The Outcast

Though the earlier incident got in the way of Irianda enjoying her day, that didn't seize nature from taking it's cause. The rest of the day continued with it's usual activities with no special happenings except Mandy working from home.

Irianda on the other hand, kept herself in her room– doing her own things while she stayed positive; if not for herself, at least her mother. But in it all, one thing wasn't going down well– she couldn't just shake it off.

"Where did that boy go? Who is he by the way?" These questions echoed in Irianda's mind but briefly shook it off after the incident between Milly and herself resurfaced.

She had wanted to give her a call but then, decided to give the issue some rest– perhaps, tomorrow might be different. But to how better it will be, she had no idea.

Irianda became oblivious to the passage of time that she didn't even realized when the evening shadow crept in. It was the call from her mother to come down for dinner that made her aware of her surroundings.

Without hesitation, she brewed her way out of the room to join her mother in the hall. After almost an hour, she returned to complete her assignment and retired to bed– resting her mind off, how hectic the day had been.

**********

The day had started on a fresh note and Irianda returned to school, hoping things will return to how they were but little did she know whatever happened had left a forever imprint on their minds.

She whizzed into the corridors with a renewed energy but her steps were suddenly reduced into shamble – following the awkward stares from students who trundled passed her; some managing their steps passed her while they stuck to the walls like lizard.

She could read from their faces their fears as they hastened passed her with hunch shoulders and widen eyes. She couldn't help foreboding– walking into the hallway on tenterhooks as she wondered on what to expect.

Her foreboding was instantly proven right when she paced into the hallway; everybody present at the moment – staring weirdly at her as she made her way to her locker.

She could feel eyes on her while she unlocked her locker, coupled with murmurings which she could barely make out the words. At that moment, the bell rang – throwing the entire hallway in quiet a rumpus as students made their ways to their classrooms. Irianda for once, felt relieved for the first time– hearing the bell.

Within the next few minutes, she was alone in the hallway. She instinctively sighed on an impulse as she slammed her locker shut.

She shoved her book into her bag and headed to the class despite all the awkwardness.

After a few strolls through the hallways, Irianda got to the entrance of the class. She hesitantly pushed the door opened to be met by the piercing gazes of her colleagues. She stuttered on tenterhooks as she walked to her desk which she shared with Milly but Milly hastily moved to the next empty seat beside Philomena on seeing her.

Irianda looked on with a knowing gaze while she froze in her steps, watching as everything unfold before her eyes– like she was expecting it to happen at any point in time. But what she couldn't understand was why Milly could also behave absurdly with her. It was at this time she needed her the most.

She instinctively settled in her desk after Milly had moved away– glancing at the latter with looks that screamed her plea. But it all went down the drain; Milly didn't want anything to do with her again.

Irianda thought the issue was just going to die out with the passage of time but that was to her assumptions only. As the days rode by, it became weird and weirder. She became distant from the rest– making her the outcast as they tagged her with names. She had sense trouble brewing from their initial gestures but never excepted things to turn out this way.

This began to weigh heavily on her academics and Mandy noticed it though Irianda said nothing.

The sun had set and the evening shadows had crept in unannounced. Irianda had long returned from school but stayed put in her room– not really interested in doing anything particular.

She was still with herself when the door inched slowly open; a head popped in, followed by the triangular shape body of her mother.

"Mum.." She hastily mumbled as she sat up. "Do you need something?" She added.

"No dear," Mandy snapped in while she sat beside Irianda. "I just want us to talk." She went on; pausing for a brief second. "Is there something you're not telling me?" She asked just to be sure her assumptions were not false.

Irianda noticing her mother had found her out, went on and told her everything about school. Mandy after careful thinking and analysis, made her final decision on what she had been deciding on for a while now.

"How about we move to a new place?" She retorted, " A new environment where no one knows you. We'll have home tuition to cover the rest of your studies so you learn more on how to go about your development and how to control your powers." She concluded, staring expectantly at Irianda. "We'll get you enrolled in high school later on." She added on a sudden impulse.

Just as Mandy ended her words, Irianda threw herself into her arms. " Thanks mum–" She muttered over her shoulder. " This looks like a well thought of plan." She added and Mandy instinctively tightened her arms around her.

"Yes dear, anything for you." She replied with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes.

As the days dragged by, Mandy was able to secure a new apartment in Incheon with the help of Leticia despite their busy schedules at work – of where they moved in to keep Irianda's special growth appearances undertone and from the eyes of the public.

Incheon is a city which lies near the mouth of the Han River, 25 miles (40 km) west-southwest of Seoul, with which was connected by highway and railroads. Though it had a metropolitan population, there were still Islands near by which gingered Mandy's motive to move there.

She was fortunate enough to find an apartment in Han Su Island where she perceived Irianda will be comfortable and out of the sight of the public until she could fully control her powers.