The Shy Boy: Something New

Chapter Three - Mars

   Monday, again. We're in line in the quadrangle as we listen to the short devotion.

   We go back to our room and as we sat down, we got our things ready for our first subject, Filipino.

   "Mars, nagawa mo yung assignment? [Mars, did you do the assignment?]" Jeff asks me, "What assignment?" I said a little panicked, Ace looks up at him confused. "Joke lang, walang assignment. [Just kidding, there's no assignment.]" He says and chuckles, running his fingers through his hair before going back to his seat.

   I look over to Ace, "Is there an assignment?" I ask, he shakes his head. "Wala." I look over to Jeff who's back at his seat. He's not looking at me, but I still narrowed my eyes at him.

   Recess, I went to the canteen by myself because Laine had to go to the restroom.

There were people buzzing around in line at the canteen. It was hot and dimly lit because of the lack of windows. Not many people stay here to eat anyway.

   "Hi, Milo!" I greet the dog owned by the people who manage the canteen. He was in a black cage across the other side of the hall in front of the canteen.

   I walked into the room, Laine, Jeff, and Wayde were in the classroom.

I walked behind the chairs to get to mine, until... "Ow!" The end of my shoe got caught on a chipped part of the floor. Luckily I caught myself with my elbow and didn't hit my head.

   Jeff laughed at me. "Mars!" He continued laughing at me as Laine quickly helped me up and swiftly walked me out of that embarrassing situation. We went to the girl's bathroom.

   I made hissing sounds, "Wait, it hurts." I say. "What hurts?" She asks looking around my elbows and arms. I raise my skirt to reveal that I had an abrasion wound. "Oh, must be from your skirt when you caught yourself." She says.

   "At least I didn't fall face flat." I chuckle. "Stay here, I'll get my first-aid kit." She quickly rushes out of the restroom.

   I looked at my reflection in the mirror, ew. I was there, alone. It was quiet and I could feel myself shaking. I hadn't tripped or fallen like that in a long while. Not in front of people who just laughed at me and made me look like such a helpless little kid.

I was helpless, but he made it feel worse.

(content warning; contains explicit language and violence.)  

   My alarm rings, I get up and get my hair out of my face.

I looked outside the sliding window beside my bed, the sky was still a dark blue. I open my phone, flinching at how bright it was. 5:02 a.m.

   I get up, brush my hair, shower, get into my uniform, prepare my things, and the step I dread the most, waking up my dad. I check the time, 5:40 a.m.

   "Dad?" I knock on the light-blue painted door of their bedroom, slightly opening it.

"Dad?" I call again, louder. They groan, sitting up from their slumber. "What?" They ask me in an angry tone. "I uh, need you to drop me off at school."

"Why? It's so early!" They scold, "But I have to get to school early today."

"Why? Don't you know I didn't get to sleep last night?"

Yeah, and that's pretty much their fault.

"Give me money to commute then."

   "Are you talking back?" They stand up and aggressively open the door wider. "Just saying, you want to sleep more, right?"