INNOCENCE (chapter two)

Change of Heart

Sharmaine enters the room without knocking -she has my key duplicate- she move quickly towards the glass window and tie the curtains which covers the sunlight. Sun’s rays crawl inside the room, and make the room’s color to glow. Sharz shake my body to wake me up. “It’s already-” she blow off after seeing a long thin hair inside the blanket. She carefully holds the blanket, cover her mouth with wide eyes and step one pace backward.

“Uhm good morning. It’s not me.” I greet near the bathroom’s door while rubbing my hair. I’m wearing a pink bathrobe.

Sharz pulls me near the door, “What does that girl doing here?” she whispers while gazing at Melody.

“She slept in my room. I think she forgot that she’s in our building or maybe she’s too tired to go back to her room” brushing my hair with towel.

“What did I told you yesterday? They’re dangerous! Did you forget that? Besides your room is at the last floor which is more far from their building.”

“Shh, you might wake her up” I put my hands in Sharz body, “lower your voice please. I’ll tell you everything later.”

“No, we need to talk and you need to get her out in your room” Sharz ordered as if it’s her own room. Our voices are still soft even with high tempers.

We didn’t notice that Melody has been awakened. “It’s ok if you don’t like me here” she said while wearing her slippers, “It’s not your room anyway” she smirks.

“That’s how you talk to your council? Well, just what I expected from the Black Class, no breeding.” Sharz blurted while Melody lowers her head.

I know she step on the line. Sharz is too judgmental by what she said. “Uhm… Sharz” I tried to stop her.

“Never dares to sleep again here or I’m going to report you to the Supremes it’s an order!” she warned.

I cut their conversation by standing in front of Sharz and put my hands above Sharz’ shoulders.

“I think I need to prepare first before having some breakfast, please wait me outside or in the dining room” I said while pushing Sharz outside the room.

Then I lock the room and sigh. Now, what I did is insulting but when I heard Sharz orders I felt like Melody’s status is imprisoned.

“Don’t worry, you can stay here whenever you want to” but Melody didn’t answer felt bad for Sharz’s way of getting Melody out in my room without any reason or explanation. Maybe she knows why but not the same for me. I sit at the floor and put Melody’s hand inside my hand, “What?”

Melody face the balcony, “She’s going to report me, they’re going to punish me” said she and hug me “I’m scared” her voice were trembling.

I tap her back to console her. “Let’s keep this as a secret” I smile, she express her feelings by hugging me tightly full of gratitude.

“I’m going to change my clothes, how about you?”

“I’ll return to our building to changed clothes and prepare for our class at night. Can I… Can I sleep here, forever?”

I don’t know what does forever means, “Sure” she respond.

I brush my teeth, inside the bathroom. When I’d finish dressing my new uniform, my hand accidentally touched the sink and start having a vision: a lady who commits suicide by cutting her wrist through blade. Her blood didn’t drip off into the sink, and her wound heals so fast then she screams.

I immediately escape my hand from the sink, look at the mirror and open the door of the bathroom, Melody’s already gone she precedes to the dining room.

This is not normal… Something’s different in this room…

When I’m getting out of the room, my eyes always flash at the painting across my room; it’s the painting of Lady Rumely according to Sarah.

I continue walking through the dining room and meet my two new friends. I pick foods for breakfast and sit beside them.

 “Good morning” Sarah greets but Sharz didn’t open her mouth for a word but for her food.

“How’s your first night here?” Sarah asked.

It’s too appalling, that Black Academy’s President tortured me. He’s dangerous, very dangerous to befriend just what you’ve told me.

That’s what I really want to say but how can I say it if I don’t find any danger from Melody and Gee.

“Well… It’s great!” I lied, putting the spoon full of rice in my mouth.

“What’s great for having a Black Class roommate?” Sharz gaze at me sarcastically and look back in her food.

“What?!” Sarah gave me an anguish eyes.

“But it’s forbidden” when I heard Sarah’s words, I quickly defend, “Why? Besides I don’t feel they’re hazardous being.”

“Wil, you can’t see or feel they’re deadly side if you can’t be near them.” Though Sharz said the same, I feel tenser in Sarah’s voice. I want to argue with them and tell her why Brilliant Class admires them if they’re dangerous yet I don’t find courage to do so.

“Sharz I know what you mean but believe me, maybe there’s really troubling from the Black Class but Gee and Melody’s different from them.”

Sharz didn’t listen, “If you really get what I mean, then starting from now you’re going to evade from them. If not, the council will decide.” Her strict side sprout.

After saying those words, Sharz stand and walk through the class room.

“Sharz wait! Don’t-” but Sharz left.

“Sarah, please talk to her. The council must know nothing” I beg.

“Ok, I’ll try but you can’t hide it for a long time. Please be careful and decide wisely” then Sarah also leaves.

I was alone now in their table, having a self realization why do the Brilliant Academy students admire the Night Class but believe that they’re dangerous?

In our class, I tried to talk to Sharz but she never pays attention to me. Our teacher allure me for not listening so the teacher called my name, “Ms. Wilhelmina Zara” I blink my eyes many times.

“Yes…ma’am?” I asked “What do you remember about the lines of Romeo when he first saw Juliet?” I don’t know how to answer, I has been concentrated to the Night Class appearance than their lines.

I can even kill you at this moment. Don’t try to cling on me if your life is important to you.

That’s what I could remember from last night, the lines of the Night Class’ President, Rod’s line who played for Romeo’s role.

“Ms. Zara I’m waiting” the teacher said while giving me a pay-attention-to-the-class look.

“I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t remember their lines because I’m being attracted to the Theater’s arrangement and Night Class characteristics” I honestly said.

“Well, it’s only your first day here. Next time you must be more observant to their lines, props and concept” reminded the teacher.

I sat on my seat and write a letter for Sharz, I put the paper on the top of the table facing Sharz.

 

How many minutes are we going to stay in the room?

 

But Sharz only rolled her eyes.

Don’t be like that. I’ll promise I’ll never tell anyone about last night.

 

After she read it, Sharz replied to her.

 

You’re not letting her to sleep to your room again? And start avoiding them?

 

Wil curved her lips downward, Sharz felt disaapointed.

 

I see I’m not telling anyone about your secret besides it’s your secret not mine.

 

 

After 240 minutes, the morning class over. Sharmaine moved hurriedly going outside the room with Sarah. I felt depressed for treating me like that. I can’t blame them for their acts because it was my fault, for caring and welcoming Melody and Gee but to the other side, I can’t consider it as fault, there’s no mistake in consorting the two.

I brought my black shoulder bag to the dining room. I run through the hall way to joined with them, Sharz and Sarah.

“What are you going to pick?” but both of them did not answer. I select the foods that my friends take, I observe that there’s no available seat for us then someone called my name, “Wil!” Melody waved her hand.

“Here, seat here.” I gawk at Sharz and Sarah “Let’s take their offer.”

“You’re the only one who they’ve invited” Sharz said coldly.

“Don’t be choosy, I’m hungry.” Sarah pulled Sharz at her arms.

I know that they’re not that friendly to each other, but how hard it is I want to try even a single situation like this. I take Melody’s offer, Gee and Melody transfer beside Rod while Sharz across Melody, Sarah opposite Gee and me facing Rod.

“Thanks for the seat Melody” I look at Melody with a warm smile and glance at Rod.

“It’s ok. I also want to introduce you to my brother and cousin. I look in every corner of the dining room even I know that she’s talking about Gee and Rod, “Who?” I asked still pretending that I never met them personally.

“This is my super caring brother Gee, and the never-smile-face person in Black Academy, my cousin Rod.”

“Hi, nice meeting you” said Gee.

What the heck? Why did he pretend that he just met me this time? And I did the same way…

I smile, “This is my two loyal friends Sharz and Sarah” the two smiled back at them but Rod’s attention stick at his meal.

I look at him, he looks gentle and inscrutable, my heart beat fast, don’t try to cling on me if your life is important to you, I remember again. It seems that he bears it in my mind.

His eyes meets mine when he turn his head to us, my heart pumps as it going to jump out not because of affection but because of suspicion and uneasiness with him. He rotate her head with his body, we all trace his gaze and see that there’s group of students near the entrance of the dining room arguing. The fight was between the students of Black and Brilliant Academy. He breezeless stand and walk near the fight, the Night class student is about to smack the Day class but Rod hold his fist. The students broaden their eyes knowing their President in between them.

“Report to the office now!” he ordered. His eyes were full of peace and dispassion, very different from our first meeting at the Acacia Tree.

“President, the Day class started this fight. They’re challenging us.” The Night Class defended while pointing the Brilliant Academy’s student.

Rod turn to face the day class student, “If you want to fight then not one of my allies.”

This time his eyes were reflecting hatred and war so sudden to change from being in composure, “Hey! Brilliant Academy’s students never challenged anyone without any good reason. Maybe your student starts the argument.” Sharz yelled and defended the Day class student.

“Shut up your big mouth Ms. President of the Brilliant Academy. You don’t even know who’s your talking with” the involved student said with a pushed in her shoulders.

“Whose don’t know who? Do you think I’m a lower grade like you?”

“Your f-” Rod raised her hands in front the Night Class. “Stop that exchanging of negative thoughts. Let’s continue the argument on an archery contest.” Rod suggested.

“I’ll take the challenge.” The other student said.

Rod leaves the room with all the Night class students, and the Day class followed them outside the school. I sense Sharz’ sizzling emotion not a feeling of let’s-talk-about-it agreement but you-declare-the-war expression in her face.

They prepare the arrows and red mats target, each Class has five representatives since I’m the new student, I act as the scorer of the contest. I have nothing to do with that most awaited archery encounter between the two classes.

The Brilliant Academy was on the left corner of the ground while the Black Academy stands at the right side.

Sharz take the first set of the game, she hold the bow and arrow across the target with her left hand, her eyes focus at the red target, and she points her right forefinger, stretched the arrow and releases it. I check if Sharz hit the target, I raise my hand, “bullseye!” I shouted. No one from the Brilliant Academy rejoice, they were expecting it from Sharz since she was the best Archer in the campus.

The next person to take the challenge is Rhoell one from the Black Academy. He handed the arrow in his right hand and released it without estimating the right angle, form and distance in archery.

He’s also good in this kind of sport I heard from his schoolmate but he doesn’t hit the target instead wounded my arms. I never feel it at first but when he smiled, I suddenly notice my sleeve cut by the edge of the arrow.

Gee suddenly appear near me and lick the blood, the sun’s rays was too hot touching my face but I can feel those cold lips of Gee in my skin.

Someone blocks the light, someone was standing in front of us until he grab Gee’s arm and slapped him in his face.

I was shock.

Sharz and Sarah run to me put a cloth to my wound to stop bleeding but the blood stopped dripping when Gee licked it.

“Hands off her” the voice was familiar to me, I lift up my body and chin up to see who’s talking. Rod’s eyes we’re like those eyes I’ve met that night, those gaze that I remember which gives me a chill in bones.

Gee bent his right knee, bow and curved his right arm near his stomach, “I’m sorry President” he apologized.

“The game is over, Brilliant Academy wins” Rod declare. All the students babble, and the Day class shouted for disagreement, “Why? We still have four representatives from each side” Sharz complain.

“We wounded your ally it’s an enough reason to cancel this game. Take this as your first blood with us.” Rod glances at me, more thoughtful and honest.

“I assure you that the Night Class students who started the commotion with your student will be punish, especially the one who cause your wound” he stack his eyes sharp to Rhoell. His voice we’re sincere but dishearten.

“Wait, it was just a scratch so there’s no need to punish him. It was an accident anyway.” I explain but the Night Class students return to their building without looking back at me.

“I told you they’re troublesome. See what they’ve done to you? I’m begging you Wil, avoid them starting from now or else they’ll destroy the Brilliant Academy.” Sarah said.

“Besides it’s not an accident, he did it on purpose,” Sharz added.

But as I can see it’s not an accident although I spot a smile in that man’s face before I could feel the pain.

Then a girl approach us, she was the mother of Juliet in the Drama yesterday. Her grayish-colored eyes fit to her personality, a person who doesn’t find wisdom but merciless, “No one wants it. Don’t blame your carelessness to us.”

“What?! Our to carelessness?” Sharz echoed.

The girl rolled her eyes, fold her arms above her chest, “Who told her to stand beside the target? She must take the possibilities that the archer may not hit the target but her.”

“It’s not her fault! Your brother is just an idiot not knowing the difference between the target and the scorer.” This time Sharz is more rebelling and roaring like a lion in front of the girl.

“How could he differentiate them if she’s too close to the target? Look, I know that my brother is an idiot but she’s stupid!” after uttering those words, she turn around and step her feet away from us. Maybe she doesn’t want to fight with us but just defend her brother for the damage he had done to me.

“You!” exclaimed Sharz but I grasp her and shook my head.

“One more thing, if my brother really wants to hit her maybe…” she faced them, “She’s dead now” I spot a smile in her lips their smiles are the same, no wonder they’re siblings. She runs through their building.

“Why did you stop me? I want to make her bald!” aforesaid Sharz. “Please, let’s forget about this.”

“I don’t think so” Sarah reacted. “Stay in your room, wait for us with your new uniform.”

“How about attending the afternoon class?”

Sarah sigh and Sharz tap my back, “We’ll make it up. If you attend the class with your uniform damage, they’ll going to ask you what had happened and they might know that you step on the limits. If you want to take it as a secret then follow what were saying.”

“Thank you Sharz, promise I’ll be more careful”

Sharz hug me tightly. She’s not unfriendly at all.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ll be careful because how hard you try to make things with mindfulness they can still harass you the way they want.”

“Sharz right. What you need is to be more observable than careful” Sarah winks.

I follow what my friends said and stay in my room. I lay in bed and reminiscing the memories with my friends in my former school thenI hurriedly pick my cell phone and dial mother’s number.

“Hello?” said mother.

“Hello mom? It’s me, Wil.”

“Sorry but II don’t have a child. Maybe you call a wrong number.” mother said. I know it’s her, I can still remember my mother’s voice.

Maybe she’s just teasing me but it’s not funny, “Mom, you must be kidding me.”

“I’m really sorry. Why won’t you check the number? I’m a busy person bye.” She turns off her cell phone.

My tears run down my face, my heart is aching. Why did mother say that she didn’t know me? I dialed correctly. Did she throw me here? Mother… I need to talk to you. Why did you do this so sudden… What does it mean… Mother…

I hug my pillow and cry silently.

A guy from the balcony knocks at my window. I open it and stun knowing that his face was near mine. “Did you cry?” As he going to wipe the tears in my eyes, I push him forcefully and he almost jumps out the balcony. I immediately grab his arms and pull him inside the room. We both fall in the floor, his body over me, “Whew, that was too close” Gee said.

“Yah, I’m sorry” I apologize. “It’s ok, it was also my fault.” Gee stand and help me to get up.

“Wh-what did your President do to that guy?” I ask not facing him.

“Are you assuring that he’ll be punish by wounded you?” Gee answered in a questionable manner, more sarcastically with his smile.

I sit at the edge of my bed, “No, what I mean is he doesn’t need to do that.”

He sat beside me, “Well, you’ll know tomorrow. For now let’s take this time for us, only for the two of us.”

Hearing Gee uttered those words make me feel uncomfortable for no reason, feeling embarrass or trouble if he will see me blushing, “What do you mean?”

He scratched his neck, “I just want to stay here with you until our class starts.” Then he holds my hand which is wounded, “Does it stop bleeding?”

I retract my hand, “Yeah, thanks anyway… Is the penalty mild?”

Gee look outside the window, “Hey, why did you keep asking me that? Do you care?”

“Of course! It’s-”

Before she could continue, he clasped her chin and put it near in his face, “I’m jealous” Gee said while looking straightly in my eyes.

Silence reigns inside the room I can clearly hear the sound of the wind, even the sound of my heart beat. I didn’t utter words; strong electricity strikes my heart. I don’t know if Gee can hear what I can, or if he feels the same.

“I…” I want to say something but no words came out, can’t express my feelings, can’t understand my heart beating, can’t evade my eyes at him.

Gee regain his hand, he put his hands in his neck and lay down in her bed, “Don’t worry about them, they’re penalty is mild, too mild to be strange” while looking in the ceilings of the room.

I can’t understand what does he mean, Gee see my eyebrows meet in the middle, lower part of my forehead.

“He’s just not an ordinary President of the Black Academy, he’s a son of a very influential family ruling this school, and I can say that he’d changed. Usually, when he punishes students, they’re never come back… but this time it’s different.”

How could a person like him change? Never come back? What he’s doing to those students disappearing without ashes? Did he really kill them as what he told me that night?

He noticed that I’m not responding, I want to know what does he mean but I can’t ask so he changed their topic. “My sister don’t know that I’ve meet you secretly before she does.”

I want to ask why but before I could spell a word, “Because she might feel jealous if she knows that I’ve met her friend before her.” he continued.

I also lay in bed, my hands above my stomach, “Know what? She’s sweet and kind to me. I think I loved her as my own sister.”

He stares at me, “Great! It’s easy for us to get along well” I avoid his gaze; his eyes are full of sincerity.

“I don’t want to get along with you if you can’t knock on my door and wait for my permission to come inside. Besides you’re on my properties so-”

He turns his body over me, his arms cornered my left and right side, “So you can also own me” he smile nautically.

We had an eye to eye contact for a moment when someone knocks on my door.

I stand and walk through the door. Whoever it was who knocked on my door help me to avoid those Gee’s temptation.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I just want to check if you’re ok.” Melody said. “Come in.”

I put my eyes around the room, Gee’s gone. Where did he go? His like a mushroom, suddenly appear and eventually gone. I thought.

“Here, I brought juice and cakes for us. Sweets can fade away your tiredness and pain,” Melody’s kindness to me is like we’re really siblings.

“Uhm, thank you” I notice that she brought three glasses of juice. She glimpse at me, she was placing it above the table.

“My awful brother, don’t hide, I can sense you” she said while drinking her juice, get a sliced of cake and put it in her mouth.

I can’t see Gee around. I wonder how Melody sensed that there’s a person inside this room except her.

Gee disclose the cabinet’s door, “Hi my beautiful loving sister, I thought you’re in your room” he said as if he was not caught in action. He’s good in pretending even he has been captured.

“Yeah, don’t you know that it’s also my room now?” Melody gaze him with her violet-colored eyes.

“So I know what’s not proper in here” I was surprise to what Melody said. It’s her second time in that room yet, she’s more knowledgeable enough in each edge of the room.

Gee open his mouth because of astonishment; he grabs my shoulders, “Is that true Wil?”

I can see a child characteristic in his eyes, so cute and can melt my heart, I can’t decide what to respond. I eyed Melody but she’s busy eating the cakes then I glance back at him, “Ok, I already know. Silence means yes,” he said.

“See” Melody agree.

 

 

Hours passed by, Sharz and Sarah order new pair of uniforms and track the stairs leading to my room. When they’re about to knock the door, they heard the sounds of people’s laugh inside. She opens the door without knocking and sees us having a great time to each other, we stop in motion. I know that Sharz already warned me about this matter but I can’t help it, can’t avoid those amiable Night class students, my eyes we’re exchanging from Sharz and Melody who have the guts to start a new agonizing conversation. She gives Sarah a hold-her-arms-quickly look but before Sarah understand what she wants to say, Melody spoke.

“Don’t you know how to knock?” Melody said in a high tone. Sharz grin her teeth as a sign of war has been declare between them. Sarah grabs her arm to lessen her exasperation, “Hey, she’s just kidding, don’t mind this brat!”

Gee fortified while touching Melody’s long smooth hair. Melody parries his hand away to her hair. She combed it by her hand and rests her hair in top of her shoulders.

“You two want war?” Sharz challenged. I find a time to abate the pressure, “No, Sharz I invited them here. I’m bored so-”

She put the uniform above the bed, “You’re making things complicated Wil. You don’t have the right to step on the line.” Sharz shouted.

My eyes are full of despair and disconcert. Sharz’ right for accusing me making things out of the path. I’m new but they treat me differently just like an important person. They trust me before I arrive by accepting me in this school yet I betray them.

No other students can hear us because my room is the only facility in that floor. Sharz turn her back at us, the speakers’ inside the building tuned in. “All students please proceed to the ground. We’re having our Archery Class” it repeats three times.

She jump over Gee and hold her neckline, I was very tense for the situation, “Now what? Tell me Night class student…What your President is planning to do with her?” Her eyes we’re full of violence, her hands hold Gee tightly.

“Put away your dirty hands to my brother” Melody said while pulling Sharz body out of Gee.

“I don’t know anything. You as the Brilliant Academy’s President must know more than I” Gee replied. His eyes are telling the truth, and he’s right that Sharz must know everything. She releases Gee’s neckline. “Are you ok brother?” Melody worries.

I stand beside Sharz and hug her right arm.

“I’m going to talk with him” she looks at me, put away her hands and walk while facing the door, “Wait!” Gee stop. She stopped but not facing him, “That’ll be your greatest mistake. If he had decided things in his own you cannot change it. You know what I mean” he ended, but she’s still stand for what she knows is right.

“I’m going… hurry up and assemble in the ground.” Sarah said turn her back, “Sarah, if things will be out of her control-”

Sarah faced her with a smile, “Don’t worry about her. She can handle it. It’s you to know how to handle things like this”

After those words came out from Sarah’s mouth, she quickly ran outside to get Sharz. I understand what Sarah meant, I look back at Gee and Melody, and they’re not a person to be avoided.

            We scan the ground all students from different class get along well with each other. The students who are well-trained in using the bow and arrow, teaches the students who wants to learn in handling such athletic instrument. For Gee and Melody the scene was really an imagination but for me it’s a good start for everyone.

            A guy approach me, he’s the cause of my wound. He hold my hand and kissed it, “I’m sorry” he said.

His amber-color eyes glares when I look at him. “What do you think you’re doing?” Gee executed.

“The President ordered me to be kind to her and protect her for the rest of my life. It’s his punishment to me” he faced me, “I’m Rhoell” he introduced.

Gee pushed him, “Why you?” he complain.

“It’s an order I don’t have the right to question it, even you.” Then he pulls me in a gentle way, “Where are you going?” Melody asked.

“I’m going to teach her, and have a nice bonding moment with her. If you two interrupt you’re disobeying the President. Clear?” I can’t even say no, or tell him that I want to go with the two.

“Don’t worry this time I’ll be careful” he winks at me.

I glance back at Melody and Gee, they really want to have this time with me and I want the same way but we can’t make a move since it was ordered by their President.

I was thinking about what he had said, it’s an order I don’t have the right to question it, even you, full of why’s and what’s.

He picked up the bow and arrow, gives it to me and said, “Hold it.” I clutch the arrow in my right hand and the bow on the other hand. Rhoell put his hand over my hand; control my arms in handling the arrow in proper posture of an archer. His eye we’re focus at the red mats, while my eyes we’re stack at him.

He glance at me, “As what I’ve thought” then he put back his attention at the red mats, “focus on the target not on my face.” I’m embarrassed.

“Well, well, well, is this for real?” the girl asked. She is his sister, Rhoell pace one step forward, “Do you have problem with that?” her eyes sharpen, I speak, “He was just teaching me on how-”

“Shut up! You’re pissing me off.” She yelled over me.

“Stop it Ella!” Rhoell shout back, “He’s the one who ordered me to do this kind of thing.”

“Oh, seems that his under her dark power.” She laughs sarcastically. Her eyes stack at me. I feel troublesome and disastrous moment that time. Rhoell walked through my back, “If you don’t mind will you get out of the way? Or do you want to be the target?” he said while guiding my arms in realesing the arrow.

The girl’s gray-colored eyes gaze at me again, it’s furious and agitated. Rowela run away towards the forest. I turn to face him and he gives a devastating smile. “Don’t worry it’s just a misunderstanding between siblings.” He just said to her.

No, of course it’s not just a misunderstanding between the two of you. We’ve already encountered her detrimental manner and I don’t want to get involved with her again.

“I’m sorry for the two of you to come up with that unexpected conversation.” I said not looking at him.

“Believe me, the more unexpected situation is if we ended the day without arguing” he smirk but I never react as if it was fine for me. He clasps my chin and put his face across to mine, “From now on, I’m protecting you for the rest of my life” His amber-colored eyes we’re always admirable, enough reason to believe him.

An arrow passed by between us. It makes my heart to beat faster like I stop breathing. She knows that he’s also flabbergasted because her eyes we’re full of worries, he look around, see nothing. He put his eyes to me, “Are you alright?” he asked.

Of course I’m not alright it almost hit my aqua-blue eyes.

“Whe-where does it come from?” I ask without blinking sign that I was shock.

“I don’t know but someone is making fun of us. He’s just around” he said while circling his eyes around the ground, assuring my security in his arms.

“I think I’d better go inside the room.”

“Yeah, let’s go” he immediately agree and lead me to my room.

When I’m about to go, Rhoell latch on to my hand, “If you need something just tell me. We’re both strangers to each other but I guess helping you is better than treating you nothing.”

I smile and barge into my room, close door while my head is resting on it. I turn around and an arrow’s edge stubbed in my door. How could an arrow enter in the room if the archer targets her from the lower part of the building? I notice a white rolled paper in the arrow, I get it and read what it says.

 

I’m watching you. Don’t put yourself into danger.

 

I run through the balcony to check if somebody is there but I saw no one even a traced of person who just dropped this arrow in my room. The message makes me sense protected yet troublesome.

I think of a person who could do that, it’s not Sarah, she’s always want peace between the two classes and don’t find them dangerous, not Sharz who is a happy-go-lucky person and always direct to the point, not Melody and Gee who are the possible involve to danger everyone said.

Could it be the President of the Night class? No, it’s impossible to be him if he just ordered Rhoell to protect me but why did he command it? Protect me to whom?

I then remember what Gee told me that their President is acting strange this time.

Is this also connected to the arrow passed by us in the ground?

I sigh and lay down in bed with close eyes; a blood, the bloods, there’s full of blood all over my room. I lift up the half of my body, and gasps. The bloods smell stinks in my nose until I see my room full of blood I was surrounded by blood, my eyes widely open yet, I still seeing the bloods, my knees reach my head, cover it by my hands and screamed.

I’m not afraid of blood, I don’t have any phobias related to blood but when I saw those bloods scattered in my room, I’m trembling. Really scared and paranoid yet I don’t know why.

The students who are in teaching-learn session with the other student stop in motion searching for the girl who just yelled inside the building. The only people who familiarize my voice run through my room and saw me lying in the floor, gazing at the ceilings but not blinking.

“What happened?” Sharz asked while slapping my face gently but I’m not answering, I can’t hear anything, can speak nothing.

Melody shake my body, “Hey, wake up! Are you sleeping with open eyes?” still I freeze.

Rod sits at my right side, I can see what they’re doing but my body’s feeling paralyzed. He put my head and put it in his arms, his fingers run through my face, I can feel it. He kissed my forehead and my consciousness return.

“What-” I tried to ask them, “Shhh… Everything will be fine” he said.

His voice was loaded of caress and affection, not sure if it’s for me or to the trouble I made. Sharz and Sarah glimpse at him and help me to lie in bed. Sharz squeeze my hand and say goodbye.

Wait, where are you going? What happened? I want to tell but I don’t have the strength to say such words. They left me alone in my room. They want me to take some rest but I don’t feel tired even my stamina loose.

I can’t remember what Rod did to have my consciousness with that position. His lips touch my forehead. I forgot all the things I saw before they rush into my room. I know nothing, remember nothing; my eyes start to close before I fall asleep, without knowing anything.

 

 

I rest my body like my soul was flying in outer space, my eyes opened. My sight first determine the darkness, I’m expecting Melody to be there but no one is with me inside the room, my bones suddenly quiver, not because of below zero air but for no reason. I observe the room, ever since I arrived to that school and dragged in this room, I always undergo different vision in different part of the building but same person, not familiar to me maybe related. I suspected that there’s another vision I saw before I fall asleep, before my consciousness returns, I almost twist my mind to remember everything but I can’t.

I suddenly hear the voice of the flute, someone is playing the flute and I know who it is. No one tell me to track down to the building, its harmonious sound makes my heart even better, my worries fade, and I totally forgot that I lose my strength. I saw Rod under the big Acacia tree, tried to be near him but I remember what he told me the first night we’ve met in the same place at the same time. She acted to run back to the building but someone stop me. His hands we’re cold and chilly, I face him, my eyes we’re concern and indigenous.

“Would you stay… with me for a while?” he said, his eyes we’re begging for an answer of yes. I nod and walk to sit, in an avenue-like seat; it is a classic cast iron seat with hardwood slats usually seen in the town or rural setting. His arms we’re rested in leaning part of the seat, I never dare to look at him or even gaze his adorable but killer eyes.

Then he speaks, “I’m sorry,” he said. I stare at my front, reaching the trees from distant by my sight, that’s the words I’m dying to hear, the words which makes me at ease.

“I don’t mean it” he added. At this point, I glare at him without any hesitation, “Wh-what did you say?” I baffle. I want to confirm if I heard it correctly, if I heard the right words he said, if he really spoke those strange words.

Rod didn’t repeat what he had said before but he spelled another words, “Let’s turn over a new leaf.”

I think about his suggestion. Yes, it’s better to start over again but it’s hard for me since we started to a nightmare.

He’s waiting for my answer; I turn my head down, “Let’s try.” Then I gaze at the stars in the sky, “It’s not bad to try but it’s better than threatening each other as enemies.”

He unexpectedly snatched my head and put it in his chest. I can feel his frigid body yet it doesn’t give me a chill like before. I was longing for this way of consoling, this way of caring, I really admire our position under the black twinkling sky.

“Go back to your room, it’s getting cold outside” he said but I want to reject him, I want to stay here by his side, I feel safe when he’s around, in just a short period of time knowing him makes me contented as it we’re  already known each other from the past.

“But…” I started, “Don’t say a word. It makes me feel that you want to hang out with me here” he’s kidding I know but he just guess the truth. I can say that he’s right for I know it’s not yet the right time to get along with him in that situation.

“No, I’m going inside” I said. Rod gently touched me and kissed the tip of my hair, I was surprised it’s the second time he kissed me, if the kiss in my forehead and the kiss in the tip of my hair can be called as a kiss. His lips formed a smile, it’s the first time she saw him smiled; I also remember how Melody had introduced him in the canteen, a never-smile-face person.

“Now go, I want to watch you over here when you enter safely in your room. Don’t forget to close your window.” He commanded as if I’m one of his allies but I feel his sincerity while uttering those words.

I return at my room, straightly through the balcony and watch over at the Acacia tree, he’s still there watching me. He smile warm and wide and turn back to his dorm, aforetime I unopened the window, a shadow of a man caught my attention. It was like watching me but suddenly disappear into thin vast of dark.  I close the door and freely lay my body down.

A thorn has been detached in my heart after this night, after he spoke to me, after the things happened to me