Chapter 4 Obliging My requests

• I walked through the halls of the school with my face kept down to avoid looking into the wrong eyes and getting punished for it.
• I can't afford to be caught staring.
• The wounds I incurred yesterday are still fresh. I can't afford to piss off the wrong person and get punished for it.
• Today, I need to be as invincible as possible if I want to return to the orphanage in one piece.
• "Weirdo."
• Someone whispered when I walked past, and more Laughter accompanied the words.
• Walking past them, I made no move to turn to see who it was that was mocking me. If anything, I continued walking without looking around.
• I need to endure all this. I need not pay attention to them.
• Walking to my locker, I took the books I'll need for the rest of the day and started walking towards my first class of the day.
• The earlier I go in there, the better. That way, I'll get to avoid being *accidentally* bumped into when the crowd becomes much.
• Prevention they say is far better than cure. And for this reason, am trying to prevent being Bullied.
• "Good morning, ma." I greet the teacher with a smile.
• Miss Clari our physics teacher loves being in class before us all. This way, she got to arrange the class, plan her lessons and get ready for the day.
• "Laty." She smiled brightly. "You're early to class like always."
• Shrugging I walk towards my sit at the back of the class ( don't ask me why I always sit at the last desk in the chair. This is the only way I can escape from the bullies who throw books on my head during class.)
• "It's better being earlier than late," I say the words I've gotten conversant with.
• "That's true." She nodded. "I admire you. In this generation, none of the kids wants to attend school. They prefer partying and all that. You're one in a million."
• You don't know half of it.
• The bullying I get is the only reason I turned nerd. I need to graduate early and leave the orphanage for good.
• Should it be possible, I don't want to wait till I reach eighteen years to be able to leave.
• Five more years from now. Five more years of endurance until I finally leave this place for good.
• *******
• "We have a new student in our midst." Smiling, Miss Clari motioned for the said new student to walk in.
• The moment he did, my heart skipped more than a beat.
• My palms got sweaty when the same boy with mesmerizing blue eyes from yesterday fully came into the class.
• Dressed in a light blue shirt and skinny jeans, he looks more handsome and put together than he was yesterday.
• Seeing him made the poor organ in my chest beat fast. It felt as if the organ is trying to escape from the confines of my chest, but isn't able to.
• I've not had this kind of feeling before. I've felt nothing but fear whenever I see someone new, but the same can't be said for the handsome boy.
• Seeing him alone makes me giddy.
• What could these strange alien feelings be?
• What's he doing here by the way?
• Why's he here?
• He glanced around the classroom until his eyes locked with mine. His blue ones widened in recognition.
• Yet, he didn't smile like he did yesterday. He pursed his lips as if he saw something detestable.
• "Can you introduce yourself to the class?" Miss Clari smiled brightly.
• "Hi. I'm Mate." He said, and from his stance, I can see he was not up for more words. He's said as much h wants to say.
• The moment he smiled at the class, the entire girls in the classroom erupted into excited murmurs.
• The once-silent classroom began to buzz as the girls giggled nonstop. Their entire focus is on him.
• The reactions he got from the girls made all the boys angry.
• And me?
• It made me think of strangling each one of the girls.
• "You can sit with Mr Klint, that's the only space we have in class. Hope you can manage?"
• My heart skipped more beats at her words. Not only am I going to have Mate as a classmate, but he's going to be my seatmate.
• The thoughts made me inwardly squeal.
• Chancing a look at me and the table close to me, he turned to the teacher.
• "Isn't there any other space for me to squeeze myself in?" He said in a very serious tone.
• His words made my face fall, and my heart sink. The words caused murmurs and Laughter.
• I guess I shouldn't be sad.
• I was the one who told him I don't consider him a friend. I seriously don't have a reason to think he'll come over here.
• Had I been the one I said those words to, I won't approach you for all of eternity. Not at all.
• "I'm sorry, Mr Dom. That's the only available chair in the entire class. Should you care to change by tomorrow, I'll see what I can do.
• Right now, you have no option other than that." She points to the desk.
• All this made me feel low. I can't believe I'm a person whom others sit close to only if they have no option at all.
• "Please Ma. I'll like to change seats tomorrow. I think I'll manage that one for today."
• With those words said, he approached my desk and sat without Making any talk.
• "Hi." I try to get his attention on me. This way, he'll know I exist.
• "I don't talk to those who're not my friends."
• These were the only words he spoke to me. After that, he paid no attention to me.
• Not even when I *accidentally* threw my pencil his way. He didn't pick it up from the floor, talk more of returning it to me.
• His entire focus was on the board, and not on me.