Despised by all

It was the last day of class for year eight. It was an uneventful day. Teachers didn't want to teach, and students didn't want to study. Everyone wanted to waste the last few minutes of the chatting. I spent the time looking out of the window. Most of the students ride their bicycles to school. I wanted to find a pattern in how students have parked, how many people have parked facing the street and how many have parked in reverse. 

I was counting, "3,4,2,5," when suddenly I heard my name. It was Darren. He approached me and said, "Let's meet at the park after school". We will chat before we leave. Darren is one of the most liked boys in class. He is also very kind in general. The thought of being invited immediately made me say, "Yes!" 

As the day progressed, I began to notice some unusual interactions in the class. Students who usually don't talk to each other were discussing very seriously. I wondered what could be the subject, but I wasn't too curious. I was still excited about catching up after school. I counted seconds to kill time. The school bell finally rang. I got up instantly like I was on a time-critical mission. Nothing could have prepared me for what will happen in a few minutes. 

I ran to my bicycle and rushed to the park as fast as I could. A few people were already waiting near the sitting area. I joined them, and soon Darren joined me. They were all upset that they would all be moved to different roll classes next year. I felt like I was part of the class that wanted to be together. The rush of serotonin was something very new for me at school. I felt like a thirsty wanderer who saw an oasis in the farthest desert. Soon, many students in my class assembled. 

"We should all talk to Mrs. Lora tomorrow," said Pauline. "We should tell her that we all perform better together and don't want to miss that," she continued. 

"I agree, shuffling classes isn't helping us, and it is unnecessary for us," Paul started. 

Everyone, including me, nodded in agreement. 

"Let a small group of us go meet Mrs Lora. I recommend Pauline, Shilpa, Darren and Paul to go tomorrow. She is generally in school by 10:00 a.m. Do you agree?" asked Frank. There was a loud affirmation to the question. 

"One more thing. Let's clarify who we don't want to be in the class. We should exclude Stanney," said Shilpa. The group looked at me and said yes with a smile. I could see the disgust in her eyes as she said those words. It was like spotting a rat that had managed its way out of the sewer. 

Darren was the exception. He asked me, "What is this? Why are people saying this?"

I was too egoistic to cry. For the first time in my short life, I felt my heart turn numb. Even tears decided to deceive me at that moment. 

"That's fine," I responded to Darren. 

They had called me to ensure I was made aware that they didn't want me. They made sure that I didn't feel part of the group. 

The conversation kept going, but it was like silent pictures. I watched a bunch of excited students discussing something as the numbness in my heart slowly spread to the rest of my body. I stayed put, though I wasn't sure of the reason. In hindsight, it was a combination of proving to myself that the happenings didn't affect me and having no strength to move my limbs. 

Slowly, students started to leave. I heard laughter. I saw hugs. I saw tears of possible parting. "Aren't you leaving?" asked Darren. "I will wait for my sister," I responded. It was a lie. I needed some time to break the tear glands. It was not to be. I have incrementally hardened myself so much that even tear glands were shut permanently.

Very few people in the world can boast of being hated by every student and teacher in their class. As the saying goes, adversity is the best life coach one can have. The disgust prepared me for the world like nothing else.