The bell rang
Everyone was moving. So was I, I didn't listen closely to the whispers, I just wanted to go home at least to somewhere else. Valerie and her crew weren't far behind of course.
They would take any chance to embarrass me and make my situation even worse. And Kimberly? The leader of the pack,She's always wanted to be my best friend in elementary school and I don't know, something about her never felt right, so I told her no and her revenge is turning Valerie against me overnight? Tch.
I thought she had better skills under her sleeves.I could feel their eyes following me. Each step I made was calculated. I knew they were watching.
You're way to calm for someone who just got exposed, Kimberly whispered. She smirked as if somehow I should feel embarrassed. I didn't even glance back.
The hallway, crowded with students trying to look busy while still stealing glances at me, I watched them all of course, wrote words from the look on their faces; who would gossip, who would watch quietly, who was secretly enjoying the chaos, I knew everything.
I causally walked out on Kimberly and her crew. I was so sick of them trolling me. It's not like it was even their own nudes, what exactly is the issue?I laughed so hard thinking about this, I was heading out of school when Daniel handed me a sheet of paper and nervously ran away. It said "you handled them well", I smirked, it felt nice that someone was watching closely but i don't need validation I said as I headed outside .
I was Waiting to catch a bus when i got a notification "still think you're untouchable"?. I froze. What does he even want?, what exactly? Ugh! I hate him so much. I slid my phone in my bag and gave him no reply. Finally the bus was here. The only thing I could think about on the ride home was my mum finding out, or maybe should I tell her myself?, she would be so disappointed. Well she deserves to be? She's such a good mum,she made sure I never lacked anything. I have no excuse. Whispers grew in the bus but I couldn't even care less. I didn't want the one person I loved the most in the whole world to hurt because of ME. This thought broke me down because I knew she would find out somehow or maybe I could try to hide it. Yes, I'll try to hide it. Valerie's laugh echoed from behind the bus. Maybe I was tired of being such a hard shell. I missed her but she betrayed me. Left me when I needed her the most.I chinned up. I had reached my destination, I stood up from the bus and headed home.
My heart was beating so loud I could hear it. My limbs felt so soft. Like I was forgetting how to walk. My head was pounding. School had been a battlefield but this? This was worse. Home was supposed to be my safe space. The only place where I didn't have to wear a mask.
I dropped my bag by the door and removed my shoes quietly. Mums voices echoed from the kitchen, humming along to some old song on the radio, she seemed so peaceful. I dropped my phone on the kitchen counter to grab a bottle of water from the fridge and when I turned around my heart froze.
She was sitting on the table.
My phone in her hands.
My heart stopped.
"Lina," she said softly, "sit.
That was when I knew.
She knew.
I sat slowly, my mind was racing. Who sent it to her?A parent, a teacher,Valerie? My stomach twisted.
She didn't shout.
She didn't cry.
She looked at me.
And that hurt more.
She picked up my hand and placed it in her palm.
Lina, I know how much you've missed your dad, dad?, I said with a shock on my face, I didn't expect the conversation to be about him. She handed my phone to me with his number saved on my phone. He wants to see you, he called me. I don't think it's a bad idea. He's your dad after all.
What? Lina said sharply.
Your dad said he wants to see you..said mum
A laugh bursted out of my mouth- you're joking
Of all days?
Did he just remember he has a daughter or something?
After how many years mum?
Ten?, fifteen?
Mum I can't believe you even called me here to say this
Tell whoever that man is that I do not want to see him ever in my life! Lina yelled
I hate him
I hate him
I hate him she said with tears in her eyes
He said he is worried said mum
Worried?
Oh so now he's worried
He wasn't worried when we were counting coins?
He wasn't worried when you had to work your butt off to pay my fees?
He wasn't worried when you cried yourself to sleep?
He wasn't worried every Father's Day I had to be on my own?
He wasn't worried on every birthday he wasn't there? Couldn't even send a text, or if a text is too much, at least call.
And now all of a sudden he resurfaces and claims to be worried?.
Lina continues pacing with tears in her eyes, and now that my life is being whispered about now he wants to see me?
This isn't about the pictures mum said quickly
I froze.
Wait, you know about the pictures?, I said with tears streaming down my cheeks
I ran to my room and immediately locked the door.
I cried myself to sleep
I woke up wondering
Why did mum know and didn't say anything?
Why does dad suddenly want access to my life?
Why does mum seem okay with it?
My heart was racing. My head was pounding , I needed a break from all this drama.
Suddenly I heard a noise from the window. The sky outside was already dimming. I noticed a movement from across the yard. I'm i imagining stuff? My heart started pounding.
The leaves shifted again slowly and deliberately. I could see the silhouette to know it wasn't an animal. A shoulder. A head. Still and watching.The head shape looked oddly familiar…is it?
No it can't be? Will he do something like that? No, I think I'm just imagining things. I stepped back, counted one to three then peeked again. The bushes were empty. I know what I saw. I could hear mum from the other room on a call with someone "she's not ready, you can't come back like this"
Lina closed her eyes
And went downstairs, down to where to the bushes where
Looking for some kind of evidence to prove she wasn't crazy
She saw a piece of paper
She picked it up
And hurriedly took it inside
She counted one to three before opening it
And "I see you" was boldly written
She froze.
Whoever was outside
Whoever was watching
All of this wasn't a coincidence
Her father calling
Her name everywhere at school
Something was starting and Lina knew one thing for sure
She was no longer only being talked about.
She was being watched.