C4 S04:Twisted Truth

*Warning: Contains Intrusive Thoughts*

I ignored the loud noises behind me and kept staring outside the window. The sound of my classmates chattering around the classroom was like background noise for me. I tried to focus on my thoughts but couldn't really think of anything except how much I needed a distraction or maybe even just the thought of getting away from this place.

My thoughts got interrupted when I saw someone standing behind the school building.

'If I'm not mistaken, she's the school counselor. What is she doing there?'

Then my eyes caught someone approaching the counselor and giving out an envelope to her. I squinted my eyes.

'They look so suspicious.'

Something knocking on the back of my head made me flinch. My hand rubbed that place slowly while glancing at the eraser on the floor near my feet. I could hear my classmates hiding their laughter.

"What are you spacing out for, Saphie? Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me calling you?"

A familiar voice asked as I turned around. My eyes focused on Naura Abraham, who's already crossing her arms while sitting on the table. Standing beside her is Genise Warren with a phone in her hand.

Ever since I entered high school, they started approaching me and made me their bullying victim. To tell the truth, I still don't know why they were targeting me but as time goes by, it has become routine for me to be the 'clown' class.

Quietly, I hold both my trembling hands.

'Please, don't appear again.'

I didn't even know how many scenarios have messed up my mind every time I attend this school. That I can't even differentiate my imagination with dream and reality. The more I let it go, the worse it became. Every day was like a nightmare for me. Every moment I wake up and see the next morning, I feel dread instead of relief.

How I wish I could sleep forever.

And right now, my eyes are fixed on my classmates' lifeless bodies while they hang themselves from the high ceiling of our classroom. A cold sweat covers my skin as I stare into them before it is gone, and everything goes back to normal.

"Haha! What did you just do, Naura? Look at her, all sweating and cowering like a poor little kitty..."

I glanced at Genise. She laughed while her phone was facing me.

I'm aware of the fact that she's always recording Naura bullying me. At first, I thought they wanted to post it on social media but when I think about it again, wouldn't Naura's crime be exposed?

Naura raised her eyebrows.

"Right. I realized that you're always sweating whenever I talk to you. Am I that scary?"

"She knows she can't win against you. Just look at her old uniforms. She's completely penniless."

A female student from the back continued. Then, she turned to Naura.

"I heard, she worked for your father?"

Genise's eyes widened.

"What!? You mean, she's a wh*re?"

"No! You silly! My father is not a s*x maniac. Well, if he did, Saphie's not up to his taste."

The class erupted into laughter.

Naura glanced back at me. Her laugh stopped.

"What are you glaring at, you b*tch?"

"Oh~ Is she gonna fight back?"

"Genise! Get the camera ready! This is gonna be so much fun!"

Genise rolled her eyes.

"Are you blind? Can't you see what I'm holding right now?"

I only watched them, looking full of anticipation.

They never treated me as a friend or worse, as a human being. To them, I'm just a laughingstock to entertain them.

I looked back at Naura.

"No wonder the director was so excited and wanted to fire me. Like father, like daughter."

I mumbled to myself.

"Speak louder Saphie! I can't even hear you. Your voice is so small. Were you still scared?"

Naura's mocking face starts to change into something horrifying. Her skin begins to bubble and her flesh splits with black blood flowing out of her ears and mouth. Her eyes bulge out and her lips are stretched in a smile that is no longer a smile at all.

I gulped, my hand trembling as fear started to rise inside of me after watching the frightening image. Quickly I lowered my head and walked to the door.

"Hey! Where are you running to? I'm not done yet!"

Naura grabbed my hair without any hesitation.

I frowned in pain when she tightened her grip until it hurt like hell. My chin lifted automatically.

"Let me go."

I whispered with gritted teeth.

She released my hair but only for a moment before she grabbed another fistful and began to drag me out of the classroom.

I tried hard not to scream as she dragged me to the hallway while Genise faithfully followed from behind, still recording.

After we arrived in the toilet, Naura threw me inside. My palms automatically hold onto the wall before turning around to face them.

"Saphie, Saphie… why are you so weak? I'm afraid that I might easily break you. What do you feel right now? You feel like you want to kill yourself? So that we're gonna feel guilty for bullying you? Is that what you think?"

The words came out of her mouth like they were nothing.

"Was that the reason you bullied me for the past three years? You really want me dead?"

I asked with a low and calm voice.

"Why ask something so obvious? Nobody even cares about you. Besides, it's fun watching you trying to avoid us. You're just a coward, aren't you? You don't dare look us in the eye."

I approached her. I had to lift my chin since she's taller than me.

"Because I felt nauseous when looking at everyone. Staring at the floor is better than staring at your face. It feels as if someone is stabbing into my eyes every time I see you guys."

My replies made her quiet for the first time.

"Alright! I think that's enough!"

Suddenly Genise interrupted.

Naura turned to her.

"I haven't even started yet."

"My phone storage is almost full. Let me send it to Emily first and you can just continue it later or next time."

My body froze when I heard that name.

"Who… did you send it to?"

'Did I hear that wrong?'

I ran to her and snatched the phone.

"Hey!"

Ignoring them, I checked the content inside the phone. Genise has already sent the video to someone. A few seconds later, there's a reply.

[You've already done that in previous videos. Why don't you guys try something new? Just keep sending the videos for now. I might have some inspirations to continue my story later since I've made promise with Safiyya]

[The teacher's coming. I gotta go now]

My thumb scrolling throughout the text. There are many videos that were sent to her. Until I reached the very first day Emily texted Genise.

'The day I got in my first class. Also, the same day they started bullying me and the person who requested the video was the so-called childhood friend.'

I closed the app and looked at Genise.

"Emily… She… No. She would never…"

I gasped when Naura suddenly shoved her arm around my neck.

"Why are you still doubting yourself after seeing the truth, hm? If you insist, then…"

Naura makes a signal to her friend.

Genise scrolled her phone and showed the phone screen right onto my face. There's a video playing.

I watched it through to the end, completely stunned.

The content of the video is a recording of me sitting on my chair. I was just relaxing that morning while having my first break. Before suddenly, both Naura and Genise approached me and pulled my hair out of nowhere. At that time, I was really confused and tried to get myself away from Naura's grasp. But then she whispered to me.

'Try to fight back and I'll show this video to your siblings. If they saw it, they would've been really surprised to find out their big sister got bullied by her own classmates on the first day of school. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you? So just stay back and keep quiet like a good girl.'

"There, I already showed you the proof. Satisfied?"

Genise continues playing with her phone.

"Emily never treated you as her friend. Did she ever mention that you are her inspiration? Hah! That was just her manipulative scheme. What she meant by 'inspiration' is she only used you as an object for her story. You don't deserve to be my dear cousin's friend, Saphie."

My eyes narrowed at Naura.

"No. That can't be..."

'Emily, was what she said true? Did you just betray me? No, you've been using me for all these years. But why? I thought... I believe you care about me. Was it just an act all along?'

"Looks like Emily is not satisfied with that video. How about we retake it again?"

Slowly, Naura let me go.

Genise rolled her eyes.

"But I already told you, my phone storage is…"

"Full. Yes, I know. Here, you just used my phone."

She threw her phone at her friend. Genise struggled, trying to catch it.

"Pfft!"

They quickly turned back to me, slightly frowning.

"What's so funny, you freak?"

I covered my mouth, trying to hold my laugh.

"It felt funny when I realized how similar Emily and I were. In the end, both of us were just a bunch of fakes."

Naura took one step closer to me.

"Don't you dare compare yourself with Emily."

I sneered at her.

"I was just stating the fact. My apologies, if you were offended because I was talking badly behind your dear cousin. But what can you do when she already neglects you and wastes all her time solely for her fair-weather friends?"

Naura's expression changed immediately. Her black pupils turned into two red points.

I couldn't help but feel amused.

"You're crazy-"

The sound of the bell rang loudly, interrupting her.

"Naura, we should go now."

Genise tried to pull Naura's arm, but she wouldn't budge.

I scoffed at the sight of her losing over some stupid provocation.

"Did I hit the nail right on your head? Don't worry, I won't take revenge. What you've done to me is just a small game, compared to the hell I've been through. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you guys off."

I grabbed her right on the neck and pushed her to the outside of the toilet. She accidentally bumped into Genise before her back slammed against the wall in the school corridor.

My eyes widened in uncontrollable excitement.

I never thought that acting out the imaginations I had before would feel so satisfying.

Coincidentally, two people happened to appear in the scene, and saw everything before their eyes.

"Stop! Both of you!"