Talented Me! 25

Avina woke up at the crack of dawn. She dazedly stared into the air, muddled. A sweet aroma floated through her room, and she stood up sniffing and following it like a small dog. Slowly, it led her directly to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, mom's gentle hum accompanied the skillet sizzling. Her gentle figure swaying in the lowly dimmed room looked tender. She stared at her small pan with love and affection pouring out her soul in her food all for the recipient.

Mom heard small footsteps heading her way and looked back. She saw her darling daughter with her messy hair sleepily staring back at her. "Good morning," Mom grinned.

"Morning," Avina yawned. She scratched her hair before walking into the bathroom. When she was done cleaning herself and went back, breakfast was already prepared.

On the table were 4 stacks of pancakes, each with a different flavor. Avina walked around the table admiring the neat array of perfectly formed pancakes. She never knew mom was such a good cook! Well, all her meals were good but wow!

Strawberry, blueberry, chocolate, and banana - each pancake greeted her with their lovely aroma. Avina, looking through the memories, sat down at the banana stack (Wilona's favorite). She reached to grab her fork but a smack on her hands stopped her midway.

She looked up to see mom's scolding face. "Wait for your family!"

Avina scrunched her nose before intently staring at the meal in front of her. Luckily, it didn't take long until everyone was ready to eat. A simple blessing before the meal and they all began to eat.

Each of them had a dedicated stack with different flavors. Various toppings lined the middle of the table in an orderly manner. Hands carelessly collided in the air reaching out to grab something while small clinks of forks against plate sounded. Just like last night, no one talked and the only noises were their tableware and their chewing.

After eating, they organized a mini assembly line to wash the dishes. A satisfied smile showed on everyone's face content with their meal and teamwork. One by one, they went back to their rooms only coming out again fully dressed to work.

As Avina dressed herself up and packed her bags, the family bid goodbye to each other while stepping outside the door.

"Bye-bye Mom, Dad, and Wilona! I love you!" the first voice said.

"Bye-bye honey and Wilona! I love you!" the second voice said. And so on until it was only Wilona left.

Avina walked out stumbling against the walls while pulling up her socks. Supporting herself on the wall, she pulled it in one breath and scurried to the doorway. Passing the table, a shiny glimmer attracted her, and there it was, her allowance and a small note.

Avina placed the notes and coins in her bag before reading the letter. It said, "Bring your friends over tonight!"

Avina smiled and neatly folded the note. She placed on her shoes and began walking to school. The rising sun greeted her along with the fresh morning air. Soon, she arrived.

Avina was always preoccupied with her performance on the show that she ignored the fact that rumors were still running rampant. The beautiful morning that should have remained beautiful quickly became downcasted as she was surrounded once more by whispers of scrutiny.

It was similar to the first day she experienced this, but this time, she didn't feel as suffocated as before - still uncomfortable, but tolerable. The stares were the same, the voices were identical, nothing changed much.

Walking in the hallways, Avina tried her best to avoid the stares cast her way. Spotting Gina, Avina ran over. The closer she got, the clearer she saw what Gina was looking at.

Shadowing over them was the bulletin board. Usually, it was dense with club flyers and important announcements, but today, a new addition was there.

Avina slowed down until she was just walking pace. She reached Gina's side and tapped her shoulders, "What's up?"

Gina whipped her head back and once she saw Wilona, her face immediately grew anxious. She moved to directly stand in front of her blocking Wilona's sight of the board.

"Morning, Wilona! How was your morning? My morning's been great," Gina rambled on before running out of words and skittishly laughing.

Wilona blinked before a wry smile appeared on her lips, "What's wrong? Does it have something to do with me?"

Gina's faked smile worsened before she simply lowered her head. Unable to tell Wilona, she moved to the side allowing her to see for herself.

Avina pushed her way forward and immediately noticed several pictures on the board. Drawn on the picture were derogatory phrases and crude drawings. She scanned each one of them finally arriving at the third one. On it was her standing in the room with Mr. Tet with the words, "Sleeping for money."

Wilona looked at the pictures shocked, unable to process what was happening right in front of her. This wasn't the first time she was publicly humiliated, but this time it was different. Each of their actions was only harsher than the last, and she could never prepare herself for the next one.

Gina peered from behind her carefully assessing her expression. "Are you okay, Wilona?"

"No," Wilona whispered. Gina couldn't hear so she stepped closer. "No, how could I be ok? They always target me. Every single minute I am here, that is another minute I am constantly tortured."

The rims of her eyes started to show hazy tears, but her voice remained indifferent. "What do I do, Gina? I don't know what I can give them to make them stop."

"Let's tell the teachers!" Gina grabbed Wilona's hands firmly before pulling her running to the office. Students gathering around were pushed away as the two figures fled.

Avina was shocked at first but slowly gained composure. The show had yet to air and this would only worsen her image. She had to bring an end to it today before it got out of control.

'5025, check the monitors, not my monitors, but the school's,' Avina said. 'See if any of them show who placed the pictures.'

5025 quickly got to work hacking the system and successfully pulling up the videotapes.

'Here it is! But they hid their faces well,' 5025 sighed.

'Then check Adi's monitor. See if she went to school last night,' Avina quickly asked. They were close to the office, and she needed to know who the culprits were.

5025 scored the whole history of Adi's monitor but only came upon one suspicious part. In it, Adi was texting on the phone with a wicked smile. Her figure was hunched over the phone shaking at every text, a face full of excitement for whatever she was planning. 5025 magnified her phone until it could see who she was texting. It was the same girl who bullied Wilona all 3 times, and now was being ordered for the fourth.

'Did she delete the messages?' Avina had to make sure. It was this part that was important; she already knew Adi did it, but there had to be evidence.

5025 wound the video over and over again and found the exact moment Adi deleted it. 5025 could only frustratedly tell Avina, "Yes."

'Then, do you have a way to regain those messages?' Avina asked. 5025 seemed competent enough to do that, right?

'We'd have to use another special scroll,' 5025 replied. 'I can't do it all by myself.'

Avina sighed and could only try one last time, 'Then how about the person Adi was texting? Did she delete her messages too?'

"We're here!" Gina gasped for breath. "Go tell them, Wilona! I'll be a witness or whatever!"

Avina snapped out of her conversation with 5025 and looked at her surroundings. Rows of neatly lined cubicles were filled with teachers tirelessly working. At the sight of 2 students walking in, they turned their heads towards them. A nearby teacher stood up and walked over.

"How may I help you?" he asked.

"My friend here has been bullied for a long time! It's only today she dared to tell the teachers about it! Please help her," Gina shouted. She pulled Wilona over showing the teacher.

Avina's eyes went round unsure of what to do. She had to make sure there was actual evidence to bring Adi down and stop her actions. For the time being, she'd activate her special stalling skills.

"You see," Avina started. "There's these pictures at the bulletin board insulting me."

"That's it? Then just take it down," he said irritated. A simple thing like a picture was nothing.

"Wait! It's not just pictures!" Gina pulled the teacher back. "Wilona, tell them everything."

Avina looked at the uncaring teacher and inwardly insulted him. Doesn't he care a single bit about his students!?

"And, I once was publically bullied in the hallways," Avina said. The school had to know about that one at least; they had called her family after all.

"We're taking care of that now," the teacher replied. "You can just take down the pictures."

"Aren't you going to find out who did it?" Gina couldn't help but ask. It was bullying after all! Why is there no action!?

The teacher looked back at them. "Is there a need to do so?"