His Unselfish Shelter

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

    A twelve years old boy, coming from a middle class family in the largest state in Singapore. That’s me. My life wasn’t that hard, but it wasn’t that easy as well. Living with my Mom in this country while my Dad work as an investor in the Philippines, my heart was dying to have it’s permanent shelter.

     Because Mom is an overprotective one, I carry on studying at home not until now. Dad is finally taking on my side, letting me go to a regular school. It wasn’t that easy at first, but I’ll get the hang of it pretty much sooner or later, they said. But having my entire educational life being locked up at home, I don’t know if I could ever talk to someone at school.

“Are you ready for your first day in regular school, Gab?” My Mom asked, while starting the engine of her car to take me to school.

“I guess so...”

“You guess so? I thought you wanted this? Aren’t you excited at all? If you want to change your mind, you’re free to, honey.”

“Mom, I can do this... I promised. I’m just... You know, having a life inside of our house while not knowing any other person makes me feel nervous. But I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. If something happens, and I didn’t like it, I promise I’ll tell you. Then I’ll come back to study at home.”

“Sure thing, son. I just don’t want you to be unprotected.”

“I’m nearly a teenager, Mom. I can do this, I promise.”

     She sighed in defeat, before nodding at my direction. She started the engine and we drive all the way from home to my new and first ever school. As we arrived, I could see my fellow students talking to each other in front of the school yard. I can’t believe that this is finally happening right now. I finally got a chance to introduce myself to other people.

“Well, someone looks excited. Hop down now, Gab. Good luck for your first day of school,” Mom stated.

“Thanks, Mom. Thank you for letting me go and experience this. I love you.”

“Sure thing. And I love you too. Please take care of yourself.”

    I nodded, before giving her a peck of kiss on her cheeks. I hopped down from the car, before waving my goodbyes to my Mom. She smiled at me and I did the same.

     I thought that this would be easy, but as soon as my Mom drove away, I instantly feel nervous. I could see the other students staring at me intensely while whispering something to the person next to them.

“Hey! Are you new here?”

     I nearly jumped up out of shock as a girl poked her finger on the right side of my belly.

“Hey!” I scolded her.

“Nasty. I like you,” she stated.

“Whatever.”

“You didn’t answer my question!” she complained, and I sighed.

“Yes, I’m new here. What about you?” I tried to socialize, but just imagining myself talking to other people makes me really sick.

“Nope. I study here since preschool.”

“Oh,” was my short reply.

“And you? Where are you came from?” she asked curiously.

    It was only then when I realized how cute she is. She’s a red headed person with deep hazel eyes. She has freckles on the both side of her cheeks and a medium tanned colored skin. I don’t know why, but I instantly got mesmerized and comfortable with this lady.

“From home, I guess.” She chuckled at my response.

“I asked where school have you been before, silly.”

“I don’t know. I do home study before so... Yeah. I don’t came from any school.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Uhm... It’s because... I’ll tell you a secret if you promised that you wouldn’t say this to anyone, okay?” I nodded, badly wanted to know about it. “Pinky swear?” she raised her hand with her pinky sticking out of it.

“Okay, okay. Whatever.” I got it and she beamed at me.

“My Mom and Aunt told me that children who home schooled are the ones who cannot take care of themselves that’s why they choose to stay at home.”

“What?! That wasn’t true.”

     My brows furrowed in confusion as she told me that secret. I instantly want to meet her Mom and Aunt and tell them that they are both wrong about their impression of those children who are homeschooling.

“I know, I know. That’s what I’ve told to them before. I’m glad I didn’t believe it. Now look at you. You’re the evidence I’ve been waiting to come.”

      She was about to say something more when the bell rings causing all the students hanging outside to go to their respective classrooms. I was surprised when she took my hand and gently shook it.

“I’m Erevell, by the way.”

“G-Gabriel. But you can call me Gab.”

“Sure, Gab.”

    I thought that she will finally let go of my hand but she didn’t. She keep our hands together before intertwining our fingers and pulling me inside of the building.

“Come on, Gab! I’ll show you around!” she gladly stated.

“Okay, okay.” I smiled to myself.

      While walking through the hallways, I could see the awful stares of those people to Erevell. But she didn’t mind them, so I just did the same thing. 

“First, we need to get our classes’ schedules so that we will know what places and subjects to go.”

“Sure.”

      She continued to pull me around before we finally arrived at our destination. I was merely disappointed when she let go of my hand and I couldn’t understand why.

     She talked to the person on one of those tables before they gave her a piece of paper. Two, actually.

“This one is for you.” She offered it to me. “There you go.”

“Thanks. Class schedules...” I read.

“Oh look! We have the same classes together! Except for the first and second period...” She looked disappointed as well.

“That’s fine. We’re still going to see each other again, right?” I asked her.

“Sure! Anyways, I need to go to my classes now. You should probably go too.”

“Oh. Yeah. So... See you later?” I asked.

“See you!” She waved at me and I did the same.

       As she vanished into my sight, nervousness attacked my whole system again. I slowly walk towards the entrance of my classroom, where my new classmates are all looking at me like I have some kind of a disease.

“He’s the one...” I heard them whispered.

     I just sighed to myself, before making my way to the farthest seat in front. After I sat, I looked up, only bombarded by a piece of crumpled paper on my face.

“Hey, you!” One of our guy classmate shouted. “Please don’t spread the Erevell disease in here!”

“That’s right!” Some of them shouted.

      I just looked down, feeling sorry for myself. But aside from pity, I felt curious and I badly wanted to know what are they talking about Erevell. I guess that thing will remained a secret and a mystery until now for our teacher finally got inside of our room greeting us with a wide smile plastered upon her face.

“Good morning, everyone!” she greeted.

      All of my classmates stood up and greeted her back. I’m the only one who didn’t. She looked at me in confusion, and I stood up to greet her alone.

“Good morning, Ma’am. I’m sorry.”

    She nodded, before pulling out her attendance book. 

“Oh. So you’re the new student. Mr. Gabriel Elizar, huh?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“From home school?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Well I guess that explains why.”

     I don’t know why she said that, but I’m pretty sure that she did that on purpose. Maybe Erevell’s right. I need her and I do have so many things to know and learn in this new world of mine.