Quillion's P.O.V
The bell to the end of the school day rings, everyone starts rushing to get out of this horrid classroom. I turn around to reach for my bag when I notice Anah staring.
I looked at where she is staring.
It's my tattoo, it's exposed.
I look back at her and I notice her eyes. The way she is looking at my tattoo, there is no distaste but instead I see an understanding and bewilderment? The same loneliness I felt and wanted to portray through that tattoo, she feels it too.
She knows it too, doesn't she?
There was a mysterious spark in her dark brown eyes. It was like she was lost inside it.
This is a first. Understanding my tattoo was already too much to expect but showing interest as well. Shocking that its coming from a stranger. Snapping back to running out to explore, I quickly pull my sleeve back down.
I find her eyes look startled, I was right, she did get lost. This catches me off guard. I notice my reflection in her eyes and find amusement plastered all over my face. This has never happened before; my emotions have never surfaced this clear on my face before.
"Sorry I didn't mean to stare," her eyes are mesmerizing.
Did I just think that? Snap out of this, Q!
I nod to let her know that Its okay and run for the door.
Phew, what the hell was that.
I find my headphones, grab my phone and play my mood playlist. Right now, is playing "If You Met Me First" by Eric Ethridge. This song is a new favorite, I first heard it when the boys were over, and I was randomly playing music on YouTube. I got attracted to this song because it makes me feel hopeful.
*Anah's eyes and the way she looked at the tattoo*
Oh.
*Anah's eyes watching out the classroom window with intensity*
Hmm. Its just your first day, Snap out of it, Q.
I take a deep breath before looking up at the sky. Weirdly it looks gentle, like it is caressing the earth. I wonder what the boys are doing at this moment.
MHM, yumm, that smells so good! Where is that coming from.
Taking a left towards the smell. I find myself in front of an ice cream shop.
"Ben's Pavillion," I read the shop's name, getting closer to the door, my head turns right, and I notice a familiar face from the glass window. She is in there.
She has a gentle smile on her face as she takes her order from the man behind the counter. That's an honest smile, the same one she flashed at me when she bumped into me and when she apologized for staring.
I shouldn't care.
How can she look this genuinely happy from receiving ice cream when she was obviously flashing a fake smile all day long in school. I'd rather not show emotions at all.
Faking is lying and once a liar, always a liar.
I enter the shop, putting my thoughts aside.
The staff greeted me as I took a step inside. Then I hear Anah and her friend greet me too, until they suddenly stop.
The sudden awkwardness makes me look her way, where I find her looking me up and down. Nothing new, being judged I bet.
She nods and I nod back.
Was it real?
Dude, Q why do you care!?
I hear her friend call for me in her screechy voice, giving me the goose bumps so let me just head to the counter.
"Can I get a scoop of Dark chocolate in a cup please."
I tell the guy on the counter; his name is Ben so tells his name tag. Must be the owner.
"Anything on top?" asks Ben
"Caramel drizzle, please," right after my order, I see Anah's friend walking to my side. Here it goes, trying to hide the irritation from this girl's non-stop annoying blabbering.
I look at Anah, I see my presence didn't excite her like it did other girls, she was enjoying her ice cream like this is her last ice cream in the world. But it is honest, she is emitting this unexplained vibe. Its bothersome. It's unrealistic but I am seeing it happen.
She is looking at her friend go on blabbering, slowly I notice her eyes shift and I quickly look away.
Safe!
I see Ben bring out my order. As I'm about to grab it, I hear Anah speak.
"Yelda. Times up. You coming?" she calls her friend.
"Bye Ben, see you tomorrow," she has a soft voice
I look at her looking at me, I exchange another nod with her right before she leaves, disappearing behind the door. Her friend follows her.
"Anah is a good girl," I hear someone say so I turn around to find Ben.
"Oh, I... thank you for the ice cream,"
"You must be new here, I am Ben. Those girls are regulars here. I noticed you look at Anah since you got inside my shop. I didn't mean to intrude," said Ben with a smile.
"I'm Quillion. I just moved here. I wasn't looking at her, its just something felt off," I don't know what I just said that, but its out. The harms already done. Creep.
"You noticed too," Ben let out a big sigh and I wasn't a creep. His sigh isn't a good sign. I nod at him and take a seat to enjoy my ice cream. There was an understanding behind my 'we should stop' nod. We are in no place to discuss about someone else's personal space, especially when that person isn't physically present.
Worse, Ben might be a friend, but I am a stranger.
I am nobody. I am no hero either, I wasn't planning on becoming one. Thus, this curiosity building up needs to stop. I was labelled a monster with no sympathy in my old school.
Its true I don't express emotions easily and I only talk my mind when needed and they are mostly harsh words. Well the truth hurts.
And this truth is that I am feeling something I don't understand, and it is related to this girl I don't know.
I don't know why this is happening, but one thing is for sure.
I won't let this continue.