Naomi's POV
Why is life so hard for everyone when we were born to make a meaning? And why was I even born without a purpose to live in this wonderful world with terrible creatures and naïve creatures living together.
Who knows, the stronger ones may eat the weaker ones so easily making no trace of them, as if they never existed.
"Naomi!" Sylvia, my stepmother shouted.
I rushed downstairs to her call.
"Why didn't you do the dishes yet?" Her face was furious like a demon inside her came out.
"Uh, I was about to do them. I'm sorry," I went to the kitchen and began to wash the vessels.
This is me, Naomi Carter, who lives with people who obviously hate me except for one person.
"Naomi?" I heard her sweet voice coming from the living room.
She entered the kitchen, stopping at the entrance with her arms crossed.
"Sofia, why are you here?" I looked at her.
"We're going to be late," She checked her watch, "Just 15 minutes."
"I'll make it fast." I increased the pace.
After a few minutes, I finally did all the dishes and went outside with Sofia to school.
"Your stepmother doesn't seem to have anything to do, why would she ask you to wash the dishes?" She asked me.
"She just wants to be the queen. I wonder what she finds with torturing me."
She sighed heavily, making me giggle. She finds it hard as if she's living my life.
After school, I went to the cafe to do some assignments and study there for a bit. Sofia wanted to go out for a date with her boyfriend so she couldn't join me here. Sylvia never lets me study and always gives me chores to do.
It's been 2 hours but I didn't feel like doing anything. All I did was stare at the table till now. That was when I noticed an old man was staring at me. Was he staring at me for so long?
Noticing my eye on him, he got up from the corner and walked towards another corner, where I was seated with a weird smile on his face.
He sat just next to me. I moved a bit away from him, feeling a bit scared.
What is wrong with him?
"Don't be scared, little girl." He said, "I'm not here to harm you."
"Then what are you here for?" I asked, my voice low, more like a whisper.
"I have been noticing you for the past two hours and you seemed like you were in deep thought,"
"Not really. I was just spaced out."
"You looked like you were in trouble." He smiled again, "Care to tell this old man?"
For some reason, he looked a bit creepy. His grey eyes and grey hair, covered with a flat hat and he didn't look taller. What would happen if I told him my problem? Definitely nothing. So, telling him won't hurt.
"Everyone treats me badly. Especially my stepmother who married my father years ago. I don't know what to do. I just want to get rid of them." I looked away.
He nodded, "Do you want to leave your house?"
"I'm looking for a stable job so I can rent myself a house and live there."
Why am I even sharing these with him? I mentally smacked my head.
He pulled out something from his pocket and placed it on the table. It was a black card which had something written on it. I took it to read.
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Welcome to Obscura Hall!
You can live a peaceful, happy life with nothing to worry about.
You are invited to join our school and make a difference in your life.
*:..｡o○ ○o｡..:*
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"What is this?" I looked at him. "I've never heard of this school in my lifetime."
"Yes, that's the speciality of this school. You can give it a try by joining us." He smiled.
Us? He's part of this school? Is he here to advertise for this school? So that's why he had been noticing for so long.
"I'm already happy with my school."
"Obscura Hall is so far away from here that nobody would know about you studying there. Plus, you can live in the dorm and attend classes."
"But why should I go there?"
"This school is specially created for students like you who don't get love and care. Think about it. We'll meet here at the same place tomorrow, at the same time." He stood up and gave me one glance before leaving.
I looked at the card again. Obscura Hall. Will all the problems be solved if I go to this school?
The next day, I took one last glance at the card before I headed to my PE class but right then– Sofia came inside the classroom. I quickly managed to hide it behind.
"What are you still doing here, Naomi?" She looked at me suspiciously, her eyebrows raised.
I smiled nervously, "I was about to leave soon but then you came."
"What are you hiding from me?" She peeked to see what I was having.
"Nothing," I shook my head with a smile.
She strolled closer to me and pulled my hand from my back, which had the card.
"What's this?" She grabbed the card from me firmly and read it, "Are you leaving this school? Why didn't you tell me, Naomi?"
I looked down, not able to meet her eyes. She forced me to look up at her, holding my chin.
"Tell me," She studied my face, "Why did you plan to leave me alone?"
"I didn't decide to go there yet,"
"So you will decide soon? What about me? What about our friendship?" She threw so many questions on me.
"Okay, I'm not leaving you." I smiled, "I swear."
"Seriously?" Her eyes brightened.
"Seriously. I'll never leave you, Sofia."
Her eyes filled with tears, began to stream down. She gave me a tight hug, wrapping her arms around me.
A part of me still felt like maybe the thing I'm craving for will be there. I don't want to be a burden to anyone anymore. Should I go to this school? Or not?
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