Searching for Love, Found Wealth

Since I couldn’t decide which status I would be fighting for, I quietly went back to my class. No teacher was in again. I just stood at the door, disappointed and irritated.

I got tickled from behind while at my worst mood. I didn’t shudder and stayed still.

Tickles were a waste of time on me when I was depressed about something. I was curious on who was touching me at such sensitive parts though.

“Whoa, are you a stone?” it was Jacobs. He was with Rueben and Jasper.

I kind of knew it would be them. They were the only once who’d seek my attention despite the door being wide enough to contain four.

I shifted from the door and advanced to my seat without saying a word. Sheena was drawing some things again. I remembered the “Best Artists” award.

When I talked to her about she contesting, she just said things that depressed my mood further.

“No place for me. People that are unpopular don’t get a spot. Forget it. Thanks for thinking I’m good enough to compete but everything is biased now”.

I realized her thick Indian accent only then. It was almost not there for Jennifer but Sheena had it sufficiently. It was cute though.

I rested my head of the table and watched her draw.

I tried encouraging myself to read hard enough to be the Top Student but I knew my capacity and my capacity knew me.

“Reuben has been looking at you?” Sheena said without looking off her drawing book. I lifted my head but didn’t turn backwards.

“Why?” I asked. She gave a light shrug.

I dropped my head at my table again. I wasn’t in the mood for boy games. They’ll probably get a good spot at the awards.

Maybe not awards but cool nicknames. They were very sport active, handsome and popular and all.

I should worry only about myself and if they must, they should worry about me too.

“You should still compete for the Best Artist award. There may be a lot of challengers but it wouldn’t hurt to be one of them” I tried encouraging Sheena.

She gave me a tired look, “If I win, people would say I used my sister’s popularity. I’m not popular so I want to maintain my own circle”.

I tilted my head to hear more but she turned to continue her work.

“Who’s your sister?” I asked. She pointed besides me at Jennifer’s seat. I was dazed.

“Twin actually. She’s living with my American mother now. I’m still with my Indian father” she added.

I quickly recovered from the shock. So they were twins. Lucky me, I loved twins. I searched for Jennifer.

She was with some girls laughing and chattering. There was no resemblance, much, with Sheena. Surely not identical. And had different personalities.

My eyes rested on Reuben. He was no longer staring at me, if he was.

He was now pointing at Cara and saying something funny to him, funny as he was the only one laughing. He was hitting Jacob while mimicking something Cara would do.

Jasper and Jacob looked done but as always they smiled at Reuben’s jokes. I would, especially if it was a joke about Cara.

I rested my head hoping for a teacher to enter our class. The waiting soon got boring.

“Is this how the class usually goes. No teacher for hours?” a mourned to Sheena.

“We are in a break called “Free Period”. You’ll get used to it soon. I did too” she never looked up from her drawing book.

“I’m guessing you came recently then?” I asked again.

She nodded, “Yeah, last year. I’m hoping my dad and mom comes together. Things are good that way”.

I was surprised she was opening up to me about my family’s situation.

I also said to her that my mom and dad were divorced but I kept on emphasizing on the fact that I didn’t want my father and mom to come back.

“No. You’d want them to soon. It can be lonely staying without a mom” Sheena disagreed.

“I stay with my mom. Mine isn’t exactly like your case. It’s my dad who left” I quickly added.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

She gave a slight shrug and continued her drawing.

I couldn’t just rest my head on the table forever. I leaped up to go to the library. The other kids were either playing board games or chattering but I’d prefer reading. It wasn’t a habit anyway.

Outside my class, a smallish boy was kneeling, his hands up and three heavy books laid on them. His eyes were streaming tears and his body looked stiff.

I rushed and took off the books on his hands and ordered him to get up. He looked reluctant but finally did.

His eyes were red and he mumbled that he had been there for thirty minutes. He was surely a grade 8 or 9 student.

I wasn’t surprised when he said it was Cara that punished. I told him immediately to return to his class when he added that she punished him because he refused buying her ice cream. Like isn’t that so petty?

Before he left, I asked him where the library was and he told me downstairs but it wasn’t opened during school hours due to “book stealers”.

The school was so dysfunctional. Libraries should be opened during school hours at all times.

Defeated, I went back to my chair. The students looked like they were enjoying this “Free Period” but I wasn’t. Not one bit.

I had been waiting for her. Cara stomped into the class and marched to my chair. I had been expecting her since I released that boy from her punishment.

“How dare you tell him to stand up? I punished him? Didn’t you know?” she was raving mad.

“It was too harsh for such a kid? He’s not your slave okay?” I said casually.

She scoffed and began clenching her fists. Eyes were now on us and I was feeling happy about it.

“Who do you think you are? Your mom is the manager of Sitcom so you mess around with anyone?” she shouted.

My face turned sour. It wasn’t even called Sitcom, mom’s new company. It was called SimpCom. And how did she know?