Chapter 23

Jake: I didn't think there was more to your relationship than meets the eye.

Mako: I hate her.

Jake: You definitely don't look like you do.

Mako: It's complicated.

Jake: But do you really hate her? With all of your being?

Mako: No, I hate her for a different reason.

Jake: I wonder what that could be.

Mako: I wonder too…

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Two years ago…

I could feel my stomach hurting pretty bad but I finally made it. The mock exam hall! I barely just made it in time too! Maybe I should have eaten something before coming in. I should punch my stomach to knock it out, that way I don't feel any pain. What am I even talking about? This is my fault for spending too much on last night's dinner!

Now that I'm here, I should try to focus on my writing… I'm still so terrible trying to write a proper paragraph structure. They said it was easy in class, yet my failing marks say otherwise. Then again, the sticks have quite the high standard for english. From what I've seen online, people in the city don't care about grammar! They can just say whatever they want!

I've already made sure that I got all the books I needed and notebooks too. Just as I was about to enter the study hall, a girl in expensive looking clothing blocked the door. Her red hair stood out the most, it was my first time seeing someone with natural red hair. She didn't seem pleased that I was here. This girl was about my height yet the air around her didn't feel right. The moment our eyes met, I knew things were going to change.

Red hair: You must be Mako.

Mako: Yes, that's me. Pleasure to meet you

Red hair: Why are you even here? Someone poor like you doesn't even deserve to be here. You belong in the sticks where you're from.

Mako: That's not nice. You don't even know who I am.

Mera: The name's Mera Gouldy. Don't forget it, poverty.

Mako: That's just rude!

Mera: Like I care. See you around, loser.

Something about that interaction didn't feel right. Almost like I was going to be targeted somehow. How I wished I was wrong.

Everyday going to mock exam classes was hell! Everyday she was there to call me names, take my pens, and even go out her way to scribble over my notes. The problem was that she would just buy me another notebook over then expect me to take it! This girl was a brat!

Each time I tried to corner her to talk, she would just run to her friends in the class. It was no surprise a spoiled brat like her would be popular in class! Why was she even there in the first place!? She barely studied anything that the lecturers were teaching nor did she take notes for after! It seemed like to me she existed only to torment someone from the sticks.

Her friends would spread rumors and play stupid jokes or tricks that it was going to drive me insane. It was like walking on eggshells. If I made a mistake, I knew that it would echo for the entire week. My mind was on the fritz just trying to juggle everything else in my life. Even the apartment that I had rented didn't give me any rest because of the previous problems.

Just being alone hurts now. I was on a shoestring budget that it didn't seem possible that I would survive. But I need to do this! I want to get that admission to Hojo!

Everything was starting to pile up in my head, the energy coursing through me just wanted to escape! I punched my fist to the nearby fence just to release a fraction of my stress.

Voice from behind: Hey! What did that fence ever do to you? You could've hurt it's feelings.

I froze up with my hands in the air! I'm caught! I swear I didn't do anything wrong! As I turned around, it wasn't a cop but one of the male lecturers. If I remember correctly, he was the english proficiency lecturer. I fell down on the floor from exhaustion. All I wanted to do now was feel cool wind from the roof.

Nobody really comes up here so seeing another was a bit strange. I only thought of the worst case scenario. He slowly came up to me with his hand on his steaming cup of instant noodles. The man had a full set of facial hair including a grown beard. His voice didn't seem to match his looks as it sounded a lot more young and happy go lucky, similar to how a young adult protagonist would sound.

Lecturer: Strange. I thought somehow the fences were alive and bothering you. Guess that was just my imagination.

Mako: Eh… Sorry, I was just… A bit stressed.

Lecturer: What's your name little girl?

Mako: Mako Viltra, I'm from the sticks.

Lecturer: Hm? Did that last bit matter?

Mako: I'm not sure… A lot of people seem to think so. They all want to comment that I'm probably some kind of farmer and that I miss my pet cow. When they're all clearly wrong, I have a pet pig. His name is Sherman. He's the fatest as he can be.

Lecturer: So you are a farmer?

Mako: That's not the point! My family owns the farm but I don't want to inherit because that's not what I want to do.

Lecturer: Well, that's quite the predicament. I'm the english lecturer sir Sozen. Pleasure meeting you, Mako. I'm not going to harm you or anything. I just came here to eat my lunch.

Mako: Oh! I see. Sorry… I'll just leave…

Sozen: Wait a minute, I never said you were bothering. Feel free to stay. Come have a chat with me.

Mako: Really? Alright then…

Sozen: Now what the hell are you even doing here? Isn't it about time that you went home? Your parents might be worried.

Mako: Well they won't be worried, I ran away.

Sozen: Ran away? You mean you ran from your home!?

Mako: Yes! It took a lot of courage to do! It's not like my parents would notice anyway. I came here to the city to study at Hojo! I saved up all my money over the years to come here. Though I will need a job soon. Hopefully someone might need someone with expertise to do some farming.

Sozen: You know I can't just let this happen, I need to bring you back to your parents!

Mako: No! Please! I don't want to go back to the sticks! I've already made such a hard leap! I can't go back now!

Sozen: But you're clearly still a kid. It's in my profession to make sure you're taken care of. You're not even in high school yet.

Mako: I'm going to Hojo high!

Sozen: You haven't even taken the test yet… But you do have some energy. Though I'm not sure how I feel about leaving a middle schooler to fend for themselves, a girl no less.

Mako: Girls are strong!

Sozen: That's not the point, Mako. There are people out there that can and will over power you if you give them an inch of a chance. I'm worried because I don't want that to happen to a girl with promise.

Mako: Promise? How would you know that? We just met.

Sozen: Every child has promise. It's because of that belief that I chose to be a teaching profession.

Mako: You're definitely a different one. Not like the others.

Sozen: People are victims to their environments, Mako. In the end, we're all the same. Yet, we treat people like we aren't.

Mako: I wish people would believe that.

Sozen: A sad reality. Yet, I won't give up hope. And you shouldn't too. Don't take out your fury on the fences.

Mako: Then what the hell am I supposed to do! I've been so stressed!

I could feel my tears well up to the point that my ears could barely see anymore.

Sozen: Simple, Mako. Just do something constructive. Read books that solve your hate, write things that you love, practice music, everything! The whole world is your oyster.

Mako: Are you sure you weren't sent by Mera? That girl has been nothing but trouble to me. I wouldn't be surprised if she put you up to this.

Sozen: I'm too fucking old for that shit. Oop! Forgive my language. I'm pretty hungry right now too.

Mako: Pffft! Hahahaha!

The way he clumsily let that slip in front of a child, I couldn't help but break out into laughter. Sozen scratched his head nervously because that wasn't something a teacher should be doing. I touched my lips and I realized. That was the first time I've smiled in a while...