The weekend ended and I drove to school early that morning. The parking lot was vacant and barely anyone was in the building. Still, I found it relieving to be away from home.

Slamming the car door shut, I slowly walked towards the front entrance. Only the chatty office ladies were there. They eyed me suspiciously as I entered in the double doors.

“Is there anything you need?” one of them questioned.

I paused. “Nothing.”

“Okay. School only starts at 7:15. It’s 6:30 right now. Do have a meeting with one of the teachers? Most of them haven’t arrived yet.”

I shook my head. Their expressions were puzzled but I left before they could utter another word.

My locker was nearby and I took out some books before stuffing them in my bag. The hallway was silent. My footsteps echoed a bit as I went over to my first period class.

Sliding down to the floor, I worked industriously on some extra work until the shuffling of feet sounded down the hall. More students were filing in. I dragged myself up and stood awkwardly as more students passed by me. I felt invisible to all of them yet not at the same time. For some reason, it seemed like they acknowledged me with coldness but didn’t take the time to look. My self-confidence was already gone.

It was just then that I realized that I couldn’t handle the pressure mounding inside me. The people, the faces, the looks. It was all too much for me to handle. My head felt dizzy and noxious. My stomach pitted into an infernal twist that made it hard to breath. The world around me began to spin. I felt myself waste away and drop into a heap.

“9-11, we have an emergency.”

The secretaries looked worriedly at each other. The poor girl had just fainted and was still incautious. Throngs of students hovered around, anxiously buzzing about the girl. The principal shook his head and tried to send them back to their classes. But it did not hinder them.

“What shall we do now, Agatha?” he asked one of the secretaries.

“The ambulance will be on its way.”

He nodded gravely. “I’ll round up all of teachers and staff to help me. The students need to be focusing in class, not here.” He quickly announced every teacher and staff member to help. They came proficiently and soon gathered their students to class. The crowd dispersed but only left with groans.

Out in the view, two students approached the principal. Their looks contrasted each other. One was dark and downcast while the other was bright and respectable. However, both carried the same looks on them. Their eyes showed worry and fear.

Once they realized that they in front the principal, both cast a confused look at each other. Neither knew what purpose each had in confronting the principal.

“Is she okay?” the respectable-looking boy asked.

“I don’t know, Jason. The ambulance will come.”

The dark boy observed Jason strangely. He seemed to want to question him but kept his mouth closed.

The principal directed his look on the dark boy. “Is there anything you need?”

He shook his head. “Naw. It’s nothing important.”

Jason curiously observed the boy. He was about his height but his demeanor was so strong, it was almost intimidating to stand next to him.

“Then I suggest you two to head back to class. You’ll be late.” With a dismissive wave, the two boys rejoined their mates and started back to class.