A Beauty In Disguise

Chapter 05

CHAPTER 05

After what happened in the clinic, I literally ran my whole way home. I didn’t stop. I ran like some vicious dogs with rabies were chasing after me. My school is a 30 minutes ride away from my house and being the not-so-fond-of-running of a person that I am, it was a miracle that I have managed to reach home by foot.

When I reached our house, I saw my mom unpacking her groceries from the car and she went into an instant panicky mode when she saw me bathing in my own sweat.

She gasped, instantly rushing to my side to check my condition and to bombard me with questions I have not the energy left to answer, “My goodness! Erin, what happened to you? Why are you drenched in sweat? And your eyeglasses, it’s shattered! And why do you have cuts around your eyebrow area… Dear, tell me. Who did this to you?”

I sighed in exhaustion, “Mom, I’m fine. I just need to rest for now… I promise I will explain everything as soon as I feel better.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asked me anxiously.

I nodded my head in response.

“Okay. If that will make you better,” she consigned. “But you have to eat, okay? I’ll bring your food to your room and you can leave it on your doorsteps afterwards. And I want it all consumed, you got that?” She ordered strictly.

I smiled wanly, “Thank you, Mom.”

I locked myself in my room and never entertained anyone’s calls and messages, except for when Mom delivered me my food and I talked to her about my broken eyeglasses and how much I needed it to be fixed as soon as possible.

Fortunately, I have bought a reading eyeglass three weeks ago to aid my rapidly degenerating eyesight. It may not cover my eyes as much as my thickly coated nerdy glasses did but, that should do the trick for now. I have no other choice, anyway. And I have to remind myself again, nerd-ness can’t only be seen, it should also be felt. I need to possess the aura of a real nerd.

The next day was a lot worse than I had actually expected. My mood just kept on getting more and more sullen by the minute. Mom and Dad never stopped sending me wary glances and they closely observed every move I made.

Thankfully Ravi was not saying anything. Maybe he sensed that I just didn’t want to talk about anything yet.

And why do I always have to be wrong?

Just as I was about to hop out of the car and escape the awkward silence, Ravi started hesitantly, “Rin, I just want to know… uh, if you are, you know,” there it is again, Ravi’s worried expression. Ugh! I can’t stand it when he looks at me like that. It makes me feel so guilty for always making them worry and sad…

I raised a hand to stop him.

“No bro, don’t say it. I am perfectly fine.” This is of course a blatant lie.

“But your eyes, Rin, what are you going to do if…”

“If they find out, you mean? I don’t really know, Rav. I think I’ll leave it up to batman.” I grinned pathetically.

He sighed, “You’re such a kid.”

“Okay, that’s it. This is just too dramatic for my liking. Off I go now. See ya, bro!” Stepping out of Ravi’s car, I strode off towards my class.