Hotel Selten

Farewell to the Moon

Ophelia went to their cafeteria. It seems pretty empty since students aren't arriving yet. The bell just rang and her co-students are still making their way to the cafeteria. She immediately approached the cafeteria counter before the others arrived.  "Can I have some chicken soup please?" She handed her some of her money. "Sure you can." The lady behind the counter smiles and approached a big cooking pot full of chicken soup. She opened the lid and a big puff of smoke came out. A pleasant and delicious aroma emits from it. It's a perfect warm-up in a chaotic morning that Ophelia had. The cafeteria lady scoops some of the soup into a red plastic bowl, filling it as she places it on the counter. Ophelia then gets it and grabs a spoon and fork. She settles herself to a table in the corner while students in the cafeteria start to increase in numbers. She sips on the warm soup as she watches the students file into lines and go to their favorite tables. 

She thinks of what happened just earlier, her ability to throw Gary off his feet, she can't really believe it. She raised her right hand and twist it around to observe it. Her hand is as pale as her body, so why could she lift her hand gradually and make someone fly off the ground with it? Noting that Gray is a boy, whose strength is a lot better than hers. It could've been a show, but Gary was injured, his head got bumped hardly on the floor. They can't make these to themselves if it's their life are at risk. But for now, there are some things that Ophelia needs to focus on now. Gary's father, Mister Smith, is something of a big person in the city. They are rich and their wealth is pouring on them. He has a good reputation and has a lot of connections. The thought of it makes her gulp. Now, how can she face her parents, especially her mother? How can she face them with a problem on her back? It's a big one, she's not going to deny it. This is a heavy injury that she brought on her classmate. She took some gulp and bite into the soup while she was thinking deeply in her little sad corner. She is scared, she can't do anything to defend herself. It was something accidental. She swore that it's something she didn't expect. It just... Happened. She could've let the bullies scared her, it's much better. No one will get in trouble. It's an unfair win-win scenario but she preferred it much more than fighting back accidentally and hurt someone real bad. 

Then, someone approached her, well, two of them, specifically. "Hey, weirdo. Before we leave this campus and have a beauty rest for 2 weeks, we got something for you." Ophelia raised her head and she was startled. It was the two girls. Her body trembles, her mind panicked, and she wants to disappear all so suddenly. "We will miss you, Lia, so we prepared a big show for you." Lily looked at her chicken soup, "You like that huh? You can have some more!" Neva suddenly poured something gooey on her head, she was holding two bowls of chicken soup. They laughed and rushed to exit the cafeteria.

Ophelia now was filled with warm soup, she screamed in pain as she feels the heat. Students start to take a peek at the scenario as the two who caused this runs away through the crowd. Suddenly, a loud c***k can be heard. The students looked where the noise came from. The big water jugs exploded, making the water inside it fly through the air and scattered everywhere. Neva and Lily suddenly slip on the floor, bumping their heads on the ground like Gary did, making them unconscious. 

Ophelia, who was filled with a lot of chicken soup wipes herself clean as the students gather around the sleeping embodiments of evil. Some students help them to go to the clinic as the cafeteria crew cleaned the mess. Some checked Ophelia as she walks out of the canteen, crying. She went to the comfort room to clean herself up fully.

She washed and let her dress messed up. She was called to the principal for the second time this day. She doesn't know what happened to the two. She was busy suffering from the soup they poured on her. She arrived at the principal's office a little bit messy, she preferred herself to stand, not to mess the office's sofa.

"Miss Hutchinson, what chaos have you been involved in again for the second time today?" The principal asked a little bit of annoyance can be heard in his voice. "It wasn't me principal, it was Neva and Lily!" She explained. She looked around the office, neither of the two was there. "I know. I know. The students said they poured... What was that? Chicken Soup? Yeah, that soup on you. Care to tell me why?" He then goes to his typical position, her fingers intertwined to each other as his arms laying on his office table, waiting for her to answer. 

"They said it was their goodbye for me since they are suspended for two weeks, they will miss bringing misery to me. And then Neva poured Chicken Soup to me because I was eating one as my lunch." Ophelia said while standing in front of him, moving her legs also while speaking. "Alright. Do you have any involvement in the―" The principal was caught in his words as his office's door shut open, making a loud bang. Ophelia was shocked, her body bounces as her reaction.

"WHERE'S THE f*****g GIRL!?" A loud, deep voice said. "Mister Smith calm down, please sit down and we can talk about it." The principal tried to calm Gary's father, yes, Ophelia is in deep trouble. "NO, I NEED TO f*****g―" "Sir, please calm down! Some children can hear you. Please just calm and please stop saying foul words." The principal approached him and try to calm him down. "Please sit, we will talk about this. Just please take a seat. We will go through this" 

Then, Mister Smith sat down on the sofa, as his eyes landed on Ophelia. "Is she the girl?" He asked, pointing at the pale feminine teenager. The principal was hesitant to say yes, Gary's father might punch her which could lead to fracturing her bones. He is a buffed body man, so no wonder he can make Ophelia go on comatose or even already meet her fate at a young age. "Sir, just calm―" "IS THIS THE f*****g GIRL?! ANSWER ME." "Yes, sir. Now let's―" 

He suddenly grabbed Ophelia's collar and shouts on her face, "YOU MONSTER, YOU f*****g―" The principle holds his waist as he pulls him away from Ophelia, he also tried to put Ophelia down. "Sir just calm down! The child is getting hurt!" "REMEMBER THIS LITTLE BRAT, YOU ARE OUT HERE!" He threatens Ophelia as she struggled, she wants to cry, but she needs to be strong right now. The principal was able to push him away, Ophelia falls on her rump. 

"Sir, please calm down. We will talk about it. Please put down the poor little girl. We will talk about this calmly. You will get her traumatized. It’s just a little girl, please sir." The man was about to speak something, he just snorted his anger and finally, Mister Smith sat calmly on the sofa, while Ophelia is still standing, well she is looking at the floor, holding her tears.

"Sir, this girl is just a victim of your son's antics. She just defended herself." He looks at Ophelia who was looking down the floor. "But she made my son almost dead sir, HE ALMOST DIED." Mister Smith angrily explained, shooting a death glare to the poor girl. "Sir, both of the parties have something to burden on, but I understand Miss Hutchinson is just a victim. I think she didn’t want your son to get hurt, but I think the little girl already got enough with the things she is experiencing.” “She liked it, principal. This is girl is evil!” The principal sighed at his reaction.

“You haven’t know your son fully yet. He has records too of bullying other students. His guardian knows that. Anyways, your son is suspended for two weeks like his friends. Don’t worry, we will cover some of the expenses for the hospitalization of your son because it happened within the school’s premises. Also, I will talk to Ophelia’s parents about this." The principal calmly explained. The angry man didn't speak a thing in the next few minutes, because he knows it's his son's fault. Where could pride take him to?

Mister Smith and the principal shake their hands as Gary's father flashed a fake smile, he glared at Ophelia one last time as he exited the principal's office. The principal looked at her, "You can go home to change your dress, class will resume in an hour." He smiled as Ophelia smiles back, she said 'thank you faintly, as she walked out of the principal's office.

"You shouldn't have done that." Dred, Lia's father, said. She already changed her clothes and is ready to go back to her school again, her next class awaits in the next 15 minutes. "I didn't know that happen until 30 seconds later. I was shocked too. I didn’t mean to do that. I was just doing my business and as typical as it seems, they came and disturbed me." She explained as she grabs her bag. "How did you do that anyway?" Her mom joins the conversation with her arms crossed. "I don't know how I managed to do that, mom. I promise it's not my intention. I was just struggling for my hand because Gary stepped on it. It hurts a lot. Then, when I lifted my hands, he just came flying across the room." She looks at them with a sad look on her face, telling them she regrets doing it. Her dad sighs, "Just... Don't do that again or, if possible, do. not. do anything." She faced her dad, flashing a confused look. "I can't go to school dad without walking." She chuckles a bit, as she approaches her mom and kissed her cheek. "Just don't do anything again." She sighed, "Fine. Anyways, Imma rushes now. Mister Hops is a strict teacher, I might... Break his neck, if I can." She giggled and exits their home, leaving her mom and dad with worrying faces.

Dred reaches their telephone as he dials a number. Helda, Ophelia's mom, looked at him with a hint of sadness and worry on her face, asked him, "Are you sure?" He looked back at her, placing the telephone receiver on his right ear. He was smiling a little as he wraps his arms around her and patting her back. He comforts her and even gave her a small kiss on the head. "It's starting, at least there, mama can teach her and take care of her. That thing can go wild and I can’t stop her. I don’t have the ability and the knowledge to teach her. Also, Mister Smith might be coming after her, you don't want her hurt, right?" She bit her lip and nods as she embraces herself, it's the first time they will be separated from each other, well for a long time.

"STOP CALLING ME, YOU―" A loud and a bit cracked feminine voice can be heard completely in the telephone which made Dred distance the thing his holding from his ears as he scratches it which is a bit tingling from the loud sound he just heard. "Mama, it's Dred!" He shouted a bit since his mouth is far off the telephone, assuring the lady or whoever is on the other line who seems in panic mode. "Dred?" The voice confirmed one more time, "Yes mama." "Ohhh!" The lady chuckled as Dred slowly puts the telephone back in his ear. "I thought you were that i***t who keeps calling on me. It's annoying!" The lady exclaimed a very obvious hint of annoyance can be heard in her voice. "Why did you called, Dreadful?" "Mama. Not the nickname." The lady chuckled again which made Helda giggle too. Then, the lady sighs at the end of it. "Seriously," she coughs, 'Why sweetie?"

Dred sighs, "It's Lia, mom... She uhm... Well, you know..." "Mhmm. So when?" "This Saturday, she needs to adjust for like... a day. Then the flight might take 2 days… So, yeah. Saturday." He looked at Helda and she just responded to his look with a small smile. "Ooooohkay. I'll be waiting at the airport." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, still got the strength baby!" She chuckled again. 

"Oh well, see you soon then, mama." He smiled. "See you too." He hanged up the phone as he sighed, looking at Helda who is still worried. "I'm sure she'll be fine."