Episode 3

Sophia walked towards me and slapped me hard on the face. Adrian was yanked to her side. I felt tears prickling my eyes.

"I know that you are a slut!Adrian doesn't love you. Why can't you let that sink into your thick skull?He is mine!" She bellowed.

Her busts of anger drew my parents and a smaall crowd. They were all startled.

"Girls,what's wrong?"Asked my mother.

None of us spoke. Silence engulfed us,making the air thicken with tension.

"Adrian,can you please tell me what's going on?" Mrs.Knight asked her son.

"Okay then,it seems you won't talk right? Sophia,you are grounded." My dad said.

"What!No way!It's actually Rosie's fault. She was seducing Adrian and telling him to dump me!"She said in sobs.

I could hear gasps of shock in the crowd,followed by murmurs.

"Rosie,is it true?"My mom questioned.

"Is it true?"She raised her voice.

"Now,now honey. It's Christmas. Let's talk about it later. We have guests remember?"Dad tried reasoning out with her.

"Rosie,go to your room and don't leave till we tell you so,"dad said.

I quickly rushed to my room,crying in full force. This was the worst Christmas ever. I wanted to strangle myself to death. I felt humiliated. Anyway,it was my fault. I knew the consequences of trying to snatch Sophia's things. But I foolishly gave it a shot. I couldn't have Adrian. He was out of my reach now. I gave up on him. Love is toxic,you know.

I felt so dead inside. I was tired of crying. My eyes could only stare out in space. I felt weak and pathetic and worthless. I felt exhausted and slowly,i drifted off to sleep. After that incident,I was declared as immoral by my family. None of my cousins were allowed to talk to me. It was contagious;this disease known as lack of shame. I was even diagnosed with a chronic infection;immoral. It's amazing how people can become doctors in an instant.

Anyways,the holiday passed and school was opened. I felt excited. I missed Madam Dorris so much. And now that Sophia wasn't there,it was the only place where I could be myself. I deliberately made myself late so that the lessons with Madam Dorris could continue. I began to be noticed by the teachers. To most of them,I was an outstanding student;after passing the end yeat exam. But to the Disciplinary Teacher, I was a nuisance.

The poor guy hates me to the guts. Whenever he sees me,he glances me like a rotten egg. Indeed I was rotten in many ways. So, school began and my chance of happiness had finally reached. I was carefree and even got interested with sports;especially volleyball. The coach recommended me to join but I declined. Running round an 800 metre field was enough for me though.

Things at school were indeed falling to place but home became home no more. Sophia and my parents solitated me in my room. I was like a cholera patient. Geez, even supper,i had to cook for myself. I never complained.Why should I when I am learning to cook different meals. I became a pro in cooking. I knew how to make biryani, Chinese rice and even rice dumplings. The latter were yummy.

Throughout the year, I lost some considerable amount of fat. However, I was still fat. Maybe, I was meant to be fat;live and die as a fatty. The year went on smoothly;having miNina interactions with both Sophia and Adrian. Sophia attended a college just afew kilometres away from home. Adrian went to campus and returned at the end of his semester. They were still dating. Their relationship seemed strong and resilient against huge waves of long distance.

I didn't care the least but Sophia was still hostile. Meanwhile,the results for the final exam were out. I had surpassed the expectations of all the teachers;which were quite high. I was a famous badass nerd. My parents were happy to the extent of congratulating me. Sophia gritted her teeth whenever we crossed paths. She became more hostile. We were like India and Pakistan,America and Al-Qaeda. I tried smiling at her but that drove her mad. I really don't understand her.

"Your smile makes me sick,"she clarified.

Sick? Was I suffering from leprosis? God,she took me as a louse. Christmas came and we were meant to gather at Adrian's house. I refused to attend. It was like taking a risk. I didn't want the past events to be repeated. So,I had the whole house for my own.

I put my headphones and listen to Ed Sheeran.I ran wild around the house. Jumped on the couches like a toddler. I had fun all alone. I vowed to never expect happiness from someone. I believed that one bestows happiness by themselves and that was what I did. Also, the following year was my final year and there would be work and tension. I took it to myself to have all the fun now and get serious then.By the time my parents and Sophia returned,the house was a complete wreck. And by that time,I was fast asleep. Mom had no chance to reprimand me and by morning,she would have long forgotten.

In no time,school was opened and it being my final year,I wanted to work extra hard. Push myself to the edge. Madam Dorris still lends me her support.She is the most important person in my life. I never could have reach here without her encouragement and guidance. I knew that I would nail it. We were constantly tested and revision was done to the maximum. May seemed a few breaths away.

"Mrs. Monsoon,could you please follow me to my office,"Mr. Brown,the headteacher,told me one fine morning.

I was scared,I had to admit. Is he gonna expel me due to my lateness? Was I incompetent to attend this school? Questions flowed into my mind, making me dizzy. The walk to his office was accompanied with tormenting silence. I kept fidgeting with my fingers and chewing my lips.

"God,what is the problem?"I wondered in dismay.

"Ahem!"He cleared his throat to gain my attention as he sat on his chair.

"Mrs.Monsoon,please sit." I quickly sat down on a comfy leather chair across him.

"Rosie Monsoon,right?" He asked.

I nodded in agreement.

"You are an outstanding student indeed. All the teachers are impressed and display positive remarks. Especially the late...,"he stopped abruptly.

Was he gonna say the latest or the latter? What was he intending to say? He wasn't even maintaining eye contact. He wasn't a bearer of good news.

"I am sad to inform you that Madam Dorris is no more. I know that you and her were so close. You were each other's confidants. She talked so fondly of you. She had diabetes and knew her state. We urged her to undertake medication but she refused. It's such a sad state of affair. She was a very good teacher. There is a letter she wrote to you when she was in the hospital. Please take it,"he said in a sad tone.

My heart was beating rapidly. Short breaths came out of me. When he said that she was no more, my heart stopped. My surrounding became hazy. My mouth was wide open but no sound came out. I just took the letter and walked out of the room after mumbling a thank you.

I didn't want to be in school so I ditched my classes and ran to a nearby park. I had a secret spot which was hidden by bushes and had an amazing view of a wide pond. I sat myself down and scrambled to open the letter. I tore it open.

"Dearest Rosie..." It began.

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