LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 4: The weight of the ruler
{Mia}
As I stepped into my first class, a heavy silence settled over the room. All eyes jumped to me, and I could feel their stares like tiny holes burning through my skin . Part of me wanted to believe they were admiring my "beauty," but the mirror in the bathroom had already told me the truth .Red, puffy eyes, messy hair, and a look that screamed wrecked.
I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and lifted my chin high, even as my heart hammered in my chest. The classroom smelled faintly of markers and cleaning spray, and the desks were arranged in neat rows. Whispers buzzed around me enough to remind me I didn't belong here , not yet.
The sound of heels clicked sharply against the floor, and the room fell silent. I turned to see a middle-aged woman with sharp features, red hair tied back tightly, and big brown eyes that seemed to pull you in. She walked with an air of authority, the long wooden ruler tapping rhythmically against her palm.She stood still for a moment, her big brown eyes scanning the room like a hawk. Then, with a deliberate motion, she slammed her ruler on the desk .
My eyes widened in shock when she hit her table with a big long wooden ruler , the sound of the wooden ruler hitting the table echoed through the room, making my pulse race.
'You,' she barked, pointing at me. 'Come here.'"
I stiffened, unable to move , trying to ignore the sweat beading at the back of my neck.
Suddeny she signaled me to speed things up . She turned to me and barked ." WHO ARE YOU ?!?! "
Her breath smelled of sardines , and I couldn't help but wince at the way she asked me .
" Um.... M-m-y name ...."
I was suddenly cut off when she shouted back " NO STUDDERING!!"
I took a deep breath and continued." My name is Maria Isabella Bianchi "
Before she could respond ,the door slammed open, and my worst nightmare stepped in. Laura. Her familiar smirk froze me in place, my throat tightened as she sauntered to a seat, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on me. That smirk widened, and my stomach churned.
I felt my knees buckle and I started to feel light headed . Laura's eyes sparkled with that same mischievous glint, and she walked toward an empty seat, her smile lingering. My knees wobbled, and for a second, the world felt like it was tilting. I quickly clenched my fists at my sides, trying to regain my composure, but then CRACK the ruler came down on Laura's desk with a force that made me jump.
I grined at her triumphantly , while her eyes filled with tears , the teacher warned " if a tear so much as drips on your cheeks you will regret it " her face flushed and after what felt like 2 minutes the ruler came down on her desk a second time just as hard and if not harder than before I winced at the sound and felt a tear trickle down my cheek luckly just as the teacher turned back I wiped it off but it seemed like my cheek was still wet when I received a slap ,the sting spread across my cheek, sharp and burning.
My head jerked to the side, and for a moment, I couldn't process what had just happened. Heat rushed to my face, and tears pricked at my eyes. I clenched my fists, forcing back the tears . Not here. Not in front of her.
Then , she abruptly turned to Laura " what's your name ?"
Laura still mad from the ruler incident stood up and slapped the teacher straight in the face . Everyone was so shocked that they gasped in shock . I couldn't help it.
The laugh bubbled out of me, uncontrollable and wild. Maybe it was the absurdity of it all Laura, of all people, standing up to this tyrant. Or maybe I was just losing it after the morning I'd had. Either way, I laughed, and I couldn't stop.
The teacher gave me a glare and sent me to "the box " once the students heard " the box " some of them started crying and I wondered what it was .
The whispers of my classmates echoed in my ears as I approached the door to 'the box.' I hesitated, my hand trembling as I reached for the handle. The moment I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat, and my heart stopped. What I saw ...