With my unsteady breath, I pushed the door open and revealing a few boys walking out of the locker room. Despite they're giving me weird looks, I trudged my way right into the room searching for the one and only 'pain in the ass.'
Even when I tiptoed, I still couldn't find where he is as the locker was so high. After a few minutes wandering around in the locker room, I figured that there was no one else until I heard was a slam of a metal locker.
When I finally saw him, I couldn't believe my eyes.
His bare chest was full on display, revealing his fit athletic muscle and I felt that I was the luckiest person in the world. His collarbone that was protruding from his shoulders and his defined biceps just accentuate his lean physique even more.
My gaze fell onto his mid-torso that was embellished with the feature of perfectly sculpted abs and the v-line that was peeking from his pants.
It wasn't my first time seeing him shirtless but he still got me in a trance for a while. His muscle flexed in the sexiest way possible as walked over me and picking stuff up from his locker.
But then, I saw the scars. The scars that scattered around his skin. The deep painful memories that were forever befoul his skin.
"If you wanna eye-rape me, at least ask." He didn't make any eye contact with me.
"Ry!" I called for his name but he kept pretending like he didn't hear me. I could literally see the smirk on his face even when I was just looking from his back.
"Rafiq Angel!" I raised with a stern voice.
"Yes, Zac Starr?" He turned around, grinning as always.
I looked over my shoulder, just to make sure no one's here.
"What do you want?" I half-whispered.
He leaned forward and whispered into my ears. "I want you."
He slowly walked closer to me, eyes filled with lust. I was taken aback and stumble a few steps backward.
My back hit the wall behind me and I quickly turned my face away, pulling away from him as my face tinted with a rosy blush. "N-not that! What do you want from me?"
"I want you to go on a date with me tonight."
"I didn't make any bet."
"Still..." He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
He breathed into my ears with his husky and baritone low voice.
"I want to go on a date with you." His voice became dangerously low, seducing me into a daze.
"W-we can't. I have my team's dinner and you have yours." I tried to push his hard-rock chest away from me. Yet, to no avail...
"They won't realize we're gone." He tightened his grip around me.
"I'm the vice-president," I mentioned as if it's not obvious yet.
He gave me his signature grin.
"The more reason for you to disappear." He whispered seductively into my ears.
"I won't take no as an answer." He smugged.
"Sounds like something a rapist would say." I crossed my arms. "If I refuse, what will you do?" I dare myself to look up at him, reducing the distance between our faces.
I thought by doing that, he would be easier to be persuaded since I have quite the reputation in our school. Yet, there's no doubt in his eyes, not even a little.
"You'll have to wait and see, I guess. But, it's definitely something stupid and you'll be in it." He grinned.
"You're a pain in the ass."
"I prefer the word 'problematically complicated' but that's fine too."
I sighed loudly and exaggeratedly. "Fine! I'll go, whatever."
He hugged me tighter than it is already. "Thank you! You won't regret it!"
"How about the guards?"
"I'll figure things out." He looked me in the eyes. It took me by surprise that they're so dreamy and beautiful.
I could practically smell his minty breath and the scent of his aftershave lingered near me. Even with my clothes on, I could still feel his heart beating quick next to mine. His lips parted slightly, just slightly at the center, enticing me to have a little taste of them.
The way he just looked at me was just... magical.
I never knew a glance could make me feel this crazy and calm at the same time. I felt the tranquility in my chest yet there was a lightning thunderstorm inside my head.
I placed my hand on his broad shoulder and took a deep breath.
Every day every night, I wish that my prayer would finally be answered. So that I could finally thank him for being him.
"Okay."
I don't know why but I felt really happy that I agree with his 'bet'.
*********
"How's your shoulder?" Damien looked at me and his eyes trailed towards Jim, who was following me around for tonight.
"Why does everybody keeps asking me that?" He was escorting me to the hall where everyone was waiting for us.
"Just a little worried." He pushed the door open for me.
"I won't die if that's what you're worried about." I joked.
"Jim, you can wait here." He only nodded and stood outside the entrance, like a typical bodyguard.
The hall itself was much spacious and welcoming than I thought it would've been. The chandeliers hanging majestically and the paintings hanging on the walls. Along with the squeaky clean glass window, overviewing the river flowing outside.
There's a lot of people here. From our school, other schools, and maybe some staff.
We both took a seat around the table and apologized for being late.
"Zac, why don't use give a speech real quick?" Coach Watson beamed.
"Coach, I don't think we need a speech. There's only seven of us." I chuckled and the whole table tried their best to hold their laughs.
"A toast then." She suggested while raising her glass and we all followed her.
I thought to myself for a while...
...Should I?
Alas, I raised my glass anyway.
"For the past, the present, and the future. May we made him proud." I ended my words with a sad smile.
The team remembered the incident as we all smiled to ourselves. The air got shortly tense but Coach made a huge change when she made a really bad joke about her and her friends in college, using a colander to drain cooked rice.
She also made a short congratulations notes for our success in this competition after the meal was served in front of us.
My eyes scattered over the platters that were filled with various of mouth-watering foods.
"How are you gonna eat?" Damien asked me when we're about to dine, gesturing towards my sling.
"My left hand I guess."
"Here, I'll help." He swiftly cut the steak and hold them near my mouth.
Slightly taken aback, my eyes widened. "T-thanks."
He continued to feed me throughout the whole meal even when I told him to stop. He kept insisting and I just let him since he had a fair point; I can't use my right hand.
"Are you going somewhere tonight?" He sipped his drinks.
"No, I'm just staying in my room tonight."
"Don't you want to sneak out? Everybody does that tonight." He draped his arm behind my back, closing our distance.
My eyes glanced around just to see if anyone's watching us. But, there were too many people here and they're all doing their own things so I just let him be.
"Don't think I can." I glanced at my wrapped arm and shoulder.
"That's a shame. I would definitely take you a tour around."
"I already knew my way around."
"Oh by the way, who is the 'him' that you mentioned in your toast?"
"Oh right, you're the youngest in the team. You enrolled around two years ago, right?"
"Yeah."
"There's a reason why we don't have a president in the club."
"I heard he resigned."
"Yeah, he did. Yet, I refused to run for president of the club and no one tried since they thought they weren't qualified enough. So, things stayed that way until now." I shrugged.
"Who is he? I mean, you have to be someone to be mentioned by the great Zachary Starr." He joked.
"He is the reason how we're here. Without him, there would be no archery club in the school."
"Why tho?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you refused?" He leaned closer.
"Cause I don't want to." I scooched away, clearly making myself looked uncomfortable.
"Then why bother became a vice-president?" My eyes glanced around to find a way out of here and then I found something I never expect to see.
Rafiq was glaring at us from the football table. Well, at Damien actually. I reassured him by giving a smile and a nod. He even flinched when Damien tried to touch my hand.
I was looking for an escape route but I won't ask Rafiq for help.
"It's complicated." I sarcastically smiled.
"Is it? Or you're just afraid?"
His words don't make sense but deep down inside, I know it's the truth. I felt a deep cut in my chest and the heavy strain inside my lungs.
It was an old memory of me, taken from an old book. A book that ends at the edge of my life.
I was afraid of his shadows. Afraid of his memories. Afraid of myself.
My smile fell into a frown. "I was just starting to like you. Congratulations Damien."
Abruptly, I stood up and all heads turned. "Guys, I'm afraid I have to get going. Enjoy the night."
Everybody nodded slightly without saying anything... except Damien.
I quickly made my way to the entrance of the hall where it was less crowded and repeating in my head to get past the door where Jim could help me get rid of Damien.
"Zac, wait! Is it something I said?" His breath was slightly heavy.
"Yes! It was something you said." I replied without looking at him.
"Then, I'm sorry. I really am."
"Not accepted!" I kept walking.
"What do you want me to do?!" He grabbed me by the shoulder and forcefully turned me around.
His grip was so strong and caused the sting to came back surging. I grunted in pain and glared at Damien.
He gasped as he soon realized that he just made a mistake.
"Zac, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-" He was cut off.
I heard a thud and I raised my gaze just to found out that Damien was already on the floor, his face was painted with shock and his lips were busted.
I then realized that there was a figure separating me and Damien like a protective barrier. He was breathing furiously as his hands were balled into tight fists.
"Leave him alone!' He warned between his gritted teeth. His voice was dangerously intimidating and stood there, glaring at Damien on the floor.
Damien wiped the blood off his lips and just walked into the bathroom.
Rafiq crouched down and placed his hands on my back, reassuring me.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly.
"I'm fine, Ry."
"Come on, I'll carry you to our room." He attempted to carry me bridal style.
I put my hand on his shoulder, stopping him in action. "Ry, I'm fine. It's the shoulders that hurt, not the leg."
"No, I want you to rest your legs for tonight." He lifted me up from the ground with ease and walked out of the hall.
I saw Jim's perpetually baffled looks and ordered him to go to my room. So, he just followed us in silence.
Seeing that Rafiq was so excited for tonight, I whispered in his ear. "So, how do we get past the guards?"
"This might not work but..." He grinned mischievously.
********
"I never thought that would've worked." He laughed as we ran out of the building.
"I told you, my plan is absolutely better than yours."
"How do you know he's so easy to be bribed?" We got into the car.
"My dad is a businessman, you know. We have our ways."
"Are you okay?" He was concerned at my shoulder since I ditched the sling back in the room.
"Yeah." I smiled reassuringly.
"Let's go!"
"가자" I exclaimed eagerly.
(A/N: Let's go.)
Since I couldn't really use my right hand, we agreed that Rafiq should drive for tonight.
But as he was starting the car, I remembered something. "We are we going exactly?"
"To an amusement park." He mentioned brazenly as he showed me an image on his phone.
"Out of all places..." I gave him a straight-face.
"Don't worry, it's weekdays so there won't be many people."
"Why am I doing this?"
"Because you lost the bet. Just admit it!"
"No, I wasn't!"
"Yet, here we are."
"Can we just go already?" I huffed.
********
I remember the moment where it was similar to what was having right now. The scent of fresh air gushing into my lungs, the faint distance screaming of joy perforated the ears, and the blinding bright lights filled the night sky.
The variety of things that caught my eyes were rather distracting. They were so many things that I wanted to try since I was a little boy. The ferry wheels, the merry-go-round, and the minigames in the booth.
He looked at me with his bright emerald eyes. "What do you want to play first?"
Despite my inner excitement, my face was rather completely dull.
"What about none?" I replied with an unamused tone as I fold my arms across my chest.
"I want to ride that one." He points out a really frightening and dangerous-looking roller coaster.
"T-that one?" I gulped wide eyes.
"Yeah!"
"The one that is scary and looks absolutely not safe?" My eyes stuttered towards him.
"Should be fun. Come on." He gestured enthusiastically with his head.
We got into the cart and fastened our seatbelts. Rafiq sat beside me with an excited giggle as he clapped his hands enthusiastically.
Oh Lord, help me. I just wanna see tomorrow...
********
Am I alive?
Is this a dream?
What have done with my life?
Can we stop riding these things?
I stared at the gliding pavement absentmindedly as Rafiq held my hand after we rode the third hellish torture of the night.
"That wasn't so bad, right Zac?" He bent down to my eyes level. "You want to ride another one?"
I gave him the 'are-you-out-of-your-goddamn-mind??!!' look.
Based on his sudden pale complexion, pretty sure he got the message.
"Okay. We'll just chill here." He sat me down on one of the bench nearby and strode towards an ice-cream van.
His smiles captured me in a dream with his pearly teeth and the cute little dimples on the side of his lips. The jawline that was so straight and sharp, no wonder all of the girls in school always talked about him.
Not to mention his perfect figure. It's useless to cover him underneath a shirt, his figure still accentuates effortlessly. The way his biceps flexed seductively along with several veins popped out of his forearms.
He's basically perfect inside out!
He has the looks, the figure and he's nice.
I never thought that I would be friends with someone that was so perfect.
He walked to me with a grin. "What made you smiling like an idiot over there?" He handed me the ice cream but his face held a questionable smile.
Vanilla.
The one and the only reason I gratefully accept his offering were that vanilla was my favorite flavor since I was a little boy.
I shook my head to waved it off of my head.
"Is this what you normally do after a match?" I licked my ice cream that was melting with a rather tolerable quick pace.
"No, not really. I only did this for you." He leaned his elbows on the railings, eating his strawberry ice cream.
A group of girls smiled at Rafiq as they were passing by and he teasingly winked at them.
"Why am I so special?"
"As I mentioned before, you lost a bet." He clicked his tongue narcissistically.
"Can we just be honest here, no bet was made earlier."
"Can we just be honest here, there is a bet made earlier."
"You're really determined."
"Determined and proud." He grinned triumphantly.
We then finished our ice cream and continued walking around the town.
Whilst walking with him, I felt his radiated heat lingered around me. Our shoulders brushed against each other and frankly enough, I didn't try to avoid him.
I didn't feel uncomfortable being around him. Quite the contrary, I want him to be as close to me as possible. So that I could preserve his warmth and cherish the familiar scent of his cologne.
I didn't realize this until recently but it's like he's opened a new book into my life.
A book that replaced the tragic old one. Beautiful and bright, portrayed just like his oceans that were lit underneath the serene moonlight.
We kept on walking along the streets with no specific directions as he tugged me everywhere against my own will. Even though I've been here before, the beauty of the city never ceases to amuse me.
The unwavering waters, the shimmering lights, and the completely calm air.
Suddenly, a thought came flashing across my head.
"But here's the thing that I don't understand tho, if you're the one who won the bet, why are you trying to please me?"
"Who said that I was trying to please you?" His cunning eyes gleaming along with his smile.
Ooookay..? That was unexpected.
"Aren't you?" Keeping my expression calm.
"I wasn't trying to please you, Zachary Min-Jun Starr. I was trying to impress you."
I was... quite shocked.
"Impressed! How did you know my full name?" I cocked one of my eyebrows in amusement.
"I always did my research before executing my mission, sir." He imitated a salute, with a serious expression of a soldier.
"Here I am, thinking that you guys never study before a test."
" Study for a test? Pfft, never!" He scoffed.
"Then why made a revision on me?"
"Cause I can." He smugged.
There's a lot of unexpected things that he said tonight.
Thinking back, even though we've been friends for months now, there's really little to nothing that I know about him.
The things he hates, the things he likes, his hobbies, or maybe his favorite dish?
Yet, he knew a lot about me and for that, I feel guilty.
"Well then, I want to make some revisions too. Tell me something about you." I suggested eagerly.
"My full name is Rafiq Damien Angel."
I hummed even tho I already knew that the first time we met. "In my opinion, you had the most beautiful name in our school."
He shook his head profoundly. "I have to disagree with that."
"Why? It's true!" I grinned.
"It's true my name was beautiful but it wasn't the most beautiful one." He stared at me. "Your's sounds so much more divine."
I chuckled light-heartedly. "Enough about me. Is there anything that you like?"
He listed, his face was so cute like a little boy counting his fingers. "Well... I like beaches, I like the oceans, I like the color blue, I like football and most importantly..."
He suddenly paused for a split second. He leaned closer to me and his hands caressed my cheeks, engulfing me in pleasant warmth.
His face was inches away from mine.
"... I like you."
For that split second, the world held their breath for a very brief moment. For that split second, I felt all my time waiting finally ended. For that split second, I know that my prayer was answered.
"You didn't see that coming, didn't you?"
"N-no... I wasn't."
"What are you expecting?" He smirked slyly.
"Oh, I-I thought that this was a p-professional date, a-as a meeting but it's just the-... the two of us," I explained albeit with slight difficulties.
"This is not a professional date, Zac. This is a personal date. I like you." He looked into my eyes, his oceans only filled with hopes and I didn't see any doubt lingering around him.
For the first time in a long time, my mind went entirely blank. I just stood there, frozen in time, not knowing what to do. I never had anyone confessed to me before and I have never had the occasion to acknowledge anything about it.
"Y-you like m-me?" My mind was all over the place.
"I just said that. Plus, I thought I made it clear several times already." He stood up straight.
"I thought you're joking."
"Why would I?"
"But you already had a girlfriend."
"Since when?" He chuckled scornfully.
Did he forget about it or he's pretending not to remember? He said that he had a date with his girlfriend once...
"Then... Chloe Moonlight?"
"Her?! We're just friends. Like how you and Ariel are friends."
"How come you're just happens to be friends with the third in rank?"
"Well... I'm friend with you." He stated.
I didn't know what to say at the moment. The fluttering emotions on my chest with the flooding images in my head.
It's not that I don't like him. It's just...
... complicated.
"To be honest, I don't know what to say."
Cause I remember something about me.
'Clay cannot be mold into gold.'
He reassured me by caressing my shoulder gently. "Then, don't say it. You can tell me when you're ready."
I sent him an appreciative smile.
"What do you want to do now?"
"Not sure. How about we just walk around for a while before going back to the hotel?"
"Yeah, I can do that!"
For one moment in time, I saw him looking at me. The green orbs staring at my furious dark thunderstorm with his oceans in his hands, perfectly calm and collected. Not even once did he flinched when he witnessed the nightmares that I had in my eyes.
For the whole night, he never let go of my hand. It's like he's afraid that he would lose me again the way he had lost something in his past. His grip was firm yet gentle like he's being careful as if I'm a fragile being.
"You seem really familiar with this place. Did you googled everything out already?"
"Sort of..."
I did realize this earlier but I just kept quiet because I was too surprised when he confessed to me. He moved into Canada a few months ago yet he walked his way through the street like it's nothing
"What kind of answer is that?"
"What kind of answer you want?"
"The truthful one."
He paused for a while and he stopped into a halt but my hands were still in his. He took a deep breath and he breathed out slowly.
"I used to come here with my parents. I remember that bridge over there." He pointed out an old bridge.
"I thought you said you had amnesia."
He nodded. "It's a little piece of memories I still have in me about my family."
"Tell me a little bit about them, the one you still remember." I held his hands and led the way towards that old bridge.
"Not much... I remember my mum gave me this coin for me to buy snacks." He pulled a necklace, and the pendant was a coin.
I guess that he made it into a necklace.
"Why didn't you use it back then?"
"I don't know. Can't remember." He balled the coin in his hand.
"But then I remember this really cold feeling. Dark and creepily cold feeling." His voice became softer.
"What do you mean by that?"
He shook his head vigorously. "I don't know how to describe it. It's just dark and I only sensed fear around me."
"Then I opened my eyes and I saw a boy. I quickly grabbed his glove but he snatched his hand away and left me. And then it was all dark again." He paused for a second.
His voice sounds... broken.
"Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital."
"That is so confusing, even for me," I admitted.
"I know, right?"
I heard a vibration noise followed by a shrill ring. He fished out his phone before taking a glance at his phone and his expression suddenly changed.
His bright smile dropped into a dark scowl. His previously light eyes changed into a darker hue.
After he's been staring at his phone's screen for too long, I cleared my throat.
"Is there anything wrong?" I asked out of concern.
Upon hearing my voice, he suddenly smirked. "Didn't know you care."
I placed my hand on my chest, pretending to be offended.
I gasped. "Excuse me..."
His eyes looked at me with a strong desire and perpetual yearning.
"Of course I don't!"
His smile dropped into a pout.
Demonically, I laughed at his face like there's no tomorrow.
"Come on, the fireworks are starting."
"Hold my hand." He grabbed my wrist by surprise and tugged me with him to the square. He held my hand as we're rushed into the crowd. The warmth of his hand engulfed my soul and the rushing scent of his cologne saturate my senses.
He skillfully swerved through the crowd was too preoccupied with the excitement.
Before I could even utter a single word, we're already in the front. The shining river reflects the lights from the street perfectly like a moonlit night.
The calm river crashed the stones beneath us as the railings separate us from the cold frigid waters.
Then, the fireworks started.
At first, it's just a few blasts here and there.
Over time, more and more coming flying up into the night sky. The beautiful lights were reflected by the calm waters, creating serene and theatrically stunning memories.
I awed in amuse as I heard people were taking pictures of the night.
I kept admiring the beautifully bright night sky. "I have to admit, I'm thankful that you brought me here. It's beautiful." I heard another shutter click.
"Yeah, really beautiful." I sensed his breath brushed my cheeks so I turned my head...
... just to found out that he's been staring at me the whole time.
The wind brushed his mahogany waves gracefully as his emerald jades glow brighter than the fireworks. It's like the fire inside him was incited with anticipation.
The corner of his lips quirked up, giving me the most sincere smile I've ever witnessed.
He took my hand and laced his fingers between mine. His pearly white teeth came peeking from between his lips.
He leaned in closer. Had I craned my neck slightly, our lips would've sealed.
I didn't know what to do. So I just froze there, engulfed in his warmth that I never thought of getting used to.
The tingling sensation underneath my skin inflamed and the sparks ignited inside my chest, causing me to gulped involuntarily.
I felt a sudden heat crept up to my neck while his hands were still between mine.
"Are you that surprised?" His smile, reminding me of someone I used to know.
Someone that I miss so dearly.
Someone that I have sinned upon and someone that showed me the meaning of true love.
Every time I look into his eyes, I saw your face.
I'm so sorry for leaving you.
'I know, Zac.'
Do you forgive me?
'You've been waiting for a long time, Zac. I can't stay here with you. Live with the living, Zac. Let me go.'
I tried to.
I don't know if I can let you go as I hold your hand yet I only felt his warmth, lingering between my fingers.
"Zac, are you alright?" His masculine voice filled with concern.
I was confused by his sudden thoughts. "W-what?"
"You're tearing up. Did it hurt anywhere?" He gently cupped my face.
I closed my eyes to cherish the warmth of his skin on top of mine. It felt so right and his hands fit perfectly around me.
"Sorry. I just-" I wipe the tears using the end of my sleeves.
He raised my face until our gaze meets.
"Hey, it's okay. Just tell me, what's wrong?" He wiped the tears using his thumbs.
We all had our own curse. Perhaps it's not as grand as pricking a finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel.
It's not as pleasant as a true love kiss.
It's not as devious as immortal life.
Yet, deep down we all are cursed. Either we are cursed or we cursed ourselves.
And we all know which one was mine...
I held his wrists, hoping that he would stick around. I hope that he saw that I want him around me.
He was cursed to forget while I was cursed to remember.
"Everything..."