I Am Not An Idiot

2

"Well done, Matthew." Mr. Carl, the principal of Bright Academy, shook Matthew's hand. He gazed at the gold medal and shiny trophy laid in front of him. He chuckled, "That debate competition is too easy for you, I persume?"

"I worked hard and did my best, sir." Matthew replied with a smile.

"Of course, you're the best. No wonder you got best speaker and a gold medal. You made us proud, Matthew."

"Thank you, sir."

"Your father is definitely very proud of you, isn't he?"

"Absolutely sir." Matthew forced a smile.

"Good." Mr. Carl nodded. "Keep doing what you do best, Matthew. You may be dismissed."

"Thank you, sir." Matthew got up and went outside the principal's office. His smiled turned upside down, throwing off his mask of happiness away.

"Proud? More like don't care." Matthew shook his head in dissatisfaction and walked to his locker.

He opened his locker, feeling a sore pain in his arms. There were bruises and cut wounds on his arms, covered by the long sleeves of his black jacket. The bruises were from his punching bag—when he punched too harshly and the bag would swing towards him and punched him back. No one knows about this, and he likes to keep it that way.

Matthew likes to get himself in pain. He thought that it can attract his busy father from his work and girlfriends. But it didn't. If he showed his wounds to her father, he would say "Just go to the doctor by yourself" and got back to his work. Matthew clearly hates this. He knows that he needs more attention, more love from a father. He just knew how much he hated his father because of this.

"Argh." He moaned in pain as he reached for his books, "Gosh, I need to get myself a povidone-iodine."

"A what-routine?" Jasper showed up from out of nowhere and padded his back. Matthew felt pain in his left shoulder and decided to cover it, pretending that everything is just fine.

"Hey bro." Matthew took his books and shut his locker, "What's up?"

"I got good news and bad news." Jasper answered, glaring at Matthew seriously with his green eyes. His curly ginger hair matched his yellowish bright skin with freckles on his cheeks. "By the way, congrats on your debate competition."

"Thanks, Jasper." Matthew replied, "What are the news?"

"First of all  the good news is, I just found out that Diana's also into you. I just confirmed it with her younger brother, Layne." Jasper said excitedly, "Does this mean you guys are soon-to-be couple?"

"What did I tell you about talking with Layne? He's a tattletale." Matthew faced Jasper with annoyance, "...and Diana's not my crush anymore."

"Wait, what? Why did you change of heart when she likes you back? The timing's not great, man!" Jasper whined as Matthew walked pass him through the hallways. "Hey, hear me out, man. You may be a hot nerd but if you don't give yourself a chance to-"

"-She's my girlfriend now." Matthew cut Jasper's lecture.

Jasper froze for a moment. He was dumbfounded, staring to Matthew.

Matthew chuckled and snapped his fingers in front of Jasper's face, "Earth to Jasper?"

"Dude!" Jasper's hand trembled, "That fast? When did that happen? You didn't tell me? How could you?"

"Well, now you know, right?" Matthew smirked.

"Yow, congrats with Diana, Matt!" A student passed them and congratulated Matthew, giving him a high-five and pointed towards him happily. The student saluted to Matthew and continued to walk away.