Epitome of a Hero

How different it was

“Tricia!!!”

Fei called before I entered the room so I immediately went to them while waving my hand.

“Did you sign up the forms you need for the club?” she asked and I just stood there, petrified. s**t, I forgot about the form!

“I… forgot about it…” I mumbled and both of the girls laughed at me, and I think it’s because of my reaction. I put my bag on the desk and headed straight to the locker to get the form. Before I got to the lockers, I saw a young girl leave the guidance office and she was in rush.

Chill went down to my spine once again, and I felt very familiar with this feeling--- this is what she felt the first time I got to the office… I shook my head to focus but when I passed the girl who just went out of the office, I immediately noticed how different she looked. Her blouse was kind of loose and it looked like it wasn’t fixed properly. She looked kind of red and all pale at the rest of her skin on her neck.

What is wrong with her…?

I stopped my feet and watched her walk continuously. She’s got a long brown hair cascading to her back and as she walked, she was kind of---swaying…?

Do you know who that is Triz?

Damn it. I can’t really get into her mind whenever I needed to. I went to the locker, forgetting about what all it was about and grabbed the papers.

“Hey Trish!” Adrian called as he caught up to me after I grabbed the papers, with a huge grin on his face.

“What is up?” I smiled back and he pulled out something from his bag.

“Look!”

He held a pink beanie and showed it to me. It was pink and beige, with cat ears! I actually don’t know why, I felt delighted, with those cat ears.

“Is this mine!?” I squeaked, and he laughed at me.

“Yes, it’s yours!”

I stretched and played with the cat ears on my head before wearing it. It was cute. I smiled at myself and remembered that I have to pay.

“How much is it?” I asked and all he did was looked at me before shaking his head.

“It’s a gift,” he smiled and I frowned at him. I can’t just accept that, we made a deal.

“Business is business! Now, give me the price,” I exclaimed and he just said no again so I stopped walking. “We made a deal in this. I can’t let your effort and materials you used go unpaid. If you want to give me a gift, then do it when it’s my birthday,” I added as I stared at him.

Adrian looked surprised and reluctant at first but I just stayed quiet, taking no for an answer. In the end, he just sighed and scratched his head. “5 dollars then…”

Dollars, I forgot about the bills here. It is funny how we paid in paper now, before it was all silver plated coins. That’s not enough for the business, he should earn more.

“How about ten?” I said and he laid a gentle slice on my head with the side of his hand.

“Oh darn it, just give me five. Take it as a first customer.”

Both of us laughed together and I just gave him five dollars immediately just so I wouldn’t forget. When I entered the room, the other girls looked at me and all of them looked interested. Well, it was cute.

“Where did you buy those???”

“Did you make that?”

A bunch of question surprised me making me smirk the hell out of my brain as soon as I looked at Adrian. I pointed at him and he looked so embarrassed.

“I bought it from him. He makes these adorable customized beanies.”

The girls all went to him including Ashley’s group. To be honest, they have been pretty quiet recently and I actually forgot that they bullied her too. What can I do to make sure that they’ll never do it again?

Fei and Sheene didn’t go to Adrian though, they just waved at me and so I went to them. “Don’t you girls want the beanies?”

Sheene huffed and her eyes sparkled as she answered.

“We already ordered ours!” She laughed. “We discovered that he knew how to do crochet and so we told him that we’ll have to order too!”

That explains it.

We had a little chitchat before I went back to the desk to fill up the form but stopped eventually when the teacher began to enter the room. Ms. Lily discussed about the incoming program for our schools and then she said that our room will need representatives for the upcoming student council election.

I only heard that one but didn’t pay any mind since I don’t know what that was about. When the teachers left, they were all mumbling and whispering but I just left the room to pass the fulfilled form back to the taekwondo club.

“I need to get this bones working,” I mumbled at myself as I strolled the corridors for the room. Where was that room again? My walks reminded me of Kyle when he escorted me to the club. He’s a kind kid like you.

I reached the club and knocked at the door thrice since I can hear chatters form the inside. It was only a split second when my eyes widened at the sight of boys who were all in the room where I am supposed to go.

Are all taekwondo members… boys?

A panic started to rise on my throat but it wasn’t from me, it was from the body. And this time it wasn’t her memory that sets in on her mind. It was mine.

I remembered how I was shamed and talked to about when I joined as a swordswoman. The old times weren’t too fond of women getting on their line of specialties. They mocked me…

“What is she even doing here?”

“A woman, as a swordsman? Such bullshit. She might not even know how to handle the sword!”

Despite of all the odds… I proved them wrong. I won the tournament and even become a high ranked knight. So stop shivering, Tricia! Move!

All my thoughts dispersed in the cold air that came out of the room when I felt a hand on top of my head. It was one of the professors on the building. Mr. Daniel. With the warmth that came from his eyes, I could tell that he was a kind person.

My eyes wandered at the room where all the boys stood but their reactions was different from how I expected. They are… smiling…

They are smiling???

“A girl!”

One boy shouted and the others followed with a cheer which made the room loud and even--- gleeful.

“Stop that boys! You’ll scare the girl!” Mr. Daniel commanded and the boys tuned it down a bit with a mix of laughter. “Geez, is it your first time seeing a girl?”

“Welcome to the club, Ms. Caprius. Forgive these children’s attitude.” He chuckled and I was left stunned by how I was approached. “Let the new member even present herself properly.”

I nodded at Mr. Daniel and proceeded to present myself with a slight vow.

 “My name is Tricia Caprius from Grade 10 Section A. I am pleased to meet everyone.”

I vowed once again and closed my eyes, not really know why I am being such a shy kid but as they clapped and cheered once again, I felt a giggle coming out from her body that it made me very happy.

It’s not that bad…

I watched their smiles and entered the room, ready for a new opportunity that she’ll gain, new connections that she’ll build once we joined.