Admirer

chapter 5

When I heard the bell ring, I hastily got my bag and left that room. I felt suffocated.

I went to Denise's room. It's now our recess, so I think it's a good idea if both of us eat together, since I don't have a friend here, but hers. When I was on the first floor, I looked at where she was. It was not long when I found it, so I went to her room, but I suddenly stopped when I saw that. They still have a class. I looked at the other room, and it was already their recess too.

Maybe their teacher has something to say.

I guess I don't have a choice. I don't want her to get disturb because of me, so I'll just go to the cafeteria to buy a snack for myself. I turned around and started walking. The cafeteria was a bit far from here, and while I was walking I saw a group of students walking in the hallway. There were five, three man and two women and, based on my observation, they were in grade 10. I accidentally heard them talking about something.

"Yeah, I saw that too. Will you go tomorrow to watch the performance of the Talanta?"

I heard the girl wearing braces asking the other girl who was wearing a pink headband. She's kinda cute with that.

"Yessss, I want to see Talanta, especially Mike and Dark." The girl who was wearing a headband answered while grinning.

They both of them jumped in excitement, but what they said got my attention.

Talanta? Performance? Mike?

I looked at the three men, and they seemed unaffected, even if the girls were smiling and jumping like crazy. When I passed by them, I hurriedly went to the cafeteria to buy myself a snack.

When I arrived at the cafeteria, I saw how the students looked at me. I heard them murmuring something inappropriate, and I'm not that surprised anymore. I inhaled a long breath.

"It's okay Ryla, you will get used to it soon." I said to myself.

I just looked away from everyone and continued walking until I reached the counter. I was about to say my order when I felt something pouring in my head, cold, and sticky, and I realized that it was a milktea. I heard the other students laughing because of that. I looked at the person who poured that on me, and I saw Portia smirking at me like she was so glad to see me in this kind of situation.

"Oppss, sorry HAHA." she said sarcastically.

"W-what is your problem?" I asked her. I was trying so hard not to let her see that I was scared.

"You're my problem, nerd." She shouted.

I looked at everyone in this cafeteria. I saw all the students here enjoying what's happening right now.

"I don't want any trouble, Portia," I said calmly.

I felt my body shaking, my anxiety was attacking me again.

I turned around without looking back at Portia, I really want to leave that place. It's okay even if I don't eat, I just don't want fights 'couz I know that I can't handle it.

You're weak.

You're nothing but a weak, cowardly nerd.

That's what they always said when I was still in my old school. I can clearly remember how hurt I was that time. It's still lingering in my mind.

"You b***h, were not done talking."

Portia shouted again but this time she ran through me and tweaked my hair. I felt her nails gibbing on the top of my hair.

"AAhhh, ouchhh." I shouted because of pain.

"Who do you think you are? Huh? You're just nothing." She said angrily, still holding my hair.

I felt my tears running down through my cheeks, not because I was hurt, but because I couldn't stand for myself.

"Please stop." I said to her, still hiding my sobs.

I felt so hurt when I heard Denise shouting.

"Omg, Ryla." She exclaimed and run to me.

She looked at Portia, but Portia was still looking at me angrily and i don't know why.

"Portia, stop it."

Both of them looked at each other.

I saw how Portia's eyebrows raised as if she was not going to listen to Denise.

"And who the b***h are you?" She asked.

Denise immediately responded with Portia's question.

"I'm her friend."

"And?"

"I'm Dark's sister, and Mike's cousin," she answered.

I saw how shocked Portia was because of what Denise said. I felt Portia's hand slowly loosening her grip on my hair until her hand got removed from her grip. I landed on the floor, my knees were shaking because of nervousness.

"No you're not." Portia was trying to convince herself.

Denise smirked and asked Portia. "Do you want me to call him?"

Denise's question made Portia so mad again, but, she could not do anything rather than to walk out, but before she left she glared at me before murmuring something.

Bitch.

I didn't hear it clearly, but I'm sure it was a curse.

Denise looked at me, and she handed me her hand. I held it to get up.

I heard Denise sign. "Are you alright?"

I just nod to her question even though I'm not. I was scared.

"Next time, fight that bitch." Denise said to me.

My voice was shaking when I answered. "I--i -can't."

Denise looked at me as if I had just lost my head because of Portia's tweak. But in the end she just signed and nodded.

I remember Denise saying to Portia that she was Mike's cousin. I looked at her and I saw that she was busy looking the other direction.

"Denise." I called her because I had a question to ask.

Denise looked back at me. "Why?"

"I heard that you said to Portia that your Mike's cousin. I just remember the two girls in the hallway talking about a man named Mike and his band."

"Ah yes, Mike was the vocalist of their band name Talanta and my brother, Dark Mercado, is part of their band."

She explained to me. I didn't answer her anymore. I just nodded, convincing myself that I shouldn't ask more question.

"By the way Ryla, you want to come with me? I will watch the Talanta they will play tomorrow."

Denise asked me if I wanted to come. I was over the moon because I really want to watch them performing on stage, so I immediately said yes to her.

"Yes sure."