Chapter 1 - Inside the Fishbowl

Kaede’s Point of View I took a deep breath before I started walking towards our classroom. I knew who was waiting inside. I knew they were waiting for the prey...They were waiting for me.

Everyone was so quiet when I entered the room—that was new. Maybe it was because soon we would go our separate ways. I would luckily graduate from college.

I cannot wait to leave this campus!

Soon, my suffering would end because I could just get lost, and the bullies wouldn’t be able to find me. Most specially the CINCO, a group consisting of three girls and two boys who were known for their richness and connections.

I immediately sat on my chair without looking on my classmates' faces because I did not want to see how they were looking at me. They seemed disgusted every time they saw me and were constantly bullying me. They had already told me how weak and useless I was, but I did not care at all. They did not know the real me.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Toriko greeted us as she entered our classroom.

"Good morning, Professor Vera Toriko!" we said simultaneously after we all stood up to greet her.

"Sit down, class."

We all sat down after Professor Toriko had told us to do so. She was our English teacher, and she was very fluent in using the English language. Her pronunciation and enunciation were so commendable! Professor Toriko was energetic, as always. I could tell because she always wore her great smile despite the imperfections of the whole class.

"Today, we have an activity, and it will be very exciting—"

"Just make sure we'll enjoy ha!" Zen Lagarde suddenly butted in. She was always like that. Such a disrespectful brat. She did not even know how to respect people and even our teachers were not exempt from her rudeness. But she was extra careful when pestering them. Well, she was still using her pea-sized brain. Our professors did not want to mess with her because they could not afford to lose their jobs. As they say, money is power.

"Don’t worry, Zen, it will be fun!" Ms. Toriko smiled like everything was just okay. "Now, get a paper, a pen, and some adhesive tape. Ask your classmate to put that paper on your back using the tape. Once done, anyone can write the attitude, physical appearance, characteristics, etc. that they have seen or known about you. It can be also their thoughts, suggestions, or messages for you. They can write it on your paper, and you will know what they think of you."

"Professor Toriko, I like it!" exclaimed Lura Nuevo. Just like Zen, she was also a bully.

"Glad you like it, Lura. You can start now. I'll just give you five minutes to do the activity. Tell your classmates your opinions about them in general without stating your name. They won’t know your name unless your writing is so obvious."

"I will do my best to write amazingly just to deceive someone here HAHA!" Marc shouted. He was Zen's boyfriend and an ultimate heartthrob in the university.

"Be kind, Mr. Regal. Don’t deceive anyone. I am encouraging you all to write nothing but the truth about your classmates. And please enjoy the activity."

"I have a question, Professor." Mayb almost raised her hand to get our professor's attention.

"Yes, Miss Maybelle Mortem?

"Is it okay if I don't write anything on my classmates' papers? I mean, is it okay if I don't participate?" Mayb was a member of the CINCO but was kind to me. In fact, she was coming near me whenever Lura, Zen, and Marc were not around. I understood that she did not want to mess with them.

"Everyone is required to participate, Miss Mortem."

"Okay, thanks."

"Any clarification or suggestion? Any violent reaction?" I did not know why our professor suddenly looked at me with a worried face after she asked those questions. I did not have any violent reaction even though I knew what would happen, even though I knew how it would end.

"None," answered the whole class to her.

"Then, you may start now." She sat on her chair in front of our white board after telling us to start the activity. We all knew that she was just observing even though she seemed to be reading her favorite English book.

However, I let my seatmate put a piece of paper on my back, so that they could write anything there as part of the activity. I was aware that there were three people behind me. They were my first customers for the activity, and it was not unpredictable. I had hated them since my first year in Corto University, but I never fought them because I knew who were the real hopeless here. Zen, Lura, and Marc were always trying to make fun of me just to be happy. I would not hinder their happiness, but everything had an end point. The CINCO was composed of Zen, Lura, Mayb, Marc, and Dego. Zen was the meanest of them all. Lura as the girlfriend of the genius. Mayb was the kind one. Marc was the campus heartthrob. Last but not least, Dego was the genius.

"Done! You're so pretty, Kae!" I just closed my eyes after I heard Zen's voice; her voice was full of sarcasm, and it was exasperating! When I opened my eyes, I saw her smirking right in front of me. Then, she walked away and immediately sat on her pink chair. Hers was the only pink chair inside the classroom, ours were blue. For her, pink was life.

"Kaede, be strong. You have my back," whispered Mayb after the three bullies went away.

"Thanks, Mayb!" I whispered. I was the only one in the classroom who called her Mayb. She just passed by and did not write anything on my paper, while the fifth member of the CINCO did not mind me at all.

Professor Toriko suddenly stood up and she got our attention. "Okay, times up! Everyone, sit down and we will start the sharing portion."

"You mean we will read what are written on our papers, professor?" Dego asked casually.

"Correct, Mr. Calleja. But I will just randomly pick the ones who will share."

Our professor showed us a fishbowl with colorful papers inside that were folded neatly. "All of your names are inside this fishbowl, and I will just pick the lucky ones and—"

"Cut the crap, professor. Just start the sharing portion. The time is running for Pete's sake!" Professor Toriko just smiled even when Zen almost shouted at her.

"Okay, let's start!" she declared while trying to flash a great smile as if Zen did not disrespect her. Her hand landed on a piece of pink paper from the fishbowl. "It is you, Ms. Mortem."

"Go, Maybelle!" Lura shouted.

Mayb stood up and went near our white board. "Good morning, everyone." Her voice was giving me some chills; she seemed uninterested in the sharing thing.

"I just got three words from some of you. Those are kind, pretty, and pet. First of all, I'm not kind, and you all don't know me well. You all just know my name but not my story. Secondly, I know I'm pretty, so there's no need to mention it. Lastly, I'm not the pet of anyone here. Just like what I've said, you all just know my name but not my story. That's all. Thanks." She went back to her chair near the door and just crossed her arms. I liked her explanations; she was on fire, yet she sounded very cold.

"Let's give her a round of applause." Some clapped their hands, but I just smiled at Mayb, and she smiled back also.

Professor had picked a black paper and abruptly blushed after she saw the name on it. "Next is...Kaede."

I suddenly shivered after she called my name. The next thing I knew, the bees started buzzing behind me, and they were so irritating. I knew they were waiting for a show. I even heard Zen chuckled. Freak.

I hopelessly read those words written on my paper before I stood up.

Of all people, why me?