Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 11

Angel's POV

As we scrubbed the cafeteria floors, the silence was a welcome relief. Miss Stefan was nowhere to be seen, and we could finally talk freely.

Cylan spoke up first, her voice laced with frustration. "Ugh! I can't believe this place. It's a joke that is not at all funny. They're literally stealing our freedom."

I nodded in agreement. "I know, right? It's like they think we're not capable of taking care of ourselves."

"I'm telling you it's like a prison. I can't believe we are to learn how to be better humans here in this archaic system!" Cylan said, dumping her mop on the floor. She was a radical activist of everything, I was getting to learn.

Dilada, ever the peacekeeper, chimed in. "Let's not forget, we're here for our own good. We need to focus on our studies and personal growth."

But Cylan was having none of it. "Personal growth? You call being locked up and controlled personal growth? I call it suffocation." She groaned, "I'm just fed up, okay? So my dearest sweetheart, this is not learning, this is being controlled. And I'm sick of it. We're not kids for heaven's sake."

Hande, always the jokester, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least we have each other. And who knows, maybe we'll learn to appreciate the little things in life...like freedom."

I sighed. "I just wish we could talk to someone about this. Someone who would listen and understand."

Dilada sighed too. "I just want to get through this year and get out of here."

But Cylan was undeterred. "We can't just sit back and accept this. We need to stand up for ourselves."

Hande nodded. "I'm also sick of being watched all the time. Can't we just have some privacy? Why does she have to live with us, in our room?" She whispered that last part, her eyes darting to the door as if Miss Stefan would appear any minute.

Cylan's face lit up with passion. "That's exactly my point. They don't trust us, which is really shitty. But we are capable of anything. We're smart, strong women who deserve to be treated with respect. We have the right to speak up y'all." Dilada sighed. "Cylan, please can we not do this? I'm begging you. You will get us all in trouble."

But Cylan was just getting started. "No, we haven't talked about it enough. We need to acknowledge the systemic oppression we're facing here."

Hande raised an eyebrow. "Systemic oppression?"

Cylan nodded. "Yes!"

"Girl, what are you tapping about? You know I don't know so many words..." Hande said, dropping her mop too.

"Systematic oppression is what it is. They're controlling our every move, dictating what we can and can't do."

Charlotte laughed.

all looked at her, wondering what made her crack up. Hande's face

forgot that someone else didn't know more words than I did." Hande said, and whispered into my ear, "Maybe she thought Cylan said she'd light her

the only one who seemed genuinely interested,

zee way you speak... eet ees like...

talk?" Dilada asked out of the

Charlotte exclaimed excited that someone got

word, and you shouldn't take it lightly. This is serious. We're

all burst out

giving a conference talk, and you all need

I said to her,

I'm serious, guys!" Cylan insisted, "We need to take a stand and fight. They shouldn't have to bullshit us all

finished her speech, Hande who had been pensive and unexpectedly sombre spoke up. She'd been quiet for a while,

know what's really annoying me?" she said. "I can't even sneak out to see this guy

all looked

"I'm sorry, who?"

"What guy?"

I asked at the

ever met. I met him here, in the dorm, and... ugh,

we had no idea you were seeing someone.

sighed. "I don't know if I should say. You

Hande, spill. We won't tease

blurted out. "Fine. His name is Max, and he's... perfect. He's just really sweet, and we have a lot of fun together. And he's really cute. But now, with all these rules, I can barely even talk to him." "Ugh! She said 'perfect'." Cylan made a gagging sound. "I can never understand ladies

their eyes at her

sound like such a bad thing for a

scoffed and waved her hand dismissively and

for Hande. I knew she

him, and then Miss

cleared my throat. "Um...okayyyy. But Hande, come on. You know why you're here. You got in here for a reason. Max also

huh? Reminding me of my past mistakes just when I was about to

shrugged. "Someone has to. You got an STD, Hande. That's why you're

mean I want to be trapped here, doing chores all day and missing out on fun." "If you say