30MIN
All around, I could hear the tingling of bells. The sound taunted me wherever I went. Every place I went, no matter what situation I was in, the faded jingling in the background was ready to haunt me as it had done my whole life.
So there was no doubt that school was the abject wretched setting for me-that was were most friendships were made. All the ringing blaring in my ears as people befriended each other. Every handshake, shared glance or greeting would spark the incessant ringing.
And yet I had never experienced it myself.
How contradictory, huh? Someone who is able to tell when two people feel a connection can't even make one herself. My words stumbled over each other. My face burned whenever I tried to splutter out a word. I was practically redolent of 'unapproachable'-it almost emanated throughout the air like an aura, I could tell.
Friendships were harder than I thought.
Slumped in another banal English class, my gaze wandered over to the window. Just my luck that time slowed down in just the most torturous of places. The teacher abruptly rapped on the desk, jerking several others awake. I jolted up in my seat, eyes immediately darting to the front.
"Class, welcome our new student Vanessa!" Great. Another new student. Another person who would judge me. My peripherals already had caught sight of the popular girls tittering to each other, devising a new plan to befriend the girl. I scoffed as she floated past, pale hair drifting through the air in slow motion. Vanessa lifted her head bashfully, and waved a sanguine greeting to the class as she ensonced herself on the seat adjacent to me. An admiring sigh poured out from the crowd. Her pearly symmetrical beam sent sunrays bouncing off the walls. What an angel, huh?
I flinched as something hit my head, the muffled warbling of the teacher coming back into focus. Shaking off my sleepiness, I turned my head to see a herd of popular girls cackling in their circle. It was always them, as expected. I bit back my belligerent tone and averted my gaze from what was likely an observing Vanessa. No matter how many times I had experienced this, it still incited ignominy ever single time. Especially if the new class princess was sitting beside you.
A gentle ahem broke through the popular group's taunts. My heart clenched in terror as Vanessa faced the ringleader of the bullies. I internally praised her temerity, but her valour would only land her in hot water from now on.
"Could you stop annoying Jane, please?" Even her voice was euphonious, the words softly escaping her lips instead of the brash tone other popular girls had adopted. My breath hitched. Several clammy fingers crossed underneath my desk. I think even a few of my toes crossed for good luck, praying for the health of this girl who had opposed the popular crowd so flagrantly.
Several eyebrows raised in response to this unexpected answer. "Excuse me? Wasn't it funny?"
Vanessa gently shook her head, maintaining her complacent disposition. "It's not funny if another person is victim. I'd rather befriend someone harmless than others who cause harm."
The ringleader of the group pursed her lips. A sour expression settled on her face, as she shot daggers in my direction. "Very well then," she snapped.
Vanessa seemed unfazed. She turned back to me, a gentle closed-mouth smile gracing her face. "I mean it, okay?" She whispered under her breath. My eyes widened, lips slightly parting in shock. "I hate girls like those. And I really would like to become your friend."
It was only now that I realised I had remained speechless throughout the whole encounter. Spluttering out words of gratitude, I attempted to shoot her a friendly smile. I turned back to my work and attempted to focus, but for the rest of the lesson my efforts proved fruitless.
The ringing blaring in my ears had never been so loud.
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