An Ocean Of Irises

Orchid ❀ 02

Iris Sinclair's pov

The washroom is filled with steam after the shower. I gently blew my hair with the hair dryer, accidently made eye contact with the mirror me. I averted my eyes from the reflection, I can’t bear to look at my nude torso, it reminded me how Samson leaked my intimate photos.

I let out a husky laugh. Not only did Samson destroyed my reputation and my relationship with my family, he also made me become ashamed of my own body.

The picture that I've sent to him is a mirror picture. I was wearing no pants, exposing my bare v****a, my left hand is holding the phone while the other lifts up my cerulean sweater, showing a pink heart patterned bra.

I loved that cerulean sweater, it was my favourite, Lily had the same one. It was a gift from my grandmother in china, she hand knitted it herself. But I burned it yesterday along with the pictures of Samson, sorry lao lao, i wonder if my relatives in China have heard of my scandal as well.

I examined my body, one, two, three, four... at least sixteen bruises in total. I sighed as I looked through my wardrobe for something that would cover all my wounds. After searching, I decided on black leggings and a purple cardigan.

I let out a moan of pain when the black legging grazes through one of my wounds on my ankle, that won't do. I folded the leggings and got a loose jean for exchange.

I dabbed foundations and concealers on my face, my hand moved in familiarity as if I did this everyday, which I did. I looked up at the mirror again, now that I'm with some clothes. I look normal, my amazing makeup skills have hidden all my wounds perfectly, but no amount of makeup will be able to hide my red puffy eyes.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"Why are you limping baby girl? had too much fun last night? " He mocked when he noticed me struggling to walk. his voice is dirty and rough, the other boys behind him laugh.

"Such a slut." Another boy added. I ignored the boys and kept walking but a third boy yanked one of my double braids and I fell to the muddy ground.

I glared up at him with my icy blue eyes, making eye contact with his unforgiving green ones. He didn't flinch. "Lemme have some fun with you too.'' Instead he takes it further by grabbing my chin. He leaned down and pressed his mouth against mine. it wasn't a gentle kiss, it was intruding, not to mention non-consent. his breath smells like tobacco and it burns my mouth.

This is not how i imagined my first kiss would be, I thought mine would be with Samson, I thought it would be gentle and full of butterflies, like the ones i saw in Hollywood movies.

I slapped him without thinking, for a moment he looked shocked, eyes widened. then the shock wears off, anger replacing it. he raises his hand and slapped me back "Don't act like you didn't like it, i know you want me." He smirked

He bites and sucks, I coughed. I tried prying his fingers off but I was too weak, his finger is as firm as stones. "Such a bad girl." He tuts, his fingers now moved from my chin to my neck, squeezing. My vision blurs as breath leaves me. "Bad girls need to be punished."

I see Bianca at the corner of my eyes. I silently pleaded for her to come rescue me, but she just mouthed sorry and walked away.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I was saved by the principal, mrs.cudmore. her hand was on the small of my back as she guided me to her office. Her office's light is yellowish,the walls painted into pastel colours unlike the sterile white ones in the rest of the school. I've never been to the principal's office before, I was a good student.

"I like your office." I can't help but lament as i examine the bunny shaped rubber lamp. I slapped it and the colour of the lamp changed into green. I slapped again and it changed into red.

"Thank you Sinclair." She picked out two porcelain bear mug and poured some chocolate milk. I had the ominous feeling when she said my last name, teachers only addresses students with their last name when they are in trouble. It seems like she's not here to comfort me, but rather to consult me about me getting expelled. "Please take a seat."

she hesitated before opening her mouth, trying to find a subtle way to approach this topic, but discover there's non "I've seen your picture."

I didn't have to ask which picture she meant, "oh." was all that I said, I should've said something clever like 'im so sorry Mrs.Cudmore' or 'I swear I didn't send him the picture, it was in my camera roll, they've must've got it when i was getting my phone fixed.'

"Yea." she shifted uncomfortably in her seat "In normal circumstances, we would've expelled you for damaging the school reputation. "

"That's not fair!" I protested like a whiny helpless child. "A lot of girls have their intimate photos leaked, why should only my life be ruined?"

"Sinclair, not all of them got their nudes leaked all over the town, their's just got passed around a few people, but... "

My breath hitched, waiting to see what she had to offer.

"But since you are an exceptionally talented student, we will be willing to give you a second chance.” That's true, I'm very good at studying. I have a total of 44 points in my grade eleven IB class, breaking the school record, and I scored 5 in all of my AP tests.

"Thank you so much mrs.cudmore!" I gave one of my genuine smiles that I haven't had for days.

she nodded "Just don't do stupid stuff like this again, if you do we have to see you go. you have a great future ahead of you. you could've been accepted by big universities like Harvard or University of toronto."

"Yes ma'am."

"But unfortunately, we have to cancel your scholarship and give it to David Singh instead since he has the second highest academic standing."

"W-what " I stammered, there's no way they can give it to David! The scholarship is supposed to be my university money since my parents refused to spend a single penny for me. David doesn't need it, David's family were millionaires! I bet he just signed up for the scholarship just to spite me.

David signed up for a lot of things to spite me. like joining math olympiad, science fair, spelling bee, heritage fair etc. we'd make stupid bets before each contest. At first it is just whoever loses has to give the other person their favourite pen or whoever loses has to do the other's homework for a week. But now I'm gonna lose the most important bet I've ever made. I will have to become his slave for a week.

He is my sworn enemy. We hate each other. He would yank my braids, cut my hair, spread ugly rumours about me. i shudder at the thought of all the wicked things he would've done if I were his slave. He will probably rape me, or have me collared and be his little pet.

Most importantly, he dated my evil sister Lily last year. Probably did that to spite me too, he knows how much I hate my own sister. I can't forget how he wrapped his arm around my lily’s shoulder as they both taunt me with ruthless words. They broke up two month later though, david dumped lily and went off to torture another girl.

I wish we could be friends. I imagined trading notes with him, preparing for tests together, and doing projects together. I popped that thought like a balloon.

I tried befriending him before, back in third grade when he was a new transferred student from India. I remembered I went up to him, gave him one of my sweetest smiles and said ‘Hey! Are you a new student? Do you wanna be friends?” I was so excited that I’m no longer the only non-white in the class. For the first few weeks he hung out with me and Bianca, his voice thick with an Indian accent but I didn’t mind. But then he started making fun of me, he started bullying me.

"But mrs.cudmore! The scholarship is solely based on academics. and my IB score is two points higher than his!" I said frantically. "Plus he didn't even need the money! his father is the CEO of Singh automobile!"

"Darling I'm so sorry, but this is the scholarship policy. Maybe get a job?"

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I spent the rest of my days in mud soaked cloth and the news of my lost scholarship. I didn't bother listening to the teacher in history and maths class. who cares about classes when you just witnessed your future crumbling down.

"Now that we know y is 24, what is x then?" The maths teacher asked.

Normally I'd raise my hand like the nerd I am, but today I rested my head on the desk, sketching broken hearts and sad faces carelessly with my pencil.

When the bell rang I walked out of the classroom even though the teacher hadn't dismissed us yet. I heard the teacher shouting for me to come back but I didn't bother looking back. Instead I kept walking towards my locker, each step I took the fainter his voice became.

Suddenly a hand grabbed my butt and i screamed. I turned back, but everyone seemed occupied and walking as if nothing happened. i searched their faces, looking for traces of an evil smirk or an unfriendly face. there's a group of jocks behind me, they passes a football to each other, laughing. a couple quiet kids huddled together, sharing their latest artwork. A group of girls in mini skirts are whispering while sneaking glances at me, sharing the newest spicy gossips. I wonder if they are talking about me. I saw some familiar faces, the girls who exchanged conversation with me a few times in class, asking to copy my homework. But they flowed away like water from a rock when I approached them.

I walked past the mini skirt girls and I caught a few words like 'Iris', 'Slut', ' disgusting'. I sighed, they are definitely talking about my scandal, at least the girls don't try to get physical with me like the boys.

I decided to eat lunch in the washroom now that Bianca ditched me, at least no one will mock me there. When I opened one of the stalls I saw the words "Iris Sinclair is a whore." written with a sharpie on the pink plastic board.

My lunch box dropped to the ground with a thud, my precious dumpling spilled out onto the muddy tiles, I squeezed some hand soap into my palm and started rubbing. no use, the sharpie is still there. I grit my teeth and I squeezed more, I repeated the process over and over again till the bell rings and my finger bleeds but the sharpie only got a little lighter.

I groan in frustration, this gotta stop, at this rate, the whole country will see my intimate photos. Unless... a plan hatched in my brain…