The alarm went off at 5:30, and for a moment, I wished the clock would just stop existing. I got up reluctantly, dragging my feet to the bathroom. I stood under the shower, letting the hot water pour over me like it could wash away all the frustration I'd been carrying. More than half an hour later, I stepped out wrapped in a towel, staring at the perfectly ironed uniform on the chair. I got dressed without much thought, trying to convince myself it was just another day I had to survive.
I went downstairs expecting to find my parents in the kitchen, but there was no sign of them. Of course, not that they ever had breakfast with me. I sat at the table, barely taking a bite of toast and a sip of juice before heading out to the porch. There he was again, the same man who'd driven me yesterday. I got in the car without saying a word.
"How ironic," I thought as I looked out the window. "Back in Venezuela, I never had a driver, and now I have one in a country where no one even knows who I am."
The ride was quiet, and as we arrived at the school, I felt the anxiety start to knot in my stomach. The first familiar face I saw was the Korean girl from yesterday.
"Hi!" she said with a cheerful smile. "We didn't get to introduce ourselves. I'm Minji."
"Isabela, but you can call me Isa," I replied, managing a faint smile.
"Nice to meet you, Isa."
We said goodbye since we had to go to different classes. Just when I thought the day might be a little less awkward, I bumped into someone in the hallway again.
"I'm starting to think you do this on purpose," I blurted, frustrated, when I realized it was the same girl from yesterday.
She shot me a deadly glare but said nothing. She simply kept walking as if I didn't exist. I huffed and made my way to class, trying to stay calm.
I sat down and pulled out my phone. At least I had that now, maybe I could use it to take pictures of the board and translate what I didn't understand. I looked around to see if anyone else was using theirs, but I didn't see a single phone. My eyes lingered on the moody girl.
It was impossible not to notice how stunning she was. Her black hair fell in perfect waves, almost unreal, and her face had the kind of symmetry you only saw in magazines. I caught myself staring, studying every detail, until suddenly she looked up.
My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. I quickly turned back to the board, pretending to focus.
During recess, I headed to a part of the school that opened up like a courtyard, scattered tables and trees offering patches of shade. I watched the girls around me, all lost in their language, chatting and laughing with a confidence that made me feel even more alone. My eyes wandered until I spotted Minji. I made my way toward her, but before I could say anything, someone beat me to it.
It was the same moody girl from this morning.
"I tried to find you on Instagram yesterday," she said casually, though her tone carried something sharp. "No luck. Why don't you have Instagram? Is your country so poor you can't use tech?"
My hands clenched into fists. I felt a mix of offense and surprise. But my heart raced with a different question. Why had she looked me up? What did she want to know?
Before I could respond, three of her friends walked over, laughing and chatting in Thai. One of them looked at me with curiosity.
"Greet my friends properly," the girl ordered.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"You're in Thailand. You should learn how to address your elders."
"What are you talking about?"
She gave me a mocking smile.
"If you're going to be here, you need to respect our culture. Bow and kiss my feet."
The disbelief must have been written all over my face.
"Listen," I said with clear irritation, "just because I'm not from here doesn't mean I didn't go to school. I know what a bow is. But kissing your feet? Don't make me laugh."
The girls burst into laughter, and one of them said something in Thai that I didn't catch.
"It's boring to mock you if you don't understand us," another added, giggling.
I looked at the one who seemed to be the leader. Her smile had sharpened into something more dangerous.
"How's your father doing?" she asked suddenly, her tone sending a chill down my spine.
My heart started pounding. I knew immediately. She knew. That look left no room for doubt.
"Did you come to Thailand to steal our money too?"
Laughter exploded around me, drawing attention from other girls nearby who gathered to watch the show. She said something else in Thai, and everyone laughed like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.
I tried to stay calm, but my breathing quickened. I wanted to walk away, but she grabbed my arm tightly.
"I told you... show some respect. Learn how to treat us if you're going to study here."
"Who do you think you are?" I shouted, my voice echoing across the courtyard.
I shoved her hard, catching everyone off guard, including her. For a moment, the group went silent.
"Easy, easy, girl… Ladies, don't mess with her. I read that her father is a murd..."
I didn't let her finish. In a blink, I was already on top of her. Years of hearing rumors and insults about my family had filled me with a rage that finally exploded. I felt her fist slam against the side of my head, right between my ear and temple. A sharp ringing filled my ears, but it didn't stop me.
Everything turned into chaos. Shouts and hurried footsteps surrounded us. I felt hands pulling at my uniform, trying to separate us while I struggled to catch my breath. I didn't understand a word anyone said, but I didn't need to. I knew I was in trouble.
The scolding was as predictable as it was annoying. They dragged me to the principal's office, where a stern-faced woman launched into an endless rant. I nodded every time she looked at me, hoping it might save me from worse consequences.
What burned the most was the double standard. The girl who hit me got two words. Two. A soft warning and nothing more. I watched her smirk as she walked out, sticking her tongue out at me just before the door closed behind her.
"Stupid bitch," I muttered under my breath, fists clenched beneath the desk.
When they finally let me go, I returned to class with my head down, though my blood was still boiling. I spent the rest of the day counting the minutes, with the only comfort being that no one else dared speak to me. At the end of the day, as I waited for the driver outside, a familiar voice broke through my thoughts.
"Do you have any idea what you've just done, going after Kamon?" Minji asked, her tone somewhere between concern and disbelief.
I blinked at her, confused.
"What's a Kamon?"
Minji chuckled softly and shook her head.
"P'Mon. Her nickname's Kamon. She's the daughter of one of the most powerful people in Thailand. Even if she's in the wrong, no one will do anything. Her parents are the school's biggest donors."
Anger flared up again inside me.
"I didn't even do anything!" I snapped. "She provoked me!"
Minji sighed and gave me a look of quiet sympathy.
"You shouldn't provoke her back. From now on, it's better if you ignore her. Lots of girls have been expelled because of her. I know it's hard to start at a new school, Isa, but you're here now. The best thing you can do… is try to become invisible."
Her words were a cold, hard reminder of reality. Before leaving, Minji gave me a warm smile, as if trying to soften everything she had just said.
I got into the van with a mix of anger and frustration. My face was still swollen and red from the punch, and I was already thinking up excuses for my parents. But every time I thought of Kamon, the fury burned hotter.
"What kind of name is Kamon, anyway?" I muttered, frowning. "Stupid Tutankhamon."
If she wanted war, I was more than ready to give it to her.