Broken

"What do you mean transfer?" Shia frowned at her. "Why do you have to transfer? Did something happen? Is it the bullying?"

"My father thought it would be the best option for me now. New school, new environment."

"Ok. Why don't you come to my school then?" Caitlyn held Kaia's hands. "We could be classmates and even walk to school together. Wouldn't that be great, Kaia? Just like before."

Kaia and Caitlyn have known each other from kindergarten. They studied at the same school and became friends immediately. But problems came with Caitlyn's parents and Kaia's mother got sick too. So they changed schools just as they entered the third grade.

But that playground is their spot. They go there every day after school and that was how they met the other three.

Max only accompanied Aliya because she didn't want to be alone but ended up playing more than her. Shia happened to stumble upon this playground and started playing with the two.

Caitlyn met each on first then Kaia came, they readily played together and have become inseparable since that day.

Kaia smiled at the memory, it's one of the few memories that she likes remembering and as much as she would like to go with Caitlyn, she couldn't, not because she is now two classes ahead of her but because that boy studies in Max's school and she needed to have a word with him. He looks about the same age as Max, around fifteen or sixteen. So, he would probably be in the tenth grade with Max.

She is in the seventh, but, if she put her mind to it, she could probably jump a grade or two.

"Kaia? You're zoning out again."

"Sorry."

"So what do you say? Just like old times?" Caitlyn looked at her with sparkling eyes.

Kaia never knew how to say no to her when she looks at her like that. But she had to right now.

"I'm sorry, Caitlyn. I need to go to Max's school."

"Is this about the boy? You're choosing a boy over me?" She looked so hurt that Kaia had to shove her hands into her pocket to stop herself from saying anything.

"Caitlyn, this is Kaia's decision. It doesn't mean she is choosing someone else over you. You know her the longest, do you think she's the type of person to do that?" Shia calmly tried to reason with her.

Caitlyn pouted. "I know she isn't like that. Kaia isn't a selfish person."

"Then trust her."

Kaia pleaded with her eyes, trying to tell her everything she couldn't.

I know I'm asking you for a lot but least just understand, Caitlyn. Please.

"Ok. Only because I trust Kaia more than anyone else in this world. Maybe when we grow older, we can go to a school together? Na? Or even college."

Kaia nodded her head happily, relieved that Caitlyn understood. She mouthed 'thank you' to Shia who gave her a nod.

"Wait! What about Faith?" Aliya suddenly spoke, drawing their attention to both of them.

"I don't mind." Faith said happily. "Those kids won't be able to bully her anymore."

"But will you be ok?" Kaia suddenly realised what her transferring could mean.

"I agree with Kaia, the bullies might target you now." Caitlyn thought long and hard. "Come to my school."

"What?"

"I'm serious. It's a good school and most of the people are kind. If they are not then I'm here to help you."

"I don't-"

"Why don't you just ask your parents first? If you can transfer than good. If not then we'll think of something else." Shia said. "Anyway, you can come to my school too. It'll be fun."

"What about mine? Come to my school, Faith." Aliya begged. The three girls are now fighting over Faith, bragging about what their schools have that the other doesn't.

"Hey, uh . . . are you serious about coming to my school?" Max asked, a little concerned.

"Yes. Let's hangout ok?"

"S-sure." He cleared his throat. "When will you transfer?"

"Maybe in a couple of days, I'll still have to apply and make them accept me."

"Ok. Cool. You'll be able to do it. Don't stress out and just work hard."

"Guys! Let's have a party for Kaia." Faith declared brightly.

"But she isn't leaving the town, just changing schools."

"It's a new school. Which means new people. We have to make sure she isn't nervous before meeting new people."

Caitlyn laughed. "Kaia will need tips on how not to be afraid of people."

"I know right? She always hides in the corner somewhere."

Faith and Caitlyn laughed as they all recalled every incident Kaia hid from people.

"Most of the time she is made fun of for her looks, right? She'll be fine now." Aliya's remark made everyone stop talking and look at Kaia.

Her gaze was at the sky, again. She zoned out so she didn't hear what Aliya said.

"One day she'll tell us," Caitlyn said as they all nodded their head.

♣

One Week Later,

"Does the uniform fit, Kaia?" Her father asked, he is still slightly drunk but this was the soberest she had seen him since her mother's death.

They were at the store, trying on the uniforms of the school and Kaia is on high alert.

When she came back from her school, she saw her father, dressed in jeans and a white shirt waiting for her at the door.

"Hey, Kaia." He waved at her.

She quickly turned back and walked out believing she entered the wrong house. She double-checked the house number and, confirming that it is her's, she entered inside again.

"What was that about?" He slurred, seeing her enter again.

"Sorry." She went straight to the kitchen to stray preparing dinner.

"No dinner tonight." Her father declared. "Go get ready. We're going out."

Kaia stared at him for a solid minute not being able to wrap her head around what he just said.

"What?" She needed to confirm if what he had just said was real or her imagination.

"I said get ready. Come on." He took another gulp from the flask in his pocket. "I'll be waiting outside.'

Kaia could only stare after him, even after he walked out the door.

What has gotten into him?

She didn't want to go out. Everyone's going to stare at her again and make all those comments again. She could even hear them now, even if she tried to cover her ears. Everything remained loud and noisy.

But she got ready anyway.

She wore a hoodie with the hood over her head and a mask on her face. She covered herself up as much as she could.

The last time she went to the main part of town was too long ago for her to remember but she knows that it wasn't pleasant.

People shoved and pushed, they crowded around her and they were loud.

Kaia gripped onto the table for support, the noise just kept getting louder and louder. She shook her head in an attempt to get them out and that worked, for a while.

"Kaia!"

She did a final check on herself and walked out the door.

He choked on his drink when he saw how she was dressed.

"What are you wearing?"

"Where are we going?" She ignored the question, walking past him.

"Were you always like this, Kaia?" Her father followed after her, shoving the flask into his pocket. When she didn't reply, he continued to talk.

"You know, I was surprised when you said that you wanted to choose the school you transferred to. I didn't expect you to choose Frias, I thought you would choose one that was less prestigious than your current one. And to think, you got in too!"

Kaia kept a straight face, trying not to let her emotions get the best of her. Hearing him talk about her like he actually cared made her skin crawl.

He was drunk enough to not be bothered by Kaia's silence as he kept talking all the way to the main town. But he was sober enough that he still looked presentable to the public eye.

Kaia kept her distance from him with her mask on her face, the hood over her head, and her head down. If she didn't look at them, they won't notice her.

Not that that's ever worked before but it just might this time.

"Here we are." Her father stopped in front of a huge boutique, grinning. "We're here for your uniform. The full uniform."

"Why? I could have just made it." She was under the impression that they were going to buy clothes for her to stitch and maybe just buy the jacket and necktie because they are the only ones that have the school's logo.

"No. I have the money. Come on." He walked inside, full of confidence.

Kaia stared at him in disbelief. Is he going to use some of that money for her uniform? The full uniform?

Maybe. Just maybe he's changed. Some things have changed, maybe he has too. She could just try giving him a chance.

Breathing in and out, Kaia shook her head again and walked in.

They spent the next few hours eating in the restaurant and he even bought a teddy bear for her, but they had some problems when Kaia tried on the uniforms. Some were either too big or too small and they also had a bit of a struggle getting Kaia to enter a changing room.

He couldn't understand why she was so reluctant to enter it, to the point that she started to shake all over her body. He almost lost his temper at her but the store clerks were very helpful, finding a room without mirrors for her.

"She's looking more and more like her mother every day. But she is nothing like her."

His mind brought back memories of Kaia's mother and he left to get a drink. Just one couldn't hurt, and Kaia was taking her time.

Kaia came out of the dressing room just as he left. She finally found the uniform that fitted her properly and was excited to show her father. Only to find him gone.

She felt disappointment creep up but pushed it away. Maybe he went to get something else.

She waited and waited and waited. He never came back to the store. Kaia cowered under the stares of everyone that passed her, some even tried to talk to her but she ignored them completely.

The voices in her head got louder and louder and louder. No matter what she did, they wouldn't go away.

You trusted him and look where's it gotten you.

You know how he's like and yet you listened.

He left you all over again. Like he kept doing before.

Maybe he got lost.

Sure. It's time to go.

Kaia went to the counter and paid for the uniform. At the back of her head, she expected this and brought some money. She felt glad that she had the hindsight to bring it but that insight, it came from a place full of pain.

Plastic with uniform in hand, she made her way to the nearest wine store and sure enough, he was there, knocked out cold.

Kaia remembered this happening one too many times. Part of her wanted to leave him there as he did to her whenever he felt like it.

But a small part of her didn't want to. Not because of anything else except she would be like him if she did that and there's nothing she hates more than to be compared to him.

With the voices in her head protesting, she made her way to him. The stares of the people burnt into her as she helped her father stand and they made their way out.

Hot tears spilt out of her eyes as they made their way home.

In the shower, Kaia stared at herself in the foggy mirror. He must have taken the cloth out. A face full of hurt stared back at her. She felt no repulsion seeing her at the moment, only sadness and pity.

She has only one goal now, no more getting side-tracked. Some things are not going to change and she has to accept it.