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chapter two. typical friday
"You need to stop inviting him to our game, Nova. The last time I gave him a challenge, he cried. So what makes you think he won't do it again?"
"You challenged him to go his room, Vivian, of course he's gonna cry. I would."
Vivian Thomason let out a frustrated groan and buried her hand into the nearby pillow as she glared at her best friend and younger brother, who appeared on the verge of tears. Nova Miller, meeting Vivian's glare, tapped her hand on her own leg, patiently waiting for Vivian to apologize.
"Apologize to your brother, Right! Now!"
Displaying her frustration and exhaustion, Vivian continued to glare at her brother, who avoided eye contact by staring at the floor. Just as Vivian was about to open her mouth to apologize, their moment was abruptly interrupted by the entrance of their mother, who started collecting the dirty clothes from the room.
"How many time do i have to tell to stop throwing you dirty clothes on the ground? You are not children! —"
Vivian's mother sternly scolded both her children, and they avoided meeting her gaze, feeling the weight of her disappointment. Nova, also fearful of their mother's scoldings, quickly opened her phone and pretended to have a conversation with someone, hoping to divert the attention. Vivian felt a heavy resignation settle within her. She knew that the scolding would never end. It seemed to be an unending cycle they couldn't escape from.
"Mom. Mom. MOM!" Vivian raised her voice a bit to catch her mother's attention and it happened. Of course it did, no know dares to raise their voice on Vivian mother and she did. Her mother, Jasmine widen her eye at her and opened her mouth but her daughter interrupted her.
"Please don't be mad at me." Vivian gave her a pleading puppy eyes. "Leave the clothes, and I promise I'll grab them and wash them myself. But can you just leave, please? Take a break, watch some TV, and drink your coffee?"
Nova and Michael gaped at her, astonished by the audacity and the success of Vivian's request.
"Okay, I'll leave." Vivian smiled. "But if i come back and your clothes are still in the ground, you are grounded."
Vivian couldn't help but grin triumphantly. It seemed that her powers of persuasion were stronger than she thought. Perhaps she had discovered a way to curve the endless scoldings and disappointments. She turned to Nova, who was still speechless. "See? Sometimes you just need to have a little finesse. And a puppy dog eyes always help." Vivian chuckled, feeling a small sense of satisfaction.
It was something that her brother are jealous of. The puppy eyes she forms that make their mother soften. Vivian is an excellent at doing that. It all started when Vivian found herself in a tight spot. She had accidentally broken her mother's favorite vase, and she knew she was in for a scolding. The mere thought of facing her mother's wrath sent shivers down her spine. But Vivian was no ordinary teenager. She had a plan up her sleeve, and it involved a pair of innocent puppy dog eyes.
As Vivian's mom stomped into the room, her face turning crimson with anger, Vivian put her plan into action. She looked up at her with sorrowful eyes, her bottom lip quivering just a bit. "Mom," she began, her voice small and delicate, "I'm so sorry. It was an accident. I didn't mean to break it."
Her mother stopped in her tracks, her stern expression softening ever so slightly. Vivian could almost see the wheels turning in her mother's mind. With a deep sigh, she replied, "Alright, Vivian. Just be more careful next time, okay?"
Vivian couldn't believe her luck. Her puppy dog eyes had done the trick, saving her from a lecture and punishment. As the days went on, she found herself experimenting with her newfound persuasion tactics. There was the time she wanted to go to a concert that all her friends were going to, but her parents were hesitant. Vivian practiced her puppy dog eyes in front of the mirror for hours before pleading her case. And just like that, her parents caved, allowing her to go with a strict curfew, of course.
"You need to teach me that." Michael insisted.
Vivian looked up at him and smirked. "No way in hell."
