Unmasking Colors

Staring at my clock, I realize that I’m late. Scurrying toward my closet I hastily button a sweater and jump into a pair of pants.

Without eating breakfast I sprint out the door. Soon I’m breathing in the scent of Citron and Sage. Always keeping my head down, a person wearing a black leather jacket bumps into me.

“Sorry-“,
“Watch it fat-ass!” A feminine voice responds.

Heaving out breaths, I let go of the insult and scurry on to my class. Sprinting up the stairs, I arrive panting like a thirsty dog.

The teacher comes in two seconds before I sit down. Her eyes plant on me. Its unusual how she makes the ones that are ranked last her 'favorites', and ones who are at the top her least favorite.
~~~
Being rank last has its advantages. Even though people might look to you as being stupid, at least they won't care about anything you do because in their eyes it's just plain stupidity.

I would've been ranked a little higher than last if it wasn't for my...disability. At least that's what they call it. If a person wear's glasses, everyone has too. So they try to avoid glasses as much as possible no matter how visually impaired the person is.

It's their version of saying"You were born with it, now deal with it." It's a bit harsh, but it also teaches us to accept what we were born with. Contact lenses are a solution, but it's uncomfortable. When I was four, dizziness is what I always felt. I would always whisper to my old brother:


"Letters- floating and spinning."
And he would just laugh. It was when I started kindergarten when my teachers couldn't understand me, what I was writing, or what I was seeing to be exact. My father-who was worried- brought me to an eye doctor.

The doctor made me do a series of literacy tests, even though I knew only sentences at that time. When the results came in, my mother was sitting on the living room couch shedding tears. I ask her what's wrong, and then she said the word:
"Dyslexia"

Being a four year old child, I really had no idea what was going on. Through years of growing up, I finally understood that word, and I used to hope for my disability to heal. But apparently disabilities don’t heal, they stay. Problems have solutions but some are only temporary.
And guess what? I have to keep that a secret too. These days I carry a transparent plastic ruler in my bag, every time I'm reading a textbook I secretly take it out and place it on the page, it does help.

Especially when you’re reading a textbook with tiny writing that scrambles back and forth in a different sequences. Squinting is also a solution but only for a few seconds.
~~~
As the chalk travels across the board, the letters twist and fumble like they’re playing with each other. Letters switch places and sequences, making my eyes flicker multiple times. After a while I finally quit trying, I’m just going to ask Sehun to lend me his notes; he lives a few houses down from mine anyway.


Dropping the pencil on my desk noiselessly, I keep staring at the board. What was “Martyrs are people who sacrifice their lives to serve God.” is now: “Faults are people who sacrifice their lives for society.” Where did the extra letters come from? My eyes flutter; I must be imagining things.

"Hyacinth, who do you think supposedly invented the technology to what it is now?" The teacher snaps a question at me. I don't know, we've never reviewed this topic before or have we?

"Leonardo Di Vinci" I respond, "WRONG!" She exclaims. Everyone was holding their laughs in. My cheeks burn and I wonder if anyone else was as mortified as I was. Time passes as long as you're bored. And time did exactly just that, the normal routines, the normal dress code, the food we're supposed to eat, it's all sickening.

~~~
I didn't want to walk home nor take a bus. In other words, I was to sit in a car. Examining the scenery of what this society has to offer. There isn't much, but it should still be appreciated.
From what I was told Cars are only for people who have enough money. Walking aimlessly on the uneven pavement, children with white shirts pass by, playfully kicking an aluminum can as a substitute for a soccer ball. I spot my mother impatiently tapping her foot standing in front of our house.

"What took you so long?" She scolds me,
"Visitors are coming, and we’ve got to get you ready!" She shoos me into the house. My plans of escaping to the forest won't happen this Tuesday, I hope Baekhyun understands. Pushing me into the washroom, she throws me an embroidered floral skater dress.
It seems scandalous for someone who values humbleness. The hem of the dress stops at my mid-thighs, exposing the tiny hairs on my legs. People might even mistake me as a Delstaticus going to one of their night clubs.


My hair locks are all over the place and it looks like a mess- well at least in my opinion- Muttering to my bedroom, my mother gestures me to sit on my desk.
"Stay still," commanded my mother.

A brush is clasped in her hands, and she gently brushes it on my face. For at least ten minutes, I sat there perfectly still. "Done," She says with pride, like an artist who has successfully completed a masterpiece. Looking in the mirror, I'm almost bewildered. For the first time, I consider myself...beautiful. The fact that I complimented myself is also jarring.
Fumbling with my thumbs, the chimes that are attached to the door makes a faint sound.


Usually, the children are supposed to stay in their room’s everytime someone visits.
But this time, Jaeson is the only one in his room right now. And I’m stuck sitting on the couch trying to cover up my bare legs. Sitting across from me is a family of five. The two ladies sneer at me. They must be his older sister's. Fixing my eyes on the boy, his eyes are peculiarly hazel, it’s the same color the boy I sit beside the cafeteria has.
The boy sitting before me is Kai.


Our eyes gape at each other, passing the mixed emotions back and forth. He must be thinking what I’m thinking: Why are we here? His bowl cut, is styled to a spike, looking awkward on his head. He used hair gel. The aroma of fresh baked cookies fills the house, making my stomach gurgle. Surely, Jaeson’s too. My parents come out of the kitchen carrying a tray of cookies and some milk.

What? Is Santa Claus coming? Last time I checked reality, he doesn’t exist.
They both sit down, “The Intimacy of our family and Kai’s family have gotten super close.” My mother says with a slight pucker on her lips. I narrow my eyes at the floor. Tacitus families are always close with every other’s family in their Head-Commons.
You know pretty much everybody; this statement doesn’t differentiate anything. I try not to produce sweat, or tears, it might ruin the makeup. But my hands are already trembling in its place.


“We’ve made an agreement.” The woman across me says. I notice that her distinctive jaw, wide eyes, and neat eyebrows are identical to Kai’s. There are creases on his father’s forehead.
“In response to the Head-Common Rules, we’ve arranged for you two to get married.” Rocks are dropping into my stomach.
No, I’m only seventeen. He’s only twenty.

Silence fills the room. "Is there any comments you’d like to say?" Kai's father says, but both of us are too shocked to speak. "Moving on, our plan is that tonight, you two will go out on a date, and return here at 10:00 o'clock sharp. Following traditions, our boy will stay over in your house for one night in your bedroom and you will do the same." Kai and I exchange glances.

We certainly don't want to share our bedrooms. "Well? What are you waiting for?" My mother giggles like a schoolgirl. Kai is the first to stand up. I don't want to be forcefully hauled by a boy who is supposedly my future husband, so I also stand up.


The first thing he does is intertwine his fingers into mine, sending shivers down my spine. He gives it a light squeeze. After a few steps he turns back and says: "Excuse us," with a smile. He's a believable actor and I am not. I can't be placid in this situation, especially when my life and freedom hangs from it.

~~~
As soon as the front door of my house closes we let go, wiping the sweat that has mixed onto our clothes. "Let's get this straight," he says, "I don't want to get married." I say the words he was planning to say.

A smile appears on his face, and into mine. We start walking on the uneven pavement. "So? If I visit your home, will your sister tear my hair to pieces?" I joke, "I don't know, will your brother beat me up tonight?" He jokes back. The laughs soon fade, and emotion runs through us.

"Isn’t funny?” Kai snorts but it sounded more like a sniffle.
“What?” I say clueless,
“When I was seven, you were four. I remember that I always teased you because every step you took you’d always fall on your face-“,
”And, your boogers were hanging off your nose.” I interrupt him.

His face flushes. “But now, its awkward thinking I’d ever be in an arranged marriage with you.” He chortles, “What is that supposed to mean?” I snap. He says nothing, and walks in front of me. It takes a while for me to catch up considering I’m wearing three-inch heels. Stopping him from walking, I lean in to whisper to his ear.


“I don’t want to go to a restaurant. Let’s go to the forest.” He won’t agree for sure. Kai furrows an eyebrow and nods-unexpectedly. Heading the opposite direction, he links his arms into mine. I snort. “What? Are you scared?” I tease him,

“Whatever,” He grumbles back. The uneven pavement changes into dead grass as trees get closer and closer. We arrive at the hollow tree I usually sit at every Tuesday. I couldn’t care less about my dress; if my parents happen to ask why it's dirty (which they probably will) I’ll just say that a waitress spilled food on it or something like that.

The sun still hadn’t set yet. Purple, pink and orange streaks are still lingering in the sky. I pat the spot next to me, gesturing for Kai to sit in it. “Do you do this all of the time?” He says mesmerized by the sunset, “Well, what else am I going to do on Tuesdays?” A smile appears on my face.

His arms go around my shoulders and I stiffen. But soon, I lose all the tension. I check my watch, “That’s weird we’ve been out for an hour already.” I sigh. “We should probably go before it gets too dark.” Kai insists.

If I look into the distance I could see two figures coming this way. Few minutes past, and I realize it is Baekhyun and some girl.
“Hide,” I say before hiding behind the hollow tree. Kai drives the heel of his palm to his head. “You really think hiding behind a tree would work?” Kai argues. I stop hiding behind the tree and face them full on.

"What happened to you Tacitus? You look like an Oblivious."
ByunBaekhyun looks at me in amusement. The girl behind him rolls her eyes. The girl must be his future wife. I bumped into her the other day.
Kim Taeyeon is her name.

“Well, hello” Baekhyun says shyly, not to me but to Kai. Kai happens to ignore his greeting and fixes his eyes at Taeyeon who is fixing her eyes at me. “Newly announced couple huh?” Kai says sarcastically. Why is he being defensive at this moment? I nudge his shoulders.

“Stop it.” I mutter to him, “You guys are newly announced couple too.” Baekhyun snorts in response. “What’s your relationship with this guy?” Kai asks me. Why the hell is he being like this? He’s not even my husband yet. “This boy took the words right out of my mouth.” Taeyeon says.

“We’re just friends, calm your horse's ass” Baekhyun barks.
I hate fights, and I need to get out of this situation. “Thank for the compliment, Baekhyun. We’ll get going now, it’s late.” I make a bad excuse and I drag Kai- who is still looking at Baekhyun like he’s about to punch him- back to my house.

~~~

“What’s wrong with you? You’re not my husband yet and you’re already like this. And it’s not even cute!” I retort, Kai doesn’t respond. He unties his tie and wraps it around his neck without retying it again. We don’t talk until we arrive at my house. Unwillingly, I grab his hands and intertwined them with mine; just like how he did the first time we met a few hours ago.

“It’s my turn to be daring.” I whisper before opening the door.

My parents look at our faces before our hands. We bow two times, I force a smile up my cheeks and so does he. “Kai, Jaeson was willing to lend you some clothes.” My mother points to a stack of white clothes on the round table.

“Thank you, mother-in-law,” Kai says politely. Kai and I separate, him going to the guest washroom a few hallways down the living room, and I, using the washroom upstairs.
Washing the make-up off my face, reminds me that beauty can’t last forever. I think about all the girls who can’t go a single day without make-up and I get why.

While wearing make-up, they look in the mirror and they view themselves as beautiful person like how I viewed myself today. But why do they consider themselves hideous without make-up? Make-up gives them a little boost of confidence,

that boost can help them overcome things during their day. That boost can become a tool for them to overcome their daily life. Dressed in my normal pyjamas I enter my room and Kai is already there.
“It’s strange how you jam a ukulele into a tight draw-“, I use my tiptoes to reach up into his mouth and cover it.


“Shut up, will you?” I demand, “A Tacitus demanding?” He quirks an eyebrow. Wrinkling my nose I jump into my bed. “You have to share the bed, says mother in law.” He says,
but I’m too tired to say anything in response.

And I doubt he’ll sleep in my bed with me, he’d be too scared to do that. I don’t think he’s gotten over the girl cooties yet. A body slips into the bed, but I’m too tired to mind it.

“Sorry, I thought he was insulting you.” He mutters.

Notes

Hey guys, so, not a lot of people are reading and it makes me sad. It takes me 4 days to write a chapter because of school no one's really reading it :(