THE OLD ME BACK

Chapter 9

It takes me almost an hour by just looking myself on the mirror. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I carefully assess myself the way how I look like. As I can observe, I'm getting to be nerd now but I don't have pimples, even just one. I remember what the girl said in the mall yesterday, she said that no doubt I'm alone because I'm such a person like this.

How harsh she was! She told that like she really knew my whole life story. By that, I feel like I'm going to be sick this morning. I can feel my body system somehow weakens little by little. It already came in my mind not to go to school today because I can't feel the enthusiasm to get there, but since there will be a long test later, I strive hard to get up on my bed and directly take a bath.

I'm already in the hallway after passing by the school gate. I hope that this day will be fine without trouble, without the stranger. I freely walk along the hallway while my earphones are already placed on my ears. Playing the song "The Scientist" by Coldplay, my mood gets better somehow, motivating myself to continue what I've been starting.

How I miss those people whom I love were left temporarily by me. I feel so sorry for them. Sigh.

While walking and thinking deeply, I guess everything seems to be fine but one thing starts to cause. I see a student who acts like a master standing in the midst of the hallway. He's seriously looking at me, perhaps planning something that may not favor to me. But I still continue walking as if I have not seen him, or I don't care if he's there. So what?

As I go closer to him, he's already taking his steps towards me. I'm making sure if he's really looking at me but I'm actually right, he eyes are still on me. I don't know what's in me that he puts his attention to a person like me when in fact there are many students passing by here. I can't understand him, really. Did I hurt him from the past that he's doing now his revenge?

"Hey, hey! Where are you going?" Pokerface he asks. I still continue walking with a little reply.

"You don't fvcking care."

"Pardon?" He quickly utters then he removes my earphones from my ears right away. He then grips my arm so tight that it makes me turn to him forcibly.

"Let go of my hand!" I demand from him loudly.

"Who are you to shout me like that? Don't you still know me?
I'M THE MASTER HERE!"

"I'm going to be late. What do you want from me? Tell me now!" I say frankly. Out of patience, I forcibly escape my hand from his.

Geez. Why does he keep on insisting he's a master? And what is it to me then?

"After this, don't bother me anymore. You don't know me at all, I tell you."

He simply smirks after I said those words. And now, I'm waiting for his response as he tries my patience.

"You loser..." he suddenly stretches his leg towards the trash bin that its opening fall on the ground. It creates a noise that most students who are here tend to look at it. This guy laughs when the trashes are spread all over the floor. I take a deep breath when we are now the center of attraction here. "I'm commanding you to put all the trashes back in the trash bin using your hands in just a minute. Start now!"

He's starting now to count off while I'm thinking if I will follow his command. The students who are here unconsciously form a circle as they look at us. It's already ten seconds when I sigh. By earning courage so sudden, I start to pick every trash that is on the floor. Those who witness what's happening now start to murmur.

"I thought she was that brave like her first encounter with the master," someone says in a low tone.

"Pity on her!"

"Someone is added to his victims list. Who's next then?"

Not minding their hearsays, I'm about to pick almost all the trashes on the floor such as junk foods packaging, used tissues, sachets, and cans. It's more than half a minute now when I try to stand straight because I start to feel the pain on my back. There I see in front of me a stranger who is standing and just looking at what I'm doing.

"Fifty-eight...fifty-nine...sixty!"

There are still remaining trashes that I'm about to pick up but someone stops me when he grabs my arm. When I check who does that, it is the master who looks furious.

"Your one minute is already up!" Then he grips my hand tightly that I can already feel his fingernails on my skin. "But you were not able to do my command successfully. How weak you are!"

I'm about to be out of balance but good thing I stand firm right away after he pushed me away. I get irritated by his laughter when he sees me trying to fix up myself.

"You still owe from me! Remember that!" He shouts before he turns behind me. I gulp and take a deep breath afterwards.

The formed circle begins to shatter when I look around. I decide to walk out from this area, but I never thought I would take the way next to where the stranger is still standing on the same spot.

Argh!