Searching for Love, Found Wealth

Bright, very bright morning. I’m yawning like a goat and I didn’t care.

I reach out for the bottled water always on my desk and gulp all it’s content.

Pieces of yesterday memory fish in.

I laugh softly as I remember Jacob insisting of spending the night here after seeing how soft, and big, my bed was.

I still regret him finding it at the corner. When he had laid on it, propping his head with his hands and asking me to join him.

I knew that was his bad boy part speaking and the night wasn’t helping. So I had lied on having a headache and needing to sleep early.

I kinda feel like he knew I was lying but I’m glad he had left.

The night hadn’t been awkward as I expected. Scratch that. The night hadn’t been too awkward. I wasn’t as scared as I thought I would.

I heard some groaning and scolding sounds from downstairs. They reminded me to snap out of my thoughts and get ready for school.

Today was the day we will finish the project. Why wait for long when you could finish it all be done with it.

Also, we have gotten our mud way more easier than lots of groups would.

I finished my morning routine and hopped downstairs, first dropping at Baby John’s bed to kiss him good morning then tiptoeing to the kitchen; to steal cornflakes.

“Kiera Bob Martinez, I have told you, cornflakes is for Gladys. Stop eating baby food so you’ll grow well!”.

Mom shouted at me before I opened the cupboard. I hate whoever told her cornflakes were baby food. Those stuffs were my life energizers.

“And good morning, Mrs. Bob Martinez. Did I chase you in your dreams?” I groaned and dragged the egg carton down so I’d fry myself some eggs.

“Hurry up, I’d take John for check up today. I found a good doctor. A better doctor than that one” mom sighed.

I just nodded. I didn’t even know the previous doctor she used to take John to.

“Will you take Gladys to school for me?” I choked on my water and stared at her.

“If Gladys school wasn’t the opposite direction from mine and would take me two hours to get there, yes” I frowned.

Gladys school was recommended to mom. And that’s the only reason Gladys schooled there. The school started by nine am.

So it’s not bad if she drives for almost two hours to get there. But me, my school starts by 7:45am. I had to be in school on time.

“I have called Charles to not bother pick you up” Mom added, washing her hands on the sink.

She really left me no choice. I guess it’s time for my big sister roles.

“I’d be lucky and meet the last class before recess, mom” I complained.

She shrugged, “C’mon, you meet school all the time. They won’t punish you if you miss today. And you have a reason to”.

Was she sparking my rebellious heart more? Cos I just had a rebellious feat yesterday.

My rebellious heart would go haywire if I’m given a chance of acting rebellious again.

Gladys stormed into the kitchen. Mom handed her the cornflakes she had prepared and she grumpily took it.

I knew they had had an argument. She replaced me in that.

“I don’t wanna go to school today” she sighed when mom left the kitchen.

I cocked my eyebrows “Why?”.

I’d be glad if she didn’t wanna go. I didn’t wanna take her. But in the spirit of my big sister roles, I won’t say that.

She slapped the bowl unto the cabinet with angry eyes and I knew whatever the reason was annoying, “Some kids bully me for my short hair”.

Bullying? Now I was interested.

My pathetic little sister narrated how there was an incredulous hype for long hair among the little wimps of her class.

Gladys had a short hair. She had been sick when she was little, so they said, and her hair had been unhealthy.

It was cut down for her health to improve.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“They call me a boy and blah blah. And bless them that I haven’t gotten mad yet from all their taunts. I hate school” she said with finality.

I shook my head. Even kids these days had a reason to bully others. When did long hair become a thing?

“I bit someone”.

I burst out laughing, “I thought you said you haven’t gotten mad yet. Then that’s why you don’t wanna go to school”.

She huffed but said nothing.

I hurriedly took out the eggs before they became ‘deep fried’.

Gladys continued her whine about how school was basically useless to the society and was just an avenue for adults to bully kids with their knowledge.

Like she did make sense but I wasn’t supposed to agree with her.

We arrived by 8:04 am to her school. She folded her arms angrily and stomped in.

I decided go follow her in at least to see the pretty girls that were her bully.

Some eight year olds who were already feeling like princesses.

Well I wasn’t disappointed by my sight. Cos there stood Mirabella Martinez. In all her deceptive pride and glory.

I expected her to taunt Gladys as she came in but she ignored her and so did Gladys.

I then realized Gladys never said her bully was Mirabella or even girls but some annoying boys.

That’s weird. I didn’t know Mirabella schooled here. Gladys never told.

“Since when did she school here?” I tapped Gladys and pointed at Mirabella. Mirabella noticed and smiled at me. That was weird.

“Don’t know. She was here before me. She is in class A. I’m in C” Gladys answered, nonchalantly.

“Hey, boy! You should join the football team with that short hair of yours” a smallish boy had shouted to Gladys.

She balled her fists and glared at him.

“Should we pull your hair so that it’d grow longer?” another taller boy a said behind us.

I guess I was invisible.

Gladys gave me the ‘see what I mean’ face and I nodded.

It sadly reminded me of how bullies used to say that I should get in the rain and wash my self clean cos I was dark-skinned.

I knew it was different but this was still body shaming.

“Hey, don’t you guys have anything better to do today than annoy someone?” I used a nice tone.

“Oh Gladys, did you call your big sister to scold us. Oh, I’m scared” the taller boy mocked, totally ignoring me.