2 Prologue

Prologue

I gotta go, mom." I said in a hurry because I am almost late. She didn't say a word nor look at my direction because she is very busy reading some documents in her MacBook.

I didn't mind it and left my mother there working even if she didn't notice me. That is always the set up everytime I leave the house to go to school.

My mom is always busy with her work and sometimes she is not in our house.

On the other hand, my dad died when I was still fourteen. It was due to cardiac arrest. I know that mom couldn't move on from my dad's passing that is why she always focuses herself on her work.

I am now on the side of the corner waiting for our school bus to come by. Yes, school bus. Up until now I still wait for our school bus because mommy never drive nor pick me up from school.

She loves her work more than her own daughter. She loves it so much that she'd die if she loses her job.

The school bus came a few minutes after I was standing on the corner. I am now inside and I am already looking for a seat. All of the students inside the school bus are looking at me.

I am really not used to people staring at me that is why I hurriedly sat on one of the bus seats with no one sitting beside it.

I squeezed myself by the window and tried to calm myself.

I easily get overwhelmed whenever someone will stare or look at me.

We arrived at our school. I am a Grade 10 student. Still a Junior. I plan to take Medicine when I reach college.

I am very studious when it comes to school and some of my classmates hates me because of it.

Specifically, Elena.

"Hey Hailey! You're not the top one again right? You don't deserve that spot because I should be on the top one not just an ugly trash like you!" She said angrily.

Here we go again with her stinky attitude.

Elena Schivoks is the spoiled rich girl in La Dame University. She hates people that tops her.

"Next time I should be the one on top! Is that clear?"she said confidently.

I wanted to disagree so bad but my head did the opposite. My head ended up nodding to her bidding.

"Answer me!"she yelled.

"Y-yes, Elena."

"Good." she said before bumping my shoulders.

I thought that was the end of it but white flour started falling from my head. I heard everyone laughing.

Their laughters make me feel ashame and embarass. I didn't think twice and started to run away from their loud laughs.

Tears started falling from my cheeks as I ran away. I ran away with pain.

I don't even know where I am heading to so I just let my foot take me away. Far from those laughters.

I ended up sitting on a nearby park. I sat on one of the swings and let myself cry over all of my frustrations.

It is a chance because the park is very quiet. It is very peaceful...

"Fuck home, fuck school." I said as I try to calm myself.

I am so tired of everything that I feel so weak.

I stopped when someone offered me a handkerchief. I look up and saw a man smiling.

"You okay?" he asked.

I look at him. He looks happy. I envy him suddenly.

"Yeah," I said more of like a whisper.

"Here," he said and then handed me the handkerchief. I took it and then I wiped my face.

He sat on the other swing while looking at me.

I suddenly feel awkward.

"It looks like you're not okay" he said suddenly his eyes directed at me.

I didn't respond and continued to wipe the flour away.

Minutes came and I notice that the guy is still looking at me.

I face him and said, "Staring is rude Mr."

He laughed softly as we stare at each other.

"I was just wondering, why are your eyes lonely?" he asked.

This guy is so persistent besides he is happy. I wish I am happy too. I smiled painfully.

"It's nothing," I said but he did not seem to believe it. He stared at me for too long. His looks were strange as if any moment I would sink into the swing I was sitting on.

"Can you stop staring? It's making me uncomfortable,"

He smiled, "Oh sorry."

Then he looked in front but in less than a minute he looked at me again.

"You know what,"he said. "Why don't you change into some clean clothes first," he added.

"No need," I replied.

"Why?"

"I'll just go home instead. I am too embrassed to go back to school. Everyone in school will just talk about what happened earlier and will throw me their judgemental stares."

"You don't need to be embarassed. They should be embarass for what they did to you," he said while looking at the bench near the slide.

I sighed. "You should be in school now," he said.

He got away from the swing and handed me his hand.

"Come on, I'll help you."

I accepted his hand. "I am Steven by the way. You are?"

Okay, I didn't ask.

"You are so talkative," I said and he just laughed.

Why is he so happy? I'm jealous and irratated as well. Why is that? Life is so unfair, there is happiness and sadness. Why isn't everyone happy? That is much better so that no one suffers anymore.

"Hey, your name."he said. I turned to him frowning, "Hailey," I answered directly.

"How lovely your name is. It's just that you are a sad person," he said.

I gave him a glare.

Why is he feeling close. I don't even know him.

"Why do you care? As if you know me," I said a little annoyed. I am now irritated.

"Nothing. I just want to see you smile," he said.

I did not look at him, I did not talk to him either.

I looked at my phone. Trying to know what time is it. When I saw that it was nine o'clock in the morning, I hurriedly get up. I already missed two subjects.

That stranger was right. I shouldn't be embarassed.

I remembered my extra uniform in my locker. Good thing it is still there.

Before I left I stared at the adjacent swing and saw that Steven was no longer there. Looks like he already left. He didn't even say goodbye.

"Are you looking for me?" He asked behind me.

I almost died of nervousness, so I just rolled my eyes at him. He laughed again. Maybe he laughs for the rest of his life.

I hope everyone is that happy.

I directly left the park, leaving the stranger alone. He can take care of his life.

When I got to school, I immediately change my clothes and went to my third class.

Thank God the teacher isn't there yet but I know everyone is looking at me intently.

I didn't mind them and I just sat on my chair, waiting for the teacher to arrive.

In less than a minute, our teacher arrived.

"Good morning class," the teacher greeted.

"Good morning, Ms. Fernal."

"As of now, we will have an activity." she announced while she seriously stared at us.

"This is by pair and I already have the lists of pairs here in my envelope," she continued.

My classmates' names we're called one by one and I am just waiting for my name to be called.

"Ledezma, Mary Hailey and Velez, Maria Juana."

I looked at my partner and she looks trouble. She has a fair skin, and she has a lot of earrings on her ears. She has a straight black hair. I can say she's beautiful but very dangerous.

When she turned to me, I averted my eyes and just stared at our teacher announcing the names of every partner.

"De Asis, Jhudiel and Velesuela, Marielle. So that's it. Sit with your partners and discussed your activity together, but before that I will explain first what is this all about."

Ms. Fernal wrote the activity on the whiteboard and she let us sit with our partners.

I was constantly intimidated because my partner's eyebrows were fixed on me. I swallowed before speaking.

"U-uh ... Uhm so when are we going to do it?" I asked trembling. I can't look at her because I'm scared and I'm not used to having a partner.

She laughed without humor so I looked at her.

"We? I am not gonna do it but you! Who are you? Tsk. Look, you do the activities alone. I'll just pay you for the materials to be used. You do it alone because I am too busy for this. " she said.

She stood up and returned to her chair laughing. I look down on my desk and sighed.

I am really not good at making friends.

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;)