Alice entered the classroom nervously. The look in her eyes still didn't dare to look at the class that was fixing on her. With a slight bow, she glanced at her new friends.
"Please introduce yourself." said the teacher who was teaching with a welcoming smile.
One class already knew they were about to have a new student. Most of them had been silent since Alice stepped into the classroom. Various thoughts from them when they saw the girl. First Impressions.
Before speaking, Alice swallowed hard. She was confused why she could be this nervous when usually she could act normal.
Probably because of Alice's various thoughts. The bigger it is, the more things that make us overthink. The slightest thing can be thought of like that.
Alice developed a smile that flashed after shaking off all the restlessness. She looked up to see all the eyes that were on her. Even though her eyeballs were moving fast and she wasn't really looking at her friends, at least she wasn't looking down anymore. But Alice was trying hard to observe their expressions because she had been planning it since the night. Really curious about that.
Starting from Britney who remained arrogant, Hoover who was enthusiastically waiting for Alice's introduction, several female students gathered to whisper.
Alice tried to observe more. There are two male students looking at her flatly, another student sleeping, a student looking at her with a thoughtful expression, and one smiling vaguely as if they were close friends. That was what Alice managed to notice.
Her eyes glanced at the teacher who was waiting for Alice to speak. Smiled at Alice and increased her courage.
"Hello everyone, my name is Alice Glinmour. I transferred from Express High School and became your classmate. Nice to meet you." Alice bowed slightly to close her introduction.
Some of them clapped, and others followed.
"Wohooo! Nice to meet you, Alice!"
"Our names are similar! I'm Alixee! Hahaha!"
"Come sit in front of me!"
"Alice shared the room with us! I'm happy!"
Alice smiled at some of her new classmates pleasant comments. Although she don't know how the others will react, a little good reaction is already nice.
The teacher beside her clapped as well. "Good, Alice." She turned to the students in front of her. "Be nice to your new friend. Don't embarrass her."
After that Alice was invited to sit down after being given directions by the teacher.
Her seat was on the 2nd bench from the back and the seat behind her was empty. Not far from the male student who smiled indistinctly, made Alice shudder slightly.
"Don't be afraid, my face is like this." As if he knew Alice's thoughts, he whispered while laughing. "I'm the class leader. Tell me if something's bothering you." he said suddenly serious.
Alice grimaced. She was quite surprised after hearing that he was the class leader. "Thank You."
Tak tak tak
The teacher in front broke the daydreams of the students who were starting to drift away.
"Focus on your studies! Your last test scores were so low! Only Carlos and Alixee got perfect scores!" exclaimed the teacher in front who turned out to be a mathematics teacher.
A shrill voice is instantly made Alice rectify her impression of her favorite teacher. According to her, teachers who smile and relax in teaching are the best. But that didn't mean that Alice hated teachers who had a different attitude from her type. Every teacher has a charm.
***
The statement that it was time to rest took Alice by surprise. She thought it was still an hour until break time. Alice made sure she heard right by checking the time and schedule. Turns out it was time for a break. Her confidence grew when her classmates started to get excited and ran rampant here and there.
"Hey, Alice! I think we need to get acquainted."
Hearing her name being called, Alice turned her head.
"Because our seats are close together, we may communicate a lot." she continued, smiling. "My name is Bebby. Just call me Byby, one class calls me that."
Alice nodded. "Okay, Byby."
Byby again asked the question. "How? Feeling comfortable in this class?"
"Of course. You guys are active and compact." Alice answered.
It was concluded that way because she had witnessed it during the mathematic lesson earlier.
"Gosh, this is the first time I've heard that this class is compact." Byby said in disbelief. She glanced out of the classroom. "Want to go out? I think you need--"
"Alice! Let's go to the canteen!" shouted Hoover after speaking with Britney.
Alice turned to Byby.
"It's okay, we can continue next time."
"You're right, thank you Byby."
Hoover walked over to Alice and took her hand. "We'll take you around. Before that, let's eat first."
"You go with her. I have business later." said Britney who led the way.
"Meet the principal again?"
"That's right."
"Why? Is there a problem?" Alice asked from behind.
"She does meet the principal quite often. As the leader of the dormitory, there are many things that must be reported regularly." Hoover explained. She approached Alice's ear. "She has connections with the school, maybe that's the second reason."
Alice nodded in understanding. She felt that aura since the first time she saw Britney.
"Jessy!" called Hoover as soon as Jessy caught sight of her. Jessy joined in.
"Come on quickly! I'm hungry!"
"You think it's just you?" asked Hoover irritably.
The two of them were so engrossed in talking that they forgot about Alice. If Alice hadn't tripped over, they wouldn't have noticed.
While Britney continued to walk leisurely leading while playing the cellphone. Not infrequently she returned a smile or greeting other students.
"How did you fall?" Jessy approached, helping Alice to her feet.
"You really seem to have a lot on your mind." Hoover gives an opinion. She suddenly agreed with Alice's statement yesterday.
Remembering something, Hoover widened her eyes. Hastily she approached Alice who was pale since stumbling.
"Bruises on your arm--"
"DON'T LOOK AT MY BRUISES!"
"Aw..."
Alice had just pushed Hoover with enough force that the girl lost her balance and almost hit the wall if Jessy didn't hold back.
Alice's scream successfully made Britney return to the real world. Turned around and looked at her questioningly.
Jessy glared at Alice as she restrained Hoover. "Lice! Why did you push her?!"
Alice covered her lips with both hands. She was surprised by her own reaction. The moment Hoover touched his sleeve, Alice screamed and pushed her away. The scream was enough to startle Hoover, especially when pushed.
"I'm sorry, Hoover. That's my reflex. I have other things in my mind." Alice took a few steps forward.
Hoover winced in pain gripping her shoulder which Alice pushed on. "Auch... Why are you suddenly raising your voice and pushed me?"
"What did you do to her, Ver?"
Alice waved a hand at Britney. "It's not her fault. It's my fault."
"I'm not saying it's her fault. I'm just asking what she was doing."
"All right, all right. I just wanted to check on Alice's bruises." said Hoover.
"Then Alice pushed you?"
"Yeah. Luckily Jessy helped me out. Otherwise, my head would be spinning." Hoover massaged her temples briefly.
"I'm sorry, Hoover. That was totally unintentional." said Alice. Her voice trembled slightly.
"What made you push her? She's just curious about your big bruise." Britney stepped in front of Alice. Made the girl look up quite high.
"Don't you want to be cared for?" she continued.
"Not that." Alice answered quickly. She lowered her head, feeling intimidated by the look in the eyes of the person in front of her. "I was just surprised. Before that I was daydreaming."
Not hearing any answers or words from her three friends, Alice bit her lip. Honestly she didn't want to get into trouble with any of her friends, especially her roommates. Her hands clenched tightly.
There was laughter from Hoover. "Hahaha! Why is it like this?" She turned around. "Come on! The canteen is in sight!"
Jessy followed Hoover. "Wait for me!"
"Sorry guys. I have to go to the toilet now." After saying that, Alice left with big strides. She did not hear an answer from her three friends.
***
While staring at the circular bruises, Alice held back a sob. Even though she had tried to cover up the bruises so they wouldn't become an object of attention. Because the location of the bruise is quite close to the shoulder, it can be covered with a uniform.
Tracing her feet, she heaved a sigh of relief when she didn't see any bruises from tripped. She couldn't remember how she fell but he was sure that her palms were holding back so as not to cause any new trouble. And of course personal matters that have been kept hidden since an incident. Whereas before that incident, she didn't even mind it.
Seeing that the break was still quite long, Alice chose to stay longer in the toilet. Release the feelings that make her cry. Let the tears flow freely.
"Eighteen, I beg of you."
The second time she uttered those words was at the age of eighteen. Not without purpose she said that. Of course to comfort and strengthen themselves, beg and pray for her to rise again. The sentence had many meanings for her.
The tears that were still flowing were immediately wiped away. Alice didn't want her tears to come out again, especially since she was still young. If the tears go out often, doesn't it mean a miserable life?
Although there are other causes of crying, still most people cry because of sad things. Like what happened to her. Yesterday and today she was already shedding tears. She didn't want any more.
Through the cell phone camera, Alice made sure her face didn't look like she was crying. As soon as she came out, she immediately washed her face. Luckily there were only two people waiting for their friend and didn't heed Alice's presence.
After drying her face with a tissue, Alice took a deep breath. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled while exhaling.
Her cute happy face came back, though it didn't last long.
Out of the toilet, Alice rushed to the canteen and was as invisible as possible to her three roommates including Christie and Clarence.
In the end, Alice sat alone and enjoying her meal alone.
***