A/N Hey Good News Everyone! I'm officially back finally! Yay, doesn't seem like it's been ages! Oh right, first of all let me say a sincere apology for taking me forever to return yet again. I have been busy, not that it matters anymore since this time is different. I'm committed to try finishing this story once and for all, so no more delays. I'm also going to be posting new stories so if you're interested feel free to check them out as well.
Anyways thanks for those who are still stuck around reading it means a lot! You're all awesome! :), okay then fellow readers I just wanted to give a slight fair warning though. It's not what you're expecting to hear so soon but I happened to rewrite the chapters all over again like before with some slight changes and improvements.
Ugh, yeah I know I should probably stop doing that but sorry I couldn't really leave it alone as before, after re-reading the chapters myself. I just had to make some adjustments to try to make the story slightly better. Besides the third time's the charm right? Hmm. Well, whatever.
That's enough of me rambling, I hope you like the 2024 newest version. Oh don't forget to tell me what you think. Thanks :D You may now continue to read on.
ENJOY!
INTRODUCTION
'So Called' Cinderella
Zoe's POV:
Some like to argue that the best experiences in a young teenager's life are usually spent in school. Certainly it doesn't apply to everyone; there's always one lonesome girl who doesn't seem to fit in with the crowd. I, for one, fall into that unfortunate description. For starters, I've had my fair share of unlucky moments where my presence wasn't visible to most people. I didn't mean it literally, just metaphorically.
Surprisingly, my problem isn't that I didn't try hard enough. I made the mistake of pretty much getting used to the way I was typically persuaded. As a result, I've been frequently overlooked by people who have a tendency to easily miss me or have no idea who I am.
What adds icing to the cake, within the irony of my situation, is that it has remained unchanged for as long as I can remember. Being considered shy and quiet for so long has indeed proven to be quite a difficult hurdle for me to endure, and to say otherwise would be lying. It's regrettable to think that all of this started with a boy named Kyosuke Takeshi, my earliest romantic infatuation in the sixth grade.
The bleacher section was in full swing with overly excited teens. Cheering loudly and upbeat feet stomping could be heard all over the gymnasium. Nothing can silence this ecstatic moment. Why do you ask? Well, the annual pep rally has taken place.
To put it another way, it's merely an excuse to have the whole school come together in celebration of Spirit Week. Thus, all students, including myself, were obligated to attend. Although, I personally would have preferred to be spending my leisure time doing anything else, rather than this snooze fest. As if that weren't torture enough, students were dressed in solid white or blue coordinated outfits, and the gym was bursting with an array of colorful decorations. Whereas, I held my doubts about how engaging in any of these activities would make the experience more enjoyable.
On the bright side, the marching band was decent; I couldn't say the same about the newly recruited cheerleaders, who paraded around in identical short pleated skirts and pom poms. A couple of the girls were so self-absorbed, to the point where they felt the need to deliberately stray from the group's rhythm in order to stand out. Even so, all it did was throw off the other remaining girls, who were trying to keep their movements in sync. Everything was a train wreck, in my opinion.
But despite the cheer squad's terrible performance in the audience's eyes, not one of them voiced any complaints simply because every single female within the group fits the stereotypical beauty standard, making them pleasant to look at. They're gullible for assuming if someone has an attractive appearance, it automatically equals talent; this way of thinking is obviously not remotely true.
By that time, I felt someone's shoulder carelessly bump into mine, and in doing so, they accidentally spilled some of their sugar-coated plastic cup smoothie onto my clothes. Leaving the white material of my sleeve stain in a caramel-color substance.
Ahh...
No, out of all my clothes, it had to be my favorite printed hoodie sweatshirt to have been ruined. How delightful. And recognizing my crucial streak of poor luck, I should've known better.
In all seriousness, though. If teachers here had first prohibited students from bringing outside refreshments, it would've avoided possible accidents or inconveniences. Especially during school functions such as this one.
Instead of getting a genuine apology from the unpleasant girl next to me, who has a choppy pastel pink haircut. Her actions had left me lost for words. She sprang up excitedly to her feet, like she wasn't aware of what she'd done just moments ago. She was more shameless than I thought. Then again, the concept of simple manners is probably not something she's familiar with.
And just because I've already mentioned earlier that I'm accustomed to these types of things befalling me, my mood actually suffers twice over each time. It's natural for me to react by basically exhaling a quiet, melancholic breath through my slightly parted lips. As you can tell, I'm still bothered by it.
The long-awaited main event, which was eagerly anticipated by all, has finally arrived. Where the beloved mascot of the esteemed basketball team and players who held an impressive record of ten consecutive championship wins made a grand entrance at the center of the court. Sporting proudly in their iconic Indigo-Blue Wildcats jerseys.
More deafening screams overwhelmed my surroundings; I swear meeting the gaze of my one-sided crush made my heart skip a beat. Forfeiting my chance of joining my peers' frenzy noise.
We were both successfully placed into the same history class, and he sat across from me. Several times I've attempted to strike up friendly conversations with him, but my shyness always gets the better of me, and I end up escaping without getting the chance to say anything. Making it seem as if I was in a hurry to get to my next class. When the reality of the situation was only me acting cowardly.
Every now and then, I started giving myself pep talks, rehearsing what I would say to him in front of the mirror each morning before heading to school. After all, the outcome was still of no use; I had foolishly embarrassed myself in front of his friends multiple times already. I suppose that's where the nickname Stuttering Zoe came from.
Okay, sure, it didn't matter whether or not they were able to recall my name. To say the least, I didn't have a great liking for it.
Nevertheless, I remained optimistic, ergo I haven't fully given up. My undivided attention renders back to the youngsters sitting in the first few rows just below me. I've noticed they rearrange themselves in their seats to clear a sufficient path for the dashing Kyosuke to walk up those steps.
Seeing as he moved precisely where I was, suggested everything had been pre-planned in some way.
A sudden realization dawned upon me as a perfect opportunity presented itself. The only difference this time around, he boldly made the first move. Kyosuke was able to achieve something I was initially not very good at, making him superior to me in this particular aspect. However, my shoulders had definitely felt lighter and more relaxed compared to those times when I tried to face him head-on.
Too caught up in the moment, the presence of curious bystanders who had been closely observing our every move had slipped my mind altogether. The reason I'm not interested in them is because they're not my top priority right now.
If anything, I continued to lose myself in his stunning silver-blue eyes, which contrasted beautifully with the small birthmark mole under his left eye and his side-parting, medium-length black hair. This is the first time I was able to gaze directly at him without fidgeting. Except, it was apparent that I was blushing like crazy.
Once, Kyosuke took out a single red rose from the side pocket of his denim jeans. And seeing him displaying right before me, leads me to nearly choke back tears of joy. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume Kyosuke was openly revealing to everyone here that he liked me. Up until I caught a peek at the small heart-shaped note attached to the rose's green stem, I would've never thought our feelings were mutual from the start. The heartfelt experience brought me much happiness, in which I may as well have felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
On top of everything, I was slightly taken aback the second Kyosuke didn't release the pretty rose when I was reaching out intently for it. He looked to be trying to communicate with me by subtly pointing with his index finger at the individual situated behind me.
In the blink of an eye, the unwavering hopefulness that I'd clung onto for months shattered, leaving my delicate heart unprepared to handle the emotional blow. Life sure shows its cruelty in unexpected moments.
My facial expression gradually turned grim after hearing the following words coming out of his soft-spoken lips. "Could you please pass that to Nagisa?"
His casual use of her name set me off to shudder on the spot. Both of them were definitely not in the same classes. And yet, I was in a state of shock to learn that they had already established a level of familiarity to be able to address each other on a first-name basis. Inasmuch as I couldn't bring myself to refer to him by anything other than his last name.
Moreover, he had to like the loveable Nagisa. What was I thinking? Given how much Kyosuke's out of my league and desired by many, it's understandable why he'd be uninterested in someone like me.
Among other things, I don't want to really imagine trying to compete with Nagisa. Even if I tried, I'm sure to lose anyway. She truly meets Kyosuke's criteria for being his ideal girlfriend. She already puts me at a disadvantage because of her gorgeous shade of cinnamon-brown irises, along with her wonderful light freckled complexion, and having long, curly auburn hair. Not to mention, her bubbly personality also differs significantly to mine.
To avoid further humiliation, I practically shoved the damn rose in Nagisa's direction. After thanking me so sincerely, Kyosuke's teammates playfully patted him on the back and offered their congratulations while he rejoined them. I admit it stung terribly when everyone else here also gave their two favorite "it couple '' one final round of applause for finally making it official. Marking the closing of the school festivities.
There are no roses without thorns, as the expression goes. What's more, the brutal profundity of the message behind it perfectly sums up my heartbreak over this whole incident.
Yeah, it has undoubtedly S-U-C-K-E-D. In spite of the fact that I was aware of being rejected outright, I somehow felt pitiful for not confessing my feelings to him at least once.
Perhaps the concept of love told within fairy tale novels is nonexistent in real life. The saddest part is I didn't have any close friends to comfort me at times like now. I wonder if I did—do you think the pain would have been less severe? Nah. The chances of that happening are highly improbable.
Another factor working against me is my so-called father. Whose name I refer to as Skip.
Well, up until Skip abandoned my mother and me when I was merely eight years old, the three of us were happy living together. Yet, he made a drastic decision to start a brand new family, of which we weren't included to take part in to any extent. Neither I nor my mother mattered to him. The sorrow I felt as I watched him walk out the door with suitcases in both hands is the only distinct memory I can recall. What made me feel the most bitter was when my own mother fell to her knees and begged him to stay. Stubborn as he was, not even tears could get him to turn around.
Months went by, I never once allowed myself to dwell on his absence. Much like how ashes disappear after being burned, all the mementos he left behind for me and the sadness I harbored for him have been diminished. Additionally, I've decided I'll no longer cry over any men ever again, especially when they aren't worth a single drop of my tears, and I am fully determined to commit to this resolution.
My mother needed me more than ever. Therefore, it was critical for me to remain tough for the sake of both of us and try to provide as much support as I could possibly muster, sort of like a pillar for her to lean on.
Because, unlike me, her emotions were in great disarray after my father's sudden departure. She often missed work due to not 'feeling well'. Regardless of her being a skilled lawyer, the law firm didn't care to show her any compassion and took extra measures to terminate her employment.
The aftermath had a contrary impact on my mother. I'm worried she might've become numb to everything around her, including the way of life she settled for herself. Taking on a minimum-wage job at a supermarket versus pursuing another high-paying profession as a lawyer. Apparently, her motive behind it was meant to earn enough money to meet her financial obligations without caring about additional benefits.
The societal stigmas attached to her haphazard career path, suggests that she may not be making the best decisions for herself.
Her involvement around other male partners was no better. Wearing her delicate heart on her sleeve, she had to deal with the exact same problem of them eventually deserting her. Suchlike, an unreliable father did in the past, it's impossible for her not to be affected by it. In her defense, she was not to blame for the failures of her relationships because they were all jerks to begin with.
All things considered, to say my mother was in shambles is an understatement.
Within a week, she was dismissed for-well, getting intoxicated and behaving disrespectfully towards some of the customers.
The development of her persistent drinking habits continued to hamper her efforts to get hired for the third or fourth time. Honestly, I lost count. Given our financial constraints, selling our home and relocating to a more affordable area was our only viable option; however, the residences available in this budget-friendly area turned out to be ugly-looking houses.
Even though I was still a minor at the time, I tried to help my mother pay the bills as a way to alleviate our precarious living conditions to some extent. My capabilities were limited due to the self-evident truth that no one was willing to employ an underage kid like myself.
When I reached a more mature age, I made a renewed attempt to find a part-time job with flexible hours. My motivation to lend her a hand in every manner I could stayed the same.
Instead of being overjoyed, she showed dissatisfaction upon discovering what I had been up to. She created quite a stir just as she abruptly yanked me away from the 7-Eleven convenience store's counter. Afterwards, she goes on to lecture me, citing the idea that,"School education is important." Don't worry; I can take care of the responsibility on my own.
Lies, and that's exactly what it was.
She's been facing immense struggles throughout all this time, and I'm certain it's taken a toll on her. I sometimes overhear her emotional distress as she tries to stifle her broken tears during the night. This is enough to prove my point that she's not in the least fine.
Fortunately, her misery and anxiety dissipated after she crossed paths with a 37 year old woman who happens to be a prosecutor at her own law firm.
Recently, my mother landed a job as a maid thanks to a connection made by one of her acquaintances. The majority of her task was to keep the wealthy houses located in the mountain region clean. Due to her late work schedule, I would rarely see her at home. For this reason, I was compelled to grow up quickly after that.
In any case, it turns out working as a maid paid off because my mother's diligent work ethic caught the attention of a highly respected female lawyer. Who then subsequently presented my mother with a job offer as she needed more assistants.
After assessing the benefits of a higher salary and transferring to a workplace with a larger establishment, she overcame her initial reluctance to return to her former occupation.
In light of this, we grabbed our belongings and embarked to another town. Above all, it brings me great joy to see my mother bouncing back and now prepared to lead a fulfilling life again.
While my mother finished loading the last cardboard box into the trunk of the vehicle, I couldn't resist the temptation to lean my head out and indulge in the final moments of the refreshing autumn breeze tickling my nose through the open passenger's seat window.
Though it took some time, we have finally freed ourselves from the shackles of our suffering and are no longer bound by them.
Ready to head to our next destination, she backed out of the driveway. A faint smile found its way to my lips once we got on the streets and joined the hectic morning traffic.
Maybe being invisible isn't so bad as I originally believed, because moving all the time...if I had anyone that I deeply cared about, I would never have to deal with the whole "awkward good-bye" thing.
It has its advantages, right?...
Anyhow, I've said enough about myself. Since the story isn't even about me. Very soon, I'll encounter someone whose life I'm about to change.
Releasing a heavy sigh filled with weariness, I slump my exhausted body against the cushioned comfort of the backrest in the passenger seat for now. Knowing that this journey is bound to be an extensive one, I prepare myself for the extended hours ahead.
~END OF CHAPTER~
Hmm. Be honest with me it's not bad right?
I know it's sad that Zoe failed to capture the heart of her charming prince. But don't you think she will meet someone better? Well who knows... you have to stay toned to find out.
And not only was Zoe's first romantic aspect of her life a complete failure. You can also tell that Zoe's family situation wasn't exactly a happy one either. Doesn't it make you feel like you can somewhat relate? I certainly do :(
There's more to come. Look forward to it.
Until next time...