IN LOVE WITH A MERMAID

EPISODE 2

I left the house barefooted, my notebooks in my hands, stuffed inside my pocket, and I went straight to the school of my dreams.

I walked for almost 45 minutes on the highway, passing by several antique vehicles with students from Prestigious Academy in them. Some were pointing at me, laughing skeptically, and I knew why because it wasn't the first time I'd encountered such behavior from others.

Who will not laugh if they saw a boy walking into a prestigious academy barefooted with his books in his hands?

Students were seen trouping out of various magnificent automobiles because the school parking garage was built outside the school with tight security patrolling the entire area, so I strolled a little distance near the gate. I stood irritatedly watching as kids stormed into the school, debating whether to enter or return to my house through the large gate at the entrance. People were staring at me and laughing so hard that my staying near the gate was already making some commotion at the gate. I exclaimed, my mouth agape as I stare at the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen since I was born dropping from a pink Lamborghini. Yes, it was a Lamborghini, and I knew it because it was prominently written on it.

Surely I wasn't the only one mesmerized by the scene, because all the guards, parents, and gatemen were staring at her as she walked majestically approaching the gate with an antagonistic attitude as if she were in a movie. I stood barefooted at the spot, my books folded on my chest with my hands as I gazed around the area, which reeked of riches. I got another brief look at the Lamborghini, which was already leaving the area, and a young man whom I assumed to be the angry bird driver. I considered giving up the scholarship because it was clear that this was not the place for me.

The voice of the gateman pulled me back to reality while I was still deep in thinking.

"You've been standing there for about 15 minutes; are you planning on staying there all day?"

He inquired, and I entered the gate silently, my books folded in my chest.

As soon as I entered the premises, the bell for the assembly was rung, and students began to gather in front of the majestic structure that serves as the student assembly ground. Without wasting any time, I proceeded to the assembly grounds, where I abruptly came to a halt, unsure of which line to join.

"How did you end up at this school?"

One of the male staff members motioned to me from the front, heading to the back to meet me, humiliating the very daylights out of me with his query, while students in the assembly ground began giggling uncontrollably at the sight of me. I thought I'd be able to endure the humiliation, that I'd be able to stay and act oblivious to their words and actions, but my strength deserted me right then, and I could feel moisture tears building in my eyes, which I was desperately fighting to keep from falling down. I don't blame them for not laughing hard when they see a bare-footed boy in the middle of The Prestigious academy.

"Can you tell me who that is?" As the whole line went in an uproar, a potbelly man who was heading toward the line from a beautiful office at the extreme of the school, which I presume is his office, came toward me, and the teacher with the man who later turned out to be the Head Teacher of the school came to me, and I stared at them like a dummy not knowing what to say.

"Are you a dummy?" he said, and I hastily shrugged, then slipped my hand into my pocket and handed him my own copy of the scholarship letter, letting a brilliant smile leave my lips.

He took my hand and led me to the assembly ground, where he placed me in front of the entire student and teacher audience.

As I saw thousands of eyes staring at me, I felt like the ground should just open up and swallow me whole.

"Good day, students."

He said hello to the students.

"Good morning, sir,". They responded, and the assembly ground fell silent as everyone waited to hear what the Head Teacher had to say.

"Standing near to me here is a super fantastic student who conquered his prior entire school and was handed a scholarship to study with us here," he added, whispering phrases from every line as they all stare at me in shock.

"His name is Samson Vicent, and I urge you all to copy him, buckle your educational belts, and don't let the super boy rule this school too," he said, and laughing could be heard from every corner of the assembly ground, and I smiled for the first time since leaving home that morning.

"Sir, he will be unable to."

The Head Teacher grinned as a male student shouted from the back.

"We shall see"

He retaliated by asking me to join one of the lines on the far side, which I did.

When I looked across the female line and saw the angry bird standing there still with an unfriendly expression, goose pimples appeared on my face, and I tried my hardest not to stare at her, which I failed countless times as laughter, murmuring words, and side talk were overflowing all over the lines, making me wonder if she is really a human or a spirit without a heart, feelings, or conscience.

After the Head Teacher finished his speech, which included advice on good moral behaviour, the benefits of being a good student, and the consequences for the bad apples among us, he came down and a prefect was summoned to ring up the assembly.

The assembly came to a wonderful conclusion, and we all strolled to our separate classes.

I believed my bad day was finished, but I had no idea. Just a brief summary of what will occur on that day and throughout my time at the Prestigious academy.

As soon as I stepped inside, the class erupted in laughter, which could be heard from every direction.

"Take a look at our Mr. Conqueror, who is missing his schoolbag and shoes."

A tall lad, possibly my age mate but taller than me, jumped up and shouted, drawing everyone's attention to me while pointing his finger at me, and laughter erupted throughout the Class once more. I stood close to the manuscript board, holding the books tightly in both hands.

"Here is a highly brilliant student, his name is Samson Vicent," a girl whose name I later discovered to be Prisca came up and stated, imitating the principal.

When the raging commotion began, the gorgeous Angry Birds, who was busy placing her books into her locker, rose up and smacked her palm on the bench, motioning to them in a loud voice to shut up.

Everyone sat down calmly as if by magic, and my fear for that girl has grown in multiple folds since then.

Everyone was seated in twos and threes, but I noticed she was alone in the middle of five other seats in the back and another row of five seats in the front.

While everyone else was sitting comfortably, I was still standing. I thought students were supposed to fill their new class members up. Like every other school, no one seems to care about me, or perhaps it's because I'm a barefooted student in their mist.

Just then, a teacher walked into the classroom and noticed me standing near the board.

"Is that Samson Vicent?" she inquired, attempting to recall my names.

"Yes, ma," she says. I respond in style, my gaze fixed on the ground.

"What are you doing here, all by yourself?"

"I don't have a seat ma," I said, and she took a big breath before facing the class.

"You didn't care to offer a seat to a new student in your class, that is wickedness a the perk "

She said, and the student began whispering again.

"Helen, can he please sit next to you?" I heard her say, but I have no idea who she was referring to. Then my worst fear came running close to me when the Angry bird raised her head from her desk.

She stepped up to let me in and said, "OK ma."

"What" I screamed in my head, "did I just hear this teacher well?" I began to fear as hot sweat began to stream from my body, as the class erupted in a clamor, and my memory blacked out completely.