"'In the beginning was the Word', just like other inquiries about our existence, this phrase got its way during the Renaissance. Scholars at the time brought up the idea that the man is the center, the answer, and there began the humanist concept of anthropocentrism." The teacher stops suddenly, looking at a student who was sleeping and says "Ryo, can you explain to me what this illustration on the screen is about?" The student did not reply, so he raised his voice. "Ryo!"
"Sorry," said Ryo sleepily.
"Please, pay attention to class, and clean up that drool" the teacher responds, and the entire classroom erupts in laughter. The teacher continues. "As we can see in this illustration, it's the painting of the Vitruvian Man, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1490."
"I fell asleep again, I shouldn't have gone to sleep so late" thinks Ryo, while he presses his thumb against the pencil's tip so that the pain keeps him awake.
The class ends and the bell rings, the students get up to leave the classroom. Today is walnut roll cake day, and the cafeteria gets way too crowded since the amount is limited.
"Hey, Ryo, let's get some walnut roll cake, we can't miss it again", says Mikey cheerfully. Since the friend did not reply, he raised his voice and shook him. "Hey, Ryo"
"Sorry, I went to sleep late yesterday" says Ryo, sleepily.
"Damn, the teacher will get mad at you again."
"Ok, ok, but I won't pass out. Go on and grab one for me, I'll go wash my face."
"That's a good idea, see ya."
Ryo walks sluggishly to the bathroom, as if he wanted to trip, hit his head and collapse. He suddenly sees two younger kids running while holding a pen.
"Hey, stop running in the hallways!" He shouts drowsily at the boys, who ignore him instead and keep running. "Those brats..."
Walking into the bathroom, he sees and unusual picture: a circle with a dot on the center. "What does that mean?" he thinks, puzzled. Ryo wipes the drawing and hear someone knocking on the door. "Aaah, don't scare me," he says, his skin crawling with goosebumps.
"Sorry, I wanted to see how you'd react," Isla replies with a cheeky smile.
"You idiot!" retorts Ryo angrily. "Besides, what are you doing in the boys' bathroom? If someone sees you here, I'm screwed!"
"Relax, there's no one around here, I just wanted to play a prank on you."
"I'm around here! Besides, how did you know I came to the bathroom? Stalker!"
"What? No, you idiot, Mikey told me. Wash your face, I'll be waiting outside."
"I bet you need help with the draft again" said Ryo, lowering his voice while he bends down to wash his face.
He washes his face, wipes it dry and leaves the bathroom.
"Here, Mikey bought you" she hands him a roll cake.
"Thanks. Now tell me what you want!"
"You think I came here only to ask you something?"
"I'm pretty damn sure!"
"Hm... Can you help me with the draft?" Isla looks down with a cute face, like a puppy asking for food.
"I knew it! No way."
"Come on, please, just this time, I'll do whatever you want!"
"Whatever I want? Hm..." replies Ryo, smiling maliciously.
"Hey, you idiot! Do not have any naught ideas!" Isla reaches out for the depraved boy's cheek and pinches it.
"Ouch, it hurts!"
"It's your fault! Anyways, are you gonna help me or not? If not, I'll tell everyone the reason you've been so sleepy lately."
"It has nothing to do with that game," he said, afraid of the supposed rumor that would be spread.
"You see? I didn't even mention it."
"You..."
"Just kidding."
"But I'll still want something in exchange! I just need to think a little bit."
"Ok, ok," Isla turns her back to leave, but turns her neck to look at Ryo and says, "Just don't think of anything naughty" and runs away.
"Don't run in the hallways" he touches his own forehead and shakes his head, tired of being in the same situations again and again.
The class are over, and Ryo walks back home with his friend, Mikey, as usual. Their houses are on the same direction.
The clouds almost cover the sun completely, but there's still a crack of light, just like a spark about to blow out. He looks at the sky, trying to have ideas for Isla's draft. Seeing his concentration while the steps of both keep the same pace, Mikey knows what's going on.
"You said you lost interest, but look at your concentration," said Mikey, while smiling lightly and looking at the last breech of light on the sky.
"Is it so clear like that?"
"With that dumbass face, anyone would notice, even from miles away."
Both laugh as their gazes turn back to the way back home.
Ryo gets to his home, Mikey's is a couple of blocks away, on the same street.
"See you tomorrow at school, sleep well," says Mikey, waving at his friend.
"Ok, see ya," he replies while opening the door of his house. Suddenly, he remembers he had to lend his art book to his friend to create ideas for the draft. He opens the door quickly and shouts "Hey, Mikey!". Looking at the street, he doesn't see anyone. "It seems like everyone is in a hurry today," he says and goes back home.
The time goes by, Ryo just left the bath and goes to his room to make a draft for Isla's art book, even though he is tired and has no ideas. He sits down and pulls a pencil close, grabs his sketchbook and begins spinning the pencil between his fingers, while staring at the wall in front of him. Something vaguely begins to appear on his thoughts, not that clear yet. A cloudy image goes through his mind, and he tries to force his synapses to make it clearer, when suddenly the tiredness takes hold of his body, his vision gets cloudy again and his head falls on top of the table. He tries to stay awake, but it's too late, he finally gives in and closes his eyes.
He hears a car. Ryo wakes up startled, a strong wind shakes his hair and go through his face as if trying to rip it, the car shaking violently on the bumps of the road. "Where am I?" he screams scared, while looking at the side and seeing an unknown man driving the car they were in. The man looks behind and says, "You can't escape what's coming". The young man looks at the same direction and sees a storm of dark clouds getting closer, his eyes widen. Before he can even show his fear completely, he wakes up, breathing heavily, scared of the dream he had and gets up, dropping the sketchbook on the process. Ryo bends down to grab it and notices something. On the page, there was a strange image of an eye over a tree.