Cinderella's Endgame

TWO

“Hey, Cindy! You said you weren’t joining the field trip, right?”

I weakly looked up when I felt Brianna’s presence in front of me. She placed both hands on my desk and glared. “Then why are you coming, huh?” she added.

My brows knitted together as I stared at her in confusion. “I’m really not joining the field trip. I’ve been here for four years and not once did I join any of them, right?” I said sarcastically and was about to look away when she smacked my arm.

“Liar!” she shouted, making me look back at her with no energy at all. “I saw your name on the list. You can’t come with us, do you understand? You don’t belong there. People might think we’re cheap too just because you’re with us.”

I couldn’t respond and only frowned at what she said. She saw my name on the list? How? Was she lying?

“Brianna, isn’t Cindy actually rich? I saw her in a magazine my mom has at home—”

“Shut up, Eliza! That was before,” Brianna interrupted her friend. “In this school, I’m the richest one, got it? Cindy used to act all high and mighty just because she was rich, but look at her now. A total pauper!”

I took a deep breath and stood from my seat. I didn’t bother looking at them anymore and walked straight out of the classroom. I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t stop feeling uneasy about what she said. I was already used to their insults, but this time…

Could it really be true that my name was on the field trip list? Because if it was, that’s impossible! I didn’t sign up—I don’t even have money to pay, and I’m sure Aunt Eula wouldn’t allow me even if someone did put my name there.

I’m doomed if that’s true!

I half-walked, half-ran toward the faculty room. I needed to talk to our teacher immediately before the final list was submitted. I couldn’t let this happen. Aunt Eula would bury me alive if she found out. I didn’t have money to pay for anything.

“Ma’am Hidalgo?” I called softly when I saw her busy on her laptop. I peeked from the door since it was open anyway.

She looked up and adjusted her glasses. “Cindy, dear, what’s wrong?” she asked. Nervous as I was, I stepped inside and walked closer to her.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “A-Ah, Ma’am, I just have a question about the field trip,” I began.

“Oh? Are you paying now? Brianna already paid this morning.”

My mouth fell open at her question. If she was asking if I was paying, that must mean…

“M-Ma’am, is my name really on the list of those joining the field trip?” I asked nervously. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my heartbeat thudding so fast it felt like it would burst out.

Just thinking about how furious Aunt Eula would be was enough to make me feel the pain already—whether from her words or her hands.

Her brows furrowed slightly. “Of course. I saw your name there, and there wasn’t any duplicate handwriting, so I thought you wrote it yourself.”

I exhaled sharply, trying to calm myself. “Have you already submitted the final list? I’d like to erase my name. I didn’t write it, and I never intended to join in the first place. Besides, I don’t have any money—”

“Dear, the thing is… I already submitted the final list to the head this morning. They started collecting payments earlier.”

She cut me off, leaving me speechless. I stared at her in disbelief while she looked down apologetically.

I gulped and lowered my gaze. “B-But, Ma’am, I really don’t have money to pay…” I said softly.

I don’t know why, but in that moment, I felt so small and helpless. When I was a kid, life wasn’t like this. I used to join these kinds of things all the time, but… everything’s different now.

“There’s nothing I can do anymore, Cindy. If you came earlier, I could’ve removed your name, but it’s already signed by the principal. It can’t be undone now. I’m really sorry, dear. If I had some money, I’d lend you, but I don’t have any either,” she said quietly.

I pressed my lips together and looked down. My hands balled into fists before I turned away and left the faculty room. I walked back to our classroom in silence, thinking about how on earth I’d find money to pay for that field trip.

It was impossible to save up since I only got twenty pesos a day. If I tried to save that, I’d probably starve to death. Even if I saved every single day, it still wouldn’t be enough. And if I asked Aunt Eula for the payment, she’d just get angry and maybe even throw me out of the house. I couldn’t let that happen. I had nowhere else to go. She’s the only family I have left.

The classroom was loud when I entered. I tried to get their attention by fake coughing, but they just kept chatting and laughing. I sighed heavily and scanned the room.

“Who’s the i***t that wrote my name on the field trip list?”

The whole room instantly went silent. I hadn’t even finished asking when they all burst into laughter as if what I said was hilarious. My jaw tightened, and my hands curled into fists.

“You planned this? You were the ones who wrote my name down?” I asked in disbelief. They knew I didn’t have the money to pay, and yet they still did it. “Who? Who among you wrote my name, huh?”

Brianna stood up, arms crossed. “Not anyone here. We asked someone from another section to write it so it wouldn’t be obvious—”

“Oh, you’ve really got some nerve, huh? You were furious earlier because you thought I was joining, but you’re the one who had my name written down? Are you even thinking straight, or are you just plain stupid? You can’t even stick to one decision?” I snapped, stepping toward her.

She scoffed. “How would I know you’d be shameless enough not to erase it—”

“The final list was already submitted, so it can’t be erased.” This time, I walked right up to her, my chin raised. I held out my hand and looked her straight in the eyes. “Give me the money.”

Her mouth fell open. She exhaled sharply, letting out a half-laugh. “Why would I pay for that? Is it my name on the list?”

“But I didn’t write it either. You think I actually want to go on that stupid trip with you? No thanks. Just pay for what you owe. Don’t worry—I won’t be joining. I wouldn’t want to spend a second with you anyway.”

Her bloodshot eyes met mine, but I didn’t look away. I stood my ground. They were the ones who wrote my name, so they should be the ones to pay.

“As if we’d want you with us. We don’t want cheap people like you—”

Before she could finish, I grabbed her hair. She shrieked dramatically, but I didn’t care. “I don’t want to be with you either! All of you act rich, but you’ve got zero class!” I shouted.

She screamed back as she yanked my hair, too. I cried out in pain. “At least I’m rich! You’ve got no class and no money!” she yelled while tugging harder.

I thought my scalp would come off, but I refused to lose. So much for her expensive rebonded hair. I pulled harder until suddenly, more hands joined in—three… four… I don’t even know how many!

“Fight fair, you idiots!” I yelled as her friends ganged up on me.

“What’s going on here?!”

They all immediately let go, and I lost my balance, falling to the floor while holding my head. I probably looked pathetic, but who cares? Everyone here already hates me anyway.

“Ma’am, Cindy just suddenly started pulling my hair! Gosh!” Brianna tattled to our teacher. She turned to her friend, fixing her hair. “Hey, you—look at my hair, is it messy?”

I rolled my eyes hard as I stood up. “Yes, I pulled her hair first, but she started it. She wrote my name on the field trip list and refused to pay for it. It’s not my fault I demanded what’s owed to me,” I said to Ma’am Hidalgo, who now looked displeased.

Then I turned back to Brianna, who was glaring daggers at me. “You’re rich, right? Then pay up. You started this, so fix it. Unless… you’re broke?” I teased.

Her mouth hung open, and I gave her a faint smile. “If you’re really rich, prove it. You couldn’t even prove earlier that you had class like you say you do. So maybe now, you can at least prove that you actually have money. The field trip fee’s just loose change for you… right?” I added, and her expression hardened.

“Cindy Eleanor—”

“Next time, before you mess with me, make sure you can handle the consequences,” I cut her off. I plopped down into my chair while she stayed frozen in place.

I bit my lower lip. If she didn’t pay that fee, Aunt Eula would really kill me. I didn’t want to get kicked out. Where would I even go if that happened?