'High school, the time that comes on the 16th birthday. The casual and friendly trek towards employment, or turning a hobby into a job. I say it's the time when a boy becomes a man, a time in which there are two results, make it big or go back home.'
'The clock strikes 05:45, I hear a bang on my door. I turn feeling exhausted from a night of diligent studying. Looking at my desk, the crumbled tissues… I suppose it was a hard night of working my flicks.'
*Bang, bang,* the door rages, until a subtle moan, "Wake up, Jade."
"Shut up," I say harshly, the door knocks with intention, and my half-awaken stupor is blemished by a loud flash. "-I said, wake up."
"How many times do I have to say," there's a sudden pressure on my bed, I feel another person climb atop, my blanket leaves my pimple-ridden forehead, "-found you," she says with a victorious wink, "-how many times must I repeat myself, Jade," floral scent lip balm, my chest spurs, or so I'd think, my hands rudely halts her pathetic attempt at seduction.
"And I said to not disturb me until it's 06:00," I scurry over and brazenly carry my morning wood, "-don't turn on the light… Just wake me up like normal."
"Whatever," she echoed behind me, I was obvious to her feelings, well, I choose to be oblivious. Sarah's a good girl, she's my friend, I've known her since we were little kids. Our parents went to school together, it's a given her family and I would be close. Considering how attractive she is and how much health-oriented her obsession has become, I made the smart choice, using a coin to flip whether to date or not. The gods spoke, and it landed on heads, which I may add is very subjective and seductive… I mean, she would if I asked, right? No, no, keep the thoughts at a minimum, breakfast was readied thanks to Sarah's handy work. Well, her mother's efforts.
"How's the food?"
"Good, it's very good," her hand stopped, and there, when I started on the scramble eggs, a memory came to mind… I saw her mother, Aunt Jay, make a cross sign as she went past my windows. Her expression was baselessly hallowed, it looked like her soul was swallowed. I checked again, that time, she gave me an expression of elation, attainment – light radiated from her back with a soulful smile. Was it my death?'
'SALTY!' I swallowed hard, or hardly swallowed, the latter would have been better. '-She made it. It's obvious. Her hands strained and her cheeks were flushed, she never stopped whilst cleaning the dishes. I had to know, never mind. I knew she prepared the meal just for me. It made me happy… I ate the whole thing without so much batting an eye.
"Go get ready, it's time to go," said a timid purr. 'So much for being attentive, I carried my daily routine, leaped into my uniform, and set off for Sunda's Academy. The journey took on average an hour to an hour and a half. First the train station, then a thirty-minute ride to the other town where the academy lives. Station's around three kilometers away, I'd usually walk that distance… with Sarah following my every move, we began taking the bus.'
'Henda Station, the meeting point for many students… I could have gone to Royal Academy, an all-boy school with a reputation as being the best in the nation. My grades were this short, so, I got into Sunda to my parent's unconditional appreciation.'
We arrived and soon made for the train, "Jade, stand closer to me," she gently pinched my shirt, '-I guess she's popular. Boys from other schools ogled her growing body. Even with my manly decision not to pursue her romantically, I can't help but steal a glance or two,' I clenched my fist, paused, and bit my lips, '-curse you, hormones!'
"What are you doing?" she laughed, "-stop being an idiot," soon we were off.
07:45, we arrived at Sunda Station, and from there, a twenty-minute walk into the remote part of town, into the clean forests, one would arrive at the Academy. Famed for its love of nature, it flourishes, unlike anything I've seen, beating Royal Academy with the sheer scale of the school.
'Girls in uniform, boys in tracksuits – club activities starting at 06:00… Sunda has one over on the Royals, the school is more focused on sports as opposed to academics. We're rivals, and it shows in how the students conduct themselves. I have a friend at the Royal Academy… I lied about it being all boys. They became co-ed a few years ago, the majority are boys but hey, can't fight my memory.'
"I have a club meeting; I'll see you in class. Later Jade," Sarah ran for the gymnasium. I could but watch, her long hair sway, the admiration of the students as she nonchalantly skipped… it took my breath for a second.
"Good morning, Jade," long silky black hair fluttered, "-how are you doing today," echoed a very mature voice.
"President!" I gasped, another formidable young lady.
"Please address me as Karla. We're friends, are we not?"
"I suppose we are…"
"Come, let us walk together."
'Karla, a refined young lady, heir to a prestigious family with money to throw. Our family's wealthy to some extent, but not like her, she takes it to a whole other level. I'd have never spoken to her… well, not until I stumbled on her in a rather precarious situation on our orientation. I noticed she looked distressed at Sunda Station, everyone ignored her, so I stepped in and asked if she was alright. We got on the train that day, she's a well-rounded person, so I'd think. She makes heavy jokes that don't register as jokes sometimes… part of her personality I guess.'
"Why are you in such deep thought, Jade?"
"Nothing, nothing, I was just wondering a few things.'
"No, I'm wearing my underwear today, not like the last time."
"I said I'm sorry, okay!"
"Uh-huh…"
"President, we need you at the council," interjected the secretary, "-a very good morning to you, Jade."
"Good morning," I returned, "-Erna," they took off on their way. 'I came to my classroom and pushed open the door with the envy of many boys and admiration of the ladies. Not to brag or be smug, but I am sort of popular with the ladies. I got blond hair from my mother and blue eyes from my father. I sit near a black-hair fellow, I can't quite remember. Suppose we never did talk,' Hannah, the class's diva, known for her breast and waist, inched over my seat and whispered, "-we on for tonight, yes?"
"Please speak softly," I gulped, "-you'll get me in trouble."
08:00, the clock rang, beginning of homeroom.
'Right, until now, the story looks like a typical harem story, right? Yeah, you'd think I'm right. However, this is no harem, it's my story. Jade Arno, the blond hair, blue-eyed hotshot isn't me, I'm the kid beside him, the name's Lia. I don't have many friends, I barely made the cut here. With all due fact, I'm nothing special – your average guy living an average life. Sunda Academy is far from average, we have Jade Arno, Miki Hando, the class heart-throb, Jammie Olive, a classmate turned actor, and me, one of the four only boys in our class. I don't know how I landed here, compared to those boys, I'm nothing. Don't get me wrong, the story about Jade Arno and his morning is true to the last detail, how do I know? He talked about it yesterday. Those three share their love stories, I get to listen since I'm on the side-line. They're not bad guys either, I get greeted from time to time with the envy of my female counterparts. I wish this was the start of my story… wishing is all I can do because just like that, the year ended. Yeah, it ended without anything happening. Average yeah?
"Lia, why aren't you studying?" my homeroom teacher held his piercing gaze over my report card, "-I know you're average… this isn't average."
'Just to put it mildly, he's blunt and straightforward.'
"I understand you might be sexually frustrated. That is not a reason to let the grade slip, after all, semen is rather sticky."
*Chuckle,*
"Good," he turned with great understanding eyes, "-Look here, Lia. I don't need you to compete or stand out. Get through school, and make plans for college or employment. You don't have to do anything else… is there a hobby you might want to follow?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Well, do something interesting at least. This won't do, you have to be on your best behavior, else, the world may come crashing down."
"Yes, Teach, I'll do that," time read 17:50, the year passed and I was soon faced with my first year's finals.
'The sun began to set. The part about living three kilometers from Sunda station is true – Jade and I share a sad past. We went to kindergarten together, he's my neighbor.'
'I got my bag and made my way to the stadium – track and field end their practices at 18:00, and the running track is available to the locals from said time on. I like running and it's not for competition. I don't do it for sports either. I just like the feeling of air on my face and music in my ear. Today, however, after I got dressed for my run – I heard screams. A road separates the gymnasium and the stadium, it cut across and heads toward the design and technology department. Curiosity got the better of me, I took the curb, and followed the sound, it was outside of school – the second gate(used for gymnasium access) was shut, and Jammie was out talking to some rough-looking punks.
"Didn't I tell you, pretty boy, to get your hands off my darling?"
"What kind of idiot are you, lame ass. Your girlfriend came to me, I didn't want anything to do with that smut."
"Watch your tone, fucker."
"You boys better break it off," Jade vaulted over the gates and ran Jammie, "-it's not polite to fight outside of school."
"The other pretty boy," fired another, "-you should get out of our way. We don't want to harm your pretty face. This one's our target, not you."
'Jade sucks in a fight. He's a pushover when it comes to man-on-man. I don't know about Jammie, but that dumbass was all talk…' I was running before I knew it. To be honest, I don't know why I ran. Jade doesn't remember me, he's way beyond my league – I'm just average,' there, the image of Teach came into mind, '-below-average.'
"Boys, calm it."
*GET ON YOUR KNEES AND BOW DOWN!* I unplugged my phone, and heavy metal music roared.
'Good, they're focused on me. Metal is good, I threw sand in their faces and screamed, "-JAMMIE, JADE, FOLLOW ME!" before we knew it, the three of us were running down towards the residential district.
"CATCH THOSE FUCKERS!"
We went over a bridge and continued deeper, "-why are we running?"
"Shut up and follow," I gasped, locked onto an abandoned factory, and jumped through.
'We barely escaped the Unity students. Things weren't looking too good. We were out of danger but who knows for how long. I eventually calmed my breath and looked at the mess I brought."
"You haven't changed, Lia."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to me, Lia. You always ran to my rescue when we were kids. I was shocked when we were in the same class, I thought you'd speak to me but no, you had to keep quiet. Man, it's frustrating not being able to speak to an old friend."
"Bro, I'm sorry, we're not the same. You have your priorities and so do I."
"Jade, who's that?"
"Lia Verne, he's my neighbor."
"Right, you're that boy from the class. I thought you flunked."
"I'm flunking," I sighed, "-why did you get involved with Unity students? They're a bunch of thugs. It's better not to get in their way."
"I know man," he exhaled, "-must be the girlfriend. I rejected her bro, she must have spread some kind of rumor. Whatever, I'm going home, I'll call my chauffeur. You guys need a lift?"
"I'm good," I replied, "-I have to run."