CORALINE | 18+

2| mean

e d o a r d o

Almost everyone in the cafeteria was laughing. I didn't quite understand what was so funny in somebody's falling on the floor. But then again, I pretty much didn't understand anything concerning feelings such as laughter.

The girl had gotten back to her feet, her cheeks red. I didn't know which type of red, however. I'd made enough research to know that people's cheeks redden for two general reasons; the first being anger. The second was called blushing. According to that book concerning the human's behavior, it was due to embarrassment, shame, or humiliation. Looking at the girl's situation, and how she bit the floor a few moments ago, the red of her cheeks was most likely due to embarrassment.

How interesting.

"Heartless just made his first victim! The poor girl," said some laughing jock.

It was then that I realized how everybody was looking at us. Boys were whispering what I knew was mocking, and the girls were observing me. The emotion on their faces could be classified as anger.

I, on the other hand, had no idea what to do or say. I looked over the fidgeting girl in front of me, wondering why she hasn't moved away yet. Was she planning to stay in my way for the whole day?

I opened my mouth, about to tell her to change her directions and head somewhere else. Of course, it was that moment the bell rang, and within a few seconds, the room was empty, leaving me and the new girl alone.

"How long will you be staying here?" I asked, staring at her blankly. I always leave the room at last.

Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth.

Then she closed it again.

The odd girl glanced at the mess on the floor, as if waiting for something to appear. "I... I actually –" but she suddenly bent down, grabbed something off the floor and put it in her sweatshirt's pocket.

She made a sharp turn, and headed towards the exit, before abruptly turning back and staring at me with wide eyes. What was her problem?

"A-are you okay?" She urgently stalked towards me, her hands mid-air. Her cheeks were blushing.

I blinked.

"I'm sorry, my tea – I just dropped my cup of tea on you before I, um, fell." The girl didn't seem to realize that her tea was the last of my interests as she fumbled through her bag to take out a napkin. She put it on the stain on my white shirt, cursing under her breath. "I-I'm sorry, your skin must be burnt, you should go to the nurse –"

I blinked at her, not understanding her... concern. Yes, that was the word. "Will you leave now? You are bothering my schedule."

"Oh..." was her quiet answer.

The unknown girl angrily crumbled the napkin in her hand, threw it in the nearest trash than walked out the cafeteria, not sparing me a glance.

Finally.

When the students were no longer in sight, I grabbed my schoolbag and put it over my shoulders just how my therapist taught me, in a way I wouldn't unknowingly hurt myself.

Because if I indeed hurt myself, I wouldn't know it. I would just go on with my school day with a new abnormality.

And maybe that would be for the best.

In my insensitive mind, and after many researches and a lot of reading, I have come to the conclusion that experiencing pain is not as awful as people make it seem.

Pain would've saved the life of many kids with a condition similar to mine. Pain would make my life easier.

Pain is proof of fighting and surviving. Proof of living.

I have read about people wishing for their sufferance to stop. But if it stopped, would they be able to continue living?

Could a dying soldier call for help if he hadn't felt the pain caused by his injury?

In my insensitive mind, pain is a necessity to walk through life.

For some people, pain is a blessing.

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Hello! I am finally back.

Since I am back to school, updates will most likely be on Fridays.

What do we think of this chapter?

Have a nice day and thank you for reading <333