I sat at the dinner table, frustratedly poking at the vegetables with my fork. The broccoli florets stared back at me, their bright green color mocking my annoyance. Reluctantly, I took a bite, the taste of the steamed vegetable failing to appease my growing frustration. Unbeknownst to me, my contorted facial expression revealed my displeasure, catching my mother's attention.
"Ella, don't scowl at your food like that. It's disrespectful," she admonished me, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. I pouted, my anger intensifying as my little brother, Michael, snickered from across the table.
Feeling a comforting presence, my father gently patted my back. "What's bothering my little Ella?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. Though I didn't really want to share, the incident with Zabi's brother earlier in the day had left me feeling incredibly frustrated.
In the depths of my thoughts, I wrestled with conflicting emotions. It wasn't fair to despise Zabi's twin brother simply because they bore a striking resemblance. How could I hate someone who looked so much like my dear friend? I couldn't help but feel sorry for Zabi, caught in the middle of this tumultuous situation. Filled with a sense of compassion, I decided to take action and report the fight to a teacher.
After mustering the courage to explain what I had witnessed, my words hung in the air, anticipation building. The teacher's eyes widened, realizing the severity of the situation. Without hesitation, they rushed to intervene, desperately trying to diffuse the escalating conflict between Xayvion and the bespectacled boy. Witnessing the teacher's anger directed at Xayvion only fueled the flames of frustration burning within me.
But as soon as Xayvion discovered who had reported the incident, his fury was redirected towards me. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. Spewing curses, he unleashed his ungrateful wrath. It was disheartening to witness such unappreciative behavior. Surprisingly, Zabi didn't appear upset with me. Instead, she seemed relieved, choosing to follow her brother as he stormed away.
Although I remained frustrated, there was an inexplicable part of me that couldn't bring myself to hate someone whose face so closely resembled Zabi's. I didn't want to! In that moment, I began to fathom the reasons behind the collective animosity towards him.
Following dinner, I retreated to my room, my steps propelled by an unyielding determination. The commanding tone of my mother, ordering me to wash the dishes, was met with resolute defiance. Not today. Today, I needed time for introspection.
Upon entering my sanctuary, a sigh escaped my lips as I surveyed the stacks of books and notebooks adorning my study table. Determined to shift my focus away from the tormenting thoughts of the bully, I resolved to immerse myself in the three homework assignments awaiting completion. Curling up on my bed, I cast only a fleeting glance at the open notebooks, their pages eagerly anticipating my pen's touch.
The following morning arrived, casting a pale glow through the curtained windows of my room. I rose earlier than usual, an uncharacteristic drive propelling me from the warmth of my blankets. The morning routine unfolded in a blur—tying my hair into a bun, hurriedly checking my reflection, and bidding my mother farewell as I ventured out into the stillness of dawn. Today held an urgency, fueled by unfinished assignments that beckoned Zabi's assistance. I couldn't bear the thought of encountering further embarrassment, my determination bolstering my footsteps.
I couldn't help but feel a blush of shame creep onto my cheeks, but I quickly dismissed it. It was time to move past that embarrassing encounter. Maybe it was best if I avoided developing crushes altogether. I silently cursed the fluttering feelings in my heart, hoping they would fade away.
As I hugged myself against the cold morning wind, a shiver ran through my body. The sun hadn't yet mustered enough warmth to chase away the chill in the air. The streets were sparsely populated, with only a few people leisurely strolling towards their destinations. The occasional car passed by, their engines humming softly. It was 6 a.m., and my school wouldn't start until 7:30 a.m.
Motivated by my own lack of understanding and my tendency to procrastinate on assignments, I found myself waking up early to go to school. I noticed a few older high-school students passing by, their eyes glued to their phones, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. A dedicated jogger trotted along the sidewalk near the school, their rhythmic footsteps breaking the morning silence.
As I entered the school gate, I scanned the area, hoping to spot Zabi, who was known for her punctuality. The quietness of the empty hallways sent an eerie shiver down my spine. I seemed to have arrived earlier than I had anticipated.
But as I made my way towards our classroom, something caught my eye, leaving me taken aback. On Zabi's desk, there was a disheartening sight—a pile of papers covered in nasty words targeting her being mute and even cruel remarks about her brother. However, one particular letter seemed to hold a more venomous tone than the rest.
My heart sank at the realization that Zabi might regularly receive such hurtful messages without my knowledge. Why were they always singling her out for this kind of treatment?
Determined to take a stand, I picked up the papers, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and helplessness. Zabi didn't deserve such hatred; she was a precious and kind person. Biting my lip, I crumpled the offensive words in my fist and defiantly tossed them into the nearest trash can. It was a small act, but it felt like a tiny victory against the cruelty inflicted upon my friend.
However, reporting the incident to the teacher crossed my mind, but I hesitated. I didn't want to make a move without Zabi's knowledge or consent, unsure of how she would feel about it.
With a heavy sigh, I took a seat at my desk, glancing outside the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zabi's arrival. To my disappointment, there was no sign of her at the school gate. So, I turned my attention back to my assignments, attempting to focus on them alone.
A short while later, my classmates began trickling into the classroom, breaking the silence. As I glanced around, my eyes locked with Rhaella's, a mix of confusion and irritation etched on her face. It dawned on me that she might be the reason for the mess on Zabi's desk. I couldn't fathom the origin of her animosity towards Zabi or what specifically fueled it, but I couldn't help but conclude that she was an attention-seeking girl, seeking to make Zabi's life miserable. Grimacing at the thought, I shifted my gaze back to my notes, though the words from the papers I had found on Zabi's desk refused to leave my mind.
I couldn't help but feel the weight of the pain Zabi must endure.
Suddenly, a notebook interrupted my thoughts, sliding onto my desk. I glanced up to see Zabi, her presence bringing a wave of relief and warmth to my heart. Without hesitation, I excitedly leaped up and embraced her.
"Thank goodness you're finally here!" I exclaimed with enthusiasm, releasing her from the hug.
Zabi wrote in her notebook, her delight evident in her expression as she communicated her surprise at my early arrival.
"Well, why wouldn't I be?" I replied, pride evident in my voice, though I avoided admitting the true reason behind my early start. I averted my gaze, hoping she wouldn't see through my intentions.
Zabi wrote on her paper, her eyes filled with understanding as she looked at me. "You wanted my help with homework, right?" she asked, sighing softly.
Embarrassed, I nodded and admitted, "Just a little."
Zabi graciously assisted me with my homework, and I couldn't help but feel delighted by her patient guidance. She took the time to explain concepts I struggled to grasp, making the learning process much smoother.
Soon, the lessons began, and we diligently worked on our assignments. As we passed them forward to the teacher, I whispered a sincere "Thank you" to Zabi. She responded with a warm smile that reassured me of her friendship and support.
Zabi was an exceptional student, often ranking at the top of our class, while I considered myself average. Still, she never hesitated to share her knowledge with me, even when I struggled to comprehend certain topics.
"And from now on, I will wake up early too," I whispered to Zabi, a sense of determination filling me. This revelation piqued her excitement.
"Really? Why's that?" she wrote on her paper.
I replied simply, "I just want to." The truth was, witnessing the mess on Zabi's desk today made me realize the impact it had on her. I wanted to be there for her, even if it meant waking up earlier than usual to help tidy up. The thought of her starting each day feeling hurt saddened me.
However, Zabi's sudden burst of enthusiasm and the energy radiating from her made me slightly apprehensive. I couldn't shake off the feeling that she had something planned—a sense of foreboding hung in the air.
I silently hoped that whatever she had in mind wouldn't lead to more trouble.
"You know, I often hang out with Xayvion. I'll introduce you to him tomorrow," Zabi gleefully wrote, a big grin spreading across her face.
Her words confirmed my suspicions. She was definitely planning something that I didn't particularly like. Shame washed over me as I remembered my embarrassing encounter with Xayvion. I was about to express my concerns when the teacher's voice abruptly shattered the classroom's tranquility.
"Arilynn!" The teacher's stern voice boomed, causing my classmates to turn their heads towards me, their gazes filled with curiosity and surprise.
Frozen in place, I met the teacher's angry stare, his distorted face sending a chill down my spine. Panic surged through my veins as I broke into a cold sweat, my heart pounding so fiercely that I feared it might burst from my chest.
Trembling, I stood hesitantly, fidgeting with my hands, unable to meet the teacher's gaze.
"Y-yes, teacher?" I stammered, consumed by shame as it flooded my body. I wished I could have just kept quiet instead of bringing up Zabi.
"I heard that you copied your assignment from Cyrillus!" The teacher's accusation echoed through the room, causing me to flinch.
How did he find out? I scanned my classmates' faces, a sense of betrayal washing over me. While I wasn't friends with them, I never expected them to report me, especially when most of them engaged in similar acts of cheating.
Why was I the only one being called out?
Then, I noticed Rhaella's smirk. It was clear she was behind this. She must have been the one who exposed me.
The teacher pressed further, his voice demanding an answer. I winced, feeling trapped.
"I-I didn't," I lied, my voice faltering. Although I had answered most of my assignments, I couldn't deny that half of them were from Zabi. Biting my lip, I didn't know what to do.
"Hey, why don't you write the assignments on the blackboard?" my teacher asked curiously.
Suddenly, I got startled when the teacher called me out. I looked over at my friend Zabi, and she seemed worried too. I could see the concern in her eyes as she looked at me.
But if I didn't move, it would mean I cheated. So, I gathered my courage and walked up to the teacher's table while he was writing the answers to the math questions. I tried my best to remember what Zabi had taught me.
Luckily, I managed to solve the questions just like I always did when I wrote the solutions. I felt really grateful that Zabi had shown me how to answer the math questions without actually explaining everything.
"Good job, but did you cheat?" the teacher asked again, making me feel nervous.
"No, I didn't," I timidly replied.
"But your classmate accused you of cheating," the teacher said sternly, raising his eyebrows. Another classmate, Lillian, who was a close friend of Rhaella, spoke up too.
"I saw her and Cyrillus writing on her notebook earlier."
It turned out they were really watching us, wanting to embarrass us in front of everyone. I clenched my fist and just stared at the teacher, feeling a mix of frustration and determination.
"Is it wrong to help me?" I acted pitiful, hoping the teacher would understand.
The teacher let out a sigh and waved his hand, signaling for me to go back to my seat.
"Listen, class, it's not okay to cheat, but it's also not okay to blame your classmates for something they didn't do," the teacher told everyone, while Rhaella and her friend glanced at me. I quickly looked away, knowing they wouldn't let this go so easily.
"Good job!" Zabi poked my shoulder and showed me her paper for me to read.
"Thanks! Luckily, my brain was working well this time," I whispered back to her, giggling softly. I felt a strange sense of happiness knowing that we had foiled their plans.
And now, I felt even more motivated to beat Rhaella.