CHAPTER 25 (WAKE UP SLEEPING BEAUTY)

"Alright," I said as I scanned the list.

pickles.

corn kernel

butter

apple

ketchup

I've got pickles, ketchup, apple, corn kernel…

All that's left is butter.

Okay. Time to head for that section.

I pushed my cart forward, its wheels making a slight squeak. I could hear the usual eighties music being played on the stereos here.

I didn't mind though. I always did love music from the eighties.

My cart skidded to a stop as I halted in front of the dairy section. I got the butter there and proceeded to the counter.

All of a sudden, someone tapped my shoulder.

I turned around to see Marie and Trisha grinning at me.

"Hey guys," I grinned at them.

Trisha smiled after taking a glance at my outfit. "Nice outfit. We're glad you've finally embraced your feminine side."

Marie nodded in agreement. "It's about time."

I nearly forgot that Trisha and Marie owned this super mart. So yeah, they were pretty rich.

"What's that you've got there?" I asked Marie.

She was holding a round plastic container that had these icky green…

Are those molds??

"Oh. This is expired cheese. I think it's been stale for a month now. Trisha saw it at the warehouse. I thought it might be handy someday," Marie replied, holding the container as if it were the most precious commodity in the world.

I nodded, unaware how I should react. "Ah… That's… interesting."

"Why hello there Kyleen. What happened?" a sarcastic voice said behind me.

I turned around and frowned as I saw who was behind me.

"Great. There're also Tweedledee and Tweedledum," Trisha frowned as she crossed her arms.

The person whom I hated the most was standing right in front of me: Tatiana Hansel. And her two dim-witted cronies: Lenny Orphy and Leah Jeero.

Tatiana Han-sell out. I hated her. She's always been picking on me ever since I refused to let her copy my test paper during the first grade.

We've been mortal enemies ever since.

She eyes me, one plucked eyebrow raised.

"I see you're trying to be a wannabe. What's the matter? Weren't you content with your old, pathetic self in your pathetic boy world?" she scoffed.

"Earth to Kyleen. It doesn't suit you," Leah giggled, a contemptuous smile on her face.

I felt a pang of pain erupt in my chest. That snide remark had stung me.

"You don't belong in our world. So stay away." Lenny jeered.

"And you never will," Tatiana smirked.

The three giggled.

I clenched my fists.

"Shut up," I said.

Tatiana sneered at me. "Aw… That's all you can say? Well, I hope you'll learn new words. Play's coming. We wouldn't want you to make a fool of yourself…"

"Or maybe we do," Lenny grinned malevolently.

"Either way, we know you'll ruin it. We seriously thought it was a joke when you auditioned," Tatiana added.

I didn't even want to slap them, punch them, or even hit them in any way. Even if I did felt anger bubbling inside me.

I just wanted to run away.

I wanted to run into the comforts of my room and cry there.

They're right… I don't belong in the girly world… And I'm bound to ruin the play…

"Tatiana! What's that?" Trisha suddenly cried out.

The three looked to where Trisha was pointing to. All of a sudden, Marie hurled the one-month cheese at Tatiana.

The green mold started to spread on her white shirt. She gasped as she saw what happened. Or it was more like a sharp intake of breath. Marie gave a high five to Trisha.

"Why you-" Tatiana gasped as Lenny and Leah tried to clean out her shirt in vain.

"Clean up on Aisle 12!" Trisha shouted and laughed.

The three stormed away and threw furious glances at us. Trisha stuck out her tongue at them.

Marie placed a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm… fine… I have to go… Thanks for sticking up for me…" I said and hurriedly went away.

I am not okay. I am far from okay.

I was crying now. I was sobbing into my pillow which I was hugging so tightly.

I didn't eat dinner. I told my mom that I ate a burger on the way and I was full.

Trisha and Marie called me. But I told them that I was fine.

I can handle this on my own. But…

Darn this was hard.

In a way, what Tatiana and her cow friends said was true. And I changed radically.

Why should I fit in? In fact, I didn't fit in at all. I don't know much, if not anything, about all those girly necessities.

I may be good at academics, but I had zero knowledge about being a girl.

And the play…

I'll just ruin it…

Like the way I did with my Trigonometry… I'm not an actress…

I never was…

It's been fun but…

I think I should go back to the old me.

And…

I sniffed and rubbed my eyes.

I should quit the play.