After Passing Through The Air I Became A Villain

VERONICA

I walked to the door, feeling nervous as hell. The hallway outside my classroom was already crowded as usual, students gathering around rows of blue metal lockers that lined the long corridor.

I, however, feared stepping out there, knowing what would happen if I tried to make it to my locker through the crowd.

I usually arrived earlier to school to avoid this situation, but today, I was late.

I had half a heart to escape, but nothing I could do. If I failed to get to class, the school office would call my father and report that I had skipped again.

Now, my father's punishments were like a taste of hell on earth. Considering my two options, I would rather face the embarrassment from my school mates than get beaten up by my father.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, 'get it through Veronica, it's not the first time...'

I clutched my bag tightly against my chest and took a deep breath before stepping into the crowd. Students brushed past me as they talked loudly about classes, sports practice, and the latest gossip spreading around campus.

I was so focused on trying to slip quietly through the hallway that I didn't see the foot that had been stretched out deliberately in front of me.

As a result- my shoe caught it.

I tripped instantly, my body pitching forward before I could even react. I landed face first on the cold tiled floor with a loud thud that echoed down the corridor.

For a brief second the hallway went quiet.

Then- laughter exploded around me.

Students burst into hysterics. Some quickly pulled out their phones, eager to record whatever humiliation was happening.

I remained on the floor, refusing to move from my spot.

I fucking hated life.

Today was my 18th birthday but I still had to suffer like this.

"Aren't you going to move, fatty?" David, my worst tormentor, mocked.

He stood over me wearing his letterman jacket like he owned the place.

"How can you expect her to move?" Anna, another girl, mocked while flipping her hair dramatically. "Her weight is too much for her to carry. Poor Veronica."

"When she fell, the foundation of the school shook," Michael added loudly, causing another wave of laughter from the surrounding students.

The three of them were my nemesis.

David was one of the football team's most popular players, Anna was one of the cheerleaders, and Michael followed them around like a loyal guard dog.

I hated them with everything in me but I couldn't speak against them as they ruled the school.

"What's with her clothes though?"

"Did she even take a shower this morning?"

"Her clothes are so dirty! How can she even wear it!?"

"Ewww. I'll kill myself if I was as dirty and fat as she was!" - These were words I used to. Words I heard every day.

Not only from my tormentors but also my family.

It hurt every time that I heard it. But there was nothing that I could do about it. Years of bullying and abuse had slowly killed every fight left inside me.

"I saved this just for you," I heard David's voice.

Before I could realise, a cold liquid splashed over me.

The smell hit immediately. It was stale and disgusting, churning my stomach violently.

The liquid soaked into my hair and clothes while dripping down my face onto the floor beneath me.

Laughter exploded again, even louder this time.

I could hear camera shutters clicking and see flashes from phone cameras as students recorded the moment eagerly.

I hid my face as much as I could but it didn't do much though.

The bell rang suddenly, echoing loudly through the hallway and signaling the start of first period.

One by one, the students began leaving the hallway, hurrying toward their classrooms before they were marked late.

"Fucking bitch," David muttered before kicking me in my side.

Pain shot through my ribs and I groaned quietly, still laying on the floor in the filth.

There was no time to change out of my clothes into the spare ones I kept in my locker. Ignoring the pain in my side, I slowly carried myself toward the classroom.

The teacher was already inside when I arrived.

With only as much as a brief look of disgust in my direction, the teacher turned back toward the whiteboard and continued teaching as if nothing unusual had happened.

I dragged myself to my chair at the very back of the classroom. My usual seat.

"Must we have class with her? She stinks." Becky muttered loudly from the front row where she sat with her group of friends.

There were murmurs of approval from the others in the class.

Becky was the head cheerleader and one of the most popular girls in school. Her father was a wealthy businessman and have a good position within government who donated money to the school's athletic programs, especially the football team.

Everyone listened to her, and that's what I feared the most.

I silently prayed that our teacher wouldn't listen to Becky and ask me to leave the class because of the offending smell coming from me.

"Let her be." Damon spoke calmly from across the room, and the class instantly became silent.

I looked at him and our eyes met briefly, and before I could thank him, he looked away again.

Damon was the star football player of the school.

Although he came from a wealthy family and had everything most students dreamed of, he behaved nothing like the others from his social circle.

The only person who behaves kindly to me.

After he saved me from the bullies that one time behind the gym, I also fell in love with him.

And I had always wanted him to know.

I knew he would never reciprocate my feelings. Not when he had someone as beautiful as Becky.

But this was my last year in high school. And if I never told him how I felt, I would never get another chance.

I barely focused on the lesson today. My mind was occupied entirely with Damon and how I would tell him my feelings.

All through the day, I couldn't get him alone. He was always surrounded by teammates or friends, laughing and talking about football practice later that afternoon.

I stayed away. But after school finally ended, I found my chance.

Most students had already left campus and the hallway near the locker rooms was much quieter than usual.