The Definition of Dumb

"SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIIITT!!"

I run through the hallways to my classroom.

"Why did I have to wake up late?!" I shout as I run.

So, my dad came yesterday to drop off my stuff at the dorm.

.

.

.

"Aree, I brought all the luggage in your room. Check if any of them are missing. If there is, I'll go get it".

"No, phaw. You brought everything".

"Alright. Take care of yourself".

"Okay, phaw".

"Eat and sleep properly. Study hard, okay? We're hard on you because we love you. You know that, right?"

"I know, phaw".

"Come home whenever you feel like it. Your mae and I will be waiting", he said and hugged me. I hugged him back.

"You and mae both, take care of yourself, okay? I'll call you everyday".

"Alright", my dad turned on the car.

"Bye, sweetie".

"Bye bye, phaw", I smiled and waved at him and he drove away in his car.

I took my luggage and went to the warden.

"Amara Ngam?"

"Yes".

"You're in Dorm 207. It's on the second floor. Your dorm mates are Maria Blaine and Kailynn Lanier".

'Lynn!'

She handed me my name plate to put on my dorm room door.

"Okay, thank you", I thanked her and walked away.

After I reached the dorm, I looked at the name plates below the room number.

"Maria Blaine. Kailynn Lanier. I know how Lynn is but, will this Maria person be a nice person?

Can't know until I find out for myself now, can I?" I knocked on the door.

The door opened and I saw a black girl.

"Are you Amara Ngam?"

"Uh, yes! Yes, I am".

"Please, come in", I walked in.

‘She’s so pretty!’

"I'm Maria Blaine. It's nice to meet you, Amara", she extends her hand towards me. I reach for her hand and shake it.

"Nice to meet you too. And please, call me Aree".

"That's your room", Maria pointed towards a door.

"We cleaned and decorated it a little for you", she smiled.

"You didn't have to do that but, thank you. I appreciate it", I smiled at her.

"You can freshen up and keep your stuff there. We have tutor class in half an hour".

"Oh, okay. Thanks, Maria", I opened the room door.

The windows were covered with baby pink curtains. The white walls had star lighting hung close to the ceiling. There was a desk and a chair opposite to the double sized bed.

'Oh my god, the room's super prettyyyy!!'

I looked at the empty walls.

"But\~

These walls would look absolutely gorgeous with the N9NE posters I packed", I said and glanced at one of my suitcases.

"I'll decorate this room after dinner", I left my stuff in the room and closed the door behind me.

I went to the sitting area and saw Maria and Lynn talking. Maria had told Lynn that I had arrived. So, the first thing she said when she laid her eyes on me was,

"Omg! Aree!!" She hugged me tightly.

"We're now dorm mates! I'm soooo excited\~"

"Yes, Lynn. Me too".

"When I told Lynn that you came, she was super excited and said that you guys were friends", Maria came up to us.

"Well, we just met today but, yeah", I said awkwardly.

"Who cares if we met just today? We're friends now. So, we have to get to know each other more", Lynn said, still hugging me.

"Of course".

"Let's go", Maria said and we went to our respective tutor classes.

I went inside the class and looked for a place to sit. Suddenly, I felt someone wrap their arms around me with force.

"Aree!" I looked through my shoulder and saw Pierre in a white t-shirt.

"Pierre! Hey.

Hi, Nathaniel", I waved at Nathaniel.

"Mm, hi".

"So\~ Did you go to your dorm? Who are your dorm mates? I'm soooo curious, tell me!!" Pierre said.

"Well\~ there are two girls".

"Uh huh\~"

"One of them are Lynn".

"Really?! So you're in the same dorm as Lynn?! That's convenient for you, isn't it?"

"It really is. You have no idea how relieved I was when I saw her name plate.

The other one is a girl named Maria Blaine".

"Oh, yeah. She told me at lunch".

"She's nice".

"Yeah. But, she used to be friends with that Emma Raine", Pierre scoffed.

"Emma? Who's that?"

"Sigh.. there are many group of bullies here at this varsity. Emma's gang is one of them.

The gang consists of five girls and Emma is their leader. They basically do anything she tells them to.

From what I know, Maria cut ties with her after she became a bully".

"Oh...

You seem to hate her".

"Yeah, I don't like her. She's a pain sometimes. But, from what I know, her four friends are innocent. They're just misguided by her.

I'll tell you more about her and her gang when we get the time".

"Mhm".

"By the way, Maria's in the Photography department".

"Oh, I see".

We saw the teacher coming in and so, we took our seats. The teacher started taking class and we took notes.

After the class, I waved at Pierre and Nathaniel and went back to the dorm.

Back at the dorm, we sat down and had our dinner. After dinner, I said goodnight to both Maria and Lynn and went to my room. I opened my luggage that was completely filled with K-pop merch.

"Trust me, room. You'll look absolutely gorgeous with all my posters".

.

.

.

I spent HOURS on decorating the room and arranging everything. I went to bed super late and because of that.. I....

I forgot to set my alarm.

That's why I'm running right now.

I bet you guys are laughing your ass off seeing my condition.

I reach the floor my class is on and stop to take a breather.

"OoH gOdd..", my voice breaks.

Just as I'm about to fast walk, I see Nathaniel walking out the boys' locker room furiously. To make it more confusing, I see a brown haired girl run behind him and grab his wrist. She's arguing with him and Nathaniel's shaking off her hand after giving her a reply. Nathaniel walks away.

'...what did I just witness..?'

The girl starts crying. I slowly walk towards her and place my hand on her shoulder. She turns towards me, startled.

"Um.. Are you okay?

That was Nathaniel just now, wasn't it? What's wrong?"

She shoves my hand off her shoulder harshly.

"That's none of your fucking business", she curses and quickly walks past me. I look back at her and see her wiping her tears.

"I asked because I was worried. No need to curse at my face.

Sheesh", I roll my eyes and jog to the class.

I walk in to see everyone in their own groups of friends, chatting, laughing, gossiping and teasing each other.

My eyes fall on the girl I saw earlier.

'She's in my class?!!' She glances at me once and averts her eyes quickly.

I go over to my seat and greet Pierre.

"Hey, Pierre!"

"Aree\~ You're here, finally!"

"Why? Were you lonely?" I laugh and sit next to him.

"Nope! I just felt awkward after what happened a few moments ago".

"What do you mean?"

"Eh, it's nothing. Forget it", I stare at him.

"Pierre".

"Hm?" He looks at me.

"I think I saw Nathaniel arguing with that girl", I tell him, pointing at her.

"Is there something going on between them?"

"Stop pointing", he says awkwardly as he holds the same hand that I'm pointing at her with.

"Why?"

"...

Now's not the time to talk about this. I'll tell you a little later.

I promise, 'kay?" Pierre says with a serious face.

'...

His serious face is really something'.

I look at his hand that's still holding mine.

"Pierre..

My hand", he immediately takes his hand off.

"Haha.. I'm sorry", he laughs awkwardly. I laugh back at him.

'He's back to normal'.

"But, why do you wanna know?"

"I'm just curious. That's all".

"Uh huh. I'll tell you when it's time, just like I promised".

"Alright, alright".

Nathaniel walks in and sits in his seat without glancing at that girl, not even once.

Me and Pierre look at each other. Pierre leans forward.

"Jack? You okay, man?" Nathaniel turns around to look at him and then at me.

"I'm fine", he says with his usual cold voice and sits straight.

'......'

Class starts. I can't help but think about what I saw.

'What's her relationship with Nathaniel..?

Why did he look so angry?

Why did she cry?'

"Ha.. dammit" I curse under my breath.

Morning classes go by and it's lunch time already.

"Aree. Let's go", Pierre smiles.

"...yeah, okay".

"I'll bring Vian and Lynn. You guys go to the cafeteria and get our food", Nathaniel says and leaves.

Pierre and I go to the cafeteria. I grab a plate and get the food. I suddenly remember something that happened yesterday.

"Pierre! Are you going to carry all the plates in your hands like yesterday??", I ask with sparkling eyes.

"Why?"

"Because it looks so cool!" Pierre laughs.

"Well, yeah. 'Cause you can't".

"Ouch", I say and turn around to walk away. Just when I'm about to reach our table, I bump into a blonde girl and I drop my food on her.

The plate falls to the floor and the students that saw the scene start to gossip. Pierre looks back at me.

"Here, put these on my table, will yah?" Pierre hands all four plates to a guy next to him.

"Uh-! Sure!" He says awkwardly.

I look up at her face.

ANBDBEJWMNKEKWBDBENWNWNE

SHE’S SO FRICKING GORGEOUS!! WHAT THE HELL?!?!!?

"What the-!" I come back to my senses.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to do that!! Here, let me help you!!" I say and take out a tissue and wipe the food on her chest.

At least that's what I was hoping to do. As I wipe the food, it just smears and makes her bright pink top look like vomit.

"Shit, I'm just making things worse".

"STOP IT!" She says and pushes me.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU, HUH?! HOW DARE YOU MAKE MY DESIGNER TOP DIRTY?!"

"I-I didn't mean to- Damn, why am I stuttering?"

"HEY! LOOK AT ME!! NOT ONLY DID YOU DO THAT, YOU ALSO TOUCHED ME!!

DO I LOOK LIKE I'M A STREET RAT LIKE YOU??!"

"S-Street rat?"

'You callin' me a street rat, while you look like Regina George jumped out of  the Mean Girls?!'

(The girl be accidentally calling her hot oof-)

"YEAH! YEAH, YOU ARE. I BET YOU WOULD FOLLOW ANYONE AND DO ANYTHING IF THEY OFFER YOU MONEY, YOU FUCKING WHORE!"

"EMMA!!" Pierre shouts at her.

"Who do you think you're talking to?"

"I thought you clearly heard me. She's a who-".

"Emma.

She's my friend. I can't tolerate this".

"You think I give a fuck, Pierre? Just because you're friends with Nathaniel, it doesn't mean you're scary too.

You're just his sidekick".

"I'm a sidekick if I wanna be but, that's none of your damn business. You're disrespecting my friend here. Apologise to Aree, right now".

"Aree? That's your name? So dumb, just like you".

'Yeah? Well, you're the definition of dumb.

I wanna say that out loud but... I'm a coward. I can't say it...'.

I gulp.

"What? You're not going to say anything? So, you really are dumb!"

"Yeah, I'm dumb. At least I'm not a bitch", I blurt out.

"WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!?" She slaps me so hard across the face, my eyes widen like plates. I stare at her, trying to process what just happened.

Before I know it, my tears fall nonstop.

"EMMA!" Pierre shouts.

"YOU'RE CROSSING YOUR LIMITS!!".

"Yeah, well. I can do more", she says as she grabs a bottle of water and pours the entire thing on my head.

I stare at the floor as I'm completely drenched.

"What have you done?!"

"What? I'm just showing her who's the boss here", she snickers.

I'm soaking wet. To make things worse, I'm wearing a white shirt today of all days. I try to cover myself as much as I can.

"I thought you were a whore. Why are you embarrassed, huh?"

Pierre immediately takes off his jacket and covers me. He then hugs me to reassure me.

Emma snickers.

"I can't believe this, Pierre. So, she's fucking you too?" Pierre takes his hands off me and walks upto her.

Then, he slaps her so hard, her cheek turns red. She holds her cheek and looks at him with a shocked face.

"If you don't want your tongue cut off, you better shut the fuck up", Pierre tells her off in a low but scary voice.

"Let's go, Aree", Pierre pulls me by the hand furiously. Nathaniel stands far away, taking in what just happened. We walk out the cafeteria and he takes me to the girls' locker room.

"Wait here, I'll go get you something to wear from my locker", he says and leaves.

I wait for him outside the room. A few minutes later,

"Here".

"Ha.... Thanks, Pierre-"

"Pierre?" I look at the direction of the voice.

It's a super tall, breathtakingly beautiful, blonde male.

'His deep blue eyes look absolutely stunning...' I stare at his glowing face.

"Um.. what?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you staring at my face?"

"...who are you?"

"You don't even know me?" He laughs.

'Even his laugh his stunning!' I decide to continue creeping him out by staring at his gorgeous face.

"Uh.. I saw what happened at the cafeteria", he rubs the back of his neck, awkwardly. I look away remembering the scene from earlier.

"I thought, maybe I could help you by at least giving you these..", he says, giving me a towel and a black T-shirt.

"No, wait! You don't have to do that!! My friend's gone to get me clothes. You don't have to-"

"Please, just take it".

"But, you don't have to-!"

"I felt a little guilty that I couldn't do anything back there. That's why, I'm doing this.

Just take it", I look at him and then at his hands. I reluctantly take them both.

"Thank you so much", I make a 90° bow to show my gratitude.

"Oh, don't bow! This is the least I can do", he flashes a smile at me.

"Take care!" He says and walks away. I stare at his walking figure.

'....

His hair looks soft'.

Sorry, guys. But, that's all I can think of right now.

(Simp.)

I walk into the girls' locker room and take off Pierre's jacket, then my wet T-shirt. I then dry off with the towel that guy gave me and then put on the oversized black T-shirt.

"What did I expect, that it'd fit me? He's a tall, beautiful guy! Of course, the shirt's loose", I say as I look at the collar that doesn't want to stay on my shoulder.

Just then, I hear a knock on the door.

"Aree? It's me", Pierre says from the other side of the door.

"Oh, I almost forgot about him", I say to myself and open the door.

"Here, I got you a fresh towel and-", he pauses after looking at me.

"Where did you get that from?"

"What?"

"The shirt you're wearing, and the towel in your hand".

"Oh, some guy came and gave them to me".

"Some guy came and gave them to you?"

"Yeah".

*"Some guy* gave you, his shirt and his probably dirty towel?"

"Yeah".

"Some guy gave you, his shirt and his probably dirty towel, and you took it?"

"Yeah", Pierre facepalms.

"Aree, you're not supposed to just take something from a guy you don't even know!"

"...oh".

"God".

"I couldn't help it! He was too beautiful!!"

Pierre just stares at me with the most concerned face ever.

"Oh, god. Did you get his name?"

"...."

"Oh my god, Aree!"

"I'm sorry!!"

Pierre and I walk down the hallways towards the cafeteria because, we still haven't eaten yet.

"Just eat. We're on our way to the cafeteria right now", Pierre hangs up.

"Was that Nathaniel?"

"Yeah, he said that the others are already there and asked when we're coming".

"Oh, I see", I say as I put my hands inside the pockets of the jacket I'm wearing.

"You seem to like the jacket a lot".

"Yeah, it looks cool! Can I wear it for the rest of the day, please??"

"Of course, you can", he laughs.

I see a familiar figure from afar.

"Oh! Pierre, that's the guy that gave me his shirt", I point at him.

"Where?"

"That tall guy with the beautiful blonde hair!"

"Oh, Louise?"

"His name is Louise?"

"Yeah, Louise Smith".

"He's the sports caption here. He's very good at sports. He can play almost anything. He's also the most handsome guy in college.

After me, of course", Pierre flipped his non existent long hair off his shoulder.

"Seriously?"

"Okay, I'll admit that he is pretty handsome. But, not as handsome as I.

He's also very popular. But, unlike many people, he doesn't let it get to him. He likes to help people like Jack does, minus the violent behaviour. Louise is seriously terrified of him".

"Really, now?"

"Yeah. He's as innocent as a baby", I look at Louise, who's joking around with his friends.

"But, I don't trust innocent looking people. They're the dirtiest", he adds. I decide to tease him.

"You look innocent".

".....Nice try but, I ain't falling for that".

We walk past Louise and his friends.

'.....he doesn't seem dirty to me.

I have a feeling I'm going to see him more often'.

-to be continued...

Emma Raine

With Love, Your Idiot

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