บท 5: Reunion

I walked out of the class after the next bell rang. Everything felt so familiar in my head. As if all these mundane tasks of switching classes happened just yesterday.

But I wished this mundane life was the only thing I had experienced, not the terrible mistreatment, from threat, slander, sabotage, even as far as them beating me physically.

I wanted to avoid anything dangerous, at least for now, because I still hadn't clearly grasped my position. When I finally figured out my position, I could move my chess slowly.

But there was an inevitable event that would lead me to know Jessica Lambert, Cindy Crawler, and her gang.

For some unknown reason, Jessica and her gang targeted me during the afternoon break on my second day. She just came directly at me with displeased glare. I didn't even know why she picked on me, but one thing was for sure, there was hidden anger in her eyes once she saw me for the first time.

I walked to the next class, English Literature, alone. I kept thinking of some way to avoid Jessica for now.

What? Did you think I'm stupid?

Jessica was the queen of the school. She was the Regina George of DarthMorth high school. In fact, I believed Jessica was a lot more difficult to tackle than that legendary Queen Bee Regina George.

Because Jessica seemed to know everything, literally everything, as if she had a bunch of spies everywhere that informed her about all my movements, and she specifically picked on me for no reason.

I was her toy for three years straight, and it only worsened as more and more people joined her to gang up against me. No matter how many times I tried to hide, she would always find me, as if there was a spy around me.

I pondered as I walked in the corridor and then accidentally bumped into someone.

THUD!

"Ouch!" I fell to the ground and landed on my butt. I winced in pain.

"Ouch, s—sorry!"

I heard the high-pitched but gentle voice in front of me. I looked up and saw a woman with curly red hair. She was wearing a dress with a floral pattern, which was quite old-fashioned and unique.

"A-Are you okay?"

…

"Cerise!" I got up and hugged this woman immediately. She was Cerise, a girl that was just as bullied as I was. She was a sweet girl and my only friend in my previous life.

But she was forced to move to another city because of her parents in the third year, and we lost contact after.

"W—Wha, who are you?!" Cerise's body stiffened when I hugged her. Then I realized that we hadn't met each other in this life yet.

I released my hug and then smiled at her, "I'm Emmelyn Jones. You can call me Emmy. Your name is Cerise, right?"

"Y—Yes, my name is Cerise… how did you know?" She asked me with her peering gaze behind that round glasses.

I gulped after realizing my mistake. I got so excited about reuniting with my best friend again that I forgot about my rebirth.

"Uh…" I observed her stuff and then realized something particular about Cerise.

Her locker always had her picture stamped in front and her nameplate under it. It was quirky and cute at the same time.

"I knew it from your locker. Our lockers are standing side by side, so I just know, haha!" I replied awkwardly.

It was fortunate that Cerise believed me immediately. Her naivety was still my favorite thing about her.

"O—Okay, then, nice to meet you, Emmy…." Cerise tried to back off, but I pulled her.

"Hey, did you know that I'm new in this town? You should accompany me sometime later. How about giving me your number?" I asked enthusiastically.

"Y—You want my number? Mine? From me?"

"Of course! I have a feeling that we can become good friends in the future!"

Thus, I started to talk with Cerise once more. I listened to some of her small talks, even though I already heard about everything, but I still liked listening to her talking. It gave me a sense of assurance that I wasn't alone.

"Wow, Emmy, you're the first person who's wanted to talk with me for so long... do you want something from me?" Cerise asked.

"Something? I want to be your friend, of course," I replied with the happiest grin I had.

The school ended in the early evening, I was still worried about what would happen next, but I had only one thing in mind for now.

I stared at a small house with a wide yard, with a few flower pots that my grandma planted to decorate the terrace.

I had finally returned home, but I was nervous.

I was so nervous because I was afraid there wouldn't be two figures who I had missed so much for three years.

I pushed the unlocked front door and called the woman that became the strength for me to continue living.

"Mom, I'm home…"

…

I clenched my fist after hearing no response. What was the point of returning three years prior if I couldn't reunite with my mom? She was the source of my strength, and after her death, my life became so bleak and depressing that the thought of ending my life to follow her kept on popping up every day.

…

"Welcome back. Emmy, how was your first day at school?"