It didn't take long for me and my new friends to be noticed by the doctors for our 'misdeed' in the school. Poor Doorwell had to have a talk with the doctors after they found out what she did with the two bloomers in the cafeteria. Even more of a bad news, Luriel and Ariel were coming with her behind her back.
The doctors were not happy to hear from me. It's like the old times in the psychiatrist's office, where Dr. Volcker gathered the doctors back when, after what I did to the Frowlings with my powder dust. I know it was terrible to be close to them, but I couldn't resist helping those lonely hearts.
"Ehem..." Dr. Cobble coughs. That's his weird signal to ask for my words.
"I can explain! It's on my pocket out of nowhere! But at least it didn't harm anyone and it made two humans together! Right, guys?"
"Yeah!" The two support me.
And so it began for Doorwell. It's never been fun for her to do anything since they kept banning her from doing anything! Unimaginable, but they never seem to understand that. Meanwhile, everyone else in the school is having fun with her. But the doctors seem very dismissive about this.
"Doorwell, what did I say about making powder at home?"
"Don't do it...it would be bad..." I said as I glanced down at my shoes, rubbing the floor.
"But I promise this isn't the same! It's just...well, a new refinement for my new self! I mean, I can't be a normal human, right? I'm still a Joyling who helped people, too!"
"Yeah! And Doorwell would always be!" Luriel steps in. She was like a knight before me.
"W...what's the worse a lovebloomer could do, anyway? So far, Doorwell never did something bad in the show. I watched them all!" Ariel steps in.
I feel like I was becoming something new with these humans. Had I known how unique their minds could be, I would've never doubted the day I chose to go with Dr. Volcker for the therapy. Yet the doctors seem careless of the idea. They continued to discuss how wrong it was for me to carelessly throw out things from the studio into the human world.
"I know, Doorwell. But we can't let you spread your "magic" freely around the school and expect this place a paradise. School is a place to learn, and children doesn't like being disturbed."
Luriel intervened, "I wouldn't mind! A few dust on my face and I'll be better to learn!"
Ariel said, "So do I! Although I hope Doorwell has more to brought here like she did in the screen."
"I'm sorry! So many things happen, and I couldn't get it in time!" I apologise.
The children were brave, but the doctors grew more annoyed with them. I didn't want to disappoint the doctors, and Cobble was not very happy with their words. He asked them to leave, but they refused. I didn't want to lose them at first, but I know Dr. Cobble was being too serious to be left with so much intervention.
"Uhm, Ariel and Luriel...can you give me and Cobble a time? We won't be long." I softly ask.
They were worried, a bit defiant. But in the end, they complied. They left and I was alone.
Before I could reason with the doctors, all my secret powders were leaking off my clothes. I might have underestimated the efficacy when I made them without a vial. But now, I don't need them from what Dr. Cobble had said.
We were chattering the same thing again and again. I didn't like reminiscing about how Doorwell needed to maintain 'humanity' among her humans, when they already saw her humanly enough before. There's nothing wrong with giving people love, especially since love isn't destructive.
But the doctor always thinks the same. The old humans in the studio always encourage Doorwell to do the opposite, spreading love and giving the children compassion instead of hatred and misery. Yet the doctor claims they knew more about me when they asked me to behave.
No matter what I say to the doctor, I couldn't give him any reassurance or a chance. I don't want to hate them, but it is hard to be lovable when you're not understanding. Doorwell didn't like this, but the older humans would always shout if she didn't behave. I didn't want Dr Cobble to ever shout at me, so I had to take the risk.
"Thank you," he said.
"Mr Cobble...? May I ask if those two girls out there were the cause of Ms. Love—more...?" Mr. Bernard came into the doctor's office.
"Uhm..." We stared awkwardly.
"Nevermind. I'll just...I'll be back!" The door slams shut.
———————————————————————————————————
[Cafeteria]
I return to my admirers in the cafeteria. Their faces are enough to tell me how much they cared for me as my admirers. Though when they came to me with a sudden face, I couldn't expect myself to be honest about the conversation I've had with Cobble. I guess there's no fun for us today or tomorrow.
Their sadness is reasonably awful to me. But the lunch is almost over, and I haven't yet finished mine. The little, lovely faces they put on when they are ready to hear me at the table are enough to wipe out the past from their eyes. Driven by hunger and adoration, I could not resist letting my biggest admirer know more about me.
But something was strange in the table when I tried talking to them. It appears they weren't too happy when they sat with me. I was starting to feel worried that I bored them. But that's when they asked me this question out of the pink.
"Ms. Doorwell, are you okay? You look unwell..." Luriel sat beside me.
"Of course! Why shouldn't I?" I replied.
"Because you don't seem to have walked out happy there!" Ariel taps his spoon.
"Yeah, I was just...distracted. You know me," I smiled.
"Hehe, yeah! It wouldn't be Doorwell if she didn't get too distracted." Luriel continues eating. "But it's okay! At least you're still here with us! We can still have fun a human way!"
"Uhm..." I mumbled. "Does it involve a heavy exercise? I couldn't do that..."
"Oh, don't worry! I'm talking about board games, Ms. Doorwell."
"Count me in! Count me in! Did you bring one? Tell me you bring the Bloomsnag board! I know a real admirer wouldn't miss that!"
"No." Ariel said. "Teachers didn't allowed us."
"Aww! Why do people hate fun here?" I grabbed my head.
Time passes so quickly when you're having a friend like Luriel to chatter with. It could've been longer if it weren't for the other students at their tables. It's hard for these humans to feel comfortable when so many people aren't as lovely as they are. Ariel had said they weren't very nice to him and his sister.
"Never met your hero, I guess."
"I'm still laughing at him, you know? I don't care if his idol was there..."
"He's watching a girl show. And he's playing with girls...eww..."
"What's next? You'll tell me my imaginary friend is real here?"
The humans worried me. Their hearts, they uncaring hearts. It makes me sad to sit here and drink over this juice, knowing that I would be surrounded by people who would laugh at a child with a lovely heart. So I decided to take two cups to drink myself to dream. I dream of a better world in this land, filled with love and drawn from hate.
"Wow! This juice is amazing! What is this made of?"
"Oh, it's just a cranberry juice. Coming from the ol' factory itself."
"What? Sweets? Factory? Oh no! Oh no!"
I was so bothered by these words that I couldn't focus on my lunch, and it made the other two feel terrible. I nearly slipped on my cranberry juice, but I had to stop drinking when I noticed the candy-like taste inside. That's why I feel so energised afterwards, and they said it was a bad thing for me.
"Woah! AHAHA!"
My body was out of my control, and I felt a leap in my cookie heart. The Joyling can't handle this much pressure, and there's barely a place for me to show off.
"Ah! Ms. Lovemore! What are you doing?" Ariel called.
Zoom! I flew past like a bird, floating with glee. Sugar falls over the sky like snow, cherishing the pale air of this palace with sweet passion. Everyone was rushing in joy as they watched it pour over their heads. Yet the adults are not as happy as the children are.
"Ms. Lovemore!"
'Hey, kid! Get down there! This isn't a playground! You're ruining the place with your sprinkles!"
"Pardon me! Pardon me! Pardon me! I can't stop!" I begged the woman at the counter.
I was a star of attention as usual, but not in a way I wanted to. I can see everyone's head from this angle, and I noticed how my two admirers were sitting too distant from any tables. Every student here was a cluster to each other, but there's only one place where a flower didn't pollinate as it should.
"I feel amazing! So amazing! Woo! Haha!"
"Look at me! I'm wonderful! I'm Doorwell! Hahaha!"
"It never felt so much better to be alive!"
The lady at the counter looks down on me. I couldn't accept that look! What lay on the table was nothing edible, and I was right here as a perfect dessert. I decided I have to change the table and do something good on those so-called 'lunches' she has.
"What are you doing with this thing? Get this off of the table!" I threw the food outside the window. Today, I will be the one cooking for them!
"Whoa! What is she doing?"
"Time to eat something nutritious, children!"
I gave the students a free delicious dessert for their lunch! Trays are now replaced with something sweeter like cookies—all flavours if must! Those children's eyes immediately caught up to my finest dishes on the table. They were at their happiest face—contradicting to what I've been told by Dr Cobble.
"Free lunch, everyone! Free and healthier! Come on!"
It went silent momentarily. But, children are always children. Sweets are delectable, and loving souls aren't easy to resist temptation.
Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! It's all they deserved more than that tedious chum the humans called food. They are coming to the lady as if they were meaningfully trying to feast for a day. No more hungry stomach for terrible nourishment. The happiness swerve once more against the ominous side of this so-called school.
"Eww! What is this? Is that...melted cocoa? Eww, eww, eww!"
"Uhm, should I be concerned if that pink powder can be eaten or not?"
"This isn't food, cookie-girl! I want my old lunch back now!"
"Doorwell, stop! You're giving them chum!"
But that was only the beginning of my duty. For my next performance, I'm giving the children beside me a surprise! A healthy and obedient surprise, like Cobble asked.
Doorwell is also known for botany! Even here, she is still wearing her old wreath on her cotton hair to remind everyone of nature. It was a good example of the obedience to her legacy and purpose, but the school doesn't abide by that offer. No flowers, terrible paleness, and the wall seems to even speak of misery!
"Hey, everyone! What is this terrible place? How about we make it beautiful! Then you'll love this place!" I reached my wreath.
So Doorwell had to make the place beautiful to make everyone obedient! Obedience can only be earned in a place that respects them, just as they respect it back. The flowers on her head are always ready to pollinate for any green to nourish, and only a pinch is enough to make a terrible wall as beautiful as looking at a mossy trellis.
"For my next performance, I will turn this place into green gleaming! Flowers all over this place! A garden to make you all an obedient student! Haha!"
Clap! My hands are swirling in a circle, and a rain of pollen falls upon the ground.
Wonders are everywhere, blooming for the flowers that never got to make it here. From red to purple, flowers start growing on the unattractive corner of this children-filled house. Now it looks even better with a pale green wall, too! That grey colour could only mean nothing but the misery of a Frowling.
"Are those...flowers?"
"Hey! I'm allergic to pollen! Achoo!!"
"Hey, cookie-girl! Stop this! You're insane!"
"Aagh! The flowers are aching my eyes! What are these things??"
Oh, the children love this! They are obedient and kind as they should be. How I feel more responsible to myself as Cobble asked me to, and there's no doubt that I could go for another trick! I just had to turn those children into a happy cookie like me!
"For my next performance, I shall turn you all into a cookie with me!"
"Ms. Doorwell! What are you doing? You need to stop this!" Ariel confronts. "This isn't good for the teachers to see!"
"Yeah, it looks good, but..." Luriel grabs a flower on her head. "You'll be in big trouble if you did this wonderful thing!"
"What? Stop? You two are such silly children! Why would I stop when I have so much fun?" I pushed them aside, as my flour is more urgent.
My admirers are against me? How is it possible? My hands are already on my flowers, and my dough is dry as raw flour. The children are waiting for my performance, and there's nothing they could do to stop me. It's only me and the children now, the obedient children! Feel the flour of my lovely heart!
But I feel weak. All of a sudden, I feel—Wait, I am not doing this right. I am so weak.
"Ergh...umph! Uhm...?"
"Ms. Lovemore? Are you okay?" Luriel asked.
My conscience returns at the end! Right before I could make an inevitable mess, the joy was gone inside of me so quickly. I feel so fragile and crumb-like in my chest, as if I'm struggling to breathe. As soon as the sugar was gone from my body, I felt nothing but air dragging me down.
"Ms. Lovemore!!"
Bump! I landed on the ground.
"Wow, what a show! Where's our show, cookie-girl?"
"This is definitely not part of the show, isn't it?"
It's horrible. I feel nothing but pain in all my cookies. The show was cut short in an embarrassing scene of a fallen angel. The children were confused, disappointed, and even walked off in shame after hearing nothing from me. I was too weak to talk after the sugar entered my blood.
"That's what you get for throwing those foods, you piece of cake! And that's a word for ya to learn!" The lunch lady yelled. "Somebody tell her that I'm not serving you deserts for a week thanks to her!"
"Oh, no! She's dead! She's dead! Somebody, help her! Please, can anyone call the nurse?"
I can hear Luriel yelling. But nobody seems to bat an eye at us. But it's not like I died as they thought.
"What would the nurse do with that thing?"
"She's not a thing! She's a human!"
"I don't know. Humans don't fly or grow flowers out of nothing!"
"Or being a cookie in the first place!"
Some people are still talking badly about me, despite the gift I gave them. I have failed the students with my lack of talent, and all they had to see was this angel lying weak on this very floor. My ears are ringing as usual, the result of an overdose of sugar, as the doctor said.
"D-Doctor..." I muttered.
And speaking of a doctor, perhaps I could only think of them coming here to help me again. After doubting them for a moment, I finally find myself in a moment of clarity from their words. I began to notice how yellow this green was on the wall, which only disgusted me.