Fast forward a few months, and I'm back in my comfort zone. My sweet room. It's been 8 months, 17 days, and 42 hours. Wait, that makes it 8 months, 18 days, and 18 hours. I swear, I didn't make it up. It's just a coincidence. Anyway, it's been almost 9 months since the last incident took place.
I don't want to get into the intrinsic details but as you can clearly see, I'm back in one piece. And now, I'm a junior. I've completed my sophomore year without a hassle. Blake never approached me at campus or outside of campus since that day. We both occasionally bump into each other but neither bothers to acknowledge the other's presence.
Marcus and I were still in a very obscure relationship. We were neither friends and yet we weren't even enemies. We were just two people who just hated each other but had to be around each other, due to circumstances. Speaking of Marcus, his sister showed up, just as he mentioned. Luckily for me, I was able to avoid her, as intended. I did avoid some mess and did mature from back in the day.
As for the atmosphere on my campus, the fame around me just hosted more and more, to a point where I couldn't bother anymore. I had the luxury to demand a space for myself. Don't believe me? Just the other day, I just visited the cafeteria in my department. It was totally crowded. There was a queue, filled with people waiting for their turn to order. The crowd was lively and bustling with energy. But when I showed up, the canteen suddenly went from a concert hall to a funeral ceremony.
The air around me was so gloomy that, one, it felt as if I was at a eulogy reading ceremony, and two, everyone looked at me as if I was some criminal even though I was innocent. The stark contrast between those two actions confused me. I did grab a meal since turning back and going out to get something would be a bother, and since I didn't really care for the crowd, I just did whatever I pleased.
Usually, I would be scrutinized in a low muffled group of voices for the kind of person I am, and I was under the impression. But lately, that wasn't the case anymore. More than so, I was just avoided outright, not with hatred, but with fear. Why? I had no clue. But anyway, there was a clear gap between me, and the next closest soul having lunch. I was mindful of it and didn't waste any time in getting my essential nutrients for that part of the day, and just slowly moved away.
There wasn't anything unusual of the sort. Miss Emma and I barely had any contact whatsoever at the campus, and we just shared the relationship of two colleagues working on a project. Nothing more than that. We scheduled a private meeting on the weekends and discussed various stuff that we needed to take care of. All in all, life was peaceful. A little too peaceful.
Usually, any main protagonist would point out that this was too good to be true, and one must snap out of such a wild fantasy, and keep your eyes wide open for the danger that's lurking beneath the shadows. But I wasn't some main protagonist who would just say such a thing. Nor did I have any intention to let go of the peace that I had found.
I did continue with my training. And I did gather a lot of information about Miss. Emma. It's more of cold, harsh facts than any information that I could use as leverage down the line, should there ever be such a day. And today was one such day. Since it was almost the end of the year and the start of a new millennial, I decided to head out of town, and head to the main city, for a change of view.
And I wasn't the only one. "Why are you here?" A grump passenger sat right next to me. She had the beauty to rival all the models that you would find on the cover of the top magazines and a few billboards. "Isn't this something you would stay away from?"
"Well, I could as the same about you but I don't intend to do so."
"It's because you don't remember my name, do you?"
"Of course not. I do know your name."
"What is it then. Call me out by my name."
"Sorry to be a party pooper and rain down on your parade but I ain't calling a girl who I've barely spoken to by her name."
"Well, looks like you came prepared." I looked around the bus. It was pretty much empty. Then I looked back at her, only to find her looking out through the window, and just admiring what was displayed in front of us. "Is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me with such lustful eyes?"
"Is there any new information out there?" She looked at me with wide pupils, raising her eyebrows, and just telling me to "Shut the hell up!" Well, that was certainly what I had read through the expressions.
"DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!"
The paper read. I crumbled the paper, and then tossed it into my coat. "You ask of me for my services, and yet, you dare to not call me by my name!"
"As I said, I'm not close to you on a personal term. So, would you please try not to force your own opinions on me?"
"Alright. I get it. You're just much worse than the idiots I've met in my whole life."
"Hey, that was uncalled for, but I'll allow it."
"So, where are you heading out to?"
"That's a private matter."
"I didn't give you a choice! Now answer me."
"Big Ben!"
"Wait, what?!"
"YES! THE BIG BEN!"