Uncle Lionel trembled with rage. "How could this be considered as making a big deal? Lisa pushed you to the brink! What about your parents? They're not just going to stand by while you're being tormented by Lisa, right?"
I lowered my head, thinking that with Dad being the chauffeur and Mom being the housekeeper of the Thornton family, they wouldn't dare confront Lisa about this. They believed Lisa was always right and that I should just endure the mistreatment; after all, our family's survival depended on the Thornton family.
"I want to transfer to a different school," I stated softly, revealing the real motive behind my visit.
Uncle Lionel froze momentarily before catching on. "You should definitely transfer to a different school and get out of that terrible place! Do you have a place in mind, Dominic? I'll make it happen as long as you tell me! You should head to Casoria! You see, I'll be able to take care of you there if you attend university there as well!"
Casoria, the capital city, was a four-hour drive from here. That place was far enough to cut myself off from everyone and everything I didn't want to deal with here.
Uncle Lionel was highly efficient. He pulled some strings to reach out to the best high school in Casoria. That high school immediately accepted my transfer application after reviewing my grades and my medical diagnosis report for my acute stress disorder.
"Your transfer should be finalized sometime next week, Dominic."
"Thank you so much, Uncle Lionel."
"You don't have to be so polite to me, you silly kid," Uncle Lionel said as he ruffled my hair, his eyes brimming with sympathy. He then said, "You should stay with me for a few days and not return home anymore, Dominic."
I changed my SIM card that night, leaving the old one in the bin at the hospital. I lay in bed in Uncle Lionel's guest room in his apartment, looking at the moon outside the window.
I realized it was my first night in a decade without saying goodnight to Lisa. I would no longer receive her daily check-ins or the demands she used to make whenever she felt like it.
I couldn't help but feel empty inside, but more than anything, I felt a sense of liberation.
It was then that my phone buzzed with a message from Uncle Lionel. "That young lady from the Thornton family has been calling me nonstop, looking for you, Dominic. I'm ignoring her, though. You made the right call, Dominic—some people just aren't worth your time."
I looked at the message with tears streaming down my face. I realized that Uncle Lionel was right—Lisa truly wasn't worth my energy and time. I felt like a complete fool as my ten years of effort resulted in a deliberate public shaming from Lisa.
I completed all the transfer procedures a week later. I kept Mom and Dad in the dark about it, claiming that I was going to Casoria for a two-week academic camp. They believed me and were even proud, thinking that I had brought honor to the family.
Mom handed me 150 dollars just before I left, saying, "You shouldn't be too frugal while you're away, Dominic. You should buy yourself something good to eat. You should also stop spending all your time studying—get out and socialize with your friends."
Dad added, "You should take care of yourself and don't be a burden to Ms. Thornton."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, realizing that Dad thought my participation in the camp was connected to Lisa.
I simply remained silent, accepted the money, and nodded dismissively.
Uncle Lionel drove over to get me.
I didn't even look back as the car left the city where I had spent 18 years of my life.
Casoria Central High School exceeded my expectations. Their campus was sprawling and green, with a serious focus on academics.
I was introduced to my new homeroom teacher, John Zimmerman, who was a mild-mannered middle-aged man.
He glanced at my transcript, asked no questions, and patted me on the back, saying, "Welcome to Casoria Central High School, Dominic. You can think of this place as your new home from now on."
I sat in the fourth row next to the window, and my deskmate was Leonardo Ziegler, who was very outgoing.
"Hey there! I'm Leonardo Ziegler! You can just call me Leo!" Leonardo smiled brightly, his expression full of warmth and confidence.
"I'm Dominic Hunt."
"You have a very cool-sounding name, Dominic—like the name of a hero from an action-fantasy novel!"
Leonardo was very friendly and outgoing, chirping away as he told me details about the class, like which teachers were strict and which cafeteria window served the best food.
He then pointed toward a quiet young lady with fair skin and a sharp-looking profile, reading in front of the classroom, and said, "That's Winnie Gibson, our class president. She's a straight-A student and very kind. You can ask her for help if you have any questions about schoolwork, Dominic."
Winnie, as if sensing our gazes, turned around.
