The students finished singing the anthem and all fell silent. Now it was the vice principal's turn to speak.
"As always, I shall call up all the students, who have their birthdays this week, up to the front. Come on quick so that we can wish you".
A little girl went up to the front at first. She introduced herself as Sarah Roberts, and stood there beaming. The crowd was large, at least about 500 little pair of eyes were looking at her, but she felt no fear or embarrassment. Embarrassment? That word did not even exist in her mental dictionary. What could possibly happen up front? All you have to do is stand there, smile and wait for it all to end. All she has to do is enjoy her 30 seconds of glory.
The cluster of people began to shift close to the pathway that she had just emerged from. Sarah paid no heed. After all, she is not the only person with a birthday this week.
She stared at the wall far at the back of the hall until he finally took his position next to her. Inquisitive, as she is, she turned to her left to take a look at the only other person in school who seemed to have been born in the same week as her.
Instantly she turned back. Anyone at the first few rows of the assembly could tell she was going red; the redness making her slightly golden-yellow skin look dark. She could feel the heat escaping her ears as she breathed hard. Her heart stopped beating for a split second and then there it was, racing like a horse. What's going on? Why is this happening? What is this? She turned back for a second glance to find out, but she could not seem to bear the sight of a merely plain looking young boy, the same age as her, and beaming just as brightly as she was before he went up and stood next to her. Well, he was cute. Not puppy cute or pretty cute, but an unconventional cute.
Before Sarah could focus any further the assembly had already sung the "happy birthday" song and the vice principal was shaking her out of her dreamland.
"Huh?" Sarah asked all flustered.
"How old are you?" inquired the vice principal.
"I am uh..um.." everyone waited patiently, "I am eight, no seven."
And they were dismissed. The boy ran off. If only she would have had focused she could catch his name. Now she does not know who he is or which section he is in. She does not know if she can ever find him again, maybe yes because they are studying in the same school.
What happened with her today, however, remained a mystery to her. Whatever the feeling, she really wanted to see him again.
***
The hallway to the classroom was crowded. Why is it that every time a new academic year starts, students can be found in clusters all over school but in the classroom? Why not just sit down and chat calmly? Things Sarah thought, because she does not like crowds or chaos.
Crowd. That is exactly what she is most fearful of. Pairs of eyes staring at her brings a chill down her spine and makes her legs go numb. This has been the case ever since nine years ago she embarrassed herself in front of the assembly.
"Who forgets their age after chanting it all morning?" She muttered to herself and lightly slapped the side of her head, "I wonder if we will meet this time."
Nine years she waited in anticipation of getting to meet the plain looking cute boy who had set her heart fluttering. Nine years, every year, she scanned her vicinity to find that smile which embarrasses her. And in nine years, she still has not given up hope.
"Chic, what ya dreaming?" It was Cindy.
Cindy did not quite fit in with the people around her. She was not as outspoken, neither was she an introvert, but over the years of her friendship with her, Sarah realised that Cindy needed her. She would not say so outright but then they both knew nothing had to be said.
"Nothing much. Just the annual hope of my wish coming true".
"That boy huh? You know, it's weird how you two never crossed each other in nine years. I mean, same school, same age. I wonder what went wrong-"
"Fate Cindy, fate. Fate is cruel," it made her upset thinking the same event would repeat itself.
The first bell rang and all the students began to walk into their classrooms. First came the crazy lot of people; ones who believe they are popular but are, in reality, hated by everyone. Next came in the hot looking girls, their faces enhanced with make-up. Living up to their age, sixteen year-olds. Then came the sporty boys carrying soccer balls, basketball and boots in hand. At last followed the common laity.
The second bell rang and the homeroom teacher walked in. No one else followed. Heartbroken, Sarah tried her best to relax in her chair as the teacher began to introduce herself to the class.
"Hello everyone! My name is Brenda Holland. You can call me Miss Brenda. You must all know the rules by now - " but Sarah drifted off in her imagination.
Five minutes through the briefing a slam at the door woke everyone up. A tall, lean boy held the door open panting loudly, his head lowered, one hand at his knee and long hair hanging in front of his eyes.
"I am sorry... I am late..." he stood up and shook hands with Miss Brenda who hesitantly stood there as he did so.
"Oh my, are you not one bad boy. Late on the first day? I will not excuse this again mister.."
"Jake. Jake Finnigan. I moved into town last night so I was really tired. Been away seven years, let's not have a spiteful start okay Miss Brenda?" and he gave her the cheekiest smile he could give her.
Miss Brenda blushed and excused him. Sarah did not pay attention until he mentioned seven. She raised herself and stood up straight to see the late comer. He had his back to her, but she stared hard expecting his sixth sense to work. He turned back eventually to find a seat, and their eyes met.
She felt it again. The same adrenaline rush, the skip of the beat, the racing heart, the heat in her ears. It all came to her for she was holding gaze with the plain looking cute boy, nine years later. We meet again.
They held their gaze for a while, and then Sarah forced her head into a bow to look away. My eyes will burn.
Jake, finding it weird, went back to seat searching, and took a seat at the front. Sarah looked up from her seat, in a middle row, to where Jake sat down. A sudden touch at her shoulder sent a shiver down her spine and she turned around to find Cindy's hand on her.
"You okay, chic?"
"Yeah. Except, I just met him again," she forced a smirk.
"Woah!" Cindy exclaimed.
"Young miss over there! Keep you voice low! This is a classroom!" scolded miss Brenda.
"Sorry ma'am. Seriously Sarah? You have got to talk this time! You can't let it go!" whispered Cindy.
"I know, but I am so nervous. My heart won't slow down and I can still feel the heat in my ears".
"You're shaking too. But, you gotta! No excuses. Oh my goodness! I am so happy for you!"
During break, Sarah decided to gather some courage and go up to him for an introduction, but in the end Cindy had to be the one to drag her by the collar to get her to reach him. When they finally reached a ten feet distance from Jake and his friends, Sarah broke out off her leash.
"Cindy, I am so scared. What should I say? What will he do? How will he react?"
"Calm down. He is just a human, not a demon. Just go up to him and say 'Hi, I am Sarah. I know you because our birthdays are in the same week. Where have you been all these years?'. Get going already. Don't make me lecture you".
"But... But...," Cindy gave her a push and Sarah tottered right over to Jake's side. Jake and his friends looked at her. She is short so she had to look up at them, such a pain. Forcing a nervous smile on her face, she opened her mouth. Now that I am here, might as well just get this done with.
"Hi, I am Sarah.... um I um know you because we kinda have birthdays in the same week and so..."
"Yeah, I remember you," at this reply from Jake, Sarah's smile brightened a little, "You forgot your age and the VP had to wake you up from your trance".
Everyone laughed and went off to leave them be. Sarah went red to the face and her smile faded. It was all because of him anyways. But he would not know.
"It happens sometimes. You don't have to laugh about it".
"Oh, um sorry. Couldn't help it. It is the first thing and last thing I remember about you. You went red like this even back then. I wonder why, " at this he tilted his head on to a side, imitating a questioning face.
"Nothing that should concern you at the moment" .
Sarah's face continued to look solemn at this point so Jake decided to take the first step. He offered his hand to her.
"Well, we didn't know each other back then and it won't be fair to leave it at this. We are classmates. How about we become friends?"
Sarah's eyes looked at his hand blankly and then she reached out. Almost immediately a flash of light blinded them and the hallway was illuminated in a burst of gold and silver. From a cluster of light emerged a young man. He was probably around eighteen years of age and was adorned in a white suit of very fine fabric. Behind his back he had massive white wings folded in rest. He opened his eyes revealing a dark black orb of depth and clarity unimaginable, and raising his hand he said in a calm, soothing voice, "You must refrain from touching the heir of the Ankur tribe, princess Rhea".
Say what?
The handshake never happened.