Darling of the Wild

Weird and Unusual

Chapter 2: Weird and Unusual

The always busy and noisy cafeteria filled with the students’ laughter, small talks and chattering turned dead silent. We didn’t just get the attention of the people on the nearby table but the whole place. They are all focused on us now. Some were shocked, some are thrilled and there are even people who find this scene funny.

Nobody tried to make a move or a sound as Aiden gritted his teeth while touching the back of his head where the lipstick hit. Well, nobody, except my brother, named Morgan.

“Nice shot, sis!” he congratulated me and then excitedly tapped my shoulders. He looks so happy while I am extremely nervous and concern. Morgan is sometime insensitive and dumb.

I put down my hands that is covering my mouth in shock and tried to walk near Aiden, “I’m s-sorry. Are you okay?” I apologized in a very soft and scared voice.

The vice president of student council just gave me a stare with his gorgeous green orbs that can take your breath away. He was dead serious as he meet my eyes with apologetic look.

I felt a hand that is gently pulling my shoulders back, “It was an accident, Maia. You don’t need to say sorry” I glanced at my brother who seems like he had a staring contest with Aiden first before adding, “I hope there’s no hard feelings, bro” he sarcastically said the word ‘bro’.

“My sister apologized already. You can go now.” Lewis added in a tired tone like he’s tired of seeing Aiden.

I am extremely troubled of how my brothers are acting so strange and weird. They are so rude. It’s me who hurt somebody not the other way around. Why are they acting like this?

Aiden seems unbothered how my brothers treated him, he silently picked up the lipstick from the floor then he handed it to me, “Next time, don’t throw things” he told me in a monotone voice.

Before I even get the lipstick from his hand, Lewis grabbed it then stood in front of me. I came face to face with his large back.

“Thanks for the reminder but she doesn’t need it” I heard my brother dismissively said. No one talked after it. Everyone is still silent because of the tension.

I peeked over the arm of my brother to see what’s happening, but I just saw the back of Aiden walking away. Then after that, every student in the cafeteria started talking and the noise came back. It all went back to normal since the tension is gone.

“Okay! That was quite a good scene” Morgan commented then he took a seat like he doesn’t really care. He started checking the foods Lewis brought.

My twin brothers took a seat as well while I stood silent watching them.

Philomena glanced at me and asked, “Why aren’t you sitting down, Maia?”

My brothers turned their heads towards me, looking curious on why I am still standing.

“What was that?” I started to ask.

“Huh?” Marcus answered, not really focused, then he put down the utensils on the food that is for me.

“Why are you so rude?” I now took a seat then I stared at Marcus and Lewis.

“Rude on whom?” Lewis asked me back looking real confused on what I meant. He took a bite on his burger while waiting for me to answer.

“Why are treating Aiden like that? Did you had a fight with him?” I uttered, concerned and curious. Marcus and Lewis stayed silent and turned serious. This time I finally got their full attention. “That wasn’t right. I am at fault. Not him. Apologizing is the right thing to do but you treated him like he’s the bad guy” I added. My brothers didn’t answer, so I just sip from my juice.

“We just don’t like him” Marcus said after a long time.

“You like him or not, we should say sorry when we are at fault. That’s what you guys taught me” I told him.

Lewis sighed, “Yeah. You’re right. We will not do it again.” Then he patted my head “Sorry, if we acted like that.”

I glanced at Marcus waiting for him to admit he was wrong. In the end, he sighed too, “Okay! Okay! It’s my bad too. Happy?”

I smiled at them, “Yes!”

They both rolled their eyes at me before smiling back.

“Can we eat now?” Marcus asked looking so hungry.

I gave him a nod.

“I have a question” Morgan, who is silent all this time, spoke suddenly.

“What?” Lewis boringly asked.

Morgan was looking so seriously at his fries and burgers, “If we cut the bread like fries then deep fry it then covers it with cheese powder, what do we call it? Bread fries? Or bries?”

“What?” I blurted out confused on what does he mean by that looking dead serious.

Philomena and Chantal broke into laughter. “Why do you need to think about that?” Chantal commented chuckling.

Marcus patted Morgan’s back, looking disappointed and then he started eating. Lewis just told me to ignore it since our brother is just having an attack.

We started eating while talking about random things.

Marcus, Lewis, and Morgan needed to leave first because they have a class, while Philomena, Chantal and I had another 15 minutes before our next class. We cleaned our table after eating then we made our way out.

Me and my friends chose to sit on one of the benches in front of the senior high school department building. It was under in the shade of a big tree which makes it a really great spot to sit on while we wait for our class to start.

“Am I being too dramatic, or Marcus and Lewis are really acting rude towards Aiden?” I asked them while looking at the students walking in the distance.

I saw Chantal stared at me from my peripheral vision, “Well, your brothers aren’t really nice to other people, especially guys” she answered with her usual bored and monotone voice. I glanced at her who’s now focused on her iPad.

“Yeah. You have a point. But I really think there’s something” I said while thinking.

“Hmmm” I looked at Philomena who’s pouting and obviously showing that she’s trying to think. She’s even looking above, and her index finger is on her chin. If there’s a girl version of Morgan in terms of being over acting and being extra, it will be Philomena. It’s just that my best friend is a little tamed.

“What do you think, Philomena?” I asked for her opinion.

“I think you’re just being dramatic” then she shrugged her shoulders and picked out her phone, completely ignoring me. I push out my lips to show that I am annoyed at her answer. I thought she will tell me something or her opinion that might help me to clear my mind. I’ve become hopeful for something.

Now, both of my best friends are busy. Philomena is busy on her phone, scrolling on i********: while Chantal is writing some notes on her iPad, wearing AirPods which shows that she’s doesn’t want to be disturbed. These actions of them clearly shows their personality. Philomena is the outgoing and the extroverted one while Chantal is really introverted. I am in the middle of them. Despite of our differences, we get along really well.

I don’t want to get myself busy with social media or opening any gadgets, I’m having fun watching students and observing the diversity in the campus. Some of my schoolmates are walking in a fast pace holding their iPads, there are also students that are checking how they look really often while walking, some look stressed, some look laid-back and some are just laughing with their friends. There are also schoolfellows who walked in groups, by twos or just by their selves. But it is really hard to judge on how they look. To judge who’s studious, bully, or who doesn’t take their studies seriously.

We can be deceived by what we see. Students who seemed relaxed and calm might be experiencing breakdowns every night, that guy who’s walking by himself seems pitiful for other people but he might be enjoying his alone time, or girl who seemed confident has a lot of insecurities. People doesn’t really show what they feel. They oftentimes keep it to their selves.

There is a group of students standing few meters away from where we are sitting that are having a good time while one is playing guitar and the others are singing. Their laughs are good to hear same with their voices. Their smiles are contagious which made my lips curve upward. It’s makes my heart at peace and light when I see people having fun and smiling.

I spent my free time observing people which is a good idea since it really calmed my mind. Actually, I didn’t notice the time. If it wasn’t for Chantal’s alarm ringing and reminding us that it was time for our next class I will not know.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to be late” Chantal stood up carrying her things, staring, and waiting for us to do the same. I did the same, however Philomena motioned us to wait.

“Just a moment. I just need to put some lip tint” she told us and opened her back.

“Your lips still look fine” I commented because my other friend, Chantal, already crossed her arms and turned her back on us. She started walking, leaving us behind. She doesn’t really like this attitude kind of scenarios. She described this as ‘a waste of time’.

Philomena saw what Chantal did and just rolled her eyes before standing up looking irritated, “Can’t she wait for another minute?”

“You can just retouch your lip tint in our class” I suggested because this is a potential argument between them later.

“Ugh! What if people look at me? I mean, they will surely look at me because I am Philomena Cabrera. But this will be embarrassing. I look pale” she started complaining looking really annoyed with her arms crossed while we’re following Chantal.

I wanted to think it was really petty, but I am not on her shoes. Listening on her complaints and rants, a realization hit me. People have different problems and issues. People out there are having a hard time looking for food while my friends here is being annoyed on not being able to retouch her makeup. However, I am in no place to judge.

I sighed and gave her a small smile, “You still look beautiful” I softly told her.

She didn’t answered and stopped with her complaints but it was really obvious that she’s still annoyed since she still have her arms crossed and forehead creased. I just gave her a little tap on her shoulder before looking in front.

When we reached our classroom, before entering, I noticed a group of boys standing in front of the door. They are quite tall and almost at the same height with my brothers. Their body-built shows that they go to gym often because despite of the jacket they are wearing, they look buff. I looked at them curiously and oddly since they are watching me. I mean, they are staring at me as I walk. All of them. Some are even grinning.

I avoided their eyes because I started feeling nervous and scared.