It'll Be Alright (On Hold)

Chapter-1

I wasn't exactly thrilled for my first year in 6th grade. 

It was the same old online classes.

I mean ok, yay, I don't have to go to school. But I mean it's been 2 years, the last time I'd gone to school was in 4th. It was driving me insane.

So that's probably why I attended my first class of 6th grade in my pajamas. 

'Reyna. Why are you wearing your pajamas?' My science teacher asked knowing I'd woken up late and didn't have time to change, she decided it was still worth asking.

I unmuted myself, 'Apologies ma'am. I woke up quite late this morning.' I replied cursing my camera for automatically turning on once I joined the class.

'Go change,' she said sternly, 'don't just turn off your camera and sit there. Show me once you changed.' 

I said a few more cuss words that if my mom heard, she would probably clean my mouth with chili-flavored soap. I suppose the burning would prevent me from using the words again. Not sure, still curious. 

I went into my room and took out my uniform. The words 'Pearl Diver's Academy' had been stitched on the pocket, I'd always wondered why that was my school's name, perhaps my principal was close to someone who was a pearl diver? It had the symbol of a fallen basket with pearls falling out. 

I'd always thought it was quite weird. 

I changed and combed my hair. I had extremely long hair that I despised a lot. I had the habit of opening Pinterest and seeing all those amazing short haircut styles. They were all so pretty. They were pushing me to ask my mom for the 300th time to cut my hair.

While I was walking back to my computer my mom stopped me, 'Told you, you should've woken earlier.' I looked at her wondering just why she has to bring that up. I nodded and walked away.

I switched on my camera and showed the teacher my new, more disciplined form.

'Ok, now listen to the class.' she said.

I turned off my camera and sat there. I stared at the screen when my ex-friend, Lithe, spoke up. Her name popped up on my screen, her video's borders outlined with a cheesy yellow color.

I stared at it and thought about her.

She was a good friend.

She was smart.

I tried digging deeper into my brain to find more compliments. But all that showed up were complaints. 

She has made me cry once because she made fun of me in front of the whole class.  

She spread rumors about me.

She said I get too much attention.

Accused me of being a 'good-two shoes.'

Then a flashback of a conversation I had with my eldest brother unfolded in front of my eyes. 

I was painting the outhouse in my backyard with him. It was used as a gym at the time.

I was drawing a symbol of my favorite K-POP band.

He was writing inspirational quotes for when he was working out. 

'How's school?' he asked. Having studied in the same school once gave him a lot of big brotherly advice he could give me. 

'Hm?' I replied as if I hadn't heard him.

He set down the paintbrush and sighed as he walked closer to me crouching to reach my height. 

'What's wrong?' he asked looking directly at my eyes, my hands stopped painting, holding the paintbrush right where I had pressed it against last. Drips of blood-red paint started dripping down the wall and onto the floor.