SAVAGE SOLACE

SIX.۝

The excitement in the air was crazy as girls all around prepped themselves up for the night...

For once in this semester, we were allowed to wear house dresses, so the girls were dressing as though their lives hinged on it.

People stood on the corridors and everywhere around the dorm area, applying makeup, combing their hair well, spraying themselves...

Some girls who were done were calling out to their friends, asking if they looked beautiful enough for the night.

From the assembly hall, Rema's "Calm Down" song being played was interrupted by the Entertainment Prefect's voice as she screamed through the megaphone, "Fifteen minutes more for everyone to assemble here!"

Whilst the girls screamed excitedly, I was in a mad rush against time.

I ran through the corridors, making my way past the sea of girls standing there and prepping themselves. "Excuse me..." I repeated time without number.

I burst into my dorm like mad, and the sight of everyone looking beautiful in their dresses and almost done got me crazy.

"Where have you been?"

"We have only fifteen more minutes, girl."

"You better hurry!"

"Why don't you bathe afterwards?"

"No way Sister Mary. I want to smell and feel good! Plus, the sisters won't allow anyone to bathe afterward."

As I hurriedly pulled the checkered dress over my head, I wondered what else could go wrong. I had to beat time, but I also had to look prettier for my performance.

I threw the dress onto my messy bed and unclipped my bra, contemplating the potential mishaps. Finally, I fished through my travel bag for my nightwear, which also served as my bathwear.

I grabbed my towel from where it was hanging on my bed's metal. "Good evening Sisters," Zakiya entered almost immediately when I was slipping the nightwear over my head and looking for my bathroom slippers under my bed.

"Sister Kelsey asked me to bring your washed clothes," she said, dumping them on the bed. "You better hurry, girl!"

I bent down under my bed and fetched my small pail used for keeping bathing sponge and soap in this school.

"Zaki, please tidy up for me. Madam might come around," I said over my back as I finally picked up my bucket and ran out.

I came back to the door, "Pick something for me to wear, sweetie!"

It was a race for my life to finally get to the bathhouse, but not without hearing, "We are locking the house in five minutes!"

The huge bathhouse was another hopeless situation. There were lots of sisters around and virtually no junior.

Sisters would not be locked and punished when they were locking the house, but juniors would be.

So many naked bodies around, bathing communally with no roof over them, no shower, just taps that you fetch water from into your bucket.

I spotted only one of the few taps where no buckets were lined up and rushed to it. When I put my bucket under it and turned it on to fetch water, it was flowing slowly.

I took a deep breath, reassuring myself, "Ruby babe, you've got everything under control!"

On a normal day, I wouldn't be bothered; I'd have my cool, but not today when I had to use my performance to the whole school as a revenge I would always take pride in.

I removed everything I was wearing and hanged it on one of the spoilt taps. Naked, I began bathing with the little water I had.

A sister came from nowhere, shoved my bucket aside, and fetched water into her pail.

Despite wanting to slap the hell out of her, I kept my cool, washing the soap off my face.

From outside, I heard, "I am locking the house!"

Even this time round, the sisters around let out screams of panic.

"Looks like Madam is here!" one said.

I grabbed the bucketful of water and threw it over my body. I was shaking!

I toweled myself in seconds, wore my nightwear, grabbed everything, and dashed out.

Zakiya was standing on the path leading to the dorm, holding and waving a bag.

"Everything's here! Let's go!"

It seemed crazy, but we held hands and walked towards the gate, filing out among the sea of students who were rushing out. Surprisingly, no one seemed to notice me in my nightwear amid the rush.

"Nine!" the house prefect screamed.

I found my way to the deserted alley of the house where the clean gutters run, and Zakiya trailed after. Finally, I could heave a sigh of relief.

"Don't be relieved yet. You are now about to dress up!"

I then dressed up quickly from scratch.

Zakiya handed me the mirror when she finished my makeup.

"Wow," I caught my breath, "You're talented!"

"Didn't you know already?" she said jovially.

I looked down at myself, wearing a short red body-hugging dress and black feathery heels that complemented it. My curves were all showing in such a way that I even adored myself.

I was indeed beautiful. Simple yet beautiful.

"Your wrist beads," Zakiya said, waving them in the air.

I put them on and adored myself even more. My long, bushy hair was well-combed and adorned with a hairband.

"Awww Zakiiii," I enveloped her in a tight hug and said in my head, feeling really grateful and touched by her loyalty, "You've earned the second place of Mogul Girlies."

Until today, I hadn't told her all about myself. She only knew my parents and boyfriend. She didn't know my life story, and now I felt she should know me more.

"Thank you, Zakiya..." I realized how unfair I had been to her.

"What are friends for?"

"There they are!" Kelsey appeared with Caty, and they each were looking dazzling. But they told me, "You look out of this world!"

That was indeed what I wanted.

I later saw Lovia from afar. She was equally looking good in a skirt and top and chunky boots.

I said in my head, "You look ready enough to be called to the stage by me, girl. Can't wait to see your tears spoil your dress, your makeup, and your dirty soul...

Laugh and smile while it lasts.

Blame your womanizer boyfriend at the end, or if you like....

Blame it on my beauty.

A/N

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