My body guard is my man

Someone saved me

Life became hard for me,I felt so guilty and disappointed in myself. Why was I the one falling in trouble all the time? Mr Hastings avoided me, I imagined he was so angry and disappointed in me. Everyone I bypassed laughed and pointed fingers at me. I felt my pressure rise every single minute I spent at school.

"Mr Hastings won't be able to come for his lessons this week,he says we should do revision by ourselves,"the class monitor announced the next morning. And I knew it was all my fault, perhaps he didn't want to teach when I was around. I decided to walk out and go to the library and revise and to also be alone. Unfortunately the students kept glaring at me and whispering. This time was worse than what happened when I was caught with the test paper because I had posted it to the school website. I never tried checking it ever again though I had the post had been taken down. Parents had instead pointed fingers at the school.

"Hey,you should be ashamed,"three girls approached me at the book shelf,I was checking for a textbook,"you shouldn't be here. You are going to be expelled anyway."

I decided to walk away without a word but one of them put her shoe in my way and I ended up falling down. The students around started laughing and making fun of me. I tried to get up and run out,but two of the girls held me down on my knees as the other pushed my head in different directions while cursing me. I cried,it was too much,it was something I never thought would happen to me. Times like this, Rose always stepped in but this time round, she never came to my rescue.

"I pity her, she should leave our school. She even has no friends,,,,,"I heard some girls laughing. "And Rose?"one asked.

"You really think Rose is her friend? I wish you knew what she says about her behind her back." I gathered myself and managed to escape from them. I ran to the washrooms and entered one of the toilets and kept quiet. I decided to withstand whatever smell came my way till the library was completely empty.

"She's a fool,"I heard someone outside laugh."You really think I have no class? How can I befriend someone of her class?"

"I had a feeling,"I peeped outside, through the small space between the wall and the door and there were two girls. And one of them was Rose,my only friend,the only one friend I had.

"Mr Hastings was also too much. In everything she came first, someone so low like her..."

"Rose,you have a boyfriend,"

"Come on Cynthia,you really think I can be interested in Mr Hastings? He's so old for me for God's sake. I just hated the way he brought her first all the time...."

I couldn't stay inside anymore so I walked out. She must have been shocked to see me there.

"Rose I thought we are friends,"i felt worse. I really had no friend all this time."Am just a poor girl,why would you hate me over something...."

"Leave our school,"she blurted.

"What?"

"I don't like seeing you here. I thought if I convinced people you cheated in the maths test you would be expelled..."

"Rose..."right there I felt my heart was going to burst. I rushed to where she stood and I slapped her,with all my might,on the cheek. Just as I had slapped her,she slapped me back.

"You poor thing, I don't want to see you in our school. You should leave. Yes, remember you didn't log out. I used the chance and posted the email. And just know Mr Hastings never confessed any feelings for you." She pushed my head with her middle finger,"you are so damn to think a teacher can fall for a sick poor thing like you." She jeered,"my mother is on the school board,you should leave before we force you out." And they walked out laughing.

So all along I lied to myself that Mr Hastings felt something for me. It was all my fault anyway. But again I wondered why someone would hate me to a point of becoming my friend just to ruin me.

***

"Mom, how did you manage to get the school find out I was innocent?"I asked her as soon as I entered the house. She was in the kitchen preparing supper.

"That's not important..."

"You found out someone named Rose put the paper in my locker?" She didn't reply, she kept chopping the onions quietly.

"And because her mother is on the school board of governors you let her go?"

"Mabel go change and wash the school uniform."

I guessed it was a yes in other words. Why do the rich do things the way they please? I asked myself. The next day I went along with my sports attire and along the way I changed from the school uniform to the attire and went to the community volleyball field and spent the day there. And I decided to stop going to school for sometime till the students forgot about it. For twelve days,all I did was play volleyball at the field and my mom never found out. And on the thirteenth day, she discovered what I was doing.

"Madam, I will need to know where you have been spending your time."

"Mom,am coming from school."

"Lemme have a look at your homework..."

"We didn't..."

"Why ain't you going to school these days? Did you find a boyfriend at the volleyball field?

I didn't realize she had a cane behind her. Before I answered her question, she pulled me to where she stood and caned me four times.

"Why don't you go to school anymore?"her voice was so loud.

"I hate school,"I screamed."I hate school." It seemed she was taken back by my statement.

"What?" She let my hand free.

"I want to die Mom,"I cried as memories of what happened at school replayed in my head. "I can't go back to that school." And I ran to my room and locked. I didn't want more trouble,I knew Rose would do worse than before and I would go through all her plans and still be expelled.

I never ate that evening,mom called me several times but I ignored her calls. The next day she left very early in the morning,"your breakfast is ready. You don't have to go to school today. Stay home and rest." I was also already feeling hungry so as soon as I heard the door being closed,I moved out and had my breakfast.

Later on in the evening,mom returned and found me watching TV.

"We need to talk,"she called me before I managed to get inside my room. I had planned to run to my room as soon as I heard her fidget with the keys but I was unsuccessful.

"I know what you did at school..."

"They lied to you..."

"And it's okay. Getting feelings at your age is fine. I have talked to your principal though Mr Hastings has refused to come out to talk to me...."

"Mummy,"I hugged my mother,it broke my heart the more. I didn't expect him to be so angry to that point. I wanted him to understand me.

"You must go back to school..."

"Mom..."

"Mabel,am not rich. We have come from so far,you can't end here. You must return to the school. You just have to live your life and ignore the other students. They don't understand you, and it doesn't matter. Tomorrow morning,you are going to school,no buts and I won't forgive you if you don't go to school." And she walked away before I said a word.

The next morning,Mr Hastings was the second teacher on the time table and he indeed came. He was very cold and I realized I felt so uneasy just like he felt.

"Any questions?"he asked before we attempted his exercise.

"Mr Hastings, this is irrelevant but I must ask,"that was Rose who raised her hand.

"Go ahead,"

She stood up, I don't know why she kept playing with her hair and making eyes with him."What's your relationship with Mabel?"

He gave a deep breathe. I don't know if he looked at me because I kept my eyes down on the floor.

"Mabel,you need to apologize to me for what you did. And I have no relationship with anyone,you are all kids to me. Mabel I just thought of you as a daughter,you were lonely so I decided to be a friend. I shouldn't say this here in front of everyone but you have given me no choice and we can't be close like before,"

I picked my hankie and dried the tears that filled my eyes. I lowered my face the more so no one would see my tears.

"Mabel apologize immediately,"the class monitor called me out. And I was left with no heart to be broken because I felt it crushing with every word Mr Hastings said. And at that moment I hated him.

"Is it bad to like someone?"I blurted out, still keeping my eyes down as tears streamed down to my laps."I was misled,I didn't have to put it on the website. Someone did that,why would I put something like that on the website? Am not a psychopath. Yes I do like Mr Hastings,it's something I couldn't control. I didn't want it to happen but it happened. And am not going to apologize for liking him. Leave me alone,"and at once I got up and ran out of class. I didn't know where I got the guts. I was bullied so much over that issue of which I couldn't fight for myself.

That fateful afternoon, a group of girls attacked me out of the blue and pulled my hair. My head hurt so much because they pulled the hair for more than five minutes.

And I knew the problem arised from Mr Hastings being close to a poor girl. And Rose naturally hated me and used all her resources to push me out. Life had chosen to be hard for me and it was all my fault. Someone I had known as a friend,Rose had chosen to pull me down. Mr Hastings had also chosen to deliberately embarrass me and my mother had intentionally ignored how I felt and pushed me back to the school. And no one wished me good, even the teachers gave deaf ears and never tried to help me out. My heart had been crushed and guilt had eaten me up.

"Leave her alone,"as I tried to fight,with my hair all messed up,I heard someone roar. It was an angry male voice.

"Ah,who are you?"the girls turned to him.

"Out of my way,"he pushed through to where I stood,with my head held low. I could hardly see his face through my messed up hair.

"Hey young man...,"one of the guys who had gathered around us got in his way,"who are you to interrupt?"

"I said out of my way,"he pushed him away."Mabel,let's get out of here." Of course, everyone knew my name now. I hated everyone at school but I quietly accepted and he led me away from the crowd to the volleyball hall,which was near and empty since it was time for lunch.

I turned to look at who saved me from the crazy girls and it was a new face. He was a nice looking guy with a warm smile. I remembered Rose smiled at me and instead of smiling back,I got up feeling angry,"who are you to get into my business?"

"Call me Josiah. Am new here,am a foreigner,am from Arishan,I just joined the school last week..."

"Hey,am not interested..."

"I need to pass mathematics to go to the university,my dream university and am very poor at it. Mr Rogers recommended you to help me out. I have been looking for you since last week..."

"I have not been around..."

"I saved you from those bitches not because I really wanted to save you.Am going to be by your side and protect you from everyone. I won't stand anyone who insults you. And in exchange,you will give your best to help me out in mathematics,"

"I don't want to...."

"I know you are tired of being treated like that. Am going to be different from that Rose...."

"You know Rose...?"

"Before coming to you,I first investigated. Mabel,let's help each other out. I believe in the future you will appreciate me,let's try it out and see. If it doesn't work,you...."

"You swear to protect me...?"

"I will need you to sign this contract that you will help me out till we finish high school..."he opened his bag and pulled out papers."First read through..."

"A contract really?"

"I need to be sure you will be there coz I seriously need your help." And a smile played on his lips. I had to admit, he looked cuter when he smiled. Though Mr Hastings'smile was way better, no one else would make me feel the way I felt for Mr Hastings.