C9 CHAPTER 09: Felt Neglected?

MONDAY. Mom finally decided to let me go to school again. I came with Nathan, and I haven’t seen Freeda yet until lunch. It’s becoming clear to me now what Nathan’s been talking about when he visited me at our house. I could still remember his same, exact words as I walked through the hallways of our school.

“Groups are starting to form, Nat. And what I mean by that, literally. Everything is starting to change.”

“Why?” I asked innocently I him. It’s only been a week so I highly doubt that it will happen that fast.

“I don’t know. Freeda is now talking to some girls in our school. Popular girls, to be specific. And they are calling her queen or whatever...”

“Then I’ll still talk to her.... But this time I wouldn’t deny you as my bestfriend anymore. I’ll tell her the truth.”

“Well, that’s good to know. But I don’t think that you could still talk to her just like that. She was surrounded by different boys and girls who wanted to be as popular as their squad.”

“Why not? I mean, her bracelet is still here,” I proudly stated, showing him the little charm of Freeda.

“Whatever. Just... Believe me, Nat. So many things had changed when you left. Almost everything. And I hope that you could be there again...” he said, his voice sounding sad.

Maybe because of the fact that I’ve been gone for days and he doesn’t have someone he could talk to at school. Maybe his new found friends had already change like what he’s telling me about. I highly doubt that those guys will stay forever as they are.

“Don’t worry, Nat,” I stated in assurance. “I won’t be gone anymore.”

That’s when my mind finally came back to reality. I’m still walking towards my classroom while observing those crazy students that suddenly became a fashion conscious as they try to impress the crowd. Everyone looks so fashionable now, and they are not wearing our normal and boring school uniform. I don't know why, but maybe they are trying to fit in just like what Nathan told me before. Everyone is changing.

I saw the bunch of geeks and nerds who’s talking to Nathan before, and now their faces aren’t even the same and recognizable. They became... Hot, I guess. But I wasn’t even a bit attracted to them. Maybe this is the reason why Nathan doesn’t hang out with them anymore.

I sighed, thinking another rule for my manual. And that is rule number sixteen, “learn to be a part of the change.” In that way, people wouldn’t find you too weird or isolated. I guess everyone likes to be in a circle of crowd adoring popularity here, in Jackson High. So maybe, just maybe, wanting to be a part of that change isn’t so bad after all.

I took a deep breath before I remember that I still need to get to my classes, and in those classes, I need my books. So I decided to go to the locker room area. I walked towards there, and when I reached for the handle of my locker, I heard some weird noises coming just nearby from here. I blinked several times, before I decided to search for the source of it.

I walked around the area, following the sound of those weird noises. Until I saw someone... Two people making out in the locker area. I felt ashamed and nervous at the same time, and when the girl saw me, she blushed out of embarrassment before pushing the guy in front if her. The guy looked at her in confusion before he turned his gaze upon me.

I was mortified to see who it was. It was Tyler, making out with another girl who’s clearly not Freeda. I gasped in shock, and he sent death raging glares towards my direction. If only looks could kill, I’ll probably be dead right now.

I turned around, mentally scolding and slapping myself for I know that I shouldn’t have look for the source of those weird noises that leads me to this awful scenario. I guess it’s true that curiosity kills a cat, and I’m that cat while Tyler is the trap.

I started to walk away, trying to forget about what I saw earlier but I couldn’t. I know I couldn’t keep it to myself so I decided that I should tell this to someone. Someone I could trust. Maybe Nathan.

I got to my classes, as usual. But it didn’t stop me from thinking about Tyler and Freeda. If the two of them are really dating, then what Tyler had done earlier is definitely cheating. And for I am a witness, I shouldn’t keep it to myself. I should tell this to Freeda and help her move on.

After our classes, I ran through the hallways just to make sure that I could see Freeda in front if their classroom again. Thankfully, I wasn’t too late for she’s just fixing her stuffs up while talking to some girls... Popular girls to he specific.

It’s Lia Valle, the daughter of the owner of the pharmacy where Nathan’s Mom is currently working. Then there’s Elyzz, A.K.A. the “like girl.” She’s literally using the word “like” in her every statements. Almost twenty five percent of her sentence was composed by the word “like.”

“Freeda!” I called out.

She looked at my direction, and suddenly, her brows furrowed. Lia and Elyzz looked at her as if they are asking if Freeda knows me or not, but she didn't answer as soon as possible.

“Hey, girl? Do you like... You know, like, do you know that student? Like she was so plain and boring... Like, duh?” Elyzz stated, making Lia laughed at me.

“Don’t worry, Elyzz. I’m sure our queen wouldn’t be talking to someone like her,” Lia said, sure at her statement.

“Guys, calm down. I don’t know her,” Freeda stated, chuckling to herself before she walks away.

“But...” I trailed off, thinking for a moment.

I tried to say something but no words came out of my mouth. She just avoided by gaze and completely ignored me. Now I know how it feels to be denied and neglected. Maybe this is how Nathan felt before when I did the same exact thing to him.

The three of them started to walk away farther and farther away from me. For a moment, I thought that maybe Nathan is right. So many things had already changed in just a week and before I knew it, I am finally out of the game. I thought Freeda wanted me to be her friend, but I was wrong. All she ever wanted was to become popular just like anybody else.

Out of desperation and frustration, I decided to use my last and final card just to get Freeda’s attention. I badly wanted to be a part of their group so I’ll take my chances, I guess.

“Freeda! Wait!” I ran after them.

“What?! I don’t know you!” she exclaimed, denying me once more.

“OMG! Like duh... She doesn’t know you, girl... Like, ever. So get lost. As if she would ever talk to someone like you. Like it’s never gonna happen even in like a billion years,” Elyzz stated.

“I have to tell you something...” I started, ignoring Elyzz’s statement. “I saw Tyler, Freeda... He’s making out with another girl in the locker area earlier...”

Lia gasped, looking shocked. Freeda blinked her eyes several times trying to process in her mind what I’d just told her. Her face turned bright red as a tomato out of embarrassment, about to burst out in tears, I guess. Though I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings just by telling her the truth.

“Tyler just cheated on you...” It was Lia who finally decided to open her mouth.

Freeda ran out of embarrassment, before Elyzz shook her head in disapproval at me then she followed her friend. Lia did the same and I was left there all alone, dumbfounded.

I sighed, deciding what the next thing to do.When I turned around to get home, I saw a familiar face with his intense glare fixed at me. I instantly got nervous, realizing that maybe Tyler heard my confession to Freeda.

He slowly walked towards my direction, cornering me in the wall using both of his arms before he whispered something into my ears. Something that brought fear and panic down to my spine.

“You’re dead.”

After saying that, he then walked away, leaving me while I’m having a mini-heart attack.