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“I said, what the fuck are you wearing?” he asked again, and I can see that he’s already making fun of me using that simple question.
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I don’t know how to answer, I mean I just froze there and I was staring down at my books, feeling hopeless. My face was burning red, and I reached for my wallet and gave him the money, ignoring his questions—
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I can’t even stare at him, all I wanted to do was go out in that shop and disappear. Why is this happening to me? Am I a bad child? Did I do something wrong that the universe decided to fuck with my life again. Excuse me, I don’t really curse a lot like this guy do but I can’t help myself but feel like a trash again.
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“Hmm.. you’re not gonna answer me, Math kid?” he said, “that’s fine, I’m just gonna swipe this books for you and be a good cashier.” he said teasingly, “By the way, you look like shit in that dress.” I flinched,
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“Oh what is this? The Dragon Dungeon series 3? Who even bought this stuff? The Sacred Well? What the fuck— this all looks weird. We should just admit that you’re this type of weird kid, huh?” He said in a loud tone, the other staff at his back were laughing and I can even hear the old lady whose buying magazine that she snorted while hearing our conversation,
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“Please, I just want to leave.” I said, I felt like crying. I don’t know, maybe the way he treats me like garbage and me looking like a character from Wizard of Oz is just too much for me.
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I can’t even look at him in the eyes but I can feel that he’s still smirking and thinking that he won another battle of bullying.
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He handed me the change and I didn’t even took it, I just took the books and left the store.
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I didn’t event know that there were tears in my eyes when I got out, my hands were shaking and all I wanted to do was go home and sleep. I don’t want to go to that school, I don’t want to enter that stupid class and I don’t even want too see Zeke’s face. Why is he doing this to me? I experienced a lot of bullying but I think Zeke’s treatment was way worse. He kills you using his words and verbal abuse was the worst.
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“Math! Darling!!” I heard my mom calling me in a distance, she was sitting at the small cafe with another woman,
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I wiped the tears and relaxed a bit before heading to her, I just don’t want to worry my mom because of my stupid struggles.
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“Ana, this is Math— Math, why is your face so red? Did you cry, sweetie?” my mom said wearing the most worried look that a mother could have,
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“Is she alright? What happened?” The woman named Ana even looked worried,
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“No, I’m fine. Just had a panic attack out of nowhere— that’s all.” I simply said, while fanning my face. Good thing we were outside and the wind helps,
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“Sit down, baby. Are you okay? Do you want me to order you some cold tea?” my mom asked,
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“Wait, I’ll order you guys some.” Ana said, and went for the cafe shop’s counter,
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“Mom, I’m alright okay. Just had a small nervous breakdown. That’s why, please stop worrying your friend. This is embarrassing enough for me.” I said, as I calmed down and sat beside my mom, I don’t want her friend to think that I’m also a weirdo.
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“Okay okay, just promise me that you should call me right away when you experience these attacks.” my mom said a little bit angry,
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Ana arrived with the two cups of cold tea, this is just what I needed. I drank a lot and felt so much better.
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“Your daughter is really pretty, Aki.” Ana said, my mom’s name is Akane but her closer friends call her Aki which means Autumn.
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“Yeah, but she thinks she’s ugly. I keep reminding her everyday that she got a pretty face and she didn’t even realize it!” Mom said while laughing,
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Mom, you should know better.
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“Well, she’s still a teenager. Kids that phase has a lot of troubles, I know that for a fact.” Ana said, and took a sip of her tea.
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Wow, she does know me better.
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Listening to their conversation made me forget the horrible things that happened, I even smiled once in a while hearing their jokes. I can see that they are really good friends, because they had a lot of catching up to do and I was mesmerized by their friendship. I want to have a friend like that, one day.
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“Oh, btw Aki! How rude of me! You two should also meet my son! There he is!” Ana said while pointing outside the bookshop,
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It was a boy, wearing the same staff uniform that Zeke wore. He has these jet black hair like Zeke and—
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I don’t know if it’s just my glasses that keeps clouding every time I breathe, but I didn’t notice that she was pointing to the actual jerk, Zeke.
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“Z! Come here! Meet my friend!” yeah, alright. Ana’s son is no other than the one whose been bullying me. No wonder she looks like exactly like him, she has these jet black hair and tanned skin, she’s even beautiful even if she looks older.
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I looked down when Zeke approached us, “What is it now, mom! I’m busy!” he said, irritated, a rebel child he is.
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“Meet Aki, she was my best friend in college! The one I told you about, and here is her daughter Math, I think you guys are in the same school and grade.” Ana said excitedly, “I think you already met! Since she bought books earlier in the shop!”
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“Mom I—- and then Zeke looked at me, and felt shocked when he saw that the girl he just bullied earlier was sitting across him. His eyes widened and was speechless.
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“Why, you have a handsome boy, Ana! It’s really in your genes hahaha!” mom said, grinning at me and Zeke,
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“Zeke! Come and sit down with us.” Ana said, as she tried to invite Zeke to sit in the empty chair next to me,
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Zeke was speechless, maybe he didn’t expected this to happen. So am I. Didn’t even thought that my mom’s bestfriend son was actually the devil itself. Ana was so nice, where did he even get this shitty attitude he has. Excuse my language.
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He sat down, not daring to look at me. We were both silent at the same time.
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“Wow, this is awkward. Do you guys know each other?” my mom asked, maybe they feel that we have this weird tension between us.
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“Yeah, were classmates.” Zeke finally had a courage to speak,
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“Oh my! That’s good! Isn’t it Aki? Zeke could look for Math in school. My son is such a caring boy! Even when his father left us, he always looks and manage our shop. Maybe, because we can’t even pay the bills that much— ugh every time I remember Patrick, I just wanted to punch someone you know. He’s such a worthless father.” Ana said, feeling irritated.
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Hmmm. So, his parents are divorced I see the angsty there. But I was shocked for the fact that he’s being a good son to his mother. Didn’t expected that.
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“Yeah, I TOLD YOU. We were in college! He’s a womanizer who doesn’t know anything!” mom said,
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“I know, I know— but atleast he gave me Zeke. And that’s quite enough.” Ana said while smiling at patting Zeke’s back,
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Zeke was obviously uncomfortable with the subject, I can feel that he is getting angry with the whole situation that I am here listening to one of his life dramas.
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“Zeke? Can you do me a favor and look for Math? You see, she’s a bit of anxious over everything. She has these panic attacks that me and her father can’t even manage.” mom said wearing that worried look again,
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Mom, he was the THREAT. He was the reason i am acting like this! For gods sake! I don’t even want him near me!
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“Yeah, just now she was crying outside the bookshop— poor child. Zeke, help Math will you? I mean, you guys could be good friends like me and Aki.” Ana said while intently looking at Zeke, whose face just looks down at the table.
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“ Yeah sure, whatever.” Zeke said and shrugged off, he looked at me and for the first time he wasn’t wearing those devilish smile or smirking, he was just looking at me. Is he worried about me or something? But that was just seconds after he looked away.
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Maybe because he knows that he’s the reason why I cried and had a panic attack in the first place. Maybe he’s just guilty. But I don’t care really.
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I looked away, and managed to say, “I’m gonna go to the restroom.” I said, and left them there. This was too much for me. I don’t care if he’s a good son to his mother, but he’s a jerk to me. That’s all I know.
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I stayed in the bathroom for 20 minutes and waited for my dad to arrive, I saw Zeke still sitting with my mom and Ana. He’s so obedient for a jerk. He kept glancing at me with that weird worried look and then look away again,
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Ana and mom bid their goodbyes, I didnt even look Zeke in the eyes and went inside our car. “Math, say goodbye to Ana. That’s just rude of you.” Dad said in the car, I rolled my eyes,
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I rolled down the window shield, and waved at Ana. Ana waved back at me smiling. Zeke was still not looking at me and went ahead in their shop. My mom went inside the car,
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“Math, what do you think of Zeke?” mom asked me, while putting on the seatbelt.
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“He’s okay.” I lied, he’s not even near the word okay and put the earbuds on. I don’t want to listen to my mom’s questions again. All I want to do is take a bath and isolate myself in my room for the whole weekend.
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