Chapter 2 my past life

Chapter 2

I don't get it. Why does it feel like the world is against me? As if I've done something wrong. Was I so sinful in my past life that I have to suffer like this now? All I want is to live happily in this world.

"Just a little more, and this will be over," I said while continuing to clean the floor.

It's already five in the afternoon, yet here I am, still inside our classroom, left alone to clean up.

This is always the scene at the end of the school day. I'm always left alone while my classmates head off on their own.

I heard footsteps approaching, so I stopped cleaning and quickly checked outside, but I saw no one. I looked around, but still, no one was there, so I dismissed it and returned to cleaning. Maybe it was just my imagination.

A song suddenly came to mind, and since no one was around, I figured it was okay to sing.

"You with the sad eyes~"

I sang the first line of the song as I pulled a chair aside to clean the dirt on the floor.

"Don't be discouraged, oh I realize~"

I continued singing while pulling another chair.

"It's hard to take courage~

In a world full of people~

You can lose sight of it all~

The darkness inside you~

Can make you feel so small~"

I bitterly smiled as I absorbed each word of the song.

When will I be free from this dark world? When will I rise from the pain and sorrow I've endured? Will I ever experience happiness?

"Show me a smile then~

Don't be unhappy~

Can't remember when~"

I stood up properly, pretending I was on a stage, singing in front of a crowd.

"I last saw you laughing~

This world makes you crazy~

And you've taken all you can bear~

Just call me up~

'Cause I will always be there~"

I closed my eyes and used the broom as a microphone.

"And I see your true colors~

Shining through~

I see your true colors~"

I slowly opened my eyes with a smile on my lips.

"And that's why I love you-ahh!"

I screamed in shock when I saw someone standing at the door, arms crossed, with no expression on his face, staring at me with his gray eyes.

It's him...

"Aren't you done cleaning?" he asked sarcastically.

My face heated up from embarrassment. "A-almost."

He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Ha! How can you finish cleaning if you keep singing like a contestant, tsk!" he said irritably and left the room in a huff.

"How embarrassing!" I whispered to myself after he left. I never expected that Winston, of all people, would hear me singing. How embarrassing!

A few minutes passed, and I was almost done cleaning the mess on the floor. I knew they deliberately left the mess for me to clean. There was a janitor assigned here, but they warned him not to clean this room. That's how mean they are to me, but I endured it because if I didn't, I'd get into more trouble the next day.

"Nami?"

I looked up at the familiar voice from outside.

"Pres..."

"Why are you doing that? We have a janitor, don't we?" he said as he entered the room.

"Just leave it, Pres," I replied bitterly and continued what I was doing.

"Just call me by my name, Nami," he said with a smile as he approached the chalkboard to erase what was written.

"I-I'll take care of that, E-Ethan," I tried to stop him.

"No, just let me help you," he said seriously while continuing to wipe the board. "Is this why I often see you leaving late because they make you clean up?"

I didn't answer, so he stopped wiping and looked at me.

"I'm sorry," he said sadly.

"H-huh? Why?"

"I'm sorry because I can't do anything to stop them."

I bowed my head. "I-it's okay, it's not your fault, and besides, I understand, so you don't have to apologize."

He didn't say anything more, so I started arranging the chairs.

After he finished wiping, he immediately helped me. I wanted to refuse, but he insisted, so I just let him.

Ethan was right; this is why I usually take so long to leave after school. I'm thankful they haven't made things too hard for me today. In the past few days, I almost wanted not to come to school because of the exhaustion.

They gave me a week-long punishment for something I didn't even do. They made me clean all the bathrooms. They had me carry boxes of bond paper from the storage room to the faculty room. And even worse, they made me clean the entire gymnasium, so I was completely exhausted back then. Well, it's always like that, but I'm used to it.

"Thank you," I said as I locked the door. I finished quickly because of his help.

"My pleasure," he said with a smile.

We started walking towards the stairs when he spoke again.

"By the way, did you hear someone singing earlier?" he asked as we approached the first floor.

"Huh? Was there?" I lied. He can't know it was me.

Was I singing that loudly for him to hear? Well, the place was really quiet, so maybe that's why he noticed.

I suddenly remembered the embarrassing thing I did earlier. I know it was a small matter, but to me, it was a big deal. I used a broom as a microphone! And I didn't even notice someone was watching. How embarrassing!

"It seemed like the voice was coming from here," he said uncertainly. He looked at me and smiled. "The singer had a beautiful voice. It's a shame they didn't finish the song. Did you know that the song they sang is one of my favorites?" His eyes glistened a bit.

I quickly looked away. "R-really? I'm sorry, I didn't hear it," I lied again.

He just smiled at me, and we continued walking until we reached the parking lot.

"Let me give you a ride home," he offered.

"N-no need," I replied shyly.

"Why? Are you afraid of me? Don't worry, I don't bite," he chuckled.

He pressed something, causing a black car parked nearby to light up and make a sound.

"N-no, my place is nearby, so I'll just walk," I lied again for the third time. The truth is, my place is actually quite far. I just didn't want to trouble him, and besides, I didn't want others to get the wrong idea if they saw us.

"No, I insist. It's almost six o'clock, and there might be troublemakers around. You could get hurt or something," he said, insisting.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. Don't worry, Ethan. You don't need to take me home."

"But... come on, Nami, I just want to make sure you get home safely," he persisted.

I scratched my head, frustrated by his stubbornness.

"Thanks, but you should go ahead, Ethan. I'll be fine." I smiled at him and even opened his car door myself. I gently nudged him inside and closed the door. I just wanted him to leave.

"Is there anything else I can do?" he asked with a laugh as he rolled down the car window.

He sighed. "Okay then, I'm leaving. Take care, Nami."

I just smiled at him. But as soon as his car was out of sight, my smile slowly faded. This is who I've become, adept at masking my pain with a smile, yet deep inside, I carry a wounded soul.

"Tsk!" I stopped when I heard a familiar sound of irritation behind me.

It's him again...

"Are you trying to flirt with that guy just to have an ally?" he asked sarcastically, but I remained turned away from him.

"Or maybe you're just trying to earn his trust because you have some evil plan for him."

I secretly clenched my fists, feeling insulted by his words. If I let my anger take over, the situation would only get worse, so it's better not to respond.

I sighed and slowly smiled.

I faced him. "S-sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. W-whatever you saw earlier was just a coincidence, and I have no bad intentions toward him," I said calmly.

I was about to turn my back on him, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly, making me shut my eyes tightly in pain.

"We're not done talking yet," he said firmly. I could see his jaw clenching.

"Let go of me, I don't want any trouble," I said flatly.

"Why? Are you scared to stand up for yourself? You're weak, and I enjoy seeing you suffer," he said with emphasis, his voice full of anger.

I endured the pain and looked him straight in the eyes. "Y-you may enjoy seeing me suffer, but one day, karma will catch up with you. All the consequences of your actions will find their way back to you," I said meaningfully. My voice was slightly trembling, but I managed to summon a flicker of courage.

"Don't you dare talk back to me!" he said coldly and with emphasis. He tightened his grip on me even more.

"I've done nothing to you. Why are you doing this to me?" A single tear fell from my eye.

He let out a mocking laugh, filled with sarcasm. "Yes, cry! It's so fun seeing you cry."

"Enough," I responded coldly and yanked my hand, which he quickly released.

He grinned at me. "What? Are you brave now, huh?!" He clenched his fist.

He was about to grab me again, but I quickly stepped back and punched him hard in the face, causing him to fall.

"You can keep hurting me, but I will never let you break me," I said coldly.

I was about to turn my back on him, but my eyes suddenly widened when I realized what I had done.

What did I do? Sh*t!

"S-sorry, really sorry," I said nervously and quickly ran away.

"Arghh! We're not done yet, Namida! You will pay for this!" I heard his angry shout, full of rage, but I just kept running.

To Be Continued...