Another school day had arrived, and once again, I couldn't help but hope that today would be the day Zabi would finally attend. I anxiously wondered if she was feeling okay today. As I lay on the couch, staring up at the ceiling and lost in thoughts about my friend, Michael approached me with a poker face, catching me off guard.
"Why are you still unprepared?" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance, his eyebrows slightly raised. He had already taken a shower and put on his neatly pressed uniform. Meanwhile, his hair remained a disheveled mess, standing in stark contrast to the overall tidiness of his appearance.
I rolled my eyes in response and replied sarcastically, "Well, I suppose I'll just skip today, tomorrow, and the rest of eternity. Might as well embrace a lifetime of unemployment," letting out a mischievous laugh.
"Don't come begging to me for money if you end up as a beggar," he retorted coldly before walking away. My brother could be quite arrogant, and his words stung.
Incensed, I jumped up and attacked him from behind, wrapping my arms tightly around him. "Well, in that case, you should donate to me in the future, El," I teased, mimicking a clumsy deep voice.
With a swift motion, he pushed me away and shouted, his words piercing my fragile ears. "Let go of me, you stinking old hag!" His face twisted with extreme annoyance, and in a fit of anger, he punched me. The blow hurt badly.
Enraged, I retaliated with a punch of my own, fueled by the surge of pain and anger. Our conflict escalated into a heated brawl, as we traded blows, each strike resonating with a sharp, throbbing sensation in my face. Amidst the chaos, I felt the force of a punch, potentially leaving bruises on my arms as a testament to the intensity of the altercation.
Suddenly, our mother appeared, holding a spatula, in the midst of cooking our breakfast. The commotion had caught her attention, and she interrupted our brawl with a mix of concern and exasperation evident in her voice. "What on earth are you two doing?" she exclaimed, her tone tinged with frustration.
"It's sister's fault!" Michael screamed, pointing at me before retreating to our mother's side. He was such a mama's boy, and I could only look at him with pity.
Ignoring my pleas for fairness, our mother turned her back on me, dismissing me with a nonchalant tone. "Ella, go take a bath now, and then we'll have a talk about how a big sister should behave."
"Mom!" I called out to her, but she seemed intent on ignoring me.
****
"Why didn't you wake up like you used to?!" The words were spat out angrily by the little gentleman walking beside me as we made our way towards the school gate. His complaint drew the attention of other students, making me feel self-conscious. Meanwhile, Michael adopted a grumpy expression, striding ahead and deliberately maintaining a distance, as if trying to play the role of a rebellious young man.
Both he and I were seething with anger over the earlier incident, evident by the fiery expression on our faces. The physical confrontation had left us with visible red bruises
As we made our way towards the school gate, a memory resurfaced in my mind. Earlier, when I had finished my bath, my mother had issued a sudden warning, reminding me of my responsibility to take good care of my younger sibling. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of offense. Why was it only me who had to show kindness and understanding?!! Shouldn't he have extended the same courtesy to me? These thoughts swirled in my mind as I walked to school, but I couldn't find the right words to express my frustration.
As we walked towards the school gate, about to part ways, I couldn't help but address him with a hint of frustration in my voice. "Make sure you're in your classroom when I come to pick you up at dismissal," I said, my tone tinged with a bored monotony that thinly veiled my underlying upset. However, little Michael didn't even bother to turn his head towards me, continuing his stride towards his building.
To compound my frustration, the surrounding students his age looked at me, amplifying my sense of shame and embarrassment.
Before entering my school building, I kept my eyes on him until he disappeared from sight. Despite his attitude, I still wanted to ensure his safety.
As I entered my own building, the hallway buzzed with activity. Students hurriedly moved about, chatting away, and the air was filled with a medley of strong perfumes. The thought of joining a classroom full of students left me feeling tired and distant.
As I climbed the stairs, my eyes were drawn to Xayvion's classroom on the first floor. I paused for a moment, wondering if he had returned today. Thoughts of Zabi's presence also occupied my mind.
When I finally arrived at my own classroom, I was taken aback by what I saw. There, sitting in her chair, was Zabi, fully engrossed in reading her textbooks. Upon sensing my gaze, she looked up and our eyes met. A mix of excitement and relief washed over me, as if I had glimpsed a light in the dark tunnel. However, as I approached her, I noticed something unsettling. Instead of a smile, her expression remained emotionless and nonchalant, reminiscent of the one she wore last Saturday.
"Hello, Miciela," she greeted me, and in an instant, her facial expression transformed into a warm and adorable smile. It was as if her previous emotionless demeanor had been a facade. She raised her notepad, proudly showcasing her familiar style of writing. Her signature smile acted as a soothing balm to my soul, filling me with a sense of comfort and joy. Unable to resist, I couldn't help but smile back at her.
Taking my seat, I turned towards her. Concerned about her absence the day before, I asked, "Why didn't you come yesterday?" My worry evident in my voice.
Zabi flipped a page in her notepad and spoke, "I wasn't feeling well," as if she had already anticipated what she needed to say to me. It seemed as though she had prepared herself for our conversation in advance.
I asked again, "How about now? Are you okay?"
With a nod, Zabi reassured me, her actions calming my concerns. However, as our teacher entered the room, I couldn't help but notice a sudden shift in her demeanor. Her previously warm expression turned indifferent, and an unmistakable darkness seemed to cloud her usual aura. Her gaze fixed on the front of the classroom, observing our classmates. I was taken aback by the intensity in her eyes, as if they were ablaze with anger. It dawned on me that perhaps she was angry about what had happened to her brother. The evidence suggested that my assumption was correct.
In a hushed whisper, I poked her arm and asked, "Are you sure you're fine?" My voice filled with genuine concern.
Zabi nodded slowly, trying to offer a simple smile. There was something amiss, and I felt compelled to find out more. Was it the persistent letters on her desk every morning? The thought crossed my mind, and I absentmindedly scratched my back, wishing I had arrived earlier.
The lunch bell rang, signaling the start of the break. Instantly, Zabi rested her head on the table, displaying signs of exhaustion. Concerned, I attempted to inquire about her well-being, but as I met her gaze, I was met with blank eyes. Without uttering a word, she turned her head away, facing down towards the table instead. It became evident that she wasn't in a state to engage in conversation at that moment.
As I packed my notebooks into my bag and reached for my lunchbox, I hesitated before extending my hand to poke Zabi. It was then that I noticed Rhaella's hostile gaze fixed upon me. Her piercing eyes seemed to hold a sense of animosity. In that moment, Emily also glanced in my direction before quickly averting her gaze, adding to my confusion.
Their scrutinizing looks left me wondering about their intentions.
"Zabi, let's eat," I said, hoping to distract her from her weariness.
She turned her head towards me, her expression blank and tired. Leaning on her knuckles, she silently wrote on her notepad, seeking clarity.
"Where should we eat?" she asked, her handwriting mirroring her exhaustion. I couldn't help but notice a distinct change in her penmanship, resembling what I had observed last Saturday. It left me perplexed, trying to decipher the reason behind the shift. Lost in thought, I continued to gaze at her writing when suddenly, she swiftly added, "What?!" The abruptness of her words snapped me back to reality, catching me off guard.
"Uh, your writing looks beautiful," I remarked, genuinely impressed by the noticeable change. Confusion laced her gaze as she glanced at me, a hint of shyness tugging at her expression. "Wait, are you shy?" I asked, playfully teasing her as I found amusement in her reaction. Unexpectedly, her shyness transformed into annoyance, but she quickly retaliated by playfully pinching my cheeks, injecting a touch of lightheartedness into the moment.
Her grip tightened, causing pain, and she immediately let go, writing hurriedly, "I'm hungry... should we eat here?"
Grimacing from the discomfort, I chuckled at her abrupt change of topic and replied, "No, let's eat by the gym."
Without saying a word, Zabi picked up her lunchbox, and we descended the stairs to the first floor. As we passed by, I caught a glimpse of Xayvion's classroom. Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but ask, "How long is your brother suspended?"
Zabi scribbled on her notepad, her writing indicating a one-week suspension. I was taken aback; I had assumed it would only be a few days. It seemed her brother had pushed the boundaries despite being warned.
Gently patting Zabi's back, I looked at her with a mix of sympathy and determination. She met my gaze, her eyes widening, before quickly averting them, allowing me to continue tapping her back.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to say anything inappropriate or hurtful. After some careful thought, I spoke up, my voice laced with a playful tone, "Umm... when he goes back to school, we'll tie him up and make sure he doesn't become friends with them anymore, Zabi. Don't worry." I patted her shoulder, hoping to lighten the mood. To my surprise, she looked at me with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
She managed a forced smile and agreed with me, but her reaction seemed different from what I expected. Why did my joking suggestion appear to frighten her? I brushed off the thought and decided to focus on our lunch.
As we arrived at the gym, I pointed towards a cluster of trees. "Let's eat underneath the trees," I suggested, gently holding Zabi's wrist. There were fewer students sitting there, and it happened to be my favorite spot. I noticed Marcellus in his usual spot, enjoying his meal.
Although our interaction had been limited the previous day, I wondered if I should greet him. But what if he ignored me? The thought of that embarrassment made me hesitate. However, no one had taken my usual spot, and I couldn't resist sitting there.
As we walked past him, Marcellus glanced at us, his gaze fixed on me as if he recognized me.
"Hello, Finn," I greeted him awkwardly, unsure of how to break the ice. He stared at me, seemingly hesitant, mirroring my own uncertainty.
He nodded and then glanced at Zabi, who seemed stunned and quickly averted her gaze. Zabi had always been somewhat shy. We settled down at the tree beside Marcellus. The sun was even brighter today, but the thick leaves provided shelter from the intense sunlight. I marveled at the tree's red leaves and its sturdy trunk.
Suddenly, Marcellus broke the silence. "What is your name?" he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Uh, I'm Miciela Arilynn, and this is Xavey," I introduced myself and Zabi. However, as I looked at Zabi, I noticed her disinterested expression. She absentmindedly opened her lunchbox, her gaze fixed on something in the distance.
"I see..." Marcellus responded, returning his attention to his food. The atmosphere grew slightly awkward. Meanwhile, I started eating, and that's when Zabi poked me.
Curious, she wrote on her notepad, "How did you know him?" Her gaze held a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"I just met him yesterday," I whispered back to her. As I answered, I noticed a flicker of irritation in zabi's eyes.
Zabi didn't write anything in response and continued eating from her lunchbox, seemingly uninterested.
"Is there something wrong, Zabi?" I asked, concerned. She looked at me disinterestedly, taking a moment to think before writing her response.
"My table was a mess when I got here earlier," she wrote, her face reflecting annoyance.
I was taken aback. If I had only arrived earlier, I could have prevented that. It seemed like she had received more letters than usual, possibly even harsher ones, since her brother's suspension.
"They... will stop sooner or later, Zabi," I reassured her calmly, offering a comforting smile. Her face seemed confused, unable to fully comprehend my words. She scribbled in her notepad once again.
"Do I always receive those letters?" she asked me, her expression showing puzzlement. I looked at her, a bit puzzled myself. It seemed as if it was her first time receiving such letters. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I scratched my head, feeling uncertain.
Why was she asking about this? Didn't she receive letters before?
I remained silent, but Zabi's persistent gaze seemed to interpret it as a confirmation. Her face visibly annoyed me.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, leaving me puzzled. Zabi appeared absentminded today. I watched as the wind made my long brown hair dance gently in the air, and I noticed Zabi, her black bob hair blown by the breeze. Her fair skin appeared paler, and there was a certain aura about her that reminded me of Xayvion.
A clue formed within me. Leaning closer, I faced her and asked in a low tone, "Are you Xayvion?" My curiosity filled my expression.