Hina slowly stepped away from me. I could have held her hand. But that'll only give her the wrong idea. A false hope. She was quiet for a while, and we sure did skip class now. The silence was preposterous even though we were technically next to each other. I didn't even bother to disturb her as she was lost in her own thoughts. She had a perplexed face at that point. I couldn't properly make out what she was thinking, but I could get a gist of it. I slowly pulled my walkman out and started listening to some songs.
1...2...3...4...
The songs went on, but there wasn't much progress at my end. We were still stuck in that locker. Oi! How long do you plan on staying? Are you trying to suffocate us? This ain't double suicide, is it? 'Cause I am sure as hell ain't Romeo! Oh, Juliet!
To be caught by the paparazzi while being locked up inside a locker in the women's room with one of the elite honor students. Ahh! Is this the pinnacle of my fame? The silence was starting to tick me off. What was she even thinking? I thought to give her a shrug, but she suddenly pounced on me and put her head on my chest. Woah! I slowly pulled out my earphones...
"Uhm! You alright?"
"..."
"Hello! Earth to Hina! Earth to Hina!"
"..."
No response, was she testing me or playing with me? Whatever, not like I could do much at this point. I lifted her chin with my hand. I wanted to look at her face. I wanted to see what she was going through. But what was waiting for me could be called a master tactic. No sooner had I lifted her chin, she embraced me with a deep kiss. I couldn't do anything. Who in their right mind would pull back from a kiss? Especially a man? Unless he's married or committed in a relationship. Though even those kinds of men had no restrained, so who am I to think about pulling back? I'm a scum to the very end.
I decided to take the lead by responding to her sudden attack on me. I was not planning to hold back. Though this kind of stuff felt like we were kids battling for candy or the sort. A few moments later, we stopped and slowly distanced ourselves from each other. Till now, I thought I had a punchable face, but my whole has told me otherwise. Am I as cute as a Lil pup? Or a Panda? Is that why I've tasted more kisses than an average high school boy? Yeah, that's the only possible reason. From today, I'll make sure that I'll be referred to as Pan-chan! Or something catchy like how 'Winne the Pooh!' is? So what should I be called?
"You know, I've decided..."
Interrupted a certain young lady. Damnit! My train of thought was going well. Decided? What did she even think of? Though I guess it doesn't look like it would bode well for me. I decided to play it down by pretending to not hear it, but she's sharp. I couldn't outrun her. Agh! The shame! I sighed and accepted defeat.
"What?"
"Since you're also so adamant on treating me like a princess, I hereby appoint you as my personal knight!"
"Nope! Rejected."
Knight?! Yeah, right! Looks like you got a few loose screws in that head of yours. Why would I want to play the role of a knight? You got to be kidding me. Surely!
"Or the alternate option is, you could be my servant."
"Servant?!"
She's definitely out of her mind! Though, picturing it doesn't seem all too bad. Mna! Snap out of it!!!
"I think you're expecting too much. Please snap out of our fantasy world and get back to reality. It would help me a lot."
"See, you can't fathom the idea of being a personal knight or my personal servant, and yet...And yet, you put me on a pedestal and treat me like a princess? It's you who has to come to terms with reality!"
Huh, so even people of her caliber and worth also get offended by referring to them as who they are. That's a first. In a school where there are elites and nobles everywhere, and each one would rise to the top by trampling another person's dreams and pride, there actually existed an individual who didn't want to be special. She didn't want to be treated differently. She wanted to be like me. More precisely, the world I belong to. Under the radar, where everyone minds their own business, every individual looks after their own problems, their own lives.
"Come terms to reality uh?"
I pushed her hand away from me, and just stormed out of the locker room. Luckily, no one was around, and there seemed to be a power cut, so the cameras weren't recording for a while now. Though I wonder which moron put a camera in a girl's locker room? You're just one ugly janitor away from raping a student here.
I went to my usual place, the school top. Normally, it's off-limits for students, but I don't remember the last time I followed the guidelines regarding anything in my whole lifetime. Well, that's that. I always felt suffocated following instructions and commands for a while now. No, it's been more than a while. It's almost as long as I can remember. Something just puts me off. Maybe it has something to do with that time...
As I subconsciously reached the entrance of the school top, I felt some weight pulling my hand down. I didn't even need to look back, to be honest. But just to be sure I did. It was Hina. Good grief, if it was Saishi, I would have definitely kicked him down in an instant, and later sung Humpty Dumpty at the recovery room.
"I have nothing to say to you..."
I gently pulled my hands away from her and went ahead.
"Wait!"
She clenched my fist tightly.
"Answer me!"
"I said I have nothing more to talk to you."
She refused to let go of my hand. I slowly came to terms with how the situation was and understood that I had to give my answer to her.
"Look..."
I caught her attention.
"You can't deny who you are. But that doesn't mean that you can abuse what you have just for your own happiness. The reason why I decline your invitation impolitely is due to the fact that I'm simply not interested. I'm not the kind of person to stay at one place and settle down. I just can't. So I hope that's clear."
I shrugged her off.
"Why? Why can't you just accept a normal and happy life?"
"Happiness to you isn't the same to me. Besides, I don't think I can ever be happy, so leave me. And don't worry, I won't skip over our date. So, just please..."
I didn't say another word, and she made her way down. I slept there for some time, and before I realized it was lunch break...
I got up and stretched my body. Well, that was tiring. Sigh!
"So, how long will you guys stand there?"
"..."
"I've noticed you awhile ago. It's too obvious."
I shouldn't have said that. This is where it all started.