True Colors

Chapter Two: Black

                I just entered the class and went to my vandalized table. Written there are hurtful words that I tried to ignore every day. I brought out my textbooks from my bag to cover them. I started to read Fairytail; a Japanese Comic series. This is the only thing I do to pass time. I don’t have friends here because the students are afraid to get involved and be bullied by anyone in Chad’s circle of friends. The class began as usual. I don’t get behind in my studies. I usually just remain silent to avoid everybody’s attention. I do my best when it comes to pen and paper tests.

                Break time… The time I turn into a toy, a slave.

                “Hey, shorty,” Chad called as usual. “Go to the cafeteria and get us something to eat.”

                I silently rose from my seat. I caught him and his bag staring at my bag. I immediately picked it up from the side of my chair. Sometimes, I would discover random things in it like rocks or trash. Most of the time, it would be on random places such as on or in the garbage bin… in the restroom… or hanging on a random tree outside the building. They just laughed at me when they saw my reaction. I left them and went to the cafeteria. Students around me are glancing at me as soon as I entered that place. They started whispering to each other which is a normal sight for me. Some are laughing; enjoying my hellish life. I’m known on the campus as a toy. I hate my life. Sometimes, I can’t help but to think that it’s better for me…to die. But my Mom taught me how life is valuable. I learned more of it when my Mom’s life became shorter and shorter. I need to be tough. I just need to bear this for a little more time. The end of this school life is near and I could start again.

                “Shorty!” a familiar voice called. Everyone looked at him. It’s Chad. “You’re taking too long.”

                “The line is too long,” I explained.

                “I don’t give a f**k,” he replied. “You really have the habit of making me mad, don’t you?”

                I don’t know how I should react this time. I’m scared. I wanna run away. I just then realized that they were dragging me out of the cafeteria. Everyone’s eyes are at me. Their eyes are expressing pity and that’s all they can do for me. In the end, we are in the middle of the soccer field.

                “It seems like you’re not still afraid of me,” Chad said. I feel like crying I put my hand in my pocket and held tight to a hanky in it.

                “He’s in a bad mood because a girl cheated on him.” His friend whispers; serving as a warning.

                “No one messes with me; do you understand?” he exclaimed. I just nodded. I’m aware that just agreeing to what he says would make me stay out of more trouble. He noticed my hand in my pocket.

                “What are you hiding there?” he asked.

                “N-nothing,” I answered while stuttering. I let go of the hanky and took my hand out of my pocket. He ordered his friends to search my pockets. They took the hanky away from me.

                “There’s nothing strange,” his friend reported. “Just this disgusting handkerchief.”

                “Please, give it back.” I pleaded. They all looked at me. Chad seems to be amused by my actions. He smirked. He walked towards his friend and took the hanky from him.

                “Why are you acting like that?” he asked me rhetorically. “All just for a piece of trash?”

                I watched him wave it in the air.

                “That is not trash.” I corrected him. “Give it back to me!”

                Tears started to roll down my cheeks. This is the first time I cried in front of them. I felt embarrassed by it does not bother me anymore. I’m already on my wit’s end.  I can’t take this anymore.

                “Bro, just return it,” his friend suggested. Chad looked at him and then at me.

                “Okay, I’m very easy to talk to,” Chad agreed. “Here.”

                He dropped the hanky to the grassy ground and stepped on it. My world was shattered when I saw him do that to one of my mother’s left memoir.

                “Now, get it,” he ordered. “Trash… for another piece of trash.”

                Everyone remained silent. I felt my body stopped moving. I can hear my breathing.

                “I said… it’s not a piece of trash,” I murmured. My head is filled with outrage and hates towards this person standing in front of me who still has the audacity to laugh. He stopped laughing and then looked at me.

                “Did you just talked back?” he angrily asked. I’m too occupied by my anger that I can’t feel any other emotions.

                “THAT’S A MEMORY OF MY MOTHER!” I shouted as I attack him. We both fell to the ground. I started throwing punches at him. A couple of punches landed on his face before he even realized what’s happening. He then used his arms to block my remaining punches.

                “DON” T JUST STAND THERE!! STOP HIM!” Chad yelled. One of his friends approached us and tried to drag me away from him but he can’t even move me; even for a single inch.

                “What the hell.” One of them reacted while holding my arm. “Help me!”

                Three more people came to help him pull me away.

                “You’re gonna pay for this, you hear me?!” Chad threatened as he wipes the oozing blood off his lips. “You’re gonna pay for this!”

                They started to walk towards the school clinic.

                “You messed up with the wrong person, fag. It’s best for you to just go and disappear… because his family will leave you dead.” One of his friends taunted me and then left to follow the pack.  I picked up my Mom’s dirt-stained handkerchief. I went to the washroom in the gymnasium and started to wash the piece of cloth in my hand. I can’t believe I did that to Chad but I feel a sense of satisfaction. I started to ponder as soon as I finished. What will I do now? I don’t wanna go back to my class.

                The bell rang.

                I just took one breath and released a sigh. I left the gymnasium and walked towards the building. Everyone stopped and the class fell into total silence as soon as I stepped inside. I looked around. It’s not a David and Goliath moment for me. For them, I will never be a hero. They started whispering to each other again. I traversed the room towards my seat. I can feel the heavy stares at me. Chad is out of sight. I feel uncomfortable; I have this feeling that something bad will happen. I didn’t notice that the teacher entered the class.

                “Mr. Gomez!” The teacher called for my attention. I looked at him but the whole class’s eyes are on me.

                “Yes, Ma’am?” I responded as I raise my hand.

                “The school director wants you to have this,” she replied, showing a white envelope in her hand. I walked towards her and she handed it to me.

“So, it is true!” someone exclaimed.

I checked what’s inside as soon as I sat down. It’s a letter demanding the presence of me and my parents tomorrow at the School Director’s Office. What should I do?? I kept the letter inside my bag. I feel so down. Thoughts are flooding my mind. I’m so stressed.