UNEXPECTED

Like the previous days, the bell had rung five minutes ago and several classes were empty. There were only a few classes left that still had a few students in them, like the one Beatrice was currently in.

Beatrice stood by the door of the classroom then slightly tiptoed into the classroom through the window and her eyes met with Alyssa, her best friend who was in that class.

Alyssa, who saw Beatrice, immediately ended her conversation with her friends and then walked over to Beatrice who was outside her classroom.

Seeing that, Beatrice walked to the front door of the classroom.

"Oh, hey Beatrice!" said Alyssa's friends who were in the class when they saw Beatrice.

Beatrice smiled at the greeting and returned it, as she had said earlier, her school life had completely changed. Now, any student who saw her would always greet her as they had just a few seconds ago.

Alyssa now standing in front of Beatrice. "Are you waiting for me?" asked Alyssa.

Beatrice nodded her head. "Yes, I'm waiting for you. We'll go home together right?" said Beatrice with a smile.

She came here, to Alyssa's class because she wanted to go home together. Because that's how it is every day, they will go home together because their house is not too far away, so Beatrice coming to Alyssa's class like this is nothing new to Alyssa's classmates.

Alyssa scratched behind her ear. "Beatrice, I'm sorry. But it seems today I can't go home with you," said Alyssa.

"But, why?" asked Beatrice. She asked because it was unusual for Alyssa not to be able to go home with her.

"I have to do a group assignment today. Even though I want to go home with you," replied Alyssa sullenly. It was because she wanted to go home with her best friend.

Beatrice chuckled at Alyssa's reply. "Okay then, that's fine. Maybe next time we can go home together. Just let me know if you need anything," said Beatrice.

Alyssa nodded. "Yeah, don't worry I'll contact you."

Beatrice nodded, greeted Alyssa's friends then walked away from there by turning around and waving her hand which was replied by Alyssa.

...

Beatrice walked out of the school gate, she walked on the pavement with both hands gripping the straps of her backpack tightly. Beatrice looked around her which looked quite deserted.

She likes walking in the afternoon like this especially when she comes home from school, that's because she can see the color of the sky which is so beautiful and calming.

Beatrice remembered when she used to always walk home on this sidewalk crying and only this golden yellow sky was the silent witness of all her sadness. But now, there are no more tears accompanying her when she walks on the sidewalk.

It was because, for the umpteenth time, everything had completely changed.

Then you ask, does she regret her change?

No, not at all.

She didn't regret her change at all but rather she felt happy about the change.

Although he had to admit, every time she looked in the mirror it was as if she saw someone else in the mirror and assumed that it wasn't her. It was because she wasn't used to her changed appearance yet.

No more glasses perched on her nose. There was no more of her hair that she always tied up, and...

No more ugly face.

Beatrice was happy... so happy about it all.

Then why should she regret her change?

Why did she have to miss the old Beatrice when the new Beatrice was already there?

The Pretty Beatrice.

And Beatrice will do anything to erase her past and her old self. Because she didn't want to remember how bad she used to be.

Beatrice continued walking on the sidewalk, passing several houses around her school. Because her school was quite close to people's houses, even Beatrice was sure that some of the house's owners knew her because she always took the same road.

But she was also less sure, moreover, her appearance had changed. Maybe those people don't know her anymore.

Beatrice saw a bus stop not far ahead, which was her current destination. He'll be there in a bit, before...

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

Beatrice flinched at the sound of a horn coming from behind her. Just as Beatrice was about to turn around, a black car was right beside her.

Beatrice stared at the black car in surprise as it came to a sudden stop. But not long after, the car window slowly opened to reveal the owner of the car.

Beatrice tilted her head slightly. "Oh! Jeff!" exclaimed Beatrice with widened eyes.

Jeff got out of his car and stood right in front of Beatrice who was frozen, that's because Beatrice was very surprised to see Jeff's sudden presence. She had no idea that Jeff owned those black cars.

"Why are you here?" stammered Beatrice.

Jeff smiled handsomely. "Me? Hmmm... because I followed you?" said Jeff.

Beatrice pointed at herself. "Following me?"

Jeff nodded. "Yes, I've been following you from behind but you didn't realize it. So I honked my car horn," said Jeff.

Yeah, it was Jeff who had honked his car horn three times. It was because Beatrice did not turn around and noticed his presence.

Beatrice immediately felt embarrassed at her stupidity not noticing Jeff's presence. "A-ah... I'm sorry. I was thinking about something."

Jeff raised his right eyebrow. "What are you thinking about?" asked Jeff.

Beatrice's mind suddenly went blank because of Jeff's question, she didn't know what answer she should give Jeff.

"Uhhh... uhh..." Beatrice scratched the back of her head which didn't itch at all.

Jeff suddenly leaned forward slightly, causing Beatrice to reflexively back her head away. "Is it possible... you're thinking about me?"

DEG

At that moment Beatrice's heart was beating fast, especially Jeff's handsome face which was only a few centimeters away from her. She could see Jeff's eyes staring at her with a smile on Jeff's face.

Beatrice swallowed hard. "I-I..." stuttered Beatrice.

Jeff slowly laughed and turned his face away from Beatrice. "Hahaha I'm just kidding," said Jeff.

Beatrice was getting more and more embarrassed and it was all because of Jeff, but she also didn't mind that at all. Because she had to admit, she felt good about Jeff teasing her.

Jeff opened his car door, then looked back at Beatrice who was still standing on the sidewalk. "Come in..."

Beatrice was stunned. "Huh? Me?"

Jeff chuckled. "Yes, you. Who else?"

"But I want to go home," said Beatrice.

"And because of that, I'm going to take you home. So come on in," said Jeff inviting Beatrice to get into his car.

You heard yourself right? If Jeff wanted to take Beatrice home and that's his reason for following Beatrice a few minutes ago.

Beatrice smiled and nodded. "Okay, I accept your offer," said Beatrice, which made Jeff smile for the umpteenth time.

"Thank you so much, ma'am," joked Jeff.

Beatrice immediately got into the black car, Jeff also got into his car with Beatrice sitting beside him, and with that Jeff started his car and left with Beatrice.