Accidental Prejudice

ONE

3:00 am, Outhouse of Parker's Bar

Cera, lied on the cold rug looking through the window, her will to live fading like the night and the moonlight beside her. A life she'd never once dreamt of, is now her harsh reality. All she wanted was to run far away from this mental and physical slaughter. Yet she was too timid to take her own life. Her dreams and ambitions were reluctant to vanish, and kept pushing her despite all the pain and trauma she bore up with. Letting out a sigh of despair she closed her eyes just as the moon dipped into the darkness and dawn started to set in. But the noises within her kept engulfing her thoughts making it hard to fall asleep. Eventually she fell asleep .

Time skip: 7:30am

Cera scratched her head in fury and regret for oversleeping and missing all possible convenient routes for college, thus having to book a cab. Given her current monetary situation it was hella painful to spend even one extra penny, but she couldn't bear to miss the lecture.
She hastily, freshened up, packed her books and rushed out of her little house ( even compact than a studio apartment), while grabbing pieces of toast in her mouth. She hoped to find a bus, but in vain. Thankfully, the cab arrived in the next few minutes.
As soon as she got in, She checked if she missed any stationery or book in hurry. Once confirmed, she took at a book and started reading, with complete focus- distancing herself from the world around. This was untill, she got disturbed by sudden noise. As soon as she looked aside, she noticed vehicles gathered like swarms of bees humming around.
It was her unlucky day, perhaps- 15 minutes untill the class began and so was the time needed to cover the remaining distance. How will she get through this?

Like any other honour student, she had a reputation never once smudged by the slightest flaw. Whether it was the International Institute of Law and Adminstration or the Public School for Law, all she cared for was to present the best of herself despite the challenges life threw at her. One may call this too narcissistic trait, but this may be a genetic factor too, since her predecessors had a different inclination towards perfection. It's only normal for her to feel the same.

But as of now, she's made her mind to make the impossible, possible. She could picture the obvious future that will be, if she waits in the cab. Thus she decides to get off the cab and rush herself to school ( the fact that she could bargain to save 50% of the charge now, was equally tempting).

She paced through the clumsily parked automobiles,. Whilst making her way through this crowd, she heard someone calling out her name. She looked around and saw a tall lean guy waving hurriedly at her. She recognised him to be a student - probably her classmate, who must be heading to college. He indicated her to wait there, but she reluctantly leaped through the slim passage and he paced his scooter towards her. When they managed to get out of the traffic, they let out a sigh of relief in unison and greeted each other. TT

As the guy proceeded to start a conversation, she constantly looked at her watch. He then held her wrist but she instantly withdrew. The guy was flustered, and went on to explain "Hey Cera, I apologize for this misbehaviour. It wasn't intentional but you paid no heed to what I said at all. Do you recognise me- Jordan? We are in the same batch. Well I highly doubt since you rarely look around let alone converse with others, specially guys."
Although frustrated, Cera tried to look as normal as possible while replying "Ohh, I see. I can't deny you're right with your assumption, but don't you think we're getting late?"
"Exactly!, So I was asking if you'd mind me giving you a lift, I see you're literally running on the roads which doesn't look safe at all." He quickly replied.

She was embarassed at his remark but right now she felt it could be right to take his offer. "It doesn't get on my pride with just one incident, does it?" she thought and nodded to go. While she sat behind, he assured that he was a safe driver. "But hold on well, we gotta rush it today" . She hummed in to agree as they sped along the way and finally leaped into the campus right before the gates closed.

She was so glad to have not scarred her ideal image that her face brimmed with joy and a radiant smile enhancing it. Jordan had never witnessed s sight this stupidly amusing yet wholesome. She bowed to thank him and they walked together to the class, but she sped in to reach before him (to avoid rumours or attention among students). Jordan realised the obvious and paced back.

During the class break

Cera put extra care today in making class notes, she thought to thank Jordan by giving important notes to refer, but she was hesitant to reach out and converse frankly. Cera avoided contact with her classmates to conceal her identity as a traitor's daughter. Even the thought of it being revealed sends shivers down her spine. The reason that made her leave behind her formerly beloved friends and how they abandoned her at her worst, was quite the lesson to keep socialising at bay.

Yet the heavens were kind enough to send that one girl who hung along with Cera despite her refusing. After span of 3 months Cera finally gave up with the cold demeanour and got along with the bubbly Dorbee Wilde. A girl with blushy pink cheeks wide glistening smile, graced by the golden strands fallen over and those crystal blue eyes deep as oceans. An angel she was, friendly and generous, always dressed in the girliest frock or skirt ever. A personality poles apart from the girl- whose company she fancied the most.

To those who watched them, it was like the horizon where Earth and Sky meet.
The cold and empty black eyes shielded by thick glasses, with a meek smile on that dusky skin at rare, with her glossy black hair tied in a messy low end ponytail or a bun. A girl who ever wore black and pale shades with minimalist dressing approach- Cera. The person seeing them lost in their talks, thought it was their differences that drew them close. The fascinating opposites they possess must grab their interest. But the two lads could care less about those gossips.

Cera walks upto Dorbee's desk and asks her something that made the latter choke on water.

"Wait, so you're- uhh asking about a classmate, a guy at that! Or did I hear that wrong?" Dorbee enquired. "This isn't as astonishing as you're making it appear. I just asked about the kind of person he's" Cera responded with a sigh.
"Ohhh I get it girl, I definitely do... You're Cera after all... So yes Jor...Dan he's okay like he's no bad records but why do you ask? Did anything happen?" Dorbee asked looking concerned.
"ahh, that's well nothing big, he got me a favour so I was thinking to thank him with something " Cera replied.
"What favour?"
-"Actually today whi-"

Cera paused as she noticed Jordan reach by her side. She was about to say something but he spoke already
"Cera, I couldn't ask then.. but I hope the ride wasn't too rash?"
"Ohh it's alright, that was really kind of you.. And yes I've made these important notes from today's lectures.. "
Cera hands over a file of neatly written and clipped notes to Jordan.
"That's the way I thought I could thank you for today... And if you need any study related help you can ask me" she said with a gentle smile.

The tall lean boy seemed greatly pleased as suggested by the apparently prominent dimples on his cheeks and that pale skin of his looking red underneath the sleek glasses and chestnut brown hued bangs that almost cover his hazel eyes. "Ohh that wasn't necessary, we were headed to the same way, so it was no hassle... But thanks for these". He smiled and waved her off to his seat as the second of classes commenced.

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