"Classes went on as usual", Mia thought, "The first period was English and things continued from there.
During the break interval, everyone in class broke up into friend groups in the usual fashion. I tried calling out to Dale again but he didn't respond. It isn't possible that he, who heard Amanda scream from a far distance, on top of local chattering, didn't hear me who's only a seat away.
Speaking of Amanda, it seems like she really doesn't remember a thing about what happened two days ago. I know her memory of the incident was erased but it still feels weird.
The only thing new right now is that Brandon has been using all his free time to try to talk to Dale. It isn't so frequent though because he doesn't sit close to us but, nonetheless, Dale looks pretty tired of Brandon's bickering. Almost looks like he regrets telling Brandon that he remembered him.
During lunchtime, as I was going to the cafeteria with Amanda, I could see Roxanne and Nathan somewhere in front of me. They turned back to face my direction. Honestly, I was expecting that, but it still caught me off guard. I was about to move but then Dale walked passed me and joined them. They walked to the cafeteria, together.
Are they all avoiding me? Did something happen? Why is today going on as if nothing happened? Is it only me that feels weird?.... Oh no... don't tell me that I've forgotten how normal feels like.... It's as if everything is back to how it was initially, before all of this happened."
"...ia- Mia.... HEY MIA!"
"Huh?", Mia broke out of thought, noticing that she was in a paused state with a spoon of food in her hand, mid-air.
She looked at Chimamanda who stared back at her with a confused expression.
"Earth to Mia. Are you going to eat that or stare at it all day?" Chimamanda asked sarcastically, "People are already leaving the cafeteria."
"Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought", Mia replied finally putting the food in her mouth.
"I figured. I mean, it was pretty obvious. A minute ago, you were staring at The Three's table. Feeling a bit nostalgic?" she teased.
"Ha ha, very funny. I'm more comfortable here than there."
"But seriously, if there's something bothering you, you could always voice it out... as long as you say it on the day when this guy remembers the way to his table", Chimamanda complained, referring to Brandon who was stuffing his face with a burger.
"Aw you chulkin abou ee? (Are you talking about me?)" Brandon asked with food in his mouth.
"Who else is the uninvited guest here?"
"What? I like staying here", he finally gulped down his food.
"I don't have time for this", Chimamanda put her two fingers on her forehead.
"But you're the one that brought it up."
"Anyway, as I was saying..."
"Hey, don't ignore me", he dropped his burger.
"Mia. You always look deep in thought. Makes me wonder whether you have a lot of problems."
"Weeell- I just have a lot to think about, that's all."
"That sounds weird for someone that's still 15.... Honestly, for some strange reason, I don't want to know what's bothering you. It's not like I don't care- it's just that I really don't want to know. Feels like stress."
"Oh", Mia felt like that response was connected to the incident on Saturday, "(Giggle) That's because it kinda is."
"She probably just wants to go back to The Three's table", Brandon spoke up, trying to include himself.
"What? Noo! I told you that staying there made me feel so uncomfortable", Mia defended.
"Alright whatever. But I've gotta ask.... When you were there- d-did Roxanne mention anything- about me."
"You know she doesn't know you, lover boy. Why would she talk about you?", Chimamanda responded.
"HEY! DON'T MOCK ME! She's talked to me before."
"You mean us." Chimamanda clarified.
"I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Mia", he then looked at Mia, expecting an answer.
"Sorry, Brandon. She didn't say anything about you when I was there", Mia replied.
Brandon looked disappointed.
"Like, what did you expect?" Chimamanda asked him rhetorically.
"Just leave me alone", he replied hopelessly.
Mia couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
~■~
The days passed just like that. Every day seemed rather normal. Sometimes, during lunch, Brandon stayed with his guys on his table, sometimes he joined them on theirs.
On Thursday of the same week, in the evening, Mia checked her phone and saw that she got a message from an unknown number.
She sat down on her bed and viewed the message.
'-Hey, it's Roxanne-'
"This is unexpected", Mia said to herself on reading the message, "Then again, I didn't really give them my number."
'-Oh hi. How did you get my number?-' Mia texted back.
'-Your friend gave it to me. I think her name was Amanda. Anyway, we need to meet up so I can tutor you. I was thinking Saturday. The earlier the better-'
"Tutor? Why is she saying it like that? Does she mean she wants to train me?" she asked herself.
'-That sounds good. Maybe by 11am. I'm sure my mum wouldn't want me to go to a stranger's house so early-'
'-Okay that's reasonable. By the way, when you come over, Nathan would like to tell you something-'
'-Why not just tell me now-'
'-He insisted he'd be the one to tell you in person. So see you then, I have to work on some assignments-'
'-Okay bye-'
Mia dropped her phone and fell on her bed. "Looks like this is really happening.... Wait, I forgot to ask her why they've been ignoring me."
~■~
"Hey, mum", Mia said as she entered her mum's room.
"Is there a problem, Mimi", Mrs. Sarah replied as she was going through some books on her desk.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that I want to go to Roxanne's house on Saturday."
"Roxanne? You mean that popular girl? Why do you want to go there? You know you were nearly grounded the last time you went out. On top of that, you've never been there before."
"No, I have... I mean... I've seen it. It's really closeby. Plus, I need to go there. She wants to tutor me."
"Tutor you? Are you falling behind in class?!"
"Noo. It's- for extra knowledge. Plus, I'll go by 11. It's not too early."
"Hmmm- Fine. As long as it's for academic reasons. But, make sure you come back by three. Got it!"
"Yes, mum. Thanks, I won't be a minute late."
"(Chuckle) You better not."
Mia heaved a sigh of relief and thought, "Thank God I just twisted the truth or mum would have seen through me."
~■~
Saturday came and Mia is seen at The Three's house by around 11:03am.
"WHAT?! You know how to remove the seal on my power?!".....
YOU ARE READING
HIDDEN
AdventureTransferring to a different school was the most difficult thing for Mia, or so she thought until a little curiousity led to her finding out about something she wasn't supposed to be aware of. Her concept of the world around her had changed. Even wor...
