Banging could be heard on Alfred's room door. As a loud high pitched screech echoed out through the opposite side of that door, which made him tumble out of his bed in a matter of seconds.
"Alfred Erdu! Get out of bed this instant! You have school coming in an hour, and it seems like you don't care anymore!"
Getting straight up after his late night sleep, Alfred could barely open his eyes nor try to shout back at his mother helplessly.
"I got it mum, I'm coming!"
Gaining the energy to finally start preparing, he made his way to the bathroom to check himself out before going ahead to eat breakfast. As he entered, Alfred could see himself in front of his bathroom mirror.
Long brown hair dropping till his shoulders, symmetrical white eyes, sharp eyebrows, and a lean figure ranging to about 185cm could be spotted as one looked at his reflection. One would say he's above average in terms of looks when compared to the common people outside, especially with the unique colour of eyes he had been born with strangely that had added to his looks.
This was Alfred Erdu, a high school student that had gotten good grades ever since he started school, who lived alone with his mother in a one story home near the city of New York.
Ever since he was born, he had never grown up with a father figure, so in turn he had started becoming self-reliant and supported his mother in earning a sum to pay for their mortgage. Even if he had to work 4 hours a day, while having school, it was worth it as long as his mother could live comfortably.
Then again even though he is used to this sort of lifestyle, he had always imagined living carefree spending as much money as he wanted like those celebrities on TV.
Once could imagine only though...
"Alfred, hurry up! Breakfast is still here waiting."
Huh...
Although lost in the moment, he started rushing through his morning routine to go eat breakfast and hurry for school.
"Finally you're out, come sit down and eat. I've made you pancakes with some orange juice." His mother said while smiling.
Isabelle Erdu. That was his mother's name. Similar to Alfred, she had short brown hair and brown eyes, standing up to 5'7ft. She worked as an agent for a certain businnes company involved in online products, although not being paid enough, it was all she could become with her knowledge.
Alfred had never taken his fathers last name when he was born, because there was no point. He had never met him nor does he want to. Besides, he only felt this close and comfortable with his mother, so he had taken Erdu as his last.
As no need to respond, Alfred walked to the table in their kitchen and sat down smiling back at his mother. It was no lie, that he didn't enjoy the comfort and kindness she has been giving him all his life.
So he didn't complain about the food, and wolfed it down after a few minutes. Later, he got up from the table kissing his mothers cheek.
"I've got to go now Mum, you take care while I'm out okay?"
"Of course silly, I'll be fine just watching TV and doing the laundry while you're out in school."
Nodding, Alfred walked out of the house closing the door in front of her after he bid goodbye for the day.
'Stay safe.'
...
Half an hour had passed as Alfred made his way to his school while passing through the subway and city districts.
Where he studied wasn't anything prominent due to the fact that he couldn't afford the schools that offered higher education from where he lived. Then again, it never made a difference to him as he could only study until he graduated.
In the distance just in front of the school gate, Alfred spotted tens of students make their way into the school campus.
'So this is it...'
NYC Public School
The schools name in view as he entered the campus like any other student.
Checking the schedule he had received by the school board, he found out his first class was History followed by Mathematics and so on, so he still had time to walk around before the class started.
As he walked through the school building, Alfred spotted a group of students who were surrounding a single person at the hallway who seemed to be carrying books on fantasy related topics.
"What is it Buck? Where did your friend go?"
"Come on now, don't scare him. We're friends aren't we Buck?"
Legs shaking as the guy named Buck could only cower in fear as he was left alone with these bullies until he saw a figure walk by them.
"Hey you! Please help me!"
Pretending not to have noticed the situation, Alfred had continued walking through the hallway as if nothing happened.
'Bullying on the first day? What bad luck that guy could get. Anyways, It's hopeless to ask me for help, this isn't a situation where i can just walk up and scare them away. I can probably beat a guy up if he was alone, but 7 against 1? Not a chance.'
As if it was his last hope that had been removed, the guy named 'Buck' could only clench his fists as he was forced to do many things under this group of bullies.
Finished with the roundabout of the school, Alfred entered his classroom which was filled with students talking from every corner of the room, while he randomly chose a seat to sit down on as he waited for the teacher to arrive.
"What level are you now Catty?" A student asked.
"Around 12 currently, been grinding for a few days already."
"Not bad, want to party later tonight?"
"Sure."
As if Alfred's interest was piqued, he started to hear similar kinds of discussions among his classmates as he focused on several people.
The moment he was about to ask the student next to him what everyone was talking about, the teacher had opened the room door and walked in the classroom.
"Good Morning students, I will be your History teacher for this school term. My name is Annabelle Scott. But you will all call me Miss Scott from now on, is that clear?"
"Yes Miss Scott!"
The majority of the class replied in unison, while a few were quiet.
"Okay now I'll be asking each of you to stand up and introduce yourselves to the class as I call your name. Damon Frank."
A slender black haired student who looked around 17 had stood up as the name was called.
"Good Morning everyone. My name is Damon Frank, 18, and into arts."
"Thank you Mister Damon. Next-"
...
"Sila North"
"A pleasure to meet each of you, I am Sila North from England. I came over for a scholarship."
"Nice having you here Sila."
...
"Jacob-"
...
Time had passed until it was finally his turn.
"Alfred Erdu."
Getting up from his seat, each one of his classmates had started to stare at him waiting for him to speak.
Not wasting any time, Alfred had finally started.
"Good Day Miss, and to you all. You can call me Alfred Erdu, Alfred for short. I am an only child in my family, and before you ask about my eyes. They are not lenses, these are part of a condition I had been diagnosed with when I was born. Only thing special about it is the colour. Thank you."
As if his speech gave everyone a shock, they all started focusing on his eyes to inspect whether he was telling the truth or not until the teacher had intervened.
"All of you settle down now, he is not lying. We have gotten a letter about his condition, and it will not affect anyone negatively during out school term."
Grateful for the help he had been given by the teacher, Alfred sat back down calm and composed.
"Now let's start shall we?"
Soon the whole class had forgotten about Alfred's dilemma as the class had soon started their meeting straight away as Miss Scott introduced them all to the History Class.
...
DING DONG
The bell had started ringing, signaling the end of the class everywhere in the school.
"Okay, I expect you all to have your books by our next meeting." Miss Scott with a firm tone. "While you Alfred Erdu, please stay here for a moment."
Everyone had packed up their bags and headed out of the classroom not bothering with what the teacher had in mind for Alfred.
"Could I ask the reason why you have called for me Miss Scott?"
"There are a few reasons why I have asked for you Alfred. One of them being about an offer that you had received from Harvard, but you had declined. May I know why?"
"Money."
"That's it?"
"Yes Miss Scott."
"Alright, then the second reason is about your condition. Although you have stated it is a side affect since your birth, we will need a copy from your hospital or any documents related to it to confirm that you aren't going against school rules. What I did earlier was for you to avoid causing a scene, so please send over one as soon as you can. Okay?"
"Yes Miss."
"You may now leave."
Letting him leave, Alfred got his bag and made his way out of the classroom.
'Hmmmm.'