Chapter 7 7th Chapter

The holidays had ended and Shalom had to go back to school. The next morning, Rose woke up early and prepared breakfast because she didn't like her child to go to school hungry. Lim too had to go to work after dropping his daughter at school. After preparing Shalom's lunchbox, she waited for her to come down, but got tired of waiting. Neither Lim nor Shalom showed up on the dining table yet and time wasn't bidding. Her husband had treated her so violently after spending the night out and coming home drunk that she now feared to approach him.

She decided to go to her daughter's room and check in case she was ready but had second thoughts, I should check on him first. No, I won't disturb him. Any provocation might earn me another beating and this time I might not be able to control my temper. Who knows what I might do to him? Then she veered and headed to Shalom's room. She was shocked to find her in her pyjamas lying on her bed reading her storybook as if she was not aware that she had lessons. She stood at the entrance gazing at her. Shalom peeked at her and pretended as if she hadn't seen her.

"Shalom!" she snorted and walked to her. The latter was mute and kept staring idly at the page in front of her.

"Dear," Rose said calmly, taking a seat beside her.

"You are getting late for school, dear," Naturally placing her arm on her lap. Shalom pouted and lifted her face, her red eyes whose rims were sore gazing at her. "I don't want..." She stopped and stared at the bruise near her mother's left eye. "Did he do this to you?" She asked touching on the patch and Rose flinched saying, "Don't mind me, dear, I am fine." She flashed a weak smile. Her daughter hissed disdainfully and remarked, "he is a monster, I hate him!"

"Don't be like that. He is still your father. He will change." Shalom pursed her lips and was quiet, but anger was reeling inside her.

"I don't want to go back to school mom, so just leave me alone."

"Why? What about your dreams? Will you sacrifice everything for a simple misunderstanding with your father? How about me and you? Okay, child, please do it for me, your mom, hmh, please!" Shalom looked at her out pitifully and perceived that her attitude might devastate her mom the most. Thus, she decided she would only go if she dropped her to school and not her father.

"Alright. It is a deal, now get up and prepare yourself and don't give me that face." She stroked her cheek and went out.

Rose walked downstairs and was compelled to go and check on her husband but when she reached there, the latter was still snoring.

"Ah," she sighed, "thank goodness! I hope you don't wake up soon." She muttered and for a moment stood at the entrance reflecting on how happy a family they used to have and tears trickled down her face. "It shall be well, Rose, it shall be well!" she convinced herself and this was her solace.

It was late when Shalom arrived at school and all the pupils were already in class. Remembering that English was the first lesson, she got nervous. Teacher Alice didn't like latecomers. "Hehe, Geez! How did I forget she would go in fast?" She mumbled and walked hastily towards the entrance and knocked. The pupils lifted their faces and stared at her with sorrowful eyes as if to suggest that she was in danger.

"Who is it?" Tr Grace frowned and asked in a harsh voice which was her natural way of speaking and turned away from the chalkboard to look at the one knocking. As soon as she saw Shalom, her face lightened.

"Oh, Shalom, come in."

"What?" The pupils murmured gazing at one another, baffled. Shalom too was puzzled that this time Grace didn't fume as she had anticipated and walked in hesitantly taking a seat next to Tom who turned and looked at her scornfully, and after hissing shifted to another chair on the left row. Shalom wrinkled her face, not able to comprehend the reason for his attitude because he had always been her seatmate for two years although they weren't close friends. Emma who sat in the same row limped at him and was discontented with his behaviour. He looked at Shalom sadly and wondered, "why did he do that? He's never been so rude!" Emma was the most handsome boy in class five whom every girl wanted to sit with because he had lovely features especially his dazzling charming eyes that rolled like a cat's, but he never noticed any of them except Shalom; He had always had a childhood crush on her ever since he joined Kent Foundation School( that was in class 3) but Shalom, being naive, never realised it. His bottom wiggled impatiently on the chair and as soon as the teacher turned on the chalkboard, he quickly jumped to take a seat near Shalom. The latter gave him an injured look and drew her eyes to her book.

"Hey," he poked at her with his elbow.

"What is it? Smile." He whispered, his eyes dashing and smiling, rolling them, illustrating to her by pulling his lips sideways which made him appear weird and made Shalom chuckle slightly sounding like a squirrel.

The teacher, having heard a weird sound from the audience, turned ruefully and asked,

"What was that?" They all turned their gaze, drawing it to Esther's direction.

Tom might have found this as an opportunity to get at Shalom because of some reasons concealed in him and he started,

"She..." Emma curtailed him by taking the blame

"I...had a hiccup...ma'am," he gasped trying to convince her. His trick worked because

Tr Grace didn't seem to mind after that. Shalom glanced at Emma and a smile lifted at the corner of her mouth. She avoided looking at him because she was beginning to feel uncomfortable every time his eyes glinted as he looked at her.; as if the stare stirred something strange deep in the chambers of her heart which made her uneasy but again made her loosen up and forget her bitterness in her heart at least for a moment.

Ding dong! It was time for a break. No sooner had the teacher left the class when Tom came and poised in front of Shalom blocking her way. The expression on his face was none to please. Shalom, not wishing to start a fight tried to take another direction but he annoyingly blocked her again which aroused her anger and she forcibly tried to pass.

"Hey, daughter of a womaniser, don't provoke me." His forehead crinkled in anger and he alerted those who were still in the class by shouting,

"Hey, listen! Do you want to know what her father does? I will tell you. Lim, her father, is a womaniser, who goes around drinking and sleeping with other people's wives." Shalom shrunk with humiliation. She didn't know what he implied but it felt as if his words were a dagger that cut through her.

Then he started booing her and inciting others, and soon, the whole class went boo, boo... as they implicated her as if she faulted her father's mistakes. Her lips shook and tears, one and another and then another glided down her face...