More Than What They See

CHAPTER 4: The Second Day

Rhian’s POV

I barely slept that night. I tossed and turned until the sky turned pale gray, every moment of my first day playing over and over like a scene I could not stop watching. The way they looked at me, the sharp words, the laughter that felt like it was meant only for me, and the silence of everyone else who just watched. I pulled my blanket up to my ears, trying to block out every memory, but it kept coming back clear and painful. I wanted to run to Mama and tell her I could not go back, that every minute there felt like I was walking on broken glass, but I saw how tired she was when she came home, how her hands were rough from scrubbing clothes and how she forced a smile just so I would not worry. I knew she did everything just to give me this chance. So I got up, fixed my uniform, tied my hair back neatly, and walked to school even though my chest felt heavy and my legs felt like they were dragging on their own.

When I stepped inside the classroom, they were already sitting at the front. The whispers started the moment I walked in, soft and quiet but loud enough for me to hear. I kept my head down and walked straight to my seat at the very back, carefully taking out my notebook and pen so I would not make any sound. I told myself maybe today would be different, maybe they would leave me alone, but that hope died right away when something crumpled hit my desk with a soft thud that made me jump.

I unfolded the paper slowly. It said: Don’t speak. Don’t raise your hand. Stay in your place.

My hands trembled as I folded it back and hid it deep inside my bag. I stared at the board but nothing made sense, my mind too full of fear and worry. Every time I shifted in my seat, I felt like eyes were glued to me, judging every little thing I did.

A little while later, the teacher spoke. “Class, please pair up. Answer the exercises on page forty-five.”

Everyone stood up at once, calling names, laughing, and gathering around their friends. I stayed seated, gripping my pencil tight, pretending to read my book so no one would see that no one had come for me. I looked down at my paper and pretended to write something just to look busy. Then footsteps stopped right in front of my desk. I looked up and saw Francis looking down at me, his face cold and unkind.

“Are you waiting for someone to pick you?” he asked.

“I… I can work alone,” I whispered.

“Of course you will,” Gio said as he leaned against the side of my desk. “No one wants to be paired with you anyway.”

“Why would they?” Jace added with a smirk. “You will only bring everyone down.”

Francis leaned closer, his voice low but sharp. “Don’t even try to act like you belong here. You don’t.”

The whole room went quiet for a moment before I heard soft snickers all around. The teacher looked over. “Rhian? Do you have a partner?”

I shook my head slowly. “No, Ma’am.”

“Then you may work on your own,” she said gently, though I could hear the pity in her voice.

I just nodded and looked down at my paper, fighting hard to keep my tears from falling. I tried my best to answer every question, but my hands were shaking so much my writing came out messy and crooked.

When the period ended, we went out for a short break. I stayed near the water fountain, waiting for everyone to pass so I could drink without being noticed. But they walked by right then, with a group of girls crowding around them.

“Francis, are you going to the basketball tryouts later?” one girl asked.

“Of course,” he answered like it was nothing. “We always do.”

Then he glanced at me standing by the wall. “Look at her. She acts like she’s some kind of ghost.”

Gio laughed. “Maybe she is. No one even knows who she really is.”

I quickly turned away and walked back inside before they could say anything else.

Later on, the teacher asked a different question about the lesson. I knew the answer perfectly well—I had studied late last night just to make sure I would not be left behind. My hand lifted slowly, ready to speak, but then Francis turned his head and looked straight at me. He shook his head very slightly, his eyes warning me clearly that I would regret it if I did. My hand dropped back down slowly.

“Anyone?” the teacher asked again.

No one answered, so she called someone else.

When the bell rang for lunch, everyone stood up and walked out in groups, talking and laughing loudly. I stayed in my seat, took out my simple lunch, and ate slowly with my head bowed down. I watched everyone pass by, wishing even just one person would look my way. A moment later, I heard their voices right outside the open door.

“Look at her,” Francis said. “Still sitting there all by herself.”

“What else do you expect?” Gio answered. “She has no one to be with.”

“Good,” Jace said. “That is exactly where she should stay.”

Some students stopped to glance inside for a second before walking away, but no one came near me. No one asked if I was okay. No one even smiled. I sat there all alone in the quiet classroom, holding back every tear that wanted to fall, and I knew this was only the beginning of so many hard days I still had to face.