If It's Your Time, It's Your Time.
Today, I attended two orientations of my college school via Facebook live. While listening to the professors orient us about the things that we will be facing for the next months, I read the comment section. Most of the comments are complaints from students who are still not able to activate their account on the school website.
It's a big struggle. Hundreds, or maybe thousands of them are stressed out by this issue, and I could feel their anxiety increasing each day as start of classes gets closer and their account is still not accessible.
One thing is for sure. College life is not a walk in the park. But the pandemic made it even more challenging. I can't help but think...
*What if nobody ate that bat soup?*
World would be just like before. No health protocols required. No hospitals and vaccines shortages. No millions of people dying around the world.
But then I believe in the saying - *Everything happens for a reason.*
Perhaps pandemic happens because we need to realize the importance of creating memories with our loved ones, to enjoy and be grateful to the Lord of the things we have. Maybe because the world needs to replenish. Or simply, we need to learn the importance of being hygienic.
Whatever the reason may be, if I were asked to turn back the time and given the chance to warn the world about the danger of eating a bat soup, I wouldn't.
I learned a lot of lessons. And I met strangers whom I never thought would be a big part of my life in a strange way. I am sure it is not only me who got a lot of realizations because of the pandemic. It's God's choice still.
If it's your time, it's your time.
Lurking In The Dark 20
I had to report my presence to Nuvian's school after the calls made for my parents were ignored. My parents were at work, planting the breed seed Mom made which was why they were not able to take the calls. Miraculously, about hundreds of them in a short month. I was called to the head office and was notified that I needed to go to Nuvian's school any time of the day.
I decided to make it on lunch, I didn't wait for Drev to finish his usual noon talk with Ms. Halia but I did tell him of the appointment, nodding but almost hesitating to let me leave without him. It felt good to be back to my old school, Kraksen level. I couldn't help but smile when I saw the wishing well where I was pushed by Bebim after I told her that her skirt didn't look good. I never saw Bebim again when we moved to Fredran level, I didn't know what school she went, she just disappeared. I missed her so much, she was my closest friend, we fought and made it up by just sharing foods or letting each other borrow crayons, eraser, stylish stickers, hair pins, et cetera.
I went straight to the head office as what I was instructed. Much had changed since the last time I was here, three to two years ago. Stones were painted as the same color of the Kevan flag - white, yellow, and red. The fish pond was now larger and livelier with goldfishes swimming around. The hallway was richly lighted and the old library was down and was replaced by an audio visual room as what the signage above the entrance said.
I was greeted by Mr. Penale. He was now balding, chin sagging, but still authorative to look at in his suit and tie. Though the school environment had changed, his office somehow remained untouched by renovation. The same old wooden furnitures, family photo hang on the wall behind him, stack of folders resting on a paper rack on the corner, his desk nicely polished, I could see my reflection.
He scanned through the paper he was holding, fastened in a blue folder that was labeled: Atruf. The same sport Relis and Nuvian play. He put down the file, and cleared his throat with his hands clasped on the desk. "Good morning, Ms. Erlijan," he paused, hesitating to say the next words. "The...sister?" And his eyes fell to my hair, it happened a lot that all I did was smile and nod, as if not offended. The Erlijan was known, yes, because of the orange farm so everyone knew I was supposed to have blonde hair of either gold shade (mom's) or sandy (dad's) or a mixture like Nuvian's.
Judging his greeting, he didn't recognize me. Of course, I didn't expect that. I was never been called to the office when I was in my Kraksen level, but then I had been here once when Nuvian got into fight. Eyeing the file, pretty sure the matter wasn't Nuvian creating a fuss in school, it was about Atruf.
"Good morning, Mr. Panele. I'm sorry I couldn't make it but on lunch," I lied. I had a vacant period on Women Lifestyle but I was too excited to drive my car without Drev since when he was a passenger, I couldn't go over 60kph because he gets scared or he would tell my parents.
He waved a hand in the air. "No problem. Well, I'm sorry but this matter couldn't wait since when the school finds even a little bit --" he held his thumb and index asymptotically, "problem on our students, we take action right away."
I shrugged, unsure of what to say as he mentioned 'problem'. He went on, "Nuvian's adviser sent me a report of his weekly school performance, you know the boy aces in Atruf so the academic performance must be monitored and it appeared to have declined the past two weeks."
"Yes, but he is making up?" I asked, aware that Nuvian's energy was back since he said thoughts about Lily wasn't much pain anymore. I stole a glance at the file, it was opened on the page of Nuvian's background, with a photo of him smiling widely at the camera and raising a gigantic Atruf trophy.
Mr. Panele looked again at the report and rested back on his seat, swaying in thought. "He is. But my suggestion, we don't want to waste such potential in playing Atruf, do we? It would be great if he aims for more than 8 so he could get into an excellent Fredran school in the next school year. In the future, he would bring glory to Keva in the name of Atruf!"
Lurking In The Dark 19
Nuvian drank his water before starting a conversation with Dad. "So, Dad. When will I get my own car?" Nuvian winked. He said he still thought of Lily but it doesn't hurt as much as it used to and it was obvious because his talkativeness was showing again.
"When you finally know how to drive without bumping into things," Dad answered lazily as he cut through his dish. Nuvian groaned in return.
Nuvian's bike has a lot of scratches and he needs to repaint it every month. It's either he falls on a ditch or he bumps into things because he doesn't know how to use the brake well. He is just really a wreckless driver.
Here in Keva, we don't need a license to drive. If you could drive, then drive.
I admired Mom in her new dress. Her golden hair was in a bun, spiked with hairpins made of silver that resembled a fire. The heirloom necklace compass from Dad's descent ornamented her slim neck which is more noticeable than her gray eyes.
Mom smiled at me as she caught me absently smiling at her. "Is there anything wrong, dear?"
I shook my head. "Nothing." I caught glance of Drev who eyed me before I preyed on my food.
He put down his utensils on his plate with a sound which made us glanced at him. The orange effect from the candles reflected on his pale skin, his eyes looked almost transparent. "Why," he started, "does Grassi look different from you?" He eyed the four of us.
The dinner turned into a wake, silent and eerie. I found myself wanting to disappear, shifting my heels uncomfortably under the table. So what?
Mom's gray eyes looked at me with passion of a motherly love. I also have gray eyes which supposedly would save me from questions if I am really a biological Erlijan, but my white hair reveals my foreign ancestors.
"You know, man, that just happens sometimes," answered Nuvian who knows I am adopted since he was ten, shooting me a nervous glance.
When asked about my legitimacy of being an Erlijan, the question was always ignored. But I doubt they would ignore it since it was from Drev, their favored charm of luck. And when the answer from Nuvian was added by Dad, I felt like walking out from dinner. But I couldn't since the people who raised me did their best to teach me good manners and eating dinner together is a Kevan culture, not doing it would be disrespectful.
"Different blood," Dad answered. It rang my ears again and again. I found myself trying my best not to shed a tear. Dad smiled at me, "But who cares? She's our princess."
All the emotions from a while ago disappeared and was replaced by a smile. I found my strength to face Drev as to tell him yes, I'm greater than you.
Drev didn't ask question again. But I know he didn't mean the awkwardness, it was a pure question out of curiosity. I know he wasn't expecting for the answer.
Lurking In The Dark 18
I stood, looking at the cars in awe as I looked at them. Some reflected my appreciative face, the others didn't for they were painted matte. I had a car in my mind as we were on our way here, but as I faced the hundreds of cars lined up, the image went black and now all I could think of was the difficulty of choosing one.
My parents were talking to a clerk about the paying system while Drev was idling near them, probably out of boredom because until now he couldn't accept the fact that our money looks like a joke. He would say, "The money I remember is nothing like this paper."
I was left alone with the car salesman with his hands clasped behind him as he tailed after me. I asked him not to tell me about the cars, like the type of gas it needs, it's battery life, maximum speed and other features. Because they wouldn't make sense to me.
I stared at my distorted reflection on a yellow one, then Drev appeared beside me. "It looks okay." He glanced to me and I scoffed.
"Just plain okay?" I continued to stare at the reflection, I didn't want to see his eyes.
"It's nothing like Gareth's car." He caressed the car with his long fingers, vined with blue and purple veins. He was bony and thin. Lanky.
I frowned. "You don't like all of these cars?"
"No." He traveled the cars lined up with his eyes. I wondered what it felt like to have different eye colors. "What I'm saying is they are all plain okay."
I glanced at the salesman through the reflection. He was throwing an unreadable gaze at Drev. I cleared my throat and turned to him. "This might be a weird question, Sir." I smiled sheepishly. "But have you seen Hamster Ville?"
The salesman named Tridle as what I saw on his name pin cleared his throat. "A what?" He wore that patient face every salesperson gives to their costumer although it was obvious that they just want to go home and sit infront of a nice fire. "Hamster Ville you said?"
I nodded. "It's a TV show."
"Ah!" He pointed at me, not in a rude way, like 'bingo!'. The middle part of his head was bald and it reflected the light as he moves his head. "Of course. So, like Gareth's car?"
I wasn't sure if he heard Drev say the name Gareth or because it was Gareth's car that was one of the things to be clearly remembered about the show.
It was Drev who replied which was surprising of him because he doesn't talk unless when asked, and the question was directed to me. "Yes, no roof."
Sir Tridle chuckled. "Sure, sure. This way." He spread his hand to the direction. He led us to a new section for a model different from the recent cars we saw.
"R9 Fricko," he said, not having to look at the model name that was placed on the hood. "Would you like me to tell the features?"
I waved a hand to reject the offer. Drev studied the car, smiling. He eyed the one with exactly the same color as Gareth's.
I groaned in protest. "We can't have the same color as well." The car was bright yellow and it actually hurts the eye that I had to look away because it was starting to make me dizzy.
"Okay, I don't like the color too," he replied as if he could read my mind that the only reason I was against it was because of its bright color.
"How about the matte black?" I said, turning to Drev to see his reaction. He followed with his gaze where my finger is pointing at. "It wouldn't hurt to think of if there were smudges because it won't be obvious," I added.
Sir Tridle chuckled. "Smart."
Lurking In The Dark 17
I sat by the door as I waited for the milkman to arrive. And he didn't fail me when his milk truck stopped in front of the house and he got out bringing a crate full of milk bottles with him. He shook his head in annoyance when he saw me grinning at him, knowing that I would only bother him with questions about Mierkova.
"Not today, princess," he said unloading the milk crater and loading them with the empty bottles. I don't like that he doesn't answer my questions, but it satisfies me when he calls me 'princess'.
I rolled my eyes. "But I've been asking you for five years now, Sir Klaus! And you still haven't answered any of my questions directly." I grabbed two empty bottles that he was about to take and hugged them.
He sighed as if it would lengthen his patience. "I have work to do." He reached for the bottles and I pulled them away from him.
"Just answer my questions."
He straighten his back and groaned. "No."
"One question, the answer is yes or no. I promise I won't ask for your opinion."
That seemed to satisfy him because he sighed, dropping both of his fatty arms on his side. "Okay, princess." Sir Klaus is very nice, no matter how annoying I am he never raises his voice at me. "Only one," he agreed.
"Do you think Mierkova jails someone for no reason?" I gripped the bottles hard, my knuckles white. I prayed for a positive answer because I didn't want to think or know that Drev lied to me.
He hesitated. "Where did you get that question?" He glanced at his old truck over his shoulder, its wheels were layered with thick soil and the metal railings were rusted. Something from the passenger seat moved and I relaxed when I made out that it was the same man Sir Klaus works with in delivering milks. He always wears hat and a handkerchief tied around his neck that sometimes covers his mouth.
When Sir Klaus turned back to me, I pouted. "Please just answer Sir Klaus, and don't lie!" I glanced again at the man inside the truck, I saw him several times only and I never knew what his real name was since Sir Klaus only calls him by his nickname 'Hat Boy.' He smiled at me and I smiled back.
Sir Klaus spread his hand to me. "Yes," he answered. "Not just Mierkova, the mistake is on the people in the law. Sometimes they declare someone guilty without clear evidence. Now give me those bottles."
I handed him the bottles and smiled in glee because I received the answer that I prayed for, and because he forgot that he didn't have to add another answer to the yes or no. I made a small victory dance and thanked him for bearing with me, giving him a small hug of appreciation. He had been a milkman of ours for a long time that he was like an Uncle to me although he was a little mean for not telling me about Mierkova.
He was halfway to the truck when he turned to me, his index finger pointed aimlessly as he tries to remember the question he always asks me. "And how's the princess doing?"
I bowed down, crossing my leg and holding my imaginary skirt by my side. "She is doing great. She saw a guy killed three tadalsis alone." My chin went up, proud of what I had witnessed and clearly fogetting the fear the scene brought to me.
"I saw on the newspaper." Sir Klaus adjusted his cap and glanced to the windows of the house, assumed that he was checking for someone. "Drev Agustine his name?" Perhaps looking for the guy who saved me.
I suddenly thought what if Drev was really an escaped criminal, if the news was out then Mierkova must have heard about him and probably take him from us. Unless Mierkova doesn't know anything happening outside of their country just as much as how secretive they are to the rest of the world.
Please don't abandon me....
"Yes," I answered briefly, suddenly paranoid. What if Sir Klaus is actually a spy from Mierkova who is hunting down runaway criminals? But that couldn't be, he is a milkman even before I found Drev.
He smiled at me. "Alright. Take care, princess." He waved at me, I waved back and gathered the bottles that were now full of milk.
Lurking In The Dark 16
Drev and I walked home through the highway since we haven't gone to the car company yet to buy myself a car. Although it would be a mile without the shortcut, I would rather walk a mile than meet another tadalsi along the way.
I asked Mr. Lacna why there were tadalsis in the shortcut forest when it wasn't the ideal place for them to live. He said they were probably looking for a new place to live due to disturbance in their habitat which was unknown since it wasn't really given much attention because it was hard to study tadalsis due to the death they could cause. The forest surrounding the school is currently closed because of the incident.
"Are you tired?" Drev asked, his bag behind him and my bag in front.
I stopped and rested my hands on my hips. I looked to the road stretched ahead and groaned. "No," I exhaled.
"You're lying."
"Yes."
He walked up to me, he was a meter ahead. He removed his bag from his back and turned his back to me. "Piggy back?"
I walked passed him, then turned to glance at him who was looking at me with a face trying to figure me out. Thinking like, what type of person is this girl?
I motioned him to keep walking. "Hurry up! You are slowing us down." But I was the one who was slowing us down.
Minutes ago, Irela stopped her car for us when she met us along the way. Not us, for Drev only. She asked if Drev wanted her to give him a ride, Drev was about to take the offer when Irela added that only one spot was available, looking back at her backseat occupied by her fellow cheerleaders then eyeing me with subtle gaze of disgust. So Drev shook his head and waved Irela goodbye instead then we went on, and Irela idled in her car for a moment as if trying to process how Drev could just turn her down like that, before she drove in full speed almost hitting me if only it wasn't because of Drev's extraordinary reflexes. He pulled me away that if he didn't do it - I would hit my shoulder with Irela's side mirror, and judging the velocity of the car, enough to break my shoulder blade.
He helped me with our assignment in language class. He translated the Tualian texts with great ease like the Tualian words were written in Kevan words already. There were words hard to pronounce: mixture of pure consonants (plkycn which means to hug someone), mixture of pure vowels (aieu which is used to link the subject and the predicate), and weird-looking word which the letters in it have no sense since only few letters were read like the word leravzicu (read as lau) - what a waste of letters to spell.
I watched him write on his notebook. "What were you doing back in the lake?" I suddenly asked after a long moment of studying the solemnity of his face. What I liked when I stared at him was I don't get scared of getting caught because I know that he knows that I am staring at him and he just lets me, it's either he is shy or he wants me to stare at him. Neither he has frown lines nor smile lines. Not even a scar of where he hit his head.
He froze for a moment, dropping his pen on the table, unexpectation to hear the question was written all over his face. "I was looking for a way out." Although he was looking at me, his gaze looked distance like it could pass through me.
"Way out?"
"Yes, from Mierkova. You see there are electric fences around the lake within the Mierkovan territory, then I found you. That's all I remember."
"Why do you want to leave Mierkova? How could you forget?"
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to remember. "It's hard to...I was captive for no apparent reason so I escaped."
"You are a captive, a runaway criminal from Mierkova?" My eyes widened. It wasn't impossible for him to be a murderer, I saw him killed the tadalsis and yes, he has the skills.
He shook his head. "No. Just no apparent reason. I'm not a criminal, okay?" Something with the look of his eyes tells me that it was the truth. But anyone could be a good liar, right? "Please don't abandon me. I don't know what's happening to me."
Please don't abandon me...
Please don't abandon me...
I remembered the night when the Erlijans found me crying in their doorstep as they went home from their plantation. I was four. It was cold, the snow was thick. I couldn't remember who left me at the doorstep but I am sure he was a man.
He wrapped me first in a blanket. He was teary-eyed as he told me to pull the blanket tighter to myself for warmth. "Stay here. I left my keys. I will come back."
I nodded in ethusiasm, because he will come back anyway, no matter what will happen because he said so. And I believed him. But it had been hours and my feet and hands started to get numbed. Then I lost my hope of waiting. I cried.
When the woman named Neial - who now I call Mom - carried me inside, I screamed his name. "Kebren!"
And Neial said it will be okay. And she read the paper stuck to the blanket.
Grassi. May 29, Neishan year.
I looked down to hide my teary eyes from Drev.
What do I do to this boy?
Lurking In The Dark 15
"Grassi, I'm a monster." He was sad.
I reached to pat his back. "You are far from being a monster." It's uncomfortable and awkward to comfort him but I owe him, and it's the right thing to do. "You saved me, you saved us. And Doctor Urnel said you have the strength of nine men, or could be more!" But although what I saw was only an exaggeration of what happened, I still couldn't get off my mind that the sight was baffling. Drev with pure black eyes.
He smiled. I couldn't tell if it was a genuine sad one because his smile was always the sad one, except the one when he first rode a bike. "You are right, but I didn't know I am capable of doing that. Aren't you afraid of me?"
I comforted you. I am not afraid of you. You saved me, but I still don't trust you. "Of course, not." I laughed. I was afraid when I saw the eyes. Grassi, stop. It was only a hallucination.
"I'm sorry I broke Iris." His head was bowed down, his hair covered his eyes.
It took guts to ignore the fact that I saw him drove Iris into the tadalsi's chest. I smiled widely, trying to shake off the bloody scene.
"Dad will buy me a car," I said. The bodies were sold to the meat store downtown as what Dad said and the extracted saliva was bought for medical purposes at fair price. The money will be used to buy me a new car since we got nothing else to spend the money on, and fortunately, our money wasn't strict because of the well-flow of the orange business.
We were lined up with bows and arrows pointing to a target, except for Relis who was helping Mr. Lacna in facilitating of how to hold the weapons the correct way. I was glad I didn't know archery so Relis had to angle my arms and reposition my legs for the correct stunt, that means bunch of touches from him. My stomach was already somersaulting from the thought as he eyed as one by one to look for errors. Then it was my turn to be studied. Relis sighed and went behind me to re-angle my arms.
"Don't turn up your elbow to much, you will miss the target." He tapped my arm to lower it down to the right angle. I did as he wanted and slowly moved my legs, pointing to the wrong direction without getting caught of meaning to do it. "A little to that side, please," he said, nudging my foot with his. "Okay, that."
I mentally danced in victory with Relis' remnant touches on my skin that was preserved on my brain that I could still imagine the weight of his hands on my arms, I mean that was less touches as I expected but enough to make my day. Sadly, it wasn't long when he moved onto Drev and gave him a brotherly smile.
He eyed Drev, his fingers tapping his chin. "Do you do archery?" He seemed to be impressed and I wished I didn't act stupid. But thinking of his touches, I won his attention anyway.
"No, it's my first time to hold these things."
"Wow. And I heard you killed three tadalsis alone?"
It was out on news but Drev didn't let himself be interviewed. The interviewers were outside the house when they wanted to interview him and I was asleep at that time right before Drev could talk to me about what happened. So basically, he thought he was a monster so he didn't show up to them for an interview. Anyhow, he was the headline of the newspapers for a week.
"Yes," Drev answered with hesitation. He was uncomfortable receiving praises the moment he walked into school since the news and I felt sympathy for he didn't seem to be impressed at all with the flooding shoulder patting and squeaky voices of admiration. It only made him bow his head low and give out awkward smiles.
Relis shifted on his foot, glancing at Mr. Lacna who was busy facilitating the others. "The permit was accepted since tadalsi isn't endangered. Wanna team up with me?"
Drev gave up the bow and arrow to his side that obscured Relis' face as he talked with him. "I'm teaming up with Grassi." His voice polite and heavily accented.
Relis shot me a glance and smiled. "Group of three for one tadalsi. Would you mind if I join your team, Grassi?" He gazed at Drev, both waiting for my reply.
Oh, sweet orange! Of course.
"And Japer?" I replied, trying my best not to squeal. Relis is teaming up with us!
He gazed at Japer, struggling to pull off the string of his bow as what Mr. Lacna instructed him to do so. He sighed, "He'll be fine with it. I guess he is tired of my face, anyway."
I chuckled, trying to calm myself down so I wouldn't trigger my blood from going to my face to avoid blushing. "Sure."
Lurking In The Dark 14
I had to blink several times before I could adjust to the blinding light from my nightstand, coming from my snow globe lamp. There was a murmuring sound from the other room and a beeping sound near my ears, I turned to the direction. It was a nurse with a device that records the vital signs, where the beeping was coming from.
"I'll call your parents," the nurse said before she ran out of the room. My parents walked in wearing a worried face.
"How are you feeling?" Mom clasped my hands. Dad was holding her shoulders for comfort.
I sat on my bed, trying to remember what happened. Then it clicked! I tighten my hold of Mom's hands and panicked. "Drev! His eyes! They were black!"
"No, sweety. Calm down, okay? His eyes are blue and green," Mom replied, her forehead creating a deep frown of concern. But I didn't calm down, I continued to panic. She turned to the nurse, crying. "What's happening to her?" Dad squeezed her shoulders and looked at me like I was just another crazy person in an asylum, but it was a sympathetic gaze.
"Dad!"
But before he could reply, they were pushed out of the door by the nurse as Doctor Urlen's order. He's our family doctor.
He placed his gentle hands on my shoulders. "Grassi, Grassi." Then he snapped his fingers and I cried because I am terrified of what I saw. "Calm down. Tell me what happened."
So I told him what happened and what I saw. He kept nodding. After I narrated the whole thing he replied, "It's normal to see things out of great fear. We call it hallucination." He shifted on his seat. "Now, what you saw is an hallucination. You believe it because you saw it with your very eyes. But remember darling, it was only your mind playing tricks on you."
I nodded because he is right. We had health class and we tackled about hallucination. It was heard all over news, men committing murder because of the whispers they hear or demons they see, it was a result of taking illegal drugs. "But Doctor, how can you explain how he killed the three tadalsis alone?"
"Each of us has our own capacity."
"One tadalsi could only be killed by three men."
"Then we therefore conclude that your friend has a strength of nine men. Child, it is not impossible."
"He was fast, it was hard to see him move."
"As I have said, what you experienced was hallucination out of fear and panic. Out of these strong emotions, your mind lagged which explained why he was suddenly out of your sight. Like a gap in your memory."
After the talk with Doctor Urlen, I talked to Mom and Dad. They said Drev had told them what happened and he himself didn't know how it happened either. When they finished making sure that I'm all good, Nuvian was the next one to get inside. He hugged me and told me how awesome I am for not running when I saw the tadalsis which was nice of him because we usually call each other dumb.
Then it was Drev's turn.
He didn't sit on the chair next to my bed like the others did. He sat on my bed and stared at the wall for a second before turning to me. He just looked at me.
"Uh, talk?"
Lurking In The Dark 13
Time flew so fast and it was time to go home. Drev and I took the alternative way back home instead of the highway. We got out from school through the back gate, and took the path in the forest.
"Aren't you afraid to meet tadalsi along the way?" He asked, struggling to not let the bike pedal hit him in the knee as he walked holding it by his side.
"No," I lied. I was, but it was impossible to meet tadalsi here because they live in the heart of a dark and humid forest and this forest was the opposite, but I won't tell him. To make fun of him. "Are you?"
He groaned as he lifted the Iris when there was a root as big as the body of the tree peeking out from the soil. "I am." He put down the bike on the ground again and catched up with me. "What if we meet one?"
"Then you hit it with Iris."
"Could it really kill three people easily like what Mr. Lacna said?"
"Yes."
It all happened quickly in a second, in just one breath. My wrist was yanked and the next thing I know, we were behind the tree that we passed by a while ago, the one with a big root poking out from the ground. And Iris was abandoned right behind us.
I was wide-eyed. "Ho--"
He placed his index finger to my lips and shhh-ed me. "Ten o'clock, single, estimated 9 meters far," he whispered using the hunting language Mr. Lacna taught us. "Hunt or run?"
I glanced to the direction he mentioned and gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. It was my first time to see a tadalsi in person. It was taller than Drev, with a shiny coat of black and a brown mane, it had a face of hard shell though with an appearance of a horse. Its hooves were as thick as my wrist. It sniffed a bark of a tree, and wailed showing shark teeth that were very slimy. Two small ones appeared with the same color but of lighter shade and shorter mane - its two aroams, what a baby tadalsi was called.
"Triple, family, estimated in need of ten people," I replied, surprised that I still remembered the discussion despite panic. I gulped. "Run," I said, responding to the hunting partner's question to avoid loss of life.
He pinned my wrist to the tree to hold me from running. "We can't. Now that they're three, we'd be dead." His voice was a loud whisper. Although in times of danger, I can't believe he could still hide his full voice. I mean, not that I want him to use it because we'd be dead if they hear us.
"We'll die if we hunt them down. I can't believe Mr. Lacna didn't include 'hide' in the question," I hissed.
"It's no time for joke, Grassi." He glanced to the tadalsis. I can't tell if he is pale scared or not because he's pale to the bar line of pale limitation that there's no way he could be paler.
I noticed the sudden change of his personality. Now, I hear someone who is alert and informative, not someone who didn't know how to flush a toilet.
I glared. "I'm not joking. I'm saying that we should hide until they walk out." I could hear the thumping of my heart like they were located in my ears.
"Too late, the parent saw us. Now they're waiting for us to make a move before they attack."
"Because you keep peeking with your geshing head!"
One of the tadalsis wailed. It's wail doesn't sound like a horse, it sounds like a dragon from the movies. Loud and feisty.
I quickly covered my mouth although it's too late. "We're dead." I glanced at the tadalsis and my head felt light when I saw the smaller ones walking their way to us. Now they appeared to be a parent tadalsi teaching his or her aroams to hunt. It's either we kill them or they kill us.
I looked up to him, teary-eyed. I am scared. "What do we do?" I don't know if he is calm or trying to be calm so I won't breakdown, but right now I'm taking my strength from him to not run or pass out.
"You stay here. You said if we meet one, we hit it with Iris, right?" I nodded, and he took Iris in his arms.
"But they're three. You'd die you geshing ass!" Normally, I don't curse but I couldn't help myself.
I wasn't sure if he moved but there was a blurred motion of black and white and he was gone, no more pale guy towering over me behind this tree. I was left in the spot with my mouth agape. Where is he?!
A dragonic wail from a tadalsi enveloped the forest. I let out a terrified breath, the wail ringing in my ears. A short moment after the loud cry echoed and died out, I took hesitance before I finally decided to glance over the tree. I was shocked of what I saw. I held my hands to my chest and let a single tear fall from my eye.
Drev appeared to have snapped the body of my bicycle in which he drove the sharp metal into the heart of tadalsi. How he managed to get near the tadalsi within a nanosecond without a scratch is a mystery to me. He dug the metal deeper until its glassy brown eyes turned into white, a sign that it is dead. He pulled out the metal and let the tadalsi fell to the ground with a loud thump.
The parent one growled with its remaining aroam. They galloped towards Drev, their hooves creating a sound of a gong hit by a clothed paddle on the tip, only that it was a dull sound but solid.
And this time I saw how he did it. How he just disappeared and how he could get near to a tadalsi without being hurt. He moved in blur, barely getting caught by my keen eyes. The parent tadalsi seemed to be surprised too to see Drev suddenly infront of it. It growled at Drev a little late from the appearance, showing its shark teeth that could snap his head off from his body without difficulty. There was a loud snapping sound, I didn't saw how it happened but Drev's hand was bloodied. He was holding the sharpest shark tooth of the tadalsi. The tadalsi cried in pain, but before it could attack Drev, its own tooth was driven into its chest.
It all happened in just barely a second that when the aroam turned its head, its parent was already down in the ground, crying in agony. It didn't hesitate a second to galloped towards Drev, with its mouth wide open to attack first with a bite. Drev's reflex was as fast as his movement that he dudged the bite in ease, then he snapped the neck of the aroam with his bare hands. Its eyes turned white. Drev looked down at the dying parent tadalsi and kicked the tooth in its chest inwards. It let out a deafening cry, echoing throughout the whole forest, and was muted buy another kick from Drev to push its own tooth further to its flesh.
He looked at me, his posture out of glory and exhaustion yet I wasn't even sure if there was a single bead of sweat. And his eyes...his eyes were all black.
Lurking In The Dark 12
We were all silent the whole lunch except for Irela who flirted with Drev. Drev, on the other hand, was hard to read but he did try his best to answer the questions as much as he could. He looked uncomfortable but at the same time seemed to be amused by the thought of being slapped in the face with breasts. I kept stealing glances at Saleri to see how she would react but she seemed not to mind that someone else was flirting with Drev right in front of her. But I don't know what's the real score between them so I just ignored the absurdity of the whole flirting thing.
When lunch was finished, Irela dabbed a napkin to her lips but never in a graceful way of how Drev did it. I just noticed that Drev didn't eat the same way. He eats very formally during dinners or perhaps it was because my parents were around and he was trying to impress them. But with junk foods and these lunch meals from school, he eats just like everyone.
Irela batted her eyelashes again. I saw her did that a millionth times today and it was getting into my nerves, I wished I could roll my eyes at her but that would cause trouble so I kept jerking my foot under the table instead. She said, "Drev, do you have any plans for tonight?"
I stole a glance at Saleri. She was glancing at Drev with a low gaze, waiting for his answer. It was like she was waiting for a valid reason to attack Irela and lay her sharp nails at her. Her fingers were drumming on the table, impatiently waiting for reply so she could end her trying-to-be-calm acts.
Before there could be any catfight to happen, I excused myself. I knocked the chair on the floor in my urge to move away that caused everyone in the cafeteria to glance at me. I grabbed my bag and stood up as if nothing happened. "I'll see you around," I said and quickly walked out, embarassed.
I heard a scraping of a chair and realized that Drev had left them to tail me just like what he always does. I turned to right instead of left, where our next class was so Drev said, "Human anatomy is not that way."
He grabbed my shoulders and turned me to the right direction. "That," he said. I shook his hands off my shoulder and looked at him with bored face.
I told him not to entertain Irela if he was having those late night calls with Saleri because that would create a big fuss between the two girls. Or perhaps give up the calls with Saleri if he likes Irela and her boobs. But I didn't say 'and her boobs' anyway, that was just a thought. I told him about the prank Irela did to a girl named Tricoci after Tricoci hang out with Irela's ex. I wasn't even sure if it was appropriate to call it a prank as what Irela called it for it was too serious to be called 'prank'. Bless that spoiled girl.
"Well, I don't really care if you want them to fight," I said. Because I don't care about you and the things you do and it's your fault you look good, now everyone's after you. "My point is, if you want these two girls in your life, then don't hang out with me. Because that would be like throwing me into the pyre you made."
He shook his head. "That's not what I want to happen, I---"
I waved a hand in the air, my eyes closed dramatically: an action that says, stop your nonsense. "Okay, just shut up and do what you think is the right thing. As long as you don't get me into trouble."
And that shut him up.
Lurking In The Dark 11
I was starting to be suspicious that Ms. Halia has a crush on Drev because she always finds a way to call out his name. For today, I counted, and it was her ninth time to say, "Mr. Agustine!"
Drev didn't display reaction towards the obvious unfair treatment. I guessed my classmates started to guess too because she would ask Drev to answer the question even if he wasn't raising his hand which he rarely does. Sometimes I had to give him a look as if to say 'participate!' just so my parents wouldn't be like throwing money straight into trash for sending Drev to school. The least he could do with that was get an achievement.
After dismissal, Ms. Halia asked Drev to stay for a moment. Almost every class dismissal, she would say that, that the girls in my class would bear the same bored face everytime she says, "Mr. Agustine, could you please stay for a moment?" It would be okay if it wasn't that long but then it usually consumes half of the lunch period that I had to sit on the hallway with my stomach grumbling in agony, waiting for Drev to appear on the door with a disturbed look. Oh yeah, if an old teacher flirts with me I would have the same disturbed look so I couldn't blame him. Or did Ms. Halia try to touch Drev in his private part? If yes, then I shouldn't be bothered since Drev could obviously save himself from any harassment of the old woman, he is not a kid anymore. I mean he's like a kid, oh nevermind. It's his business.
Drev got out from class with the disturbed look I have memorized, and so I walked briskly to the canteen, in rush to end my hunger. I felt so dizzy, the tile lines curvy in my mind and my legs were wobbly. Why wait for Drev in the first place when he could walk alone? After I picked my lunch, I went straight to the table where the trio sits, leaving Drev alone as he chooses his lunch. As soon as I hit the table, I started stuffing my mouth unbothered of the surprised look Saleri was throwing with her fingers drumming on the table out of boredom.
"Drev's absent?" Saleri asked. She's so into fairy tales that she sometimes calls Drev as Your Highness, maybe because of his pretty face. Drev told me about it, if he was complaining or enjoying the sound of it, I couldn't tell. But Saleri didn't call him that in school, it only happens through the telephone.
I shook my head as I preyed on my food, then I pointed out to the queue where his profile was very obvious because of his abnormal paleness in black clothing and tall height.
Femke clasped her hands together and looked at Drev dreamily. "How sexy! I wish I was the one who found him."
Verie elbowed her. "Us. Then we asked Mom and Dad to let him stay in the house." He sighed, admiring Drev's back. "It's my first time to see a Mierkovan, I can't believe they're this sexy."
Judging the tone of the twins, they were hoping for Drev to no longer see them as only as lunchmates. Clearly, they were oblivious of the late night calls between Drev and Saleri. Once I woke up at three in the morning, went down to the kitchen for snacks, and there I found Drev at the living room clutching the telephone to his ears with a frown at whatever cheesy line Saleri was throwing. Nonetheless, I don't think the admiration of the three would result into a serious fight among them.
Drev sat down, placing his tray on the table loaded with foods. Drev, surprised as we are, was nudged in the arm by Irela using her food tray. She was a girl from the cheering squad, pretty and sexy, though nothing compared to the charm of Saleri.
She smiled at Drev flirtatiously. "Hi, I'm Irela Ferini. Mind if I sit with you?" She batted her long eyelashes, as if it was only Drev present on the table.
"Seriously?" I whispered to myself as I caught Drev stealing a glance at Irela's cleavage revealed by the undid button of her top. I shook my head in disbelief.
Drev glanced at us but we didn't give him a reply. Femke played with her food, Verie whistled in the air, Sareli just shrugged which was surprising because I expected her to challenge Irela, and I ate my food as if Irela wasn't there.
But I think it was because we know enough not to get in her way. Not because we were afraid of her which we were not and will never be, but because she was like an annoying little bratt girl who wouldn't shut her mouth not until she gets what she wants. And I think we're to busy to get good grades for the whole school year to be accepted in a good Polkanis level school that her immaturity shouldn't be given attention. Or should I say we shouldn't trigger her to give us her attention since there are important things to deal with. And I hope Drev could see that behind her heavy makeup.
Drev shrugged, forced to answer after Irela cleared her throat. "I won't mind."
Irela didn't mind the hesitance in Drev's tone. She pushed aside my tray to make room for hers, she sat next to Drev and gave him a grinful smile before she proceeded eating.
"Why do you only have leaves?" Drev asked, eyeing Irela's plate with a silent look. He lives with us long enough for me to know that it was a hidden disgust.
"They're healthy and they won't make me fat," Irela replied, munching a lettuce that she dipped in a dressing. Vinaigrette, perhaps. She even had sauerkraut in the left side of her plate. Funny-looking meal. I kind of secretly gagged because I couldn't eat lettuce alone, and maybe Drev mentally gagged too.
But your breasts are fat.
Lurking In The Dark 10
I guess he knew I had a clue about the girl since he just said the name like she was introduced to us.
"Don't you think it's too young for love?" I asked, not knowing of the right words since I've never been in a relationship myself. I had a couple of admirers but they were all troublemakers so I turned them down. The only person I want to be in a relationship with is Relis though I will never make a move since it's too erratic for a girl to do that. "It's not the end of the world."
"So when? When I'm gray and old?" He snapped. "The youngest age to be able to marry is 18, I want Lily to be someone I date for like what, I'm 13. I want to get to know every side of her soul for five years and get married at 18."
Oh, he had it all planned.
I was taken aback by his sudden outburst. I was glad the music was in loud volume so nobody could hear us. If my parents hear Nuvian they would probably send him to a military school. They don't believe that teen romance lasts, since for them, it is found on mid-20s. They really are biological family, Nuvian and 'my' parents, they are both specific about love.
"But you know not all things go according to plan. Mom and Dad met when they were 24. There's so much time and Lily is not the only girl in the world."
He glared at me. "What do you know about relationships? Getting your heart broken by the person you care so much?" He spat, and we were left in the bubbling of his fish aquarium containing a dozen of fishes, each has a different pattern but of the same colors on their body - blue, yellow, and white.
"I, uh..." I stuttered. "It's not like that." I don't know what to say. He is right.
Nuvian sighed as he sat next to me, his back hunched and tired. "I'm sorry, Grassi. I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just...I--"
"It's fine. I understand."
I found myself smiling to make him feel okay though I wasn't sure if the smile was convincing. The truth is I don't know what he feels, I don't know the sadness he feels but maybe it feels as lonely as being left by my parents. Or no? I was abandoned at a young age, my mind could barely grasped memory so I don't really know what it felt like to be with my biological parents. The Erlijans treated me like a real daughter yet somehow there's still longing for the people I remember so little, only glimpses of them, before I was left at the doorstep.
"I'm sorry," Nuvian said, the green eyes he inherited from Dad glittered in the low light. "I'm so into her, you know. I don't think there's someone like Lily."
"Everyone's different."
He sighed heavily, his golden locks falling to his eyes as he hunched his back. I was sure Nuvian will grow into a good-looking man, there were no doubts in that. His teeth were perfect, defined jawline at a young age, and straight nose. Lily - though I don't loathe her for I know this breakup will soon be forgotten - should know that she wasted a treasure upon breaking up with Nuvian. I had been to several Atruf games of him, I witnessed the sea of girls cheering for him on their seats and whispering to each other how charming he is...and, err, how pronounced his butt is.
"Well, she broke up with me because of what's happening with her family - absurd. As a boyfriend, we should share problems and be there for each other."
I wanted to say again that he was too young for love yet I don't want to create a fuss between us considering that Nuvian is not really good at handling his temper. Yes, too young, but maybe this "love" is too true for him so who am I to judge? There are people who met their significant other when they were just kids.
"Look, don't bother. I can handle this myself," he said when I didn't reply, waving his hand in the air for a gesture of dismissal."
I nodded. "Well, I'm here whenever you need someone to talk to or listen to your --" I wasn't sure what to call it, so I shrugged and turned to the door, "problems," I added. I was about to say heartaches but then, oh well.
He smiled genuinely, showing the deep dimple on his left cheek. His eyes turned into a line as he smiled due to its puffiness. He said, "Believe me, I'd rather talk to Drev about this." He raised both hands as if to surrender. "No offense, sis."
I rolled my eyes, thankful of the light atmosphere emitted from Nuvian's smile. "Why would I be offended? He doesn't even know how to lock a hoodie zipper." But there was a little jealousy creeping out from my chest. If Nuvian was short-tempered, I was emotional.
He shrugged. "He is a guy like me, he knows something I don't know then."
I chuckled as I realized that I never thought before of what I was thinking now. I said it out loud, "What? He's been in a relationship?" I remembered his slightly turned up mouth back at The Focus when the word "girlfriend" came up. So I figured out he had been, but who would? I mean no bullying, but imagining him courting someone would be weird.
"No, I haven't asked him." Then he opened the door behind me and pushed me out, he said, "Anyway, just get out." But when I tried to barge in to mock him off he pushed me out again. "Just let me cry myself to sleep until I forget her."
Lurking In The Dark 9
Mr. Lacna didn't seem to mind a bit as we walked into class or garden late. He must be used to it now since I started doing it last year. He just glanced at Drev and I for a second, nodded, and went back to the discussion about the benefit we could get from tadalsis.
I sat next to Relis who was all ears to Mr. Lacna, maybe he didn't even notice that I squatted next to him. I took the chance to glance at his side profile before turning to Mr. Lacna and pretended that I cared about the tadalsi's saliva usage for burnt skin. I danced in my thoughts as Relis shifted his legs and our folded knees touched. I kept my gaze focused on Mr. Lacna's fat belly when all I could think about was the touches of Relis' skin.
"Group yourselves into two and recall about the benefits. You'll make a report of it tomorrow. Using of bow and arrow will be next week so suit yourself," Mr. Lacna said.
There was an excited whooping in class, but I didn't celebrate with them because I was thinking of a way to be paired up with Relis. But then of course, he patted Japer's back who was squatting in front of him and they paired up together. Oh yeah, why would I bother myself pairing up with him when his bestfriend is there, he would surely choose Japer.
I glanced back at Drev. "Who's your pair?" He sits behind the whole class so he could sit on the grass and spread his legs wide while his arms are behind him to support himself. Too much of a bad boy position to see shy Drev on it. It fits him somehow.
He glanced at the sky, squinting from the sun. "You, of course." The way he said it made me guilty for not having him as the first choice. But I shook the guilt away for why should I be.
I pulled myself backwards to be next to him. "Did you take down notes? I didn't listen."
He sat straight and dusted his palms, rubbing them to each other. "No, but I listened."
I nodded because he always listened to class but never take notes. It was fine though because he remembered all of it especially in language class since he already knew enough Tualian terms, he speaks it fluently. Maybe his memory was too big for the lessons because his past memory was deleted. In contrast of his excellence in class was his lack of knowledge of very simple things: rice cooker, fridge, soda cans, microwave, coffee maker, et cetera. How do you turn this thing on? Why is my locker jammed? But what is this and that?
There was a suspension of classes due to heavy rain so I watched Hamster Ville with Drev. My parents were at the kitchen, doing an inventory sale of the oranges while Nuvian was upstairs in his room. He was quiet lately.
I wrapped myself with blanket, my eyes glued to the television as well as Drev. I could tell Hamster Ville was his favorite show and the only thing he didn't like about going to school was missing it and having to watch it in a summarized rewatch on weekends with scenes cut off.
"If I was Leticia, I would choose Gareth," he said. Leticia was the short-haired main character with a crooked teeth admired by William, the nice but poor guy, and Gareth, rich and nice too but was mean to everyone else but her.
Typical story but it was the first thing Drev saw on the TV so I guess it was reasonable enough to have it as his favorite.
"And why?" I replied, stretching out my legs. I occupied the whole couch and Drev was on the floor leaning on the couch with his back. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt, he wasn't affected by the cold weather.
"He has a nice car."
I rolled my eyes. Ugh, boys. "Leticia chose William because she doesn't need a nice car. She needs someone who would truly love her. Gareth is manipulative."
"Because the more you love the person, the better the ride would be? She doesn't need the car because she loves William and she could ride him anyway?"
I stared at him in disbelief. "Drev!"
"What?" He asked innocently. I don't know if he's just good in acting and lying but his face is really curious, waiting for an answer. The same face when he asks about new inventions.
"Who taught you that?"
"Japer. He said that people could ride people. Is it bad to say that?"
I groaned, covering my face with the blanket and pinching the bridge of my nose underneath. I pulled the blanket down with my feet and replied, "It is! Bad enough to not say it to my parents or mention it ever again. Get it?"
He didn't reply because the advertisements ended and the show aired again.
On Saturday night, I asked Drev if he would mind washing the dishes by himself, he said he wouldn't so I left him did it alone. I knocked on Nuvian's room and waited for a few minutes before the door finally opened.
"Hey," he said weakly. I caught glance of his puffy red eyes and figured out he was crying, before he could drop his gaze onto the floor.
I peeked into his messy room. "May I?"
He hesitated to open the door wide for me to enter, but he did anyway. I sat on the corner of his bed and looked around the change of his room. The band posters of Gaula were taken down and crumpled in his overflowing trash bin. The last band poster stuck to the wall has its half hanging after it was ripped off. His Atruf trophies were in a box, and the things from his study table were scattered on the floor.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, Grassi." He looked away. But I didn't reply so he filled in the silence with the answer. It's my way of making him tell the truth. "Lily and I broke up."
Lurking In The Dark 8
"How's your first day of school, Drev?" Dad asked like what he always does when it's Nuvian or I's first day of school. I predicted it right that he will do it to Drev when we eat dinner which made me smirked at my food.
Drev swallowed his food first and wiped his mouth with the napkin which only him in the house has the necessity to have one during meals before replying. "I enjoyed it so much, Sir. Thank you so much for sending me to school. You too, Madame."
It was a Kevan culture to call elder people Madame or Sir if you don't have a relation with them. And Lady and Ledu for people who were only a couple of years older.
My mom smiled warmly at him. Then Dad asked furthermore of what happened in his first day. I didn't have to listen since he was with me the whole time in school. And I'm a little mad at my parents for not telling me so I stayed silent throughout the whole dinner and strangely, Nuvian too.
When Mom asked Drev of how I am as a classmate, Drev responded that I am very nice and kind for showing him around which I was not even sure if I did that job right. In fact, I didn't show him around, I just went from period-to-period, not even caring if he was with me. I don't know if he was trying to win my trust or he just really doesn't know anything about reading emotions particularly my irritation at him. But again, I am not sure if I dislike him or not.
Mom then turned to me and asked the reciprocal of her question to Drev. "He is great," I replied, mustering my ability of hiding sarcasm. "I think lots of girls have a crush on him." At least that part was true.
She was delighted of my reply, that she actually gasped at Dad in satisfaction. "I told you it's a great idea."
After the dinner, Drev and I washed the dishes together in silence. He did the soaping and rinsing part, I did the drying because I wasn't in the mood to deal with the bubbles.
I took the plate that Drev handed to me. "You know, I'm mad at my parents for not telling me about their plan of sending you to my school." I dried the plate and arranged it on the rack.
Drev seemed to be surprised of what I said that it took him a moment before he took his eyes off my solemn face and rinse another plate. I, too, was surprised of my display of sadness to him. "Nevermind," I said which I thought didn't make sense since he appeared not to mind what I said anyway.
But I was wrong when he stopped the running water. "Why you didn't tell them?"
"That I am mad?"
"Yes."
"You don't say everything. There are certain circumstances when you keep things by yourself." I glanced at the small window that let the moon shines in. It wasn't a full moon but it was shining bright and the sky was cloudless. There are nights when I think, what if my eyes were as beautiful as the moon? That if one looks at them, they don't want to look away anymore. My eye color, on the other hand, is gray. I mean sure it looked pretty on Mom yet I never heard someone complimented me with my eyes.
I saw Drev smile from my peripheral vision. His old smile, not the one he gave me back in the road. "But then you didn't keep it yourself. You told me."
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Whatever."
Then we went back to washing the dishes.
I glared at Drev over my shoulder. He was right behind me, clutching on both straps of his bag and eventually smiling at girls who called out his name. Trying not to ignore and be rude, but not even sure if he knows all of them. Funny how his name was spread in school within days like a virus.
"Can't you be faster?" I growled. I was running but he was walking swiftly with his long legs, only a few steps behind. "We're gonna be late." But we were already late.
We were heading to our hunt class and we were about to appear out from the bushes that covers the hallway out of sight from the class so we have to look very worried as we appear. As if afraid to be late again. But to be honest, I made sure that Relis had taken a spot for him to squat on through time estimation. Unfortunately, he comes to class right on time the bell rings which leaves me no choice but to be late.
"Why do we always have to idle at the hallway for minutes and run late to next class?" Drev asked, catching up with my pace.
I made a sharp turn. "You can go by yourself to hunt class." But the truth was, I was now more confident to walk into class late now that someone's with me. "Another reason why my parents send you to school is to socialize." And to lessen your shyness....
He ran his finger through his finger. "I'm comfortable with you even if you hate my eyes."
I was stopped by his reply, causing him to place his hands on my shoulders to stop himself from the effect of inertia. I turned to him, panting from the running I did.
"That people, they love my eyes. But they put pressure on me. I feel like I always have to be handsome, where as you, you don't even care if I'm there or not. It feels good."
"No, no," I mumbled, waving my hands in the air. At the same time there was this fluttery feeling I felt for what he said. Coming from him, it is genuine. But that doesn't mean I really trust him now. No, not yet. "I don't hate your eyes, okay?" Part of me is hassled of having to comfort him about his eyes when we are actually running late.
"When I woke up after I hit my head, you were scared of me. And since then, I always feel like you hate my eyes."
"Now you know I don't hate them." I looked into his blue-and-green eyes. It's still strange although as not as strange as before. But fortunately, I didn't admire them either. Let's say I dislike him - which is unconfirmed - for making me feel like he is my parents' new favorite not-blood related person. Of course, Nuvian is an exception of someone I am jealous of because he is a biological one. But really, I was glad I didn't admire his eyes because it was stupid to like something from your rival. Forget that I mentioned that he looks good with his haircut.
Childish, I know. But you can't blame me, I have a story of abandonment.
He smiled, looking down on me. "I think we should go now."
Lurking In The Dark 7
I hurried down the hallway as the bell rang, signaling for the start of first period. As I entered my History class, I quickly took the seat next to the window since it was my favorite spot. It wasn't long when Ms. Halia entered the class, alarming the students with the loud noise of her heels against the tile floor. Her hair was worn in a bun and she wears square glasses.
She dropped her books on the table, rubbed her hands together, and sniffed the air as if she took out cookies from the oven and appreciate its aroma. "Who's ready for today?" She asked in her thin voice that did not match her meaty appearance, but she's nice though. She discusses the lesson well and she is always cheerful, she rarely gets mad.
The class answered with forced enthusiasm. It's hard to be energized when it's the last period before lunch. But she didn't mind our tone. She waved at someone from the door, causing us to glance at the direction. "Come here. Don't be shy," she said.
Drev appeared out of the door as he ran his fingers through his hair with his bowed as usual. He glanced around the room before walking right in the middle of the class, then he looked around. His eyes fell on mine, which seemed to give him the courage to introduce himself as what Ms. Halia requested for I might be the only one he recognized.
My jaw dropped. What is he doing here?
I didn't hear what he said. All I heard was Ms. Halia saying, "So, class, this is your new classmate." She motioned Drev to take a seat. "Please take a seat so we could start the class." She smiled at him.
As Drev walked up to the vacant seat at the back of the class, I couldn't help but hear the whispers of everyone about how amazing his eyes are. Some I heard gasped and murmured as Drev looked at them. I thought, "So I am the only one who thought his eyes are, uh, not okay?" But yeah, I am starting to get used of them now and maybe someday I could appreciate his eyes just like everyone does.
I glanced at his seat, he is looking back. He smiled and gave me a small wave, I didn't respond, I turned to Ms. Halia as I shook my head in disbelief. What is going on?
When Mr. Halia dismissed us, I hurriedly placed my things inside my bag, then I walked up to Drev who was just standing by the side of his seat with both straps of his bag hung on his shoulders as he waited for me to exit the class.
I spread my arm to him. "Give me your study load." I hid my irritation as he fished for the paper in his bag. I hate the fact that my parents are paying for his education. My eyes widened as I realized he shares all of his classes with me. I shoved the paper to his chest which he caught without a word, looking at me in confusion as if my irritation was as hard to read as the Glucan's code.
Well, I'm sure it was manipulated by my parents. These past few days, they were giving me hints:
"Grassi, don't you think we should send Drev to school?"
"Drev has to learn things."
"You need a permanent classmate."
Yes, why not send Drev to Kraksen level like Nuvian's school instead of Fredran?
I went out of the room, Drev tailing me behind like a kid brought to a zoo for the first time he wouldn't stop glancing around with his pale hands resting on the strap as its color contrasts the dark shade of his bag - Nuvian's old bag. Now, I'm given another duty of babysitting him in school. What next? Explain to him what locker is?
He kept up with my pace. "What is that thing?" He asked, pointing to a locker over his shoulder right behind him as he glanced back. Told you so. I'm glad his voice is whisper-like, I don't want people to know that I hang out with this ignorant guy.
I halted to a stop and turned to him, looking around to check if somebody was eavesdropping. I exhaled deep, rolling my eyes before answering. "We call it locker, it's where we put our things and it has a lock, obviously." I tried my best to stay calm. "Look, why are you here?"
"I--"
I didn't let him finished, I grabbed his cold wrist as I led him to the empty music room filled with different instruments. It was hard to talk in the hallway since he is an eye-catcher. Nobody passed by without looking at him. I don't know if it was his eyes, his hair, or everything.
The room astonished him, eyeing each instruments with admiration. It must be a great admiration for I could feel it despite of his unchanging expressionless face. He went to the guitar, studying it for a moment before helding a hand to it, glancing at me with his so-Drev smile. "A guitar, just like Nuvian's." He plucked the strings gently, it sang after his touch and he plucked it again. He turned to me and I cocked a brow at him. "Do you play this too, Grassi?"
I sighed. "No," I lied. I mean I could, but not good enough for me to say yes whenever someone asks me if I could play. But I don't really have a favored musical instrument, I once had piano lessons when I was 10 but I quit because I got tired and my hands were too small to reach for erratic keys. I grabbed him away from the guitar and made him sat on one of the orchestral chairs. "Don't touch anything!" I said when he was about to touch the cello. He is a curious kid, why does he don't act like his age?
He eyed me. "Are you mad?"
"Can't you tell?" I growled.
He shook his head, not saying a word. I slapped my forehead and groaned. "Okay, I'm not mad." Which of course I am but he is my parents' pet and it was probably my parents' choice too that he schools with me. And I respect my parents so much. "No, I'm not," I said again, but I wasn't telling him, I was telling myself, convincing at the same time that I shouldn't be mean to Drev since he looked soft and vulnerable. "Why are you here in my school?"
"You parents asked me if I want to learn and I nodded. So they sent me here. They said I will now go to school with you. I love it. They teach history, but it wasn't the correct one, but I think it's nice to learn mistakes too."
I laughed. "Learn mistakes?" This time he reached again for the cello, I didn't stop him. But as he caught glance of my rolling eyes, he rested his hands to his lap and looked down.
He nodded. "Sergeant Ford's last name is not Avustie. It's Agustine." I rolled my eyes at his joke. "I always see it in my dreams. He is talking to me, and his name's written on his uniform," he added.
Strange boy. "Agustine, like yours?" I mean I don't believe him of course. There's a portrait of Sergeant Ford in the town museum and his name was clearly embroidered on his uniform: Sergeant F. Avustie. "Dreams are daydreams of your brain."
Drev fell into silence. It was a moment before he replied, "Maybe". I scoffed because he could just agree with me yet he was being honest with his reply. Honest, really?
A sudden hit of curiosity got into me. "Tell me about you, everything about you. Stop hiding things, will you?" There was a tone in my voice, 'Stop your bullshits, tell me the truth, and I won't be a smarmy to you.'
He shook his head. "I-I can't remember. Only fragments of it." He held his hand to the place where the bandage was. "But it's not because of this, I'm sure of it. And my memories appear on my dreams or when I do things that have something to do with the past."
I stood up. "Okay." But I didn't agree with him, I just said it because he was always been like a toddler, and a way to shut up toddlers was to agree with them. The memories he claimed to have because of the things he saw in his dreams weren't real. He was 16, not hundreds of years old. I dreamt that I could fly, but look, there was just no way.
I sat with Drev during lunch together with my friends. Femke and Saleri would glance at me, as if asking where I got this good-looking boy from. I shrugged at them and hoped that Drev wouldn't say anything stupid. Thankfully, he ate in silence, but obviously uncomfortable because of the stares from the two girls and Femke's gay twin, Verie. Drev kept his head low, gazing straight to the food.
Verie cleared his throat. Although he was gay, he didn't wear or use girl things. But he wasn't muscular and his face was feminish which made him mostly mistaken as a girl with boy cut hair, except when he talked. His voice was way deeper than Dad's, it never matched his face. "You can have my fries," Verie offered when Drev finished his plate now smudged with gravy.
Drev stared at the plate for a moment before looking up at our faces. I heard Femke say under her breath "Oh la la" and whispered how hot he was before she insisted Drev to have Verie's lunch. "He always skips lunch, he'll be fine," she said, referring to Verie, in which Verie nodded in response.
Drev took the plate. "Thanks," he replied. When can I hear his real voice? He was always whispering. He attacked the burger and coughed, putting down the bitten bun back to the plate, a leaf of lettuce was hanging from his lips. "I don't like leaves," he said in between dry coughs. He dropped the hanging lettuce from his mouth to the table.
Everyone in the table laughed except me. I was still not amused of having him around. I know he seemed to be liked by everyone especially by the girls, even the juniors, but I didn't care about that. I needed to know him more. I was not convinced that he couldn't remember things. I couldn't be blamed with my obsession to know his story. He lives with us, it was my right to know.
"So," Saleri started, placing her cheek on her knuckle and throwing a flirtatious glance, something she was good at. "Tell us everything."
Drev played with the fork with his single hand, passing it on the spaces between his fingers until it reach his pinky and he would pass it again until to the thumb. "Like what?" he asked. The light that illuminated the cafeteria made his pale skin looked bleached. Saleri had the same coloring but she used spray tan, tons of it.
I was a bit surprised of the coldness on Drev's tone, clearly unaffected of Saleri's wheedling. And Saleri was someone who could get any guy wrapped around her finger so maybe it was a first for her to get "rejected". No, maybe Drev just really has an underdeveloped brain, not creating the hormones so Saleri's sex appeal didn't budge him.
Instead of replying to Drev, Saleri turned to me with a patient smirk. "Your landline not connected to other telephone?" Her accented broken english was found attractive by boys. I don't really know Saleri much, we just became friends six months ago when Verie introduced her from his history class and since then she hangs out with us.
I shook my head. "No, why?" The glances on Drev from other tables were making me uncomfortable that I barely touch my food, although my stomach was grumbling in respond of the delicious smell of different foods mixed up together.
Saleri let out a toothy grin. "I like give Drev call, talk in the telephone without someone's ears being nosy." She smiled at me and I returned a forced one. I considered her a friend but something with her personality that I didn't like, I'm just trying my best to get along with her because she's my friends' friend. "Great?"
I nodded. "Well, you can call him anytime you want as long as my parents are not using it, and don't worry, I doubt someone will be nosy," I assured her, making sure my tone of dislike wasn't obvious.
I took out my pen and wrote the number on neat napkin which she gladly took, placing it inside her chest. She claimed that she has a bra pocket but I thought the bra was the pocket itself. I didn't mind though and just glanced at Drev who seemed to be oblivious of what was happening, occupied of sticking out the lettuce to the corner of his plate and was being watched by the twins with amusement.
"I don't have that thing. Your parents only drove me here this morning," Drev said as he followed me right after class and realized it was time to go home as I sat on my bicycle.
I rolled my eyes, looking around and watched as everyone got into their own rides: cars, skateboards, bikes, and motor bikes. I bit my lip in irritation to control myself from shouting at him. Weirdly, I don't even know myself if I dislike him or not. "Get in the back." I motioned to the passenger seat behind me.
He just stared. "Where?" He frowned, adjusting the straps on his shoulders. He reminded me of those kids from their first level of school who keep clutching on both straps of their bag as if holding on for their life, praying they wouldn't end up as one of those kids who get bullied. Disturbing to see such habit of holding onto the straps when he has such pretty face, he could gain a big amount of confidence by just walking through the hallway with all the girls hoping Drev would approach them and talk, I could see it in their eyes. But somehow, the clutching fits him because of his innocence and ignorance.
I sighed for more patience. "Here." I reached behind to tap the seat, groaning in the process as I moved my body. I can't believe he doesn't know where the seat is. From what planet are you? "And this thing is called bicycle. And I named her Iris."
"Okay." He sat, and the bike adjusted to his weight. "I had a sword and I named him Iris, too. I don't why I had one, I just remember."
I rolled my eyes, almost mouthing 'whatever'. I checked the tires, it flattened a little but far from bursting so I positioned my feet to start pedaling on our way home.
"You know you're heavy, right?" I asked Drev in between gritted teeth as I bear his weight. His legs were positioned on one side, bridal style. He had to bend it in a certain angle so neither he touches the ground with his feet nor make me fall off to the side where his feet are because of the unbalanced weight. I didn't know why he chose such way of sitting when he could sit like riding a horse, easier and safer.
"What?" He replied. I glanced at him through the rearview mirror that Dad attached to Iris for safety, made my bike weird-looking but I have gotten used to it. He was smiling at the view of the wheat field stretched on both sides of the road, his dark foreign hair flapping in the breeze.
I didn't answer him. "Hold on tight," I said to prepare him to the coming slope, afraid he might fall off and my parents will get mad at me for not taking good care of their lucky charm. The road went to a slope, so I stayed my feet still on the pedals and idled. The speed increases, and I breathed in the air and let it ruin the hair I styled for Relis.
I caught glance of him from the rearview, he was looking back at me then he gave me a smile. The smile we normally do, not his shy smile. I rolled my eyes at him in response.
Lurking In The Dark 6
I leaned my bicycle against the magnolia tree on the side of the house, hitting my knee with the pedal in the process. I stumped my foot in pain to hold myself from groaning.
"Hey."
I jumped in surprise, taken aback and hit the bicycle, knocking it down on the ground. The wheel hit my feet and I was knocked down too, landing my butt on the gear.
"Gesh!" I cursed, glaring at Drev. Then remembered I wasn't supposed to curse so I held a hand to my mouth. "What?" I asked him, irritatedly.
He stood by the door frame of the basement. He looked at me, to the bike, then back at me. "Do you need help?" He walked up to me but didn't help not until I replied, "What do you think?"
He took my hand to help me stand and grabbed the bike at the same time. "Are you mad?"
I dusted my jeans and shook my head, "A while ago, now I'm not. What are you doing in the basement?" I glanced behind him.
"Nuvian asked me to get some screws." He tapped the pocket of his jeans. His charcoal hair is down on his shoulders, the wind blew lightly causing it to fly for a second before setting down on his shoulders again. He motioned to the picket fence. "I'm going now."
"Where?"
"Help Nuvian with the boat at his friend's house. Want to come with me?"
I shook my head. "No, I have things to do."
He nodded before walking out. I watched him walked, his head bowed down as he played with the screws that were now on his palms, until he disappeared out of sight.
I sighed to myself and headed inside the house, taking note to check my knee for bruises. Mom is in the kitchen cooking something and Dad just got home from the farm, idling in the living room infront of the TV. He is not watching, his eyes are closed, but I know better not to turn off the TV or flick to another channel.
I fell asleep as I laid on bed, awaken by the knocking of the door. Mom was calling me for dinner. I responded that I will be down in a moment, and slipped off from bed. I glanced at the wall clock and scoffed at myself as the short nap that I planned turned into three hours of sleep. I had checked my knee and there I got a circular bruise, but only as big as a coin.
My sleepiness faded in an instant as I reached the dining table and noticed that Drev's hair now fall on either side of his temple. My eyes widened. "Did you cut your hair?" I walked up to his seat, my hands rested on the backrest of his chair and studied his face, he bowed his head down looking uncomfortable that my face is analysing his only inches apart. I went to my seat.
I wanted to tell him that he looks live a movie actor admired by everyone for his attractive face but I didn't.
Mom and Dad chuckled. I turned to them, my hand spread to Drev's direction. "Who did that?"
Nuvian winked at Drev, who gave his shy smile in return. "I told you, man, you look better." He turned to me, his eyebrows cocked. "Riran cut his hair, Drev didn't like it but I think he agrees now that the four of us said so."
I protested, "But I didn't say."
Nuvian rolled his hazel eyes, "You didn't but your face shows it."
As we ate, I tried not to glance on Drev's direction but it was hard not to when his look is really digging. I hope my parents didn't notice but it's okay if they did since it doesn't have an issue anyway. I still don't trust Drev after all.
As days passed by, the strangeness I felt everytime I look at the different colors of his eyes had gotten lesser and lesser, but still it's strange. He often runs his fingers through his hair since Nuvian's friend cut it, then it falls back again on either side of his temple.
I was at the farm with my dad helping him spray fertilizers to the trees while Mom was at the "laboratory" as what she calls it, where she was doing her asexual breeding of the oranges. Dad was pumping while directing the hose to the base of the trees, and Drev was walking meters ahead of us together with Nuvian while Nuvian loudly blabbered of the compliments his shop class teacher gave to the successful boat project.
The sky was blue and bright. But the trees shade us from the glare of the sun. The ground was solid and the birds were chirping from afar. The farm reminded me from our visit in Youla where most of the habitants were old couple left by their grown up children, who ended up attending a big mango farm for something to do because they didn't want to stay at home and wait for death without doing a contribution to town. I figured out as you get gray and old, you run out of things to do that you ended up doing a silly one. Oh, no. It wasn't silly. Impressive how they thought of the town instead of themselves regarding they were in their golden age already.
"Dad, don't you think we should take him home now?" I said to Dad in low voice, enough for him to hear despite of the splashing noise the fertilizer makes as it exits the hose, but enough too so Drev wouldn't hear us. There were distant splashing from the workers who helped in tending the farm. "He's been under our roof for more than a month and you see, he acts strange."
Dad sighed. "Everytime we ask him about the subject, he avoids it. I don't think the boy ever wants to go home." He shot Drev a sympathetic glance.
"What about his family? They might be very worried of him." I just watched Drev, how he smiled as Nuvian cracked a joke. I never hear him laugh. Does he even laugh when his smile is even barely a smile?
Dad stopped, turning to me with his thoughtful expression. His forehead lined with crest of frowning over the years, his cheeks a little saggy, but I could still feel his youthfulness within. "What if his family is the reason why he left?" He motioned to the trees decorated with healthy oranges. "And he is a good luck, the business is going well and your mom's almost done with the experiment."
I nodded, knowing that I won't win over the superstitious beliefs of my parents. "Don't you think we should know his whole story first before trusting him? We don't even know what his last name is."
"Agustine," Dad answered abruptly.
Kevan last name.
"See? He is lying. Kevan hair is of any shades of blonde, never black." It had been scientifically proven that any nationality mixed with Kevan genes could never surpassed the distinct Kevan characteristic of having a blonde hair. Only Kevans have that hair color except if your hair was dyed, it doesn't matter if the only Kevan in your family was present from a long time ago. Never create an offspring with a Kevan if you want to preserve your ginger, brown, and black hair.
"Grassi," Dad said in a fatherly tone. "Drev is not doing any harm. Why do you want him gone so much?"
I fell silent. I didn't answer. Dad and I continued walking, and we didn't speak again. He didn't have finalization in his tone but the fact that I couldn't answer his question seemed to be the end of it.
Why do I want him gone so much? Yes, he is not doing any harm to us but he is really weird for me. The fact that he doesn't know technologies, not knowing that cat is not a rare creature, and just his shyness with his head bowed down and whisper voice. Maybe I just really need to know everything about him, even if that means forcing him. I can't just let him be part of the family that easily.
But I know deep inside, the real reason why I am against him living with us is because I am afraid my parents will no longer care for me. The way they treat Drev as a lucky charm scares me. I don't wanna feel abandoned because of a random boy from a lake who could be a thief, murderer, or what.
Lurking In The Dark 5
I shook my head as I slapped a hand to my forehead. When we got home, the first thing Drev did was ask Nuvian what a telephone was. I left them to their lesson of discussing what it does and how it works. My mom told Drev that he could use the telephone anytime he wanted as long as there were no calls from clients and Nuvian quickly protested why he wasn't allowed to do so.
I went to Eutle with my parents and Drev. Nuvian asked to be left in the house to play video games with his friends that he invited to come over, and he was also left with a thick bundle of money for their foods and whatsoever.
Eutle was two-hour drive from Frolsan. But my parents will only stay at the town centre and as they do their own business there, I will go for a 40-minute hike to the sunflower farm. The meeting point was the store of their customer.
Drev went with me as what my parents asked to "show him around the beautiful places of Keva". He took pictures of me while I pose beside the sunflowers that were much taller than me, I felt claustrophobic standing next to them. The problem was he didn't know how to use the camera so I taught him how but then he didn't know how to find the correct angle so I finally gave up before we ran out of ink. I took a single shot of him anyway, squinting at the sun with his arms tucked beside him and his hoodie askew at the neck.
It was almost three minutes before the picture came out from the sliphole of the camera. Once completely produced, I fanned it to dry the ink and when it was done I showed it to him. Of course, he didn't react, he just looked at it and nodded.
"You shouldn't have moved right away after I took it," I said, handing him the picture. His face and hand - the only skin parts of him that was exposed - were smudged and blur, like an oil painting that was being brushed thin. But his clothing was sharp and well.
He didn't take the photo, he handed it back to me with an unreadable face so I just took it and kept it together with the photos he took of me that were all in wrong angles. If not, were blur and shaky.
First day of school was colored by the rituals of the senior student. The seniors would pour colored powders from the top floor of the main building down the juniors, but I was now a senior so I was assigned to do the color thing. It was sad because it was more fun to be the one who get stained. Sometimes, growing up means not being able to the things you used to.
The juniors cheered loudly for the good luck of the school year as it was believed to take away the bad spirits. Of course it was only a belief but when I was a junior I cheered until no voice came out and all throughout the year my performance in school was excellent. So I cheered with the juniors from the ground as I threw handful of colored powders down on them.
Then on the hallways, the seniors would push their thumb onto the juniors' forehead when they see one, which was distinctive because of their stained shirts. And as a senior, it was your chance to slip confession letters to the person you like with your identity uncovered, it was like taking the risk to see if the person you like would go out with you since it was the last year of Fredran level before we go to Polkanis level and go to different schools which would probably be different from the person you like would go to. Polkanis was when you take classes of your interest that gives you full knowledge of your future career. Unlike Fredran that forces you to take classes that you didn't even care about. Like really, how could Women Lifestyle help me? I was already on my way to my womanhood, there was no need to learn it in school when I could learn it by experience.
It felt good to see everyone smiling on their first day of school. I was influenced by their vibes that I ended up smiling as I walked, imagining I was on a music video with my hair flying in slow motion behind me. Then I would push my inked thumb to junior foreheads and they would groan but laugh at the same time.
"How's your first day, darling?" Dad asked as he preyed on his foods. He talks fast more than the normal Kevan pace of talking and he eats his food loudly, which I secretly hope Drev wouldn't find annoying since it was very much unalike to his own way of eating.
"It's great. It just feels weird to be senior and that now I'm the president of the Green Thumbs," I answered. I didn't mention to him that Ureda Zelski showed his manhood in class "out of boredom".
Dad nodded as he said nice things, then he moved on to Nuvian and asked him about his boat project. But Nuvian didn't answer the question, he just complained how unfair it was that Drev now sits right across Dad and added, "No offense, dude" as he waved at him. Drev smiled in return.
As usual, I was the one who cleaned the dishes but I was surprised when Drev appeared at my side. "Hello," he said with his normal whisper-like voice then settled down on the sink the glass he was holding. "I want to help you, I won't break anything."
I scoffed. "No," I protested. He doesn't know how to do it and I just wanna finish early so I could dive into bed, he would only slow me down. "Why don't you watch Hamster Ville instead?"
"Your parents are watching this guy who is talking about a wildfire in Kak which I find uninteresting and Hamster Ville is only on the afternoons."
Okay, maybe Mierkova is a lot more isolated than it looks like or as I thought.
It took me a moment before I finally let him help me. But it wasn't that bad, he learns fast like the chopping of wood. I mean, washing dishes and chopping of woods were both basic. Sooo basic that you won't need someone to tell you that you were not supposed to eat on plates with unrinsed soap. I was the one who soaped the dishes and rinsed them and I gave the drying part to Drev. He wasn't the one who did the whole thing but at least he now knows the process.
We were on our last plate when he asked, "What are we going to do now?" He put the plate on the rack and hang the towel, then he looked at me waiting for a reply.
I looked away from his green-and-blue eyes, diverting my gaze to the flickering flame of the candle on the table. My parents like to eat with candlelights despite presence of flourescent lights. "You watch TV if you like then I go to my room and sleep," I answered. "I don't know? Just do whatever?"
Surprisingly, he just nodded and did as I said. He sat with my parents at the living room and watched news with them. Drev started asking them questions like a one-year old boy still learning about things that even dumb Nuvian could answer.
How are they inside the TV? Could I be watched by people too? Why do they wear that funny cloth around their neck when they can have the necklace? Do Grassi always sleep early?
And my parents answered, but when they ask of his whereabouts, he does not.
Drev is so weird.
Relis Schalbam was known in school because he played Atruf and was good-looking. Unlike Drev's left blue eye, his eyes were much bluer and almost hypnotizing. I liked his curly brown hair, an obvious mark that he was a foreigner. I liked his voice. I liked his muscular build. I liked everything about him and someday we'll make our own family. That was only a wishful thinking though. Haha, pity me for liking a guy way too out of my league.
There were so many reasons why I loved hunt class. The subject didn't require seats and classroom, we just squat on the ground and it feels like I'm in Cloud 9 everytime Relis and I's knees touch. Of course, I had to make sure I sit next to him without being obvious. That means I always pretend to be late. I run when I go to the back forest of the school (where the hunt class setting was) then secretly eye the spot where he sits and I run to his side and squat like I didn't mean it to be next to him.
Relis leaned to my ear with his head still facing Mr. Lacna. "Late again, ey?" he whispered that sent electric shock from my ear down to the tip of my toes. His voice was husky like he just woke up and sometimes I found myself fantasizing of him moaning my name. Gross and unmodest of me to say that, but no joke. Sure, I wasn't this slutty, blame the teenage hormones.
I pushed the clamp of sweaty hair to my ear as I panted, trying to keep my cool. "My class before this is on East Wing."
He scoffed and went back to the discussion. I could feel his enthusiasm for the class, expected from him because he was from the family of hunters who now owns a meat business. They offered summer classes for hunting, which I wish I could go because he helps in facilitating but my parents won't let me.
Mr. Lacna discussed as he walked left to right and right to left on the green grass with his hands pinned behind him. The class was on the main entrance of the school forest. We were surrounded by the short bushes of rosal. And behind Mr. Lacna, where we face, was the forest. It looked huge that you felt haunted everytime you stare into the depth of it. You could imagine a deadly monster waiting for you to step in.
Last year, we were taught to hunt down bunnies and raccoons but this year we were moving to bigger creatures using more complicated kind of trap.
Mr. Lacna stopped in the middle of the ground, then he cleared his throat. "We might be hunting tadalsi if the permit is accepted."
The whole class gasped including me, except Relis who displayed a big smile. Oh, it's Relis, a big horse with shark teeth who keeps drooling and a kick that would send you flying a yard and kill you won't scare him.
"But if that happens, you will need a permit slip signed by your parents that explains how dangerous the hunting is. It won't affect your grade but you will miss the fun or miss the chance of losing your life." Then Mr. Lacna laughed loud that silenced the class. He cleared his throat, "Kidding."
The thing about my school was if something happened to your kid in the middle of hunting - let's say, your kid died - then that was no more school responsibility. Handle your kid's death by yourselves, dear parents. I thought it was harsh but then oh well, it was Kevan schooling system. Harsh and bold.
It was embarassing to say this but although the students on Fredran level were around 14 to 18 years of age, we have story class. Well, you could imagine. The teacher would tell us story of any types - myth, fable, anecdote, et cetera. I would more on call it literature rather than story class, so childish in the ears.
But it wasn't always story-telling, we were also left with works like being assigned of a story to read and comprehend. What we were left last meeting was to read the book about bresvens. I knew nothing about them since I didn't touch the book and just let it rest on my bed last night. Instead, I wrote on my journal about the unexpected interactions with Relis within the day. Nonetheless, nobody seemed to care for the subject either for none of the class raised his or her hand when Mrs. Felcan asked who read the book.
This infuriated her that she actually threw a book on the floor with all her might, that some of the pages were torned and went flying smoothly in the air and down to the floor. The class fell into silence. "I provided a book for each of you and not even a soul read it!" She yelled, her veins in the neck were showing and I was afraid that any second it would burst. "Mr. Hurar, what did you do last night?"
The question caught Zedec off guard. His face displayed a shock but he got himself together and regained his arrogant confidence that was always with him wherever he went. He was a good player in Atruf (though not as good as Relis) which caused him to be full of himself. He smirked, "Sorry, ma'am. I was in a family party."
His friends snorted, knowing the party he was talking about was the other way around. Mrs. Felcan appeared to believe or pretended to be. She might have realized that it was a waste of time to rant so she went back to her table and flicked through the pages of the brevsen book. She exhaled. "Can someone please pick those up?" She eyed the mess on the floor and waited until the guy in front of the class retrieved all of it and placed it on Mrs. Felcan's table. "Thank you. Now, let's all move on. Get the book and read it silently for--" she glanced at her wristwatch "--within 10 minutes. Start now!"
I wasn't a fan of reading but I managed to force myself to read the 30-page book. It was not that long since around half of it were pictures of brevsen. Drawing illustrations only because brevsens were mythological creatures and didn't truly exist. There were drawings of their sharp fangs, youthful corpse, a brevsen biting onto a human's neck, a brevsen on a pyre calling for help, a brevsen smelling his hostage's hair.
"They look just like a normal person aside from their sharp fang and abnormally pale skin that turns ceramic grey when exposed to fire. They feed on blood, has super speed, and great strength. Senior bresvens have horns. In order to kill one, you must drive a stake into the heart with a w---" The guy beside me stopped reading as he noticed my eyes on him. "What?" He asked.
"Uh, would you mind if you turn the volume a little lower. I'm sorry, only if you don't mind."
He just gave me an irritated look but however I did not hear him again. As I flicked through the pages, I studied the drawings and noticed few writings on the bottom for perhaps to label the illustrations but I wasn't sure what the words meant. But judging the arrangement of the leters, it was Tualian perhaps. There was a sketch of a man, face was hard to see due to the messy linings of the pencil, but it was clear that he was sitting on a throne with a crown on his head. On his shoes was probably a signed name of the artist (Rdui Glescious) but it was hard to tell because the lady carrying a baby that was standing by his side also had another sign on her dress (Rezna Raquien) and so is the baby on its left arm (Deurzciv).
Lurking In The Dark 4
I composed myself, my back straight. "Does it harm you?" I tried my best to copy the aura he could make as he speaks.
He shook his head. "It doesn't."
I caught him glance at the untouched food on my plate so I gave it to him, I'm not hungry. Then I disappeared to my room after I told him to wash the dishes. He didn't reply.
My room is spacious but I don't have a lot of things. I only have a bed, wardrobe, and a study table that faces the forest across the house. Everything is neat and in order just the way I like them to, and I always make sure it smells of lavender. Nuvian's room on the other hand was full of scattered clothes on the floor including crampled papers, which I was curious to read one and realized some of them were actually a love letter for a girl in his school named Lily Kaler.
I was not sure of who Lily is but once I went to Nuvian's school after he got into a fight and my parents couldn't make it because they were in Hashek for a business proposal. Then there was this short girl with elfish features who was very worried for Nuvian, so I guess that was Lily Kaler. I mean I don't care much about Nuvian's "love" interest but it seems funny to me because --- *BOOGSH!*
I hurried down the stairs, almost stumbling upon my steps. "What was that?" I yelled running to the kitchen to find Drev with pieces of broken ceramic plate on the floor. "You're gonna drive my Mom crazy!" I yelled again.
I once broke a ceramic plate and Mom made me kneel down on salt as a punishment, so I absently picked up the pieces out of panicked, hoping Mom wouldn't notice that another one was broken. She is sentimental and this was a wedding gift from her sister, who passed away a couple years ago, that's why.
Drev helped me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Ok--" I pulled my hand to my chest as I gashed myself, I was too occupied by worry that I panicked upon picking the broken pieces. I checked my wound and hurried to the sink to wash it, I winced softly as it stung. I turned to Drev, he was gasping with his hands wrapped around his throat as if dying to scratch the inside of his neck. "Drev, are you okay?"
His arms kept him from falling off the floor. I could hear his breathing through his mouth. "I don't know. My throat burns." There were sweat beads around his forehead despite the cold air after the rain. He let out a throaty growl and dashed to the fridge, looking for something to drink. He retrieved a soda and gulped it down in short second. "I'm okay," he said, still holding his throat.
I rolled my eyes and went back to wash the gash in the sink. I bit the side of my wounds for pressure to stop the bleeding and when I made sure it won't bleed again, I went back to cleaning the mess. I eyed Drev as if asking for a hand so he helped me, gulping every second.
I caught glance of his hands, trembling softly, and eyed how visible his veins were underneath his pale skin. Bluish green and purple. Despite of his paleness, he doesn't have a freckle. Relis Schalbam from my hunt class has freckles sprinkled evenly on his nose and cheeks, I wonder what it would look like on Drev.
When his noisy gulping got into my nerves I exhaled loudly. "Are you really okay? Don't lie." I waited for his reply impatiently which he only gave when he was on the last broken piece.
He shook his head. "My throat is burning, I don't know why."
"Burning. Not sore? Otherwise, you would have sore throat and you could take a small tablet for that. It would go away." I took the broken pieces that he picked, careful not to gash myself again and threw it to the pit at the backyard that was intended for the leaves only. I made sure it will go unseen.
When I returned, Drev was sitting on the kitchen floor with his eyes staring at the cupboard door. He seemed to be thinking of something deep that I had to clear my throat to get his attention. He looked up to me in silence, waiting for what I was about to say.
"Uh." I fidgeted on my heels, uneasy of what to do. "Do you want to take the sore throat med?"
"I don't know. Do I have to?"
"No but nevermind, I'll get it for you." I didn't wait for a reply, I went to my bathroom where I kept medicines in a mirror cabinet, then I jogged down downstairs to hand it to him. He didn't ask for further questions, he just took it in.
He looked at me, his face crumpled in disgust. "It doesn't taste good." He spat out the tablet on his hand and stared at it with a frown. "Like lemon grass and dung."
I held myself from laughing, no way I would let myself get along with him. "Idiot. You take it with water."
"But you didn't say."
"I thought you're one of those psychos who take meds without water."
After he was finally able to take in the tablet, I did the dishes instead and he went to the living room to watch the television. He doesn't know how to wash the dishes. When I took the work from him, the plates were a mess. I asked him why there was still blue washing liquid on the plate and he said that it was to keep the fragrance. He didn't even know that there was supposed to be bubbles involved in this work.
"Grassi?" A voice called. I turned, holding a soaped plate with my hands full of bubbles. Drev is standing with the remote on his hands. "How do you turn on the thing?" He asked, jerking the remote to the direction of the living room.
I sighed, wiped the bubbles off my hand with the back of my jeans, and took the remote from him. "You have to plug it first, okay?" Then I demonstrated. "Just make sure you don't touch the metal part of the plug," I added when I remembered I once told Nuvian to plugged on the TV and he got electrocuted, it wasn't that serious. "And on." I clicked the red button of the remote and handed it to Drev as the TV flicked and an old actress appeared on the screen.
"Res." A small smile crawled out from his lips. His smile always looks like a sad one, like the one you give to someone who lost a family member and you smile in sympathy. "Thank you in Tualian," he added when I frowned in confusion.
"You speak Tualian?" I asked, trying my best to sound bored and unsurprised.
He glanced at the screen as it played an upbeat music from an advertisement, then he turned to me again with his head bowed down, looking down on his fidgeting fingers.
"Yes," he replied. "I didn't know I could, it suddenly popped out that I know how."
My school will start within two days and last week I received my class schedule together with the requirements. I have Tualian for my language class and I have even bought the required book for the class so I felt excited when I found out he knows Tualian. Maybe I could ask help from him, make use of him as he lives with us, right? It's negotiating.
"You learned it?" And I felt stupid because he didn't reply, reminding me that he doesn't remember everything.
He glanced at the TV. "Can I have that video please of a girl with short hair and weird teeth and a guy who drives nice car?"
I took the remote as he handed it and I flicked to the channel of the show he was talking about. "It's called show, not video. I mean, yeah, it is a video but anyways, the title is Hamster Ville." I handed back the remote then he said "Res" again before taking a seat on the couch.
His eyes were instantly glued to the channel and I thought, that was it for today so I went back to the kitchen to continue washing the dishes.
It was around seven in the night when my parents asked me to show Drev to The Focus as part of showing him around the town. At first I protested but Dad promised me he will let me go with them to Eutle to deliver oranges tomorrow so I agreed since Eutle was a very nice place. They had big fields of sunflowers that I always wanted to go to but the trips were always cancelled due to important school projects that I had to finish in time. I prioritized my studies over trips after all.
I wasn't sure why the place was called The Focus, but anyway, it was a big land surrounded by clustered trees that formed into a circle like it was meant to be planted there a long time ago just to give shape to the place. It was a big one, like an Atruf stadium. And there usually go hundreds of families on weekends to watch the night sky together.
Before the clock hits ten, there were activities like movie marathon - a movie projected on a large white cloth while the viewers sit on each of their own picnic setups they prepared and eat and so. After the movie was a big bonfire participated by everyone where you could make new friends or talk to a stranger about your whole life which to be honest I so much prefer, as long as you make sure you wouldn't meet the stranger again because that would be awkward.
It was the three of us - Nuvian, Drev, and I. But Nuvian excused himself in the middle of the movie to sit with his friends but when I followed him with my gaze and watched him excused and apologized for blocking the view, he stopped beside a girl and sat with her.
I shook my view, amused of what happened then I returned my attention to the movie. I glanced at Drev, his expression was unreadable but I thought I should at least say something. "What do you think of the movie?"
His eyes glittered as it reflected the lights coming off from the screen, oblivious of the stares from the girls next to our setup. They were giggling to each other and I was girl enough to know that they were talking about Drev, looking at the way they whisper to each other's ears as they steal glances at his face.
"It's sad," Drev answered but he seemed not to mean it, his tone was lifeless and bored. "You didn't tell anything about this place."
So I told him everything I know about the place including what I don't know (why it was named The Focus). When I was finished he didn't react, he just stared at the screen with dead eyes though there was a hint of wonder. And when I asked him if what I said was enough, he nodded and stretched his neck to stare at the sky. His adam's apple and slender neck were pronounced and maybe it was attractive because the girls stirred louder giggles.
"I can't wait for the movie and bonfire to end so we could just look at the stars."
"Uh-huh," I hummed to agree. I said in lower voice, "If those girls didn't think I was your girlfriend, they'd be talking to you already." I hid a finger, pointing at the giggling girls. "No, don't look!" I hissed in whisper when he turned at them for a moment, causing the girls to elbow at each other.
Drev didn't throw a flirtatious glance nor a smile at them. He just frowned at me. "Girlfriend?" Then the corner of his mouth turned up slightly and neither of us talked again because the movie had ended and it was time for the bonfire.
Drev stayed by my side like a kid throughout the bonfire. The giggling girls were just behind us and I could hear their whispering about joking of saying "hi" to Drev, but they were still hesitating due to my presence which made me laugh manically in my mind. I was familiar with the behaviour for I had done it with my friends so I came to understand the girls.
"Aren't you gonna make new friends around?" I asked, watching people create a bond with just shared drinks and friendly smile. I glanced around for Nuvian but failed to find him and just let him slip off my mind since he was old enough to go home alone.
"How about you?"
Of course, I didn't talk to anyone I didn't know since I don't have a problem to be spilled out and I wasn't desperate enough to make friends. Or maybe because I had been here when I was around ten and I made friends with a couple of kids and they borrowed my wand thing and never returned it. Though there were guys more charming than Relis Schalbam in different ways - in a hot, goofy, or cute way - I didn't approach or joined in the group of girls who were swarming around them. It was no surprise while lots of teenagers love to go to The Focus.
After what felt like years of hesitance from the girls they finally talked to Drev when I went out for a moment to pee. I could feel the observing gazes on my back as I made my way to the comfort room. When I came back they quickly scrambled away with an alarmed look, which left me with a smile on the face as I watched them returned to their spot and I sat next to Drev who was frowning at the girls behind over his shoulder. I found the whole situation funny so I just let them assumed that Drev was in a relationship with me.
"So what did they say?" I said, tossing chips at him that I purchased on my way back. The comfort room was located outside the circular perimeter of the trees and nearby were several food stores. Like popcorns, taco, burritos, mostly fast foods, et cetera.
"I don't even know what they're talking about," he said, chewing loudly and looking at the package of the chips and turning it around with a look of surprise. "Wow, this is good. What type of food is this?"
He didn't seem to see me frowned at his remark because my face was covered with my hand as what I did to keep the heat of the bonfire from roasting my face. "Uh, junk food?" It came out as a question because I wasn't sure of what to answer, maybe he was asking if either it was a healthy or an unhealthy food. Everyone knows that it was junk foods but not everyone knows that junk food is unhealthy especially kids. Which unfortunately, he feels like one although he looks okay enough to be a teenager.
He nodded. "I love it." It started as one-by-one but then he started shoving a mouthful of the chips and chewed them with his cheek bulged. I just watched him in surprise since he didn't eat like that at the table. Oh well, maybe we all have a monster to a certain food. When he had swallowed the chips he said, "So what is number?"
The guy beside me left so I moved farther from Drev. Most of the people were singing songs with the two guitarists of identical lengthy beard, they were sitting right across us and by now few woods were removed from the bonfire to reduce the life of the fire. I was guessing it was almost ten so sooner they would completely put it out.
I answered, "One, two, thr ---"
He cut me off. "I mean yes, I know what numbers are. But what do they mean when they asked if they could have my number?"
"Oh, telephone number. And what did you say?" I asked. We only have one telephone in the house and it was for business matters so he better say he didn't have a telephone. It wasn't like he knows what our telephone number was and clearly he didn't even know what a telephone was, just like his ignorance of the TV.
He shrugged. "Telephone?"
"Ask Nuvian when we get home."
He nodded. "Well, I told them it's 16." He eyed the crowd, I assumed he was looking for Nuvian which now I had found and was now talking with his friends. Silly, they all have the same hairstyle.
I chuckled. "What?" I looked at the girls, they had given up stealing glances from Drev. Maybe they realized Drev was actually stupid and wasn't worth it. "Drev, you high?"
He threw me a confused look. "I'm, high?"
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank @TheRandomRewarder for appreciating the stories I post. I write as a hobby but having someone to tip me and motivate me is one of the amazing things of being here at read.cash. I may not be a promising user, I have been here for eight months and not as known as others but @TheRandomRewarder made me feel welcomed. I really appreciate you.
Unexpectedly 2
It has been two months since the noisiest girl in class said those words. Nothing has changed except that I can't stop thinking about it. It was probably just a joke but there is something telling me that it was true. But can you really get THAT blunt if you're feelings were real? I have had crushes before of course, and I was really shy, didn't even try to talk to any of them. But her? She said it like the answers to the teachers' questions she is always confident of.
"Probably she was dared by her friends," my friend Cedric said through the mic as he shots fire to our opponent, but he was the one who died instead. "Dang!" he cussed and threw the controller to the couch as the word Defeat plastered through the screen.
"Maybe." I threw a hand in the air as if to brush off the subject and to be never be spoken again, but I didn't completely forget about it at all.
But to be honest...
I didn't really lay my eyes on her. Even on the first day of school, she didn't get my attention. I don't even know how she introduced herself to class or what she wore that day. Only noticed her existence when we were first grouped in Biology and she took lead of the group like it is a nature of her.
Her hair was charcoal black, nose small, and lips fluffy that is constantly painted with lightest pink of all. Her complexion was of pale white that is even more pronounced by the black skirt uniform. And her eyes sparkle as she smiles. Never saw her in a bad mood, not even on days when she get low scores. Ever since she told me she likes me, I unconsciously took notice of her presence more. She eats lunch in our Philosophy classroom with her friends, she is the most attentive during discussions, she likes spending vacant periods in the lunch counter with her friends, and she's always one of those students who are keen to go home. She walks a lot faster like she spent every ounce of her energy on that, silent and no looking back like the absence of company is the only thing she needs in the world. But when someone calls her out, she turns with a bright smile as if she didn't walk alone first and fast with a solemn expression.
I was sitting at the back of the class, listening to my friend play a song in the guitar when she approached us. Her expensive perfume lingered in the air as she sat across. I glanced away as her eyes laid on me. Before, there would be nothing awkward with this action of her, but her words replayed in my mind again, now I can't help but avoid her gazes for no apparent reason and feel the awkwardness boiling in my chest. What's unfair is probably she had forgotten about that day yet here I am fallen into the desire of observing her.
She probably meant what she said but lost interest when I wasn't able to answer all the questions asked to me in class. Or maybe Cedric is right that she was only dared by h---
"Why do you care?" I snapped to myself telepathically.
"Bryce here is actually the best in playing the guitar," Austin said passing me the guitar he played awhile ago. I was too shy to refuse since everyone in the circle is looking at me now so I had no choice but to accept it.
"What to play?" I asked softly, embarassed of the thought of messing up the chords.
Cedric suggested that I play Bestfriend by Rex Orange Country. I didn't sing, but the circle sang to the melody excluding her. This made me anxious and strangely, disappointed when she excused herself to the group and returned to her seat.
I felt sad for no reason.
Unexpectedly 1
Falling in love wasn't something I really think about. I thought I was too young to feel such thing and that there are a lot of things to put first before this torture of getting attached to someone and getting hurt at the end as what I had seen from the romantic movies of my parents' collection kept in a small wooden cabinet just right below our television.
Well, mostly I waste my time scrolling through social media and I see these random couples doing sweet things and then I think it would be nice to have someone to do these cute things with but the image just fades away as I go on to the next video.
Then the pandemic eventually died and everything went back to normal. More than a year of taking lessons at home made it surreal that now I'm back to preparing for school early in the morning. I'm excited because I haven't seen my friends and it felt like all I had to do was blink my eye to see myself in the last year of high school.
First day of school was full of exciting energy radiating from the people around me. But I kept all my excitement inside because it would be weird smiling on my own as I break through the sea of other students. It actually felt good that we don't have to maintain social distancing at all, everyone is vaccinated, and no more muffled voices through the face mask. It's like the virus was just a nightmare.
"I bet we should start by introducing ourselves?" Our class adviser started with a question. But having that this is our first day with a lot of transferee and students from different sections of last school year, it felt like something we are obliged to do. "Just make it short. Name, age, then talent."
I tried to pay attention to every introduction but my senses eventually flew out to somewhere, and came back when there were five students remaining before me.
"Bryce Dela Cruz, 18. My talent is singing." I sat down. A little smile came out from the corner of my mouth as my statement replayed in my mind. Of course, I find it amusing since I don't really have talent at all. Perhaps there is, but I spend too much time with internet that I feel lazy to discover my talent.
Two months passed by and now everyone knows everyone, sitting arrangement has been mastered, and different circles were formed. I stick with my friends from the previous years, they are cool and fun, sometimes a little bit of a bad influence when it comes to reviewing for quizzes and exams.
Now sitting at the back of the class, kind of listening to our Biology teacher blabber about the importance of protein, there's nothing better to do than sleeping instead. I am sleep deprived after playing Valorant until 2am, and my body was programmed during the pandemic to sleep every 3pm. Mr. Santos is good at discussing but his class is at 3pm so it's hard to take in the lessons.
The discussion came to a halt when an announcement came out of the speakers. "Mr. Raquel Santos, please come to the Guidance Office. Again, Mr. Santos, please come to the Guidance Office."
Mr. Santos heaved out a loud sigh before switching the screen to a long page of text. "Copy the text shown in the screen. Miss President, check every note if complete. I'll be giving 30 points for that." And then he left.
Everyone just took a picture of the screen and assured the class president that they will copy it at home so they can idle. My brain being a bastard suddenly felt awake instead of feeling sleepy now that I finally got the time to sleep. So I took out my pen and notebook to copy.
I heard a chair being dragged to my direction and the girl who has the loudest laugh in class covered my sight from the screen. She sat on the chair she positioned across me and raised her eyebrow at the single word that I was able to write on my notebook. "It's so weird," she started.
Yeah, I think that it's weird that she's sitting instead of walking around the room laughing at everything being the bubbly girl that she is. "Aren't you gonna ask me what I'm talking about?" she added quickly before I could even ask her what's weird.
"I was about to."
"I think it's weird that everyone else is chilling and you're actually doing what Sir told us to."
"Being obedient is weird?" She laughed, just the two of us to hear. Everyone is minding their own businesses. I could see her friends at the corner probably talking about the upcoming exam since she belongs to the group of students who are grade-conscious. And my boys are sitting close to the door probably securing the whole class from teachers while they talk about our game last night.
"Don't get me wrong but we had been groupmates in different subjects before and you're not really cooperative, so yeah."
Nah, I tried to cooperate. She is just not satisfied with my mediocre acting skills in our group presentations. "Nevermind," she brushed off. I might have appeared annoyed because she seemed to be suddenly embarassed of her actions. But I was wrong when I felt the confidence and calmness of her voice in her next words. "Oh and by the way, I like you."
Epekto ng Pandemya sa Edukasyon
Mahigit isang taon na nang lumaganap ang pandemya at maraming hakbang na rin ang naipatupad upang maiwasan ang pagkalat nito. Kasama nito ay ang *health protocols* gaya ng pagsuot ng *face* *shield* at *face* *mask*. Sa larangan naman ng edukasyon, ang pag-aaral ay naging *online* o di kaya’y modyular. Bukod pa rito, naging matagumpay rin ang mga eksperto sa paggawa ng bakuna laban sa *virus*.
Kahit pa man masasabi na isa ang mga mag-aaral sa dapat unahing mabakunahan upang maibalik na ang dating mas epektibong paraan ng pagkatuto, hindi mapagkakailang na kulang pa sa bilang ang mga bakunang dumarating kung kaya’t ang mga *frontliners* pa lamang ang mga mababakunahan. Walang nakapagsasabi na magkakaroon ng pandemya kaya naman labis ang paghihirap ng Pilipinas sa pagharap nito dahil ang bansa ay hindi pa handa. Kasama dito ay ang hindi kahandaan ng mga estudyante at guro sa pagbabago ng sistemang pang-edukasyon.
Karamihan sa mga estudyante ay nagpapahayag sa kanilang mga saloobin sa *internet* kung paano sila lalong pinapahirapan ng pag-aaral dahil sa pagbabago. Kasama nito ay ang kanilang kagustuhan na magkaroon ng *academic* *freeze* at *academic* *break*. At bilang isang mag-aaral, hindi ako tutol rito subalit maraming ebidensya ang magpapatunay na hindi epektibo ang pag-aaral sa panahong ito. Nawalan ng saysay ang pag-aaral dahil wala namang naihatid na aral.
Eternity 1
I walked pass the sugar mill along the roadside of this foreign small town. It was abandoned as shown by the decaying stone wall and moss clinging onto it. The door was opened in an angle, enough to see that all was there were stacks of hay. I hurried my pace for night is about to fall, not knowing where to go.
My car was stolen while I was at a gas station's store, looking for an energy drink to fuel me up for my supposed to be hours of drive to visit my grandparents who live at the farm. But now I can't even tell where I am. This town lacks road signs and the neighborhood does not seem friendly at all.
I remember passing this town when I was a little girl when we used to visit my grandparents every summer. It has always looked solemn and mysterious to me. I never thought that one day I'm gonna be stuck here.
Awhile ago, I approached a little girl who was playing at the park but before I could even say a word, she ran away with her worn-out teddy bear with its one eye missing. This town looks isolated from the innovation going on around the world, and so are the people.
I found a shop that was about to close and found my way to let the owner sell me some of his chocolate bars. It was minutes of begging him not to close the glass door of his shop before me, before I succeeded.
"Where are you staying? I suppose you are not a local," he says as he hands me my change. His right eye was devoured by cataract, I bet he couldn't see with it at all. He smells like tobacco and his hair is grey.
"Oh." I thought of an answer. I do not know at all. It's my first time getting my car stolen and finding myself in a strange town. "I'll just walk around I guess until I find a car that could give me a lift. Uh, do you have a phone?"
My phone was in the car so I don't have anything to call my friends or family. The old man shook his head at my misfortune as I told him what happened.
"You really shouldn't be outside at this time. Find a place to stay in before 11, will you?"
"Okay."
I walked in slow pace, finally accepting the fact that this twist could be a part to make my trip an adventure. Nibbling on a chocolate bar and enjoying the blow of the cold wind against my skin, I sat on a curb as I looked up at the sky. I looked at my watch and scoffed at the time. I don't know what the old man seemed to be so worried about staying outside past 11, no one is even around. No harm.
"Hello there," said a deep voice.
"Oh s--" I held a hand to my chest and took a deep breath to regain my posture. "I'm sorry, I thought I was alone."
The handsome man stepped out of the dark and smiled. His skin was pale white and it was even more emphasized by his dark clothing. He was wearing a silver necklace and he smelled of expensive perfume.
"What are you doing here outside late at night?"
The time says it's a couple of minutes past eleven. I finished my chocolate bar and stood up. "Just out for a late night walk. How about you?"
"Sure am too." He smiled and started walking, leaving a trail of scent behind. The moon is shining bright. I could hear the sound of the waves from a distant and so is my beating heart.
I wondered why I couldn't see any vehicle in sight.
I found myself following him to a quarry, seemed to be under the spell of his smell. He was calm and deep in thoughts along the way so I didn't bother say a word. His face does not display any sense of emotion. Then he said, " You really shouldn't be out by now."
"Why not, there isn't even a curfew."
His cold hand landed on my shoulder, the night getting chillier as well. He then stared into my eyes.
"You really think I don't know *what* you are?" He let out a low growl. "You are a vampire hunter."
I froze in horror. How did he know? I made myself believe that my car was stolen and was left here in this God forsaken town. So they couldn't find anything when they try to read my mind. So I don't look suspicious at all but...
I quickly glanced away from his beautiful eyes that were blood red by now which means he is hungry for my blood. It is a shame that he is able to unveil my identity before I could even drive a stake bathed with holy water and carved with Latin prayers straight to his chest. Why a vampire has to be staked through their non-beating heart, I don't know why. But from a family of vampire hunters, that is the only way to kill one as my ancestors say.
I was about to pierce him with a dagger I involuntarily grabbed beneath my shirt. Hey, this is my first mission so I am an amateur and my brain right now is not working so well. But my human speed was no competition to his supernatural one. He held both of my hands over my head with a single hand, his strength is like being handcuffed with a thick iron chain.
"You look just like someone I knew, yet your skills are nothing like hers."
Everyone told me that I looked exactly like my grandmother. Vampire hunting is composed of small numbers where everyone knows each other. So it can't be a surprise if she is pertaining to Esmeralda, my grandmother.
Damn. He could be the vampire she's been looking for her whole life. During her lucid days, she would tell me about a vampire named Benedictus whom she fell in love with. They fell in love with each other.
"Esmeralda," I whispered.
Not even a second when let go of my hands, when I found myself being choke. He lifted me up from the ground. "You know her?" He growled. My legs were kicking him but no use and my hands were on his dead cold hands, trying to look for a crack where I could loosen his grip around my neck.
"B-benedictus." I say while looking straight into his eyes. His eyes were black by now. Hunger replaced with anger?
"Go to hell, Esmeralda. You fooled me!" His grip tightened even more and I could barely breathe.
"S-she l-loved you."
His grip loosened and I was thrown to the ground with a tight throat. His eyes were back to green and before I could tell him that my grandmother has passed away, a wind blew to my face. He was gone.
Wish I Was That Person Who Have The Same Name as Me
Right now, I am hanging out with Darrel along with our other friends. We are at the porch playing mobile legends while there are foods in the middle of the circle we had formed using our sitting arrangement. As much as we tried our best to win the game, we failed. The game ended with groans of frustration, looking at the screen as we lose one star. Suddenly, Darrel yelled, "Hey, wanna join? Five man, ranked game."
Curious, I glanced at the direction where Darrel is yelling. I stare in awe at the girl, standing in the balcony of the house just across us. Her mother is a good friend of ours who is very friendly to the people in the neighborhood, just like his brother who is actually with us in the circle. However, this girl seems to be an antisocial. She barely goes out. When she does, she is with her mom, buried in her oversized hoodie and her pretty face hidden underneath a black face mask. Some of my friends would talk to her mom, and that was when she would stand behind her mom as she waits for the conversation to finish. She would wait in patience, I'm not sure if she is listening to the conversation or not, because often she has earphones on.
Some would say hi to her or wave, she responds minimally. Sometimes her mother would force her to communicate and that's when she waves a hand first. I am not outgoing as my friends so I just look at the scene while I observe her. Not a single time her eyes landed on me, she is always looking down or checking her phone. But this time, I caught glance of her eyes on mine. I see no emotion.
She replied to Darrel, "Okay, invite me to the game. I'm online."
I am impressed at how good she plays. We won five times then she told us she has something to do. Since that day, I found myself checking their house. Hoping to see her, even just a glimpse of her shadow. Maybe I am a good observant that I have come to memorize some of her routines. At 9pm, she would walk around the house with earphones on, deep in thoughts that she wouldn't even notice eyes on her. When she finishes that ritual, she would go inside their house to play mobile legends. I open the game too, hoping that she invites me. Sometimes she does, sometimes she does not.
There are times she goes out. As her brother told me, it is for educational purposes. I once waved at her, but she didn't respond because she didn't look around. She went straight to their house the moment her foot landed on the ground as she exits the bus. As someone who hangs out a lot with friends, I don't know how she manages to live without social life. So I added her on social media. I am wrong. She has a lot of friends, they even tagged her on a lot of memes. Her timeline looked like it was her friends' because she rarely posts. So I thought maybe she doesn't like the people in the town.
Until one day, I saw her at the beach with her brother, Toby. They are playing mobile legends together. I said hi to Toby. We started talking, hoping she would join, but she did not. She just listened in silence and focused on the game.
Time came and I no longer see her. Not even her 9pm ritual was accomplished. I never asked Toby where his sister is. It just came up while we were playing our usual game when Darrel said, "How I wish Nadia was her to play with us." Hearing what he said, I just stared at the offline status of Nadia's game account. Right, she hasn't been online for one month.
"She's away for college," Toby answered, looking unbothered with his sister gone.
Then summer came and a bus stopped right in front of their big house. There came down Nadia, her hair now long and dark brown. Her skin paler than the last time like she hasn't seen the sun for the time being while she was away in the city. Her eyes landed on mine for the second time, still no emotion was shown. Not seconds later, a handsome guy came out from the bus as well. He has that city vibe that my friends admire. And that's when her hazel eyes sparkles, smiling sweetly at the guy.
I have always been denial of the way I feel for her. Now seeing her with someone else confirms that I have always been in love with her. Here I sat at the porch of Bryce's house, looking up at the balcony where she is talking to the guy. His name is Walt, as what Toby told me. The statement made me smile for my name is Walt as well.
credits to google for the images
A Second Away
For the past few months, I haven't been allowed to go outside. It started ever since I was diagnosed of prestucalar disease. It's a disease that appears one in a million people so medication is still undersearch because of its rareness. For now, the only thing they know about prestucalar is that the patient is sensitive to light. If I stay too long under the sun then my veins will swell until it ruptures. That's why my windows are tinted. Other than that, my immune system is weak so it's best I do not go outside.
Life was good. I used to play in the lacrosse team and had hookups here and there. My grades were barely above average but my lacrosse skills were good that I was offered a scholarship in college. Not until last May when I wanted to donate a blood so they took me for a blood test first. And that was when they found that my blood has prestucalar cells in the plasma, whatever that means. At first, we didn't pay attention to it since I wasn't feeling any symptoms. Not until my 18th birthday when my nose bled while they were singing Happy Birthday to me, then followed by a couple of combulsions for the next few months.
Ran another blood test and there found that the prestucalar cells were increasing which causes my immune system to weaken and blablabla. Listening to the doctor, I suddenly spaced out from all his talks. What was the use of listening tho when it ended with a, "There's no medication for prestucalar yet but if you let us, we could put your son under investigation for the study of the disease. He may be able to help future cases."
As far as I know, that is just some fascinating words of being a guinea pig given experimental medications. I don't mind because it means free medicines, not a cent spent! (Not sure if it would heal me tho) And that's better than getting no medications. I don't really care. The bottomline is I'm getting weaker, I miss going to beaches and eyeing girls in bikinis, and I'm going to die sooner than my grandparents. Which sucks to think because my grandparents are not allowed to visit me, for some medical reasons.
Anyway, I have come to accept the fact that my days are counted although the doctors didn't say a thing about my time. Neither about my improvements, if there really is. So maybe it means, I got five weeks? Oh damn, what if hours?
That's why I always make sure I look good at all times since I do not know when will be my last breath. I remember overhearing that I may have another combulsion and be dropdead dead after that. My way of death is honestly better compared to getting tortured: have my nails removed using pliers, my mouth staplered together, and my hands nailed.
"Alexander, dear, what's with the look?" Nurse Mendoza asks as she stopped pushing the tray with syringes of different sizes.
"What look?" I glanced at myself in the mirror.
"What's in your mind?"
Me getting tortured.
"Nah, I'm just bummed why my movie time was reduced to one hour. I mean, most movies are over one hour. It sucks I have to wait for the next day to finish one movie."
She prepares my first shot. The bottle where she gets the liquid for the syringes are unlabeled so who knows they're actually giving me pet meds?
She raises an eyebrow at me. "We're reducing your exposure to radiation. Any other concerns?"
"Do you guys know I haven't had a boner for two months? Maybe it has something to do with prestucalar."
Nurse Mendoza's face turned from smiley to worried. "We didn't look at that angle. You should be m---"
I cut her off with a laugh. "Damn, I was just kidding."
"Really tho?" She puts a hand on her waist and gave me an expression, telling me to stop playing around.
"It was a joke."
As she left the room, I went on with my routine. To give you a picture, I am stucked in a room filled with stuffs to entertain me. I used to never thought of playing a musical instrument, but then boredom stroke me like Pikachu's thunderbolt that I now play guitar. On the other corner I have painting materials and a canvas with blue paint. Well, I was trying to paint an ocean but I don't know how so it just ended me wasting paint, stroking the brush for each second I spend my mind away from my body. I have a scrabble board which kinda makes me sad to look at, since I don't have anyone to play with. And my camera is resting on the coffee table. Haven't used it for months.
They gave me a bookshelf full of books for me to read but I'm not the type to read. I open a few sometimes only to look at pictures then just return it because it makes me miss school.
I don't know what to do. It's that thing when I stay awake at night when the world is asleep and I thought, "What's even the point?" I can't see the stars because the windows are tinted. As old as I am and deprived from seeing the stars, I wish to the nonexistent falling star, that this is just a dream and I wake up to my depressing alarm clock and hopped onto the dining chair where my mom had my cereal served right in front of me.
I miss sneaking alcohol to the prom and dancing with random girls because I was too unloyal to ask someone out to the dance. Laughing with my friends along with their dates never felt a loss to me because I don't mind not having a small waist to wrap my arms around anyway. All those things that I used to do are a memory to me now, and I don't which is sadder: that I have this rare disease or I can't go out.
A knock came to the door which sent the things I was reminiscing flying away. I didn't answer but the door opened anyway, revealing a girl around my age. She has a small faced framed with a short black hair, and she is wearing a shy smile.
"Hi," she says. I could tell she is nervous the way her grip to the door knob tightens. She closed the door and sat to the couch. "I'm Christelle."
"You look familiar?" It came out as a question as I rack through my brain, looking for a CD that I could play in my mind to confirm that we had met before.
"Science class, middle school."
"Oh, right." She had a long hair before and was kinda freckly. Now her face doesn't have any trace of a single freckle. "I think it's really weird that you're here considering that we are not really friends?"
"My blood type is O+, that's why."
"Which doesn't explain a thing."
"People with O+ blood are the only ones allowed to visit you, I thought you already know."
I didn't know.
She added, "They've been looking for someone Type O. As what the notice says that was stuck in front of the hospital for months..." She grabbed a crested paper from her tote bag and read it, "Alexander Harrison, 18 year old, diagnosed with a rare disease called Pestucalar Disease has been isolated for months. We are looking for someone with a blood type of O to hang out with our patient for medical research purposes. Assured that the disease is non-contagious."
She went on reading the paper but I blocked her voice out. Honestly, that is the most stupid thing I heard. More stupid than that guy in my Bio class who explained about hibernation when he was asked how cactus adapts to hot environments.
As she finished reading, she returned the paper to her bag and sighed. "So, wanna be friends?"
credits to google for the images
Lurking In The Dark 3
Before I went out with Drev around the town, I had a small argument with Mom about showing him around because I really didn't want to go. When she asked me the reason why, I answered that I was afraid of his eyes which was only partly true. So she explained to me the case of having heterochromia iridium and said that it was nothing to be afraid of.
I showed Drev to the abandoned building except that it wasn't actually abandoned. I know a lot of people who hang out here. IG used to be an apartment but after an explosion of short circuit that caused fire, it wasn't renovated anymore. Just left here to rot. Drev eyed the graffiti on walls, weeds growing everywhere, ciggarette butts and broken bottles of alcohol scattered on the ground, there were even bullet shells.
He gasped behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see him looking down on a lighter. "The place is safe. It just looks dangerous but safe," I assured him. I don't know what his story is but he seems to be never been to this type of place. He doesn't even know how to tie his shoelace, Mom did it for him. Who are you?
I continued walking. He did too, with his head bowed down and without his hair to cover his eyes for it was tied into a low ponytail. As I kicked shattered glasses on the way and told him the story of the building, which part is which, while my mind is preoccupied of thinking why he came here in Keva, why he was panting and holding a branch.
"Icaro!" I called softly. Icaro is the cat who lives in the building, I named him myself. The reason why I took Drev here is for him to see the cat. They have the same eye colors, but I never thought it was possible for a human to have it. For me, Icaro is special, and maybe that's what my parents think of Drev too.
Icaro appeared as I took out the food I brought from my pocket. He is neither small nor big, I wish I could take him home but I thought this is his home. I bent down to rub his neck, he closed his eyes and meowed, then I gave him the food. I stood straight, glancing at Drev. "Do you like cats?"
He smiled, looking down at Icaro. "I only saw them from books, this is the first time I saw one." He bent down to pet Icaro, to the spot where I petted him.
I studied his smile and realized he was telling the truth, genuine and innocent. I frowned. "Are you serious?"
"Oh." He looked embarassed. "You can see them everywhere?" I got confused because last night as he watched TV, he asked my parents what was that heavy box with people inside. I nodded anyway to answer.
They looked into each other's eyes, silent and observing. He enveloped the stare and I could feel the happiness within him. "His eyes...are like mine."
I bent down next to him. "I'm sorry about yesterday. It was my first time to see someone with..." I didn't finish my sentence to not offend him, I just pointed at my eyes.
He smiled. "It's okay."
The next place was the cemetery. There were a couple of kids around ten running around, stepping onto tombstones. This is one of the good place in my town. Although this is where you send the dead bodies to be buried, it looks beautiful like the type of place to propose. The grass is greener than Mr. Llekan lawn and there were flowers of different colors and kinds. Dead but alive.
The angel statues were of thick dust, most of the paints were peeled off revealing the gray cement. It even had moss growing on it. Tombstones were everywhere. But it's not what makes me love the place. It's the history. Not really history, more like fictional history that was told to scare off children from leaving the house as the night falls or for the teenagers to stopped from breaking their curfew, if ever it still scares them.
I know they were made from the creative mind and pure lies but I love the stories. But my Dad said it could be true but exaggerated, it has been around since he wasn't even born.
"They said before this place was officially turned into a cemetery, there were people buried alive. And that when a virgin is sacrificed, they will all rise." I glanced at the tree near one of the grandest tombstone, it is the tombstone of Sergeant Ford. I wondered how it is still standing up to now when it has been hundreds of years. "That tree, that's where you tie the sacrifice."
"Why buried alive?"
I sat on the ground. When I was young, I was afraid to step, what if they hunt me down for being disrespectful, for stepping on their ground? But it doesn't matter anymore. In my religion, dead is dead. After we die, no more thoughts, no more spirits. We believe that heaven and hell don't exist. We just die.
"Because they didn't obey the law Sergeant Ford made for the goodness of everyone. But some says the real version of the story tells that they fed on human blood."
He sat on the ground, resting his back against one of the tombs. "Which do you believe?"
"None. I just love passing down the story. It's not true anyway." I stood up, brushing dirt off my jeans. The sky started to darken as nimbus clouds approached, it was on the report that it will rain today. Kids raced for their home their hands held up on their head to cover themselves from the rain, as they yelled enthusiastically at each other as a mark of speed.
I turned to Drev, looking up the sky with my arms spread wide to feel for any droplets. "Do you want to go home? It will rain but it will passed soon. The weather report says it will only be mild."
He nodded. "Okay." I wasn't sure if his "okay" agreed or disagreed with me but I grabbed his wrist anyway. And he followed without a question like a mute kid held by his mother in a busy street. We stayed under the tree, watching the rain fell by drops until it started to fall faster.
I hugged myself as the raindrops started to fall on our shirts. He seemed contented this way. I leaned on the tree as I watched him stare at Sergeant Ford's tomb.
"What do you think of him?" he asked.
I nodded towards the tomb. "Him?"
"Yeah," he answered silently, it almost came out as a whisper, I mean his normal voice is like a whisper except when we were at the lake and he yelled for my attention. He looked at the epitaph, by the looks of it, it was made later than the tomb. It says: Sun may set, and also they. But I shall remain.
I thought of an honest answer. No one asked me that before. "I think he was a hero. He died saving people from the Tualian invaders. How about you?"
"Tualian...invaders?"
The more I spend time with him, the more I think he knows little about things. "Soldiers from Tualia who tried to conquer Keva. They attempted to own the place but Sergeant Ford got them."
I read a biography about him and it said it was hundreds of Tualian invaders against barely a hundred Kevan soldiers. It amazed me how they won, and it's funny to me how it was called Tualian-Kevan war when barely thousands were involved for it to be called a proper war. But I wasn't there and maybe the use of weapon was the reason why it was considered historic. The Kevans were bare-handed because their infantries were the first spot attacked by the Tualians. They had no choice but to hand combat Tualians with weapons, or it was said, through great intelligent planning and strength.
Drev remained silent, still staring at the tomb. I wish he would tell me about Mierkova. I know a milkman of Mierkovan descent, I don't know if it's true or he only lied to the six-year old girl of one of the household he was delivering milk to that up 'til now part of the girl believed him although she started to suspect it was only a lie. Whenever I ask about Mierkova, he couldn't answer a thing. All he said was, "It's a great country."
But I couldn't tell if he means it. Mierkova is secretive. TV shows and movies never talk about the country. Funny because I have heard a lot from countries who are thousands of miles away from Keva but not Mierkova that is connected to our land without guards on borderlines.
I know nothing about Mierkovans, but for now, hearing a Mierkovan accent from Drev is enough. His words are clearly pronounced and slow, unlike Kevans that almost sound like mumbling all the time. There was a throaty sound in his accent and he stresses on different syllables.
The rain stopped, but streams of muddy water were left, flowing down a cement ditch and small gordion birds were swimming on puddles. The air smelled fresh and damp. There were only few drops of rain on our shirts but our hair was wet.
"You should cut your hair," I said nodding to his hair that was tied in a ponytail. He touched it and looked down, but didn't reply. "Why do we hear nothing from Mierkova?"
He tapped the nearest puddle with the tip of his sneakers lightly, enough to cause circular waves around his shoe. Then a single thunder boomed, causing him to jerk and his foot landed harshly on the puddle, splashing water to our face.
I gasped, a drop of muddy water sliding down my nose. He panicked. I stopped him halfway of taking off his shirt, I assumed it was to be handed to me to help myself wipe off the dirt. "It's fine," I said.
He looked at me. Again, it's strange to look into his eyes. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to," he stuttered. I didn't reply so he turned to the sky and stared at it in silence. With his back turned on me, I glared at him as I wiped my face with my own shirt. Oh god, he is really weird.
"If you wanna know about Mierkova, why don't you go there by yourself?" I was amazed as I thought that the question would be rude if it was from Nuvian, but with his accent, he sounded like an innocent toddler.
The sky started to brighten again. I like the Kevan weather. It would be raining behind you but infront of you is the shining sun. I turned to Drev. "I wish I could, but people from my town who went there didn't go back again." I didn't tell him that we should go home to change our clothes to avoid catching cold and that we should continue the tour on the other day. I just started walking, knowing he will follow.
"Maybe they love the place and don't wanna go back again?"
I jumped to grounds to avoid stepping on puddles. He followed my steps. "And leave your family behind? Not even a letter over the years?"
He grunted as he jumped. "You shouldn't go there."
I didn't know if he said that as a conclusion that it isn't safe there because of what I said or because he is from Mierkova and he knows everything from that strange country.
When we arrived, lunch was already made by Mom. She only stayed for a moment before she left us to bring meal to Dad who was in the farm to fix ditches that was overflowed by the rain. It always happens every rainfall.
Our dining table was a long wooden rectangular table of mahogany wood. I sat on my Dad's usual place where the leader of the family sits to portray superiority. Drev attempted to sit on my side but I told him to sit right across me, about three meters apart.
He smiled, jumping on the sit excitedly. "It's good to be finally able to sit on this side of a table."
"Why?"
He drove a knife to his piece of lamb. His excitement faded from my question, his head bowed down again. I hate it when he looks down, he should go around chin up to show his beautiful face... with his eyes closed. I'm still not used of seeing his eyes, though it would be okay if he was a cat like Icaro. He replied, "It feels good, I am always not allowed to sit on this side of the table back in my home. It was what I remembered but not the whole part of it anyway. I don't remember much but there are things that I do and I'm suddenly reminded piece by piece."
Amnesia after hitting his head? Maybe. But I won't ask him, I don't want him to think that I am concern because I'm not. I am curious though.
It was actually a first. He doesn't mention his home unless when asked. I should tell Dad to let Drev sit right across him. Nuvian would be jealous, he always wanted to take the spot.
We ate in silence, only the noise of our utensils against the plate could be heard. As we ate alone together, I felt happy that I could watch him move without my family saying that I like him. They are paranoid about that. When we were on a carnival last month, I watched this guy prepared his tent and my family joked that I like him all the way home. And I don't care if Drev catches me staring at him, I am the daughter in the house, he is only a guest.
I don't know if he noticed me because he enjoys the lamb, but surely he does right? You could feel it when someone's looking at you. But anyway, he moves in refinement. Should I say much formally, noting the chewing with mouth closed and only pushing another piece of lamb if he had swallowed the first one, and his way of holding the fork and knife, and as he put down one of them to reach for his glass of juice.
He suddenly shot me an unexpected glance, as his green-and-blue eyes looked into mine I was taken aback for a moment. My heart beating fast. "Why are you watching me?" He asked after he took a gulp.
Is it the Mierkovan accent or Drev that could make rude questions into something else?
credits to Google for the pictures.
What if the dreams we had are glimpses of the other versions us in the multiverse?
Lurking In The Dark 2
I stared at him, sitting on the chair by the window as I listened to my parents talked from the adjacent room of the possibilities where this boy came from. They said he could be from Mierkova, the country next door.
I didn't think it matters for now. Selfishly, all I could think about was how I carried him all the way here. Mom said it was the adrenaline rush. I remembered hesitating to come over him for he might be faking the collapse so he could grab and rape me, but I saw the blood seeping out from his head and I realized he hit his head on a stone. I swam with all my energy, checked his breathing and carried him to where my things were because I didn't want to walk through the street only in my underwears.
I was the hero of the day, but someday, this boy will forget about me just like how the people from my country forget how Sergeant Ford kept us from the Tualian invaders. I mean, that was hundreds of years ago but still.
The eyes beneath his eyelids moved, Dad said when that happens the person was having a nightmare and the best thing to do was to wake them up before they get eaten up by the monsters from their nightmares and never wake up again. I knew it was childish to believe that but it seemed to be the right thing to do. So I left my seat and shook his shoulder, he yelled for a short second before he could see that it was me, then he relaxed but still panting.
"Where am I?" He asked. I stumbled backwards, panicking, as I saw the colors of his eyes. The left one was blue and the other one was green. What is wrong with his eyes?
I stayed as far as I could from him, my back was against the wall. I yelled for my parents, they came rushing in worried that something happened to me. Then they gazed at the boy and relaxed to find him awake. The boy looked at us with confusion.
"Dad, stay away from him!" I yelled at my Dad as he walked towards the boy and asked him how he felt, he didn't receive an answer. I know a cat of the same eye coloring. He could be a cat that could turn into human as what I had read from books.
Mom held me in her arms. "Grassi, what's wrong?" Her soft voice calmed me down, but I was still scared of his eyes.
I pointed at the boy. "His eyes..."
Mom gazed at his eyes before he could look down on the blanket. She let go of me and sat by the bed, lifting up his chin with her elegant fingers, he didn't look into her eyes, he stared at the window. Mom turned to me and smiled, "It's nothing to be afraid of, child."
It was dinner when Drev was interrogated by my parents and Nuvian. But they were only able to get few details from him, he was not the talky type which irritated me because I hated the mysterious identity he was feeding us. I didn't even the trust him that Drev was his real name or if we were really on the same age, although he looks just like 16. It was strange whenever I caught him glancing at me and I got to look into his strange eyes.
When we finished dinner, I was left to do the dishes as usual. My parents were at the living room to watch television with Drev while Nuvian was in his room to do his assignments. I hurried to finish the task so I could go to my room and do an appreciation ritual for the another year of existence.
It was nothing fancy. No cakes, but I give myself a birthday wish. And this wish, I grant it myself, it should happen before my next birthday. It was the same with setting a goal to achieve within the year, the difference was you made it on your birthday so it shouldn't be broken because it was special.
Drev was given the room across mine. I could hear the scraping of the floor as the furnitures were moved, unabling me to sleep. My parents were seemed to be unbothered, it was hard to wake them up. I knocked on the door, the scraping stopped, then the door opened revealing a sweaty face. He kept the opening enough for his head to poke out.
"It's two in the morning," I said, my arms crossed on my chest. I looked at the white bandage on his forehead. He was wearing my Dad's shirt because I ripped his white shirt off to use it as a bandage back in the lake. I had to stop the bleeding, I was glad I listened to my health class.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah, I can't sleep so I thought of reorganizing things." It's dark so I couldn't make out the colors of his eyes. Nuvian found them "lit", wherever he learned that term.
"Do it when nobody's asleep, will you?" Then I remembered the manners I was taught. "Please?" I added.
He nodded then disappeared behind the door. No more noise to be heard.
I woke up to the voice of my dad instructing someone of how to chop a wood. I yawned, stretching my limbs as I climbed off of bed to see what was going on. Dad was sitting on the grass, motivating Drev to keep going. He was obviously unaccostumed to wood chopping but I could feel his perseverance everytime he groans as he lifted up the axe.
I went to them and scoffed at Drev. He exhaled and kept going. Mom arrived bringing a glass of water for Drev. I wonder when will he return to wherever he came from? He can't stay forever here and make us adopt him, like how these people I call parents adopted me. He is not a bother, not yet. And I don't trust him although he seems nice.
"Grassi, you should show Drev around the town," Mom said, handing him the water. I looked at Dad and he agreed, I shrunk with my shoulders. They really think he was some kind of lucky charm because of his eyes. Drev eyed me, he was sure waiting for an answer, hoping it wasn't rude.
It took me seconds to answer. "Okay, as long as Nuvian comes along."
"I have classes, Grassi." Nuvian rolled his eyes. He was already wearing his school uniform. It was a white longsleeve underneath a navy blue vest that had the school logo on the left chest paired with black pants and black leather shoes. His bag was hanging behind him. Nuvian was three years younger than me but he was almost as tall as I was.
Lurking In The Dark 1
In my religion, we don't celebrate fests, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and yeah, you get the point. That includes birthdays. But it wouldn't hurt if we eat more than the usual on the said days and mingle with people and go on carnivals.
My family was religious and I couldn't say that so I was because there were days when I forced myself to go to our chapel with them on Sundays, but there were days too when I loved to talk about the Callings, as what my mom named the words from our Bible. It was nothing different from your Bible or if you had one, but there were very little differences.
So, it started on my 16th birthday. My parents were at our farm to keep track of our orange business, I was talking about hectares. The business had a minor problem regarding the insect invasion for this month but it was nothing to worry about because it happens only for a month and the next months would be okay. I mean it was something to worry about, of course, but it was normal for an insect invasion to happen so it was one of those things when you wave a hand in the air and say, "Oh, just the thing." Mom was trying to make a cross-breed of sweet orange and white orange. White orange, I don't know if you understand that one but it's an orange (the fruit one) that was almost as sour as a lemon and has a color of a pear. So what she was trying to make was a white orange that was as sweet as the orange orange.
I went by myself to the lake. It was a forgotten lake by the kids of my age after video games were invented. It was on the borderline between my country and another country. Unlike other borderlines, no guards were assigned on this area and it didn't have anything required to confirm that you are a safe person to cross the border. Just nothing. It didn't even feel like a different country on the other side at all when you enter the lake area through one of the beaten wire fence and swim a few meters towards the other side. Except that the fence around there that surrounds the lake is electrocuted, I don't know why they let the other part of the borderline free to cross but the lake part is guarded. Like what's with the lake?
(**credits to unsplash for the picture)**
I covered my face with my arms to get through the branches without blinding myself. Because you would definitely blind yourself once these sharp branches get into your eyes. I had to walk a mile to get through the lake, but first I had to sneak into the wire fence. Luckily, it was rusted and ruined by years and now it was easier to enter.
The dead branches crunched as I stepped on them after bending through the fence. I go down a small slope, clinging onto trees to prevent myself from rolling down, then I angled myself towards the pathway that was safer when you wanted to go down the lake, it had wide stones planted into the hard soil that served as stairs.
I took off my sneakers and clothes, leaving myself in underwears. I fold my clothes neatly and placed them on a rock, together with my shoes. I breathe in the fresh air from the trees that surrounds and spread my arms wide. l loved how the place felt like mine.
I ran on the wooden runway that end in the middle of the lake, the lake was neither small nor big, then I jumped splashing water everywhere. I swam and swam. Swimming makes me happy. When I'm underwater, I am deaf and my mind is blank, I don't have to think of anything but a way of how to make myself stay longer.
Curiosity hits me. I had been on the other side of the lake with my younger brother, Nuvian, and found out about the electric fence. But I never really paid attention of what's on the other side. So I inhaled sharply, thinking of going to the other side in just one breath. But of course, I wasn't able to do it. When I reached the end of the lake, I hugged myself from the chilly air and shivered. I stayed in water, with my head poking out and tried to find something or someone.
A branch crunched under someone's steps, making me snap quickly to the direction of the noise. "Who's there?" I started taking steps away from the woods and back into my side of the lake, the water soft and cold around me. I heard bustling sounds, like little branches being snapped into pieces. "Oh god." I swam back as fast as I could and as I resurfaced on the water to catch my breath, I heard someone yelled.
I looked back. The yell came from a boy with long black hair that fell on his shoulders, his skin the palest I had ever seen, from afar it almost looked like he camouflaged with his white shirt. "Hey!" He called again, it echoed and for the first time, I felt that this place was abandoned and he could do any harm to me without someone noticing.
I stayed in my place. "Stay where you are," I said although he wasn't moving. He held a broken branch on his side as he stared at me, my body dipped in the water. I felt vulnerable as I brushed my legs against one another and felt myself almost naked.
"I won't hurt you if that's what you're thinking." He dropped the branch and walked until we were right across each other. I could see the sweat beads around his forehead, his hair matted because of it, and he breathed like he ran for miles and miles. I, too, was panting.
Then he collapsed on the ground.
Enjoy Being A Kid
For the first time in a while I was able to look at the sea at night again. The fireflies were flying around the leaves of the tree where I was sitting and my feet were absently scratching the surface of the sand that offers comfort to my soul somehow. But I think what really keeps my soul alive at that moment was the peace of mind that the setting offers.
As I stare at the lonely ocean with the starless sky above it, I couldn’t help but reminisce the days when everything was okay. I’m talking about the life as a little kid. Adults would tell me not to rush growing up because it only bares a lot of problems and that I should enjoy every moment of it… and I wish I listened to them.
Now that I am no longer a kid, I come to realize that they were right. I should’ve enjoyed those moments when I was only a child and all I had to worry about was the games I’m going to play. I miss those times when I didn’t have to worry about my grades, when sleeping at night was never a struggle, when dating someone was an impossible thing to happen, and when I didn’t overthink of things.
As someone in my youth with a realization coming from my childhood times, I vow to enjoy every moment of it as I take every step of becoming an adult. It’s inevitable so I should face it and make the best out of it. I may not be someone who is known for something or with a great talent. But each of us has our own path.
Walking out from the place which brought realizations of life, I drowned in silence. And I wish I could tell all the kids in the world to enjoy being a child and that they will be contented in how they spend their childhood days. No regrets as they grow old. And as happy as they could ever be.
@Kiro
