THE FIGHT

Before my alarm could ring the next morning, I  was already awake, since Jenny said the interview was by 7:00am.

 I felt very enthusiastic, knowing I had prepared very well for the interview. I was certain on going to get the job, and nothing was going to stop me. I planned on going to school after the interview, hopefully they don't delay me.  My cardigan worn on top of my uniform, incase I finished the interview early, I would run off to school. 

"Mum, I am ready." I shouted from the hall way, running to the kitchen. Mum was preparing breakfast. I was shocked to see Jenny awake, probably because she was taking me to this supposedly mansion, where I was going to work. 

We got to the mansion at 6:30am; we were very early.  I couldn't believe my eyes, the building was so magnificent. There were different types of expensive cars parked at the garage.

There was a garden at the end of the compound, beside the third gate, which made the environment look so beautiful to behold. Beautiful and colourful  flowers surrounded everywhere. It was like heaven on earth; the people living here must be stinky rich.

We got inside the mansion where the interview was to take place, and it turned out that I was the first interviewee to arrive. At exactly 7:00am, an elderly woman in her late fifties approached us, she kept on gazing at me. There was a look of satisfaction on her face, she later introduced  herself as Mrs. Kate. 

"Well  hm, what's your name again?" Mrs. Kate asked, hitting her hand gently on her head, trying to recall.

"Clara ma" I said smiling 

"Well because you are very early, you are hired. You are to resume a day after tomorrow," She turned to leave immediately.

"Wow!!! I didn't think it will go so easy. Thank you for hiring me ma," I said, clearly shouting on top of my voice as my voice echoed.

I was perplexed about the fact that there wasn't even an interview. The whole thing came as a shock to me. I was very happy and ran outside excitedly to break the news to Jenny. She was so happy for me. 

My excitement knew no bound and I nearly forgot about going to school, not until I was reminded by Jenny. When I got into the bus, I removed the cardigan I had on, putting it neatly into my bag. 

When I got the school gate, I felt so unease. My heart skipped on thinking about  how my classmates were going to react when they see me, I felt like going somewhere else, far from this school.

 "At least I was quite early today, and wouldn't get into trouble with any teacher" I thought.

As I got closer to the class, I couldn hear my heart beat increasing rapidly. It began to beat fast, like I had been running for a while. At some point, it felt like my heart was almost in my mouth. I stood at the door for a while, holding the door knob  before finally opening it. Immediately, all eyes were on me.

 Leo seating on his seat and as usual he was putting on his earpiece. I entered the class looking for an empty sit, but couldn't find any, the few people that sat alone rudely refused that I join them. 

Some girls sprayed sanitizer any whereever I passed or touched; they were so mean. I was left with no other choice, but to stand, since It was the only way to avoid trouble. I was still standing when the teacher came in to teach, it seemed like she didn't even notice  I was standing, or she just didn't care. The next teacher came in and I was still standing. 

"What is wrong with this teachers, don't they see  standing?" I thought inwardly, completely mad at them.

We had physics in another class, and I was able to get a seat, but it was beside Jack. After the physics class, I was heading back to class when Jack told me that I could come  sit with him. I was so happy, quickly expressing my gratitude immensely. He was the only person with a good heart, I guess.

The bell rang, and it was lunch time. My stomach had been making some funny sounds for a while now and I was sure Jack heard it, since he was sitting so close to me. I walk sluggishly to the cafeteria, having waited for the whole class to move ahead of me.  

On getting to the cafeteria, I was quick to observe how the student sat in groups including Jack. Also, there was no seat for me. 

 It occurred to me that I was going to stand again, but I couldn't possibly stand in front of all these crowd. I would be  their subject for  their ridicule.

After contemplating, I decided not to stay at the cafeteria and  headed back to class to eat the sandwich my mum gave me this morning even though it wasn't  enough to satisfy my hunger; I just didn't have a choice. 

I was about twenty feet away from the class, when my eyes caught three girls coming out from the classroom. They going the opposite side of the hallway;  the girl at the back looked back to checked if her ring had fallen, and saw me. She immediately inform the others; they turned and started walking towards with a phony smile on their faces.

I kept on walking, not minding them, in order to avoid troubles. Instead of looking at them, I kept my eyes fixed on the class door, just to avoid their continues stares.

On thinking they weren't actually coming to me, as they got close and were probably going to the cafeteria.

I felt something cold, pour on my chest going down to my stomach, soaking my shirt. One of them poured her drink on my uniform. 

"Oh my gosh!" I am so sorry, I didn't do that on purpose " She said, laughing with her other friends.

I was so mad at why was she laughing if she didn't purpose. She was obviously mocking me and apolozing at the same time. I wanted to shout at her but I had to restrained myself from my intentions, not wanting what happened the last time to repeat itself. 

"Yeah, indeed." I spoke out loudly, walking away from them.  Instantly, someone held my hand, pulling me backwards forcefully and I landed on the floor. 

"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded angrily with my voice getting hoarse. I looked at her tag, Olivia was her name.

"You don't know the meaning of all this?" She asked and suddenly stopped laughing. Instead she now had a serious look on her face. 

"How am I supposed to know?" I asked her already standing up, when another girl pushed me again on the floor.

"What is wrong with you?" Tears were threatening to drop by now, as I tried holding it back. What have I done to them to deserve all this mis-treatment from them. But no matter what they do, I vowed not to cry. It will only give them the impression that I was a weakling, which I am not. 

"Jack is meaning of all this, why are you forcing yourself on him? I know you want money, that's why you are doing all this. But, I didn't expect you to stoop so low to this extent, don't you have self-esteem ?" The other girls were laughing hardly now. I  could see students gathering in the hallway, watching the scene with all attentiveness. I felt so embarrassed.

" If you want money, I will give you money. After all, you are the only parasite that uses our money to pay your school fees. Stay away from my boyfriend you cheap, poor and wretched prostitute," She opened her purse brought out a bundle of money and sprayed it on me. 

Now, this was too much, I couldn't hold by self. The hallway was crowded with lot of students who were visibly enjoying the scene. 

"What did you just call me? " I asked her angrily. Fearlessly, she turned back, smiling as she walked towards me with her friends. 

"Oops! Seems like she didn't hear me well, or she doesn't know the meaning." Olivia was staring at me with irritation, clearly written all over face. 

"I called you a damn prostitute, and there is absolutely nothing" I slapped her immediately, even before she could complete her statement. She tried slapping  me back, but I held her hand. I was stronger than her, so I pushed her down making her to fall flat on the floor.

I crouched down beside her, aggressively packing the money on the floor and putting it into her mouth. 

She instantly began to cry helplessly as I had overpowered her. I guess the embarrassment was just too much, now she knows how it feels. 

Surprisingly,  her so called friends were too scared to  come to her rescue. I got to to leave when I saw jack running towards me , I felt scared that he would be angry about what I just did to his girlfriend. 

"What is going on here,  I was informed that you were being bullied, but it seems like the opposite .

"Hm..w..ell, I was only trying to defend myself. Your girlfriend told me to " 

"What? Girlfriend? Who told she was my girlfriend?" Jack interrupted me, asking with a confused expression.

"She did and," 

" Enough!" he grabbed my hands ready to leave, but turned to face Olivia.

"Next time you go around, telling people that you are my girlfriend, you would have yourself to blame. My ex-girlfriend is what you are. Hope that is clear?" He shouted angrily at Olivia, with a stern look on his face and his eyebrows furrowed.

"This was obviously the reason why I had to break up with you, seems like you haven't still learnt your lesson" He told her, leaving her on the floor, without bothering to help her up. 

We got to the class, and I saw Leo still sitting in the same position as he was before, with his eyes closed and earpiece in his ears as usual.

I almost forgot I was sitting with Jack now.  We both sat down and in silence, nobody talked to each other for some minute. I assume he was probably angry and just placed my head on the desk, closing my eyes. I didn't even have the appetite to each any more.