Chapter 35 - Say "Cheese"

The long walk was over as we reached the peak of the mountain. The beauty of the nature revealed itself to us as we were enjoying the fresh air, as well as the breathtaking view of the huge trees and the deep blue sea that could be seen when you were at the peak of the mountain.

"We deserve to have a groupie together with this amazing view!" Zen exclaimed while adoring the scenery. She seemed to really enjoy what she was seeing.

"Well, I agree. Bring out your camera, Zen. Don't waste time, can you?" Lura talked as if she was not friend with Zen. I could not understand how they became aloof to each other. They seemed to hold their pride so tight and high. No one seemed to give way, apologize, and reconcile.

"Sure," Zen replied cheerfully. I was astonished that she smiled like Lura did not say words in an annoying way. It was good that she did not set the fire between them. But was it only because she felt happy? Or because she really changed? "Guys, position yourselves and say cheese!"

"Cheese!" we said in chorus and gave our best smiles. I saw on the screen of Zen's cellphone that all of us were smiling. I felt belong in the group.

Draco was just beside me and it was a good thing that he was just going with the flow. "What are you feeling right now?" he asked after we sat on the grass with the CINCO a bit far away from us.

"I'm actually happy and it feels good to be belonged in this kind of activity with the people I never thought would let me come with them. Since they started bullying me, no one in our classroom dared to come near me and be friends with me except Mayb. I didn't talk often, and I don't jive well with people. I chose to be like this since my guy best friend and I separated ways way back when we were young."

"Like this? What do you mean by that?" he asked confusedly with his eyes on me.

"I chose to shut my mouth most of the time. As you can see, I don't talk often. I just talk with few people who are brave enough to approach me just like you."

"I'm glad that you're happy now. You deserve to feel the happiness. However, don't let your decision to keep you away from people. Your classmates nor schoolmates might not be approaching you because they are afraid of what that group could do to them," he said before staring to the CINCO who were busy doing their own stuff. He turned his gaze to me after seconds. "But have you tried to approach any of them? Did you ever try to exert an effort to at least have a conversation with one of them?"

The happiness that I was feeling almost turned into a horrible one. I was guilty. I never tried to approach any of them. I just let it be the way it was. What Draco had said hit me bigtime. He hit the point that I failed to realize before. I just thought that they did not really care about me without considering that I could also do the move to be friends with them. Without considering that not all of them did not want me as me, myself, and I. That some might be like me who was waiting for someone to approach them. And that someone might be like me who was waiting for someone to be his or her friend. "I never tried," I almost whispered yet was just enough for him to hear it.

"Then, it's not too late. Never let yourself to be someone who is always inside her shell. Try new things and don't be afraid because you have my back. Stop building walls that will hinder you from meeting new people that might bring crucial lessons to you." He was correct but I was not sure of opening myself because I was still doubting of what it could bring to me. More people around me might mean more expectation towards me.

"T-thank y-you," I uttered after I looked directly on his face. It seemed like I was with the handsomest hunk on earth. "Thank you for approaching me even I failed to do the same to other people around me. I was wrong for letting myself be a loner, but you could not blame me for being like this because I almost experienced hell." Then, I looked up to the sky as I was trying not to cry.

"What do you mean you almost experienced hell?" he asked but I never dared to look at him. I was afraid to burst in tears.

"Zen threw raw eggs on my face the first time we met, and I was so embarrassed that I almost cried inside our classroom. We had no professor that time and no one dared to defend me. Lura asked me endless questions about s*x when they locked me in the supply room where no one was there to stop her from questioning me. And when I didn't answer her...I had a gallon of whipped cream thrown at me. Marc did call me "sl*t" for no reasons and that made my classmates do the same. They always call me 'slut' even I'm not doing anything wrong to them. Dego and Maybelle didn't participate when Zen, Lura, and Marc were making fun of me. Dego just ignored me like I was a wind. Fortunately, Maybelle is a friend to me. She's one of the reasons why I chose to continue my schooling in Corto University. But I wouldn't forget what Zen and Lura did to me that day. I wouldn't forget it." I was trying my best not to cry. I did not want him to see me crying...I did not want all of them to see my tears rolling down on my cheeks.

"They did what? Don't hesitate to tell me the truth, Kaede. You can trust me," he said as he tapped my right shoulder. I knew that he was trying to comfort me as well as to convince me to spill the tea.

"They almost let someone to rape me," I said firmly, trying to sound just fine, but deep within me was a heavy burden brought by what I remembered and said.