THE OLD ME BACK

Chapter 36

Upon waking up and facing on the mirror, the first thing that I noticed from my face is my swollen eyes. It's also aching as if punched by a firm fist. Really, my eyes can tell how much I've cried last night. It will surely convince whoever can see that it is not only by just simply crying but in actual despair because of mourning and agony.

I really regretted why I turned to recap in my mind about everything that I've gone through. It just causes me an ache on my head. By that, it gives me a room to be depressed again and to think of myself as a living stupid.

"Whoa, it's already 9," I suddenly utter after checking the time on my phone. Hurriedly, I get up from the bed and go directly to the bathroom with my towel.

"Oh, you just woke up right now?" My boardmate asks after getting out from the bathroom, freshly bathed. He's already wearing his school uniform, a kind of uniform that I'm missing so much. Maybe he already dressed himself up inside the bathroom after taking a bath.

"Yeah, just got addicted to tragic movies," I answer and give him my plain smile, though I didn't answer his question directly. I already said that if ever he would ask me why my eyes are swelling. I cried over a tragic movie, how lame my reason is.

"Can I have the copy of what you just watched last night?" He asks again, seemed to be very curious about the tragic movie I used as alibi. I keep myself to be still serious despite the fact that I can laugh for what he is requesting from me.

"No problem," I responded back, then I enter now in the bathroom to quickly take a bath. Afterwards, I go back to my room to dress myself up in a school uniform, then I tied my curly hair because I have no more time to comb it.

Whoa, it's already 10. Better to be hurry up now!When I get to school after twenty minutes of walking, I directly go to the cafeteria. It's a little time yet to go and it will be lunch time already. I must better eat my lunch early so I will not get into the crowd later.

During lunch time, I choose to go to the library since I'm already full. I read the same book there, savoring the silence that reigns in this place while my eyes are busy darting on the words of the page. I heard the door of the library opens but my eyes are still on the page, covering my face with the book I am holding.

"Hi!"Directly, I leaned the book on the table to see the one who just speaks.

"Can you share this table?" I stared at him as he asks this question to me. No way, this guy is already here. I thought he would not disturb me anymore. Gosh!Instead of responding him, I hold the book again and continued reading. My face is covered again by this book, though I knew I can't focus anymore to feel the story on this book because there's someone who, any moment, might disturb me again.

"Is that the same book you just read the last time I saw you here reading a book?" He asks again, but I just clear my throat and read the next words on the page with a low tone of voice already. Geez, can't he see that I'm reading here? How could I internalize the narration and dialogues of the story if he's like that?

"Fine." He says, so I stopped reading and peek on him. Our eyes suddenly meet so I turned my sight to the page again. I am about to resume where I stopped from reading when the bell rings, so I need to get up from the chair and return the book on the bookshelf.

"Hey, your eyes are swelling. Did you cry over that book?" He interrogates again, but I didn't mind him as I abruptly head at the door. I need to be at our room in just a minute since I am absent this morning.

"Sha, you has just come. Where have you been earlier?" Clyde throws me a query while I am approaching to her direction for my seat. Good thing our teacher has not come yet, and my classmates are still on their busyness.

"I woke up late," I answer directly. "Did we have a quiz earlier today?"

"Good news we haven't had," she answers back. "Anyway, I'm going to tell you something very important. Come on, listen to me.

"She suddenly grabs my hand as I pass her by so I'm not able to sit on my assigned seat.

"I'm happy right now Sha! You know what, I caught my crush earlier today passing by that pathway while looking at inside of this room. Don't you think he's looking for me?

"He is, probably," I reply. "We may never know."

"Whoa! I'm so excited, Sha!"

"Just wait for another instance, Clyde. Maybe he could already show motive if ever he can't control his feelings anymore," I suggest that makes her feel giddy.

"I'm looking forward to that. By the way, what's in your eyes right now? Did you cry earlier?"Taking a deep breath, I nod.

"Why? What's the reason why you cried?"

"I cried for something that really hurt me, but now, I must not tell you about that," I utter then she gives me a sad smile.

"I'm sorry," she says right away.

"No, it's ok. Maybe it's not the right time to tell you this. I knew you as an understanding friend, so I hope you do," she nods after I say this.

"Of course, I do. But don't keep it to yourself if you already want to share it to me. I'm just here, ready to listen."

"Thank you, Clyde," then I smile widely. Whoa, I suddenly miss my best friend Leana. She is also like Clyde at some point. I don't have any idea anymore what she is up to. I really miss her, listening to her advice and corny jokes as well.

I hurriedly go to my seat when our teacher for this afternoon arrives all of a sudden. She discussed all throughout the session while we are just listening to her. Sometimes, it sink in my mind about the happenings I've flash backed last night most especially what Hanky did to me, but I quickly focus my attention to her discussion.

"Let's call it a day, goodbye class!"

Currently, I'm putting my things on my bag as I'm getting myself ready to get home early. Besides, I have nowhere to go other than to the apartment. My classmates already knew that I'm not fond of party night, anymore. Anyway, they have no idea I was a party girl before.While walking alone on the corridor, the idea comes up in my mind to place my earphones on my ears. I wanted right now to hear a song, so I play "The Scientist" by Coldplay. This song, in its every lyrics, really clings to my heart. It helps me venting out my emotions inside without uttering harsh words from my mouth.

"Hey, you again!" This guy considered himself as a 'master' comes up all of a sudden on my way. He's holding a bottle of liquor, maybe a little bit drunk, at the same time a piece of cigarette. I don't have any idea why this school considered him as a student here.

"It's here, your master. Bwahahahaha!"He laughs so hard the way I see him in his laughter while looking at me. Argh, what's the problem of this guy to me?

"Hey, hey, can't you see me here? Don't you want to talk to your master?"

Monster, instead. Geez!

"What do you want from me huh?!" I shouted at him, where people around got shocked.

"Don't you ever shout to me! Or else I'll hit your head hard using this bottle." He's talking seriously so I got nervous by this.

"Could you please leave me alone? I don't owe you anything."

He smirks and smiles evilly. "I won't bother you anymore, if and only if you drink this liquor and smoke."