72. NEW TERM

Start of the new term, just a few more months and then we will be in the final year. Time sure flies. I already feel like an old person.

" Are you comfortable? Should I open the window ? ", Serena who is driving the car.

Thankfully, her punishment ended

" No, it's just that I think time flies fast before you even realise it . ", I say.

" It sure does . ", Serena.

" By the way, I have to tell you something . ", Serena as she turned the car.

" Ok, tell me . ", I say.

" I am leaving your job. I think I have collected enough money and you are also fine now... . ", Serena wanted to say something but wasn't

" I think there is something more that you want to say. " I say.

" Yeah, there is ... I already applied for the civil services exam and got into the academy. " Serena.

" What ? ! ", I exclaim.

In our nation candidates who want to work in the administration have to study in special academies where they are trained for this purpose. The qualifying exam to enter such academies is fairly difficult.

" When? I mean you are a genius Serena . ", I say.

" Thanks, it's just that I am going to join the academy right after the final exam but before that, I want to spend some more time with Lily . ", Serena her eyes overflowing with love and warmth. Strange, her usual grey eyes are not cold right now. But her eye colour is fascinating. It looks black and then grey, then dark grey and light grey.

" Myra, is there something in my eyes ? ", Serena.

" No ", I say.

" Then why are you staring at me like this ?", Serena.

Oh no ...

" Nothing I was just thinking something . ", I say and open the car door as soon as I realise that we have arrived at school.

" Bye, see you later . ", Serena.

She is happy today.

" Yeah see you . ", I say.

AFTER A WHILE :

Oh no, now I remember who is here. Amara. Aaah ....Wait a minute I don't have to sit with her anymore. I am free to sit wherever I want right? Since our class doesn't have that much roll I am going to sit at the back. There are many empty seats in the back.

AFTER A WHILE :

" Hey, Amara is very quiet today. "

" I heard that her family went bankrupt. No doubt, she is less annoying today. Wait, till I get my revenge. She has to pay for all the bullying that she has put me through. "

Huh, I can't concentrate. I forgot that all people are annoying whether they are Amara or not. Never mind, I should focus on my lesson. Amara deserves it. She bullied students after all. Well, at least she is still sitting in the front seat.

Our schedule is altered. Now our first period is communication skills. Not that bad actually...

Oh my God, it's so exhausting. I want to sleep. Ok, how many more periods are there before I can go home? There are three more ...Three more annoying lectures.

IN THE CAFETERIA :

Somehow all of the annoying people I know ended up sitting with me in the cafeteria. You know Lucas, Lily, Claire, Sam and Serena.

" Well, it's nice to sit here like this. ", Claire.

" Yeah, it is. ", Lucas.

" Lucas you look like a nerd with spectacles and a frail body. ", Claire.

" Hey, you don't know how much I have to study. Getting into medical school is not a joke.", Lucas defensively.

Now that Claire has mentioned it. I think all of us have changed in one way or other. Claire has stopped messing around, Lily has stopped hating me, Lucas has stopped playing sports and Sam has stopped staring at me.

Well, people do change a lot over time. Look at Amara she used to be a bully and now she is just a loner sitting all by herself. She is sitting in the corner of the school cafeteria only focusing on her food. There are dark circles around her eyes which are barely noticeable due to her colour complexion but are still there.

" Stop staring at her -", Sam who is, unfortunately sitting on my left side.

" What are you talking about?", I ask.

" You are staring at that girl. Didn't you find it creepy when I stare at you? ", Sam.

" You ---I thought that you have stopped talking to me. ", I tell him.

" Why would I do that? By the way, I heard that AI robots are going to replace engineers. ", Sam.

" Yeah, they are and don't worry they will soon replace writers as well. ", I spat back.

Sam doesn't answer further and ignores me to eat his lunch. I almost forgot that he is a weirdo.

" You are thinking that I am a weirdo, aren't you?", Sam.

" And you still think that you always know what I am thinking about.", I say.

He doesn't say anything just looks at me and smiles.

Man, he looks so weird now that his secondary sexual characteristics are appearing.

" Now you are thinking about how my secondary sexual features have suddenly begun to develop. " Sam.

Wait, what the hell?

" Just wait till I grow into a handsome man. You are going to fall for me. ", Sam with one raised brow.

What the hell! Has he finally lost his mind?

Ok, now I am feeling very awkward let us just go outside to get some fresh air.

I wonder if our bullying committee ever punished Amara. But I only saw her bullying people once.

Where is this crying sound coming from? It's coming from the bathroom. Should I go and check? I mean it is coming from the girls' bathroom so it is obvious that a girl is crying.

You know what forget it. It's none of my business but I am a member of the anti-bullying club. But we have yet to resume our duties.

Oh no someone is coming out of the washroom. Wait, it's Amara.

"What? ", Amara.

" Are you here to laugh at me as well ? ", Amara with a choking voice.

" No, I was just passing by. ", I say.

" Oh ...", Amara.

" So, you alright? ", I ask awkwardly.

" Yeah...You know I know that I deserve but I was only bullying people to survive to protect myself because as soon as I stopped doing that I was the one getting bullied. ", Amara explained.

How should I explain it to her? Her thinking is wrong.

" You know I even used to pay those j----s to assist me. Now that they know that my father doesn't have any money they are now bullying me. Believe me, I was never like this. I was a typical introvert in middle school who struggled to adjust. I tried to befriend people but they always took advantage of me. They bullied me... Hence I had no choice but to use my father's money to survive. But now---", Amara.

Oh no, she is crying. I don't know how to handle crying people.

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