Chapter 2: Trying to be brave

April pov:

It was as if my world was slowly melting away from what I heard from Karen. I thought she would protect me from people who did nothing but to bully me but she was even worse than a demon to hurt me over and over again.

I cried again until I reached our classroom after I receive a strong slap from her. Fortunately, our teacher is not here yet.

"You are crying again? Did the students around you bully you again?” Mila asked hesitantly. She is also a scholar like me. “I don't know why they treat me like that to me? Why if they treat me like the magnitude of the sin I have committed against them.” I sobbed again in tears. "Because you're smart, you grab the attention of teachers who should only be for the rich." I stared at Mave who is gay and also my friend, I quickly wiped away the tears.

"What do you mean?" intriguing I asked. "I heard in the comfort room that you are always being bullied because you are smart and that rich child doesn't want anyone else to notice besides them." I cried again because of what I heard. “Was it my fault that I was born smart? Should I be like this? Tell me, I'm just smart enough to be proud of everyone because it's hard for them to still envy me? But why? Why are they all so selfish?” I complained while pointing at myself and still crying.

“It's not your fault that you became smart. It's their fault because they don't know how to study properly. Being a wealthy child, instead of studying, they spend money just to pass the education. What kind of people are they, they are very unfair because they are using their money.” Mila protested.

"Will you affect them? Two years from now April we will be able to graduate from college. Soon we will have a dignified job without relying on the help of parents like what they did.” Mave agrees.

"As long as you can fight, do it." when Mave cheered me on.

"I can't!" I answered enthusiastically.

“But, why?” Mila asked confussion.

"How can I do that, if I'm afraid of being kicked out of this school because we're just scholars and I only rely on that." I explain to them.

We just stopped talking when our teacher came.

Mrs. Rivera called their student individually, she is our terror teacher and adviser.

"Santisima?" its loud voice echoed all around bringing me back to reality.

“My goodness! I've been calling you before but you don't seem to hear anything? Are you a deaf?” it says furiously.

“You’re physically present but mentally absent? Do you have a problem?" I quickly shook my head several timea at her question to me.

"If you don't have a problem, answer my question right away." I was swallowed by saliva one after another because I was so nervous. I'm not ready for what she's going to ask me and I also don't know if I can answer her question correctly. If I can't answer, I'm sure like other students

she will be punished me to exposed to the sun in the middle of the flag pole for two hours and I don't want to experience that kind of punishment.

“What are the differences between architects and engineers?” the teacher asked strictly.

I paused for a minute ans thinking about an answer.

“That was our topic for today.” she added.

“The difference between an architect and an engineer is that an architect focuses more on the artistry and design of the building, while the engineer focuses more on the technical and structural side. To develop and present their designs, both architects and engineers use technical drawings called blueprints.” I answer calmly.

“For example, an architect is focused on designing and construction the form space, and ambiance of buildings and other physical environments, whereas, engineers ensure that the design will work by applying scientific principles. An architect is the one who plans the look, feel and the space of the structure for its usability. While the engineer is the one who is responsible to bringing out and to look over all results of the instructional works.” When the teacher smiled, everyone's clapping on me.

I did nothing but to smile. My friends are right, why i can't fight if I had a chance? Why did I agrees them to bully me all the time?

Time passes quickly, it is our last subject and I hurriedly to go home. I almost ran down the hallway until I reached the gate just to catch the cab that was leaving. "Mr. driver, I'll ride." I shouted after the driver followed, he stop the cab and I hop in. My heart almost exploded with the force of the beating because of the gasping for breath.

"Mister driver, at the General Hospital." I gasped as I commanded to the driver.

I got to the hospital quickly, after I paid the driver.

I ran out and hurried to the emergency room. “Miss, can I ask? Why was the patient transferred from room 204 to the emergency room? Did something happen?” I asked the woman nervously who was in charge on the counter table.

"Just talk to Doctor Alvarez." snob woman's answer to me.

I just gasped at what the woman had done to me. I don't mind about her habit she shown on me. I wasted no more time, I quickly went to the emergency room to find out what happened.

In my haste, I bumped into a stranger. I bent down and quickly apologized to the man I had bumped into.

"What a coincident.” I stare the man in front of me for a long time as if thinking if what I saw was right. “I mean, It's nice to see you here." I slowly up surprised, my face reaction obviously innocent shock while kept looking at the man talking in front of me. “April?” ‘Gush, did I hear he say my name? Didn't he call me as, Miss Nobody? Wait, am I dreaming? My crush, is talking to me now?’ “Hey? Are you alright?” my mouth wipe open and my eyes widened when I heard his concern voice playing like a broken plake on my mind.

“Y-you?” the only words came out from my mouth, I noticed, I stuttered when I asked to him. “Me? What about me?” he asked confused. “You're my world!” I immediately cover my mouth when I realize what I said. “What?” I didn't spoke right away when I heard hiccups from my own. “Ahm, sorry!” I tried to smile even though it was obviously hesitant. I know, that the reaction on my face was obviously surprise but this man is even more handsome especially when the cheerful smiles drawn his kissable lips.

“What are you doing here?” excitedly he asked as if we're close to each other.

“A-ahm, my mother was a patient here. She was confined for almost a week.” I said boldly. His eyebrows were furrowed as what he heard from me. “Ahm, is she's fine?” I shook my head quickly with a sadness on my face.

“I'm sorry about that!” he said. “Don't say sorry, it wasn't your fault.” my rudely said.

“Excused me, I'll go ahead.” bashful I said when I realize again what I tell him. “Bye!” I added said before I finally leave and immediately enter the emergency room but the medical staff quickly blocked my way before I could finally get inside.

My world almost collapsed and stop for a while as I saw my mother in the small bedroom window taking her life, she was fighting her life between life and death and trying to be revived by the doctors. Tears flowed into my eyes again, as I watched it almost lifeless. And since I had nothing else to do and think of a good way, I ran into the chapel to pray.

“Lord, may you hear me. I wish my mother would wake up again, even if I have to work every day if I have to devide my time and combined my studies and work, I will do that if it's the only way to prolong my mother's life.” I did nothing but cry while praying in front of the altar.

“I beg you. Hear my prayer Almighty God, I have no one else to run to and ask for help but you. I know you will not disappoint me and you will grant my request and prayers.” I kept crying, I could feel my chest tighten even more as I trying to be brave but no matter what I do, I can't control my emotions. Tears wanted to release from my eyes.

"April?" I quickly wiped away the tears then turned to the speaker from behind me. I couldn't believe what I see, again I saw him.

What was he doing here?

Is he stricking me?

But why?

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