"Yah! Yah! Fe-Del is the winner!" exclaimed Jasmine with excitement. "I've noticed lately that you haven't been performing well. If something is bothering you, you can share it with me," Mam Crigler said with concern. "N-No, nothing has happened," I replied, trying to hide my emotions. Mam Crigler praised Fe-Del and made an announcement, "The Class Representative (C-R) will now be Fe-Del instead of Kelly."
I stood there, completely frozen, unable to move for what felt like an eternity. Tears cascaded down my face, a river of raw emotion. Meanwhile, Fe-Del, Hana, and Jasmine reveled in pure bliss, their joy radiating from within.
In the following moments, I found myself lost in a daze, disconnected from the world around me. Unaware of the hollowness that had settled deep within my being.
As the break approached, I quietly slipped out the classroom and went to canteen, willing to fill my empty tummy. The sensation, I could still feel it. My tummy was rumbling for food, and I told it to be patient. But when I reached the canteen, I realized, I was empty-handed. I felt helpless and thought about going to the swimming pool. However, just as I was about to move, Fe-Del and her two friends appeared out of nowhere, freezing me in place. I quickly found an empty table and tried to hide.
Then, Fe-Del exclaimed, "Oh, poor Kelly has nothing to eat! Let's share our food with her." She placed her soup on the table and ordered me to drink it, but I refused. Frustrated, she poured the soup on my head and laughed, saying, "Look, everyone, it's a soup girl!"
I already knew that Fe-Del will never miss a chance to make me frustrated. Feeling upset, I went to the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I spoke to my reflection, saying, "Oh, foolish girl! You think, it's not your fault but everything that happened before is just because of you. You're cursed. You shouldn't be alive. You should be forever cursed, a girl doomed."
I was about to cry because of my harsh words, but then I heard the door slam behind me, and I tried to open it, but no luck. It was definitely Fe-Del and her friends who did it. After being stuck in the bathroom for about 15 minutes, I heard the voice of Mam Crigler calling out, "KELLY! KELLY!" A ray of hope filled me. She asked Jasmine, "Have you seen her?"
"That Kelly? She was in the bathroom."
When they got closer to the slammed door of the bathroom, they heard me saying, "Open the door, I'm inside!"
Mam Crigler quickly opened the door, and I stepped out. She asked, "How did you get locked in there?"
"Ma'am, I-I shut the door angrily, and it got locked!"
Fe-Del, Hana, and Jasmine were all smiling as if they had defeated me. I ignored them and went to the swimming pool. As I looked at my reflection in the moving water, tears welled up in my eyes, and I whispered, "Oh, girl."
Suddenly, I felt someone push me. I opened my eyes, and I found myself submerged in the deep end of the swimming pool. It was clear that Fe-Del and her two friends were responsible. I closed my eyes remembering my past and the moments where I enjoyed a lot but now had to face consequences. I remembered myself laughing and enjoying the best moments whereas now I'm heartbroken. Suddenly, I felt somebody pulled me out of water. There was no one around me at that moment. I quietly slipped away, seeking solace in an isolated corner of the school.
As I stood there, tears continued to flow, each drop a poignant reminder of the immense regret I carried for past actions. The weight of consequence loomed over me, casting a shadow upon my heart. A profound sadness enveloped me, suffocating any glimmer of hope.
Then, in that moment of despair, a presence materialized beside me. I lifted my gaze and there stood Miss Samar, a beacon of light in my life. Overwhelmed with emotion, I sought comfort in her presence. Tears poured forth uncontrollably as she tenderly asked, "What happened, dear Kelly?"
With a voice broken by sorrow, I choked out my response, "I'm exhausted by it all. I'm tired of everything. The constant judgment from others who don't truly know me."
She replied with a smile, "Oh child, it's such a frustrating feeling when people don't know your past but jump to quick judgments about you. It's like they're forming opinions based on a tiny glimpse of who you are, without understanding the full picture. It can leave you feeling misunderstood, unfairly labeled, and even hurt. It's like being stuck in a box, where people assume things about you without taking the time to truly get to know you."
"But it still hurts," I replied with a broken voice.
"You know, it's like being judged by the cover of a book without even reading the pages inside. It's like having your whole story reduced to a single chapter, and people make assumptions based on that alone. It's incredibly unfair because everyone has a unique journey, a collection of experiences that shape who they are. But when others don't take the time to understand that, it can be disheartening.
Sometimes, it feels like you're constantly fighting against these preconceived notions and trying to prove yourself. It's like you're carrying this invisible weight of judgment, and it can be exhausting. You wish people would give you a chance, see beyond the surface, and discover the real you - the person you've become through your triumphs, struggles, and growth.
But hey, don't let their judgments define you. Remember that you are so much more than what others perceive. Your worth and value go beyond their limited understanding. Surround yourself with supportive and open-minded individuals who take the time to truly know you and appreciate your journey," she spoke a long lesson for me. She then stopped and smiled while gazing at the sky. I felt something unusual. It was like as if she had also gone through this. The way she describes everything was a clear evidence. She spoke, "And you know what? As time goes on, people may start to see the real you. They might realize that their initial judgments were way off base. It's like the fog of misunderstanding slowly lifts, and they begin to appreciate your unique story. So keep being true to yourself, my girl, and don't let the quick judgments of others dim your light. You are amazing, and your past is just a small part of the incredible person you are today." Then she left.
Her words, they were making it clear that everything will be fine "soon".