Chapter 6

Arita’s POV

Here I am at the front of Verity Academy.

My dream school.

I wasn’t here as an applicant this time but as a scholarship student who had worked very hard to get here. The result came out a few days ago, pronouncing a boy and me as the winners.

Verity Academy is a beautiful school, with tall buildings of modern design. It is seated at the center of the city, making it very popular, but only a few can attend because the fees are not something a person like me could afford. Presidents, senators, ministers, and CEOs’ children are the only ones who can afford the fees. Luckily for me, I got a scholarship that covers every fee.

I was nervous, not sure of how this school would treat me. My first day in every school has always been a bad experience, as my mates make mockery of my face.

I breathed out, hoping this first day would be different from the others.

My hands adjusted the straps of my bag that contained the few books Mom had gotten for me. It was a bag she had gotten at the thrift store.

I walked my way to the class with my head bowed, my eyes reading the directions on the map.

The map led me to an end corner. Nothing here looked like a classroom.

I was lost.

I looked around, trying to see if I could find someone approachable to ask for directions, but each person I stopped ignored me. Some looked at me weirdly like I wasn’t supposed to be here.

What I was putting on was old compared to the designer wears and fancy bags they were carrying, but that doesn’t make me an animal. I still look good in my clothes, even if they are old.

After a long time, I finally found the class, and to think I had passed this route three times today.

By the time I got to the class, everything about me wasn’t right. My breath was heavy, my face looked dull and sweaty.

The makeup I had applied to conceal the big pus on my face had been ruined, forming cracks like mud on my face. The pus was now visible, making me lose my confidence.

I folded my hands together, squeezing them as I stood nervously at the entrance door, waiting for the teacher to notice me.

She finally did. She looked at my appearance and rushed me in without any criticism or mockery.

For the first time in a long while, I saw someone who didn’t look at me with disgust apart from Mom and, of course, Ray.

“You must be the newly admitted scholarship student?” she inquired, her voice calm and welcoming.

“Yes ma,” I responded.

“You’re welcome to Verity Academy. You are late on your first day,” she said.

“I got lost finding my way here,” I explained.

She nodded, her eyes full of understanding.

“You can find an empty seat. When I am done, you will come up to introduce yourself.”

Thank goodness she said that because I don’t think I could even remember my name right now. I was too unsettled, too nervous, and my feet were as cold as ice.

I looked up for the very first time since I had stepped into the class, and there sat people my age staring at me.

I stepped forward, ready to sit beside an empty seat I saw, but before I could get there, a girl from the front stood up and sat beside the guy.

She gave me a hateful stare, her eyes daring me to move any closer.

I swallowed hard while I looked the other way, searching for another empty seat.

When I saw another one at the left of the class, the lady placed her bag on the empty seat, marking boundaries.

I sighed. I expected this, but I didn’t know it would be this mean. Having no other choice, I moved to a seat at the back. It was an isolated seat at the far corner of the room.

When the teacher, whose name I later knew to be Miss Celeste, saw that I had settled down, she continued her teaching. It was an interesting class as she was teaching us the use of English.

The long awaited time came, the introduction.

I was summoned back to the front of the class to introduce myself.

I stood up and walked my way around the rows, trying not to stumble, trying not to seem nervous, but I failed. My leg slipped, making me fall down flat.

Everyone burst into laughter, making me cover my face in embarrassment. I felt like the ground should open and swallow me, but it was an impossible wish.

Shamefully, I stood up when I saw the laughter had died down.

My legs walked their way to the front. I bowed softly and introduced myself, my voice almost shaky.

Thankfully, everyone wasn’t looking at me anymore, as they were whispering among themselves.

I was confused but thankful that something had diverted their attention away from me, and when I thought I had escaped the humiliation, someone walked in.

Her presence showed power, wealth, and expensive taste, and of course she smelled good.

Her skirt was extremely short compared to mine. She is the type that would attract attention easily.

Everyone in the class looked at her in admiration. She stood like a model before the class and removed her shades, making everyone compliment her.

“You are shining, girl.”

“Go girl.”

“Is that the latest shade released by Tis Fashion?” the lady who had looked at me meanly earlier asked.

“Of course. You know I only wear branded stuff,” the lady replied. Her voice sounded familiar.

I tried to get a closer view of her, but she turned instead as Miss Celeste addressed her lateness.

“You must be tired of your job,” the lady replied instead of apologizing.

I found it quite surprising watching how she spoke so rudely to the teacher.

“So rude,” I uttered before I could stop myself.

The lady shifted her gaze to me, and that was when I saw her clearly.

She was the same lady at the well furnished house Mom and I had worked in some weeks ago.

My eyes widened and the lady smirked.

“Oh, the ugly cleaner,” she said, her voice loud and audible.