"But what if the foramen ovale doesn't get covered before birth and a child gets parturition with a prominent hole in its heart?" Dr. Cross throws a random question at the whole class as he stops explaining the hologram of a heart. "Can anyone tell me what happens after that?"
The question being easy, I raise my hand, and watch other few lifting theirs from the corner of my eyes, including the blond prick.
He seems to be slightly fazed after all that happened in that cold room, his long legs leisurely stretched under the glass desk in front of him and his body somehow managed to even slump against the chair with less heightened backrest. He spins a pen on the desk with one hand and lifts another nonchalantly. His eyes are distant and unreadable, so I'm not sure if he even knew the question in the first place.
"Yes, Mr Jackson. Let's hear you out first," Cross declares, probably casting him out of whatever spell he was seized into.
He takes a moment before he starts talking.
"PFO. It'll be then called...Patent Foramen Ovale." He looks at his spinning pen while answering, not bothering to straightening his position.
"It doesn't bother that much in majority, even some don't even know that they have this kinda...disorder, uh, no, even better, slight disorientation. But in a few cases, it will only get under spotlight and show some actual symptoms like, uh, shortness in breath, only if those particular individuals have hypertension. It's not really a big deal, and can be covered easily during any cardiac surgery."
He takes a deep breath, before continuing.
"But yeah, it can cause havoc if the thrombus gets into the left atrium from the right through PFO, and it gets pumped into left ventricle and then to, by any chance, to the brain. It's just bad luck, so it's rare," he finishes with a yawn and looks up at the professor just now.
Wow! That was...cool!
I, myself, didn't know about so much as he said. He sure does know a lot.
Cross advances a few steps towards him, so that he can get a better view of his face.
"Do this place look like a night club to you, Mr Jackson, so you can stroll in and out whenever you want, behave and talk however you want! I'm really curious. Care to enlighten?", Cross taunts. He has this straight face, and that he is not at all pleased after Gray came in late in his class on the very first day, is written all over his face. To be precise, he is, indeed, pissed.
Gray straightens up on his seat and leans forward clamping his hands together, as he looks up at me from the corner of his eyes, flashes his novel smirk, and winks so confidently as the shameless he is, before turning his attention towards Cross.
Oh! He's back to being his annoying self!
"Wow! That's way to start an impression, huh? And no, I definitely don't think so. And if you're still going on about what happened earlier, so again I'm sorry. That wasn't intentional, but I have no control over nature's call like everyone else, and you know so. That's pretty much important, so I got no other choice than being absolutely submissive and respond to it attentively," he concludes, drawing sheer sarcasm along with his tone.
The whole class erupts in laughter, and Cross is just standing there, draped in bewilderment, unable to decide whether to laugh or get pissed at this very cause of his current state.
Once a jerk, always a jerk!
"And that's detention!"
*****
"No! Absolutely not, Ms Carlyle. That's not a part of either of our respective protocols, so I suggest you rather behave or I must call detention on you," River mimics a grave thick British accent and acts accordingly as we both settle ourselves on a much big table in one corner of the canteen.
The area is larger than I expected, with no food buffet in sight, and only for students from all years. As far as can be seen, the whole spherical glass room is only trimmed with round glass tables and benches centring them.
"Did you seriously ask for Harrington's personal email? I mean, c'mon, he's the most stuck-up, upheaded prof who's already so infamous for his stickler for rules, that even I know his name. Were you even thinking when you did that?", I freak out at her.
"Were you even listening to me?" She rolls her eyes. "And is it my fault that he's luscious to the point that my brain flipped over for countless times, and my eyes couldn't help but feast on such a rare excuse of male specimen that I can't even handle? I'm telling you, he should be a God! A fucking God of lust!"
"Doesn't make any sense to me," I scoff. "But can we order now? Cause I'm not sure about you, but hello, I'm a human here, so I need to feed myself before I die out of starvation."
"Oopsie! Sorry not sorry, cause hot men top my agenda. But don't worry, we're on the same boat, so I'm having a rawr inside my stomach too." She flashes an apologetic smile, before turning her attention over the screen displayed on our table.
"Oh! I'm blessed," I scoff.
"So....what you want?"
"What's on today?", I ask.
"Pretty much you can get on the big fat weddings of sugar daddies," she replies, her eyes still fixed on the screen.
"Then order whatever you like but anything chocolate. Except for that, I'm not picky 'bout food."
She looks up at me with wide eyes. "Woah! That's rare! You sure are some human."
I shrug.
"Okay, I'm asking this for the last time....You sure you'll have whatever I get you?", she asks as she orders something, I've no idea of.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I confirm as I slowly place my head on the table and stretch my hands under it.
"Woah! Woah! Heads up!" River tries to swat my head away, and boy, it hurts.
"Ow! Remind me why I'm still sitting with you?", I groan, lifting my head up and rubbing where she slapped a minute ago.
"That's what best friends are for! We'll stand always on the same side...no matter what," she declares excitedly, and flaunts her dimples as she grins widely.
"That's so cliche! And I hate cliches. Plus, I see absolutely no need to stand right now, after Oxwall made us stand the whole time in his class, only cause he and his much heightened self thinks it's healthy. So I'll pass it up," I scoff, making her pout like a 5 year-old.
"You know so well, that's not what I meant! And you here, missy, hate so much stuff, so get ready for my classes, cause I'm gonna teach you basic etiquette and communication." She looks at me with narrowed eyes which probably says 'you're so dead'.
As if I care!
"Why my food is still not here?" I try to change the subject, and it always works, because food is the preliminary element for every being, human or not, and it's much needed right now after a hectic schedule.
"Oh Shit! I forgot to confirm," she freaks as soon as her eyes fall on the screen, where her half-ordered receipt is still waiting for confirmation.
Jeepers! Why they're so much alike?
As she press the green 'continue' button on the screen, it dissolves right away, and the next thing I know is that those ordered food appears right through the glass of the table.
Sweets!
"See! That's why I was telling you to put your gummy head up." She pokes my forehead with her slender finger.
"Hey! Don't touch me," I object as I dodge her next jab.
"Oh! What's that?", she asks as her eyes focus on my neck.
"What are you-"
Oh no! Holy crap!
I clamp my mouth shut as soon as I realize what she's trying to figure out, and try to hide my agitation while biting down hard on my inner lips.
Her eyes widen with this horrid expression all over her face, she looks at me with her mouth agape as if she has seen a ghost, and slams a hand over it to contain her shock or excitement.
And I guess, I've been caught off-guards.
"Did you ma-"
She doesn't get to finish whatever she was going to say, as a very familiar blond prick takes a seat, plopping himself comfortably beside me, and orders his food right away.
"Oh, hey! Hope this seat's not taken," he smiles, looking right at me, his eyes sparkling with sheer amusement.
Okay! Is he for real?
He looks over both of our ridiculously shocked faces, though our reasons differ of course: mine for his mere presence and as for River, I bet, she's gobsmacked by his devilish physique...or not.
"Is he the one you made ou- ah ah ah! Fuck!"
I pinch her waist in between my fingers and twist it to stop her from blurting her mind out.
I wonder, how she did put her finger exactly to the point. But still I should have known, it's not that hard to put two and two together, especially for some people like her whose brain stops working when it should, and it works perfectly when it's absolutely not necessary.
Oh my graceful life!
"Hey! Are you alright?", Gray asks, trying to sneak a look at her.
I turn my head back towards him, and give him a tight smile. "She's fine. It's just...cramps. She's on her month and it's the second day, so... I guess you can picture the rest, no?"
"Ye-yeah!" He chuckles awkwardly, before looking away to receive his food that has appeared on the table.
I turn towards River to deadpan at her.
"Are you seriously out of your mind?", I whisper-yell on her face.
"Then spill the beans right now, or I'm gonna ask him myself. I thought we agreed on no secrets," she whispers back furiously.
"Don't you dare! And I can't remember we agreeing on something like that," I retort, rolling my eyes.
"It's a silent pact which we both signed automatically in our minds as soon as we became BFFs."
"Wow! You are way too creative, you know right?"
"Yes, in fact, I was born with it. And no! No need to take your hats off for something like this. It's no biggie. And of course I'm not bragging," she replies in one breath.
Wow! She's one step ahead of Eric in the race of shocking me endlessly with their level of stupidity. It's really...astonishing!
"Oh, definitely you are not!" I scoff.
She turns her attention to the blond prick who is currently shoving too much of food at once inside his mouth like a pig.
"Well, well, if it isn't our cap!"
He looks up at her and smirks playfully, after clearing his mouth.
"For that, please call me Gray. I love my name."
"Sure you do," she replies eagerly and places her chin on the top of one hand as she smiles viciously.
Oh-oh! I guess, that's trouble!
"Actually your name reminds me of..."
"Don't go there," I mouth her which she discards so gladly.
"...my dead pup..."
I sigh out in relief, that was close. But little did I know that my relief is this short-lived.
"...who was an expert in planting sloppy kisses."
I face-palm myself mentally. She definitely went there.
"Geez! That makes my name so underrated," Gray remarks, totally amused after what River said.
"I mean, does my name suck that much that it actually reminded you of a dead dog? C'mon gimme a break! At least have some mercy, looking at my angel face. Its brand value is higher than any model you can find on any elites' mag."
"Sorry, pretty boy, but my standards are way out of your league. Anyways, that's not the case here."
River smirks.
"Don't do this to me," I mouth her again as I shake my head disapprovingly and cross both hands to give it a shape like 'X'.
"I'm just curious, you know, that since you both share the same name, so I was really wondering if your traits are alike too," she asks away anyway.
Gray must've caught on some notes since he looks seemingly amused to see where she is trying to lead this conversation to.
"Elaborate the meaning please."
"I mean the part where he's an expert in smooching people off with his kisses. Can I count you both on the same boat?"
"Why don't you check for yourself?" Gray smirks.
Okay, is there any word called 'shame' in his dictionary?
"Okay guys, stop it! Is there any charity going on right now?", I butt in.
Then I realize, oh boy, I made a mistake.
"I don't have a problem, but I guess my friend here is more than eager to volunteer," she comments amusedly.
Oh that sneaky bitch!
"Oh sweet! I'm all yours, babe," Gray joins in, and opens his arms, ready to take me in.
As if!
"You! Stay away from me," I snap at him and then turn my head towards River. "And you! I'm dealing with you later."
"Gray Thatcher Jackson! You sloppy asshole! Why you never fails to give me headaches!" A sharp feminine voice snaps from behind him, and at once the girl pulls in his ear, making him growl badly.
Payback's a bitch! Ha! Take that.
"Fuck! Give it a rest, Bree! We're in public," he glowers at the girl who has now left his ear alone.
"Then stop giving me craps!", she snaps.
"Woah! What now?" He turns in his seat to look at her with a long face.
"Don't look at your big sister like that, especially when you're in company of pretty girls," she complains as she takes a seat beside him, making him mutter something incoherently with contempt all over his face.
The most striking thing about her that probably I haven't seen in a while and I'm sure the same goes for River from the way she keeps eyeing the girl, is her stunning wavy rainbow hair. The top is tinted with light pink, and the next ones are consecutively mauve, azure, jade and lemon yellow. She looks like someone fresh off the boat from those pages of fairyland.
She looks behind her shoulder and waves at distance. "Guys, here! I found him!"
Gray follows her gaze. His face drops instantly and he face-palms himself. "And you even took your minions with you?"
She turns back her head to deadpan at him. "They had been looking for you since this morn, but your sorry ass keeps on avoiding them, so they asked me for help. And FYI, they're your minions, not mine."
Ugh! They are way too loud!
"Doesn't seem like that to me," he remarks, and the group of his so-called minions approach at our table.
"Yo, man! Did you just pull MIA on us?" A guy with long dark hair puts an arm around Gray's neck and tugs at it towards his chest, almost choking him in the process.
"What the hell, man?", Gray groans.
"That's what you get for ditchin' us!" He tugs at his neck more tightly.
"Fuck you!", he groans.
"But don't worry, I get your point, and I'd have definitely done that if I'd be in your shoes, and so I'll let your little treachery slide this time."
Then he finally loosens his hold on Gray.
Gray coughs before glaring up at him, making him chuckle deliriously.
"Gotcha!" He laughs grabbing his abdomen.
"Asshole!", Gray sneers.
Ha! He's the one to talk!
"You two! Knock it off. The whole cafeteria is looking at us," another guy in round slim-rimmed glasses, warns in a calm tone as he sits across the other side of the table, facing me. His voice is unbelievably smooth and his accent almost sounds as that of a native speaker, but he sure is not a native.
Everything about him screams wit, brilliance and intellectual acuity. Anyone who has ever crossed paths with him, can surely say that he is the type, it's better not to mess with.
"Yo, Jay! Cut it out, dude!", the long haired guy snickers. "Stop being mommy for once and get in the dirt."
"No, thanks Theo. I'll pass."
"Honestly, stop it, man. I wanna have just one lunch in peace, show me some cooperation," the guy in short brown hair and messy bed head, declares tiredly before settling himself beside the rainbow girl. "I already have enough of Oxwall's bullshits, I keep hearing his snappy voice even in my sleep. I think I'm gonna go nuts, so I'm thinking of applying for world peace."
Then he droops down on the table motionlessly, dangling his hands under it.
"Aww! Poor Danny!", the rainbow girl gushes as she pats his head.
"Geez, Dan! It's not like you went through his shit all alone, I did that too, so quit being pouty," the guy in black beard says as he settles beside the droopy guy. He has got this fairly Scottish accent, but from the looks, I can confirm that he's an Asian too.
A tattoo comes in view on his left wrist as he rolls the sleeves of his Blass. It's more likely in the shape of a phoenix, the fire bird.
"Hey, hey! Make some space, you old lady!", Theo exclaims as he pushes the rainbow girl to the other side and wedges himself in between her and Gray.
Ugh! I haven't slept last night!
"Why you keep giving me the feel like having not one but two imbecile retards as brothers?", the rainbow girl snaps at Theo, who is currently grinning at her innocently.
"Wow! You guys are quite entertaining, no?" River chimes in.
I shoot her a look to quiet down, but she's not someone to listen to anyone.
"I was really wondering if you all work for any circus or something like that. And if so, can you get us two tickets please? We'll really love that," she jokes.
"Leave me out of the picture please," the rainbow girl claims.
Gray groans beside me. "Who asked you to hang out with me and my friends? Go and get a life."
She smacks him at the back of his head. "That's no way to talk to your big sister."
"Don't always pull the sibling string when you can't win with words with me," Gray growls.
And there they go again like some kindergarten kids.
And they are starting to get on my nerves too!
"Those two are fun to watch," the tattoo guy notes amusedly.
"Definitely," the guy in white hair who's been quiet all this while, says in a polish accent. He slurps on his milk with a straw, squeezing the fun out of each word of the bickering duo in front of us.
Ugh! I'm this close to lose it!
"Should we stop them now?", asks the tattoo guy who's trying hard to contain his laughter.
"Why the fuck you want to kill the source of our entertainment?", the white haired guy chuckles.
Ugh! Fuck them!
I slam my fist on the table, startling everyone there and finally stopping the Jackson siblings.
I close my eyes.
Inhale!
Exhale!
I open them again to find everyone looking at me with seemingly shocked expressions and there's this smothering silence fell across our table.
The clattering of utensils, chewing of food and chit-chatting from other tables now get even more louder as everyone on our table literally mute down for a moment.
I decide to not say anything, instead I take a bite on my bacon and try to put my entire concentration on the food in front of me.
The chaotic group must have picked on the hint that I'm not on board with them being so loud and annoying, and so they also start digging in their meals quietly.
It's too better!
"Psst! Bud, who's that ballsy chic?", someone whispers.
"Shh! Keep it down! You're so dead if she hears you," another voice warns. "I've heard that it's vicious for a girl to blow up, and then...holding her horses. It's even said that it's more lethal than losing your cool in the halfway of suturing the guts up of an oldie. Whatcha say, Bree?"
"That's so lame, Danny," the rainbow girl scoffs. "But yeah, it also gives me chills."
"Feisty and cool. I love them both, so don't make me choose," another voice whispers.
"Nobody asked you, dude!", Gray snaps.
"I don't get it. What's her problem, man?", says the scottish-accented-tattoo guy.
"Guys, guys! I think, she must be on her menopause!"
Menopause....really? Do they even belong to this world?
"Geez, Blakey! Don't talk like an idiot!"
"She's still way too young for that, jackass!"
"Then it must be this...she got into a fight with her bae, eventually they broke up cause man...she's super grumpy, and then seeing us talking happily, it evoked old memories and so she couldn't hold it in anymore and blew up," another dork presents his side of theory. "Yes! That must be the reason."
"Define talking happily," the rainbow girl scoffs.
"It doesn't make any sense, idiots," Gray whisper-yells at them. "Just cut it out, and leave."
"Ow, that too hassh! It just boke my baby hutt," Theo feigns a baby voice.
"Since everyone's doing that," River chimes in amusedly. "But I guess, she's in a crappy mood for not get to finish what she started."
"Whatcha mean?", everyone whispers in unison.
I slam my fork harshly on the table, startling them all again at once.
I turn my head towards River to glare down at her. "You know, I can still hear you, right?"
She chuckles nervously before turning her head away.
"And you!" I turn my head towards the group and point at them with my knife.
"I haven't slept for last couple of nights, so pipe down for now and don't come up with anymore of your stupid theories. You get it?"
"Yeah perfectly!"
"Definitely dude!"
"Gray's friend means our friend, and so no worries!"
"Yeah! Why repeat the obvious?"
"Sure thing, gal!"
"Yeah, just lower that pointy thing in your hand which is fairly capable of causing potential harm."
I turn my head towards the source of the same calm voice.
"Geez, dude! Can you stop being honest for a moment?", the white-haired guy mutters to the alleged Jay.
He looks up at me as well, his brown eyes sparkling with something more mystical than my dark intentions. A bizarre warmth swirls up inside me.
And the moment our gaze clash into each other, I feel a ray of thunder flashing through my eyes, and they automatically blink on their own, taking me by utter bemusement.
And then what happens next, makes me freeze on spot, and I find myself being skeptical about my entire existence.
A virtual screen appears before my eyes, despite the fact that I'm not wearing any lenses, and there it notifies:
𝙿𝚃𝙽𝙻. 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃.
I look away at once, close my eyes and touch them to make sure that I'm definitely not wearing any contacts.
I take the risk and look back at him and find him starting back at me, looking almost mortified. It probably means that maybe he has seen something like me too.
The screen reappears, shows the same words and lasts for only a few seconds before going away.
"Hi, it's nice to have finally met you. It's Jayson Lee, or you can call me Jay," he introduces himself with a straight face, getting over his perplexity.
"Likewise Jay! Call me Elle." I find myself greeting back almost automatically as if I was put under some delusional spell.
"Elle... Elle..." He enunciates my name as if he's testing it on his tongue to see how it feels. "Hmm. I like your name."
"Thank you," I reply skittishly with a coy smile.
Wait what!!! What the hell is wrong with me?!!
I hear a few gasps from others.
"Hold on a sec," the rainbow girl cuts in. "Are we missing on something here?"
"Definitely we are," the droopy guy assures.
"You've got some skills, man," the white-haired guy taunts.
"Woah! Woah! Man, I'm stepping down from my 'weird' status. Congrats! Now it's officially yours," Theo exaggerates with amusement. "By the way, missy, it's Theodore here, but stick to only Theo please. I like it that way."
"Nobody asked you, Theo!", everyone snaps at him at once.
"Oops! Sorry." He ducks his head down.
"Why are you guys overreacting?", Jay asks nonchalantly, as he runs one hand through his sleek, dark hair. "What's wrong in putting a little intro? Ain't it easier that way to making a sensible conversation rather than using 'that girl'?"
"Dude! You are totally whipped!", the tattoo guy remarks, cracking a sly smirk. "Ask me anytime if you ever need some professional help."
"Whatever floats your boat, Rune," Jay scoffs.
"Showtime, people, showtime," the white-haired guy butts in. "Get me some popcorn and coke."
"I love coke. Make it three please," River informs enthusiastically. "Uh-uh! Two. Make it two...whatever Mr. White Hair."
Hold on! Am I being the object of ridicule here?
"Aye, milady!", he replies playfully. "The name is Blake Jackiewicz."
"Geez! That's a bit mouthful," River says. "BTW, I'm River Carlyle!"
"Woah! Now that's odd," Blake remarks. "But yeah, it's still nice."
"What are you even saying? It's totally cool. Plus, it just goes hand-in-hand with her hair," the tattoo guy perks up.
"Yeah, that's right, hunchie," River confirms. "What's your name again?"
"He's our personal counsellor, Tarune Bosé," Blake interjects as he slings an arm around his shoulder. "Love guru, therapist and guide-all in one!"
"Fuck off, Jackiewicz!", the tattoo guy groans, yanking Blake's hand off his shoulder. "At least spell it correctly, jackass!"
"Since everyone's doing that...it's Daniel Fletcher here. Danny...Dan fine, but don't you dare say grandpa," the droopy guy exclaims.
"You forget to add 'fucking' in the intro," the rainbow girl scoffs. "It would be Daniel 'fucking' Fletcher."
"You wish, Aubrey 'loony' Jackson!", he retorts.
"You did not just say that," she warns.
"Oops! But I already did."
"Consider yourself dead," she glares down at him and was about to pick a fight with him, but Gray gets up from his seat and storms off there without another word.
"Woah! Now what's up with him?", Danny exclaims with bewilderment.
"He has been quiet all this while since we started the intro-game," Tarun, the tattoo guy, tries to make sense.
And yeah, I've noticed that too, but it's not since the intro.
He hasn't said anything since Jay talked directly to me.
Yes, that's it!
"He looks pissed," Blake claims.
"Nah! He's not someone to easily get annoyed, and let alone getting pissed," Aubrey, the rainbow girl, interjects.
"I'll go check on him," Theo says warily as he leaves the table.
"Let's meet here everyone tomorrow, guys! It'll be fun," River invites excitedly.
To be honest, this seems like a good idea to me too. No matter however annoying they must be, I'll still get to gather some information anytime if needed. I don't think, they would be much of help, but I'm sure, Gray will definitely be. So I need to get along.
Anyways, what's wrong with him!
"I guess, everyone's not on board with it, River," Danny declares, obliquely directing it at me.
River kicks me under the table, making me glare at her in the process.
"Darn it!", I mouth her.
She rolls her eyes. "Say something," she mouths back.
"I'll deal with you later," I tell her before turning my head towards them.
"I don't see anyone objecting the plan, except you, proxy boy. And I don't remember selecting you to voice me," I snap at Danny. "Plus, I'm not afraid to call a spade a spade. You got a problem? You buzz off!"
"Sweets! You're already my favorite," Aubrey chimes in delight as she moves closer to me and dangles an arm around mine. "Let's hang out sometimes at my place, we gotta do a lotta girl talks! Whatcha say?"
"Ugh! Why whoever insults me is already your favorite?", Danny groans.
"You won't mind me tagging along, huh?", River interjects.
Boy, I'm in trouble knee-deep.
"Hush! Of course not! So you in?"
Damn it! How I've got myself into this mess?
"I don't have time for it," I reply, scratching the back of my neck.
"Oh gosh! Don't tell me you are a serious shut-in?", she gasps.
Now where is that coming from!
"No, I'm not!", I declare.
"FYI, she can't really swear and hates a lot of stuff. She needs some serious tutorials before going out in public," River declares. "Just stating some fun facts."
Ugh! This girl!
"Don't bother," I scoff. "I'm just being honest here."
Everyone burst into laughter, looking at my face.
"Dude, are you blushing?", Blake chuckles. "C'mon, you can't be serious now."
Oh fudge it!
The bane of being unsociable!
"Don't listen to them," Aubrey manages to speak, somehow containing her own amusement. "They're just jealous."
Something clicks through my mind instantly.
Did Gray, most probably and presumably, in fact, get jealous of Jay?
Oh my fudge!
©Shena
*****
A/N: Love. Vote. Comment. Share. ;)
Quick facts-
♪ Yes! I gave Jayson his last name after my fab actors Lee Jong-suk and Lee Min-ho.
♪In the story, Theo said this in a baby voice: "Ow, that so harsh! It just broke my baby heart!"
Lmao! He's fun. Whatcha say? ;)
♪ And it's Tarun Bose whose name was misspelled in the story by Blake. Since it's a bit mouthful, his friends call him Rune.
♪ And yeah! I just dropped a third male lead.
And stay tuned, cause I'm gonna drop more bombs soon! ;p
Xoxo,
Shena