Chapter 2: Bathroom Switch

|| Arabella ||

I swear to God, I would make Theo Benedict pay for my now neck-length hair.

I was stomping my way like Hitler through the hallway during lunchtime. Everyone passing by was giving me an amused look or an eyebrow raise for my new haircut. I was hiding myself from everyone the whole day. But realizing that there was no way I could stay hidden forever—as much as I wish that—I decided to come out in the open.

Now, the question was, what should I do to make Theo curse the day he was born into this world?

Nah, nothing that extreme. I'm a good girl, after all.

I just need to make him embarrassed. But how?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice as I walked right past Theo until I heard his voice say something like, “Get this done quickly. I need to use the bathroom.”

And then an idea suddenly popped into my head. It must have been God's blessing for me.

A very mischievous smile took over my face as I headed towards the students' bathroom. The doors were side by side, completely identical, only divided by two signs of girls and boys.

So now, what would happen if I were to interchange the two signboards before Theo went in?

Perfect plan, right?

A humiliation worth his reputation.

I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he would enter the wrong gender's bathroom. Ugh, the satisfaction when the girls would label him as a pervert was going to be epic.

“Okay, Ara, time to stop grinning and get to work,” I reprimanded myself, still too giddy from excitement, as I switched the signboards.

On a cue, Theo appeared behind me.

“Why are you lurking around in front of the washroom like a peeping pervert?” he asked, shooting me a weird, creeped-out look.

I shook my head and flashed him a cheeky grin. “Oh, don't mind me. Just existing. Please go ahead.” I royally made way for him.

“Weirdo,” he muttered and turned the knob for the bathroom door with the ‘boys’ sign. “Um, by the way, the haircut isn't that horrible,” I heard him say before he went in.

Before I could analyze his words, a strong gust of wind hit my spine from the open window of the hallway and a shiver ran down my body.

I needed to pee.

Without wasting another second, I twisted the knob of the ‘girls’ bathroom. Or so I thought.

Because what I saw next made me feel like the stupidest person to ever exist. In front of me were clearly not girls. I recognized them to be boys, and much to my horror, with their pants’ zippers open and their little thing sticking out.

I was frozen for a moment, my jaw hanging wide, and it was astonishing how my eyes weren't already out of my sockets.

“Came here to sneak a peek?” One of the boys whistled, turning his front body towards me, not bothering to zip his pants up.

“Holy shit!” I screamed and snapped the door shut with a loud thud. I leaned against the door outside with my back, breathing in and out rapidly. “Oh, my God, what did I just see? Why am I so stupid?”

My virgin eyes had never seen that thing—you know what I mean—directly until now, only through the phone before, but…

I pressed my palms to my eyes, wanting to shrink to the size of a microbe.

I couldn't unsee it anymore. I don't think I can ever forget this scene.

The sound of someone clearing their throat made me peek through the cracks of my fingers to find a very angry-looking Theo. He looked like he was about to go hulk on me.

“A girl threw a sanitary pad at me,” he shrieked incredulously.

If he was Hulk, I was Scarlet Witch.

I pushed my back off the door and got in his face. “I traumatized myself for life too!” I exclaimed. “You're not the only one who suffered, okay?”

“God, I can't believe how incredibly stupid you are!”

“I know!”

Both of us huffed and pushed each other's shoulders as we strutted to the correct bathroom this time. Our fight could wait, but we had to finish our business first.

I kept my head down as I passed by the other girls in the washroom, who were whispering things about Theo. I bet the vice versa was happening in the boys' bathroom about me. I didn't even want to imagine that.

Once I came out of the washroom, I found Theo leaning against the wall beside me, his arms crossed against his chest. The bathroom signs were already fixed, which I assume Theo did.

I was going to brush past him, but he started speaking, “You know, everyone is bound to act stupid once in a while, but you really abuse the privilege.”

I gritted my teeth and formed my fist into balls. I turned to face him and spat out, “That was my revenge for this morning.”

“That's all good and fine. I was expecting you to do something anyway. But,” he chuckled, “how can anyone be as stupid as to fall for their own trap?”

“I-I am not stupid! I just—ugh, it's annoying to talk to you!”

“Sure, sure.” He was still laughing.

It boiled my blood. “You—”

“So Annabelle, how was the sight inside the boys' bathroom? Enjoyed it?” Theo teased.

Okay, he needed to have a heart attack right that instant, or else I was going to stab his heart with my pencil.

“For the last time, my name is Arabella!” I corrected it for the third time today.

“Same shit,” he shrugged.

“Oh, really?” I put a hand on my hip. “What if someone calls you, um, let me see, Oreo? What if someone calls you Oreo, huh?”

Theo pressed his lips together, making a light hum. “I would like that.”

“Oh, c'mon, why?” I let out in frustration.

“Because Oreos are the best and everyone loves them.”

I groaned. I really was stupid like he claimed, wasn't I?

“Are you finally thinking to admit you're stupid?”

I exhaled a deep breath, urging myself to be calm. “If you're so stubborn not to call me by my original name, why don't you give me a good nickname? You even called me Cascerella once, why don't you just call me Cinderella?”

Theo snorted. “Cinderella's too nice for you.”

“Can I please strangle you?” My fingers were literally itching to wrap around his neck—though that's what I usually feel whenever I'm in the ten-meter radius of him.

“Nope. Violence is prohibited on school grounds,” he informed obnoxiously. “Besides, after the last couple of years, I found the perfect name for you, and it's Annabelle.” He grinned, satisfied with his naming skills.

“Do I seriously look like a freaky doll to you?” I questioned hopelessly.

“I don't know. Look at yourself in the mirror.”

I huffed. “I'm done with you for today.” With that, I turned on my heels, without sparing another glance at him. I couldn't stand another second of that smug minx.

After classes and endless whisperings about me barging in the boys' washroom were over, I headed to my aunt's place on foot, my mind completely fuzzed from today's occurrences. I made a stop at a salon to sell my hair, which was painful. But at least, I got some money.

Once I reached my aunt's two-storied moderate-sized house, a gasp left my mouth, dread shooting through my body. This wasn't supposed to happen.

My luggage and things were outside on the porch.

I dashed to my belongings and grabbed the hilt of one of my luggage in a panic.

“What the hell? Why are my things thrown out?” I let out.

Then my eyes fell on the note sticking to the front door, which said in messy handwriting, “You are not welcome here anymore, Arabella Laurel.”