Ripping Ties

Chapter 2

There are two types of sound: Music and Noise. Music is formed when the sounds are in harmony thus creating a beautiful tune and melody. Noise, on the other hand, is sounds that annoy, irritate, and make a person mad when there's too much. And today, in the classroom, I can't hear myself amidst the abundance of Noise around me.

Jesus, even the hallway outside earlier was noisy like a market place! I shouldn't have come here, especially when the teacher was late as always, giving the class enough time to chit-chat with their mates. I looked around and saw how "diverse" our class is... in terms of hierarchy.

First, the Popular Ones. They're the solid Teflon, never bothered, never harassed. (Well that's what I call them after watching that musical...) They're always the ones in control and would always get what they want. Always. There are many ways to become popular though. Some of the guys become sport-freaks and join the varsities. The gals in turn become popular when they date the jocks or become strongly independent... In other words, become bitchy and aggressive. Which brings us into the only hard part of joining the Popular Ones, you have to fight for the position. That's how to be number one.

Next, the Normal Ones. They're considered as the "civilians" of the classroom world. They come in different shapes and sizes with their own special interest and talents. But their individualism is wasted as they would always follow the leader and wouldn't questions them, otherwise they'll become the Outcasts.

What's the Outcasts, you ask? Simple. They're ones who don't belong in any clique as they've been ostracized by the Popular Ones. It's either because they did something against what the Popular Ones desired or became uncomfortably weird in the eyes of society.

Unfortunately, with my principle of the Hedgehog Dilemma, I became one of the Outcasts and thus no one would interact with me, which was fine because the Hedgehog would only harm others when they get too close.

Amidst the Popular Ones is Maya, the clumsy energetic, and her band of hubris-minded jerks. Everything that would come out of their mouths were either pure BS or downright insultingly true. Worst of all, they don't give a fuck whether you're being attacked. Even I wasn't spared from their amusement. Just listen, I know they're already starting their hate speech.

"I can't believe I got here early than Mr. Börd. I could've done my hair better than this horrible mess I have right now," said the drama queen, Eliza Sherwoods.

"Speaking of hair, what do you think of mine?" said Maya, who's all bubbly up until now.

"Ugh! Stop fishing for compliments, bitch. You're already perfect! Well, compared to Ms. Maleficent over there at least! Hahaha!" said the second-in-command of the sorority squad, Kayla Damare. After her comment, Maya just giggled and scratched her head.

"Yeah, just look at that poor excuse of a hair... I would rather be caught dead and have my corpse get raped by a necrophiliac instead of having that monstrosity. At least I wouldn't mind getting butt fucked." said the only gay guy in the group, Justin Herrera. For a gay guy, he had the sharpest tongue out of the squad.

"I know right! Can you even call yourself a girl with that kind of hair? No wonder nobody would ask her out!" said Kayla.

"Ugh! Believe me, who would want a smart bitch with no sense of fashion? Look at me, I got the guys eating at my hands like a bunch of pigeons." said Eliza.

The other members nodded in agreement. I slouched back and tilted my head to try to get a glimpse of what they're talking about.

Ms. Maleficent, Jennifer Layluck, or rather our class president. She's known for always donning a stern face, hence the nickname 'Ms. Maleficent'. Because of it, no one will try to come closer to her, in fear of getting bitten. Even teachers acted nervous around her, trying not to get on her bad side. If you're wondering how she became class president despite being the black sheep in the classroom, it was because she's the only one voted, rather, she volunteered while no one did.

As I was eyeing her said-to-be "not pretty" features, I got to say it that ain't bad though. I'm sure people with a serious-face kink would love her. She had the charm of a porcelain doll. My sightseeing lasted abruptly as she quickly glanced at my direction, almost catching me. Luckily I didn't stare further, making it awkward...

As I went back facing the board, I could hear the roasting squad— Maya and her friends— still finding other targets for their insults. Oh yeah, another perk of being an Outcast, you almost wouldn't hear the Popular ones utter your name after getting entitled... It's like, suddenly your name became a curse word in the room. Well almost, as long you're not that controversial. As of now, I'd only heard my name once, and it was about being those lifeless school-shooter wannabes. At least everyone in the school had been roasted or talked about, even the teachers weren't safe from them...

Wait, speaking of teachers, Mr. Börd hadn't come yet. Mr. Börd was a foreigner from Switzerland who came here with his wife and was now our class adviser. He had been teaching for seven years now and I could feel he's going through midlife crisis as he would act bland and standoffish.

Then the doors opened, revealing the man who pushed them. Speak of the Devil, it was Mr. Börd with his thick beard-mustache combo and massive arms of a bear. Even though he's going through his midlife crisis, he was a well jacked guy. Imagine him like the boss from Parks and Rec. I actually think he went and won a strongman competition.

First thing he would, as always, was to wait and stare down at us until everyone stopped talking. He had a principle of just waiting quietly and let us quiet down subconsciously because he said that it's same principle he grew up: "Self-control is a much better behavior than taught discipline."

One time, at the first day, he let us talked and talked until his period ended, then he just left saving there's going to be a test tomorrow. Then the next day, he taught us about his principle... and then presented the test. Thank the Heavens it was just a pretest and not a recorded one, almost every paper had the crimson mark of failure.

As the classroom hushed, he finally spoke, "Alright... As promised, another points to all of you for following my principle." Oh yeah, the reason why we quickly followed his principle was because of the extra points we get. "Just write it down in your notes..." which we all proceeded to, "Anyway, I'll just lay it down right now, without any surprises. We'll be having a new student. And this student is special. Meaning she's not normally like us. So, ughh... just come in here."

Then he went to the door and opened the door for the new girl, out came out was a stick, or rather a blind man's cane. Next, her dainty hands were revealed, they were almost cold white and really looked fragile. Finally, her whole figure was shown, alongside with her face. As expected from the cane and the way it swayed from side to side, as if trying to search her steps, she was blind... Her eyes were closed shut yet her smile showed no troubles. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail just like the female protagonist from Resident Evil 2. She wasn't wearing the same uniform. Of course she wasn't, she's a new student! She was wearing a long-sleeved yellow sweater and jeans for the bottom.

But her face... The back of my mind was giving me signals that I knew her, that I remembered her, that I had been friends with her since the day I could remember! Her face in my mind was begging to be recognized until she spoke the words that completed the enigma.

"Uhmm... Hello, I'm Freya. Freya Bellamy. Please take care of me."

She was my childhood friend!