Why'd You Lie, Sofia

Chapter 1

Sofia’s POV

“Eat something before you go, honey.”

Today is just a typical Wednesday morning where my mom reminds me, for the fifth time in the last 10 minutes, to eat my breakfast while she sits on her favorite rocking chair, knitting some clothes for Buffer, our 3-year-old cat.

“I can’t, I’m running late!” I needed to shout at the top of my lungs for her to hear my reply. I’m still upstairs, in my room, frantically going back and forth because I can’t find the pair of my orange sock. I knew I should’ve gone with purple in the first place.

I ended up wearing unmatched socks—one is orange, the other, purple, because I couldn’t waste any more time and I’m really going to be late for Algebra class. I can already hear Mrs. Corbet’s signature line whenever someone is late for her class—'Door’s closed, sucker!' That petite old lady in her mid-50’s has her ways of pissing everyone off.

I rushed downstairs to kiss mom goodbye. “Don’t forget to take your medicines on time, mom.” It was my turn to remind her of something and then I stormed my way out of the house, knocking myself on the front door which earned a chuckle from my mom that I laughed at it as well. Moving on, I went to get on my bike, completely ignoring the fact that I wore my helmet the wrong way and the strap of my backpack is on the edge of slipping from my shoulder because I didn’t have the luxury of time to fix it properly and I am pointing all the blame at my alarm clock. That little thing only had one thing to do and it would fail to do it every single time. How hard could it be to wake me up every morning?

I was already catching my breath, striving to pedal as fast as I can, when I got out of El Calley, a subdivision not far from the very center of the small town of Hayadi, where my school is located. That is probably something I live to thank God for, considering I always wake up late—or maybe it’s the sole reason why I always wake up late. But who cares anyway? Either way, I’d still be late, ironically.

The route I usually take follows the sequence of passing by the riverbank bridge not long after going out of El Calley. It was the town’s remarkable project and has actually garnered a lot of praise and is believed to have the potential of someday being regulated to become a tourist attraction. And I can agree to that. After all, Hayadi is just a small, peaceful town. We are a bit far from the city but I consider it a good circumstance because it keeps us away from pollution and other human chaos like crimes and stuffs.

Racing against cars and other bicycles, I abruptly stopped midway when I saw a familiar figure walking on the same side of the bridge, just a little more advanced than me. What is she doing walking alone to school? I thought to myself as a passing car honk snapped me back to my senses and I began pedalling slowly, making sure to keep a few distance from her.

Violet Kinsky. Or shall I say, The Violet Kinsky.

I don’t really know much about her except that she’s the only daughter of Attorney Diesel Kinsky, a well-known figure in the field of politics and is a woman of class and dignity. Their family is widely known to be one of the prominent and respected families in town and Violet is pretty popular herself for being the VIP of the school’s gymnast team. Aside from that, she’s also a goddess of beauty and every other girl is just jealous of her. She’s cool, though. Really cool.

Violet was already near the other side of the bridge when a black car pulled over alongside her. She stopped to gaze at the car. I stopped as well. And then the car door opened and Clyde Garsen hopped off. Tension instantly took place between them.

I guess they are having another episode of their lover’s quarrel. I’m not even surprised about it. Everyone knows how their relationship has been going on and off and I honestly feel bad for Violet. She became the topic for most of the rumors after getting into a relationship with Clyde, the campus jock who is alleged to have been cheating on Violet all throughout their relationship. Girls who hate Violet took advantage of the situation to make a public laugh out of her.

I heaved a sigh as I watched them argue. Clyde seemed to be trying to convince Violet to get in his car but Violet kept pushing him away. I couldn’t get much of a context to what was happening because I was too distant to hear or grasp anything of that sort. They went on with their scene until Violet screeched, “Screw you!”. And then she ran off. Clyde let out a curse before kicking his car in frustration and drove away as well. I should’ve grabbed some popcorn before it was over.

I let out another sigh and pedalled towards where they stood arguing and noticed the crumpled paper Violet dropped earlier when she was pushing Clyde away. That douche bag really has his ways of proving just how piece of a crap he is.

Out of my head, I ended up following Violet, who, instead of getting to school, took a left turn down the road that leads to a narrow street and from there, I saw her hide on one corner and sat on the ground with her back against an old, dirty wall of a two storey building. And then she cried.

Violet cried.

I didn’t know she could cry. Violet has always been this tough girl who is capable of defending herself. She’s always confident and composed and she seems to handle everything so well, including the rumors and criticisms about her. I’ve never seen her this vulnerable.

**

“Door’s closed, sucker!”

“Please let me explain—”

And so the door of my Algebra class swung closed in front of my face. s**t! Mrs. Corbet didn’t even bother hearing what I got to say. I just wish she won’t give any sort of tests today because I’d be definitely screwed if ever.

I leaned my back against the door as I let out a long sigh of frustration and surrender, probably an even combination of both. Maybe I should just spend the next 2 hours at the library, which I always do, anyway.

Cursing Mrs. Corbet at the back of my mind one last time, I lazily took a step to head to the library when I suddenly remembered Violet, and that we both go to the same class. I sneaked a peek on the window just beside the closed door and saw Violet’s chair was empty. Maybe she didn’t make it in time too.

Or maybe she went somewhere else after that douche bag showed up. My thoughts replied and I had to shush her down or else Clyde will end up either getting run over, back and forth, by a truck, or he dies in a massive explosion somewhere in the figment of my consciousness. It’s not that I hate him that much.

I went on my way to the library which was unfortunately closed. A written note on the door said the librarian is on maternity leave for a tentative number of days. Well, guess who’s running out of luck today. I had to walk the stairs all the way up the fourth floor only to find out the library is closed and now I have to walk back down. What a total waste of time, energy, and hope. I am pissed. I was so looking forward to reading William Shakespeare’s Hamlet which I started reading just a week ago after I finished his Twelfth Night.

In the middle of lazily walking down the stairs, my phone rang and I was able to catch the call. It was Teffy, the only person in class who was generous enough to actually befriend me. We don’t hang out as often but we do check on each other sometimes. Teffy is a great person, I can tell.

“Hey,” I greeted.

“Mrs. Corbet is such a bummer. Are you okay there?” She was whispering on the other line that I couldn’t help but giggle a bit.

“I’m fine. It was actually my fault. Mrs. Corbet is totally valid.”

I heard her sigh. “Don’t worry, I’ll lend you my notes later.”

“You’re really kind, thank you!”

“I know just how much you are stressing over your scholarship and it’s the least I could do to help. I got your back.”

I became friends with Teffy back in fifth grade when her mom forgot to pack her lunch and it so happened that she lost her money that same day. I remember being so hesitant to approach and offer her a share of my lunch thinking she’d hate me just like the other kids. Thankfully, I did, and now we’re good friends.

Teffy eventually had to hang up to catch up with the class and I was left not knowing where to go. The library is basically my go-to place because anywhere outside the library poses high chances of getting unwanted attention. For example, bullies.

“Oh my gosh!” Someone cried dramatically out of the blue and the next thing I knew, my uniform was dripping wet.

Speak of the devil.

A senior just spilled orange juice all over me and the girls behind her started laughing, entertained by what had just happened. Before things got worse, I ran my escape and went to the comfort room to hopefully clean myself up with some running water.

I can’t really remember how this bully thing came to a point where almost everyone became comfortable with bullying me. I’m supposed to be living life peacefully. I’m nothing special, just the quiet kid in class who is all geeky, as they call me, and I’m literally just minding my own business.

While wiping my uniform with water and constantly praying the stain will fade, a group of girls came in, chattering and laughing loudly as if they owned the school to not mind violating other’s personal space.

“I can’t wait to see Violet’s reaction about this,” one of the girls exclaimed and I couldn’t help but have my gaze following them after hearing her name. “I heard there were photos this time. Clyde cheated on her with Chelsey, her very own BFF.”

They all laughed and started stating their own remarks about Violet and something about it is making me furious, especially having to remember how Violet cried herself earlier.

I can never understand why people always have something to say about you. Criticisms. Judgements. As if you were born in this world to please their standards. You look like that, they judge you. You do that, they still judge you. How could they think so highly of themselves as to have the guts to degrade others?

“Serves her right. Violet’s nothing but a b***h thirsty for attention. Why does everyone like her, anyway?”

“That’s not true!" I blurted out, the words slipped right out of my mouth and it instantly caught the girls’ attention. My eyes widened, my mind quickly escalating to complete chaos. I shouldn’t have said that!

The girls exchanged looks and laughed at me, mockingly. I held on tight to my uniform, almost running out of breath. My panic and anxiety attack is kicking right in.

“A laughing stock defending another laughing stock.” One of them started walking towards me and grabbed me by the collar. She seemed to be the leader of the pack. She was blonde, her eyes a shade of blue. She was a bit taller than me but I bet it was only because of her high heels. And if I’m not mistaken, she’s on the same gymnast team as Violet.

“For an ugly geek like you to stand up to a beautiful swan like me, is quite a blunder, don’t you think?” She added, raising an eyebrow. “But since we’re here, I’ll spare you a bit of my precious time.”

I guess people will be people. In some cases, they don’t just judge you. They take advantage of you. Of your weakness. Of your inferiority. And the worse part is knowing you can’t stand up for yourself because, well, you’re weak...and inferior to them.

“In case you haven’t noticed, Violet is one dumb girl who can’t do math, and she’s so dumb her boyfriend keeps cheating on her over and over again,” she added. And right after she said that, the door from one of the cubicles swung open.

“Violet,” I muffled under my breath.

The next five seconds were still, but Violet and the blonde girl exchanged intense eye contact before Violet stormed her way out of the comfort room without saying a word.

I blinked. Even the friends of the blonde girl seemed to have been amused that Violet had nothing to say. She would always have the last word. Violet’s always the one to leave with a victorious grin on her face but what happened was the total opposite of it.

The blonde girl shifted her gaze at me and I didn’t know I was holding my breath for that long until she let go of my collar and I nearly collapsed on the floor. “Tell your friend I meant every word I said.” She grins and I just had to run my way out away from them.

But I couldn’t help but worry more about Violet.