Seiza Fransca

⌊ I was born different. I was born abnormal. My mom and my dad despised me. People never wanted me.

When I was born, my mom and dad loved me. They would do anything for me... at least, that was what they told me. When I learned how to talk, read, and write, they discovered something that made them... let's just say disappointed.

Since I was six, I had always been the bullied kid. Other kids would call me names and make fun of me. I never complained; in fact, I thought it was cool. I felt special. The fact that other children called me the way they called me was special. They remembered me because of the name.

"Dixy. Hey, Dixy! Come on! Your name is Dixy, right?" They laughed.
"No. My name is Seiza Fransca. Nice to meet you!" I tried being nice.
"Hahahaha, she can't even spell her name right", they laughed again.

My teacher tried to defend me, but I refused her kindness. I knew I was abnormal, so there was no point in them doing that, right? I just wanted it to ride itself. I wanted to be the water in the river. Flowing with water.

"Syairah. Come on, honey. I know you can do it!" They gave me help.
"No, Miss Deina. I can do it myself", I refused the help.
"... Dear, my name is Dara."

At home...
It was the worst. I tried to be strong, but...

*Whip*

"WHY CAN'T YOU BE NORMAL?" Dad couldn't stop being angry at me. "YOUR NAME IS SYAIRAH FRANSCESCA. HOW COULD YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!"

He kept hitting me. I kept restraining myself. I held back my tears. No one was on my side.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry! I... I'm trying my best."

Even my mom couldn't bear me. She couldn't help me...

"What did you say this is, Syairah?"
"Penicil?"
"No, honey. It's pencil. Pencil! P-E-N-C-I-L. Pencil. We have been over this ten times now."

What I wanted was just to be normal. I wanted a normal life. I wished to be without any of this... harassment. I never wanted this... abnormal thing. I couldn't even write properly.

When I was in fifth grade, my parents abandoned me. I stopped going to school and started living in an orphanage. I felt welcome for the first time.

It was a weird experience, but I appreciated it.

"What's your name, sweety?"
"Seiza... Seiza Fransca."
"What a lovely name!"

They accepted me. They love me!

"SEIZA! Let's play games!"
"Okay!"

It felt normal for once...

...

[BREAKING NEWS: We tuned in as InstaMonstaca challenges GrillMons to a battle...!]

Hero?

"Hey, Seiza! Look at them! They are so cool!"
"Who are they?"
"They call them heroes!"
"Heebo?"
"No, silly. Hero."
"How do you spell it?"
"Hairio!"
"Hero?"
"YES! That's right!"

I was sixteen at the time. I remember when the first-ever hero was born. That was two years ago. I didn't care much about it, but apparently, people love... heroes. I didn't get the hype. Didn't heroes already exist? I thought they were born a long time ago. It's just that they don't wear a mask and cape.

[ANOTHER NEWS: We got something massive today! The Hero, the first-ever hero, who can fly and is as strong as a gorilla, has something to say about the current situation.]

"This isn't right! Why can't the higher-ups act on this? People are going to get hurt because of this."
"Why do you think that? We, reporters from MetroNews, would like to know."
"They're endangering not only the environment, but also normal humans. What is it that you people don't understand from that?"
"Don't be too sad because you are not so famous anymore, Hero. It's time to move on."
"HEY! That wasn't very nice. Don't you, viewers, feel wrong about this? Hey. HEY! Why do you guys just leave like that? Come back!"

Yeah, I didn't care. Even the news didn't convince me about this hero's business. People watched them on TV because of their fight anyway. Hero? No, they're maniacs.

"Hey, Dani! Let's play a game."
"Hold on, Seiza. The new story about the hero is about to air on TV."
"But..."
"Come on, Seiza! Let's just watch TV first!"

They robbed my fun time...
But that's okay. I didn't care.

...

"Sister. What is this?"
"That's called a screwdriver."
"... PointyFinger?"
"... Yeah, you could call it that."
"How about this?"
"That's a wrench."
"... O Strip C Stick?"
"... That's great, Seiza."

This was what happened when your friends didn't want to play with you anymore. That day, I learned something. Yeah, you heard me correctly. I learned something new. Something that would change my life forever.

"LOOK, SISTER! I'm bickering the SoundBox!"
"Oh, no! Seiza. Why did you break the radio?"
"Don't worry, sister. I can fix it!"

I was gifted.

"See!"

I was actually... normal.

"Oh, my, Seiza. You... You actually did it."

I was actually... amazing.

"Yeay!!!"

...

"Seiza. What did you make? Why is it... looks funny?"
"It's a game plank..."
"Board. Game Board."
"... Yeah, that! I made us a game plank of BearAndTree."
"... With snake and ladder as the design?"
"Yes! BearAndTree."
"Impressive. We're only seventeen, and you manage to make this? You'll be great in the future, Seiza."

Praises. I never thought I'd get that from my friend. It was a warm surprise.

But...

"OH! It is time! The annual show!"
"Hero show?"
"Yes! Who will be the contestant?"
"But... I just made this. You don't want to play with me?"
"Come on, Seiza. This is important for me. We can play later."

...
Important...
Was I important?

My parents didn't want me.
My so-called friend bullied me.
My teacher couldn't help me.
Now, my real friend... didn't see me as important?

...

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Seiza, why are you locking your door? Sweetie?"
"Hiks"
"Seiza, are you crying?"

I wanted to have a normal life. I wanted to be treated as normal.

...

I want to be... Normal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I regretted saying that...

"Interesting? INTERESTING?! MOTHERF*CKER, I want a normal life. This is happening because of you! And now I only have three to five years of life left. You make me a monster! I never asked for this! NEVER!" ⌉