Amber

(3) Slap

I was occupied with my own thoughts for the whole day. I couldn't concentrate on any class during school. I kept wondering about the mysterious oak tree and how confidently she was able to say, "I know you, dear."

Honestly, it made me doubt if even I know myself.

School ended as usual, with kids my age flooding out of the exit gate as if they'd been imprisoned for a long time. As for me, I have learned to be average at almost everything. Model behaviour, good manners, top grades. Some people, including the teachers at school think that I'm one of the most perfect people they've ever met, and that I should aim for excellence in life. They probably don't know that the so-called 'perfect' girl has to face names like 'nerdy brownie'. I wonder why people place excellence and success over happiness and inner peace.

The words of Ivy still reverberating in my mind, I focus on my footsteps gently making their way forward.

Left.. right.. left.. right.

I suddenly hear a whistle, and as if by chance, I turn towards the source of the sound to lock my eyes with the only person I fear- Joseph. His hair gelled at the back and crease-free uniform makes everyone think he's such a well-mannered guy and stuff. And yeah, he well does manage to pretend to be a good person. He's excellent at pretending to be the person he's not, um maybe we're alike in this manner.

Anyway, i tried to ignore him and started walking away when he loudly cried, "nerdy baby, where you goin'?"

I internally groaned and kept moving until he said again, " yo brown girl, why you so mad?".

This time I rolled my eyes and still chose to ignore him when he said, "Your mom must have been deaf. Like mother, like daughter."

He had no idea what he had done. Without a second thought, I spinned on my heels and slapped him right across his face. He looked at me dumbfounded trying to cover his reddened face. Not because of my slap, but of embarrassment. Surely, he deserved it. The scene I had created caused all the students to fall silent. I don't think anyone had expected the shy girl who tops her class to slap the most popular guy at school who was sometimes rude. Even I had never expected me to do something like that. The helpless look in his eyes and the thick silence made it really awkward to move away.

• • •

Later that day, I was lying on my bed, my eyes looking at the ceiling. A lot of questions were going through my head. Unable to handle the dreadful pain in my head, I looked for peace. Grandma was probably at the shop, so I went wherever my feet dragged me - to the hill. Under the mysterious oak tree I lay myself, my back resting on its trunk. I indulge into my own confusion.

Had I done the wrong thing? Had I lost my sense due to anger? Maybe I should just have ignored him. Wouldn't I be just like him if I did what he usually does? And that helpless look in his eyes. Maybe I should just have accepted the reality. I am, a nerdy girl who has no knowledge of the world. Maybe he's just right. Maybe I'm just wrong. My mind was in a mess. It was defending for me, as well as putting me at fault. I had ignored him twice, but lost my temper when he mentioned my mom. Does that make me a short-tempered person? Maybe.

A familiar voice brought me out of my thoughts. "How can you overthink in the midst of such beauty?"

Knowing who the voice belonged to, I answered, "I don't know, it's just..."

"You're very brave, you know." she said, I could hardly believe what she said.

I stuttered, "I- I'm brave?"

"Yes, what did I say that day? I know you, and you're very, very brave."

I turn around to face Ivy's trunk and tenderly touch her. "I've never heard something like that ever before." A slight smile slipped over my lips. Not the one I faked while hosting inter-school competitions, it was something genuine.

"You look nice when you're happy!"

For the first time after years, my heart leapt with joy. Although I couldn't control my pounding heart and the slight tremble in my fingers, I hugged Ivy. I could feel her resonances radiating into me. "You did it because you were not afraid to be criticised. You did it because you love your mother. You did it because you were right." I could her her saying. But I continued to get caught in her soothing embrace.

"Ivy I have no words..."

She shushed me down. "Shhh. We're friends. I'm here with you."

My heart lifts to the fact of making a friend. At school I've got many acquaintances because of good grades, but no friends owing to my socially-awkward personality.

A/N:-
How does this seem? I mean, is it too much fantasy? I'd love to know.