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For you.
with love.
Have a good day ahead.
I checked the messy writing card once again, holding the spider lily attached to the box in wonder. Who might be the person to send me this? I don't have anyone to send this to me.
Or am I getting an admirer? My chest skipped a beat, blushing at the thought. I shook my head to chase away the impossible thought and went back inside.
I picked up a mug and put the spider lily in it, smiling before placing the mug by the window.
I stared at the card again before gently placing it in between my diary entries.
My eyes wandered to the wall clock, and I swore under my breath, "Damn it! I'll be late to this man's class." I rushed out of the door, not forgetting to put the box of cookies in my bag.
I adjusted the rim of my glasses, patting my messy hair in a hurry as I ran down the stairs before bumping into someone. Not raising my head, I mumbled out, "Sorry."
After finding my way out of the apartment, I noticed a big truck with men carrying big boxes to the building.
A new neighbor? There was no empty room in the building except for the one beside me. Maybe an unlucky person has finally rented it.
There was even a rumor that the apartment was haunted. I shrugged my shoulders, dashing to school.
"Mae!" I whipped my head to where my name was called to see my friend, Stella, walking elegantly to me. I looked nothing like her.
"Hi," I mumbled back.
"Have you finished the project?" she asked, grabbing my hand suddenly, which made me flinch. I quickly swatted my hand away from hers.
I hate contact! Physical contact! Can't humans talk without being touchy?
She grunted before smiling weakly at me, raising her hands in surrender. "Sorry, Mae. I just want to know." I know she did not feel sorry at all. She was always like this whenever she wanted something.
"I-ve fi-ní-shed everything."
"You did everything?"
"Mmmm." I hummed, unconsciously rubbing my arm and wiping where she touched.
"Woah!" Stella yipped, jumping on me. "I can't believe it. Thank you so much!" She grinned, releasing me, then nudged my shoulder before walking away. leaving me alone.
I shook my head, dusting the side her body touched before sighing. I can't wait to finish school.
As I entered the class, questions from the other two members surrounded me, and I wished to disappear.
"Mae!"
"I heard you are done with everything."
"Yes," I responded, putting my bag on the table.
"That's good," Stella smiled. "Didn't I say it's okay not to participate, 'cus I know our Mae will do everything?" she boosted slyly, flipping her red hair.
She turned to me, tilting her head a little. "That's why I told the professor to always put me in the same project group as you; you are such a pushover girl."
I smiled sheepishly. I didn't care about doing anything, whether researching or writing, except for the presentation.
I hate interacting with humans. I prefer hiding up in my room simping over fictional characters to humans.
And doing the project alone was quite fun.
"Where's the file?" Stella asked impatiently, rummaging through my bag, stopping and glancing at me before bringing out the package of cookies.
I jumped and collected it from her defensively. "Yo-u c-an ch-eck my lap-top for it," I said, hugging the cookies.
All eyes were set on me, and I felt like disappearing. I hate eyes on me. Just leave me unnoticed. They didn't usually notice me until it was time for the project.
"Hmmm," Stella said as she walked to me. Her eyes had the glint she wanted to do as usual: taunt me. "What is this, Mae?"
"So-me-one drop-ped it a-t my do-or," I responded, smiling and remembering the sweet letter and flower.
Stella laughed, successfully generating more attention for us. "So someone left this, and you are smiling like a fool?" She asked.
I nodded. "may-be I'm get-ting-" she yanked the box from me.
"Wh-at a-re yo-u do-?"
"Do you think you can get an admirer?" She mocked me. "I mean you," she pointed, jabbing me with her index finger. "You're such a stutterer that I've got to crane my ears to hear you," she said. "You wear shabby, oversized, and tattered clothes?"
"At - lea-st you a-re put-ting y-our ear to u-se," I mumbled.
"What did you say?" Her voice was high.
"I-"
Stella made the cookies fall. "Sorry, my hand slipped, maybe because the strength in my arms is weak." she giggled.
My eyes were pricked with tears. I really wanted to eat the cookies carefully and savor the taste. It was my favorite, and it was so expensive that I rarely have it because of the cost. Now I had it free, and Stella made it fall.
I raised my head, glaring at her with teary eyes, and Stella scoffed defiantly. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she exclaimed before rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," she waved her hands dismissively as she opened her purse, took out slashes of bills, and slammed it on the table.
"Be seated?" the professor entered, making students grumble and turn away from the brewing drama.
Thank God!
Stella always finds the opportunity to ridicule me.
I went to my seat beside the window and gnashed on my lips angrily as I gripped my pen tightly. I glanced at Stella, who was flipping her hair, and saw boys swarming to her like flies.
I wish she would fall and ruin her peacock face! I wish she had died! I wish she had ceased existing! I wish she would just disappear. I hate her!
I was pulled out of my thoughts by a loud bang on my desk and saw the professor scowling at me.
"What do you think you are doing in my class?" I jolted up, squeezing the doodling and quickly putting it in my bag.
I can't believe I'm having dark thoughts about Stella. No one must see it.
"Is it because you are a top student and you feel like you can do as you want in my class?" The man scolded in a nasal voice. "Then give the presentation!"
I stood rooted in my space. Do the presentation! How?! I didn't even know how to start.
I saw Stella already at the podium smirking at me, and I nibbled on my lips, going to the podium with my heart racing. I could hear the sound; it was so loud that I hoped no one would hear it.
"I- I-" I stuttered, fiddling with my hands nervously. Everything I've researched disappeared as if I had never studied it. and everyone burst out in laughter.
I felt like crying.
"Are you sure you will partake in this project? You can't even defend what you took part in!"
"I-I-" I wanted to apologize, but my voice was not coming out. Shame washed over me.
Why can't I say anything? My vocal cords refused to bring out words, and my tongue was heavy.
"Even though you are a top student, that doesn't mean you won't be able to do a simple presentation. So disappointing!" The man shook his head. "And you need to learn to stop stuttering and talk like a normal college student." He tsked and waved his hand, dismissing me from the podium.
My legs felt heavy; a tear slipped from my eye, and I quickly wiped it.
Today started well, but Stella ruined everything. I was very sure it was Stella who instigated the professor to pick on me.
All the professors knew I was a stutterer and rarely talked, but this man had his eyes on me. My introverted attitude made my stuttering intense.
Stella smiled proudly on the podium, reading out and explaining the project as if she had participated in it.
I shook my head, praying the time went quickly so that I could run home to my bed and indulge in the fictional world.
My absolute solace
~**~
After school, I went to the convenience store and bought junk food to eat tonight because I'm too lazy to cook. I noticed the corridor was filled with empty cartons and sighed. I took the cartons from the front of my apartment to the other side so that I could enter.
I entered my room, my solace. I threw my bag in one corner of the room before jumping on the bed tiredly.
Finally! My bed would accept me after a long, stressful day without judging me.
As I felt tears gather in my eyes, I sat up abruptly and took out my phone to read. To escape the world.
I was so engrossed in the fictional words while reading and reacting to comments from other readers that I didn't notice the time had gone by.
It was already night. I stretched my arms, discarding the oversized sweatshirt and pants. My breasts were free from the cage called a bra! I was dancing in my head when my front door was knocked on.
I stopped, making sure it was my door that was knocked out because my parents rarely came to see me. I grabbed an oversized gown and put it on to check the door.
I opened the door ajar to check and saw a beautiful specimen smiling charmingly at me. My eyes widened in shock, then I checked my room number, and the stranger laughed softly.
"Hi, I'm Judd, your new neighbor. I just came in today." He introduced me, and I nodded vehemently. The new neighbor was so handsome, I squealed internally, heat creeping to my cheeks and ears.
"I have a café shop down the street; you can come to have a taste. A taste will invite you," he winked.
"Okay," I gulped.
"Take," he handed me a tray covered with white linen. "This is a peace offering," he smiled, his dimple prominent.
God! He has dimples!
"Thank you," I collected quickly, averting my eyes from his handsome face.
"I'm Mae-ve. Ni-ce to me-et you." I mumbled, closing the door after hearing his last statement.
"Me too. I hope we have a blast living together."
"Me too," and I slumped behind the door with a racing heart.
And my day ended well, too.
Thank you for reading ♥
