Chapter 3

I woke up early because I have classes right now. Mommy prepared my uniform, my bag, and my food. Mommy doesn’t want me to eat food in the cafeteria. 

Well, I’m used to this since middle school.

After we ate, they both took me to school.

“Bye Mom, bye Dad. I love you!” I kissed their cheeks and waved at them both.

“Goodbye, be careful, okay? We’ll fetch you after your class.” Daddy says, then waves at me too.

“Good morning Aira!”

“Good morning!”

“Morning Aira!”

The students greeted me when I entered the university.

My name is Shaira, but everybody keeps calling me Aira. Mom and Dad call me Aira too. I never heard someone call me Shaira. It would be nice if someone would call me Shaira, not Aira.

“Aira, do you want some?” My eyes widened because some girl was in front of me. She’s holding an ice cream right now. 

I stepped back a little when I noticed the flavor of Ice cream she was holding right now.

“Aira, isn’t this your favorite?” she kindly asks. Everybody knows me, but I don’t know some of them.

“Chocolate is my favorite flavor in ice cream, not Vanilla, I have an allergy to that,” I said.

“Oh, sorry, I don’t know that.” saw her bite her lower lip.

“It’s fine, okay bye see you around.” I continued walking.

I immediately stopped when I saw students gathering from not far away. What are they doing? Did something happen? Or someone is being bullied again?

Hmm, I’m getting curious about how it feels to be bullied.

I slowly walked towards there and intruded on the students so I could better see what they were looking at. I saw the woman who only studied here because she had a scholarship. She’s always being bullied because she is poor. Well, all students here are rich and other people think that this school is only for rich kids.

I frowned when I saw Ysay slap Cherry on the cheek. Ysay is the number one bully here. She bullied students she doesn’t like. Cherry is a new student, she just transfer here a month ago and when students know about her being poor, they bully her.

“Hey, Ysay, stop that,” I muttered, but she didn’t hear me, raising my eyebrows while staring at them.

She was about to slap Cherry again but I held her hand to stop her.

“I said stop, can’t you see she’s hurting.” 

“Oh, Aira, we’re just having fun.” she smiled at me and withdrew her hand.

“Having fun? I didn’t see her laughing. She’s not happy either. So, how can you say that you two are just having fun?” I ask, confused.

I can hear the whispers of students around.

“Are you okay?” I held out my hand to help her stand up.

“T-Thank you A-Aira,” I could see the redness on her cheek, and her belongings were on the ground.

Those students left when the bell rang. Cherry immediately took her bag and other belongings to the ground. I and only Ysay left in here.

“What did Cherry do to you? Why did you slap her?” I seriously ask her.

Of course, there's no reason-- I mean, the only reason is they bully her for being poor that's all. How stupid isn't it?

“Come on Aira, we’re going to be late.” She did not answer my question instead she hold my hand and just walk.

_

“Aira, if you don’t have an answer, just tell me I’ll let you copy my answer.”

“No, thanks. I studied last night, so I know the answers.” I said and smiled at him.

“Okay, just tell me if you need anything.”

“Alright,” I said, and nodded at the same time.

“Attendance! Say present if your name is called.” Prof started calling our names one by one.

After prof’s class, the bell rang. We went to the cafeteria. There’s a table in the cafeteria that no one uses besides me. It looks like it’s reserved for me... I think Mommy knows about this.

Since my first year of high school, I have not eaten food here at the cafeteria, and no one wants to eat with me. Sometimes, I invite my classmate to eat with me but they don’t want to. This table is only for me. No one ever tries to sit beside me.

I feel lonely here. I sat down and put down my bag. I Saw Cherry carrying a tray, it looks like she was looking for a seat right now.

She walked slowly while her eyes were looking around. Then I saw Ysay tripped her feet, so she fell and her food fell on the tray.

“Pfft... stupid!” Ysay covered her mouth, trying not to laugh so hard.

She’s not stupid, maybe Ysay I guess.

I stood up and walked closer to her, and helped her stand up.

“Thanks... A-Aira?” She looks shocked.

“What? Why are you shocked?” I wondered.

“N-Nothing,” can feel her hand shaking, so I hold it.

“Just come with me. I’m alone at my table." I smiled at her.

“Huh? B-But I don’t have any food--“

“I have a lot, I’ll give you some.”

This is the first time I have had someone sitting with me! 

“But--“

“No more buts, let’s go.” I pulled her hand and made her sit next to me.

I asked, “Which one do you like here?” and look at her, blinking.

“Uhm... it’s up to you, I’ll eat what food you’ll give to me, A-Aira.”

“Why do you seem to be afraid of me? I’m not a monster or something to be afraid of. I won’t bite Cherry.” 

Turned my gaze to the students that were looking at me.

“Eat up, don’t mind them, okay,” I said.

After class, Mom and Dad picked me up.

“I miss Grandma,” I told myself, but it seems like Mom and Dad heard it. I’m here now in the backseat. Daddy is currently driving.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go to your Grandma?”

“Don’t you miss Grandma, Mommy? By the way, why are you mad at Grandma?” asks her.

“You don’t need to know,” she murmurs.

“It’s boring at home, it’s also boring at school, you both treat me like a princess here at home and also at school, you all are being nice to me all the time.” I pout and look outside.

“Why don’t you want to?”

“I just want...a normal life, Mom, Dad, like other people. I don’t know if I have any real friends. I feel like they’re making friends with me because we’re rich...”

“What do you mean they make friends with you because we are rich, huh?”

“I didn’t mean that they were chasing me for money. You know all students at the school are also rich. What I mean to say is they made friends with me because I’m rich like them...”

“You know what, there’s a poor student, and she got a scholarship. That’s why she’s studying in school. She’s not rich, so she’s being bullied at school.”

“It’s because they think she does not belong in that school, sweetheart.”

What about me? I belong to that school because my family is rich. Is that what is it?

“That’s why I hate it, it’s unfair, Mom and Dad. Wealthy or not, we should respect each other. We’re all the same. We have eyes, noses, hands, etc. The only thing different is the status of our family.”

“Why are you worrying about her sweety? She’s not your friend, is she?”

“Well, I want her to be my friend.”

They both become silent.

“I want to live at Grandma’s house. I want to be with her for most of the time.” Change the topic.

“What? No way! I will allow you to visit her but I will never allow you to live with her, Aira!”

“Mommy, please?”

“I said no,”

“Daddy?”

“Ask your Mom sweety,”

“Mommy, you said you’ll grant me a wish on my 18th birthday? Daddy, you said you’ll do anything, you’ll give me everything.” 

“Honey?” Daddy turned his eyes to Mom.

“I don’t want to honey, Mom’s house is full of dirt. Our daughter might get sick there and also I don’t trust anyone in that place!” I can feel the anger in her voice.

“Don’t you trust your Mom? Can’t just forget it and forgive her, past is past, forgive her already honey.” Daddy says.

“How can I forget that day? I feel like it only happened yesterday--“

“Honey, Aira is here,” 

“I already said Aira, you can’t go okay.” She turns around and looks at me with a serious face.

“B-But I miss Grandma!” I state stubbornly.

“Don’t you love me? I’m your only child. Why can’t you just grant my wish? That’s the only thing I want for my birthday!” I can’t help my tears falling down my cheek.

“Look at that, your daughter is crying because of you!”