SPONSORED BY LOVE

CHAPTER FIVE

SPONSORED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 5: THE VIDEO IN SS2 GOLD

I did not want to go to school the next morning.

My mother forced me.

"Go and learn, Sammie. Your books will save you," she said, tying my old bag with a safety pin again.

I entered SS2 Gold with my head down. I sat in my corner seat. My uniform was still stained from yesterday's dustbin.

At first, nobody said anything. Then Sophie stood up.

She smiled and connected her phone to the class projector. The whiteboard became bright.

"Class, I have a small documentary for us," she said. "About entrepreneurship. Our own Sammie Dickson teaches us how to be a business woman."

Everyone turned to look at me.

The video started.

It was me at Park Junction yesterday. My old dress. My tray on my head. Shouting "buy pure water." My face tired. My slippers broken. Poonam's voice behind the camera: "Aunty pure water, how much?"

The whole class burst into laughter.

I wanted to die.

"That is not all," Sophie said. She paused the video where my mouth was open and I looked ugly from crying. "Our scholar hawks after school. That is why she always smells like smoke. Village girl."

Jessy stood up, "No wonder she is always tired in class. She has night shift."

Cyndi shouted, "Sammie, do you do delivery? Can you bring pure water to my house?"

More laughter. My chest was tight. I held my desk so my hands would not shake.

I looked at the door. I wanted to run out. But if I ran, they would laugh more.

Then the back door opened.

Rooney entered.

He was late. His AirPods were in. He looked at the board. He saw my video playing.

He stopped walking.

The class was still laughing. Sophie increased the volume. My voice, "buy pure water" filled the whole class.

Rooney walked straight to the projector. He removed the HDMI cable from Sophie's phone.

The board went black. The video stopped.

The class became silent.

Sophie frowned, "Rooney, what are you doing? We were watching something."

Rooney looked at her. His face had no smile.

"Delete it," he said. Quietly, but everyone heard.

Sophie laughed, "Why? Is it not true? She really hawks."

Rooney stepped closer to her desk. He did not shout. He did not touch her.

"I said delete it. Now."

Something in his voice made Jessy shift back. Sophie's smile faded.

"Or what?" Sophie said, trying to be strong.

Rooney looked at me. Just for one second. Then back at her.

"Or I will tell my father that his Commissioner's daughter uses his school projector to bully students. And my father will call your father."

Sophie's face changed. Her father is a Commissioner and he hates shame.

She quickly deleted the video from her phone. "It was just a joke," she said.

Rooney plugged the HDMI cable back and went to his back seat. He put his head down.

No one laughed again.

During break, I went to the library. I sat at my corner. My eyes were hot but I refused to cry.

Someone dropped a small bottle of water on my table.

And a gala.

I looked up. Rooney again.

He was standing with his hands in his pockets.

"You did not eat yesterday. You were at the junction until night," he said.

"I am not hungry," I lied.

He pushed the gala closer. "Eat. You need strength to ignore them."

I picked the gala. My hands were shaking.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He did not answer. He went to sleep on another shelf.

But he had done it again. The second time.

First his handkerchief. Then carrying my tray. Now stopping the video and bringing me food.

The boy who minds his business was now minding my business.

And I was scared, because I was starting to wait for him to come.