Chapter 1
It was another new session at school. However, I’ve always hated going to school since I was young. Well, it wasn’t that I was being bullied at school. It was just because I hated being unable to show my true self. Especially the fact that I always pretend to be a shy girl, which I’m not. Not that I choose to be so myself. My mom constantly reminds me that being a quiet person will prevent trouble from heading towards you. However, it never worked for me. It got much worse. A ball suddenly hit my head.
“Aww.” A painful cry came out of my lips as I rubbed the place I was hit. I lifted my head and looked in the direction where the ball had hailed from. In the distance afar, were a group of boys playing on the football field.
Seeing that the ball had hit a student, one of the boys headed over. However, instead of apologizing to me, he scolded me harshly. “Hey, you should watch where you’re heading to. Don’t you have an eye or what?” He leaned down and picked up the ball that had just hit me.
“What a farce. It’s you who should watch where you are aiming at.” I mumbled under my breath.
“What did you say?” Knowing I had uttered something, the boy gazed at me fiercely.
“Nothing.” I hurriedly shook my head and said, “I’ll watch out where I’m heading next time.” After saying that, I immediately took to my heel.
I’ve always been a brave and charming girl. However, that’s just my inner fantasy. Sometimes, reality hits you in the face.
“Belia.” Ivy came out from nowhere and clasped my hand with hers. “You came to school today. I thought you wouldn’t.”
Out of everyone closest to me, only Ivy, my best friend understands me best.
“And here I am. Let go of my hand. Why is your palm so sweaty?” I said with repulsion as I withdrew my hand from her grip and took a handkerchief from my pocket to wipe off the grime on my palm.
Ivy didn’t mind my words and looked at me worriedly. “Huh-huh, what’s wrong with our dear Belia? Are you in a bad mood? What’s that red spot on your forehead? Did you hit your head on something?” She reached out to touch my forehead, but I swiped it away.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” We both arrived at the corridor of our classroom and entered the class.
“It’s so good to be in our final year.” Ivy smiled as she sat behind her desk. “Everyone’s already talking about university. Which school do you plan on going to, Belia?” She turned to look at me as she asked.
“Farming,” I replied indifferently as I took out my books from my bag.
“Farming?” Ivy was first stunned by my reply before she burst into laughter. “Come on, cut the jokes. You’re so bad at telling one. Tell me, where exactly are you going to?”
“Do I have to tell you everything about my life?”
“I guess you’re in a bad mood today.” Ivy saw through my mood and stopped asking me questions.
The teacher soon entered the class and the standing students immediately scurried back to their seats. However, the teacher’s gaze wasn’t fixed on the scampering students but was instead settled on the big writing on the board that said ‘GO TO HELL MRS. GIVANNI. YOUR BREATH STINKS’.
Immediately I saw those words, I knew that one of the male students must have written it since they like to do this kind of prank. However, Mrs. Givanni, our teacher for today wasn’t having it when she saw the sentences written on the board.
She turned to the student seated below, her face brimming with anger as she asked. “Who wrote these words on the board?” Unfortunately for her, her question was answered with a dead silence. “I’ll ask this once again. Who wrote these words on the board?” Seeing that none of the students were raising their hands to speak, Mrs. Givanni slammed her hands onto the stand podium. “Wow! What a perfect cooperation. However, you know what, you’re all failing this course.”
“What? No way.” Words of dissatisfaction came out from everyone’s lips.
“Then all you have to do is to pick out the culprit. I’m sure one of you did it.” She looked at each student in the eyes. How dare they say her breath stinks. She isn’t going to forgive the culprit no matter what. “So, who is it?”
The whole class was silent until a voice shouted.
“It’s Belia!”
