

Soon after, our parents came in. Mom signaled me to smile as she walked in.

"I hope she is not causing you too much trouble," Mom said.

"Or this little troublemaker," Mrs Ramirez said.

The other kids in the class laughed. I hid my face away as I tried my best not to burst into laughter.

"Not at all! I let them go early."

"Really? Why?" Dad asked.

"They are both very fluent in class and proved to be the best speakers in Spanish in this class. Never have I met kids like them!"

I felt Karlos' gaze on me, which I didn't reciprocate, however. Behind me, I could feel the heavy atmosphere between my Mom and Mrs. Ramirez.

"Gracias," Karlos and I said at the same time.

With our parents in front of us, we took our leave.

"Adios."

There was a long heavy silence between Karlos and me. I didn't mind it - but the silence was too loud.

"I saw you laughing back there," he said.

"Me? Please."

"Okay," he said.

Then silence came upon us again.

"Your Spanish was good."

I looked at him, "Seriously? Good?"

"Yeah, unless you think highly of yourself?"

"It's called self-confidence dummy," I said.

"Karina! We need to go!"

"Bye, little troublemaker," I said, showing off my tongue as I walked away.

"Your Spanish was good. Really?!" I said to myself, as I walked over to my parents.

"Karina, stop talking to yourself! You are going to make yourself look like a weird girl."

"Mama, no es como si tuviera amigas," I replied.

"This child! Francisco!"

"Let the child be," Dad said, defending me, "Just don't do that when other kids are around."

"I promise Dad. I was just thinking about Karlos'---"

"We never speak of that name again!"

I got shaken by Mom and Dad's command.

"Understood?"

"No, I don't. I was going to praise him - I was sharing his comment and wanted---"

"Karina."

"Todavía no entiendo mamá."

Mom gave me her death glare - it meant that my words did not affect her changing her mind.

"Si Mama y Papa," I replied.

She then walked away, going into the school grounds, and leaving me behind.

"Why are we going to the school grounds?"

"To prepare for the school sports competition," Karlos, who was behind me, said.

He walked away, giving me a wink as he went through the door to the sunny grounds.

"What game are you up to, Karlos Ramirez?"