Chapter 2

Andrea’s POV

Luckily for me, I had my sportswear in my locker, and while class was being held, I quickly went to get it and changed into it.

“I would like to have you here to be my play toy. Be warned, Andrea, tomorrow and every other day will be like this for you, so start getting used to it…” Just remembering what Erica said got me feeling scared.

I’ve seen Erica bullying other students, and she succeeded in ruining their student life. I certainly don’t want that for myself. I don’t want to be like those other students who were bullied into ruin.

Going back to class, I found my backpack outside. Each time a student doesn’t make it to class on time, the teacher asks for their belongings to be thrown out. Once they arrive and see that their stuff is outside, it will be a sign for them to know that they must not enter the class, or further punishment will be given. Knowing this, I took my bag and left the school. I would rather spend the whole day walking around than go back into that class to be bullied over again.

I left the school premises and went to the only place I could relax when I felt sad or agitated. 

‘The sea looks lovely today,’ I thought as I stood in front of it, enjoying its solitude. I managed to skip school today. How will I be able to get out of this one tomorrow?

I never wanted all this. I would have been happy to attend a public school, but Mom wouldn’t allow that. “Public schools are for losers, and you won’t be attending one,” she would always say. If only she knew that private schools were for bullies and heartless, rich kids.

I spent a while there, and when it was time for my part-time job, I left the solitude of the sea and headed to work. 

Work would have gone so well if Erica and her friends had chosen another restaurant, but they had chosen the place I work. When I first saw them, I wanted to hide. None of them knew that I was working part-time. I had made them believe that after school, I went out to have fun only to come home to the maids to wait on me. If they see me here, they will certainly make a big deal out of it.

“What are you waiting for, Andrea? Go and serve those customers. Judging from their looks, they must be very rich,” my boss said as he came to the counter.

Taking the notepad and a pen, I went to their table. They were all talking, but when they saw me, they stopped.

“Wow, I can’t believe this,” Erica said as she stared at me.

“Apart from being the daughter of a maid, you also work here?” one of her friends asked.

“What happened to the fun you have after school or the maids that wait on you when you get back home?” Erica asked.

“Fun my foot,” someone said.

“I think the maid who waits on her is herself or perhaps her mother,” another said, and they burst out laughing.

“What would you like to order?” I asked.

“Bring us everything you have,” Erica said, and I knew she was joking.

“Just order something,” I said.

“Wow, is this how you treat your customers?” one of her minions asked.

“We will have to talk to your manager. You lack manners,” Erica said, hitting the table and causing a scene.

“Excuse us, excuse us. We need the manager here,” one of them said, and quickly my boss came over.

“Your employee just refused to serve us,” Erica said.

“That’s a lie,” I replied quickly.

“So, you are calling us liars, right?” one of them asked.

“I didn’t say anything. I only asked you to order your food,” I said.

“Lies! She keeps on lying. Why would you have a liar for a worker, sir?” another said.

“You know that I don’t lie to you, sir,” I said to my boss.

“I’m really sorry for her rudeness. I will attend to you instead,” he said.

“No, we aren’t staying here. Your worker has just made us look like liars. She insulted us, and that is something that we will never tolerate,” Erica said as she stood up and left with her friends.

***

“Why did you have to be rude to them?” he asked as we both stood in the workers’ changing room.

“I wasn’t rude to them, sir. I’m telling you the truth,” I replied.

“Ever since you started working here, you have been looking so gloomy, and it dampens the atmosphere. I hate it when my workers behave the way you do. I’m sorry, Andrea, but you’re fired,” he said and left the workers’ changing room.

I couldn’t believe I had just been fired. I began to pack my stuff. I knew Erica and her friends were trouble. I should have hidden when I saw them. Now, I had lost the one good job I had. I went back home, still feeling down. I saw my mom in the kitchen cooking, as always.

“What’s wrong, Andrea?” she asked when she saw my moody face.

“I just got fired,” I said.

“What? But why?” she asked.

“It’s a long story. I just want to lie down for a while,” I said.

“Are you having a difficult time in school?” she asked suddenly.

‘This was the first time she had ever asked me that question,’ I thought as I turned to stare at her.

“If you’re having a hard time, then please, child, bear with me. Just a few more years, and then you will graduate,” she said.

“And then what? Will you also work your butt off just to send me to a rich college?” I asked, now angry.

“That’s being harsh, you know,” she said.

“No, Mom. You’re the one who’s harsh. You know I would have preferred going to a public school. Why force me to go to a private school, huh?” I asked bitterly.

“Because I don’t want you to end up like me! Do you think that I didn’t go to school, that I didn’t study? I did, Andrea. But to all the companies I went to, my credentials just weren’t good enough, and it was because I went to a public school. I had no option but to work as a maid. I don’t want you to be like me. I want you to study in the best school and become the best. If you still think what I’m doing is harsh, then wait a few years. Then you will see that what I’m doing for you is for your own good. Now go inside. Whether you like it or not, you will be going to school until you graduate,” she said.

I couldn’t say anything but go to my room. I never knew why my mom was so obsessed with me going to a private school. Now I know why, and I feel bad. ‘I will just have to keep attending Excel High, and if I have to, I will fight Erica and her friends,’ I vowed to myself.

The next day, I woke up early and went to school, determined to fight back against Erica and her friends if they bullied me again. 

I was surprised when I got to class and wasn’t disturbed by them. I thought they were going to talk about what happened yesterday, but they didn’t. They ignored me completely. I was happy that finally, they would leave me alone, but when we closed, they were all waiting for me by the entrance, and judging from the look on their faces, they were going to do something to me.