CHAPTER THREE
WELCOME TO A NEW SCHOOL LIFE
Two weeks later, Michael was finally adjusting slowly to his new school environment even though he was always with Kelvin and Sylvester. Michelle was always busy. After all, she was an important figure in school. She was the Head Girl. Always leading in educational and sports activities. And she earned the title very early.
After their first and second classes, Michael went to the canteen with Kelvin and Sylvester. On getting there, Odelia walked up to him with a bouquet of red rose flowers on her right hand and a small freshly baked cake; its sweet aroma smelt in all corners of the cafeteria. All the students were watching.
"Hi, Michael! I made this cake specially for you" Odelia said as the two girls behind her cheered and clapped lightly. Michael collected the cake and the flowers, stared around the whole canteen, strode over to some junior students close to where they stood, and quietly dropped it at the center of the table.
"I don't eat cakes. Can you help me with this?" He smiled at them as they stared at him in awe and speechless.
He looked at the flowers and strode over to the woman beside the counter and said, "I would have torn this into shreds, but on second thought, it would be good if used as decoration, right?"
"Yeah! It would be nice. Hand it over, please", the woman answered and collected the flower bouquet.
Turning to Kelvin and Sylvester, "Let's go back to class" " and the three of them walked out.
"Heee!!! Haaaaaaa!!!" Odelia cried, stomping her feet. Other students were already complaining. She stops and turns to Junior students who have almost finished the cake. " Haa!" She cries out again.
* * * *
Michelle, on the other hand, was walking out of the principal's office. She adjusted her skirt which was a bit longer and bigger than the sizes of what other girls wear. Much of her figure is hidden in the oversized school uniform but she always made sure to look the neatest. Given the fact that she was the school's new head girl and almost the most popular girl in school. Having good looks is hard sometimes. There was always a huge pile of love letters from male seniors and fellow classmates. The junior students would always send letters of gratitude and gifts included. Kelvin and Sylvester always helped her trash the letters since they always stood in as the middlemen. But then, she can't help it. Those two would forever be her best friends, they even once had a crush on her. Kelvin didn't admit to it but Sylvester did. But she's never had any feelings for any of them until—him.
She never understood how she always felt anytime she was around him. He rarely looked her way. She recalled the first time they asked him to sit beside her and he refused to. She was always praying for a new seat neighbor aside from the boy who sat next to her. When she first saw Michael, she was so happy that such handsomeness would sit beside her. She knew she felt butterflies when their eyes first met, but then she was disappointed when he refused to sit beside her only for him to choose the next row where Kelvin and Sylvester sat.
"Damn that boy that went out to ease himself. He could have resisted the pressure and stayed back so Michael wouldn't have any other choice but to sit beside her" " she thought.
And then, she thought about his illness. She knew she pitied him, but then, "I liked him even before I knew about that, so it's not a pity at first sight" " she thought again.
Looking out of the windows, Michael was walking back to class with Kelvin. They were in their sportswear, and they were both holding canned water.
"Is it time for sports?" She looked at her watch, "I need to go and get changed—but—" She stared out again, her gaze on Michael. "Can I make him look my way? Should I ask Kelvin or Vester?"
"Owwww!" She screamed softly and rushed out.
* * * *
Later in the day, during sports, one of Odelia's girls walked up to her as she was tying up the laces of her shoes and whispered something to her.
Odelia looks up quickly "Are you sure it's gonna work?!"
"Yeah! It would. You'll just have to endure the temporal pain"
"Okay", Odelia nods. "Let me try it ".
After sports, students try to rest their bodies or get dried. Odelia entered the restroom. She took out a brand-new razor blade. Opened up her shorts and from the upper side of her thighs, closing her eyes firmly, she gave herself a very straight cut on the skin. She let out a small painful sigh but quickly hid it while trying to endure the pain as blood was already gushing out, trickling down to her leg. She quickly flushed out the razor and then spilled water around the place. She turned around and ran out screaming. She fell down when she saw Michael walking in her direction. By then, students had already gathered around her, asking her what happened. Odelia was already crying while trying to explain that she slipped and fell and didn't know what cut her skin open in the restroom. Blood was still gushing out of her. Michael passed without looking at her. She let out a painful squirm, but that made Michael turn around and GE saw she was in pain. One of the boys was crouched down beside her, and he pressed a hand on the wound, and that made more blood to gush out. Michael felt pity and strode back to her.
He told the boy to move aside and asked him to quickly go and bring the first aid box which Michelle rushed in with. The boy collected it and handed it to Michael. He quickly dressed the wound and asked the boy to get a wet towel. While dressing the wound to stop the blood, he noticed the cut went deep into her inner thighs. He looked up and made eye contact with her. She nodded and he understood that she meant he should continue. He gently dressed the wounds, put some medicine, and bandaged the area. Then he collected the wet towel to clean up the blood stains on her skin.
"You have to go to the school clinic. They'd know what to do." He helped her stand up. He even tried pushing her away when he noticed she was deliberately rubbing herself on him.
"Can you walk on your own?!" He asked.
"No, I can't" " she quickly replied but was disappointed when he called the other boy and asked him to escort her to the school infirmary.
All the other students watched Michael walk into the restroom to wash his hands. Michelle stood watching Odelia limp out with the boy supporting her.
"Odelia—one, Michelle—beginner", She sighed.
At the school infirmary, Odelia's friends came to see her.
"You see, it worked", Pamela said.
"Yeah, you're right. You need to imagine his soft palms on my skin. I felt cold shivers throughout...or was it when my body was next to his—oh! I loved it when his calm voice was saying to me, "Gently, stay still. It won't hurt too much, I'll soon be through with this. I love his voice, his cologne, his uniform...", Odelia was so engrossed she didn't even notice others staring at her with slight irritation.
"Stop that!", Pamela said.
"I'm already jealous," Katerine said, rolling her eyes.
"But...", Odelia sat up straight.
"But what?!", Pamela asked.
"What do I do?" She covers her face with both palms. "No more short skirts for me. I will have to depend on my long pants and trousers until the wound heals so my mom doesn't find out".
* * * *
Back in class, it was a hot topic on everyone's lips that Michael helped Odelia out earlier. Kelvin, Michelle, and Sylvester were at their seats, listening to everyone's opinion.
"Michael just did that out of pity. I know that he feels nothing towards Odelia", Kelvin said.
"That's very true", Sylvester nodded.
"Where is he?", Michelle asked.
Just then, Michael stepped into the class. The class suddenly became very quiet. Even Michael was suddenly taken aback. But he ignored all of them and strode over to where Sylvester sat. Others immediately continued their whispering.
"Michael...where did you go?", Sylvester asked.
"Um! I was on the phone with my dad's personal secretary." Then he looked at Michelle, who was staring at him.
"Hi!", He said without smiling. He only stretched out his right hand for a handshake.
At first, Michelle thought she was dreaming but recollected herself when Kelvin had pinched her.
"Oh!" She replied and quickly placed her palms in his own, but they were interrupted when a student called her to answer a call from the vice principal.
Michael sits down and says "She's always busy".
"Yeah! That's the price that comes with being the school's head girl", Kelvin replied smiling.
"Kelvin, Sylvester," He called out, "I have something I want to tell you guys."
They both look at themselves before they turn to look at him.
"What is it?", Sylvester asked curiously.
"Well...", He dragged. Then paused and shook his head. "Nothing," He shrugs. "It's nothing, okay."
Kelvin had a quick eye contact with Sylvester as he adjusted himself on his seat and looked away.
Sylvester, on the other hand, lets out a big sigh.
* * * *
The next day was Friday. Sylvester and Michelle were walking out of the teacher's Office back to their classroom. Some students would greet her as she passed by.
"I was shocked, Vest. I didn't expect that he would say hi first. He's never done that. I already told Kelvin thanks—for the pinch", Michelle said.
Sylvester stifled a laugh, "I've told you severally to not be afraid of him. He's our friend, and he's your friend, too. Okay?"
"Mh!" She nods, "My aunt will be out tonight, so I'll be joining you guys today for movie night. I'm so excited!" She shakes her body, doing a small dance.
"Yeah! Kelvin would be so happy to hear that. It was hard convincing Michael, but he finally agreed to join us".
"What?!", She paused and looked up at him wide-eyed.
Sylvester looked at her too, "What?".
"Michael's coming?!".
"Mmmh! Mmmh! I got us four tickets", He said and walked out leaving Michelle to gather her thoughts.