Kamari Ese Avena
I had a friend once, pure luck, because I never have friends. She was the Gardener's daughter, Sayuri was her name. Sayuri loved to travel the world. She was a tourist so to speak, and she probably had seen every country outside of Australia in her lifetime. I lost contact with her two years ago.
Every time Yuri came back from her journeys, she would tell me about her adventures, and the places she had seen, but the only time I was ever keen on listening to her was when she spoke of the ocean. She would tell me how the waves and tides lulled against each other and how the water moved in a drunken slur. I was always so fascinated by her tales. Maybe I have never seen the ocean, but I see Seven Yusei for the first time, and I will liken him to the ocean. When his gaze meets mine, it is like the waves are crashing in his eyes, deep, crushing and never-ending, and as if mesmerized, I cannot look away.
Seven balances the trays on the table with a fluidity that I never knew anyone could possess, takes a last look at me, and stalks right back the way he came without giving any explanation.
"Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Arlo scoffs at Seven's retreating, but then there is an understanding lying beneath his words and when all four of them think I am not looking, they share a look between themselves, and that alone has me reeling back. What is going on here?
"He is not always like that," Mika explains as if trying to placate me but then it seems like she is also trying to placate herself. The spark in her eyes is gone, and it is replaced with a dullness so striking.
"It is fine," I tell her, but it is not, because a boy I am meeting for the first time just walked away from his dinner because I am Elle's sister. Or maybe not because of that, but he did walk away and that hurt even when it should not.
I go to grab my food from the counter, which is a serving of spaghetti and tomato sauce. Mika offers to help, but I decline. Best to learn the ropes on my own.
"So what department are you in in?" Mika asks. I think she is trying to make small conversations with me, so it would not seem like the others are ignoring me. Although all I want to do right now is finish my food and get back into my room, I indulge Mika nonetheless.
"Engineering. Data science and Engineering, precisely."
"That was Elle's department too. Are you studying her course because she died?" Nuru's question is accusing, add that she throws Elle's death in my face like that should be a normal conversation.
She shoves a fork full of pasta into her mouth, her eyes following my every move with such scrutiny, you would think she was a spy sent after my life.
"Nuru! That is not a nice question!" Mika chides her.
Nuru rolls her eyes at Mika's rebuke. "I was asking her, not you. Besides, we all know Elle said her sister was not into the science thingy..."
Elle. It was always Elle.
Livid, I retort sharply. "Half-sister. Elle was my half-sister." It changes nothing though, because Nuru goes back to eating and ignores me.
"Sorry about that," Mika whispers. I nod, yet knowing fully well that Nuru was right, I have never been interested in science courses. At Eden College, Photography was my major, and as you have guessed, I am only here, studying a course I dislike because my Father says so.
Congratulations to me, yay.
[]
Rain Academy is like a glorified high-profile boarding high school for older spoilt rich kids if you asked me. First, the colour codes. Who the hell mandated colour codes for supposed college students? Rain of course. They had different colour codes that ran from Monday through Friday, and today is Monday, Red and cream were what we were to put on. Never mind that I hated the colour red with passion.
I eye the red varsity jacket on my bed warily and with a resigned sigh, I drape it over my cream flair gown that I had chosen to wear and then I slip my leg into my knee-length black boots, sling my backpack over my shoulders and find my way out of my dorm room.
Building X looks different in broad daylight, there are no twinkling lights like it had been yesterday evening, and the sun striking the glass gives it a more refined look. I glance at my phone to crosscheck what course I have first. Stats 201. Great, just great. I still do not know how I am going to cope with all these science courses, especially with the fact that I am joining in the second year.
It is the first time I am on my own since I arrived, my chest seems to constrict as I make my way into the hall, I avoid looking around so I settle for the space closer to the door.
"Good morning, Mari!" I jump at the sudden voice of Mika from behind me. I had not even noticed her there.
"HI." My smile is forced in contrast to Mika's gleaming and genuine one.
"How was your night? Sorry, I didn't come to wake you this morning, I swear I forgot," she gushes.
"It is fine, Mika," I reply to her monotonously.
"It's not though. Sierra put me in charge of you and I am already messing things up." She seems genuinely concerned about it, which makes me confused about how to ease her mind. It's been years since someone felt the need to be concerned about me... It is her job though.
"It is fine," I repeat.
She is about to talk again, but then the lecturer walks in and right behind him is the same boy, the one with the otherworldly beautiful face, and the boy who had made me feel like nothing at the dining hall yesterday — Seven Yusei, dressed in the colour code just like the rest of us, cream trousers and a red tee, and just like yesterday, his hair is braided on one side. Simple, yet nothing seems simple about him.
"He is the class representative for second-year engineering students," Mika whispers to my ear. I would know eventually, but Mika's quick information is refreshing.
The lecturer scans the room and then stops right at me. "You are the new girl, aren't you? Elle Avena's sister?" He does not have to mention Elle, but I guess as long as I am here I will always be attached to my dead half-sister.
Every eye turns on me now, and it is all I can do not to sink lower into my seat to avoid their piercing stares. "Mari is the name, sir," I reply, standing awkwardly.
"Good, Mari. Welcome to the best department in RAAS." The class snickers when he says that. "I am the Head of the department here, and also your Stats lecturer. Seven Rai Yusei here is the class rep, and he has also been assigned to tutor you for the rest of the semester considering you are a layman in the science department."
I gape at the lecturer, eyes wide when Seven puts down the lecturer's properties and then comes to sit beside me. "Great. Now that we have that settled, let's continue with the class, shall we?"
Well, here goes my life.
[]
After one excruciating hour of listening to talks about numbers, the class is over and I can finally rush out to get a breath of fresh air. Mika tells me she has another class and leaves shortly after, assuring me that we will meet at lunch. I do not have any other classes next, so I feel so refreshed as I stick my notepad and laptop into my bag. My joy does not last long though because just as soon as I am stepping out of the class, a figure stops right in front of me. I need no further introduction to know who it is.
"Where are you going?" Seven Yusei stands before me, intense eyes glaring at me. How are we supposed to get along as student and tutor when he obviously cannot stand me?
"The library?" My reply is more like a question than an answer because before Seven appeared before me, I had no idea where I would be spending my next two free periods.
"This hall is free for the next two hours, this is where we will study." He does not wait for my vote of acceptance as he walks towards the back of the class and settles down. Dread settles deep down in my stomach as I sullenly make my walk of distress to the seat beside Seven. What looks like minutes pass, and the silence between us is daunting, me still holding tightly to my bag strap, while Seven flips through his textbook, a crease forming on his forehead.
"What exactly am I studying, Yusei?" I ask him.
"Did you not hear what Professor Barnet said? You know nothing about science, I am trying to figure out where to start from," he snaps back a reply.
"I did science subjects in high school. And don't yell at me, I am not the cause of all your problems!" I retort in frustration, suddenly angry that he is not even trying to be nice to me. It is enough that I have to suffer studying subjects that in normal circumstances, I would not be caught dead doing, why then do I have to also suffer a tutor without feelings? The universe has got to have it bad for me.
He does not flinch at my outburst, but brings his face closer to mine, dwarfing me even when he is seated. His hot breath fans my neck as he whispers, "Right now, you might as well be."