It was the first time since I was born I was asked to eat at the dinning table together with the rest of my family. I felt very happy about the new development, but little did I know that there was more to the unusual surprise.
Nobody seemed interested in their meals, the tension was high, I suddenly felt like an intruder disturbing their peace. As much as I wanted to eat the explicit Master's dinner set before me I tried to control myself.
"Jack". My father called my name finally breaking the silence.
"Yes Da...d.. Sir?" I answered looking up and quickly correcting myself, recalling the strict warnings He always gives to me about calling Him dad, but it was just one of those rules I never got used to.
After giving me a death glare He returned to what He wanted to say.
"You would be leaving us soon".
I froze the moment He said that, I heard them talk about it earlier but they didn't mean it right? I lost appetite, my throat became very dry.
I saw a Devilish smile rest on Marcel's face, He sat opposite Me close to Mum.
I looked at my father with teary eyes, "But I don't want to". I calmly objected like I had a choice, my Parents decision on me was always final.
My mother rolled Her eyes looking so irritated about my presence and everything concerning me06. My father clenched His fist and hit the table.
"When did your opinions start to matter?". He boomed with rage.
" You would be 18 soon, you need to leave us, once you are done with Highschool". He added and left the dinning Angrily, He's fists still clenched, while my mum left after Him.
"Done with Highschool?" that was just a month away. I thought.
"Thanks for ruining dinner". Marcel scoffed and rudely threw a napkin at my face and also left the table.
I broke down in tears completely, alone on the dinning table. I wondered why my family hated me so much.
I laid on my bed, imagining how my life would be after high school, I would have to do everything by myself including paying bills. At least my parents did that.
Not because they loved me they sent me to school but because they were trying to protect my father's political posts and the ones He would run for soon, it would be a big blow to His face If they found out that He's child Was neglected while He claims to want to take care of other citizens.
My parents would warn and threaten me seriously never to tell anyone how I was treated at home or they would kick me out totally and tell the whole world I was dead.
I didn't want that I did love my family even though they didn't love me so I promised to keep my mouth shut.
I swept the bothersome thoughts away and prayed the future held better things for itself, that's if I was going to be a part of it.
Two weeks went by so quickly. I spent most of my days visiting Jericho at the hospital after school hours.
Still had many skin tearing encounters with the bullies at school. Jericho had gotten alot better and was discharged.
I got to talk with Sheila at school once in a while and I can't really say we are friends now, 'cause she kinda put me in a classmate zone level.
"If you like Her just tell Her". Jericho whispered to my ears.
He must have caught me looking at Her again.
"I can't, I just can't!. What if she refuses? Besides everyone see me as a loser". I groaned.
Even my own words hurt me I honestly didn't want Sheila to see me as a loser.
"We would be graduating soon, this is an opportunity you might never have again". Jericho insisted.
He was right, but I just didn't have the courage yet.
I finally asked Sheila out after at lot of pressure from Jericho. I smuggled a flower and letter into Her locker.
Jericho helped me to buy the flowers for the proposal, 'cause I didn't have money.
Sheila opened Her locker and saw the letter and flower, myself and Jericho hid from a distance and watched Her.
She smiled brightly and reached for it anxiously.
The smile left Her face after She read the name of the sender it looked like She was expecting it to be from someone else. The others girls with her which happened to be her close friends laughed hard.
Sheila threw the items and left angrily.
I was expecting it to go wrong after all but I wasn't expecting the kind of reaction She gave. She really looked disappointed but not as disappointed as I was. I couldn't go for any classes, I was too embarrassed to face Sheila.
I went home with Jericho and He did His best to cheer me up but I couldn't I only tried to smile sometimes to make Him feel less bothered.
"Don't be so down Jack, it's going to be fine, it's all my fault". Jericho said feeling Kind of guilty for pushing me to asking Sheila out, but I knew He didn't mean bad He just wanted me to be happy.
"I'm ok now Jerry". I lied trying to fake a smile.
Sheila never spoke to me again and was effortlessly avoiding me. I tried to reach out to Her several times but She would ignore me.
I didn't give up on Her infact I got so obsessed with Sheila that sometimes I couldn't sleep at night but think about Her. I couldn't get Her off My head.
I decided to ask Sheila out again, but this time around I would propose in public, even though I knew for a fact that She would reject me, and the consequences of being tagged a total loser by other students.
I didn't care I had made up my mind to prove to Her how much I loved Her. Jericho didn't support the idea but that was going to be the first time I wouldn't listen to His advise.
The basketball game Had just ended Marcel's team won. I felt that was the right time to propose to Sheila.
The cheerleaders danced after the match.
Sheila was the president of the cheerleading team. Her dress looked so good on Her. It was pretty obvious Sheila supported Marcel's team.
I ran up to Her and knelt right in front of Her. Everyone in the hall paused and had their full attention on us.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" I asked with a loud tone looking straight into Her eyes.
Everyone gasped at the same time.
Sheila slapped me making the whole hall gasp again.She looked at me angrily tears filling up Her eyes.
"You loser!" She screamed and stormed out of the hall in tears.
I wished the ground could open up and swallow me, it was something I was expecting but c'mon not this bad. The reality was worse than how I had imagined it to be.
I looked around, everyone laughed so hard, My brother held His stomach laughing uncontrollably along with His guys.
I saw Jericho sitting sadly, He looked away from me and buried His face in His palms.
I shamefully left the hall without Him and left school.
I went to a library close to my house, I didn't want to go home and I couldn't go to Jericho's house either.
I went through some books on the book shelves and came across a particular book that caught my attention. It had the same book cover like the book from Jericho's reading table. I was quick to recognize it, everything was the same except the names were different.
It read; RETURN MY BOOK.