2 Rick

Hi, my name is Rick. And im a girl. Haha. Got yah. Im born Franchesca and instead of girly names as France or Cheska, I'm called Rick since i can remember. Not that i remember much, i just turned 15 by the way. There is nothing special about me, just your ordinary skinny teen with brown curls and gray eyes. Im not even your cheerleader. Or your future prom queen. My face is most of the time painted in acrylic. My ears covered with earphones. I play guitar sometimes. I read romance stories a lot. I wear sneakers and jeans. And im invisible. Haha. Yep, i dont attract boys at all. Except my older brother who checks on me from time to time. Mind you, i dont even have a suitor and yet, ugh! Sometimes i think he scares them away, yet when i face the mirror I know im just dillusioning myself. Oh theres another one. My best buddy ☺ oh, am i even allowed to put a smiley there? Oh well.

His name is Marco. Love calling him Mar. We've been buddies since birth might as well become my brother. Sometimes i think, what if Mar is my soulmate? Practically we know everything there is about each other. Brother wouldnt even mind if i sleep over Mar's. Like what do i do if there's no Mar? No i dont even have other friends. Would i have taken on music and arts? When i started drawing paperdolls, cause Brother dont buy Barbies, Mar brought me colored pencils. When i started on Japanese animations, he brought me oil pastels and sketchbooks and manga. ???? He even encouraged me to join painting contests later on. When Mar's dad bought him a guitar, we learned together. And everything else follows.

Brother on the other hand, is named Karl. He is older by 5 years. And he takes care of me. Our parents? I've never seen. They are still alive but they live somewhere else minding business. They never even talk to me. Strange eh? Sometimes I wonder if they know I exist. Sometimes Mar would drive us high on the cliff where I would shout their names. They do talk to Karl, who would tell me later on that they do ask about me. When I was younger, I'd ran to the phone when it ringed. But Karl would always beat me to it. I fought for it so hard the phone was transfered to the study locked away from me. I'd cry to Mar then. I cry to Mar now. I never really got over it. They hate me. Maybe thats why they were never here.We have a housekeeper, whom i think has our parents trust more than Karl and I.

Ah, Karl. I think he regrets he has a sister. My nickname came from him afterall. I bet he wished im a boy. When i was a kid, i hate him a lot. He threw my dolls away. He cuts my hair short. I cried and cried but to no avail. He never really hurts me. Physically atleast. But the hair thing breaks my heart the most. Im like a counter Rapunzel. Maybe thats why my schoolmates never liked me. I secretly dream of a fairytale appearance and a fairy godmother to transform me. But the mirror wont lie. Im not the fairest in the land. But nevertheless Karl loves me. I just know. More than disliking the fact that Im a she. We always celebrate my birthday like a regular holiday. Nanny would bake a huge pink cake, Karl indulges me on these days. And cook me spaghetti. And buys cola we pretend its wine. On my birthdays, im this princess with that short brown hair. Oh, and on these days, we have photos. I have a yearly album of my birthdays ☺ Oh am i so proud. Karl doesnt adore photos for no reason. His own birthday is not enough reason as well. Only on mine. And its well preserved on the vaults of our study. When Karl and I are there, I looked at those photos wishing it could be my birthday again soon. Because on regular days, Karl is just this bully big brother who monitors me 24/7 and only allows Mar to be my friend.

So i pour out all my passion into drawings. Karl doesnt object. I contain myself into the mansion all my free time and paint endlessly. Unless Mar comes over bringing me snacks. Like today.

"RICK!"

Yelp! I almost dropped my brush. Like I've been awakened or something. I went downstairs from my art room (yes, i have a huge one, Karl gave me this on my 10th birthday).

Oh, Mar. My blond boy. Like a sunshine in my dark mansion. Smiling like a thousand twinkling stars. Why i didnt and couldnt just fall in love with him i couldnt fathom. Or maybe i just dont know. Theres no comparison so how would i know. Maybe when i marry this boy someday. Afterall, who else could there be? If not Mar, i dont think any other boy can come close as per Karl.