LILAC

~ Chapter 1: The Beginning ~

Lila's POV

"Smile Lila. Don't be nervous! 

You got this! 

Don't let them get to you. 

Just keep smiling..." I repeated in my head.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the classroom. My eyes searched around, spotting my seat on the last bench in the corner. Leaving my hair down to cover my face, I headed towards it and took a seat.

"She is still here.", whispered someone to another person beside me.

"She really has the audacity to continue coming to class.", spoke another one.

"I heard the cops couldn't even find their bodies; they are still missing."

Ignoring their words, I opened my book to try and get some reading done.

"Look at her arrogance. I heard she never cried at their funeral either."

"She really is a cursed child. Look at that. Her white hair, dirty blue eyes, and sickly pale skin. I feel like any sane person would know she is cursed." Another one laughed. It made me sick enough to puke.

"My parents force me to go meet the priest every few days to check if I was cursed thanks to her."

"No ways. Really?"

I cleared my throat, attracting their attention. The professor walked in as the girls scattered to take a seat for the class.

During lunch, I left for my usual spot the rooftop. It was the only place that was silent. I opened the door to be greeted with a cold breeze as grey clouds hung over. The weather was gloomy just like my life. I took a seat on the ground and started having food while gazing at the dull sky.

You would think that as a 17-year-old girl in high school, I would have lots of friends, go on dates, and party. But my life was ripped apart on the day my two childhood friends were taken away from me. 

Seven years ago, we had just gone outside to play in the park as usual, and we left saying goodbye to each other, but only I made it home that day. I searched for them every place my mind could think, but to no avail. They had disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace behind. The only thing that reminded me that they were alive somewhere was the fresh memory that remained engraved in my mind, like it was just yesterday when we played around.

I never left home after that. My childhood seemed to cease the moment they were gone. My world drained of its colour along with their disappearance. Scared of the insults from other people, I stayed home. Their parents never met me, but I could imagine their responses. 

Pain... Grief... Sadness... Leaving only a void.

I turned to my parents for help, but they were never really at home. They were always abroad on business trips. I grew up by myself. Even when the two closest people to me in my life were taken away, they never returned. When I tried to call them, they told me it was going to be alright and left saying they had work to do. I cried for nights and begged them to stay, but they never looked at me. Not even once.

Further, they brought a house in the middle of the forest and told me to live there quietly. I had a butler who took care of the house and drove me back and forth to school. Not once did they ever come and see me after that incident. I don't really blame them. I mean how could I? The other kids that were talking behind my back maybe were telling the truth. I may really be 'cursed'.

"What did I do so wrong?" I questioned myself aloud.

A thunder struck the ground as it started pouring rain. I watched closely as the rain fell on the food. Tch! Tossing the food aside, I proceeded to go back inside, now with wet hair.