I'm floating in a sea of people alone, terrifyingly alone. Everyone's in their own cliques. There isn't much bullying in my school, a fortunate circumstance for me because I would have easily been sacrificed by my peers. I'm not hated, I simply don't belong.
And that's enough to kick you to the bottom of the social hierarchy.
~~~
"Luna, please solve question 2(a)."
I walk over to the board, and confidently write out my working and answer. Mathematics is one of the subject I excel at, but so do most of the people in my class.
I walk back to my seat, looking over at a classmate's answer on their worksheet to check my own.
"So class, is Luna's answer correct?" The teacher asked while pointing at the board.
Murmers of agreement resounded from all over the class. I sigh in relief and sink back into my seat.
"I don't understand this question, I'm so stupid!" My classmate, Shi Ting, who sits next to me exclaimed.
Shi Ting—She is disliked, and even hated, by the entire class, some might even say the entire cohort. I'm not one to judge people based on everyone else's judgement. Therefore, I don't mind talking to her.
I look over at her paper and smiled, "You've nearly gotten it, you miscalculated in this step."
She looks at her paper, then at mine in comparison, "Oh, you're right! Can you help me with this question too?"
I patiently explain step by step, waiting for her to voice her understanding before moving on. For the rest of the lesson, I continue teaching her.
~~~
"You're really good at teaching! Would you mind staying back to help me in Math?" Shi Ting asks.
"Nope, wouldn't mind at all. Just remind me at the end of school!"
And that is why I am currently in my classroom, at 4.27pm, still teaching Math.
"I think I've gotten a lot smarter from talking to you," she laughs.
We both leave the classroom and begin our separate journeys home.
A friendship is blossoming, I feel it, but I'm not sure if I want one.
Friendships are trouble, there's drama, there's the doubt of whether your friends want you around, there's the feeling that you'll never be a good friend.
