I guess I should start this narration with how bloody that day was.
But, I think I'll just start with HIM.
His eyes were the most beautiful thing I've ever seen — orbs that shimmered an intoxicating light brown hue. His smile was like the rising sun, and they filled my insides with warmth that threatened to burst out. His handsomely chiselled face must have been crafted by the best carver.
He was the popular guy in class. The guy whom the popular, hot, chic babes in class flocked around.
He was my crush and I, the fifteen-year-old girl he didn’t know existed.
So that fateful day when he approached me, I felt myself go numb, unable to properly process what was going on. Transfixion, shock, bewilderment, are not enough to explain how I felt.
The closing bell had just been rung for the day when I saw him walking towards me. His hair looked perfect as always. Etched on his face was a slight smile — warm, welcoming.
“Hello. Good afternoon. Mind if I sit here?” His magical voice tinkled, sending an inexplicable shiver down my spine.
Through my shock, I managed to nod my head slightly in response.
As he settled down on the seat beside mine, a thousand and one thoughts flitted through my mind.
“What's going on?”
“Why's this gorgeous being talking to a lowly being like me?”
“How did he even know I exist?”
I allow myself to think something crazy.
“What if he had noticed me and thought me cute, and now, he wants to ask me to be his gir…”
“I’m Clinton, as you might already know. You are Jenna, right?” His words interrupted my thoughts.
I nod again. This time, my nod is sharper as my initial surprise had been replaced by curiosity.
Talkative me seemed to have developed sealed vocal cords.
“Nice to meet you, Jenna. Anyway, I heard you are very good at Mathematics. I’ve been having issues with indices and logarithm, can you please put me through them?” He asked.
Now, it made sense. Bro just thinks I'm a nerd who can teach him mathematics.
“Sure,” I managed to croak out.
Moments later, we were poring over the textbooks. I’d gotten my voice back. Not even a crush can conquer my love for mathematics.
It was while we were solving a problem that I felt the pain. It felt like the insides of my belly were being given a hard wring like one wrings out clothes before drying them on the line. Gritting my teeth in pain, I wondered what could be wrong.
Could it be the beans I ate that morning? I wondered, at the same time, hoping it doesn't come along with a fart.
About an hour later, I was a happy teacher and he, a content and well-taught student. When he offered to walk me home, I gladly agreed.
If only I had known.
As we walked, he tried to make little conversation but shy me was back.
The pain in my belly was worse, though, slightly relegated to the background by the butterflies frolicking in there.
Nodding and barely muttering one-word answers, I simultaneously wished I could get home faster and that the journey wouldn't come to an end.
As we walked on, I noticed something.
The gazes that accompanied our passing.
Subtle yet not so subtle stares.
They're free to look though. I thought.
I mean, who wouldn't want to have a second glance at the gorgeous creature walking beside the plain girl in the plain white dress.
Ten minutes later, we were in front of my house, and I felt a hollowness in my chest as Mr Handsome bid me goodbye and turned to head home.
I walked inside the house, stood at the door and counted to twenty before I let out an excited scream, throwing my fist in the air in jubilation. Whoever said dreams as big as this don’t come true, is a big liar!
Afterwards, I picked up my sneakers and walked barefoot to my room. Dropping it in the shoe rack, I started undressing. It was when I pulled off my dress that I saw the big red stain on the backside of my dress.
For the second time that day, I paused, transfixed to a spot as my eyes remained on the red blob on my dress.
As I kept staring at it, I felt my face heat up, felt myself go faint, as my breathing became raspy breaths.
The stares now made sense.
They had seen it.
HE had seen it!
That moment, as I wished the ground could open up and swallow me, I also wished his memory of what he saw could be magically wiped off.
Too bad not all wishes come true.