Teach Me, Love (1.5)

01. Mr. Johnston

B I A N C A - M A V O U N G O U

Dear Diary.

Today is a good day. Today is the day I go back to school. The day when, from now on, I'll be spending less time with my mother. I'm going to see my best friend again, who had gone to Gabon to see her family and also went to Rome with her boyfriend.

But above all, I'm finally going to spend my days in the school library with a cup of tea and a book. Of course, I'll have to wait until mid-November for the dark evenings in the library, but that's okay. I'll be spending less time with my mother in any case.

I love going back to school, especially as it's officially my last year before I go to university.

I'm going to make it, I'm strong.

─   Bianca! I heard mom call out to me. Bianca, wake up!

I rolled my eyes as I closed my diary before placing it on mattress of my bed. I put my feet up on the cold wooden floor of my bedroom. A yawn escaped me as I stretched. It's the first day of school, the first of September, which means I start at eleven o'clock instead of half past eight.

It also means that tomorrow is my birthday. I'll officially be nineteen.

I walked into the bathroom, my reflection in the mirror horrifying me. I look like a zombie with my dark circles and swollen lips. I don't even want to imagine what I'd look like if I took my bonnet off. I quickly made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

─   Hello, I greeted my brothers and sisters as I saw them eating, playing or watching TV.

I took an ice cube from the fridge before climbing the stairs as quickly as possible. I absolutely don't want to run into my mother. I was quietly gloating when I managed to get into the bathroom without running into her.

I rubbed the ice cube against my skin and let it rest a little longer on my pimples. I also rubbed it over my dark circles and my lips. I repeated this until the ice cube had melted completely. I then rinsed my face with warm water before rubbing a cleanser into my face. I massaged my face by making circular movements with my hands. I applied a toner to my face, followed by a vitamin c serum and finally a moisturiser.

Oh, I almost forgot the sun cream.

Once I'd finished my skin care routine, I picked up my outfit for today. Nothing special, as our school requires students to wear uniforms. A white shirt and a blazer with the school logo on it, as well as a checked tie and a checked skirt.

I looked at the clock, it was only a quarter to ten. That meant I could still make myself a nice breakfast. I grimaced and stayed in my room. I don't really want to see my mom, and eating in the morning disgusts me. I hate the taste of toothpaste mixed with food.

I decided to tidy up my already clean and tidy room a bit. I went downstairs, most of my brothers and sisters had already left, only my little brother and my mother were left.

─   Hello mama, I said, pouring myself a glass of water in the kitchen. As usual, she answered nothing.

─   Why didn't you zip up your shirt? Are you trying to show your breasts?

I frowned and grimaced.

─   What? No!

─   Don't shout at me! I didn't raise you to be so impolite! she snapped.

I inhaled as I turned to drink my water. It was a real struggle with myself not to answer her. Mom went on to say all sorts of things about my outfit. That I should have worn tights, that I was trying to show off my breasts.