"Faline! FALINE!! get out of your bed."Mum yells as she abruptly pulls the blanket above me.

"Just Five more minutes mom, please!" I plead trying to get hold of my blanket again.

"Faline you've been saying that for the last twenty minutes, if you don't leave your bed now you'll miss your school. Just get up!"

"OK" I say as I sit up and try to make sense of the world. Who am I, and where do I have to go? School. Right. But why? Why do anyone need to go anywhere? Why can't we just sleep all day!

I half heartedly leave the bed ,and begin my morning routine which isn't something complicated, I just brush my teeth, take a shower, and wear what I see first I'm not a fashionista. In fact, fashion is the word I've just learned. But every morning this simple morning routine is the hardest thing for me to do.

"Faline you're breakfast is ready!" Mum yells

"Coming!" I say. How can she have so much energy so early in the morning!

I slowly get the things done and stand before the mirror have a final look on what I look like before I leave for the day. I usually skip this step, because it ruins my mood but today I've a bit of time left plus I'm wearing a new shirt I just bought, and I wanna know if it's matches my jeans or not. It's the least I can do.

And Great! It looks good. My white T-shirt with a black kitten on it shining against my navy blue pants.

But wait no! I've got a new pimple right at my forehead. I walk a bit closer to the mirror to examine weather I can do something about it or not, but apparently I can't. It's huge, if I'll try to pop it, it may start to bleed. I can't risk it .I'll look worse! also popping pimples leads to more pimples, unfortunately I have to go like this.

"Faline you're breakfast is getting cold" mom yells again.

"coming" I say. I pick up my bag and leave my room half heartedly. I wish I could take a leave today, but mom will not allow it. But I also don't want kuzon to see me like this. God what should I do!

"You look worried" Mom says as I enter the kitchen.

"Nah, I'm fine" I fake a smile and heavily sit on the dining chair and throw my bag on the table. A plate of perfectly stacked pancakes sit before me and the aroma makes me loose all my worries momentarily

"Oh thanks mom!" I chirp and gulp a huge chunk and feel the flavors bursting in my mouth.

"Welcome!" she smiled and went on to cook more for me because she knows I always have a little bit extra pankes.

I eat till I couldn't . And as I am done I grab my bag, kiss my mom goodbye and leave for school. The walk is delightful. Sunlight is warm and bright with cool soft zephyr rushing against my cheeks as I walk ahead.

I merrily frolic my way until anxiety attacks me again. In ten minutes I'll be in class and he will be there, and he'll realize I'm uglier than he thought. What should I do? Should I run away and cut classes? I can't cut classes I've to receive important assignments today. And above all what am I worrying so much for? it's not like kuzon will ever like me back.I already have zero chance with him, the worse that could happen is my chances will go negative, and at the end of the day won't make any difference. I guess I'm getting worked up over nothing.

As my internal debate ends I realize I've entered the school premises. Hallways are crowed and chaotic as usual and so is my classroom. I see Mikan, my only friend sitting at the back of the classroom scribbling something on her notebook. She's quite focused even in this mayhem, must be yesterday's homework.

"Completing homework are we?" I ask sitting next to her

"Yup, are you done with it?" she asks

"I am" I announce with a smile.

"Wait a minute, God what's that on you're forehead!" she gasps

"well ,thats a symbolic representation of what a disaster my life is"

She gives me a sympathetic smile and puts her hand over my shoulder

"Don't worry he's sitting at the other side of the class, just low you're head and don't leave your seat, he'll not notice" she adds

"Of course I'm the last thing he'll ever notice, besides even if he does it's not like I'm going to lose anything."

"Believe in miracles girl!"

"Just do your homework crackhead!"

First period begins with Mr Hampton's chemistry class, he enters the room with his extraordinarily dull face and dingy aura.

"Good morning Mr Hampton" Kaya on the first bench greets him with her usual zeal and optimism.

"Well, there isn't anything good about this morning honestly." Mr Hampton reply in an excruciating tone.

I feel you man, I feel you. I utter under my breath. I cannot believe my life has become so relatable with a middle aged depressed man. Can things get any worse!

"I hope all of you have done your homework' he asks setting his spectacles above his nose.

"yes" students answer unanimously

"Great, Umm.. kuzon, please collect everyone's assignment and keep it on my table" Mr Hampton comnands

Wonderful, now he's going to come to my seat and I'll once again get the opportunity to see his disgusted expressions as he make an eye contact with me.

I smack my forehead in frustration and ouch! a painful cry escapes my lips. I hurted my pimple.

The girls before me turn around in surprise.

"What's wrong with you weirdo? Why are you screaming?" Trisha asks raising her eyebrows.

"Nothing" I say quietly

"God you're so weird!" she turns away twirling her hairs, and so does the other girls. I roll my eyes and I turn to my friend just to realize I'm not the only one in anxiety. Mikan still hasn't been able to finish her homework.

"Quick you don't have much time, he'll be here any minute" I say.

"Don't worry only two paragraphs are left" she says. But kuzon is now at our row collecting all the notebooks in a huge pile. My heart bangs against my chest. He's getting closer. I can feel the hot blood rushing in veins. My face is burning.

"He's only a few desks away" I alert Mikan.

"Almost there" she says writing as fast as she can.

"You need hel-" I try to ask her but I get interrupted.

"Your Notebooks please" Kuzon says standing right before me. I toss my notebook on the stack avoiding any sort of eye contact with him.

"Just two minutes please" Mikan begs

"Be quick" he says. He keeps the bundle of books on my desk and stands lazily before us staring out the window behind me, waiting for Mikan to complete her work.

His curly shabby hairs are falling over his face, and lashes are shimmering against the sunlight. His white shirt made his sharp features look even more prominent. He's kind of like a Greek statue that ought to be in an art museum.

He rolls up sleeves and turn his gaze towards Mikan again

"Hurry up" he says in a deeper voice, rather rudely. I almost lose my breath.

"Here!" Mikan toss her notebook book to him and he finally walks away.

My heart is still running a minute a mile.

"He's gone, what are you still blushing for?" Mikan laughs

"No, I'm not." I lie.

"Whatever you say" she smiles

Mr Hampton begins his lessons, I try to work on my classnotes, but I can barely concentrate. He was here, right before me, but didn't even cared to talk to me. I rest my head on the desk and flash my gaze around the to look for for him. He's at the other end of the room, at the window seat with his best friend Dylan. Both are laughing, by the looks of it, Dylan is probably making fun of Mr Hampton.

Oh! I'm so jealous of him he gets to with kuzon all the time.

"Faline, Faline!" Mikan whispers a bit loudly.

I look at her in confusion.

"Mr Hampton is calling you" she points out subtly.

I stand up nervously as I see Mr Hampton looking at me totally pissed off.

"Ms Faline would you like to explain the equation to the class that I just taught"

"Um.. I... " I can't help but stutter. I wasn't paying attention at all. He must have saw me.

"I'm sorry Mr Hampton, I wasn't paying attention. I missed it"

"You missed it, haven't you, but by looking at you I can surely tell you've never missed a meal in you life. In fact, you haven't missed others meals as well"

The entire class burst out laughing. I can't believe he made fun of my weight. I mean a lot of people do but, still. I can make fun of his bald head any day, but I don't do it!

I can feel all the gazes at me, giggling and laughing. God I wish I could dig a whole right here and bury myself alive.

"Quite every one" Mr Hampton commands "and you Faline pay proper attention in class, save your dreams for the night"

I sit down and he resumes teaching, I'm still flushed. I wish the window behind me was a little large so I could just jump out of it.

And to make things worse Trisha turns towards me.

"I bet you have more than eight meals a day" Trisha say raising her eyebrows.

"Hey, Don't say that" Elinor adds.

Is she really protecting me? I look at her in awe.

"You're undermining her, I bet it's more than ten" she returns. Of course she did that!

The girls have a hearty laugh, and I just roll my eyes.

"Shut up all of you" I say rudely

"You shut up Fatso" Trisha look at me archly and turn away.

I bit my lips tightly. I can feel a huge knot in my stomach. I want to cry, but I won't. I can't cry now, though my throat is dry and sandy, and my eyes are tearing up, but I have to stay strong.

Cafeteria is brimming with warm sunlight and fresh air. I love this place. It's a viby spot. The aroma of food is mouth watering, but my apitite is dead. I don't want to eat, after what happened at the first period I don't want to do, anything but jump on my bed and cry for hour.

I take some stew and a loaf of bread anyways to keep my self distracted from my low-key tragic life. I sit with Mikan at our usual spot, at the corner with most sunlight, and closer to the buffet.

At our right, past two tables sits thr group of Riana, Trisha and Elinor. The trinity who loves to bully me, and few of their closest friends Dylan, Kuzon and Kaya.But, Kaya has always been nice to me. Her cheerful character makes her incapable of being rude to anyone.

They're having a loud conversation about the youth festival, that's organized next Saturday.

Kuzon and Trisha are having a couple dance as an opening act, and that's all she is thinking of and speaking of for last two weeks. You must be thinking I'm jealous of her, but I'm not because ever since Trisha was chosen as his partner she has turned into this silly, cringy girl in love who endlessly attempts to flirt with him and always fail. So I rather enjoy the show.

"Are you sure you don't want to participate in the youth festival" I turn to Mikan and ask her with concern. She's the best dancer in the class. It's a shame she's missing out on it.

"Yes" she says "I need to perform my best in this midterms. I'm aiming to score as good as Kaya this time. Why don't you participate?"

"Why would I? I'm not good at any extra curricular activities, and I'm done being a laughing stock to other, plus I'm trying to improve my grades as well"

"Good then I'm planning to submit all our extra credit assignments by next Monday, so we'll have ample of time to prepare for our exams without any distractions"

"But Monday's only two days away, don't you think it will be too much to complete in one weekend"

"I know, we have to start today as soon as we reach home, only then we'll able to complete it by Sunday night. We have to manage our time if we want to compete with Kaya"

"You're right!" I say pondering upon her words. After lunch I buy a big peice of brownie and we discuss all our pending work and jot down a to-do list. I spend rest of periods actively making note and pay attention in every class, because Mikan's words keep echoing in my mind. We have to manage our time if we want to compete with Kaya. Even if I don't score as good as her, I need better grades.

The final bell rings, marking the end of the day makes me happy. Probably the first time I've smiled in the entire day.

l bid Mikan goodbye and leave the school campus.

It's a sunny evening. West is beginning to turn a bit pink. Roads are getting busy. People are leaving for home. There's a strange peace in the usual hustle bustle. Just like everyday I buy a packet of biscuits at a store and walk into the alley before my house to see my little friend.

At the end of the alley, beside a giant rock under the willow tree lives a litter of cutest puppies in the world. They all jump towards me as I kneel down with biscuits in my hands.

I watch them as they gather around me nibbling on the biscuits or just licking my hand. I crease them, kiss them and play with them till I forget about everything that happened during the day.

But slowly evening begins to fade into night. I half heartedly get up and leave for home, a couple of brown pups continue to follow me half way the alley, but turn back as soon as they realize I'll not come.

I wish I was a puppy as well. I'd be small and fuzzy,and just sleep under the willow tree all day. I wouldn't have to worry about anything.