High school.... ( September 2015)
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I didn’t want to get out of the car... I was spacing out at usual.. biting at my short fingernails..,
The tension and the anxiety was spreading fast through my neck straight to my legs that I didn’t want to move a bit
My mom’s voice jolted me back to reality
“Iris!
Do you know that you’re keeping me waiting?
Your younger sister is already on her way to her classroom”
I stared outside the car window and saw my 11 year old sister bouncing happily into the school compound while my ass remained glued to the car seat
Well... she wasn’t overweight
Why won’t she be so excited to be in school
I was in my senior second year when I had to get transferred to another school due to the repeated bullying and physical abuse which I suffered from my ex classmates
My mom took it personal when I came home last year with a swollen face and a note which read “UGLY FAT PIG” in my backpack
Remembering the incidence brought smiles to my face as I recalled my mom driving with fury to my former school the following day to give a whole speech of anger to everyone involved in the case
She almost threw a water bottle at my classroom teacher
Everything led to my ultimate transfer for my peace but I was still nervous to start school again after receiving therapy for a year at Home
I took in a deep breath and finally opened the door...as I was about to get down, my mom held my hand firmly and said
“Be good Iris
Don’t let anyone look you down...
Remember that you’re my princess and I’d always love you “
My eyes watered and I turned to give her a tight hug
“Thanks mom...
I love you”
She pecked my cheeks and waved me bye before driving off
With a deep breathe... I moved into the school compound where another whole experience began for me
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The morning assembly went by in a blur
Everyone was staring at me with weird eyes...
well.. why won’t they?
I was obviously the biggest person in their midst
I tried my best to maintain a calm composure till we ended morning assembly and moved to classes
As I was trying to find an empty space in the lousy classroom... I heard a soft voice say
“Hi...
I’m peace...you can sit next to me
My seat is empty “
I was so happy and glad that finally someone spoke to me
She was beautiful and light skinned with short hair.. she had a small ziz zag scar on her forehead which made her look distinctive
I knew she was going to be a long time friend
I placed my backpack next to her and sat down
“Thank you
Uhm..I’m iris... nice to meet you’
“Huh... Iris
You have a pretty name
Well you’re pretty as well though “
I almost gasped... someone called me pretty
Apart from my mom and my patronizing uncles... no one ever called me pretty
Perhaps transferring wasn’t a bad idea anyways
“What department are you majoring
Arts... science or commercial?” She asked
“Arts... I want to be a script writer” i timidly said
“Wow
I’m a science student... I want to study medicine
Let’s get along well iris’
I smiled and nodded
I was happy.., the tension was fading