(Past recollection)
First encounter with him was on first day of High school during lunchtime. I was up at terrace for some fresh air but I heard a girl crying so I went to check. She was begging at her knees to a cold faced man. "Please don't break up with me" she kept on begging, but he pushed her aside and walked away. What the, is he even a human! "Stop right there" I called out in anger. But he walks away without second look. I offered the girl handkerchief "You should not waste your precious tears for someone like him" but she shook off my hand, got up and walked away. I stare for some time at that figure walking away from me. Strange how love can hurt someone so bad. I go back to my usual spot where wind blows softly in a pleasant way... Love can be so brutal... "I knew I could find you here" Hisila hugs me smiling and looks at me "Are you thinking of him again?" and scowls her face. I pinch her nose "I told you, you look like an evil witch when you scowl like that" and I take her hand heading for class.
"Hey" she said. I look at her. "Nothing, you just worry me."
I know what she means, I had once been a fool like that girl but I was a kid then. If not for Hisi, what would I do!
Back in class, I see that jerk on the door, he walks past me pausing to whisper "mind your own business" and walked away. I hear Hisi screaming "who did this?" someone had poured red paint on our desk, and one of the classmates pointed to him, who just walked away. Enraged, I ran out and in front of him, "red paint, is that your doing?" He snorts and just walks past me. For a sec, I get confused if I mistook the wrong person. "That was a warning, I won't go easy next time" he calls from the corner and disappears. How smug can a person be to go to this extent just for that small encounter. But may be it really wasn't my place to intervene .. Yet, how could I just act like nothing to that, when I have felt that pain myself... Forget it, I hope our path never cross again. Later in the art class, I'm horrified to find someone put a red cross across my flower painting.
"Your bland painting now looks better with a hint of red, don't you think?" How dare he ruin my hardwork; Enraged, I grab the red paint and splash it across his white shirt, "Yup, much better to add more colours." Hisila walked in and scolded us both for being childish. I refused to apologise, it was him who started it not me. "Come on now, let us all be friends," smiling, Hisi made me shake his hand. "I'm Hisila, and you?" she asked him. "Nhuja Singh" he turns to me "remember my name coz you will be seeing a lot of me" with a wink, he left the room.
"Seriously Hisi, how can you be nice to just Everyone?!!" I asked trying to carefully paint white over red mess, so I can try and paint over the white.
"Forget it, let's go for hot chocolate and Mango Meringue Cake, my treat." I jump and hug her happily, "Hisi, you are the ultimate best" and kiss her cheek.
A few days later, Nhuja came in our class with a pastry in his hand. "Etisha, I am sorry, please accept it as my apology" I look at him suspiciously, it is hard to believe. "Come on, have a big heart and forgive him" Hisi hugs me and puts on her 'hard to resist expression'. I chuckled at her cuteness "Ok you win Hisi" I look at him "Only for Hisi." Smiling, he nodded and handed me the pastry; such a delicate piece, I take a big bite without hesitation.
"Water, Hisi, water" I hurriedly drank whole bottle of water Hisi gave me, still my mouth was on fire. I hurried out of the room with Hisi following close by, leaving him laughing so loud, I thought the building would collapse. Never been a fan of chillies; I won't let him off easy >.< Hisi treated me to lots of sweet delicacies just so I don't go after him to get back for this.
I let this matter go for Hisi and my joy berries. But he still came around to provoke me, and this time he crossed the red line mark. What I hate the most than chillies is cockroach! He just came in class and put a cockroach on my head.... I shudder even recalling it! I cried so badly (and loudly) jumping around hysterically, making a complete fool of myself. It was not funny but everyone in class were laughing at me. He picked the cockroach to show it was plastic, but he had done it. Since then, he became my most hated, sworn enemy, my nemesis.