"Well at this presentation, we will talk about our location in the universe; Where is our place in this big space. So–"
"Hey wait." A voice interrupted me. I look where it came from.
'Here comes the worse part... Oh o.'
"Are you also going to present us about where planet did you came from and show us some pictures of what race of extraterrestrial you are breed from? Because if you do, you are the most disgusting and ugly above all. We don't need explanation to prove that! We can tell by just looking at you, right everyone? Hahahahahahaaha." said George. One of my bullies.
Everyone in the class agrees and laugh with him. Except for one person; It's not my teacher. It's my seatmate.
"Class, enough! Specially you George or you get out of this class." said our teacher to George. Though she literally laughed with them, her voice and facial expression to George covers her for that. Now she look like she didn't laughed at me awhile ago... so gross.
"*chuckle* I prefer to leave this room than staying here and listen to nonsense of that alien head. Oh, you should also throw yourself out ma'am and be my company. Remember, you just laughed with us." He smirk and walk to the door.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID MR. WINSTON!?" Our teacher shout furiously at George.
He just ignore her. Once he reach the door knob, he give me a shoulder look... " Bye, bye, alien bitch. " then slam the door.
"George... You...*sigh* you can continue now." she said and wave her fingers at me as a sign for me to resume.
"Yes ma'am! *sigh*" I quickly respond. Taking a deep breath, I begin.
°Hi, I'm Amara Stella.
When I was a kid, everyone are used to bully me. They harass me by using their sharp tongue. They didn't seem to care whether I am hurt or not.°
"Let's start with this picture. We can see that there's a lot of galaxies and they look just the same with each other but here is our galaxy; The Milky Way, near Andromeda galaxy which is the closest galaxy from us that is estimated to have a distance of 1.492 × 10 raise to the power of 19 or 14,920,000,000,000,000,000 miles away."
°In their eyes, I'm just a hideous "thing" that they can insult without being hurt but... I think, they are saying such words to me because its true.°
"Here in the Milky Way located our solar system."
°I'm not hideous, ugly or disgusting at all. It's just that... my appearance is different from everyone, it's unique, inhuman.°
"A solar system that contains a star known as "Sun" being orbit by eight planets which are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, four dwarf planets: Ceris, Pluto, Make Make and Eris. Also by space rocks like Comets, Meteoroids and Asteroids.
°Before, I thought I am just a normal person or rather think that I am the prettiest girl. A long hair that is painted with the color of the sunlight that covers my head. Eyes like a drop of the sunset with hues of flame. Sugary lips and a light peach skin.°
"One of this can support life that is very necessary for a living creature."
°That's all I believe, until I get exposed with people and those sweet thoughts disappeared.°
"It is a planet that has a distance from the sun about 92,960,000 miles away and the third one who revolves around the Sun. Our home planet."
°My way of thinking about myself change...°
"The Earth. And in it's crust, we live. Just like in the present. That's all and thank you for listening."
°I'm not normal.°
"Well done Amara." Praise my teacher on me while clapping her hands. "Is there any question from the class about Amara's presentation?"
"Me, me, me! My question is... Why Amara didn't show us any pictures of her alien race? Is she scared that we discover her true identity and become a lab rat? But well... being a rat suits her really well. DISGUSTING, HIDEOUS and UGLY! Hahahahaha!" said Goretta. Another bully.
"I have enough at all of you!"
Suddenly, there's an angry voice that roars throughout the room. "Why are you being so harsh on Amara!?" Then a figure on where that voice came from furiously stand up. "Answer me!"
It's my seatmate. He's always there to protect me in a situation like this...
"E-Evans...!" A scared look plastered on Goretta's face but in just a few seconds, it change into an annoyed look. "What's wrong with you!? You're always acting like her shield as if we are bullying her duh... or maybe you has been hypnotized by her alien spell?"
"You ask that yourself, she deserves to be protected from the bullies like you. Maybe you are acting like one because you are possessed by an evil or simply a PAMPERED SPOILED BRAT SHIT!!!" defend Evans.
Everyone is shock on Evans' words. He used to be gentle while having a talk with a girl but now, he's completely different.
"WHO YOU CALLED PAMPERED SPOILED BRAT SHIT!?" Goretta shout that on the top of her lungs to Evans.
"You are. Isn't that obvious?"
"YOU... YOU JERK!" Goretta said to Evans and she raise her hand in the air and attempt to slap him...
"Stop it you two! Get your asses back on your seats! Now!" but has been interrupted by our teacher and they obey what they have been told.
"Shitty old rogue" Goretta mumbled to herself that is loud enough for me to hear.
"Can you share what you are mumbling about Goretta?"
"It's NOTHHING ma'am."
"Alright then, if no one in this room will ask a question with sense, the class is now dismiss." and she get out.
"Evans!" I call out to him, running to his side. "Uhm... Thank you for what you did awhile ago..." I bow my head.
"Did what?"
"Oh! Uhm... for protecting me from Goretta and the class... You didn't have to, but I really appreciate that."
"Oh, that? It's not a big deal. Don't mind that. I just really hate people who likes to abuse the one who is weaker than them. It disgust me. So whoever bullies you, you can count on this man." and he wink at me.
"Man? But you're just a boy!" I tease him.
"Yeah, yeah I'm just a 'BOY'." He emphasized the word 'BOY'.
'He doesn't want to be a boy anymore huh?' my mind said.
"But Evans... am I that weak like you said a minute ago?"
"No, no, no. It's not like that! You're not that weak. What I meant is that you never talk back to anyone who insult you and that makes you look weak but you are actually strong..."
"Strong?" 'Now you're kidding me!' "What do you mean by that?"
"Yes you are strong because even how many people harass you, you still stand straight and continue living while other girls who have been treated that way would have cried, got depressed and suicide. I never see you cry." He explain.
"Thank you very much! You've done a lot to me. How do you want me to repay–" I'm still not done talking when someone cut me.
'George...'
"Hey yo alien bitch, it seems you have been too clingy to Evans recently huh? Heheh. Just I expected from a whore. Oh Goretta you didn't tell her that she's a whore? Look at her face, it looks surprised!"
"Call again?" I ask. What he calls me is really out of the line.
"I said, YOU'RE. A. WHORE. Are you also a deaf? Alien bi– Arrrggh!!!" Before he finish his statement, Evans' fist has already landed on George's face...
"You jerk punched me!? Take this!" and he also punch Evans on the face! 'Oh no. Evans!'
"Yeah George! Punch that jerk's face. I want it to bleed!" request by Goretta.
'Now I'm really pissed on this girl!'
"What do you want Goretta?" I ask while narrowing my eyes at her.
"Are you narrowing your eyes at me?" both of her hands hangs on her waist. "Aaahhw... Isn't this sweet? You worried about him?" pointing her index finger at Evans. "Don't worry, I just wanted your prince charming's face to bleed alien bitch. He deserves that for talking back to the beautiful queen! Which is ME." She proudly compliment her ego.
'What a bitch!'
"You remember this Goretta. You dare to hurt me, BUT. NOT. MY. FRIEND!" and then I slap her. Hard. It's a good feeling to finally slap someone who you very longed wish to hurt even a single pinch in a long time. I turn my back to her her and walk away. 'Serves you right, "QUEEN". Hmph!'
"No... My face..... Look! It's disfigured... *crying* Look what she has done to my face! *continue crying*"
'Pssh... Such a drama queen. I didn't hit her hard enough to make her face disfigured, but I wish I did that.'
"Queen!!! Are you alright? Don't you worry, if someone hurt our queen they go through us! Right girls?"
"Yeah!"
"That alien bitch hurt our queen. Let's give her what she bargained for!" as one of my classmates command, they all cornered me.
"Let's do this girls!" one of them said.
"Lunch..."
"Attack!"
And they all charge on me.
'Oh yeah... If I mess up with the queen, I need also to deal with her minions.'
In just a second, someone from them clutch my hands behind and each one of them take a grip on my locks freely because of that.
"AARRRGH!!!" I whimper in pain. The boys in the room just watch and even cheer those who are tweaking my hair. As I'm going to fall into unconsciousness...
"Let go of her!"
There's someone who shouted from their behind. Pushing them away. They let go their grip on my locks when it embrace me.
"Get away from her Evans if you don't want to get involve in here." One of them threatened him, but he didn't let go of me.
"He's a hard one to talk. He wouldn't listen to us. What should we do to him?"
"Nahhh... He's with her. Let's go punish her with him. Shall we?"
"Agreed. Hiya!" then they start beating us. Evans hold me tighter so he can fully cover me and to ensure that not a single punch would land on me. They're fist always drop on his face so there's now a blood dripping from it.
"STOP HURTING HIM. EVANSSS!!!" I plead but no one listen and stop, until...
"WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY CLASS!?"
~•♦|°.°.°.°.°.°∆°.°.°.°.°.°|♦•~
"O-ow~ that hurts..." Evans' complain when I put an ice pack on the bruise of his face.
"S-sorry... I know it hurts but please bear with it." I said. After that big fight in the class, I offer Evans a treatment.
"It didn't really hurt that much, I can deal with it myself. It's just like a bite of an ant, besides you're hurt right? Treat yourself instead of me." and he smile with his shiny teeth while patting my head.
'Oh Evans... you're being too kind.'
"No I won't, so stop being so pretentious! I know it hurts really bad when you took all of those punches and as a result, you got these bruises all over your face. Because of me you got hurt. Yes... it's all my fault." I hang my head low in guilt.
"Oh Amara... it's not your fault. They are being too judgemental on whatever different they see on your appearance so don't take the blame. We are friends right. Didn't you said that to Goretta?" He comforts me.
"No, its not like that! What I mean is that... Uhmm... What I mean–!" I can't say a reason. 'Maybe I want him to be my friend? I suggested on my mind.
"You silly... if there's no reason against it and you don't disagree, then we are friends." as he trying to convince me.
I can see the will in his eyes.
"Really? For real?" I assured.
"Yes, for real" He reassured, offering me his hand.
I accept it. We both shake our hands and I pull him close to me. Hugging him. This moment really touch my heart so I begun to cry.
"Really. Am I seeing this? You're crying, Amara?" He also hug me.
We hugged.
I can't believe someone became my friend.
°Since that day we become closer and best friends, even though I'm not normal. He let me feel how to be a normal person and I forget the cruelties on this world when I'm with him. He's like an angel making me happy.
After a long hug, I let go of his embrace.
"Thank you very much... I never thought that I will have a friend like you Evans..."
"A sweet and lovely girl like you deserves a lot of friends and love. Put that always in your mind." He said and tap his finger on my forehead.
"I will..." I promised.
"Great. Now–"
"Amara, are you alright!?" My father suddenly appear. Running towards us. When he got in front of me, he kneel down and caress my cheek. "Are you hurt anywhere sweetie!? I got a call from your adviser. She told me you got bullied again! Your classmates are horrible. Don't worry sweetie, I will teach those brats a lesson! Stay here." as my father attempt to go, I grab his hand to stop him.
"No need father. Evans has protect me from those bullies. See? I'm not hurt anywhere but him..."
We both look at Evans and my father notice his condition.
"Oh boy! What on earth happened on your face? Did you got that for protecting my daughter?" Concern form on my father's face and in his voice.
"It's nothing sir. I just did what is right." He humbly said.
"Oh boy, don't be so humble! Come here young man." My father pulled him into embrace and tap him on his back. "You've done a great job young man and I thank you for that."
"It's my honor to be thanked by you sir."
"Such a polite boy! From now on, you can call me dad." state of my father.
"O-okay si–dad..." he uttered.
"Good boy. Since you are friend of Amara, would you like to come with us in a park?" offers my father to Evans.
"I will be glad to dad, if its alright to Amara." He gaze at me.
"Of course it's fine. Jeeez."
"If its all settled then let's go." My father's closure and lead us to the parking lot.
We hop in the car and my father start driving. While in a long ride, Evans and I enjoying ourselves talking to each other in the back seat. Once we arrive at our destination, we spend our whole afternoon at an amusement area. After that, we buy some food to eat and the three of us decided to eat on a wide grassy land space but Evans ask my father that he will go somewhere so it's only two of us who take a place there.
"Do you have some fun sweetie?"
"Of course daddy..."
"Do you like that boy?"
"W-what!? I don't father! Well I like him but as a friend father, as a 'FRIEND'." I emphasized the word 'friend'.
"Okay, okay. You like him as a 'friend'." His voice are lying. It was mixed with a joke tone.
"You don't believe me father, are you?"
"Sweetie, of course I believe you. You are my daughter..." then he look above and I followed his eyes to see a beautiful sunset. "I wish you are my daughter..." mumbling some words in the air. I barely hear it.
'Father?...'
Suddenly, there's a figure approaching us.
"Dad, can I borrow Amara for a while?" Evans who just came back, ask a permission from my father.
"Yes you can young man, but be sure to return her still nice and whole eh?" approval of my father.
"You can trust her to me dad! Now Amara, shall we?" he offer me his hand.
I hold it and he bring me into a fountain.
"What are we doing here?" I ask.
"Were going to wear this friendship bracelets and it should be lock by the one who has the name in your bracelet." he explain. "Could you lend me your wrist?"
"Of course! Here." I lend my wrist and put it in front of him. The bracelet with a lock encircled around my wrist and he locked it using a key.
"Now, it's your turn." he offer me the bracelet and a key.
I take it and do the the same on him. We can see our names on each others locks. Mine on Evans' and Evans' on mine.
"Lastly, to make our friendship forever, we need to throw the key we hold in this fountain."
"Okay..." I nod.
"On my count. One, two, three!" and we throw our keys in the water fountain.
That moment seals our friendship to never last.
°After we graduate in the primary school, we decided to transfer in another school to get away from the people who knew my true appearance. But of course I change it. I dye my hair black to cover my yellow colored hair and orange contrast on it's tips. Put a blue lens on my eyes. Paint my brows and lashes black to make it all look natural and not fake before transferring there for high school. Our friendship continues even after we graduate from high school but a sudden challenge come between us.
"You, what!? You're not going to study on the same university with me? But why?" surprise can be heard from my voice.
"I have my reasons Amara. I'm sorry."
"But what if we don't get to see each other? What if you find a new friend and abandon me? What if–" my protest but I was cut by Evans.
"Relax... I'm not going on other university just for fun okay and I will visit you when I have some free time. I swear." he raise his right hand to swear.
"You promise?"
"Yes I promise. Cross my heart." then he draw a cross on his chest.
Were not going to study at the same university so on my first day, I go there alone.
"Welcome to Oz University Amara Stella." greetings by an A.I. robot in front of me. "I am your personal companion in this university. You can call me Harmony. Shall we go inside so we could have a tour?"
"Yes. Let's go." We enter as the slide door automatically opened for us.