Chap 1

     The period is set back in 11^th grade, a time when I was a common youngster who craved for fun and excitement. My idea of excitement, however, differed from the general aspect of a teenager. It could not be found in what typical teenagers typically do--at least not anymore. It struck me how dull and pointless everything was--my everyday life; or to be precise, the everyday life itself. The thought turned up all of a sudden, and I didn’t even think about it, I just accepted it, as if the realization had been there all along.

     Drinking, doing stupid stuff, drifting out through the night, chasing skirts, meeting a friend’s friend to do again stupid stuff, and other aimless activities which I had already done no longer satisfied me. Though I admit the fun still lingered in some, but the excitement that had once completed my existence vanished entirely. They were nothing but ordinary now, and I was getting sick of the ordinary.

    For the sake of something new, I wished, hoped, and begged that some calamity would befall the earth. Some catastrophic event which has the power to shake the world, threaten mankind, anything that could bring adventure to this lifeless life of mine. An alien invasion, for instance. Or a mutant experimented lizard, like Godzilla, terrorizing the city. Or an incurable virus had spread and turned people into zombies.

     Yeah, right.

     As far as my field of imagination goes, my sense of reality still held dominion. Those mentioned simply sounded rubbish, merely science fiction, childish delusions of someone gripped by the harsh realities of life. Naturally, since I was no geek, I was aware of the fact.

     However, there’s one event I laid all hopes, chances of its occurrence were highly probable considering the world’s current state. And that is World War III. Even if those sci-fi bullshits had, in some miraculous way, been brought into reality, my winning vote would still go to World War III. I guess ‘Band of Brothers’ left a strong impression on me. By watching that TV series, I acquired an obsession of participating in a War. Often had I fantasized myself as one of those soldiers, fighting for the glory and honor of the country, fighting for life and for death; but above all, for fun and excitement!

     If no such events--any kind of event that could rouse the blood in me--would ever come to pass, well, the world can end for all I cared. Yes, call me selfish, I have no excuse. I really was one.

 

     It didn’t take long when I began disengaging my self from those foolish deeds which consumed most of my days. As result, a certain gap was created between me and my colleagues, separating us slowly till sooner or later I’d be barred completely from the circle. I knew this would be my downfall; still, I did nothing to prevent it.

     I no longer cared for society, and in return society no longer cared for me. All that’s left was my self, which started to become less and less appealing. Nevertheless I lived life, no matter how dull and pointless it was, waiting patiently yet hopelessly for the said catastrophes to somehow happen, while day by day I felt the energy drained out of me. Soon I’d be nothing but an empty shell, or perhaps I already was one.

     Enough about me.

     Anyway, as I have previously stated, Rael appeared in every way ordinary. In fact, too plain. If you put him in a crowd he’ll probably be the least to take one’s notice. I never would have noticed him had not he seated right in front of me at class. But there was something about him which brings much mystery and intrigue. I don’t know what exactly, perhaps for the way he spoke, the nonchalant tone of his voice, rendered by many as offensive; perhaps because he was treated like a stranger, someone who landed at the wrong classroom; or perhaps for his reserved attitude. Well, frankly, I was not sure if he had any reserve at all. I always had the impression that that’s just the way he was--aloof, uninterested, and laid-back. Quite the simple guy actually.

     Since he sat in front of me, I had every chance of observing his daily behaviors. Nothing much was to be observed, however, because he didn’t express himself openly. Never had I heard him coughed, sighed, let out any impulsive human exclamation. He always had his mouth closed, and very rare had he volunteer to open it. A day would even go by without me hearing any word from him, except when he gets called by the teacher to recite, of course. But other than that, none.

 

     It was in the afternoon break. With no teacher to supervise the class, I sat on my desk rather than my chair, which was prohibited, and faced the windows beside. Rael did the same. Indeed, everybody does the same whenever opportunity presents.

     Our seats were lined alongside the windows, long plate-glass windows which offered a courtyard view from four storeys up, and through which we could sight upon many of the school’s trademark oak trees. My spot was particularly at the back end corner while Rael’s, as I have mentioned, was in front of mine.

     Just for the heck of it, I tried talking with Rael, by using those phony phrases to open up conversations. Sure enough, he was responsive to my questions; however, that’s all there was--response. No more no less, like ‘how about you?’, ‘oh really?’ and so on.

     Thus went our interaction:

     “Today’s unusually dim, isn’t it?” I started with this, to which he only nodded, vaguely. “You think it’s gonna rain?”

     “Not at all,” he replied.

     “Yeah? The forecast says it will, though. You sure about that?”

     “Positive, there’s no wind.”

     “Mmm, I guess so. Those guys never get it right anyway--I mean, everything they say has a fifty-fifty ring to it. It actually rained the last time they announced a sunny day, and hard. I got drenched to the skin.

     There was an awkward pause--for my part at least, because his insensibility I knew so well.

     “Do things like that ever happened to you?” I asked.

     He shook his head, vaguely yet again. “I keep an umbrella at all times.”

     “Good for you,” I said. “I don’t use umbrellas, never did, never will. I just don’t like them. They make me feel… unmanly. I’d rather look childish and wear a raincoat.” I laughed, and a very phony one.

     Another awkward pause… Longer and heavier this time.

     I had to break it.

     “So you really think it’s not gonna rain?”

     “Positive, there’s no wind.”

     His manner offended me in some unexplained way. With damaged pride, as I saw him to be uninterested, I pestered him with petty questions, with extreme irrelevance to anything that has nothing to do with anything. Throughout he showed unyielding patience; all the while cool in temper, which somehow bothered me. He answered every word I threw, although without energy. Just simple plain answers. In the end my scheme backfired and I was the one who got annoyed instead. 

     Obviously his indifference meant no harm, I sensed it. All was part of his nature. And because of it he received the same indifferent treatment from his classmates. But I’m quite certain public image had never crossed his mind. He was the type who wouldn’t care less if there’d be dirt on his face, undaunted to any ridicule, to what people think and say.

     It wouldn’t be proper to judge him as unapproachable--his response for each and every question dismissed that--but he always had this unfriendly air to his bearing which repel those around him.  Overall, he proved to be a disagreeable fellow. I’m sure one or two in class secretly loathed him. But despite all the negative factors surrounding him, we somehow winded up together.

     By coincidence, both of us worked part-time at the same café round Fourth Avenue, a busy section where a great deal of students would regularly pass after their day’s end. And since we sat in class for only a meter apart, took the same route toward the café and the same train home, our days were mostly spent alongside the other, just like Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Needless to say, he and I became quite acquainted to each one’s presence.

     And moreover there was one quality for which we shared, and was, perhaps, the main reason why we banded. Boredom. It goes without saying that a friendship was formed.