CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MEETING KIM
The next day, Michael was in school. He heard some people whispering about him but ignored them. He knew some of them had access to the conference held. Some of their parents could even be members of the board, so what can he do except ask them to keep it a secret?
Walking back to his seat, he smiled at Michelle when he saw her. He even winked at Raymond who was staring at him. That made Raymond smirk.
When Kelvin showed him the picture of Michelle crying, Michael couldn't hide his laughter. He laughed until Michelle had to beg him to stop teasing her. He finally stopped when she agreed to Kelvin's condition to allow them to use it as wallpaper for one week. That even elicited more laughter from Michael.
Sports week started and everyone became so busy with their sports house activities.
****
One day, while Michelle was trying to organize the girls for sports, she heard her phone ring. She excused herself and went to answer it. Michael was the one calling.
"Hello!" She answered, wondering why he was calling, and she also looked around the gym auditorium to see if he was in there, but he wasn't.
"Michelle! Can I see you for a bit, please"
She heard him say.
"Okay. Where are you now?" She listens and hangs up.
"Uh! Chloe, can you cover up for me, please. I have an urgent matter to attend to" she told one of the girls standing beside her.
"Okay," Chloe answered.
Michelle walks out.
Michelle met Michael in the hallway towards the library. He was the only one there with another girl, who she quickly guessed was a junior student.
When she got to where they stood, she took in the girl's appearance. The girl was chubby. Her skin was milky and she had cute ribbons and pins all over her brown curly hair. She also noticed small makeup on the girl's face, which also added to her cuteness.
"Michael, is everything alright?" She asked when she got to where they stood.
"She's the school's head girl. And she's gonna help you out. You can trust her, so tell her everything you told me" Michael said to the girl.
The girl smiled at Michelle. Michelle smiled back.
"My name is Kim. I'm a new student here. I transferred not too long ago" she paused.
Michelle nods at her, "You can call me Michelle"
The girl recalls her journey to Michelle.
Kim transferred from her former school to this new school because of bullying. She didn't know why she was always bullied. Every other kid has money but they always pick on her. She thought that in this new school, she would be making new friends, but it looked as if it was worse here. The girls called her a snob on the first introduction and they didn't want to associate with her. That was because she rejected a certain girl's offer without knowing that the girl was the leader of a group she formed herself and had other girls in the group literally worshipping her. Kim didn't want that. Besides, she wanted to select her friends. They would be studious and cute like her. But the girl leader spread news, asking everyone to reject her hand of friendship and they obeyed because they also wanted to avoid trouble. They also teased Kim and kept telling her she was fat, but that didn't bother her.
When she started staying alone, they said she was ignoring them and they began to pick on her again. She felt she could endure it and hid it from everyone. She didn't even report them. Also because she didn't know what to report. The first time she reported, it turned against her, and since then, she has stopped reporting. The girls always threatened her, saying if she reported, they would expose a partially nude picture of her that they had created. They always used it to blackmail her and make her do numerous errands for them. They would leave their classes and distract her during hers.
She met Michael one day during sports. She was so tired from running errands during their lunch break, and when it was time for sports, she couldn't join others. She asked for permission, and that was how she saw this boy who always wore a cap and never participated in sports. She'd noticed that for a while, and finally, she got a chance to sit beside him.
"You wanna share?" She asked softly, looking at the uncorked soda drink beside Michael.
Actually, Michael had kept it for Michelle while he drank one. But seeing that she asked for it, he gave it to her. He watched her open it and drink up the whole content at a go. It made Michael chuckle.
"My name is Kim Grosely. I'm your new friend," she said, smiling and stretching out her hand for a handshake.
"Grosely!" Michael accepts her handshake as he tries to recall where he had heard the name before.
"The one you know, Michael Watts," she said quietly.
This made Michael laugh. "I think I've gotten myself a new friend. So, how did you know?" He asked still looking at her.
"I attended the private conference for DreamWatts. I came in as a plus one with my dad. He wanted to have a one-on-one session with you but it didn't work out. You were greeting so many people and didn't even spare him a glance. I guess, his luck is still intact seeing that you're now my friend"
Michael nods smiling.
"Why aren't you doing sports?" He asked after a moment of silence. She leaned her back to the place she was sitting.
"I'm exhausted. But then..." She sits up. "You know, you're staring way too much...at her." She nudges her face to where other girls are throwing the ball. Michelle was at the forefront, holding a ball to throw at others who stood behind her.
"Michelle"
"Mmmh! Mmmh!" She nods.
Michael chuckles. "You caught me" looking at her. "Let's keep it our first little secret"
Their gaze held for a while before she spoke up.
"Don't give me that look, or I'll fall one hundred percent for your charming looks." She looks away with a shy smile on her face.
"But I can't help it. You're so beautiful" Michael said playfully. She covers her face with her palms and says shyly,
"Oh! Stop!"
From then onwards, they became friends. With Michael's help, her father got a contract he has always wanted. They continued being friends until one day, those girls noticed, and they threatened to send the picture to the school group because she refused to give them his phone number. She was so restless that day and Michael noticed. He asked her about it and she told him everything. He promises to help her out. And that was how he called Michelle.
She told Michelle everything, but not the part where she always teased Michael about the way he stared at her.
Michelle assures her that she will tell the principal about it, and they are going to carry out a private investigation to delete the pictures and take proper action against those students.
When their discussions were over, Michael touched Kim's shoulder,
"You can go back to class now. Just stay out of their way for now. Should I come and pick you up after class" Michael asked softly.
"Mmmh! Mmmh!" She shook her head and hugged him, wrapping her arm around him. "You don't need to do that. I'll be fine. Thank you so much, Michael" she said and disengaged.
Turning to Michelle who smiled at her, she said,
"Thanks, Michelle. I'll go back to class now." She bowed slightly and walked out.
Michelle watched Michael smile.
"I'll need to report this to the principal as soon as possible. I'll write a report to his office immediately after sports" she told him.
Michael looks at her,
"That would be very nice" he paused for a while. "Thanks, Michelle"
"For..." She stretched.
"For helping"
"It's also my duty. And those guilty will have to receive their punishment"
"Mmmh!" Michael nodded.