Light Within

Queen Bee

"Oh shoot, I should visit the video game store after school. Now I'm going to be late."

Katherine runs to her school that morning is not she what wanted. Not only she had a cold, distant conversation with her father that morning that makes her skipped breakfast, she even going to be late for school today. Hopefully, not teachers or any school council members are going to be on the gate this morning. Thankfully, the store is only around the corner from her school, but, today the Lady Luck did not smile upon Katherine. They had to do a road construction this morning. "Ugh, talks about bad luck", Katherine already felt annoyed this morning.  She quickly scans for the fastest route to school. "No, not the alley, too much rat. Not the construction site either, too risky. The bus? Ugh, no Amber's face in the morning, please. Hmm, how about jumping from fences? It had been a while since I skipped my gymnastics classes. Maybe I can do some flexing here", Katherine monologue herself. "Okay, it had been decided. Hope no one can see me"', Katherine pulled her hood up and started to jump on the nearest fence. Although she is active in sports, Katherine dedicated herself to be the best version of her when it comes to her physical form. "One, two... Oh, this will be going to be a long jump", as Katherine almost reached her school only to be separated from a long, old waterway in between. She got down from the previous fence onto a freshly, cut lawn of an unknown owner. Katherine looked out for something that she can land to make sure she will not get wet if she failed. "Hmm, where should I land? Oh, that will do". After she spots that a large flat stone in the river, she ready to make a jump, "Go big or go home". She jumps as high as she could, nearly missed the stone. She balanced her body back to make sure she has control of her own body's gravity. "Okay, now to the school", before she can finish her sentence, the stone was about to sink. "Oh, come on!" Katherine has to act fast, to make sure she would not arrive at school, wet. Katherine did not hesitate and make her final jump to the side of the river. Little that she knew, she safe landed, but of course covered in mud, but only the shoes. She tried to rid it off, but the process will make her late for the school. "Whatever. No one will notice me. Like usual", Katherine ignores her muddy shoe and rushes to the holes near the school's wall. "I should be able to go to the class just on time-...", as she crawls underneath, a pair of legs have been waiting for her. "It fancy to meet you here, Miss Black".

            "Oh, please, just let me go for today, Spencer. I buy you the fanciest latte later after school", Katherine tries to beg for herself from detention. Spencer Haize fixes her glasses while still writing on her black book replied: "Sorry Miss Black, the rule is the rule, even we are friend". Spencer Haize is like the only person who can keep up with Katherine, through discipline. Though Katherine is not a social type of person, she tends to break the rules. The simple rule,  sleeping at the rooftop during classes, skipping P.E class, nothing much. Unfortunately, in Spencer's eyes, as the secretary of the student council, she desires perfection. And a mistake will not be tolerated, even if you are well-known. Amber, of course, also get detention for using too much makeup during school session. That also makes Katherine, once again, has to meet Amber for another session of insult, besides on the bus. "I don't want to meet Amber again. You know what she will be doing to me", Katherine still hoping for Spencer to let her off the hook. "Okay fine, but please change my detention on another day, or make it separated from Amber", Katherine still begging. Spencer is known as a strict person. Though Katherine knows that she will never evade the detention, at least she wants that detention on another day. As long as it not on the same day as Amber, she will be grateful. "No, and that is the final", Spencer left Katherine with one single sentences and went to her class. Katherine sighs, knowing today, again, she will have to face Amber in detention. "I might need some cotton to fit my ears since I left my earphone on the table today", Katherine plans on how to not listen for any Amber's bad words toward her today. As she plans, she looks for her class for the first period.

            Mathematical Programming is a no-no in the first morning, well, for most of the students. Katherine does not mind about it. She can take it, likes programming is fun. She has been doing a lot of programming since she is currently working on an app, so it is no big deal.  Morning class for her, approximately programming, is better than have to go to Social Science class. It is the worst. In programming, you only have to do your works, in your laptop, by yourself, that is what Katherine always reminds herself. It is as simple as that. No interaction, no need to meet people, no discussion needed, but in Social Science class, you need to meet and learn about people. And you have to learn about society. Society is too subjective, like, how can you learn about it? Katherine never likes it, but doing it for grades, she unwillingly has to. "Class, can you do your revision for today? All the teachers need to attend a meeting today. Hopefully, none of you will skip the class. Thank you", an announcement made by the principal indicates that today will be a half-day of a learning session. "Wow, no class", "This is exciting", and the others start to chat with their friends as they will be no class.

            A student council body sees this as an alert for them to take responsibilities to aid the teachers to maintain the classes from being too loud. To make sure that, two members of the student's council body assigned to a class. To other students, this is their chances to start talking, playing games, skipping class, but to Katherine, sleeps time. She had all to stay awake last night, so time to repay for all those hours that she missed. "Oh girls, look, A sleepy-head nerd is trying to get her beauty sleep", an annoying voice stings Katherine's ears, and she did not need to look up to know who. Amber and her so-called-girls squad suddenly walk into Mathematical Programming class. "You will never be pretty, and you will never get your prince charming, Kitty", Amber keeps trying to make Katherine feels miserable. Fortunately, Katherine prefers her sleep rather than has to listen to her. "Oh no, you're a nerd and also deaf now? Boohoo, poor you", Amber does not feel satisfies yet as long as she could not see Katherine's loser face for today. That is her routine every day, making Katherine looks like a loser. Katherine, still, sleeps like a log. She does not want to start anything. She wants to sleep, that is the essential matter now. Amber starts to feel embarrassed as Katherine keep ignoring her, and all the students already paid attention to them. "Look, Amber cant make Katherine look like a loser today", one of the students starts to whisper, aloud, wanting Amber to listen to it. "Wow, did a 'Queen-Bee lost her sting?", another student added. Amber feels her face turns red as she cannot make Katherine looks like a nerd today, so she had to improvise, physically. She starts to knock Katherine's desk to make her awake, "Wake up, nerd. You make me look like a dumb gal now. You had to pay for that". Katherine had enough, so she rose her head for a minute to reply: "Please leave then, Amber. Save your reputation". Katherine's response makes Amber mad. She then takes her chapstick, wanting to hit Katherine with that. "That's quite enough, Miss Michaela. Please return to your class", Spencer grabs Amber's hand before she could ever hit Katherine. Amber leaves, did not want to start any fight with Spencer, as she always gets her nerves. And then, the rest of the class went to silence until the next bell.

            Katherine survives yet another worst day of school. She thinks for a moment. She wants to have fun for a while. She decides what she wanted to do now.

"Finally, the school's end. Now, back to the store. Time to escape reality. My games I waiting".