The first time I entered Harrith High, Fifi was there with me.
I didn't feel like an outcast or lonely.
It was weird but I had to admit, hiving Fifi was comforting. Not having her right now made me feel conscious.
To add, I didn't have the chance to ask what happened with that monster beast.
Did I even manage to acquire the evolution points?
With a sigh, I stared at the campus, my heart wasn't into it, and most importantly, I was wary of crossing paths with Riley.
What if he was some kingpin in this place, and the bullies would begin harassing me for fun?
"Get a grip, Eli," I muttered, swallowing the lump in my throat. "You're just on unfamiliar grounds. You already passed high school. This should be nothing but a smooth ride, eh?"
Suddenly, a brute force had me almost tumbling to the ground. My shoulders throbbed a little at the contact. But I was lucky to have caught myself and steadied my balance before I could embarrassingly land on the ground.
Turning around, a petite girl wearing the plaid skirt uniform and white blouse for Harrith High was looking at me. She didn't appear apologetic.
However, when she caught my gaze, she lowered her head.
"It wasn't intentional. Sorry."
I was doubtful about that. But, as any decent human being would, I brushed it off with a smirk.
"Sure," I replied, extending my hand to her. "I'm Exo."
The girl stared at my outstretched hand. She glanced at my face and then back at the hand I was offering for her to shake.
Frowning, she accepted it.
"I don't know why you wanted to do this every time we meet, but alright. I'm Savvy."
She smiled, amplifying the hidden dimples on her cheeks near her mouth.
I don't know why I felt drawn to her. But I do. That dimpled smile made my heart flutter, warming my chest for some reason.
Letting my hand go, Savvy readjusted her backpack before excusing herself to go ahead.
I watched her walk past me, her floral scent enticing me to follow behind her. She was an inch shorter than I was.
Her wavy hair swayed behind, making me want to grab her hands and skip our way to the campus building.
In an instant, I had to chase away my thoughts. I need to remember that I'm not here for the long ride. This Exo guy was probably dead.
I am too.
So that doesn't make things any better.
Either way, I followed close behind.
"I thought you were gone, Exo."
Savvy's words gave me pause. She sounded sad when she said it.
"What do you mean?"
"You weren't here yesterday. I thought you ran away."
That confused me.
"Run away?"
Savvy stopped in her tracks. I did, too, and watched her give me a sideways glance.
Somehow, the atmosphere between us had dropped.
Several questions formed in my head at once.
Did Savvy have something going with Exo and vice versa? Am I supposed to be dating this girl? Courting her? Why did my heart flutter when she smiled?
What's their relationship?
I knew I had the option of asking Savvy, but that would require explaining why I was asking in the first place. I should know.
Unfortunately, I don't.
Savvy cocked her head to the side, her eyes piercing me in place. She then came near, her perfume wafting in my nostrils.
Raising her hand, I closed my eyes and anticipated she'd give me a head pat, comforting me as she looked forlorn at my lapse of memory.
However, it seemed that I had underestimated her intentions.
"Ow!" I hissed when a stinging pain sprang from my forehead. She had flicked her fingers and hit me twice.
"I have no time to play your games today, Exo. You better behave."
With that, she flipped her hair and left. I listened to her footsteps, standing like a fool while watching her retreating form.
Horrified at the thoughts coming into my head, I began understanding what kind of person Exo was. That kid didn't have a life.
He was a brat, a pain in the head for the mother who cared about him. Yet he must have taken that for granted.
He was neither popular nor a reject at their school. Exo was an ordinary student with no particular title and no friends.
But apparently, there was one exception.
That girl named Savvy.
She seemed to know Exo and, this was only my theory, liked him to some extent. The feeling was probably mutual.
[Exo]
Surprised by Fifi's voice echoing inside my head, I raised an apprehensive brow and pocketed my hands while pulling out the earphones.
I whistled, pretending to be taking a call.
"Have you been listening since earlier?"
[No]
[You have forgotten, I cannot read your thoughts if you're in this form]
"Okay," I said. "Then, what is it?"
[I could sense danger]
I let out a groan, my eyes searching for anything around me. Several other students were walking inside, oblivious to the said danger.
"I don't see anything peculiar. Are you sure?"
[Positive]
"How do you even do that?"
[We're connected. I could sense if you're in danger or not. That's an addition to this new form, by the way]
She beat me into saying a remark about that. How interesting.
"Right. So, what do you suggest I do? I'm standing like an idiot in the middle—"
Someone decided to grab the earphones from my ears. I immediately snatched it back, coming eye to eye with the last person I wished to see.
[Exo?]
Ignoring Fifi, I narrowed my gaze at the person standing before me. His hand was still holding the piece of earphone he had pulled out while I gripped it with my own.
We stared at each other. An electric charge was exchanged between us.
After everything that had happened, this was the first time I saw Riley eye to eye. He didn't look happy to see me.
I could say the feeling was mutual.
Finally deciding to drop the earphone in his hand, I did the same, pocketing my hands as I eyed him up and down.
"We meet again."