I helped Forest walk as we stepped out of the photobooth. People were looking at us as we made our way out but they were the least of my concerns. I made her sit by the bench just across the booth and tried to calm her down. I wrapped my jacket around her and this time, she doesn't throw it back to me which I'm thankful for.
"Are you hungry?" I asked her but she remained quiet, her head bowed down. "Haechan's still out there helping me look for you. I should—"
"There you are!"
I turned and saw Haechan running towards where we sat.
"You found her. I was trying to look for you. I spoke with a mad couple. They said some hobo was living in the booth and I thought it could be—"
I shake my head at him to stop talking as I gestured Forest next to me. "I'll go buy us something to eat. Can you watch her for a while?" I asked Haechan.
He frowns, hesitating for a while before he nods forcedly. "Be quick okay?!"
I walked towards the hotdog stall and ordered three of the bun hotdog with fries and three smoothies to go with it. I read from an article before that food can make a person a lot better, sweets especially so I was glad when I saw them selling the drink.
"Sir, we only have mayonnaise available for the hotdog, would that be okay?"
I blinked. Haechan would be okay with whatever I treat him but I didn't know Forest's preference. She must have not eaten in a while considering how pale her lips were and any hungry person would go for any food they're offered so, "That's okay." I smiled at the man and he nodded smiling back.
I looked back to where I left the two of them and they didn't look like they were talking. That's a good thing, I guess. Haechan might tell her things I wouldn't want her to hear.
"Three bun hotdog with fries and three smoothies, sir." The man hands be a paper bag and I grabbed it from him with a thank you. "Have a good night, sir."
"You too."
The moment I got back to them, I announce, "They only had mayonnaise. I hope you're okay with that." Forest still looked out of this world but at least I got her out of that booth.
"Of course, I'm okay with that for as long as it's free!" Haechan grabs the bag where all the foods were placed. I sat next to Forest when Haechan handed me the bag back. He started eating with gusto.
I pulled out one of the set to give her. "Here," But she doesn't budge. As I stared at her, I wonder what was going through her mind. Her sister maybe? Drugs? Cigarette? I unwrapped the bun hotdog and brought them closer to her hand trying to make it easier for her to grab. "Please eat."
She finally grabbed it and just stares at it before taking a big bite. I smiled. She slowly ate it but at least she was eating. If she was the normal Forest I met earlier, she would have thrown it or something.
"I finished assembling the project. I just need the formulas you came up with for encoding of the codes for it."
She doesn't reply.
"Tomorrow is the last day of your sister's wake at your aunt's place. I thought I should just let you know."
She stopped munching.
"Don't do something you might regret later."
The next day, I wasn't as devastated coming to school like how I've been for the past few days. In fact, I felt much better when I saw Forest before I attended my first class. She doesn't look, well, vigorous as before but at least she's coming back. After last night, I feel like I made a solid relationship with her. It didn't even matter if it's romantic or not, her not pushing me back is more than enough for me to stay by her side.
Me, having lunch with her has been decided the moment my first class started. It was the only time I was so eager to get to. I couldn't stop tapping my feet, fidgeting my fingers, everything I plan with Forest is exciting to me. There never was a dull moment with her.
When the bell rang, I dashed out of the room pushing all my things back inside my bag as I ran. I didn't even care if I bumped into people by swarming forcefully like this in a crowded hallway.
My eyes immediately scanned for her red hair as soon as I stepped inside the cafeteria. When I spot her, I grinned and ran towards the table she was on.
I drop my bag over to the seat across her. She looked up to me, her eyes saggy. "Hey!" I greeted but she doesn't take it, as usual. "You came." I sat and stared at her, resting my chin over the back of my palms. I was too delighted to see her even if I just saw her last night. Seeing her in daylight was different from the moonlight.
"How long?"
I blinked at her sudden question. H-How long what? Is she..? I don't know why my brain registered it as her, asking me how long my—
"How long have been following me?"
I blushed, looking away in shame. When did I have thoughts like that? I was never dirty minded. I cleared my throat still unable to pick up from her last question.
"How much do you know?"
I looked at her with a guilty smile. Should I come clean? Would she be mad if I came clean? Would she dispose me for the rest of her life? "I…"
"You seem to know everything about me when you found me last night."
"I'm sorry." I looked down. "I figured it was the only way for me to really know you that's why I did that. I didn't mean to see the things you hide."
She was quiet.
"I found out about the man that attacked you at Ms. Khan's; the hospital and your sister; your work during the night…"
I see her gulp.
"Before I went to look for you, I actually met your aunt. You were gone for a week and I was desperately worried. I thought you moved. I thought the man killed you and the project…" I paused. "I didn't know how to find you so I took the courage to go ask about you at the hospital but they wouldn't let me know things. That's when your aunt came. She told me about your sister dying, she told me about your family, your foster family…"
She bit her lip and sighed.
"I'm sorry." I said but she doesn't say anything. "Are you mad?"
"Who wouldn't be mad?"
The small reply was terrifying enough to eat the soul out of me. "Please don't get mad at your aunt. I was the one who asked and she was kind enough to let me know those things about you."
"It doesn't really matter now, does it?"
Why does she make questions sound so scary? I gulped hard. She doesn't look pissed but you know what they say – a real demon hides behind a pretty face.
I was thirty minutes early for chemistry class. It's not that I'm excited to see Forest again because if anything, I'm really scared of her right now after what happened during lunch, but it's not that I'm not excited to see Forest either. My earlier class before chemistry finished class earlier and I had nowhere else to so I decided I'd just wait here instead.
Fifteen minutes in and no one's still coming for class. Students normally come five minutes before class starts so…
The door suddenly opens. I looked up to see who was coming and I instantly smiled when I saw Forest step inside the room. I smiled like I wasn't terrified minutes ago thinking about what she'd do to me when I meet her again.
Her gaze met mine but she doesn't show any hit of surprise like me.
"Hi!' I greeted for the nth time.
My whole body clench when I realized she started walking towards my direction. I gripped the edge of my table scared for my life. Is she throwing me a punch now? Oh God.
When she was getting closer and closer, my eyes shut close in fear. Three seconds passed… Five seconds… Ten seconds… I don't feel any pain.
I opened one of my eye to peak at what was happening and I was shocked when I saw her sitting next to me. I blinked in confusion. She wasn't going to hit me? My nervous heart felt relieved. She was looking away as I stared at her. She ignored my greeting but she sat next to me.
I looked around the room making sure all the seats were unoccupied before I let my heart do happy dances. The room was full of empty seats but she sat next to me – next to me. I was a little in distraught by this but I didn't want this to be a dream. I didn't want to wake up and be disappointed that it was all unreal.
"Hey, Mark."
My heart accelerated. The way she calls me felt like she was my boss about to give me orders. It wasn't a greeting but I was happy. Hearing her say my name is always so good to my ears.
"Polar's wake."
Polar's wake?
"Come with me to Polar's wake."