my bittersweet lover

episode six

I quietly headed to my seat. It was usually situated in the middle at the last low, near the window. I was just taking out my books when Jane and her girls entered.

"ah, there she is, the poorest, most pathetic student in school," said she "Actually, if I were u, I'd just transfer to another school. You clearly don't fit in at all " chimed her friends and a hearty laughter followed.

They always had a way of embarrassing me and ruining my day. I was used to it though, I was always prepared for their rude remarks and pranks.

"I'm hoping my assignment was well done. If I don't get everything right here, you won't like what I'll do to u" she said as she looked at me with that smirk she always had when something evil was cooking in her mind.

"What are u looking at, hand it over!! Hope u didn't ruin my book in that rag u call a bag."

Everyone was silent, all eyes on me. Must have been interesting to watch Jane pick on me as she always did, I suppose. Just then, our teacher entered and class resumed. The lesson was pretty interesting. I always loved it when the teacher came in, at least then I'd have a peaceful time for a couple of minutes before class was over.

whenever the lesson was over, I always headed to the library. It was a very peaceful place to be. It was also the place with the least number of students always, no one disturbed me there. Being there was so much easier than being at any other place within the school. Jane and her friends, Shelly and Emmah would never find me here. They hated studies anyway.

"Well hello sweetheart, you are back again huh," said she, with that beautiful smile that made everything brighter.

"yes, Mrs Hannah,"

" Lina, I wish you would take my advice and make some friends, I'm sure there are some students that like you, you can't lack one or two know, "

" No Mrs Hannah, I'm fine. Besides, ur my friend, I'm good. "

" I know, but you need a Friend of your age, would you rather be here in the library every time? Try to join any club, think bout it, my child. "

" Thank you, Mrs Hannah, I'll think about it. "

" You tell me bout it okay? Fine then, go on in, I'll be here if u need anything."

Mrs Hannah was our librarian, she was so nice to me. She was like a mother to me, the care, the love, the affection. She was such a good soul. She was a bit old, probably in her mid-forties or so with beautiful long, curly, coal-black hair, and blue eyes, I wondered why she always had to wear glasses.

She was clad in one of her usual ankle-length dresses that only made her look older. I could not tell her that though, I silently wished somebody else would. She had a way of making me feel that everything would be okay. As I made my way to my seat, the thought of joining a club and having a friend ran through my mind. I was startled by the bell, it was time for class.

As I headed to class, all I could hear and see was a group of girls talking and laughing excitedly about the music band guys who had rocked at the club that weekend.

"oh they were so handsome, their voices were so heavenly...."

" How I wish I could see them again .... "

" Yeah next time girls, I'll be at the front, maybe one of them will like me "

"Oh yeah me too...... "

I could not help smiling as I listened to the conversion of those girls. I did not mean to be nosy or eavesdrop or anything. They were just behind me, talking loudly I just had to. The gifted four were indeed handsome, no doubt. The memory of that particular moment when our eyes rocked still melted my heart. I just did not understand why I felt like this for a man I had never met before.

"Lina forget this guy, forget him," I said to myself as I approached my class. Just as I opened the door, I felt some wetness running through my body. My hair felt soaked, my uniform wet and my skin cold. On looking up, I saw a bucket facing downwards, empty. All it's contents visible all over me. The class burst with laughter.

Great, this must have been one of the pranks. I felt awful, so embarrassed, I was all drenched; not to mention the water wasn't at all clean. Judging from the dirt on my skirt, and my blouse, it must have been dirty. I couldn't believe it. I did not have another set of uniform to change for the week, I was so embarrassed. I did not have time to see who had done it. I was so ashamed to look at anyone's face, besides that would just make my classmates laugh harder.

"That was a good one ...? I heard some one comment amidst their heartfelt laughter.

I just ran off to the bathroom. My eyes were burning with tears as they cascaded down my chubby cheeks. I felt so bad, I looked like one who came out of a garbage pit. As I looked at myself in front of the big mirror inside the girls' bathroom, I could not help but wonder. Did my classmates have to be so mean?

Only one person could think of something like this; Jane and her friends. Schooling was really hard, only that my life outside was not exactly easy either. I tried to wipe the dirt off but it only made things worse. It seemed that no matter how much I tried, my uniform just had to be cleaned whole. I did not know what to do, so I figured I would at least rinse the dirty water off my hair and my face.

The school bathroom was painted white with beautiful smooth brown tiles. A big mirror stood just above the sinks built just beneath it where you could just wash your hands and watch yourself in the mirror at the same time. The toilets were on the opposite side, close to each other to the far end. A big space sandwiched the two, it was nice.

How I would come out, how I would spend the rest of my day at school like this, was something I had not quite figured out yet, not to talk of how I would attend the rest of my classes. I wished I were not so poor. Perhaps, if my parents were alive, I would have someone to run to. Maybe it would have been better. It's true, I was used to these kinds of pranks but they were becoming more mean and unbearable.

Well, I had to think of a way out. Staying here and lamenting would not help anything, but what could I do? To be honest, my mind could not think of anything, my heart and my mind couldn't quite come to a common understanding. I could not risk more students walking in and seeing me like this, maybe staying in the toilet was better until I thought of something better.

Removing my blazer and skirt, I closed the lid and sat on it with only my blouse, innerwear, socks, and my sandals since I could not afford the shoes yet. I was so cold I felt myself shiver a bit. Did life have to be this hard on me? What was I to do from here? Only Mrs Hannah could be kind enough to help me, but how would I reach out to her like this?

I could not help tears that ran down my face so freely at my helpless situation. It was not long until I heard a knock at the door, clearly, someone must have heard me cry.

"Hello... Who's there?" Silence followed, as though waiting for my response.

"whoever you are, why are you crying? whatever it is just open the door , and I'll help u"

Wait, was that not Mrs Hannah's voice? How did she know I was here? Was she not supposed to be at the school library? So many questions crisscrossed my mind as I tried to find some answers.

"please... open the door?" Her voice brought me back to the present.