Feeling lethargic, I dragged myself out of the house, dreading the start of another Monday. However, there was a flicker of anticipation within me as I looked forward to meeting Zabi once again. I wondered if she was feeling alright since I had forgotten to text her last night.
Then, I suddenly shivered. The morning air was unusually chilly, and ominous clouds filled the sky, indicating an impending rain. I quickened my pace, briskly walking to school while wearing a thick jacket.
As I made my way, my mind drifted back to last Saturday when I hung out with Zabi. Her indifferent reaction and the surprise on her face when she accidentally pushed me played over and over in my mind. That moment still puzzled me, and I kept the note she gave me—a memento of her peculiar behavior that day.
Upon arriving at the school gates, I noticed the absence of students. Just as I stepped onto the silent school grounds, raindrops started to fall, gradually intensifying into a downpour. Thankfully, I had arrived early. I hugged myself tightly, seeking solace from the oncoming rain. As I entered the school building, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the glasses-wearing boy who had previously punched Xayvion. He, too, seemed to have arrived early, walking alone through the deserted corridors.
I couldn't help but fixate on his retreating figure, an amalgamation of worry and pity washing over me. Having experienced the pain of bullying myself, albeit not physically, I empathized with what he might be enduring. For now, I counted myself fortunate.
Blowing into my cupped hands to ward off the increasing cold, I listened to the rain splattering against the windows, obscuring the view of the outside world. The gusts of wind grew stronger as I finally reached my classroom. I was greeted by the familiar musty scent that permeated the room, and a profound silence enveloped the space. As I walked through the corridors and arrived here, it felt as if I had a sense of ownership over this place.
However, as I stood in the doorway, I came to an abrupt halt. Only one student was present, sitting at the front near the teacher's desk. It was the first time I had seen her arrive earlier than anyone else. Her name was Emily, my first friend in this class. I shrugged, realizing it wasn't my place to speculate on her reasons.
To my astonishment, both Zabi's and my desks were devoid of any crumpled letters of curse. I sighed in relief, thinking that perhaps they had exhausted their paper supply with their previous activities. A chuckle escaped me as I imagined how tired they must have been, diligently working to insult us with their words.
Taking my seat, I found myself staring blankly out of the window, the relentless rain creating a calming symphony in my ears. Resting my head on the desk, I used my arms as a makeshift pillow, gradually succumbing to the soothing rhythm.
My drowsy state was abruptly interrupted by a light tapping sound on my desk. I opened my eyes to a cacophony of noisy chatter filling the classroom. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I turned to find Zabi standing beside my chair, wearing a concerned expression.
Reading the message written in her note, "Are you okay?" my groggy brain struggled to process the question. I stretched myself, glancing out of the window, and noticed a glimpse of sunshine peeking through the clouds. The rain had stopped. I must have dozed off for a few minutes.
Nodding in response to Zabi, I mumbled, "Yeah, when did you arrive?"
"Just now," she replied as she scribbled in her notes. "Did you have fun last Saturday?" she continued, curiosity evident in her writing.
Despite not having enjoyed myself, I forced a smile and replied, "Yeah, I had a good time. How about you? Are you feeling better?" Confusion flickered across her face as she looked at me, clearly puzzled by my response.
"Of course, I'm fine," she wrote, though her expression betrayed a hint of uncertainty and contemplation.
Noticing the difference in her handwriting compared to what I saw on Saturday, I absentmindedly commented, "Your handwriting was beautiful last Saturday, Zabi."
Surprised by my observation, she looked at me quizzically and pouted, furrowing her eyebrows as she wrote in response, "So, my handwriting is ugly now?"
Realizing the unintended upset caused by my words, I quickly shook my head, attempting to reassure her. "No, not at all. It's still pretty..." I trailed off as our teacher entered the room. It seemed like our teacher had arrived earlier than usual.
"Perhaps I slept longer than I thought," I mused to myself.
During lunchtime, as I packed my lunchbox, I noticed Zabi doing the same.
"We're eating in the gym, right?" I asked, seeking confirmation, and she nodded. Just as we turned around to head towards the doorway, ready to step outside, a water bottle suddenly hurtled through the air, crashing into Zabi. The impact sent her sprawling helplessly onto the floor.
"Zabi!" Startled, I rushed to her side, my gaze fixed on the culprit who had thrown the bottle. It was Emily. Her stare was filled with menace as she glared at us. I couldn't help but wince and tremble at the unexpected anger emanating from her—something I had never witnessed before. Only Rhaella snickered among the classmates surrounding Emily, their faces displaying a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Why did you do that?" I confronted Emily, my voice laden with disbelief.
"I thought my poor cousin was safe in his class until his secret was exposed—Xayvion and his brat friends have been bullying him," she screamed.
Confusion swirled within me as I glanced at Zabi, who now bore bruises on her arm from the impact. Helping her back to her feet, she averted her gaze towards Emily, her expression mirroring my bewilderment.
Feeling a surge of anger and frustration, Emily's words echoed in my mind. "If you've forgotten what your brother's victim looks like, he's my four-eyed cousin - the boy with glasses! Now it makes sense why he goes home from school with bruises on his arms. It turns out it was your brother and his friends" Her revelation struck a chord within me, and a particular boy who was constantly bullied came to my mind. I couldn't ignore the truth that lingered in her words.
I didn't realize it had become worse than I initially thought. How did it escalate to the point of bruises? Was the boy with glasses physically assaulted? A mixture of confusion and pity surged within me, but Emily went too far by blaming Zabi for this.
"But she's not the one to blame," I stammered, facing Emily, feeling scared and not wanting to fight with my former friend whom I had met on the first day.
"Shut up, Miciela! It's none of your business," Emily retorted sharply, her voice filled with anger and defensiveness.
Feeling helpless and overwhelmed, Zabi grabbed my hand, urging me to walk away faster. We quickened our pace, trying to escape from the tense atmosphere. Though we could still hear Emily's voice echoing behind us, we pressed on. As we reached the first floor, both Zabi and I caught our breaths, taking a moment to calm ourselves. Tears welled up in Zabi's eyes, and I felt like a coward for not being able to do anything to protect her. I opened my arms, instinctively attempting to hug her, but I unconsciously stepped back, hesitating.
The memory of last Saturday, when she pushed me, flashed in my mind. Confusion and uncertainty clouded my thoughts, Why was I feeling hesitant? We had always embraced each other, sharing moments of comfort and support.
Zabi smiled at me, trying to reassure me, and she stepped forward, embracing me instead. Her warmth and presence enveloped me, providing solace in a world filled with uncertainties. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief from her pocket, while students passing by couldn't help but glance at us with curiosity. With renewed determination, she continued walking ahead, leading the way to her brother's classroom.
"I think we should go to the school clinic first for your bruises," I suggested, noticing the faint reddish marks on her arm. Concern etched my face as I observed her injuries, but she chuckled softly and shook her head, dismissing my worries.
I stared at her, dumbfounded, a mix of admiration and concern welling up within me. It seemed like she didn't care about herself at all; her main concern was always her brother's well-being. Her selflessness both amazed and worried me.
She then communicated with me through writing, asking if her crying from earlier was visible on her face. Although her eyes were slightly swollen and her nose was a bit red, it wasn't noticeably evident. I shook my head, reassuring her, and she felt relieved.
Our attention shifted as we spotted Xayvion packing his notebook into his bag. Zabi looked at me, silently signaling me to call him. My lips straightened, unsure of what I truly wanted to do. Should I approach him? Was it the right thing to do?
"Cyrillus," I finally called out after a moment of hesitation. Xayvion turned around, startled, and our gazes locked. A sense of vulnerability washed over me as I noticed his classmates looking in my direction, capturing their attention. Shyness gripped my heart, causing a cold sweat to break out. That's why I didn't want to call his name out loud. He was seated near the window, on the opposite side of the door. Seeking refuge, I instinctively hid behind Zabi, finding comfort in her protective presence.
As I glanced at the boy with glasses, I couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy. His emotions seemed hidden behind a facade of detachment, his gaze fixed on his bag as if seeking solace within it.
Xayvion approached us, his curiosity piqued, and he directed his question towards Zabi. Her smile never faltered as she wrote in her notebook, engaging in their silent conversation.
"Come with us, let's hang out," she invited him, her words resonating with a mysterious intent. Observing Zabi closely, I tried to decipher her intentions. There was an unspoken connection, something that linked her invitation to Xayvion's friends.
Xayvion appeared bewildered, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "And why should I?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.
"Why not? You like Rhaella, right? She's at the gym. So come with us," Zabi wrote, her words shocking me to the core. He liked Rhaella?! Well, she was kind of pretty-ugly. I had assumed Xayvion was different from other boys who fell for Rhaella's charm, but apparently, he couldn't resist her beauty.
However, I couldn't deny the fact that I was surprised. Unbeknownst to Xayvion, he had developed feelings for someone who didn't share his sister's affections, and both of them were bullies. But my attention shifted when Xayvion's cheeks flushed, and he glanced at me with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, his gaze filled with a silent challenge.
Anger simmered within me as he grabbed Zabi's notepad, pointing at me while he spoke. "Are you stupid? That idiot saw it!" he exclaimed, his words laced with frustration and accusation.
Feeling a surge of indignation, Zabi unexpectedly punched his elbow, snatching her notepad back. She then grabbed Xayvion's arm firmly, leading him outside his classroom. The determination in her eyes was evident as she declared, "Now, you will come with us."
Xayvion looked visibly upset, his resistance crumbling under Zabi's unwavering conviction. "What if I don't want to?" he replied, his voice tinged with defiance.
"You must, or I'll tell Rhaella that you like her," Zabi wrote, her words hanging in the air, weighted with a sense of consequence.
Xayvion eyed his sister suspiciously, his gaze filled with skepticism. He seemed wary of her intentions but ultimately nodded, conceding defeat. "Fine then," he muttered under his breath. Suddenly, his gaze shifted towards Zabi, squinting his eyes and his expression turning sour. "Wait, did you cry?" he asked, his anger evident in his tone.
Zabi immediately shook her head and swiftly wrote down a response. In that moment, I realized that Zabi didn't want her brother to know about the bullying she had experienced, even though she must have been extremely upset to discover that her brother liked someone she despised.
"I cried because I miss my friend, so much," she wrote with a pitiful look on her face, as if trying to put on a show for her brother. I couldn't help but admire Zabi's skill in acting, but her brother seemed unconvinced. He continued to stare at her, seemingly searching for answers. However, as the silence lingered, Zabi simply smiled to reassure him. Xayvion let out a sigh. "I really don't know why you're so attached to this girl," he said, his expression shifting to one of bewilderment as he pointed at me once again. That boy!! Meanwhile, I could only seethe silently, unable to express my anger, and silently wishing for him to stop talking.
He truly didn't understand the meaning of friendship, did he? He retreated back into his classroom, his steps heavy with reluctance. My face pouted, and I murmured, "You're the silly one."
As we patiently waited for Xayvion, the boy with glasses emerged from his classroom, his presence sending a chill through the air. He walked with an air of detachment, his posture slightly slouched. His eyes behind the lenses reflected a cool indifference to the world around him.
My attention was drawn to his elbows and arms, where faint marks of bruises could be seen. Recalling the instances of bullying I had witnessed, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the same boy Emily had mentioned. His resilience in the face of adversity was apparent, and my heart went out to him.
Adjusting his glasses with precision, he unexpectedly locked eyes with me. Caught in the intensity of that moment, I found myself momentarily frozen before quickly averting my gaze, feeling a tinge of guilt for staring.
Whispering softly to Zabi, I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Do you think Emily was talking about him?"
"Probably," she scribbled simply, her words conveying a sense of understanding. She continued writing in her notebook, her expression warm and inviting. "I hope my invitation for him to join us for lunch won't bother you, Miciela. We can all eat together every day," she added, smiling at me, her sincerity evident in her eyes.
intentions, I returned her smile, silently conveying my support. She was determined to keep her brother away from his friends. Xayvion finally emerged from his classroom, his face marked with irritation, fully aware of the possible repercussions of choosing to join us instead of his friends.
"My friends will really tease me about this," he muttered, his words laden with apprehension. It was clear that he was anticipating their mocking comments, choosing to defy their expectations by walking with us.
As we walked away, I couldn't help but notice his friends sneaking glances at us and erupting into laughter, their mocking taunts resonating through the hallway. Among them, the figure of the main bully caught my attention, his imposing stature and chubby build exuding an air of toughness and intimidation.