"So, how do you feel about school lately?" Miss Nathalie, the school counselor, asked, narrowing her eyes at me. Her cat-eye glasses gave off a nostalgic vibe, reminding me of the ones Mom used to wear to boost my confidence.
"I called you in today because I heard you've taken an interest in sports," she continued. It was true—lately, I'd been practicing. I could run faster and felt fitter than I had ever been before.
"In your report, it says you've never participated in any sporting events. So, I'm curious—what brought about this sudden change of heart?" she asked, flipping through my file.
"Well, I, um, started training not too long ago. For a long time, I never really had much interest in sports because I didn't think I had the talent to be an athlete. There was something holding me back, a kind of burden that kept me from reaching out to others. But lately, I've been feeling more confident in myself," I replied, pressing my lips together.
"So, are you seeing someone?" she asked, adjusting her glasses and watching my reaction closely.
"Does it matter if I'm seeing someone?" I responded, surprised that she would ask such a question.
"It does," she said with a knowing smile. "You seem more lively and smile more often these days. I was your teacher when you were younger, you know. Back then, you always had a perfect smile throughout the day and plenty of friends. But then, for reasons we both understand, you stopped socializing and withdrew from school activities.
"Now, it's as if you're back to being your old self. In my experience as a counselor, there are often reasons for such a transformation. One that stands out—particularly among teenagers—is love. Love, especially between the opposite sexes, has a way of bringing out the best in someone."
I knitted my eyebrows, my face flushed with embarrassment. Why does this even matter?
"I'm sorry, Miss Nathalie, but it doesn't really matter whether I'm in love with anyone or not. What matters is that I've improved in my studies and that I'm participating in sports. That's what's important," I retorted, feeling rather aghast at her prying questions.
She furrowed her eyebrows but then softened her expression.
"Jaze, it's just a question. Yes or no?"
I hesitated. I didn't want to share anything about my private life. I had kept so much to myself for years, and she had never once asked how I felt. She'd never shown any real interest in me—so why all the questions now?
But deep down, I knew I didn't have much of a choice. Honesty seemed like the only option.
"Yes. I, um, like someone. A girl," I responded, squeezing my palms together slightly.
"Interesting. Now we're getting somewhere. So, tell me—who is she?" she asked, crossing her legs. She picked up a pen and began tapping it rhythmically on the school file.
"She's, um, just a random girl. We've been together not too long," I replied, stealing a glance at my watch, silently wishing the alarm at her desk would ring.
"Just a random girl, huh?" she said, setting the pen down and folding her arms on the desk. "Does your father know you're in a relationship with an ethereal?"
Ethereal? What in the world is she talking about? She's crazy. My eyebrows shot up in amusement as I quirked my lips slightly, unsure how to respond.
"Um... ethereal? What does that mean? Are you saying she's beautiful, or..." I trailed off, staring at her wide-eyed.
She sighed and stood up, moving toward the window. Folding her arms, she gazed out as if lost in thought.
"There are things in this world that defy scientific explanation," she began. "And there are places that exist outside of our world—terrifying places, actually." She spoke while folding her arms and staring out of the window.
"I once knew a man who made a terrible mistake—he got himself involved with one of the ethereals, and it cost him everything. His title, his honor... everything. I'm here, trying to make sure one of his doesn't make the same clueless mistake. But, as usual, I guess I'm too late."
She adjusted her glasses and turned to look at me, her gaze cold and piercing.
"Do you believe in the supernatural, Jaze?" she asked, sitting back down and folding her arms.
"Um, I don't believe in the supernatural, Miss Nathalie. In fact, there's no such thing as ghosts or demons. They're all just fairy tales," I replied earnestly, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Well, that's where you're wrong, Jaze. The supernatural is real. And soon—very soon, to be exact—you're going to experience the darker side of reality," she replied, popping a candy she had just unwrapped into her mouth.
"How rude of me. Your classes will resume soon. I must be boring you with my nonsense. You can go back to class. Bye, Jaze," she said, fiddling with some books on her desk.
"Bye, Miss Nathalie." I slowly stood up and left the office, still perplexed by what she had said.
As I walked down the hall, I saw Meredith approaching me with a soft smile. She took my hand and looked at me intently, almost as if she had overheard our conversation.
"Is everything alright? You look worried," she asked.
"Everything's fine. The school counselor... she was a little weird," I replied as we walked into the classroom.
Maze was sitting at his desk, staring at his book. He glanced up at us, then quickly darted his eyes away and began fidgeting.
"Weird in what way? What did she say?" Meredith asked, her curiosity evident.
"It's nothing, really. She wanted to know if I had a girlfriend. Weird, right?" I replied, sitting on the edge of her desk.
"What did you say?"
"I told her yes, that I was seeing someone. I mean, everyone knows that already. If she wants to know about it, I really don't care," I said, giving her a quick peck on the hand before heading to my seat.
As I sat down, Mr. Stephen walked into the classroom. I glanced back at Meredith, noticing that something seemed to be weighing on her mind. She sat down slowly and stared at her desk, lost in thought.
Ethereal. Why does that word sound so familiar? I wondered, holding my chest. My fingers brushed against the pendant I wore. I said I didn't believe in the supernatural, but here I was, suffering from a strange illness. And every time I held onto this mysterious pendant, the pain would vanish.
Maybe I was denying the possibility that forces beyond human comprehension really did exist in this world.