Mēnawato

Mēnawato Everyday began in a particular way or not. Mine started with me sitting up and looking at the mirror which stood opposite my bed just to notice that my hair had turned white...again. It was both normal and abnormal because it happened everyday yet I have no way to explain it. Not like that was the only question I wanted to ask but as growth comes, it comes with the urge to let go of certain things. And like usual, I stood up, acting like I still didn't have any curiousity left in me. I quickly took my bath and did my normal morning preparations for school including body exercises. My hair slowly turned black again after my routine and I walked out of the room, my bag hung over my shoulders. My mom sat at the dinning table, reading the newspaper like it mattered. "Good morning, mom." I dropped my bag on one of the couches. She raised her head up and cleared her throat; "How was your night, dear?" She smiled "Breakfast is ready. Yours is in the kitchen." I nodded, walking towards the kitchen but just as I got to the door frame, I stopped; "Please stop trying to act like father. You're hurting yourself." Her expression dropped and so did the newspaper but I ignored it and walked into the kitchen to get my breakfast. All I knew about my father was that he died few days after my birth. I saw no pictures, no stories or anything to show that he existed but sometimes, I wished he did. I knew my mom did a lot of things ever since my father died after my birth and there was also a point in my life where the mockery for being a child of wedlock was so frustrating and just like everything else, I had outgrown it. I had breakfast also and by the time I was done, I stepped out of the house, heading to school. The fresh breeze of spring hit me softly yet blew a few strands of my hair to my face. I tugged it to the back of my ear. Mrs. Flower was out watering her vegetables. I didn't greet, not like she would respond anyway. I arrived at school, glad that Denise was already waiting at the gate, operating her phone. "Hey, good morning." I tapped her phone screen, not caring what she was doing. "Hey, stop it." She pulled her phone away with a pout "I'm chatting with Stan." I rolled my eyes and we walked into the school premises. "I don't have good feelings about him." I adjusted my jacket. "You still haven't told me what he did to you." "Well, you know my instincts are always right for some reason and now they tell me that Stan is not good for you." I glanced at her. It was surprising how she was able to keep her eyes glued to her phone and still walk without bumping into anyone. "I don't want to trust them this time." She looked up "Could you believe he told me I look beautiful last night?" She beamed, blinking her eyes dreamily. I nearly slapped my face. Denise was just as beautiful as her name sounded. Emerald green eyes, long curly blonde hair and a tall athletic physique plus her fashion sense—80% of boys in school admired her looks. "You're a naturally beauty everyone wants. One guy telling you that shouldn't hit you so hard." I rolled my eyes. "When you have your boyfriend, you'll understand what it feels like." She looked back at her phone again. I huffed. Every boy in school had one flaw or the other which I noticed on first glance. We walked into the building, getting glares and stares from people we recognized and did not. Jane from Social Studies class scowled at me while her girls tried to get Denise's attention. Yeah, she hated me because Denise was very close to me and not her. Well, sorry... I looked elsewhere, wanting to notice more glares but my gaze clashed with Darren. My heart skipped a beat. He was having a conversation with one of his friends and the smile that once played on his lips, turned to a wolfish grin instantly and he leaned away from the locker while adjusting his clothes. "Ugh." I groaned, pulling my hoodie up "Darren saw me." I nudged Denise. "What?" She finally switched off her phone and her eyes rolled "Seriously? Can't that guy take a break." "I'll just avoid him, I hope." I walked even faster and so did she. Darren wasn't a bully. In fact, he fused himself into my life by chasing off those who made my life miserable and when I thought I was to appreciate him only to realize he wanted me as his next 'girl'. The thought alone made me go 'bleh'. "Meena, wait up." He called behind me, his voice sounding louder than expected. Gazes turned towards me and some chuckled mockingly, their whispers filtering into my ears. "Hehe, he shortened and twisted her name." "Pfft... Her parents caused it." "Why does Darren even want her?" I groaned; "I'm hearing them again." I muttered. Denise was just about to answer but Darren caught my arm, not just turning me around but also separating me from Denise. The hall felt quiet for a second but that was broken by whispers that arose once again, filtering into my ears. "Why are you running?" Darren's voice caught through the other voices and i finally remembered that he was still holding my arm. I slapped it off and stepped back. "What's so hard for you to understand? I don't want to have anything to do with you." The crowd chorused an; "Ouuu." Darren chuckled, taking a step forward; "Meena..." "Freak, it's Mēna." Denise muttered from behind me, about to approach us but Darren's friends blocked her path. "C'mon, don't be shy. There are other people wanting to be my girlfriend but I chose you and I don't easily let go of things I choose." He cupped my cheek and that was when things flicked. I felt heat crawl up my chest and a burst of strange strength coursed through my veins. I grabbed he hand, twisting it hard that he turned around. He groaned loudly and people screamed. "She's going to kill him." "Oh my, I'm scared of her now." "How come she hasn't shown this strength before?" "The quiet ones are the strongest." I huffed and pushed his to a locker, his hand still twisted to his back. His face had turned red already and from the look on his face, he seemed very ready to cry. "I don't want to be your girlfriend and I never will be, if you come close to me ever again, I'll break your limbs." I tightened my hold on his hand and a c***k followed. I had no idea what it was. Maybe an urge or something else but I knew there was this unwavering desire to tear him into pieces. I didn't hear when Denise called my name. I didn't hear when the bell rang and everyone had to go inside. I just felt the smile on my face as my hand crawled up to Darren's wrist, somehow wanting to impale it with my fingers. A touch on my shoulder jolted me back to reality. Turning around, my eyes locked on a pair of dim brown eyes and moving further to pale skin, a pointed nose, a chiseled jaw and thin pink lips. Ryder. I pushed the hand off my shoulder like dust, reality finally hitting me hard that I staggered back. Or maybe it wasn't reality. Darren crawled up to a standing position and ran away. I turned to the figure in front of me, the very guy i had known since elementary school. I still have no idea why I hate him but I know I do and I know he does too. "So this is what you've become, a fighter huh?" He slipped his hands into his pockets, his brows furrowing. "And how is that your concern?" I fired at him. "It's not a concern." He leaned closer, his jaw clenched "But you know it would have been worse if a teacher got involved." He straightened up. I couldn't respond because he was right. But in a way, it felt like he wanted me to compensate him or something. "Anyway, your hair is white. I think that should be your concern." He turned around and walked away, leaving just me in the hallway. I quickly brought out my phone, unlocking it and tapping into my camera app to take a closer look at myself. He wasn't wrong. My once black hair had turned white totally. "Oh no."