**RING!**
The loud and annoying ringing of alarm clock filled my ears in my still half asleep state. It made me groan, my lack of sleep these past few weeks finally catching up to me like brewing a heavy storm.
**RING! RING!**
The device on my bedside table continued to aggravate me, making me reach my limit and pound my fist against it to squelch the noise it produced. The room returned to its quiet state shortly after, allowing me a few moments of tranquility to recollect my bearings before I began to emerge from beneath the covers. My thirteen year old wooden bed would squeak in protest to my sudden movement, and I silently apologized to it in response.
Aware of my half nakedness in the morning, I strode forward to reach the bathroom just outside my room, knowing well enough that Ashley won't come upstairs now. I passed through the small shelf of collectable figures and video game cartridges on my way out of my room, the ones I've collected only after I've been given a job by Mr Owens.
Once I've reached my destination, I stripped naked and quickly stepped into the shower, basking in the coldness of water pouring down on my dark green hair which I dyed a few years back in an attempt to make myself look stylish even though my hair simply falls down my face in spikes. Nevertheless, I never tried to change it anymore, one because I like the color, two, because I don't have enough room in my schedule to have some me-time anymore.
I leaned against the tiled wall behind me and allowed me a few minutes to relax and wake my senses up using the cold water that continued to pour down my head, simply because we can't afford to get hot water from the shower. When done, I immediately slipped into my school uniform which is a combination of a plain white shirt with a checkered blue vest that hugged the size of my shoulders nicely. It is paired with a set of navy blue pants, a checkered tie of the same color, and black shoes. When it gets colder, I usually wear the school issued coat over the vest, but it's not yet winter for me to do so, and the school doesn't really mind the coat missing from time to time.
"Steven!"
It was a call from outside my room, capturing my awareness as I was packing my items for school today. It must be Ashley, calling me over for breakfast before the two of us go to the same school; the Golden Crest University. It is a school for luxurious families like the Gunthers, but Ashley and I had been given the chance to study there through a scholarship program that we both embraced dearly.
Grasping my bag with one hand, I replied through the closed door of my bedroom. "Coming!" I said in my usual firm tone of voice.
I descended the rigid stairs from the second floor of our small home where I had found the figure of a lady about two years less my age. She is moving up and about in the dining area, a silly pink apron draping her front to prevent kitchen stains from soaking her uniform.
"Oh, there you are!" Ashley offered me a small smile, letting my nostrils be filled with the aroma of deliciously cooked meal before me. It mainly consisted of a couple of hotdogs, omelet rice, and each a cup of coffee to our side. It was a simple breakfast. "Good morning. What took you long enough?"
I returned her genuine smile as I made my way to one of the chairs in front of the dining table. "Good morning to you too, Ash. I was up till almost 2 AM to review for our classes today."
Ashley picked up her spoon, but furrowed her eyebrows when I finished my sentence. "...and that's why you don't get a girlfriend, Steve. You focus too much on your studies to notice some people taking interest in you!"
I scoffed, picking up my spoon then begins to chip away from my plate of eggs too. "Really? As far as I know they only look at me because they think I'm trying to suck Tristan's money off of him." I said, making me remember the times I was walking to school with my friend only to hear people gossip about our fake friendship. It was hurtful, but frequent that I almost lost all sense of pain from it now.
"Those people—!" Ashley growled, once again pulling me away from my thoughts, and allowing me a view of my sister being protective of me once more. It was probably because we only have each other to rely on now, that we act the way we do with each other. Ash will usually tease and tell me about my never growing social life despite being halfway through college already, but she never steps deeper into my boundaries. I do the same for her. "They don't deserve to look at you at all!"
"It's okay, don't worry. I don't let their words get to me. Tristan and I are good friends, and that's all that matters to me." I replied to her, smiling to somehow reassure her. "We should finish our meal and head out soon. I don't want to miss my first class today."
Shortly after we finished our meals, Ashley and I made for the door, locking it behind us as we walked side by side to Golden Crest University. The trip to the school was not at all pleasant because of how busy the streets usually were. Both private and public cars riddle the streets that prevent movement from all sides, while the sidewalks we usually occupy is also brimming full of passengers waiting for public transport to come by, and others that were running to their daily morning routines like the two of us.
"Looks like we'll be late for school afterall" I mentioned, breaking the momentary silence that enveloped the space between me and my sister who looked at me and nodded.
"Shall we take a detour?" She asked afterwards, gazing at me and leaning her head sideways in the process.
"Sure. There's an alternate pathway at the back of my workplace. Let's go." I immediately said, pointing to the edge of the street leading to the back alley which I sometimes use to get to work whenever the traffic is too much in the afternoon. The city never sleeps, hence people like us with no other means of transport has to find other ways to get around town without causing us much more trouble doing so.
About twenty minutes later, the two of us finally made it to our school, the giant golden gates of the university greeting us in which loomed before the two of us with a certain elegance. Afterall, nearly everyone in the city wishes to be able to step foot into Golden Crest University grounds one day, and it's always a an honor and a luxury to be able to study a profession there.
Ashley and I waved our hands to each other and smiled as we bid ourselves goodbye. We headed our way straight to our class, although Ash usually has club activities before her first class starts, so she will probably be at the gym later.
I ascended the stairs to the fourth floor of the school's Science Building where my first class has something to do with chemistry. When I arrived there, I saw everyone to be wearing their lab coats already, but items within the room were strewn all over the place, causing a rather chaotic mess. I fought the urge to shake my head sideways in disappointment, and went for the dressing room to get my own lab coat as well. When I finished, a figure slammed themselves to me and wrapped me in an aggressive hug, almost tackling me to the ground.
"Maann!"
Tristan's voice was loud as he laughed before he finally let go of me. I subtly looked around me, and noticed that some of our classmates were looking at us, possibly to gossip about me leeching off money from my friend again. It made me lower my head in discouragement instead.
"Did you have fun playing yesterday?" I asked while I smiled halfheartedly to Tristan, never allowing him to see the sudden surge of sadness that washed over my face. He didn't seem to see it though, and was instead more than eager to talk about his game than learn about what was going on with me. Typical, but I won't blame him. I don't particularly enjoy too much attention from other people too.
"Heck yeah! Man, it was awesome. We fought a mini-boss last night with a few of my friends, including my sister. We were planning on raiding the dungeon tonight!" He excitedly said, nearly jumping on his place with simply how he looks forward to their session tonight. I felt envious of him again. Wished I have that sort of privilege too.
Then Tristan spoke again, and what he did next caught me off guard. He isn't usually like that, but I felt like I was truly valued because of it. "You know, it will really be fun if you were there with us. I know about your sticky situation buddy, but I think you need some time for yourself, yeah?"
I heaved a sigh. "Thank you for the concern but—"
Tristan cuts me off, his facial expression more serious than ever. "No buts. Meet me after school, I'll show you something."
•◦⚜◦•
Later that day when the classes are finally over, I found myself situated in Golden Crest's amazingly huge archive of books ranging from fiction to non-fiction, dictionary to encyclopedias and more. History of the school recorded and written into volumes of books that now occupy one large shelf on a special corner of the library.
This is my job this afternoon as part of the civic duty required of us after Tristan's commotion in class last time. He was tasked with helping the school's janitor to mopping the second and third floors of this building, and I'm sure he's already sweating it out even before he can finish half a hallway. I smiled inwardly at the thought, picking up books that were scattered on one of the many tables in the library so that I can put them back to their respective shelves too.
I worked as quietly as I can but efficiently too, because I can't afford to be late to my shift today. I remember Tristan saying he wants to meet me after school as well, wonder what that was for?
"Uh Ashford? I'll go ahead now." says an older man's voice which caught my perception almost immediately. The thought of being called by my surname surprised me, but I learned not to complain about it to the janitor who is now holding his mop and bucket of cleaning supplies. Perhaps they're already finished cleaning up here.
I smiled towards the friendly janitor from where I stood, nodding my head to him in understanding as I placed the final book I have to its place on the top of the shelf. "Stay safe, sir." I said to him in response.
Looks like I'll be alone here for a while.
I stayed within school grounds for an hour and a half in fixing and putting books to their correct order, so that the library may welcome visitors again tomorrow. When done, I went to retrieve my items from a booth next to the window farthest from where I initially stood. The window allowed for a view of the school's entrance where I've found two people I wasn't expecting to see together today.
A tuff of black hair wearing the school uniform without its coat, clutching her leather school bag as she stands next to a tall man with dyed golden hair. Compared to Ash, Tristan was like a lamp post, no wonder he was part of the school's basketball team as well.
Seems that Tristan was serious about what he told me earlier this morning. He really waited for me outside of school.
The corridors to the school building were already empty when I exited the library, save for a few students staying by their own club rooms and are just about to leave as well. Looking through the gaps on the door of each club rooms allowed me to ponder over my entire social life at school once more. Sure, I am contented being what I am today, but Ash is very worried about me should I continue to be like this.
Passing through a noticeboard at the first floor of the building, I saw what I think is an invitation to a music club that had only recently been found by a third year student of another course. I paused momentarily, looking at the poster closer and finally coming up with a decision about my issue at hand. It made me smile somehow, picking up the poster from the board so that I can examine it further later. I slipped it into my own leather schoolbag as I made for the entrance of the school to meet my friend.
Yep. Looks like my boring school days are soon going to be over.