The Life of Her

A Meet and Greet

A flabby security greeted us with a wide smile plastered on his face. His thick, curly hair was pretty to look at. I head that he's the longest one to stay here than the rest before.

“Welcome to Maryclaire’s School! Hmm. You're new here." He prompted.

"Maybe. I wish I could have a day like yours. Full of colors." I answered.

He let out a laugh. "There's a long way for us to see things, but let's enjoy every bit of it."

His button was about to pop out as it barely held his stomach. He was holding his baton in his left hand as he opened the gate for us. Galvin and I greeted him back and went inside immediately. The narrow path was leading us to the main two-story building. It has a wide playground with seesaws, slides and swings. The potted plants were on the side of the pathway, letting the bees roam around.

The wooden, brown painted hedges enclose the playground. While on the left was a cafeteria with light pink coated walls and a dark green corroded roof. Some students with their long white sleeves and fitted blue slacks came out from the inside, bringing with them food. Girls were wearing their white P.E. shirts together with their jogging pants with their school’s logo on their right leg. Some were on their blue checkered skirts, burnished black shoes, knee-length white socks, and white long sheaths with blue ribbon on their collars. They presented neatly with their uniforms.

“You looked good with your mask on,” Amber whispered in my ear as she followed me.

“Thank you,” I answered her back softly.

I decided to wear a mask when coming here. Amber also recommended me to use one enough for me to hide my face. But, I thought that it won’t prevent them to recognize me from those who already knew her. I grabbed and placed my mask properly, covering my nose. I took a cough and peered over the plain white building that was in a distance to my left. It caught my radar when I discovered those broken red tiles cautiously designed on its entrance. One-third of its front was bricked walled.

A small gate was making a barrier from the main building to it.

“What is that?” I asked and pointed to the place.

“Oh, that. That’s the high school building.” Galvin said.

“I’ll be coming back there as you.” Amber amplified and dabbed me on the back. She passed through Galvin and went off with herself to that building, leaving us three behind. Galvin yanked me straight to their building and heard small chatter along the hallway. Kids with their stuff were moving in different directions, giving me an unsettling feeling that I wanted to scratch the back of my head.

I am not fond of being around with other people, especially young ones. I felt anxious as I watched intently every classroom filled with children. A young girl with her red ribbon clasped on her hair rushed towards me, making a bump on my side. She made an ominous look – eyebrows locked to each other, as she rubbed her arm. “Watch your way, old hag.” She hissed and came forth running outside the facility.

“Tss.” I rolled my eyes in irritation. “What a child.”

“She’s Delancy,” I heard him whisper the girl’s name, slightly wavering on my side.

I rubbed his head enough to make him lose the tension he was feeling at the same time. “Don’t mind her. If she will do anything to you, just call me okay?” I said.

The boy bobbed and giggled.

“Now, let’s go to the conference hall and join the others in the meeting.” I added.

Being inside this body is hell sometimes. I needed to be vigilant with my ways for me to be identified as her. Or else, they would definitely end up asking me questions about my identity. We turned left and saw a portrait of a mother carrying her child in her arms. It was welcoming as we passed by it.

One of the classroom doors opened and a teacher in her mid-twenties with a blonde bun, wearing her red dress with black belt uniform went outside. Her black high-heeled stilettoes fitted with her today’s outfit. She was holding a pile of white folders with students’ documents. She raised her head enough to meet my graze. She seemed surprised when she saw me. I smiled at her and said,

“G-Good morning, Maam.”

“Goodness gracious! Since when did you go back, Amber? I heard you went to another place to work. I bet Mrs. Aliana was really proud of you.” She delightedly uttered.

I laughed a bit and scratched in solemnity. “Y-Yeah. I just came home last three weeks ago.” I timidly said.

“Oh, that’s great to hear! Are you here for enrolment?” She glimpsed over Galvin and waved her call at him.

“Good morning, Teacher Blescy.” Galvin greeted her.

“Good morning too, Galvin.”

She gape at me back and I answered. “N-Not for now. I’m here for the meeting.”

“Oh, is that it? Well, I’ll be seeing you around okay? I still need to send these files to Mr. Arnaldo. You know you don’t want the old man to keep waiting.” She winked at us and patted me on the back. “Take care, children.”

The teacher left us for good and turned right. We continued to walk, when suddenly Galvin pulled over in front of a wooden white door. He peaked over the clear window and saw the teacher currently discussing about something. I looked at the blackboard and realized that it was mathematics. I saw how Galvin took a gulp as he slowly pouted too.

“This is my classroom, big sis. I need to go inside. You should go to the function hall. I’ll just call you when my class is done.” He uttered.

I looked everywhere, trying to find directions. “Oh. The function hall is just on the right side. If you mess up, there is still signage you can follow.” He said, tapping it on the walls.

Galvin directed me to their function hall, telling me to just follow the signs on the walls. The boy was prompt as always. I suddenly stopped over an opening and deliberately read the indication. Unlocking it slowly, a group of parents hurled around, talking about different stuff. They were laughing hysterically as they slapped each other auspiciously on their shoulders. They were enjoying their time.

I decided to remove my mask and kept it inside my pocket. Someone just cleared her throat and clapped her hands. She was wearing her black suit with her white sleeves underneath. She’s in her mid-forties with a sleek body. Her lengthy hair was in a ponytail. Her nails were painted with red. She was dazzling in front of us as she stood over the stadium, clasping the microphone.

She glanced at the big glassed clock that was on top, behind us.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming today. You may now take your seats.” She smilingly said.

All of us went on different paths and settled down. I decided to sit beside a tubby woman, wearing an emerald flowery coat and flat shoes. Her bag was dazzling on her lap, telling me that she was a successful one, more like she just went out from a business trip. Her body was glowing with those heavy accessories around her wrists, neck, and ears. I gradually stared at her face as she was focused on the teacher on the stage. She was beautiful and I thought she was in her mid-thirties. She suddenly knew me which made me flustered.

“G-Good morning,” I said, almost in a whisper.

Her smile was on her face, just before I could finish. “Oh, it’s you! Mrs. Aliana Madison’s daughter.”

I laughed awkwardly and scuffed my forehead this time. I felt vexed by the fact that I was scratching it even if it was not prickly. And I guessed Mrs. Madison is quite known in this school, which I made me to wonder.

“I’m Mrs. Glenda Marimedes. I remembered you were still young the last time I saw you when your mother took you with her to the Orphanage. Probably you don’t remember me so well, since we don’t see each other a lot now.” She chuckled. “How is she by the way?” She asked.

“M-Mom is doing fine. She’s currently working in the orphanage.”

“Oh, right. Please tell her that Mince wanted to say hi to her. The child does surely miss the woman who took care of her during those times.” She added.

“Okay. I will.” I reacted.

“Our family day is coming as we all know, that’s why we are gathered here today. The event will take forth from Wednesday up to Friday, next week. Our organization conducted a meeting a week ago. And for those who weren’t able to join the said event, our parents have decided to have a buffet on the last day of our family day. We have also finalized the games to be played. Our venue will be on the school grounds and we will be stern with our security.”

“By the way, have you heard about a group that’s lurking in the shadows? I heard they’re roaming around here. Though, there are still no reported cases regarding with them. It gives me chills that they’re roaming around.” She suddenly whispered. She was a bit garrulous.

I remembered when Amber said about a group that was trying to find her and I just hoped that it was not the same one. I felt my stomach pined, cupping it with my hand. My sweat was dripping cold.

“No…Not at all.”

“For our first day, we will have a team-building and it will be in groups. There will also be a campfire. For the second day, we will continue our team building and there will be a lot of activities prepared by our dear teachers. And for the last day, it will be our awarding ceremony.” The head uttered.

“Is there any question?” She expanded.

I waited for someone to lay one, but it turned out that we were all good with it. Perhaps, the students’ parents were quite excited about the event that smiles can’t hide on their faces. Everyone stood and bowed their heads. The teacher left the stage and joined some of them that were near her. Mrs. Glenda gave me a tap on the shoulder and said, “It’s nice meeting you again, child.” She pulled something from her bag and gave it to me. “That’s my number. You can give it to your mother. You can call me anytime if you need help. I hope we get along soon. I have to go first. I still need to catch up on one more meeting.” She smiled at me and left the hall for good.

I watched her departure, until a finger poked me on the side. “Oh, look who’s here. I didn’t expect to see you here again, Amber Kate Madison.”

I slowly shifted my body to face her. Seeing her cross her arms as her eyebrow raised a bit was stroppy. Is she a villain? A dark feeling filled her place as she stood just a few meters away from me. She was wearing her uniform, just like those in the high school department. She has a petite body, long legs and arms, luscious lips, an oval face and dark brown eyes. Her coercing personality is sleeking off as she stood still with her high-heeled wide-edged shoes.

After a while a group of students settled behind her, emulating her actions. They were lifting their brows like mad dogs. Who even are they? She stepped near to me with a taunting expression. This girl is waking up my bitching side. Her eyes traveled from my head down to my toes. She scoffed.

“I heard you went for…hmm…how do we say it? How about you went for a…little vacation over those squatty areas.” She laughed hysterically as her dangling earrings moved.

I winced. “Oh yes. It’s way too different here.”

She suddenly covered her nose as she wiped off the air surrounding her. “And you still smell like that place.”

“And I could smell attention seeker in you,” I whispered and took a sigh.

“What did you just say?-”

She wasn’t able to finish what she was talking about when a teacher suddenly passed us. We smiled at her and waited for her to move out. Then her usual reaction came back to her senses.

“Watch your step, Kitty. You might get caught in a lion’s den again.” She said and moved, tapping her elbow in a swift to my shoulder, shaking her eyes.

The girls passed by me with their balling eyes! I bet they’re currently into rolls that they would fit in making sushi. I was ridiculed silently. I heard a soft squeal inside my bag. Glancing inside it, I saw Guiltz laughing too.

He offered me a thumbs up. A chilling sense instantly clinched me. When I turned around, I saw her with a garish expression just beside the entrance door. In a blink, she was already in front of us.

“Tsh. I wasn’t expecting to see them here either.” She said and rolled her eyes.

Everyone was just rolling their eyeballs and it made me laugh one hell around in front of her.