1.3 Uncovering A Mask

I went to the sink after I did my business. While washing my hands I stared at the mirror looking at my reflection.

"I look horrible…" muttering to myself. My hair looks like it's been in a science experiment gone wrong because of how shaggy it was, my skin is pale, then desperate to hide my swells and scars by my hoodie. It doesn't matter anymore it is what it is.

Pain and abuse are a part of life, the way to deal with this kind of stuff is by doing nothing. Well in my case I can't do anything.

Shaking both of my hands, I left the toilet. And went straight to our classroom. A bunch of guys also are on their way to the restroom. Then bumping me using their shoulders as they got near me.

"Ha, perverted freak" then one student pushed me on the side.

"HA…" They laugh as they entered the restroom.

I stood up and went to my classroom

I just sat in my seat and not paying attention to anyone. While the sound of my classmates talking and horsing around, I just looked at the window and stared at the sky. The bell rang which means ten o'clock. It's break time.

Entering the room, noticing my classmates one by one went outside to the canteen to buy snacks, Philip and his group of friends were surrounded by girls and inviting them to sit with them at the canteen. They even offered to treat them. Not giving single care I just pinned my head down and tried counting sheep. At least maybe for a while I could clear and cool my head.

Alone, the airconditioner's whirling machine sound as it continued to provide a cold atmosphere, is all you can hear. It's been almost two years. I've been comfortable in this situation since that incident happened. The deafening silence, the harsh words, and mouthful insults I received where ever I go within the campus.

"Yow…"

I felt a slight tap on my shoulder, lifting my head. In front of me was Hana. Holding two cola drinks and light snacks.

"Oh…Hey…why are you here?" I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes.

"Nothing… here!" She then offered me food. She's averting her gaze, that was weird because she's only offering me food nothing that special. I took the food from her hands and just smiled at her. Hana then sat on top of my armchair, put her food on her lap, and then started eating.

"H-Hey… is it okay if you…Uhm…eat with me?" I asked.

"Why? You worried that I will be bullied also by them?"

Hana exclaimed. Then taking a big bite out of the sliced cake, from the moment she opened the plastic, I can tell it's banana.

I didn't reply.

"Do you believe what happened last year?" I muttered.

Hana then looked at me her mouth was stuffed with banana cake. The sound of clicking can and gulping sound covered our personal spaces. I stared blankly at what Hana gave me and not even planning to open the food. Nor taking a bite out of it.

"The pictures of girls changing posted on the Photography club forum? And b-because, of that your club, was disbanded and you are the one to blame?"

"Buurpp..." Flabbergasted, Hana covered her mouth.

"…Yeah?"

"No…why should I?" She replied.

"Why?" I asked.

"You and I both know that you are not capable of doing such perverted things… you can't even say any legit dumbfounding bad words. And I've known you since grade school…So there's no way I'll believe that and besides, why are you asking this!? You already told me happened right? Philip and his friends planned the whole thing!" Hana exclaimed.

"Hey keep it down! You might get in trouble!" I whispered in her ear.

"What!? There's no one hereafter all!?" Hana pitched my ears. Still, her voice is too loud.

"Since they used your camera and planned everything so you won't snitch on them…" she clenched her fist in anger.

"They even have the guts to volunteer to investigate since they're once who planned the whole thing!"

"Please don't, I'll handle this, don't you worry about me…" I smiled.

Hana crumpled the banana plastic bag, then after that, she put it in on my uniform pocket. Which is rude. But I didn't throw it back at her or say anything. I just faced my head down and smile.

"Hey…Why are you looking down!?" Hana then crossed her arms. Then tapped my leg using her ankles.

"Nothing I-I…" Finally opening my food, the snapping sound of the plastic container, and the smell of the banana baked aroma went into my nostrils.

"So you finally ate it huh? What's with the sudden change of appetite?" Hana wrinkled her brow.

"I'm…just thankful for you being here with me, despite all the things happening to me. Feels like I'm alone in this school…people just keep avoiding, telling me names, and whispering things behind my back. Yet still, you're here with me…Thank you for that" I took a bite and munched the baked banana bread, Hana then suddenly drifted her face towards in another direction, balled her fist, then letting out a slight kind of fake cough.

"Ehem…That's what friends are for right?! No biggie, no biggie…" Hana giggled then simultaneously patted my back while I'm eating. I almost choked my while eating, I quickly opened my drink and started drinking.

"How come you can sit at my desk? You might fall and break your legs…"

Hana pinched me on the right side of my stomach. I was like being pinch by a crab fresh out from the sea. Does Hana even cut her fingernails?

"AH! O-ouch! Okay…okay, I give up!" Still, Hana twisted my sides like theirs no tomorrow. I held her arm and firmed my grip and told her to stop.

"I'm quite enjoying the scenery here…" While Hana and I were horsing around. Samantha popped out of nowhere. With a disgusted look written on her face, she stared at Hana.

"So what's your deal here?" Replied Hana. An intense fire began to arise, as soon the two began communicating.

"You, really are a stupid girl, hanging around with a pervert like him in school?!" Samantha flipped her red apple-like colored hair.

"Huh?! It's better than to hang out with him instead with a girl with not so much to show…" Hana stood up from my desk table.

"Tsk…" Samantha clicked her tongue, then bit her cherry color covered lips.

"Ah…Okay…I think ya'll nerds and perverts must stick together like parasites huh!?" Samantha blurted. As she pointed at me.

"What your deal here? We're just talking that's all?! What do you even want anyway!?" Using a cold tone Hana stared coldly at Samantha.

"I'm just worried that's all…You hanging out with that perverted weirdo"

"You have a funny way showing how you care huh!? Would you mind leaving us alone?!"

"For a small girl, you seemed feisty huh!?" Samantha smirked.

Hana's ground her teeth in annoyance, her face began to turn red.

"Ha!? Does it bother you that your uniform is about to pop because it can't handle your breast!?" Hana exclaimed.

Petrified, Samantha turned red also.

"A-at least I-I have a breast, t-to begin with!" Samantha began posing like a model proudly.

I covered my mouth because I was about to laugh, Hana notice what I was doing. She then gazed at me ferociously like a lion. I mouthed "sorry".

"Who's side are you on here!?" Hana looked at me and spoke angrily, but toning it down a bit.

Then Philip and his group of friends, along with Samantha's circle entered the classroom. With a worried look, Philip approached Samantha, and the others followed also.

"Nothing Philip, I'm just worried about this schoolmate of ours hanging around with a guy like him…eeekk…gross…" Samantha held Philip's left with her both arms. Then leaned on his shoulder. Are they dating already?

"Please Samantha don't say something like that, that's not nice…Even Alex here, done something that isn't quite nice to girls you mustn't do such things okay?" Philip then pinched Samantha's cheek. And let out an innocent smile.

"Philip, Urr…such a gentleman!"

Seeing Hana looking down while clenching her fist, I quickly tugged her uniform. She drifted her attention to me. Nodding once, she knew what I was talking about.

"Well then, the break is almost over, I'm heading out…" Without facing the group, Hana went straight to the door and left.

"Come on Samantha, let's go leave this pervert" One of the girls from behind Philip exclaimed. Both groups turned around, before turning Philip and I exchanged gazes. I just continued eating my snacks.