I HEAR YOU

XII: SOFIA

“Where’s Anthony?,” Rhea came inside the office along with 6 other students I don’t know. They all took a seat at the farthest corner in the office.

I tried to stand up to follow them but Peter had his arms around the chair. He looked at me sternly. I was shocked. He never had given me the stern look. I felt uncomfortable with the way he’s barricading me.

“Your boyfriend took off when he saw me here,” Peter said to Rhea.

Rhea looked at me as if she was asking me what’s happening but I could only look down. I was thinking of prying his arms off around the armchair but the contact would make me more uncomfortable so I stayed still.

As if sensing my discomfort, Peter looked at me and smiled softly. “You only need to sit here,” his tone was gentle but his words meant otherwise. “I mean, why would you choose another seat when the best view is here?,” he added gesturing to himself.

I tried to laugh but it came out forced.

“Leave her alone Peter,” Rhea warned.

Even if Rhea’s a complete stranger to me, I felt grateful to her. She may have had given off a vibe as a strict leader but she’s got buttons as a mother to other students. I guess this was why students fear and respect her.

“I don’t bite,” he argued. “Well unless you want me to in other places of course,” he smirked.

“If you’re going to taint this screening with your dirty remarks then I think you should leave,” Rhea was fuming now. “And get that girl to her screening area!,” she yelled from outside.

I didn’t bother trying to get in between them. I can’t even be bothered to watch how the students at the back reacted.

“Come on Rey!,” he called out to her as she walked out of the door. “I was just kidding,” he added but only the people inside the office could hear it.

I heard chuckles from behind me but I didn’t find it funny. I kept my eyes focused on my skirt. Gabby didn’t exactly tell how I should react. I never have to interact with people from outside the circle I have known.

“Hey,” Peter snapped me out of my thoughts. “You okay?,” he asked me.

I just nodded.

“Let her breathe man,” someone from the students from the back called out onto us.
“Of course she can’t breathe! You’re hogging her Anderson!,” another one snorted.

The sound of chairs scraping the floor and shoes padding towards us sent my heart wildly beating. I feel cornered and if I don’t get a hold of myself, I’ll have a panic attack.

They all looked down on me all at once. I didn’t see it clearly earlier but there was only one girl amongst 8 and I’m not even sure if she’s a girl because she wore a round cap and she doesn’t even wear a bit of powder on her face.

“She looks so fragile,” the girl squeaked.
Now, I’m sure she’s straight. You don’t squeak like that when you’re not straight and not cringe at it.

“She looks tiny,” a guy bigger than Peter stared at me with wide eyes.

“Dude! You’re just too fat,” a howls of laughter followed.

“God it almost killed me being serious!”
“I was even about to peek at them and what she looked like!”

“Peter almost blew my cover with his joke!”

They all burst into fits of laughter. Howls and snorts filled the office.

“Don’t scare her you idiots!,” Peter swatted their faces away from mine and they all took a step backwards scowling at him.