As Xayvion and I walked in silence, a sudden impulse made him speak up before we were about to part ways. His voice was timid, tinged with both embarrassment and curiosity, as he scratched the back of his head.
"Are you and that girl from earlier classmates? I saw her smiling at you," he asked, his face flushed with a mix of emotions. I couldn't help but find his sudden interest repulsive, as it seemed to arise from the very girl I despised. I tried to hide my disdain, unsure if my true feelings were evident, but Xayvion's expression swiftly shifted from intrigue to annoyance. He reached out and pinched my cheeks, causing me to pout and wince from the pain. As I looked around absentmindedly, I noticed students casting pitiful glances my way, though Xayvion remained unaffected by their stares.
"How dare you look at me like that," in a change of tone, he abruptly patted my head and a smile formed on his face before he went on his way to his classroom alone. I was left dumbfounded, my hand instinctively reaching to soothe the ache on my cheeks. The disdainful gazes aimed at my brother saddened me. It became apparent that numerous students were unwilling to come near him or socialize with him, and I didn't want anyone to despise him, especially since this change in attitude had only occurred after we transferred here.
A fear took hold of me, worrying that Miciela might develop animosity towards Xayvion and judge me accordingly. I questioned whether it was selfish of me not to disclose the truth to her.
Continuing my walk, Rhaella strode ahead of me on the way to the second floor, where my classroom was located. I couldn't help but notice her interactions with familiar students from other classes, exchanging greetings as she passed by. While I acknowledged her physical attractiveness, her personality came across as vexatious. Her unwavering confidence and intellect often led to arrogance towards those she deemed inferior.
In that moment, a sense of pity welled up within me. It became apparent that Rhaella was blind to her own self-absorption, thinking that everyone loved her. Perhaps this was the reason she fell to the bottom.
"Hello, Zabi!"
Just then, Miciela appeared at the doorway of our classroom, catching me off guard once again with her playful smile. Her beauty surpassed that of anyone else, and I couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. I waved at her, my gaze shifting between her and the pristine surface of my desk.
Sighing, I felt at a loss for words. What could I even say? I had a clue that her recent early arrival at school had to do with me since my desk, usually messy when I arrived, was miraculously clean. Miciela probably cleaned it and didn't want to discuss it. I simply stared at her, brimming with a smile, and settled into my chair.
However, the events with my brother earlier that day ignited a burning sensation within me. My gaze absentmindedly shifted towards Rhaella as she conversed with her friends. Her curly, long hair looked like it had been styled at a salon, and her silver earrings and necklace seemed to announce her wealth to everyone. What was it about that bully that my brother found appealing? And what could I possibly do to prevent him from falling for her? It all felt so disconcerting.
Then, in a surprising turn of events, I found myself enveloped in a warm embrace. The sheer ecstasy I felt was overwhelming as Miciela held me tightly. A smile spread across my face, basking in the comfort of her presence.
"Why do you look so grumpy today, Zabi?" she asked, genuine concern evident in her voice. I shook my head, unable to articulate my emotions, and embraced her in return. Perhaps my brother was right; there was something oddly comforting about being embraced.
Before we could relish the moment, Rhaella's sudden interruption shattered the tenderness. She stood before us, looking at us with a mixture of disdain and disbelief, always ready to interject whenever the opportunity arose. Her friends mirrored her contempt.
"Seriously, can you stop that? Hugging each other every day. Friendships like that are bound to be shattered," she scoffed, her expression absurdly judgmental.
"Don't mind them, Zabi," Miciela whispered to me, her voice laced with reassurance. I mustered an awkward smile in response, wondering if Miciela found our closeness cringeworthy. After all, it was usually me who sought solace in her embrace whenever I felt down. Retrieving my notepad from my bag, I scribbled a message for Miciela.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault for always needing a hug," I wrote.
Miciela burst into laughter, her joy contagious.
"What are you talking about? It's perfectly fine for friends to hug each other, right?" she exclaimed happily. The sun's rays beaming through the window illuminated her radiant smile, creating a breathtaking sight.
For a fleeting moment, a thought crossed my mind.
If Xayvion were to be interested in someone, it should be Miciela. But what could I possibly do about my twin brother?
*****
That day, when I arrived at school earlier, I discovered a plethora of letters on Zabi's desk. However, it wasn't just Zabi who received those hateful messages; it was directed towards me as well. I could tell that I received an even greater number of hurtful messages from the friends I had made prior to meeting Zabi. My heart sank as I read their expressions of disgust towards my clumsiness and the mockery of my interests in subjects like aliens and the paranormal. I curled my lips, realizing that I had shared too much with people I thought I could trust.
Crushing the papers in my hand, I realized that instead of confronting me directly, they chose to spew their hatred through written messages. Determined to shield both Zabi and myself from this negativity, I cleaned not only my desk but Zabi's as well. The classroom remained eerily silent, the weight of that silence growing until it felt suffocating, drowning out any sound.
As I gazed up at the bright morning sky, tears unexpectedly streamed down my cheeks. It was a feeling of betrayal, brought forth by those letters that I had believed were from friends.
My sobs echoed through the empty classroom, a symphony of pain and disappointment.
During lunchtime, Zabi and I found solace in the gym, away from the mockery and judgment of our classmates. The freedom we felt in that moment was a temporary reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere.
However, I couldn't ignore the longing in Zabi's gaze, which repeatedly shifted towards the entrance of the gym. Her expression lacked its usual joy. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, disappointment evident when the person she had been expecting didn't appear.
"What's wrong?" I asked, concern etched on my face. "Do you want to see your brother?" I inquired, and she nodded, sensing that something was amiss between them. I patiently waited for her to open up, knowing that perhaps she needed to confront her brother. Had something gone awry between them?
However, she didn't reply any further, completely absorbed in her thoughts.
After finishing her lunch, she abruptly wrote a note in her notepad. "I was wondering if my brother will come here today again?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, showing her confusion.
"Do you want to visit his classroom?" I suggested to her, albeit hesitantly, as I had no desire to see him. However, for Zabi's sake, I was willing to endure it. I relaxed my expression, hoping that my face wouldn't betray my true feelings.
"Are you okay with that?" she wrote, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. I laughed and smiled. "Of course."
As we cleaned up our lunchtime mess, we made our way to Xayvion's classroom, clutching our lunchboxes. Walking in silence, Zabi's handwriting in her notepad appeared shaky, reflecting her uncertainty.
"Are you fine with my brother? Do you hate him?" Her eyes scrutinized my expression, filled with worry and hesitation.
I smiled reassuringly and pulled her into a warm hug. "I don't hate him, but I do feel rather ashamed," I confessed, letting out an awkward laugh and absentmindedly scratching my cheek.
Zabi scribbled a response in her notepad, her eyes squinting and her eyebrows creasing with frustration. I found her adorable when she was angry.
"Don't worry, Miciela. If he ever bullies you, I'll scold him!" she wrote, her face radiating determination. I couldn't help but feel a sense of ease knowing that she was willing to protect me.
As we walked down the corridor towards Xayvion's classroom, the air was filled with laughter and noise. It was evident that something was happening inside his classroom, and whispers from other students as we passed by mentioned bullying.
I couldn't help but wonder if Xayvion was involved in a fight with someone. The thought of it made me anxious, considering the consequences he had faced before when I reported him and he nearly got suspended. I bit my lip, hoping that things wouldn't escalate in a similar manner this time.
My attention shifted to Zabi, whose eyes showed fear and urgency as she hurried towards the classroom. I followed closely, my concern for her well-being growing.
As we reached the doorway and peered inside, the scene unfolded before us. In the front row, a boy with glasses trembled while Xayvion and his friends stood behind him, hurling crumpled papers. The girls did nothing but laugh, while a chubby boy seemed to revel in the spectacle. Xayvion's gaze was cold and indifferent as he stared at the bespectacled boy.
"After this, why don't we go to the gym? Let's play," one of Xayvion's friends with blond hair suggested, crumbling a paper and handing it to the chubby boy. "Who knows, maybe Rhaella will show up? Where is her classroom anyway?" he added.
"This is kind of boring," the chubby boy yawned.
Zabi and I were dumbfounded by the scene before us. It seemed that no one cared about the bespectacled boy's plight.
Feeling a surge of worry, I held Zabi's wrist tightly and began to voice my concerns, "I-I think we shouldn't—" but before I could finish my sentence, Zabi, with a look of upset on her face, crumpled one of her letters and clumsily threw it at Xayvion.
I flinched, wanting to escape the intimidating aura emitted by Xayvion and his friends, an aura that I knew I shouldn't be meddling with. My heart went out to the hunchbacked boy, feeling pity for his plight.
Startled by the paper thrown at him, Xayvion coldly stared in the direction it came from, only to be surprised to see his sister.
"Whoa, who's that cute girl?" Xayvion's blond-haired friend exclaimed, his gaze fixed on Zabi. Xayvion immediately stood up and grabbed Zabi, pulling her farther away from the classroom. I followed suit, but as Xayvion glanced back at me, his gaze held nothing but disgust.
"Don't follow us," he said coldly.
But Zabi, determined, punched him in the face while still holding onto me tightly. I felt a mixture of awkwardness and hurt due to Xayvion's actions, but Zabi's grip on my wrist grew tighter, refusing to let me go.
Relief washed over me, mingled with surprise. Zabi didn't seem willing to release her hold on me.
We continued walking until we reached the secluded area at the back of the school, where no one else was present.
"Why are you going to my classroom?!" Xayvion's voice trembled with a hint of fear. He looked scared as he awaited Zabi's response. I glanced at Zabi, concern etched on my face, as she opened her mouth as if about to speak but then bit her lip.
"Why don't you talk, Zabi? Just chase away your friend if you're uncomfortable," Xayvion said casually, his irritation apparent. I stood there, stupefied by the whole situation.
Confusion washed over me. Did Xayvion forget that his sister is mute? I looked at Zabi, feeling a mix of curiosity and bewilderment, and she met my gaze with a startled expression. Letting out a sigh to steady herself, she reached for her notepad and pen, placing it against the lunchbox to write her message.
Unconsciously, I read her words. "Your friends are bad, Xayvion, but I never thought they could get even worse." She wrote and held it up for Xayvion to read.
Xayvion rolled his eyes in response. "And you'll tell me to stay away from them again? And tell Mom about it? And we'll start all over again? It's annoying, Zabi."
Zabi looked at him with a mixture of irritation, fatigue, and helplessness. Her thoughts seemed to churn as she considered what to write next. She looked tired, yet determined.
Suddenly, the bell rang, interrupting our conversation. Zabi hastily wrote something in her notepad.
It said... "Why don't the three of us go out tomorrow morning?" Her sudden invitation not only shocked me but also Xayvion, coming out of the blue.
And now, she smiled, but it wasn't her usual sweet smile. It was a cold smile directed at Xayvion, causing him to flinch in response to what she continued to write.
"And we'll have a game between us, Xayvion, like we did before."