Hearing Slave

Chapter 2: Bound by Debt

02

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The next morning, Jillian entered the school with a heavy heart, doing her best to blend into the background. She kept her head down, her hands gripping her backpack straps as she navigated the crowded halls. With the noise around her, she relied on watching people's mouths and expressions more than ever, trying to make sure no one realized her difficulty in hearing.

Halfway through the morning, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Clementine standing there, looking as perfect and composed as ever. Clementine thrust a stack of books into Jillian's arms with a dismissive look.

"Books. You're carrying them," Clementine said with a tone that was both amused and condescending.

Jillian caught most of her words, but Clementine's face held an expectation of a response. Jillian swallowed, nodding in silence. She clutched the books and followed Clementine down the hall, feeling like a shadow.

Throughout the day, Clementine continued giving her orders-"Get my coffee," "Take this to the office," "Hold my bag"-each command laced with a kind of superiority that made Jillian's skin crawl. She managed to follow along, but the whispers and glances from other students didn't escape her. The popular crowd didn't usually hang out with people like her, and everyone could see that Clementine was only keeping her around as a servant.

During lunch, Clementine called Jillian over to her table, where her friends sat in a loud circle, talking and laughing. Jillian tried to focus, piecing together words and phrases from their lips and the fragmented sounds that her hearing aid picked up. But it was hard, especially with Clementine and her friends speaking so quickly, their voices mingling with the general noise of the cafeteria.

"Ano, Jillian," Clementine said, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Ano nga ulit ang kwento mo? New girl with the old car, right?"

Jillian's cheeks flushed. She wasn't entirely sure what Clementine had said, but from the looks and laughs around her, she could guess it wasn't anything kind. She forced a small smile, hoping it would satisfy them, and murmured, "Yeah, something like that..."

Clementine raised an eyebrow, seeming to sense Jillian's discomfort. She leaned in closer, her voice low but mocking. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

Jillian's hands clenched in her lap. She wanted to tell Clementine the truth, that she was struggling to hear, but fear kept her silent. The last thing she wanted was for Clementine-and the rest of the school-to know about her hearing loss. It was her own private struggle, and she intended to keep it that way.

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