My Taboo Obsession

Chapter Four: Diana

The look on my mom's face was everything from angry to surprised. In the few seconds that followed, I recalled that she usually got upset if someone was spying on her or listening in on her conversation. With mixed feelings, I watched as she frowned at me for a moment before a sigh escaped her lips and she walked forward.

"Your report card came today." My heart instantly skipped a beat, and I looked at her hands which carried a brown envelope. s**t! I should have remembered to collect it at school yesterday.

"What does it say?" She sighed again, and glanced at my step dad who subtly nodded his head while I waited for the blow. From the look on her face, I could already tell that it was bad news. The last time I had a good result was last year, and I still recalled how she smiled at me throughout the week and baked a cake. My parents really valued quality education.

"Honey, you didn't do so well in Math and History. The others were an A, but those ones had C's." She paused and looked at the plain sheet again. "What happened?"

Those subjects had never been my best bets, especially when subjects like English and Sciences were available. Either way, I still tried my best but this year was just horrible for me. Even my favourite courses barely had me at my best.

"I don't know, Mom. For some reason, I can't seem to concentrate on those subjects. I'll try to do better, though."

"Yes, dear. We know you will." My step dad came forward at this point and put his hand on my shoulder. "However, your principal called and said you might need extra classes in those subjects."

"What! That's embarrassing." I groaned and out my head in my hands as I plopped into the nearest chair. I couldn't believe that it was that bad that I would need to take lessons separately. Was I really flopping so much?

As if reading my thoughts, my parents moved to my side and began to rub my back. "You need to calm down, Diana. It's just because your teachers want the best for you. Don't be embarrassed by that."

I barely registered their words. All I could think about was how people would laugh and call me names. I was already distraught about the weight issue, and being one of the best in class was a way to cope with it. If I were to start extra lessons, I would lose that too.

"I didn't want to do that. I'll be fine without the lessons. Next semester, I'll do better." I said, trying to convince my parents to support me. However, my mother frowned again and stood up.

"Why don't you want to go? I mean, everyone around you is trying to help. Do you know how horrible we feel that your school had to call us personally on your behalf? That means it's reached a critical stage."

From the corner of my eye, I watched my step father slowly mutter, "It's not so horrible", but I barely heard it. All I could really think about was that I was disappointing everyone, including myself.

"Mom, I've been struggling through a lot and it's telling on me. I've really been trying my best to study and do better, but it's hard. School is so hard!" My voice was ajready reaching a yell, and I managed to bring it down at the last moment before I burst into tears.

"What are you struggling with, dear?" My step father asked, while my mom stood fuminf. My eyes strayed to her bulging stomach, and I was tempted to walk over and force her to sit down, but the answer to the question I was asked tumbled out before I could stop them.

"I'm fat, Dad. Everyday I go to school, someone laughs at me. Calls me fatty and other names. They make derogatory comments, and the only thing I have against them is being brilliant. Now, I don't even have that anymore!

Do you know how painful it is to be listening in class and suddenly, someone pokes your head and laughs at your flabby arms? That's what I face everyday. My gym shorts are only getting tighter and people are noticing. I can't seem to concentrate in class and at home, I can't help but think about the mean words."

After my rant, I curled up into a ball at the now empty seat and tried hard not to cry. Everyday at school was nothing short of horrible, and most times I just wished everyone would leave me alone and allow me mind my business in peace. However, most of my class mates found huge fun in tormenting me and making me feel horrible about my weight. Because of them, I secretly bought a weighing cake and after three months of checking my weight everyday, I was obsessed.

Even with everything, I still found it hard to reduce my eating. If was almost like I was cursed. My meals mostly consisted of junk food and chocolate, two things that would make my condition worse. In the middle of my thoughts, I didn't realize my step father come forward until there was a hand on my shoulders.

"Diana, you could have come forward with this earlier on. I don't like that you hid your struggles from us. We're your family and we love you." He paused and turned me to face him. "You know that, right?"

My head turned to where my mother stood, her hands still folded as she stared at us with an unreadable expression. Ethan saw this and stretched out his hands for his wife. After a moment, she broke the gaze and walked forward to us. We watched as she sat beside me and stroked my hair.

"Diana, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier on. I thought you weren't being serious or maybe keeping bad company, and I was scared of the consequences of that. From now on, can you tell us what is going on with you?" I smiled and nodded my head as my parents enveloped me in a bear hug.

After a while, they released me and Ethan made a sound at the back of his throat. "You know what? I think I know a good trainee who can help you with exercising and eating right. What do you think?"

There was a hopeful smile on his face, and I instantly mirrored it. It wasn't the first time I thought about going to the gym or getting a trainer, but it always sounded embarasssing to me. Now though, I had a good feeling it was just what I needed to get back on track.