Dinner time came and we left our prep classes and headed into the dining hall, I still had my buds plugged in as I walked down the corridors. Dinner was aquatic rice and turkey, I ate quickly and left the hall for class. The class area was dark and scanty and in my hurry, I bumped into someone in the corridor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry" I muttered helping him pick up his books, he was coming from the class area.
"Hey, it's all good" he took his books from my hand with a smile and raised his head. I got a good look at his face, he was half-caste probably Asian and he was milky-yellow in complexion with brown eyes, I found him cute, which made me dust myself quickly to leave.
"Uh, wait-" he said, stopping me "I haven't seen you around, you new here?"
"Actually, no" I stared at the space behind him "I've been here since my first year"
"Oh okay" he looked at me again, still maintaining his smile "I hope to see you again" he walked away and so did I.
Everything went on normally after the first couple of days, Ella started talking to Josiah and everywhere I turned, she was pasted to his side like superglue. It didn't bother me though, just an observation. I didn't run into the half-caste boy after that evening, so my life was pretty much back to my loner days, not that I was complaining. People bring headaches.
*****
It was long break, so I walked to the kiosk near the school gate to get a bottle of water like I usually did.
"One bottle water, ma" I said with a shy smile. The kiosk lady had always been extra-nice to me and I often found myself regretting that I couldn't engage with her more because of my antisocial tendencies. I drank the water as soon as she handed it to me and I handed her some money.
"You like water, this girl" she smiled "Are you a fish?"
I choked on my laughter and she patted my back as I gave her a wide smile, probably the biggest smile I had ever given since my parents died.
"Thank you, ma" I blushed and turned around to leave but I bumped into Ella and spilled a few drops of water on her skirt, she looked at me, furious.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry" I blurted "Let me help-"
Just then, she snatched the bottle of water from my hands and emptied the rest of the water on my head leaving me in shock.
"Audacious twat" She spat and walked past me.
My eyes stung and I fought to keep the tears in, I looked at the kiosk lady and she looked at me with sorry eyes, I mouthed a 'don't worry' to her and left the shop. I took off to the nearest restroom but as I passed the male restroom, I heard my name.
"Joan!" a male voice called. I turned around to look at Josiah and, I looked away, the last thing I needed was for this strange boy to see my tears "You should know I'm in a hurry" I said.
"Yeah, you always are" he approached me "Why are you wet all over, did someone spill water on you or something?"
"Please, if you're going to be asking these stupid questions, then I'd rather you leave me alone" My eyes burned as I turned away.
Josiah held my arm "As stupid as my question is, Joan, you'll answer it" he looked mad "Who did this?"
"Fucking leave me alone!" I yelled, shocked that I swore out loud, I tried yanking my arm but he wouldn't budge "I'll scream, Josiah"
"Oh yeah?" He yelled "Did you also scream when they poured this on your head?"
I looked away "It's only water" I said calmer.
"Who poured it on you?" He loosened his grip on my arm.
"Ella" I said softly and watched him grow angrier "Don't do anything stupid" I said.
"What did you do when she did it?" He asked ignoring my words.
"What do you mean by that?" I said "I left" I finally pulled my hand free from his.
"You didn't push back? I mean-" he scoffed "she pushed you first, didn't she?"
"I didn't want a fight" I lowered my head "Besides, I spilled water on her first"
He stepped back "You can't have done it deliberately, Joan"
"What's your deal with me anyway, Josiah?" his name rolled off my tongue as I stared into his angry brown eyes "let it go, you're overdoing it, whatever it is you think you are doing"
"You're making it seem like I am troubling you, but you know I'm right" he said through his teeth.
I let my eyes wander around, taking in the white and blue walls of the buildings and classes nearby, perhaps he was right, maybe I let people walk all over me all the time. But that doesn't mean I want to fight, I love my peace, I'm not the kind of person who likes to make waves and besides, tests were coming up soon, I needed my sanity intact.
"You are troubling me" I said and turned to go.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you" he said but I kept walking "Look I just want to be friends, Joan"
"I don't do friends with boys" I didn't turn around.
"Apparently, you don't do friends with anyone" He said " You love being alone, right?" his voice held that mocking undertone.
I finally turned, upset "You have no idea"
"It's fine, you wanna be an island, I get it" he said again.
"You say you want to be my friend, yet you repeatedly mock me" I tilted my head to look at him from that angle "If that's what your friendship entails, I want no part in it"
"Why are you so offended by that" he smirked.
"I just am" the more he smiled, the angrier I became.
"And if I promise not to mock you anymore?" he said.
"That's your business, not mine" I backed off.
"Then I have no choice but to continue" he called out.
"Can't you stop?" I didn't like to admit it but his mockery always hit a sensitive part of me that always wished I could be more sociable and less alone. I had been mocked before about it- being a loner. But for some reason, the fact he was the one doing the mocking this time made me feel... worse.
"If we're friends?" he said with a small smile.
"Is that why you've been troubling me since the beginning of this term, to be my friend?" I asked.
For the first time since we began this back-and-forth conversation, he looked nervous.
"Uh, yeah" he picked at his hair "Yeah, that's why"
I felt myself soften "We can be friends, Josiah" I offered him a smile.
His whole face lit up "Yeah?" he asked.
"Yeah" I chuckled softly.
"So, you're perfectly capable of laughing and smiling, miss loner" he said.
"You're doing it again" I squinted my eyes and he laughed loudly
"What's so funny" I stood hands akimbo.
"No, nothing, you just looked cute when you squinted" he wiped his mouth.
"And that's funny because?"
"I'm sorry okay" he smiled "I just need to get used to you"
My mind went over his words 'used to you' He wanted to get used to me. I had a friend finally. It felt weird but I could adapt, couldn't I? I hoped that with any luck, this Josiah bloke wouldn't bring too much stress into my quiet life.