1
“Nobody cares about you, Kaida.”
The sharp, scary, annoying ring of the digital alarm clock on my nightstand woke me up with that very statement in mind. As if pulled out of a different world, I jumped up from my bed dazed. After five seconds or so, reality hit me in the face and I remembered the statement that echoed in my mind before I woke up. I shrugged. I never wake up with good statements at heart so this was no surprise. It either went along the lines of discouragement or hurtful realization. I set my plush doll aside so I can get ready to start the day.
I dragged myself all the way over to my mirror to mock the poor, hopeless girl that just needed some esteem juice. She stood, orange faded eyes staring back at the short, olive-skinned, messy-haired girl with a button nose. She yawned cutely, stretching her arms like a baby reaching for their mom’s comforting finger. The image was later ruined because of the sharp canines that showed. She scratched her messy hair.
I was about to say bye-bye to my parents when I realized I lived in an apartment. My habit caught me in my feelings. The memory of me being enrolled in college at 15 answered my hovering question and I continued down the stairs. The tapping of sneakers bounced off the walls of the staircase room. I descended further and further down the flight. My backpack was bouncing up and down behind me. I skipped two steps by jumping straight to the ground and started to walk out and down the road.
It’s not far from here to uni, and I made sure of that while picking my apartment. From here to there would only take ten minutes of your time. As I walked down the silver sidewalk, one foot went in front of the other, taking me one meter more forward. Even though I was short, I had quite a wide pace. I sighed as a car slowly drifted by. I like the soothing sounds they make. They’re the only things that can keep me sane on a Monday morning. I clenched my fists remembering the last bad Monday I experienced all because of this Little Miss. Perfect, Leila.
As I lifted my head from its hung position I saw Leila in the distance, other people surrounding and sucking up to her for a reason I still can’t figure out to this day. I could see the crowd shine their teeth at the sight of her perfect face, laughing at the sound of her angelic voice. It sickened me to see how desperate people were to see a fake woman. That was when she turned to my direction and waved at me. I ducked and headed straight for the building.
Okay, truth be told, Leila isn’t a bad person. In fact, she’s as innocent as babies could get. It’s just that anywhere she sees me, she rushes over to me as if I was her long lost friend, which is super annoying. And the fact that she brings her paparazzi along with her adds to the emotional torture. I don’t want to deal with this right now. Besides, I’m on a mission. I can’t focus on something that will end soon.
Safe at last, in the classroom that no one has bothered to enter yet. I was always the early bird for some reason. I guess humans aren’t as interested in their world as I am. That’s an honest shame. I’ll just sit here unnoticed until the class- hOW tHe aCTuAl HeLL dID sHe GEt hERe?!
It was Leila, sitting beside me with her everlasting smile I wish will just die by my usual cold response.
“Can’t you just leave me alone for once?”
“Sorry, for bothering you but I really like you!”
“The only reason why you even know me is that we were stripped from our families and forced to go on this stupid mission! You only want to get to know me because you’re nice!” I growled, my inhumanely sharp canines not concealed.
Her smile was now soft and timid, “You think I’m nice? Why thank you! That’s the first time you’ve complimented me in forever!”
“Great God,” I muttered under my breath and watched the people pour in through the classroom door once they found out they were two minutes late for class.
The lecture began.
