Chapter 14: The Clown
I wake up to a gentle knock on my bedroom door. Still half-asleep, I rub my eyes, attempting to bridge the gap between my dreams and reality. The clock shows a cruel 6:00 AM, and leaving the warm embrace of my fluffy bed at such an hour is nothing short of a disaster for me.
"Good morning, Young Miss," Mr. Adams greets me as I open the door, with an enthusiasm that baffles me. Even at this ungodly hour, he seems to radiate energy. I groggily chuckle at his enthusiasm.
"Morning, Mr. Adams. What brings you here?" I mumble, trying to suppress a yawn that threatens to overtake my words.
"Young Master Williams dropped by a few minutes ago and left this parcel," Mr. Adams informs me, holding up a moderately sized box. I squint at it, my drowsy mind struggling to process his words. I blink a few times to ensure I'm not dreaming up this information. The box in Mr. Adams' hands solidifies the reality of the situation. The grumpy sloth made a delivery to my doorstep. My mind races with speculation about what could be inside.
Knowing him, it could be anything from a prank to an elaborate scheme meant to test my patience to its limits. "He insisted that no one but you should open it. I suggested he come in, but he seemed in a hurry."
Oh, Mr. Adams, how sweet of you to treat even the enemy with such respect. Fortunately, the grumpy sloth didn't come in; otherwise, I might have lost my last thread of patience and lunged at him like a wild cat.
"Thank you, Mr. Adams," I manage to say, taking the box from him. I can't help but wonder about its contents. For all I know, it might contain a ticking time bomb, metaphorically speaking, ready to explode and plunge me into some kind of chaos.
"I'm pleased to see you forming connections with the other residents," Mr. Adams says with a genuine smile. I offer an awkward one in return, my thoughts whispering the truth—I can't really tell him that it's not friendship, but a trap of the devil in which we are all stuck together. The difference is, I'm the only one who's aware of it.
...
I take a deep breath, trying to reassure myself that everything will be okay and that I'll get through this. With a determined mindset, I open the car door and step out, bracing myself for the inevitable reactions.
Sure enough, as soon as I emerge from the car, I'm met with a sea of bewildered stares from the people in the parking lot. My heart races, and I feel a lump forming in my throat, but I force myself to keep moving.
Ignoring the curious and sometimes mocking looks, I quickly make my way towards the lecture hall.
The university garden, the bustling hallways, everything is just as usual like every other day – yet, today, everything feels different. It's as if a spotlight is following me, casting me as the center of attention.
People whisper and point, some openly chuckling, others smirking in amusement. I feel like a clown in a circus where everyone is just waiting for me to play the amusing tricks.
Finally entering the lecture hall, I hope for some respite, but it's more of the same. Eyes turn towards me, expressions ranging from disbelief to laughter. My cheeks burn with embarrassment, and I can't shake off the self-consciousness that envelops me.
I reach my regular seat and glance down at the ridiculous outfit I'm forced to wear. The morning had begun with a mysterious box, its contents and a message from the grumpy sloth indicating that I must wear this ensemble to the university. I knew the alternative would be worse, so here I am, a walking embodiment of color clash and eccentricity.
The oversized baggy neon-green pants hang loosely on me, threatening to fall any moment. The bright pink blouse with white polka dots and ruffled sleeves clashes horribly with the pants. The socks are mismatched; one with a cartoon character and the other with green and white stripes and the sneakers are of different colors.
A jingly, oversized necklace dangles around my neck with oversized plastic pendants that look like they belong in a children's playset, and to top it all, a rainbow wig with wild curls crowns my head.
A sympathetic voice breaks through my thoughts, and I turn to see Ethan settling in beside me. His concern is palpable, and it almost brings tears to my eyes. I choke back the emotions, determined not to let them overwhelm me.
"Hey, are you alright?" he asks softly, his eyes reflecting genuine care. "I'm fine." But my voice betrays my true feelings as it wavers, and I inwardly curse myself for not being able to hide my distress.
Ethan doesn't seem to buy my response. "It's pretty obvious that you're..." he trails off, his words cut short by a burst of laughter. The laughter is so loud that it fills the room, and when I follow the sound, my heart sinks.
There, standing in all his smirking glory, is the grumpy sloth. His laughter is mocking and sardonic, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. It's as if he's found the greatest source of amusement in the world. I can feel the humiliation creeping up, making my cheeks burn even hotter.
I shift my gaze away from him, clutching the garish neon pants as if they could shield me from the mortification. Meanwhile, Ethan's gaze is fixed on the grumpy sloth with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. Jack stands awkwardly at the sidelines, uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the situation at hand.
As the grumpy sloth continues to laugh, wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye, I feel a strange mixture of anger and vulnerability. This is nothing less than a public humiliation, and it's orchestrated by the very person who seems to thrive on my discomfort.
...
The lecture passed by, a whirlwind of embarrassment and amusement for the whole class, including the chuckling professor.
As the class comes to an end, I start to gather my things, preparing to make a hasty exit from the lecture hall. However, just as I'm about to stand up, Seb suddenly appears, blocking my path with a mixture of shock and horror painted across his face as he takes in my outfit.
"Well," he begins, struggling to find the right words. "I was originally here to fetch Ethan, but it seems I might have a new task on my hands."
Blinking rapidly in confusion, I glance over at Ethan, who gives me a reassuring smile and a nod.
The grumpy sloth lets out a sigh, hefts his backpack, and promptly departs, as if disappointed that the source of his amusement is vanishing. Jack follows suit, possibly eager to escape the awkward situation as well.
The next scene places me in a fashion design workshop studio. I was aware that Seb had a penchant for unique fashion, but I hadn't realized just how renowned he was among his peers. He's greeted with enthusiasm by almost everyone, and with his mere words, the entire workshop is emptied out.
To assist me, Seb's female classmate steps forward. Seb introduces her with a playful comment, "Meet Nattalie, the most skilled among us when it comes to sewing and stitching, though certainly not more than me." He adds a teasing remark to break the tension, and Nattalie responds by playfully kicking his shin and giving him a mock glare. Seb chuckles, then turns his attention back to me.
"We are going to take good care of you," Seb assures me with a warm smile, while Nattalie adds a nod of agreement. As I stand there, I can't help but wonder what exactly they have in store for me in this unexpected situation.