[Feigh]
"Moving in a new place means starting anew and creating another chapter of your life. But for me, it's a hassle because I will be back in square one again, especially with the fact that much has already changed in this place and I don't have any acquaintances here.
Who would have thought that, all of a sudden, things would change like this? We will be living in a new haven, but old memories are still painted here. Yet, I still question myself 'why.' Why do we need to move here for a single reason? Why did she prefer this place? Why did she ignore my father's plea? Could there be another reason behind this? Could she be hiding something? But what if she only wanted to escape from my father's grasp? What if she's finding refuge here, in this place?"
It's almost eleven o'clock, but I still can't sleep so I lazily lie in my bed while having an internal monologue.
If you're wondering how my hair is now different.... Well, I actually dyed it using an instant spray dye after Zy left because I have nothing else to do. It's only temporary after all. I can remove it if I no longer like it.
Beep. Beep.
I was blankly looking at the ceiling when suddenly my cellphone rang. I was forced to reach for it from the bedside cabinet. When I swiped the screen, a notification was displayed stating that Wandough sent me a message. I immediately read it.
Wandough: "Bestie! I heard from your brother that you would no longer be coming to school."
Imagine, how quickly he got the news? And my brother was the one who disclosed it to him! Out of irritation, I chose not to reply to him. Instead, I slammed my phone back to where it was placed earlier. Then, I tried to close my eyes and forced myself to return to sleep. But no matter what I do, I still can't. So I decided to get out of my bed and head towards my balcony.
Swishhh. Swishh.
I instantly hugged myself after opening the sliding door of the balcony.
"Hooo... Why is it cold today?" I never expected the night breeze to give me this kind of shiver.
I looked at the view outside while still shivering. But when I felt like I might catch hypothermia, I decided to go back inside. I was about to close the sliding door when I heard someone.
"W-wait!" My eyes widened when I heard a familiar voice so I immediately looked from side to side. But I saw no one.
"I'm not informed that there's already a ghost in this house," I muttered as I continued closing the sliding door. But then, a hand stopped me from completely closing it. When I traced whose hand it was, the stranger's face suddenly popped up from the small opening of the door.
"Can I come in?" He said while smiling from ear to ear. His shaggy brown hair was a bit messed up so he decided to comb it with his other hand.
"You're the person who grabbed me earlier, right?" He nodded. "I don't know you so why would I do that?"
"Alright. You won't let me in," he said as he removed his hand from the sliding door. "Then I guess, I should just jump to reach the ground floor." He continued as he headed straight to the railings of the balcony.
He was already preparing to jump when I stopped him. "W-wait!" I said, making him pause and look in my direction. I frantically opened the sliding door for him. He smiled after seeing what I did.
"Thank you," he said while entering my room.
"Just don't resort to something dangerous," I worriedly remarked as I finally closed the sliding door. I guess, I was just horrified by his idea of jumping down. After all, I don't wanna be the suspect of a crime scene in my first day here.
"By the way, you don't really remember me?" He blurted out from behind. My brows furrowed after hearing his question so I decided to face him. "I mean, it hasn't been long since you moved out from here." He was a few meters away from me but I could still hear the frustration in his voice.
He waited for my response but when he realized that I became speechless, he decided to change the subject. "So, are you staying here for good?" He asked as he leaned to the adjacent wall.
I did not respond again. I only continued staring at him. He was busy wandering his eyes to my room so it was convenient to stare at him. While I'm staring at him, I noticed that he was actually wearing a white baggy shirt and a black shorts. His feet were also wearing a white slip-ons.
He looked to the floor when he realized that I didn't respond. "It's okay if you don't want to answer," he frustratedly remarked. I guess, he probably noticed that I am not interested in answering him.
I was still staring at him when he suddenly pointed his gaze at my direction. I immediately looked at the side and acted as if I was looking at the wall clock.
"I noticed that you've been standing there for a while, aren't you going to sit down?" He worriedly said so I was forced to face him.
"No!" I blurted out while nervously waving my hands. "I'm just fine with standing," I continued while faking a smile.
"Okay." He looked at the floor again so I was able to continue staring at him. There, I noticed that his face becomes serious when he is quiet. His side view is also attractive. He had this crooked Roman nose, sharp jawline, siren eyes, thick straight brows, and heavy lower lip. He could probably pass as a celebrity. I mean, he has a tall height, a slender figure, and an undeniable presence. His visuals are overflowing even if he is not exerting much effort.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I turned to the bedside table where my cellphone is placed. I immediately reached for it and read the notification. It says that Wandough sent me another message. I guess he won't stop until he gets a reply from me. When I opened his message, it said:
"Bestie!!! I don't like you anymore. You already changed when Zy just gave you a paper bag. And now you're not replying to me. Don't tell me that you're transferring because I caught you having a crush on me?" I laughed at his nonsensical text. But then, I realized that I should clear up this misunderstanding so I immediately typed back.
To Wandough: "I didn't know that you are a fan of my brother. But jokes aside, I didn't transfer because I wanted to. There's just some things that I could not disclose to you. Just remember that you'll always be my best friend no matter what." After reviewing my message, I immediately tapped the send icon.
"Your boyfriend?" The stranger asked so I looked at him. There, our eyes met and I've sensed some familiarity in it. It was jet black and like a black hole, it was trying to draw anything that looked into it.
But then, after a few seconds I immediately looked away in order to snap myself back to reality. "No! He's just my classmate," I defended as I turned off my phone and placed it inside the drawer.
"Oh. That's a relief," he whispered as he diverted his gaze to the floor.
My brows furrowed after hearing his mumbling. "Did you say something?" I asked to clarify what I've heard.
"No. Nothing," he immediately looked at me as he waved his hand for dismissal.
"Don't deny it. I clearly heard you mumble something," I said as I stepped closer to him while not breaking eye contact.
"Nope. I'm not denying anything," he said as he tried stepping back. He was already at the dead end and I was planning to make him confess but when I was about to open my mouth to speak, I instead yawned.
"Wait, what time is it?" He slipped at the side and acted as if he was looking at the time in the wall clock, successfully creating an alibi to move away from me. "Oh. It's already 1 AM."
When I heard him, I immediately grabbed my phone from the drawer. And like what he said, it's already 1 AM. And I guess, I should really worry.
"I think, you should sleep." He worriedly said as he looked at me.
I meaningfully looked at him in return. "If you say so, then you should leave first."
"What does it have to do with you sleeping? I mean, why do you need to send me off?" he said as if what I just said does not make any sense.
I sighed. I guess he's indeed slower than me. "Of course. How can I sleep if you're in my room?" I explained.
"You think that I'll do something bad to you?" His brows furrowed.
"I didn't mention anything like that. But who knows? You're a stranger after all."
When he heard that, his face became serious. "If I'm a stranger to you, then you shouldn't have allowed me inside your room in the first place." After that, he opened the sliding door and went straight to the railings of the balcony.
"H-hey! What are you doing?" I tried to stop him again. But he only ignored me. "Why are you always resorting to jumping? When you can just go through the door," I explained to him.
"Aren't you in your right mind? If I go through the door, I'll be caught by your mother," he irritably replied as he prepared himself to jump.
"Okay! Suit yourself." I said as I shoo him. I then closed the sliding door and turned around as I mumbled to myself, "Ugh. He's much more stubborn than me." I heard him jump so I hope he wasn't injured. I then immediately went to my bed to sleep. I just hope tomorrow would be better.
Rring. Rring. The ringing of my alarm forced me to wake up.
I grabbed my blanket away and immediately wore my slippers. I head straight to the bathroom to wash my face.
After coming out of the comfort room, I went to open my suitcase. I was not able to unpack last night so I still had to do the tedious work of unpacking today.
Since I won't be able to go to my new school, I decided to stay at home and fully unpack my luggage. I removed all my clothes inside it and neatly arranged them to my cabinet. I also placed my other supplies to my bedside drawer. As for the journal, I placed it on my study table.
I finished unpacking everything so I decided to place my empty suitcase under the bed. I carefully bend on my knees to insert my suitcase. But when I was about to place my suitcase under the bed, I noticed that a small box was also hidden there. I slowly reached for it.
When I was able to completely remove it from where it was placed, I immediately opened it. There, I found my old sketch book, my expired oil pastels, my dried latex paints and old brushes, as well as the picture frame of me and my brother when we were younger.
I took the picture frame and decided to display it on my bedside cabinet. I then returned the box along with its other contents underneath the bed as well as placed my suitcase beside it.
Knock. Knock.
I immediately opened the door when I heard someone knock. When I opened it, I saw Mom. She was wearing a corporate attire.
"I thought you'll be accompanying me to have my new uniform tailored?" I frustratedly said as I walked past her. "But I guess, I'll be doing it alone."
I was about to head downstairs when she replied, "I've already asked someone to accompany you." My brows furrowed after hearing her statement.
"As for your breakfast, it's in the dining table. You should eat it before it gets cold," she coldly said as she went back to her room so I had no chance to ask her about the person who's going to accompany me to the nearby tailor shop.
I arrived at the dining table and I immediately sat to the chair to eat the breakfast which Mom prepared. It was a sunny side up matched with a fried rice. I immediately ate it and then drank my milk.
I was placing my dishes to the sink when Mom arrived downstairs to get her bag which she had placed on the sofa in the living room. I was able to see her since the living room and the dining room were just adjacent and there was no door separating them.
"I'll be off to work. Just lock the door before you leave the house later," she reminded before heading to the door. I followed her out to see where she'll be heading for work but then a black car stopped at our gate and gave her a ride.
I was curious for a sudden why she had to be fetched for work but then I realized that she used to be a high ranking employee in her previous job, before she settled down with my father. But still, I wonder what kind of work does she have now. Only if I know where is her workplace.
I closed the gate and then the main door before heading back inside to get my phone. When I arrived to my room, I immediately head to the drawer and removed my phone from inside. I rushed to open my inbox. Sadly, there was no reply from Wandough. Now, I'm wondering if he had ever read it or not.
Frustrated, I threw my phone to the bed then burrowed my head to the soft mattress.
Beep. Beep.
I immediately grabbed my phone, hoping a reply from Wandough but instead of him, an unknown number appeared. Curious, I opened the message and it says:
"It's Zy. Your Mom asked me to accompany you to the tailor shop today. I'll pick you up by 9." I rolled my eyes after reading the text message. I mean, why would Mom ask him that?! Out of many people, why does it have to be him. I wanted to avoid him. If only I could beg to disagree with this idea.
Despite my inner hesitation, I still managed to get ready before 9. I wore my tight blue jeans and light blue sweatshirt. I also brought with me my white sling bag. I even decided to trim my hair short for a new look.
It's still 8:30 and I still have 30 minutes before his arrival so I decided to ensure that I have secured all the windows and doors of the house, except for the main door of course.
Dingdong. Dingdong.
I sighed when I realized that he's already here. I head downstairs to open the door for him. He was standing outside, wearing a denim polo and a light brown cargo pants matched with a white sneakers. He waved his hands but he paused when he looked at me. He was probably shocked to see my new hairstyle.
I only looked at him before I decided to lock the main door and head outside the gate. He only watched me do so. "Don't assume things. I didn't plan to match my shirt's color with yours," I reassured him as I walked past him.
••W••
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, songs, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.