Only Time Can Tell

Chapter 2

The next day seemed like another usual day at school. I saw Maya from afar and she was going to run towards me but before she could do so, a mob of students came running towards me including the Soe’s gang. “Run Khin! Run!” Maya shouted. I tried to run away from them thinking they were planning to get rid of me once and for all. Yet after all the running, I was cornered by all the students chasing me. I was ready to be tortured. I was ready to die but to my surprise they came to me to take pictures with me. Some girls even gave me a peck on the cheeks. I wasn’t sure if I would feel overwhelmed or awkward. I didn’t know if it was a dream come true not to be treated like an outcast rather like a heartthrob; like a VIP or if at that moment I just wished all the chaos to stop. Still their picture taking continued. Other male students asked me, “Hey Khin, how do you feel now that you are famous?” Then I asked, “Famous? What” Confusion filled my head and it added more when another asked, “Khin! We’re best friends too right?” Some of the girls charmingly said, “Hey Khin! I’m your girlfriend right?!” Another rebuked her saying, “No Khin! Take me! I’m available!” I had no means of escape which was the only I wanted to do that time. I know I asked for acceptance. By that, I didn’t mean everyone rushing towards me; just a normal life. Good thing someone came to help me. Guess who. She said, “Ok that’s enough folks! Excuse me! Come on Khin! Let’s go!” Who else would it be? None other than my savior, my best friend, Maya. As she tried to recover me from the crowd, I felt like a rope in a tug-o-war; torn between the mob and Maya. Luckily, Maya and I were able to find a place away from the riot. There she showed me the cause behind the earlier incident. It was a video of me carrying a basket of fishes sharing even the smallest amount of penny I have to the poor children who approached me. There were also some stolen shots of me. My head ached as it tried to recall when that happened. Then I remembered. It was after dismissal when I went to the market with my mother to sell fishes with her. I was bringing a basket of fishes towards the market when a blue car passed by then a foreigner came down from it. He inquired, “Umm, excuse me sir?” I turned back putting down the basket. “Yes sir?” I asked in an accommodating manner. “Do you know where this place is?” He asked confused. Then I gave him the directions towards his destination yet he didn’t leave yet. As I was once more picking up my basket, he queried as if he couldn’t believe it, “So you’re working as a fisherman?” I wasn’t sure if he was trying to insult me or not. Nevertheless, I answered him politely, “Yes sir.” He then gave a smirk and boasted, “You know in my place, you would be famous by now. You have a handsome face. You just need to groom up a bit.” I just smiled and nodded; if he just knew how far his expectations were versus reality. Probably, after that short conversation he took out his phone and took stolen shots of me and was able to take a video because I didn’t leave immediately. Those poor children who were also helping their parents sell in the market ran to me. They were really close to my heart. I knew at that time I didn’t have enough money to lend them but at least I gave all that I could. They were like family to me. I didn’t want them to be like me; poor and helpless. Probably that was the incident yesterday that made me go viral. I was thankful for that video because it became the key for me to be accepted by the society. It also alleviated our life. My mother and I no longer had to struggle in the market because a network offered us a better livelihood, a better place to live in and better clothes. Thanks to that video, my life is better. I went to school in a more presentable look. I earned all the attention and love from my classmates. For the first time in my life, I felt how it was to be with other people; to be one with the cool kids; to finally be able to conquer the world without needing Maya. I gradually forgot her for I now had better company. And guess what? Soe broke up with Kyaw for me. My happiness was beyond the horizons.