35 Talented Me! 05

Avina stared uneasily at the crowd watching their shifting gazes and covered mouth. Someone breaking the wall of people to get out. The moment she made her way out, she stepped towards Avina locking her eyes onto Avina's.

The talking around them quieten before it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone was watching the new drama happening in front of them highly intrigued and excited. Mischievous grins lined everyone's faces showing schadenfreude. They all seemed to enjoy the misery of another, especially Wilona's.

The girl in front of Avina had her hair in a short bob. Her face was small and doll-like, but her eyes were full of contempt and hatred. She had her hands on her waist looking down at Avina with her small height. Avina searched through the memories, but couldn't remember her. But then again, Wilona only paid attention to Adi.

"What did you do, beggar!" Finally, the girl was willing to speak, but only to ridicule Wilona. "A beggar should know their place! What right do you have to be mean to Adi!"

Wilona stared at the angry girl and lowered her head in panic. The gazes around her grew harsher as they pinned her to her place. She slowly felt her breathing becoming arduous. She clutched her hands close to her chest cowering away from the crowd. She felt like a trapped animal - cornered and afraid.

The girl continued to rain insults upon insults on Wilona not stopping for a single moment. Her words grew harsher with every second before she started to use her fingers to taunt Wilona. The crowd watching soon stopped talking but laughed. They laughed at every moment pointing at Wilona like it was funny. It was funny to them to see Wilona being bullied.

"You disgusting thief! Your family is full of beggars!" the girl screamed and giggled at her creativity. As she was about to continue, Wilona lifted her head fiercely staring at her before screaming out in defense.

"My family are not beggars!" Screaming at the top of her lungs, Wilona collapsed on the ground crying into her palms. Her back arched pitifully revealing the bones underneath. Her slender arms and legs appear thinner against the harsh world. Small sobs echoed throughout the hallways before laughter erupted. No pity to be found.

"Not beggars? Do you see yourself? A complete beggar! Thief!" the girl who was alarmed at the scream snapped out of her daze and insulted Wilona again. This time, she stopped every other moment to laugh mockingly at her. Sometimes she would walk around the crowd holding out her hands asking for "alms." A few students would amusingly hand her a few coins or some candy.

Avina who was sobbing in her arms was actually staring at the monitors. There, she saw Adi in a corner watching gleefully at Wilona's misery. Avina had a hunch it was Adi's plan, but this time she was certain. The snake would never let go of a moment to play with its prey.

Avina glanced around inconspicuously before locating Adi in the large crowd. The moment she saw her, Avina stepped up and rushed forward to Adi. She collapsed into Adi's arms and cried her heart out. Repeatedly, she cried Adi's name out.

The crowd, who followed Wilona's every move, soon shifted their focus to Adi. Adi flustered, threw Wilona out of her arms making her fall on the ground again.

Wilona, who tried to seek comfort from her only friend, was shocked with tears reaming her eyes. At the sight of Adi's disgust, it was evident Adi would not help her. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks pooling at her chin before dropping onto her uniform.

A few people in the crowd since earlier started to pity Wilona, but they didn't have the guts to break the ring of onlookers. At the sight of Wilona rushing to Adi, they breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone thought Adi was Wilona's friend. They didn't know who exactly spread rumors saying Wilona was a thief or beggar, but the moment they walked into school, those were the words they heard. Finding Wilona having support to lean on, some people were relieved.

However, at the sight of Wilona being thrown off and shocked with her eyes teary and dazed, they couldn't help but defend her. Some people stepped forward to help her up and others attempted to break the crowd. A few stood and defended Wilona, but got laughed at. The crowd who was laughing at Wilona only a few seconds ago were now laughing at the group of "white knights." The people blushed in shame and anger, but they soon focused on getting Wilona to a safe place.

Finding a secret corner near the staircase, everyone surrounded Wilona. A boy was going to the vending machine to buy a bottle, a girl was handing Wilona a tissue, another girl was patting her back, and the last boy was silently watching but his gaze was comforting. None of them knew one another, but they all stood together to help Wilona. This marked the beginnings of a group of friends - the beginnings of a friendship made to last.

"Don't cry, Wilona. I believe you aren't a beggar or thief, and neither is your family." a soft comforting voice repeatedly sounded as the girl wiped away Wilona's tears.

"Yeah, they were all being mean talking like that," the girl behind her patted her back. Her soft hands landed on Wilona's visible spine feeling each bump and groove. She pitied Wilona more the more she realized how thin and feeble she was.

Wilona continued to wipe her tears between broken some. Repeatedly, she would thank the group. Wilona struggled to catch her breath breathing in awkward gasps.

With the tissue in her hands, Avina patted the remaining tears before sniffling. She looked at the group of people in front of her, all of them worrying about her. At the sight of their warm eyes, Avina knew this was the group of friends she wanted Wilona to have.

"Sorry about that. Sorry to bother you all," Wilona's voice croaked. Her eyes were rubbed red, and even her nose had a tint of pink. She looked pitiful. The least she could do was properly introduce herself, "My name is Wilona. I'm a second year."

"I'm Daisy! A first-year," the girl who handed her the tissue said. Her bright smile bloomed like a daisy, just like her name. Daisy reminded her of Bea with her bright personality.

The girl who softly patted her stopped and walked to the front. "And I'm Gina." Avina could tell Gina, despite being a person of few words, like to show her affection through action, like with the back pats.

"Eli," the boy bluntly said. His face was expressionless and his aura cold. His arms were crossed on top of his chest and his back ramrod straight. He reminded her of George.

The boy who went to buy a drink came back with a bottle of warm tea, "Hi Wilona! Don't know if you remember me. We were in the same Economics class last year - Ben," He brightly smiled at the group before handing Avina the bottle. "Drink it, it helps the throat."

The group sat down together huddled in a small circle. One by one, they gave comforting words to Wilona. They all tried their best to cheer up Wilona making funny jokes or telling stories. Soon, the group grew a little closer and exchanged phone numbers.

Daisy, who was the most curious out of all of them, was the first to bring up the bullying. "Do you know why anyone would do that? Talk badly about you?"

Wilona lifted her head blankly looking at Daisy before lowering it. Her small voice sounded lost against the cold walls, "I don't know."

Daisy looked at the rest of them, but they all shook their heads. They didn't know what was going on either. They saw a huge crowd gathering around Wilona laughing. At first, they were uncomfortable, but they soon couldn't stand it anymore. When one of them realized the other stood up, soon all of them were standing side by side defending Wilona.

"Then who was that girl you hugged?" Daisy asked. She remembered Wilona hugging a girl, but was thrown off. At first, she thought Wilona hugged a stranger, but it appears the two knew each other.

Wilona, who had stopped her tears, soon had new ones pooling in her eyes. She grasped her hands together squeezing them, unwilling to let go. Everyone got quiet, and when Daisy was going to change the topic, Wilona answered.

"Used to. She used to be my friend, but I realized she never treated me as one," her sadness seeped from every word. "I shouldn't have hugged her at that time, but she was the only person I knew. She was the only friend I have."

Wilona pathetically laughed at her naivety. Her laughter mocked her own situation, and everyone just stared deep in thought.

"Then, I'll be your friend!" Daisy's cheery voice lightened the mood. Her bright smile and eyes brought a whole other light to the dark mood. "I won't treat you badly. Daisy's promise."

Daisy reached out her hand lifting her pinkie finger. Wilona looked at the outstretched pinkie and soon lifted hers up too. The two of them intertwined their fingers sealing their promise.

"Forever! We will be friends forever!" Daisy said hugging Wilona tightly in her embrace. Forever - a word used carelessly every day, but hopefully, be true today.