I went to school on a cold November morning, just like any other day. It was 2009, and I was in fifth grade. The whole class was discussing the Halloween party. I was sitting alone at the last bench, eating my lunch and staring at the birds outside the window. I told myself there was no need to care about the Halloween party. Lunch break would be over soon anyway.
Then I heard someone ask, "Who do you think is the most beautiful girl in our class? And tell us who the ugliest is too."
A group of students had started discussing it.
Just then, Gilbert walked back into the classroom after break. Without hesitation, he pointed at me and said, "She is the ugliest person I've ever seen."
After that, everyone in the class started bullying me. Even though Gilbert left the school in the middle of the session, the damage had already been done. My school life became a nightmare. Students called me horrible names and found every possible way to torment me. I hated my school life because of him.
"Rita."
A voice from behind pulled Rita out of her thoughts. She turned around and saw Jasmine.
"If you don't like him, why are you marrying him?" Jasmine asked.
Rita, who had been lost in her memories, replied, "I just don't like him."
Jasmine stepped beside her. "Seriously? But why? We couldn't find anything wrong with him."
Rita hesitated. Should I tell them the truth? What would they think if they found out I had been bullied in school and was now marrying the same person?
Lily interrupted her thoughts. "Oh, come on, Rita. You can tell us. It's normal to feel jealous."
Rita looked at Lily and said firmly, "No... Please. I don't like him because he treats women badly."
Lily and Jasmine exchanged glances.
"Okay," Lily said, "what exactly did he do? He seems perfectly normal around his friends."
Rita closed her eyes briefly. "We went to the same school. He used to bully other students."
"Did he bully you?" Jasmine asked suddenly.
The question startled Rita.
"No," she replied quickly. "I wasn't exactly his victim, but everyone was scared of him, including me."
Jasmine gently placed a hand on Rita's shoulder.
Rita turned to face her and said, "See? I told you. He's not a good person. That's why I don't want to marry him."
Lily asked softly, "Then why are you marrying him?"
"I don't want to. My family is forcing me into this," Rita admitted.
Lily stepped closer. "Then you should tell them about the bullying. They'll support you."
Rita let out a bitter laugh.
"Support me? If they cared about me even a little, they wouldn't have engaged me without my knowledge. My family only cares about business and their fake reputation. Even if I say no now, nothing will change. They'll never understand what I've been through."
After that conversation, everyone became busy with the wedding preparations.
One evening, Rita stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself. Jasmine and Lily came up behind her.
"How are you going to live with someone like that?" Jasmine asked quietly.
Rita sighed.
"I don't know."
And that thought terrified her.