FACELESS

Chapter 7

               

I haven't eaten recess with anyone for a while.

It's been only three days after Mia changed her seats with me, raising her hands in front of the whole class and speaking out with her voice as clear as day.

"Mr. Leo, can I change my seats?"

The whole class had turned silent. Mr. Leo was blinking, his feature wavering, mouth agape slightly. Everyone was looking at me, a look of pity, and disgust. Kicked down from the social ladder.

"And, your reason being?" Mr. Leo said, his eyes landing on me for a millisecond. I mentally cursed at him, was it not common sense? Why would Mia change her seats?

"I just want to change my seats."

Her voice was final, almost like defiant. She gave no reason to why she wanted to change her seats yet the class – and Mr. Leo, all knew the real reason why. My fault. My fault – Audrey Tan's fault, never Mia's because she's the perfect child without even having to try. I try and try and try and, in the end, I end up scorching myself on the burning podium of shame.

"Okay," Mr. Leo spoke after a pause. His eyes wandered across the class, trying to find someone to switch the seats with. I could feel the dread rolling off in waves from the students' bodies – No one wanted to change our seats, they were a given, chosen at the start of the year. Everyone got to sit with people they liked. So, for this to happen; it was disastrous, something no one in class wanted at all.

"Mia, you'll switch your seats with Zac."

I felt my breath hitch, a hollow feeling grasping me in my lungs. I immediately cast my eyes downwards, focusing on my fingers that were clenching so hard that my skin was turning my white. I was trembling.

I hear a chair screech from the back of the class, the distinct clacking of books against stationery. The class was dead silent, except for the sound of Mia and Zac packing.

"Hurry it up," Mr. Leo said, turning around to set up his computer. "We need to start class soon, your examinations start next week."

My heart is pounding so hard that my ribcage hurts. My eyes are wide, fear clouding my vision. Oh my god – Zac will hate me. Zac Tan is the all-time rounder in our school – Smart in all aspects, whether it is his academic or co-curriculum. He's in our school's track and field team, and has never gone to a single national without winning a gold medal. I'm pretty sure he was so good he could probably become an Olympian representing the country. He even played for our school talent concert once – Turns out he's grade 8 at violin and piano. The fact that he is almost perfect in abilities isn't enough. Zac can fit into a vogue magazine without even trying, with his 180cm height and bulky body, tanned from his training in the sun for track – He almost looks like a god.

No one messes with Zac Tan. He is on the same level of social hierarchy as Mia. It means that I've basically messed up both the school's top dogs, and not to mention and once 'IT' couple.

Oh, yeah – right, turns out, Mia had a boyfriend. I don't know how I forgot about that. She hasn't dated anyone since Zac. Looks like even my memory is failing me.

I can feel Mia giving a sharp glare, and my breath hitched when she swiped her pencil case away from the table and marched to the back of the class to change her seats.

It almost felt like every second was ten years. I was so afraid – fingers trembling. Because if Mia, the IT girl in our school has requested to change seats from me, the whole school (except me) must have already known the reason why – What I have done to make Mia so angry. Zac must know, too.

How will I survive the rest of my school year like this?

And I know, perhaps I'm overreacting. But the fact is that I've been isolated for so long, my only 'friend' was Mia. It doesn't matter that my grades were always the same as her, she still had the upper hand – Not only was she intelligent, she also had her appearance beauty that everyone loved.

So, to lose the only person I was close to in the school, it was heartbreaking. Because at least during the times I was brave enough to go to the canteen to eat, Mia would invite me over to her table, although I was almost always silent, never speaking a word unless I was asked to. And when I spoke, I always end up choking on my words like an idiot.

But, at least I had friends to eat with.

Now, Zac is sitting beside me, placing his bag on the side of his table and placing his textbooks and pencil case onto the table. I can practically feel his body heat radiating off of him, and I continue to glare at my own clenched fingers.

I hear Zac take a deep breath, and from the corner of my eyes, I noticed that he placed his elbows on the table, eyes focusing onto Mr. Leo, who had begun teaching about the uses of enzymes.

I am so, fucking screwed.

               

Because not only is Zac the IT boy in the school, the ex-boyfriend of Mia, he is also the boy I've loved for 3 years.