The beginning of everything (2)

In the end, no matter how good we are in this world, some people still want to bring us down. Sometimes we always think about what makes us deserve all the bad things that come into our lives. Have we done something so disastrous that we deserve all these wounds?

Throughout Ella's life, she tried to be a kind person to everyone. Therefore, she rarely expresses her opinion because she was afraid that her words would hurt others feeling. She was hesitant to say no because she thought it would make people sad. She always helps others who ask for her help even though sometimes no one wants to do the same for her. She wanted everyone to liked her even though she knew the fact that; we can't make everyone like us.

Ella's heart was beating rapidly. She tried to run past the people who filled the corridor. She tried as quickly as possible to get to the cafeteria.

Her mind was already on all the bad things that would happen to her, but what really mattered was how she told her friends about this because Nora didn't even dare to say that to her. What would happen to her if she said these things to the Navaraude?

After arriving at the cafeteria, she looked for her friends' whereabouts until she found a group that seemed to be laughing cheerfully in the corner of the cafeteria. As she walked towards them, she looked for the figure she thought had sent this photo to her. And her eyes met that person's sharp gaze. Yes, he's the one, he's the one who sent the photo. She felt like she wanted to cry and scream when Jackson looked at her up and down, smiled slyly. Without wanting to stare at the person any longer, Ella immediately went over to her friends and sat there. She took a deep breath and tried to act normal even though it was hard for her to hide her trembling hands.

"Hi, El. What do you want to eat?" asked Vanya.

"Can we apologize to Audrey right now?" asked Ella to the point.

"Woah, what happened to you?" asked Daffa a little suspiciously.

"Nothing, I just think that we should apologize to her after what we've been doing to her," said Ella.

David chuckled, "Hey, we never did anything to her. What do you mean? Why are we apologizing for something we didn't do at all?"

"Have you lost your mind? Or are you senile? It's obvious we have indirectly been bouncing it," replied Vanya.

"And everybody else, not just us," David said, not wanting to admit. "Please, can we just apologize to her? Anyway, it wouldn't hurt anyone," said Ella.

"I'll think about it later, I'm hungry, okay. Let me finish this first," said David carelessly and then resumed his meal. Ella felt uneasy. Her heart was beating wild without stopping. She kept wondering what she should say to her friends. She looked back at Jackson, who kept watching her. That guy was a devil. Why did he do this to her? She never teased Audrey even once in her life. Jackson seemed to stand up and shrug his shoulders as if indicating the time is up. Ella shook her head, giving the code to wait a little more.

"I SAID WE ARE GOING TO APPOLOGIZE TO HER NOW," said Ella couldn't hold back her emotions.

"Damn, relax," David said, still indifferently.

"Hey, what happened? why are you so obsessed with apologizing to her right now? I mean, we can do that later. Now you have to eat first," said Daffa.

"I don't care, why later if we can do it now?" asked Ella.

"Oh shit! I forgot that the principal asked me to take his room. Bye guys, I have to hurry to meet him or I'll be in big trouble," said Vanya and dashed, leaving them.

"No, no! Vanya wait-" Ella sat limply, she had tried to summon Vanya to stay for a while, but she refused. Now that Ella really wanted to cry, she couldn't handle Jackson, who was grinning at her from a distance.

Ella tried to calm down and wonder if she should tell Daffa the truth or not. "Hey guys, do you know about the girls toilet on the third floor?" asked Ella, looking safe.

"What? About what?" asked Daffa.

"What do you mean? about the camera?" asked David.

Ella was shocked when she heard that. How could David know that?

"Oh about that. Why?" asked Daffa.

"Wait, so you two know about that? How?"

David chuckled, "I bet all the boys in this school know about that. And what's weird here is how you know that," said David.

Ella looked at the two people in front of her in disbelief. "So you know about that and you didn't do anything?" Ella asked incredulously.

Nobody answered. Ella stared at Daffa, and David took turns, waiting for an answer. David returned to finishing his meal, so Ella was looking at Daffa, expecting an answer. Daffa sighed, "Alright, that's normal, El. And it's no big deal, is it?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"I mean-"

"How could you say it's normal? It's sexual harassment!"

"No it's not. Hey, don't take it too seriously, we just have fun," David said without thinking.

"What if I'm one of the victims?" asked Ella.

"That's not going to happen, they just take photos for them who is hot and charming that they think attract attention. So you take it easy," said David.

"Yes, David is right. Your photo will not exist, and they will not dare do that things to you and Vanya, anyway. I positive about that," added Daffa.

Ella's heart felt like a thousand arrows had stabbed it. Those words hurt her deeply. The fact is at that time, they had her photo.

"You know you indirectly call me ugly, right?" said Ella with a bitter smile.

"No, El. Hey you misunderstood- hey are you crying?"

"Just forget it," said Ella and walked away from them.

"Ella, wait-"

She walked around the cafeteria looking for Audrey, and when her eyes met Audrey's gaze, she immediately ran towards her. But Audrey instead ran to avoid her. Ella stopped in the middle of the cafeteria with eyes that were blocking her tears. She looked for where Audrey was running but nothing she got. She didn't find Audrey.

Everyone around her seemed to stop. Only the ticking sound of time continued to fill her head. She ran out of the cafeteria, avoiding Daffa, who was trying to chase her. She was currently too disappointed with that guy. When she got to the door, she met Jackson, who was smiling at her. She hated seeing that damn face.

"You failed, get ready for the show tomorrow." Jackson walked away, leaving Ella, who could not hold back her tears. She ran towards the place she thought no one could find her. She couldn't imagine what would happen to herself tomorrow, it was too hurt to imagine.

She wiped her tears before entering the room. The place where she always felt safe and comfortable, a place where no one judged her. Ella sighed and tightened her grip. Before heading to the library, she took the time to pick up the novel in her locker, which she had forgotten to take.

Ella tried to smile kindly at the people she met in the library and tried to hide her swollen eyes. Then find a seat that fits the situation now. She chose a seat in the corner of the room covered with bookshelves so that people could hardly see it. Only one person sitting there, that was a good thing.

She stood right in front of that guy and tried to smile, unable to cover her swollen eyes. "Hi, is this place empty? Can I sit here?" Asked Ella. "Yes, of course," he replied.

"Thank you," said Ella and put the novel down and sat there right in front of the guy who was reading the book.

Ella sighed again. She slowly took a photo that was in her pocket and looked back at it. Without wanting it her tears fell again. She didn't know what to do. All she knew was that she should talk to Nora, but how? Nora didn't even want to talk to her.

Ella's shoulders shook from crying, it really broke her heart. She didn't do something bad but she have to through those bad things. She bent her head to make people think she was reading, not crying.

"I love that novel." hearing those words, Ella quickly wiped her tears and looked at the guy. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

That guy smiled warmly, "I am Ethan. Ethan Falmeenton."

Ella smiled sincerely, "You are familiar to me."

"Oh yes, I'm also a freshman if that's what you mean."

"Right, I think i saw you in history class," said Ella.

"Have you finished reading that?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, I have. I really like this story, though. So I read it again."

"Yeah, I can't blame you because I like that novel too. I really admire the main character."

"Why? Most people hate her," asked Ella, confused.

"I know, but she is the strongest female character I've ever read. People hate her because she can't defend herself, but they forget that she has a very pure heart."

"I think she is a weak character. I mean, she is always complaining and not trying to change her fate," Answered Ella contradictory.

Ethan seemed to smile a little, "She is the most real character, though. We cry all the time and we also often just surrender to fate. But behind that, she never gives up on doing what she thinks is right."

"I'm sure whatever you're going through, you'll get the same ending."

Ella smiled and shook her head, "You don't even know me yet."

"Yes, I don't know you, but I know you deserve better than what you're going through right now. I just want to remind you, sometimes this world is full of shitty people, but it's not impossible to find good people, it's just about time you will get what you deserve. Being a good person is never wasted."

Their conversation ended when someone called Ethan, "HEY ETHAN, YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS ONE. HURRY!"

Ethan shook his head, "I'm sure he forget that he is in the library." He sighed and then smiled genuinely at Ella, "I have to go, nice to talk to you."

Ella smiled without realizing that she forgot all the bad things she was going through. "Thank you," she said vaguely.

Sometimes without us knowing it, just from what we say, it can significantly affect someone.

Words can kill a person, but they can also save people. People are too selfish to forget that they don't live in this world alone. They often think only of what is right for them without thinking about what happens for others.

Like what happened to Ella back then, Ethan only said a few words, but it really helped Ella feel better.

Ella was able to forget a little about what happened and focused on finding a way out.

When she came home from school, she was required to stop ignoring Daffa because she came home with him. "El, I'm really sorry," said Daffa.

"Just forget it, Daf. I'm okay."

"Okay, umm I want to tell you something, is this a bad time?" Daffa said so seriously that they had to stop right in front of the car.

Ella looked at Daffa, "No, of course not."

"I don't know what I feel right now, everything is still gray and I'm afraid I can not hold this feeling anymore," Daffa said nervously.

Ella's heart was beating fast. She tried not to get too excited.

"Promise me that nothing changes between us if I tell the truth," said Daffa.

Ella held her smile, "Yes, I promise. Just say it, why are you so scared."

"I don't know, I'm sure you will laugh at me."

"No, I will not. Just say it or not at all."

"Okay okay, I thought it was just admiration but now I'm sure it's more than that."

Daffa looked at Ella, "I think I'm in love."

Ella chuckled, "Really? why it's so hard to you to say that huh. So who is it?"

"Please, don't change, I don't want anything to change from us," repeated Daffa.

"OH MY GOD, DAFFA! Just tell me who is it."

"Okay okay, chill." Daffa sighed, "UGH, I CAN'T! I'm not sure you ready for this."

"JUST TELL ME, OH GOD."

Daffa lowered her head slightly and whispered right in Ella's ear. "Aleya Madelyn."

Ella smiled faintly, "Right. Nice one, Daf. You really have to say this today huh?" she said to herself.