MATT
I still remember what happened yesterday.
A girl with pale skin and gentle brown eyes was facing me.
"Sorry. Haven't we met before?" I asked.
"I'm from the art club," she said.
"I mean, weren't you the one from the airport?"
She raised her brows. "We'd met before?"
"I think it's you."
A silent beat passed between us so I spoke.
"Anyway, you're probably my seonbae, right?"
Her serious expression turned into a smile.
"Well, yes. I'm a year ahead. By the way, I'm Shizumi Tama. Sorry for calling you out all of a sudden."
"Japanese?"
"You're right."
"Nice meeting you. I'm Matt."
"I know that already since I'm in the clubroom earlier."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry for Sunjin. I hope she didn't scare you or anything. She's just a social outcast."
"No problem. I didn't really pay attention to her in the first place."
Another beat walked by, and a tingle fell in my skin. This is awkward.
"I'm here to help you," she suddenly said.
"Hmm? I thought that I can't use the clubroom for practice."
"Of course you can't, and it's not like I can break the President's words either, but I just want to help you in buying supplies."
"Thank you, but I don't want to waste your time. I can do it on my own."
Then, her eyes became narrow.
"Don't worry. It won't be a waste of my time. Besides, I'm happy helping my hubae."
"If you say so."
"Is it ok if I bring my dorm mate with me?"
"Sure. The more the merrier," she said.
Hmm... That was weird. She appeared just like that. But I guess I should be grateful that she's willing to help. It's just unfortunate that Jeon can't come.
Something vibrates inside my left pocket. My phone shows Anne's name on the screen.
"Got it already?" Anne has sent in the message.
"Yeah. Thank you. I hope father won't find out."
"There's no way he would. I used my own account to send it to you."
"I'll use it for something worthy."
"You better be."
I change walking to the sidewalk. The rows of greeneries towering past the walls inspire me to do some landscape drawing. I'll do it later after we've bought art supplies.
My phone vibrates again.
"How are you? Are you eating well? How about your studies? Are you having any difficulties?"
"I've been eating thrice a day, and I think I'm doing pretty well in my studies. Don't worry, there's nothing out of the ordinary happening here."
"The school informed us about what happened at your assessment."
Assessment?
Oh!
"I'm sorry. It slipped from my mind."
"You should be. However, what can I do? It already happened."
"What did father say?"
"Your father... he's very worried about you. Yes. He said you should be careful there."
He can say such a thing?
"I'll use my ability the least as I can to keep what happened back then from happening. Promise, I'll be careful."
"And don't forget to give updates about you."
"I will. Sorry if I didn't talk these past few weeks. School just got busy."
"It's fine, but remember that we're always here to hear you out."
"Thanks. You too. Don't fight with father because of me. I can take much."
"You don't need to tell me that. And it's our relationship, so you can settle out a bit."
"Hey." another voice calls out.
I look to the voice. Someone in a cyan sweatshirt pops against the black paint of the school gate. When I look at the face, I see it's Shizumi. It seems that we're wearing the exact color of shirts.
"Good morning seonbae. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Good morning. It's only 8:30 am."
The sunlight falls to her and makes her skin appear more radiant.
"You could've gone under the trees."
"Don't worry about me, this is what the sweatshirt is for. Look, we even got the same color."
"Yeah, it is. Mine's got hood though." I touch the back of my shirt to show her what I'm talking about.
"Femdi? That's expensive."
"Oh. Yeah. I think so."
"You think? Do you have any idea how much it is worth?"
I start walking. "No. But I don't really care much about brands. This just happened because my father wanted me to have this."
"You must be rich."
"Maybe?"
"Hahaha. Well, the fact that you're studying in Jip-Eun Sig already shows your social status. And being a scholar must be out of your league too."
"The government of my country is paying for my studies."
I turn my head to her. "Aren't you the same? You must be rich too."
"How do you say so?"
"You're studying in the most expensive and prestigious private school in the most busy district of the top-tier advanced city in the whole wide universe."
She pats my back. "Nice one... Though how can you be so sure that I'm not under a scholarship?"
"The way you act. There's elegance. The air around you is kinda different. I don't know. It's just a guess."
The train station is ahead. Its blue architectural glass and concrete stairs leading inside are visible. We go forward.
The people walking around are not scattered, instead, they are following the guidelines provided on the floor.
"Is it your first time here?"
"I already came with my dorm mate."
"That's great. You won't be weirded out by the system here."
"It's different from what I'm used to." I don't even know if I've been to trains before. "But this one's more convenient to commuters."
"Me too, I'm amazed I first arrived. You don't need to buy a ticket or a pass to ride. You just use the card given to you by the immigration and you're set."
"UniCard."
"You can also use it for the bus but it's optional. Really, only necessary for trains."
She walks toward the gate. Above, a monitor display hangs from the ceiling where words are written.
"We're going to District 6 today?" I ask.
"6A actually."
6A? So, there's another letter next to 6? I should really improve my Hangul.
"There are many shops we can visit there in case we can't find what we wanted."
"That's good."
*Whoosh*
A muted apple green bullet train arrives on the platform.
"Come on."
Quite a number of people are already waiting, but I doubt we'll be left standing because the capacity of the wagons is huge.
*Toot toot*
The sound of the scanner makes me snortle. Shizumi shoots a stare.
"I know. I know. The sound's ridiculous," I say.
She smiles. "Let's go find a seat."
Left and right, everything is occupied, taken, and seated. Because of that, we roam.
"You two are going out?" someone asks.
I turn around. On the left is a woman. She wears a low-neck blouse that will expose her womanhood if she leans forward more than she's already doing. It's the teacher from the registrar.
Out of all people I'm going to see...
"Good morning, teacher," Shizumi greets. "We're not going out. I'm just helping him to buy art supplies. You know, for the club."
The teacher at the registrar glances at me. "What a coincidence. I'm also going to buy some office supplies there. You want to join?"
"I'd really like to, but I'm with Shizumi right now."
I look at Shizumi.
"That's right. Perhaps next time, teacher?"
"Yeah, yeah, take your time for today," she says winking at me.
"Good to see you today. Take care on your trip."
I grab Shizumi's arm and leave. I find a seat similar to the bus, but it's facing the wall at the back instead of the front. I drag her. Then, she drops to a seat near the aisle while I take the one beside the window.
"So, she's your girlfriend?" Shizumi says.
She's looking at the people across us.
"No way."
"Relax. I'm just kidding. So you already met her, huh?"
"She enrolled me the day I arrived at the school."
"She's popular."
"Does she always behave like that?"
Shizumi nods. "Every time she sees boys, her libido is likely to increase. She's flirting with students here and there... or so that's what I heard from the other students.
You've heard? "The management doesn't notice her behavior yet?"
"I don't think so. She acts very professionally in front of her co-workers, but when nobody is looking, she starts to act flirty. I think no has reported yet because she really hasn't done anything except for the sweet talk." her eyes change focus. "Be careful, Matt. I felt something different when you're around."
"But it's fine if you wanted to be with her, of course."
"Never in a thousand years."
She brings a handkerchief to her mouth. "Don't you have a girlfriend though?"
"No. I don't have one."
She widens her eyes.
"...... od..."
"Hmm? What's it?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
Her cheeks are tinted with a pinkish tone.
Odd.
The train continues on moving and we keep on talking about random things.
*This station is District 6A PTL*
The announcement says.
Looking to my right, I see Shizumi who's staring afar.
*This station is District 6A PTL*
She's still dazed so I call her out.
"We're getting off, right?" I ask.
"Right. Let's go."
In the station, people are still walking side by side as they follow the guidelines. They fill the place.
"It's lively," I tell her.
"But District 2 is busier because it's the heart of the City."
"Really? I didn't know."
"It's busier. District 2 is the business district, which is divided into 8 subdivisions while District 6 is the shopping district and is only divided into 2. So technically speaking, the location of our school is bigger and contributes more to the economy."
"Seems like there are so many things that I still don't know about the city."
Soon enough, we reach the exit of the station. Tall skyscrapers, big boutiques, and shops of all kinds now surround us. It's almost dizzying how tall each building is.
"Where are we going today?" I ask.
"We're going to my favorite store. The price there's cheaper but the quality's amazing."
"I thought that we're going to the mall."
"Do you want to? We can stop by later."
"Not really."
"We might drop by later. For sure we're going to be hungry after this."
"By the way, if I remember it correctly, there are 16 students auditioning for a spot at the club?"
"But not all of them are painting. There are some who draw, I just don't know the actual number."
"That makes my competition easier, I hope."
"I hope so too. But there are some who underwent professional training."
Or maybe not.
"How long are you painting?"
"8 years?" I can't remember. "But I don't think that I had formal training. It's just a little hobby of mine."
"We're on the same page then. You do landscape, correct?"
"Yeah."
"Me, I mostly do portraits because they're soothing, although I do landscape and figures from time to time."
"That's cool."
The number of people on the sidewalk grows smaller. I look around us. On my left, the line of the building entrances become visible, and also an alley between two high-walled buildings.
"Woah!"
Suddenly, Shizumi has screamed. She is pulled to the alley.
"Hey!" I run.
At the other end, 5 boys with piercings and ragged clothes are standing. The one in the middle is holding Shizumi.
"You're mine now." the boy in the middle says.
Shizumi squirms. "Let me go. Isn't it clear to you? What do I need to do just for you to understand?"
"Shut up."
He's her ex-boyfriend?
But grabbing a girl in an alley isn't what it should be, right? I need to do something.
I clear my throat. "Let go of Shizumi."
"Shizumi?" his eyes have bulged and his brows have crumpled with me saying her name.
He throws a sharp gaze. "Who are you?"
I won't respond to provoke him.
"Don't cut in," he says.
"I should be involved. I'm his current boyfriend after all."
I glance at her, our eyes meet.
"Yeah. He's my boyfriend."
"She's mine. So let her go."
The teeth of the boy grit and multiple veins on his neck show.
"I won't let you." suddenly, he points at me. "Get him!"
His underlings charge toward me. On my right, a red-haired guy is about to throw a punch.
"Hiya!"
I jump to the side then kick the one wearing a denim jacket on his face. He falls to the floor.
The red-haired guy appears in my line of vision. I bring my hand forward to jab his jaw.
"Ugh!" he steps back.
In a moment, the three of them come to attack at the same time. Not wanting to deal with them one by one, I lower my body on the floor and do a sweep.
*Thud!*
They all fall.
"Idiots! Use your abilities!" the boy in the middle commands.
His eyes are trembling with anger.
I feel a strange sensation out of nowhere. What?
My body becomes weak. I lean on the wall, but there is a force that pulls me to the floor. The next thing notice is that my vision turns directed straight.
Huh?
A force lands on my side. Immediately, a dull pain crawls. I squirm, or atleast I try to because I can't seem to move my body.
Another inflicts pain on my legs.
Shit. I could've gone numb instead of this.
"Matt! Use your ability!"
Heat transfer? How can—!
The force is getting heavier and heavier, and the pain is getting sharper and sharper.
Argh.
*Whish... Whish...*
A pink light crosses the sky. In a blink of an eye, the guys who are assaulting me disappear from my sight.
My lids grow heavy. That's why I surrender to the darkness...
Hmm?
I can close my eyes now!
I stand from the cold ground.
Looking in the front, makes me see the boy inside the tight grip of the boy. She's still squirming, but somehow, her other hand is free from his hold, and since that, her ex is trying to keep her in place. Now's the right time. I rush forward.
"Argh!"
I land a kick on his arm.
He flinches. But he doesn't fall.
What? He's not affected or anything?
"Don't use any direct attack on him. It won't work." Shizumi yells.
"Give up. You can't beat me." the boy in the middle says. "Look. You're being..."
While he's talking, I touch his arm. He brushes it off. But I dig my nails onto him.
Heat transfer. Heat transfer. Heat transfer... If the atoms are agitated, it means that the temperature's rising.
In a moment, his forehead forms creases. His eyes are narrowed as if he's experiencing great pain.
"Shit! Get off me."
It's working.
Moving too roughly, he lets go of Shizumi.
Even though my ability is flowing into him, I can feel the heat on the back of my hand. It's really hot but...
"Matt, that's enough!"
I can't seem to stop.
"Hey!"
The heat on the back of my hand becomes a burning sensation in rapid progress. I suddenly feel light-headed.
Everything in the surrounding turns black, and something hard becomes pressing against my back.