"Ume, darling! Wake up or you're going to be late for school!"
Ume woke up with her messy bed hair as she heard her mother's voice. She glanced at her clock besides the bed—
7:10 am
She groaned and sat down before answering her mother, "I'm awake!..." And then stood up to lazily stretch her body and pulled the curtains to let the sunlight drape her bedroom. It was a good sunny day but she does not feel glad at all.
She looks at the houses outside her window. She was unfamiliar with this little town at all. Hell, she even missed the old life she had back there with her friends, the small school where every kid looked at her like she's Einstein's reincarnation. It just all happens so quickly to left Ume no time to process everything. Months ago, her dad's job was not going really well. Helplessly, Ume had no choice but to agree with reluctant and moves to a place she doesn't recognise at all.
With a sigh, she opened the door and goes to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. 'Dang, I look like hell...' she thought to herself as she stared to her reflection on the mirror. Poor Ume, she doesn't tell her parents how she really felt within these past few days and always locked herself inside her room with her books and studies.
After taking a shower, she wears a plain t–shirt who was covered with her favourite red sweater and pants that fits perfectly to her. She then tied her raven hair to cute pigtails and cleans her glasses before wearing them and heading downstairs where her mother cooks breakfast and preparing lunchboxes while her father read a newspaper while drinking coffee. "Morning, mum. Morning, dad." She greeted them both which makes them turned their head towards her,
"Morning, darling!" Her mother greet back with warmth,
"Did you slept well, champ? Or are you not comfortable to our new house yet?" Her father asked. Ume, not wanting to worry her parents, just replied with a lie "No, I'm fine. My room is quite comfy too so there's no problem in sleeping at all." She sat down at the chair as her mother hands her breakfast, toasted bread with eggs.
"That's a relief! Just tell us when you need something, okay?" Her mother said with concern which makes her husband smile, "Don't worry too much, Wanda. You raised her strong!"
"Oh, stop that!" The both of them laughed with each other as Ume watches the warm atmosphere. She was thankful and glad that she have such lovely parents but sometimes, they were too cheesy with each other that she couldn't handle it. She continues to eat her bread and eggs while her parents flirt with each other right in front of her, saying cheesy stuffs that makes 'em all giddy and silly. Finally, she decided this needs to end,
"Dad, can drive me to school today...?" Her father raises his eyebrow and wondered. "Why? Is the school bus broken today?" "No, dad... I just uh..." She goes silent. What can she say? That she doesn't like the kids here? That would be rude. "Ohhh, I get it! You're a little shy on your first day, aren't you?"
That... That is a good niche reason, "Y–yeah... Since we just moved in here and uhh..." Her father chuckled before he stood up from his chair, "Alright, kid. I'll get the car ready while you finish your breakfast." Ume quietly let out a sigh of relief which her mother definitely caught but didn't spoke about it. Just stuffed a laugh and watches the father and daughter. "Thanks, dad."
****
"I'll pick you up later, Ume. Don't go follow anyone you don't know, okay!" Mr. Schmidt called out from his car as he watches Ume's departing figure waving. He stayed there and watched for a while, only leaving when he saw that his daughter was inside the school safe and sound.
For Ume, this school was kinda overwhelming. This was a new begining. New faces that stare at her as she walks past the hallway making her uncomfortable and an outcast. She new they were just curious, but she thought to herself that 'Can they just mind their own business...?'
The school was also big too. She kinda got lost on her way to the principal's office. Nevertheless, she still continues to walk and find the office like it's an Easter hunt.
"Oh? Ume!" A girl shouted far away which makes Ume turn her head and meet Mauire standing nearby along with a girl she just met. The both of them then walked to Ume who was frozen in place, trying not to make the situation awkward, "Maurie...! You're also studying here...?" She asked.
Maurie, though chuckling, nodded at her shy question, "Yeah, this is actually the nearest school in our town so most teens study here." "I see..." Ume fidgets with the strap of her bag before speaking again in a quiet voice, "...The truth is... I'm kinda lost... Could you guys...uh... Mind showing me where the principal's office is...?"
"Of course! Why not? You're new here so it's normal to get lost. Even Opal got lost on her first day when we're in elementary school!" She pointed at the girl besides her who was smiling and nodding, "Come on, don't be shy! You're a friend here!" Opal too gave a reassurance.
"Thanks, Maurie. Opal." Ume thanked them as they started walking towards where Ume's destination is. "Man, this have me Deja Vu. Back then, I was showing Opal around the school and now it's you! Can't believe it would happen again!" Maurie laughed as she said those. Besides her, Opal couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. You're a clutch all the time." Though, there was no annoyance in her voice. Maurie laughed again before turning to Ume with a curious smile, "Are you staying here forever? Or are your family is still traveling?" She asked.
"Oh–us...? Uhm... I don't know actually... Maybe we're going to stay here for a while... Don't like it here though..." She said again as she averted her eyes and fixed her glasses, "I get ya, this place was too cramped for me. I wanna explore the world!" Opal said with a high voice which makes Maurie wondered, "I think this place is fine."
"Not really! Everyone knows everyone and if something happened, it will spread like a wildfire!" That makes Ume worry more. Somebody can start a rumour if she made the wrong move. She don't want her good reputation to be ruined!
"Remember what happened to James? His uncle disappeared out of nowhere and people speculated that he abandoned him for good. Turns out he just go back to his country because he needs to sort some things."
James? That straightforward boy she met before? "James...? The one who has a scar on his right cheek underneath his mole...?" Ume asked before she can even stop her mouth. "Uh huh! Did you know? His parents were killed by some hitman but people says that he's the one who killed them! They just found them dead while James was crying and holding a knife. Totally crazy, ain't it?" Ume goes silent and surprise was painted in her face, "That was just a rumour, Opal! A child can't do something like that and you know it."
"That's why I told you I don't like it here. Rumors can go like truths to others." Opal said with a shrug of her shoulders, finally, the three of them got into the principal's office. "Here we are! We'll wait for you here if you want! Just in case you get lost again." "...Thanks, guys... That's a big help..."
****
The classroom was full of students who is throwing paper to each other, running and yelling, and some even talking to their friends about rumours and stuffs. Before long, the door opened and students immediately goes back to their seats and got quiet. It was always like this in this school.
An old woman walked in with a girl behind her. She coughs a little before facing the students who were curiously eyeing the new girl—Ume. "Alright, children. We got a new student here. Make sure that no one would be mean to her and mind your own businesses, alright?" She then nodded her head to Ume, signaling her to start introducing herself so that they could start the topic for today's lesson.
"Hello, everyone... I am Ume Schmidt and I'm thirteen years old... Nice to meet you."
There was an awkward silence in the atmosphere. All of them were just staring at her like she's some artifact, "Thank you, Ms. Schmidt. You may now take your seat." At that, Ume immediately scurried to her seat and immediately sat down, lowering her head so that no one could see the way her face turned red. Thankfully, no one seems to look at her now. Just zoning out at the boring lesson, some even taking a nap secretly.
Ume takes notes and actually listens to every word the teacher said. Though, was still shy to answer some questions and just sat quietly or avoiding eye contact in fear that she would get called. She doesn't really does this but with a new environment? It's embarrassing for her.