Monday morning came faster than I expected.
I woke up early, my heart already buzzing with excitement. I swept the house, did my chores faster than usual, and picked out my outfit carefully today, I wanted to look beautiful.
As I was getting ready, my dad asked,
"Elaria, where are you going to this early?"
I froze for a second, then remembered what Jovi said: "Just lie."
So I smiled and said,
"I'm going to school to write a test and submit my project."....He nodded. "Alright. I'll drop you off." When we got to school, the compound was quiet almost empty. He looked around, a bit confused.
"Where is everyone?"
"They'll start coming by 12," I said quickly. It was only half past nine....He nodded again, then drove off.
The moment he left, I hurried to the school bathroom, pulled off my clothes, and changed into my pink tight gown. I looked at myself in the mirror nervous, excited, glowing a little.
Then I texted Jovi.
"I'm ready."
She replied immediately.
"Come to my house first."
I didn't know where she lived, so she sent me directions. When I got there, she came out to meet me. We smiled at each other like old friends who hadn't seen each other in forever.
We took a cab together to the lesson center. We were late the class had already started so when we entered, everyone turned to stare. Maybe they were wondering who the new girl was....I glanced around and saw Ronny.
He looked at me once, just once, then looked away. My stomach flipped....Jovi led me to a seat at the back, right in front of him. I noticed Daphne sitting near the front. Jovi had told me before that Daphne was really smart maybe that's why she sat there.
A moment later, my phone buzzed.
It was Ronny.
"Looking good."
I smiled. "Thanks."
"You're even prettier in reality," he replied.
I tucked my phone away, pretending to focus on the teacher, though my heart was beating a little faster. After some time, class ended for a short break. Jovi, Daphne, and I went to sit outside under a small tree. We were laughing about random things when another girl came over Daphne's namesake. She introduced her as Daphne too, but smaller, so I started calling her Small Daphne..We all talked about Ronny for a bit, teasing and laughing, until someone said, "Let's go get ice cream."
I went first to the ice cream seller and there he was. Ronny. He smiled and paid for my ice cream without even asking. I thanked him, then ran back to tell Jovi.
When I told her, she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Ronny didn't pay for mine," she said, frowning in that funny way she does.
We laughed so hard. There's a way she talks her tone, her expressions it always makes me laugh, no matter what.
After that, Jovi said she wanted a drink, so I followed her. We took our time, walking slowly, talking about random things and Jovi said I walked like a prostitute that she loved it then I smiled.....
Then my phone vibrated again. Ronny.
"Where's Jovi?" he asked.
"She's with me," I replied. "We went to get something; she'll be back soon."
"Okay." I told Jovi what he said, and she smiled. "He's so sweet."
We went back to the lesson, and Daphne and Small Daphne were already seated. The older Daphne turned and said, "You look prettier in real life."
I laughed awkwardly. "Awww, thanks. But it's not true."
The truth was, I never really saw myself as beautiful. I knew I wasn't ugly, but sometimes I just couldn't see what others saw.
Break time ended, and everyone returned to their classes. Jovi went to her art section, Daphne to her science class, and I was left scrolling through my phone. Jovi's art teacher didn't show up, so she came back, and we sat together again, whispering and giggling quietly....Then Jovi got a message. It was from Ronny. He said he wanted to talk to her after the lesson. Jovi smiled, that shy, happy smile I'd seen before. I teased her a bit, and we both laughed.
When the lesson ended, Ronny packed up his books. As Jovi started walking toward him, another girl suddenly rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
Jovi froze.
I saw the look in her eyes confusion, hurt, a flash of anger.
She whispered, "She's always with him. Always forcing herself on him."
Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, fast.
Daphne and I followed her quietly, not knowing what to say.
She led us to a small corner behind the building where I could change back into my normal clothes. After that, we all took a cab home together.
The whole ride was quiet.
I kept thinking about how happy the morning started and how strange the day had turned.