Chapter – 6
1040 Words
Chapter – 6
“What do you both want to do in college?” there was a big party today at our home, our vacation home not too far from my parent’s home. It was on the outskirts, so only we invited our close family members.
“Come on dad, we just had our graduation today, at least let us celebrate for a day.” I plopped on the couch with a large pack of chips in one hand and a large coke in the other.
“We are going to study chemistry,” Emmi said plopping next to me snatching away my precious bag of chips from me.
“We?” I glared.
“Yeah, we promised, don’t you remember.” His eyebrows frowned.
“That was a long time ago.” I reminded. Dad was hearing us talking silently but finally said out,
“You want to do something else?”
“No, actually dad, Emmi I wanted to talk about this later after today but I will tell you now,” I spoke folding my legs on the couch.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“I don’t want to go to college.”
“What?” dad said, covering another voice in his husky voice.
“What? But why? We were going to go together.”
“I know, but I don’t want to go to college, at least not now,” I explained.
“But can you at least give us an explanation why you made this decision, darling?” Dad asked.
“You know why.” Comforting myself with the cushion, I rested my head back.
“No, we don’t know,” Emmi said out angrily like he wanted me to speak out. I’m sure he knew the reason behind my decision.
“Look at me, this is the reason.” Throwing everything, I stood upright in front of him, my hands presenting my body on display for them to see why I’m not ready to go to college.
“What are you trying to say?” dad asked, I can see him baffled, but as my eyes shifted to Emmi, I know he was angry about what I was trying to say.
“You guys really want me to say it.”
“Yes!!”
“They have bullied me all my school life, I don’t look like Emmi nor I am popular like Gabe, I can’t take the bullying anymore, so I decided to not continue my studies further.”
“That’s it? This is the reason. Come on, Eli, this is not something that you can abandon your future for. You can’t run all your life. Your mom will have a heart attack if she hears this.”
“Whatever you guys say, nothing can make a difference. My decision is final. I am not going to college and that is it.” I left the room barging straight to my room and plopped my two-hundred-pound body on the bed, digging my head under the pillow, trying to curb my crying and snorting sounds inside it.
I was more than embarrassed about my body; I was huge and hideous. But it was more like a vicious cycle. The more I try to be myself not caring about others bullying, the more I got dragged back in the pit hole with their harsher comments, and in that dark abyss, all that could comfort me is the greasy, delicious, fat dripping food which I know is poisoning my body. But I couldn’t see a way out of it, and every time I do it, I fall right back in that hole, starting everything from the beginning and getting even worse than ever. What will once do when all they have heard about their entire life is how worthless they are, at a point they believe it themselves?
“Get up right now, Eli.” the fluffy pillow soaked my silent tears up when I felt a shook in my body.
“What do you want?” I raised my head. My voice was heavy.
“I want you to listen to me.” His voice suddenly calmed.
“What?”
“You are coming to college with me. This is the acceptance letter.” He handed me an envelope.
“the University of California? When did you apply for this?”
“Last month, I wanted to surprise you today. I didn’t know you had other plans.”
“It’s useless, I am not going.” I declared in anger and plopped back, ignoring him. I hate he was not respecting my decision. Ok, I know I made a promise, but we were kids and now I don’t want it. What’s the big deal. Why can’t he just calm down?
“You are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Don’t be a loser, I really didn’t want to say it, but I think you need to hear this before it’s too late.”
“Yes, I am a loser and I am fine with it. I will not change it.”
“Why do you degrade yourself this low? Don’t you know it’s toxic for you? You were interested in learning chemistry and this is the chance for us.”
“That was before I was this overweight. I don’t want to be bullied anymore and I am not going to college. You can go, I’m not asking anything from you.”
“If you are confident in yourself, no one can bully you. Bully them back. And I will be there with you.” He said as if it wasn’t a big deal. Only if he knew how painful it is for me. A part of me dies every time anyone said those hurtful things to me.
“That’s coming from the Mr. popular of our school.”
“You will not listen to me?”
“No,” I screamed in pure rage.
“Fine, I am going to college and live my life. Stay in your room like a loser and get old alone. Don’t regret later.”
“Get out of my house.”
“I am leaving, don’t call me until you have some conscience.”
**
- Writer
