5

~She's so pretty.

~She's so cute

~She looks like an angel

I could hear everybody commenting on positive stuff about me. I looked at Zephyr once again but he just gave me a cold shoulder. I switched to look at Theo and he was smiling at me, giving me a thumbs up.

It felt nice to be appreciated. I switched to look at Zephyr's girlfriend, Rhea and she kind of looked annoyed at Theo looking at me and smiling. She was staring at Theo.

That was the first time I noticed that Rhea liked Theo, exactly the way I liked Zephyr.

***************

School was hard.

Not to say because I hate studies, turns out I don't. But I couldn't understand a word the teachers were teaching in class. I felt like a stranger inside the classroom. Sure the teachers were talking about some texts written on the textbook Theo and other kids in the classroom had, but I couldn't comprehend those texts.

At that moment, it almost felt like maybe I don't belong here and that maybe Zee was right, I should have started from basics and gotten myself enrolled in one of those KG classrooms

"I can understand how you feel Iris. Don't worry. Give yourself some time and bear with this. I promise you, you will be able to understand the text within a month." Theo said, comforting me by placing his hand above mine, giving it a light gentle squeeze.

I smiled at Theo.

****************

Finally, it was lunch break, and we were told to get out of the classroom in order to have some refreshments.

Theo brought me to the playground where Zephyr and Rhea were already there, seated at the basketball court having lunch together.

Zephyr hadn't brought lunch, so Rhea had an extra sandwich which she gave to Zephyr to eat. Theo had brought his lunchbox with himself.

"This is the recess time, and we are supposed to have refreshments before resuming the rest of the four periods left." Theo explained to me.

"Where's Zephyr's lunch?" I asked Theo to which Zephyr yelled annoyed, "Why do you care so much about me, huh?! Just leave me alone, okay?"

He then got up, kicked his feet and stormed out of the space leaving Rhea and Theo with me there.

"Zephyr's life is a little twisted, Iris. He comes from a family where you cannot expect them to prepare lunch boxes. Zephyr had always shared food with either me or Rhea." Theo explained.

I looked at Zephyr who was strolling in anger by the other end of the ground and made a mental note then and there...

~I will bring you an extra lunchbox from tomorrow on, Zephyr. I promise. I'll ask aunty Jennie to make an extra lunch for you.

Theo rolled the sandwich and broke it into half, he gave me one of the two pieces to eat.

"How is the sandwich? Did you like it?" He asked after I took a bite.

"Mmhh... It's amazing!" I said licking my lips, the dripping mayonnaise out of the bread, smearing my lips.

"My mom made these. If you liked them, I'll bring these for you everyday." Theo said again which made me chuckle.

"Thanks, Theo. You are the best."

I looked at Zephyr again who was strolling in anger, all lonely.

"But don't you think you should talk to Zephyr now? He's alone and must be hungry as well?"

Theo looked at Zephyr and then at me. He smiled and then assured me, "Don't worry, I'll go talk to him. You have the rest of my lunch."

Theo said handling me his lunchbox, he got up and left to talk to Zephyr leaving me and Rhea alone with each other.

I passed a smile at Rhea, and she smiled back. At that point I was jealous of her for she was so close to Zephyr, and she was jealous of me because she liked Theo and Theo was helping me. It was a cross. But she noticed my affection for Zephyr the very first day of school, just like I noticed hers.

"Do you like Zephyr?" Rhea asked me out of nowhere.

Like? Honestly, at that point, I didn't even know what the word 'Like' here actually meant. I was just a kid. But then, do I like Zephyr?

Yes, of course I do. I have liked him from the very first moment we met.

But when Rhea asked me that question, the cat got my tongue and I couldn't say anything.

"Umm..."

"I like Theo. A lot. But he doesn't, I guess." She said making a sad face and sighed out, "But don't you worry, Zephyr and I are just friends. I'm never going to go out with him. He's too shabby for my taste."

Although I didn't understand half of what she said, her words even though uninterpreted, kind of soothed me

"Umm... Okay." I said and smiled.

Soon, Zephyr returned with Theo and completely ignored me.

"I just want to say that I'm back into the group because you and Theo are my best friends and since somebody is going to tag along with my best friends, I am going to pretend like that somebody doesn't exist." Zephyr said and looked at me, "If somebody has a problem with that they could go to hell with their stupid face."

I didn't understand what Zephyr was trying to say, but it almost felt like he was talking to me.

"Come on Zeph, don't be so mean to her."

"Why? Why do you keep taking her side Theo? Is she more important to you than I am?"

"|-" Theo looked at me for a moment, but before he could answer Rhea intervened in between. "Of course, she is not, you dumbass. Both of you are equally important to us. But since she's new, she deserves a little more attention than you do."

"At least, give her some time to gel in, and then we'll all be perfectly fine. Right Iris?" Rhea said holding my hand and I gave her a smile. Zeph took a moment to look at my face in anger and then took a few deep breaths to calm down.

"Fine. Whatever." He said and sat down on the field. He snatched away Theo's lunchbox from my hand and started to eat the sandwich inside.

"This is my best friend's lunch, his mom prepared for me, not you. If you want it so much, Tell Theo to bring you extra."

Although he said it annoyed at me, but when he ate those sandwiches, it almost felt like he was eating, but I was getting full.

********************

After school Theo Zephyr and I were walking back to the parking lot of the school where Theo told me that their driver was supposed to pick us up. Rhea didn't join us because she went home through the school bus.

"Are you really going to teach her everything Theo?" Zephyr asked Theo acting a little worried and then turned to me, "Hey, you really don't know anything at all?"

"I never went to school, so no." I replied.

"We have our midterms in a month. How are you going to learn everything in a month?"

"Why? Are you worried about her, Zephyr?" Theo teased Zephyr at which Zephyr said annoyed, "Hey, I don't care okay. I'm just happy that this time I won't be the one to come last in exams."

"I won't come last either. I don't want to." I pouted.

"Then you will have to work very hard with me. You'll work hard, right?" Theo said to me.

"Right!" I said determined.

Soon, a car came by and stopped right before the three of us.

"Zee? Why are you too here?" Zephyr acted surprised.

"I went shopping for Iris's books and stationery, so I got late. I thought I might as well just pick you guys up then." Zee replied.

"Great. You two keep tagging along then. I'll sit with my brother." Zephyr said throwing his bag inside the car and got himself seated right next to his brother Zachary. Meanwhile, I and Theo sat ourselves in the back seat.

Soon the car took us to Zephyr's house.

Zephyr went to his room and Zachary brought me and Theo to his room.

"Iris, this is my room and the servants will bring all the items I brought you for school." Zachary told me as I went to sit on Zachary's bed with Theo sitting next to me. Zachary turned to Theo and started talking, "Theo, I've brought all the textbooks from KG to std Three. So, make good use of those books and teach her everything from ground level, okay?"

"Yes, brother Zee. Don't worry." Theo said and soon two of the servants came inside with bundles of books and a handful of other shopping bags.

"Theo will explain to you everything Iris, I have to go get some work done with dad. I'll see you around, okay?" Zachary said to me and I smiled.

"Thank You, Zee." I said. He took a moment to register my face and then left Theo and I alone.

Theo started to go through all the stuff Zee had brought, and he started to explain to me about the use of every item in those shopping bags

He helped me put covers on my textbooks and notebooks, taught me how to write my name. My handwriting wasn't as beautiful as his, so he decided to fill out the name stickers on all my books and notebooks instead.

He started out with a very thin book which was meant for KG students. The book taught me about alphabets. What are those and how to write them.

I was very determined to learn, so I kept practicing and doing everything Theo asked me to do. Soon, it was eight at night and a servant walked in informing us that there was a call for Theo from his mom. She was asking him to get back home.

"It's late. I have to head back home. Let's continue this tomorrow. Meanwhile when you're at home, you can practice these alphabets yourself and see if you could learn more, okay?" Theo said.

"Okay."

After Theo left, a servant came to the room and took me with my stuff to one of Zephyr's cars which was supposed to drive me home.

When I reached home, I looked at the clock, and it was past nine thirty at night. I was scared daddy would see me returning so late at night and scold me, but daddy wasn't home yet.

He usually never returns home before 12 or 2 in the night. Aunt Jenny had taught me how to read time on the clock. So, I knew this basic stuff. After today's session with Theo, I could finally understand those numbers written on the clock.

I went straight to my room with uncle Romario bringing all my stuff Zee brought me to my room. Aunt Jenny was hugging the phone and sleeping on my bed. She probably fell asleep waiting for me.

"Aunt Jenny?"

I walked near her and shook her, waking her up from her sleep.

"Iris?! Where were you so late at night?! Do you know how worried I was for you. I didn't know where and who to call to look for you. I was afraid to call your daddy because he would scold you if he knew you weren't home yet. You should have at least got someone there to call and inform me about your whereabouts, no?"

Aunt Jenny shouted and I stood there listening to her go on like that.

"I'm sorry Aunt Jenny but look, I joined school! today. I'm a student of standard Three B." I chirped showing her my school ID card.

"Three? But Iris, you should have started from KG classes no? You've never gone to school, how are you going to understand everything that is being taught to you at school?" Aunt Jenny asked me worried

"My friend Theo is there to teach me everything. See, I brought all the books, I even tried writing numbers and alphabets. I've already learnt a lot of stuff." I chirped happily. As I was showing her my stuff and telling her about my day, Aunt Jenny patiently heard everything and kept looking at me with a smile.

"Are you happy Iris?" Aunt Jenny suddenly asked me out of nowhere.

"Yes, of course. I'm very happy aunt Jenny. I got to go to the same class as Zephyr. I made two amazing friends at school, Theo and Rhea. I'm very happy. Although, there is one thing I want you to do for me." I said a little hesitant

"Anything." Aunt Jenny said lovingly patting my head.

"Can you make me two lunchboxes every day? Zephyr doesn't have anyone to make him lunch for school. I don't like him being hungry. I'll give him one of the lunchboxes." I said, "Cook something he would like. Like sandwiches? I saw him eating Theo's and Rhea's."

Aunt Jenny smiled and nodded a yes

"You must like this boy Zephyr so much, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. But he doesn't, I guess. I'll try hard and make him be friends with me." I told Aunt Jenny smiling

**********************

The next day at school wasn't bad.

I woke up early in the morning and the first thing I did was to go to Aunt Jenny and ask her if she made two lunchboxes.

"Aunt Jenny, did you make two lunchboxes as you promised?"

"Yes Darling. Here. One. And two of them." She said handling me both of them, one after another.

"And did you make sandwiches?"

"I sure did." She said lovingly pinching the tip of my nose, "Now go get ready, or you will get late for school."

"Okay."

I chirped happily and ran towards my room to get dressed up in my new school uniform.

***************************

Uncle Romario drove me directly to school.

"Uncle Romario? Aren't we going to Zephyr's house first? I went to school with Zephyr and Theo yesterday." I asked uncle Romario when he didn't take the turn he was supposed to on the way to Zephyr's house.

"Miss Iris, Sir Rodriguez has given me clear instructions to personally take you to school and bring you back home with me."

"Oh. Daddy said that?"

I whispered to myself. Daddy's name was enough to make me quit throwing tantrums. After hearing daddy's name I didn't even have the guts to ask uncle Romario to drive to Zephyr's house anyway.

But then...

"But Uncle Romario, Theo was supposed to teach me after school at Zephyr's house?" I asked uncle Romario to which he replied, "Well, Sir Rodriguez has asked me to bring Theodore too after school. He will be teaching you at your house from now on, miss Iris.

"I see."

I mentally made peace. I was almost scared that daddy won't allow me to get tutored too. I was glad that Theo would be around after school with me. Even though it's at my house.

*************************

The school went by pretty much normal. Even though whatever teachers taught made much less sense to me, I was sitting next to Theo and Zephyr was seated right in front of me. I could talk to Theo and stare at Zephyr all day.

Soon, it was recess and we all went to the playground. Zephyr watched me with two lunchboxes and started to laugh, "Two lunchboxes? Aren't you planning to eat too much for your little petite figure?"

"Umm these aren't only for me. I brought you one." I said offering him one of the lunchboxes I had.

"You brought me a lunchbox?"

Zephyr took a moment to stare at me and the lunchbox all taken aback. But then he composed himself and took the box from my hand, he opened it to see two sandwiches inside. I don't know what made him angry at that but he threw my lunchbox away

"Zephyr?!!" Theo shouted watching him do that, "What the heck?!"

Tears pooled into my eyes meanwhile Theo immediately went down to pick up my sandwiches stuffing them back into my lunchbox that Zephyr threw away

"Why would you do that? She was just being nice to you."

"She is not my friend and I never told her to bring this for me. I don't need her charity!"

Rhea came near to me and hugged me.

"You're bad Zephyr. That's just pathetic. She was just trying to be your friend." Rhea said.

"Well guess what? I don't need your friendship!" Zephyr said and stormed off from there.

He broke my heart and rejected my friendly hand towards himself.

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