"You do realize that you're wrong, right?" She raised her head from her book rather with an eye wide open.
I mentioned Ariel's mistake in her mathematics calculations.
"Here, you forgot the brackets on the last equation, remember it will influence the whole answer if you're wrong in the beginning."
I showed her the right calculation by raising my notebook in front of my computer.
I could see that the explanation just made Ariel's brain more buzzed as she looked a tad bit confused than she already has.
"Hey, you're good over there?"
"Fuck! This is hard. How the hell did your brain handle this?!" She retorted while flailing her arms to emphasize her point.
If she's right in front of me right now, I would flick her forehead.
"To be honest, I'm as surprised as you. I thought I was a dumbass." I teased her.
"A, you are a dumbass. B, I'm pretty sure you're far from surprised."
I only smiled at her reply.
Ariel always like that. She's mean, sassy, and a total badass. But deep down, she's a softie.
She once punched me in the face after I accidentally stepped on her foot. I got a bruised eye for a week. For a small girl, she can throw some punch.
But a few days after that, she's the only one who kind enough to take care of me, and not only that, she clung to me for a week, asking me every ten minutes if I'm okay or not.
After seeing me delved in utter silence, she cleared her throat. "Thanks for the help tho," she began to clear up her desk.
"No problem." I also followed her steps.
"Hey, do you know about that new kid?" She asked out of a sudden.
"New kid?" My eyebrows furrowed as I try to figure out a new face in the school.
She made her serious pose, straighten her back and arms crossed on the table with a pressing voice.
"The new kid, I don't know his name but I heard he has the bad boy looks on him," Ariel described as she literally drooling over her laptop.
She continued. "He's also on the football team. Apparently, Coach Jones took him in seconds when he knows that he played for his previous school in a national competition."
"Really?!" I stop for a moment and stared absentmindedly to the window, causing Ariel to furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"You're frowning. There's something wrong."
"It's just... odd you know. If he's that big of an athlete and all, I should've heard something about him. I mean, I'm the second in the ranks. Nothing comes into the school that we didn't know." I mentioned.
She seems to be thinking for a while but quickly shrugged it off. "He just came here last week. Of course, he wouldn't make headlines yet."
"Yeah, maybe," I added as I really don't want to make the conversation much longer.
"Also, you need to go to bed Ari, it's like eleven. I know I'm being such a mom but I'm pretty sure that you'll fell asleep in class if you didn't go to bed now," I warned her as tomorrow has the most challenging class in the world.
History.
If we're not supposed to dwell on the past so much, then why learn history?
I just don't get it, people.
"Yeah, you have a point. Thank you for the homework." A smile broke from her lips, a sweet one tho.
I waved her off. "Yeah bitch, small matter. I'll let you sleep in peace now." I closed the laptop.
There's this feeling at the back of my mind.
Intrigued?
Anxious?
Questions?
It was like something blocking my head from functioning properly.
Sigh in surrender, I jumped and plopped on my bed as I just shrugged the thoughts all off.
My legs instinctively swung off the bed and walk towards the kitchen.
Once downstairs, my gaze fell into the light that shimmers because of the water from the pool. I tiptoed on my attempt to probed the cabinet.
"Fuck! Why does everything is so high in this house?!" I muttered to no one and then I heard some rattling prescriptions in the cabinet.
There are no advantages when you're a short person.
Slowly but surely, I got the canister of prescriptions just before my toe's about to cramp. It was printed with a big and bold 'Liskonum' which is a mood stabilizer. I took two pills in my hand followed by sleeping pills and gulped them with a glass of water.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated harshly on the kitchen island. I took it in my hand and glanced at the caller.
Dad.
I pressed the answer icon.
"Hello?"
"What are you up to kid?"
"Nah, the usual. Why are you still up?"
"Just checking up on you. Did you take your meds?"
"Yup. How's work?"
"You're not supposed to be involved in my business, young man."
"죄송합니다, 아버지." I quickly apologized.
(A/N: I'm sorry, father.)
He chuckled. "And only talk in Korean with your mother. I don't understand them." I quietly groaned while gritting my teeth.
It was a habit that I got when Mom was around. But sometimes they slipped off my mind.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"Go get some sleep, okay? You got school tomorrow."
"알겠습니다."
(A/N: Okay... 'sort of')
I just realized my mistake when Dad remained silent for a while and I closed my eyes in disbelief.
"I-I'm sorry," I said between gritted teeth.
He only laughed at it. "Goodnight, kiddo."
I walked into my bedroom and straight away plopped myself on the bed.
I don't know how much time has passed but the lights in my room seem to be slowly spinning on their own accords.
The world faded away. The noises gradually muffled into silence.
Slowly, I felt myself was raised from the bed and floating in the air as if I'm wrapped in invisible clouds.
My thoughts then switched into a trance that I didn't realize coming. My heart came to a steady pace and my breathing deepens, the darkness clouded my mind.
The last thing I remember, there was only darkness.
**********
The shrieking ring from the alarm clock beamed through my room, causing me to flung my eye open before setting it off.
I took the comforters and tightly wrapped myself in it.
It's this feeling of comfort and soothing warmth that I got when I wrapped myself in such. It's not the comforter but rather something that I took for granted in the past.
The time when the calm before the storm. Before the rage struck my mind and before my heart was smashed into a perpetual abyss.
The tickling breath on my neck as well as the strong arms wrapped around my waist. The scent of him lingered near me as I stared into those deep dark eyes.
I twist and turn on my bed, trying my best to get up from the comfiest and basically the most magnetic place on earth.
"Sir, are you awake?" Ms. Clarkson's voice muffled from the door after a sudden gentle knock.
A lazy groan fled in response as I sat down on the bed.
"Zac? You just got up?" I could literally hear the smile on her face.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I've been up for hours." I yawned as I replied to her.
I rubbed the sleep off of my eyelashes to wake myself up.
After some utter silence, I dozed off...somehow.
"Zac?"
I jerked upright. "Yeah, who's there?"
"It's still me sir," she chuckled.
"Get dressed for school Zac, breakfast's ready. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen." Soft footsteps gradually went softer until there was only the sound of chirping birds outside and the rushing fountain water could be heard.
I gradually stood up and dragged my lazy legs as I went to the bathroom to take a shower.
The feeling of soothing warm water flow across my body and instantly, I felt a little bit better than I was before.
I chose for a simple outfit that happens to be a black t-shirt and a hoodie layered by denim, a navy blue jeans, and black ankle boots.
I took a glance at the mirror before I took my bag and walked down the hall.
The smell of something wafted across the kitchen and I quickly found Ms. Clarkson made blueberry waffles.
"Good morning, Ms. Clarkson." I greeted as she poured a cup of tea for me.
I took a seat in front of the kitchen island, where the waffles were piled on a plate. She returned back with a smile. "Good morning Zac, how's your sleep?"
"The usual. How's Stella?" I began to devour my breakfast.
"She's doing better, thanks to you." An appreciative smile broke from her lips as she patted my head in a motherly manner.
I just smiled and proceeded to eat my breakfast in just a few seconds. Once finished, I rushed to the garage after saying goodbye to Ms. Clarkson.
I drove towards the Lightwood's resident. Ariel was the first person to talk to me when I arrived here. I was just a little kid who's too shy to talk on my first day and she realized this so she helped me. We quickly became friends and always went to school together since then.
The Lightwood's house was a little bit humbler than mine, just like a normal average residential house. With a lot of glass windows surrounding their house, huge front and back yard, lots and lots of trees and plants surrounding the house exterior as her mother's a botanist.
Ariel was quite a decent student as her father was a lecturer at a college nearby and she's also in the top ten in the school ranks. Their house was filled with books and thesis material. But, Ariel was slightly different than her parents.
She was a bit rowdier than her mother but still as intelligent as his father. Her behavior was rather unpredictable and she always thinks outside of the box.
Her parents knew me well since I had multiple sleepovers here and she had numerous times in my house.
She's already waiting for me in her driveway while she was glancing at her phone. Once she saw my car, she quickly rushed over and sat on the passenger's seat.
"Morning!" She beamed.
"Morning," I replied rather nonchalantly and started driving to the school.
She keeps rambling about the gossip she found out yesterday and I just nodded while hummed just to keep her company.
Sometimes I wonder why did I befriends her considering we're both different from all angles, every aspect of her is a contradiction of mine.
She had waist-long dirty blonde hair and a very small figure, she always takes care of her appearance with makeup and chose cute outfits that matched.
I, on the other hand, had black wavy long hair and a slim build. Also, I didn't care about my appearance, I just want to look appropriate and adequate.
The only thing that Ariel and I had in common is our height, she was only a few inches shorter than me.
I sometimes embarrassed by the fact that some girls are much taller than me but my confidence was boosted when I remember that I was titled as the 'Number Two' in the school.
The journey to my school was not long, just took about fifteen minutes or so from Ariel's house.
She finally glanced up from her looking at her phone. "Here's the thing. My source said that the new kid was extremely hot, like smoking hot."
"So?" I didn't avert my eyes from the road though she got my attention.
"Aren't you interested?"
I scoffed softly. "Why would I?"
"I don't know. Don't you wanna date someone attractive?" Even without looking, I could see that she was wiggling her eyebrows.
"Yes. I do but I would rather date someone that is kind and care about me." I nodded.
She sighed loudly, making sure that I could hear them. "I just pity you. Being picky when literally the whole school drools over you, boys and girls. You could've got laid more than me."
"This an obnoxious topic in way too early in the morning." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm just saying. Try to be more lenient, can you?" She softened her voice.
"I've been careless once. I won't make the same mistake."
My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I clenched my jaw.
The moments were still fresh in my memories. The scent of parchment, the burns of betrayal, and the sharp stares from the people around.
"Zac, that was two years ago. Some people don't even remember them anymore."
I quickly replied. "I did."
She fell silent with a frown.
I took a deep breath while giving her my softest look. "Okay. I'll try, whatever."
She smiled while I stared into her brown eyes.
********
School was torturous, to say the least. The number of times that I had to raise my head to glanced at the clock was numerous even tho I had already wearing a watch.
I don't know why I did that but it is what it is.
When we're in the classroom, the time seems to be irregular like it's going against the law of nature. Seconds become minutes and minutes feel like hours.
Am I the only one who feels like that?
Nonetheless, I've survived all of that but Ariel suddenly decided to be a diligent student, and dragged me to the library, cooked up with some piles of books and manuscript.
After several yawns and teary eyes, I tugged her sleeves to grab her attention from the book. "What are we doing here?" I whispered.
She averted her eyes from her book. "I'm thinking that maybe we could do some revision you know?"
"You're thinking? Well, now I'm getting worried."
She managed to quickly flick my forehead, making me lunged backward."Not everyone has photographic memories like you, dumbass. We have to get ready for next week's test."
"The test is next week, we've got time. Sides, I don't think you'd failed the test." I pressed while rubbing my red forehead.
"Yeah? How can you be so sure?" Her expression softened.
I shifted in my seat. "I mean, you're number seven right? In the ranks?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that I would always pass the test." She rolled her eyes.
"Pretty sure no one can beat you." I leaned on the chair while crossing my arms on my chest.
"You did, the sixth did, and now maybe the eighth will."
I nudged her gently in the shoulder. "Don't say that. Don't think about the ranks or the stupid awards or anything. Just do your best, okay?"
"Was that always work for you?"
"Yeah, it did. I just did my best."
"Apparently, your best wasn't enough considering Thomas is still the highest."
I shrugged my shoulder nonchalantly. "I don't really care much about it."
"Maybe you should. Some teachers said that the ranks help you in getting into a good college."
"I already got one."
"Really?! How?! Where?! When?!" She snapped.
"I got the offer last week in Korea. My mom, may or may not, have been involved in it." My lips curl into a lopsided smile.
"You lucky bastard." She nudged me in the rib with her book.
I let out a laugh before my eyes caught someone was standing at the library entry, eyes everywhere from one corner to the other.
I kept staring at him, as I don't recognize his face. He's definitely a student but I never saw him. Maybe he's looking for his brother.
I also seem fo failed to see the reason why he's just standing there, motionlessly, looking for something.
"Hey, who's that?" I tugged Ariel's sleeve as I gestured my head toward the guy.
"Don't know. I think that's the new guy." She whispered as I kept my eyes on him.
His eyes slowly scanned the room and then, our eyes meet. The grey of mine met the green of his.
For that split second, he looked at me and there's this glint in his eyes.
His expression softened and I could feel the faint sparks in my chest. Deep inside my heart where there's no life ever emerged and where the wind never changed.
The grip on my pen tightened nervously.
Despite the awkwardness, I kept on staring at him with a cold expression as I always did to everyone else.
Unamused, frigid, and empty.
His lips curled just slightly, expressing a smile, and then he turned around, breaking our contact before walking out of my sight.
"He's hot!" Ariel half-scream half-whispered while yanking me back and forth.
I won't deny that he does look attractive but something else about him that got me thinking to myself.
That feeling in my chest, that looks in his eyes. Something about them makes me want to approach him. It's alluring and enticing me to know more about him.
People always said that 'the eyes are the windows to the soul,' maybe that's what I saw.
I saw something, a glimpse of his soul, in his eyes.
It felt bright but it feels trapped.
And it got me thinking...
What was that?!
**********