In a classroom of twenty-four students, a lesson was still under way. Most of the students were silently reading a textbook or writing something in their note books. A female teacher was explaining while pointing at mathematical equations with a marker. One of the students, who looked slightly bored, was unmoved by the lesson.
He would usually play with his pen when the teacher was focusing on other students or writing on board. He rested his head on his palm while looking through his notebook, expertly spinning his pen in his hand.
"Who would like to solve this Quadratic Equation using complex algebraic digits?"
The bored student looked at the equation with questioning eyes and examined it fully with his mind. A couple of seconds later, he sighed softly and returned his attention to his notebook while the class peers slowly raised their hands.
The teacher looked across her classroom, deciding who would answer the equation. The bored student unwilling met the eyes of the teacher for a spit second but the teacher returned her graze to another student.
Noticing this gesture, the bored student smiled slightly, knowing the teacher would not pick him. He looked at the clock over the teacher or chalkboard. It was 3:55 pm, almost time for home, only 5 minutes remained.
"That was very good, Thomas. Excellent explanation."
Snapped out of his thoughts by his teacher`s voice, he examined Miss Rachel`s figure, she smiled at a student`s efficient and fast explanation. Listening closely, he could make out a few faint mumbles from his classmates. Strangely, they were impressed by his answer.
The bored student shook his head secretly and packed some of his notebooks in his bag. The student proudly sat, not minding the faint stares and impressed mumbles. Suddenly, the bored student caught a sharp glare in his direction. It was a quick one but he managed see it.
That glimpse belonged to his teacher. The teacher begun to clean the chalkboard and looked at the clock.
The bored student could not help but slightly shiver. Was he in trouble? Honestly, no one could tell what the teacher was thinking in her cold but beautiful eyes.
Ding-Dong!
Expecting it, a loud chime reached the ears of the students. Some begun to pack their belongings while most waited with patience.
"It's 4:00 pm at the dot..."
The bored student mumbled silently to his lonesome and placed his machinal pencil in his pocket blazer.
"Alright, everyone. Please read page seventy-eight in your Mathematics Textbooks for the incoming lecture and if you have trouble with the topic, revisit your notes. Enjoy your weekend. You may leave."
"Thank you, Miss Rachel."
All of students simultaneously stood up and thanked Miss Rachel for the ordinary lecture. She simply nodded her head at their gesture and walked to her desk. Soon, noise came into the classroom, others started to talk to their friends, some left by their lonesome to who knows where. The bored student slowly pushed his chair and placed it back into his desk.
He lifted his bag and begun to leave the classroom but felt a little resistance at the back of his blazers. He slowly turned his head to see what caused it but was met with a friendly smile.
"Owen, do you want to hang out later?"
He looked at the student, who was slightly taller than him for a spit second. He wanted to say something but his friend continued to speak.
"Me and the guys want to check the city together, so we wanted to invite you."
Looking at his friendly smile, he couldn't help but lower my eyelids a bit. He slowly sighed and replied.
"Yeah, sure. Just grab me later at my house."
"Great. See you then."
The friendly student walked past Owen and waved slowly. Owen raised his hand instantly and returned his wave. The name of the friendly student was Ashton Williams, a fellow senior student in his last year of high school, like Owen. He built a rather popular reputation amongst his peers because of his good natural talents and friendly nature.
Owen, on the other hand was a cold individual. Because of a rocky background with other people, he was not one who trusted anyone quickly.
He was slow to grow trust over his peers but Ashton, seemed to trustworthy to him. At least to a smaller extent. he did, after all, observe him for roughly three years, looking for any malicious intent towards him.
Sensing no more blockades, he begun to walk to the exit but stopped due a sudden figure approaching him at the corner of his eye.
"Shoku Owen."
Without the need to turn around, he immediately recognized the graceful voice.
"....."
"Do you not speak when talked to?"
This beautiful lady was wearing a black blazer with a black skirt that reached her knees. An intimidating atmosphere surrounded her. She also had red lipstick and earnest brown eyes that advanced her attractiveness. It was, of course, Miss Rachel.
"Sorry Miss Rachel, what may you need from me?"
He turned to her direction and lightly bowed.
"I saw that your attendance has been slipping today. This isn`t your character. Is something bothering your mind?"
He titled his head a bit and shook his head. He remained motionless, even under such sharp eyes.
"No. Not much that needs concern."
"I see. As a student of the finest school in the country, consistently be serious on campus ground."
"Yes, I understand."
She crossed her arms as a smile emerged on her face.
"Other than that, be careful when returning home. We do not want to see a news report of a student dying in an accident in the city."
'Talk about over-exaggerated sarcasm.'
He opened his eyes a bit in confusion and suddenly blinked in understanding. A thin smile appeared on his face and firmly replied.
"Yeah. Of course."
"Right. See you on Monday."
Miss Rachel quickly nodded and walked back to her desk to collect some documents. She left the homeroom without bidding an eye on the other students. Some stares fell on Owen`s direction but he flatly ignored their existence.
'Keep your expectations to yourselves…'
Without any more distractions, he was finally able to return home.
*****
Click!
A light creak sounded as Owen pushed the door. He slowly entered and removed his shoes. He looked around the room with expecting eyes and walked forward in a relaxed manner.
"Hey Mom, I'm back!"
He yelled with enough volume for anyone in the house could hear. A lady, who looked to be at her thirties, leaned out a doorway to glance at him and leaned back inside with a smile. A couple of seconds later, she walked out a room with casual clothes and a dirtied apron. The apron was partly covered with white powder and brown snugs.
Owen, without the need to think, already knew his mother was baking a chocolate cake. However, her mother only made chocolate cakes at special occurrences.
'Something was have happened.'
A quick thought entered his mind as he thinly smiled. His mother walked at his direction.
"Welcome back my handsome prince, how was your day at school?"
She hugged her son with a warm smile on her face. Her long black hair was expertly tied into a ponytail that curled down her shoulder and her brown eyes shined bright cheerfulness. Owen, remained with the same expression, smiled thinly, as always, but with a genuine meaning.
"Pretty much the same. How was your day?"
He asked while walking into the living room. He took a book that rested soundly over a glass table.
"It was ok but now it's wonderful since you are here. It's been lonely these days."
"Lonely?"
He looked at his mom with bewildered eyes and asked with a speculative eyebrow.
"Isn't Verna around?"
"Hmph! Verna has been ignoring me lately! She always goes outside to play by herself."
"I see."
'Strange. Verna and Mom were always close in the past. Maybe something happened while I was gone?'
He couldn't help but think to himself with some worry. He decided to change the subject, noticing a slight anger in her face as she blew her cheek.
"Ok, I will check up on her. By the way, how about Dad? Is he arriving soon?
A bright smile suddenly appeared on her. She quickly rushed over and shook Owen`s hands immensely up and down with both of her hands.
"Your father said he coming tonight! And he is coming with gifts for the both of us! Isn't that exciting?!"
Looking at the sudden character change, he couldn't help but smile a bit and agreed to her question.
"Uh-huh. I am very happy he is coming back."
From a by-stander point of view, his words may have lacked excitement but to a close relative, who knew him for years, could see he was genuinely happy about his father`s arrival.
"Oh?"
Owen`s mother stopped shaking his hands and had a smug expression appeared on her. Suddenly, she raised a speculative eyebrow.
"Did you miss your father that much? Even if you had me with you?"
Owen, noticing this smug, smiled a bit and looked away with a lonesome expression. However, due to his unchanging eyes, he looked a bit strange.
"Yes. Dad is ten times better than you."
Like a sniper who shot his enemy with precise skill, he sighed softly as he walked away. Owen could imagine her heart shattering in the million pieces. However, he did not mind, because,
"I am going to my room."
Her silence was sign of a great victory to Owen in their daily battles.