PROLOGUE

1379 Words
Though it was still summer, it was quite breezy. With the leaves stirring into the direction of the wind, I gasped to look at the podium that he used while delivering the lecture. Gently, I placed my palm on the same spot and stroked it.  “I precisely remember that he kept his hand here when he was having the discussion on the topic, ‘Renaissance’. He’s extremely knowledgable on the subject.”  Thereon, I rested my face on the same podium while remembering the sweet memories that I shared with him. At one point in my life, I was sure that he was my soul mate. I knew it in my heart.  “There’s nobody better than you.” I spoke while recollecting the events of the day when I was in my junior high. He used to pick me up from the school, and then drop me at my home. In the course of dreaming and wishing on surreal things, I almost forgot about the reality. The reality in which I stood near the podium of an empty classroom. The things that were taking the space of that room were I, my feelings and his podium, upon which my face rested.   Suddenly, I heard someone call out my name. Who could it be? I turned around to see him standing right here. I wonder if he could figure out from my actions what I was doing. “Oh, you’re still here?” He spoke with a kind smile.  Shocked, I looked at him. I was embarrassed for what I was doing. I literally sniffed and caressed his podium with my cheek. Geez! Anyways, I had to say something. All I could manage to speak was his name. “M ... Mr Silas?”  He chuckled as he reminded me, “That isn’t appropriate. You are supposed to address me as your ‘teacher’ here, Adi.” I was grateful that my bangs could cover my eyes as I was too embarrassed to gaze into his eyes. Anyways, I had to give him a response. Therefore, I spoke, “... And you know that it’s not Adi, sir.”  “Oh, right. Forgive me, Miss Addison.” The man said humbly. “But, that doesn’t feel right. I have known you ever since you were little. How can I suddenly change that habit?”  His voice was melodious. He was the kindest man that I had ever seen in my life. I was glad I could get the privilege to know and care for him. While I was engaged in making up bubbly dreams in my head, filled with thoughts of affection for him, someone called out to him. “Mister Silas?”  It was that tramp, Miss Natalie. She was also a teacher there. She used to teach us fiction.  Within a second, he turned his gaze away from me, and looked at the source. I was disheartened.  “Oh.. Miss Natalie?”   With a gentle smile, the woman turned her gaze towards me, and spoke, “Hello there, Miss Addison.” I was stunned as I couldn’t understand why she’d greet me. Consequently, I couldn’t immediately respond.  In a low voice, I greeted her back, “Hello.” “Is there something you need?” Silas interjected as he rushed to be by her side. He was swooned over by that woman. Anybody could decipher that from his actions. As he went to be around that woman, he left me in the dingy abyss of loneliness.  The cunning woman pushed the files upon him that she had been carrying, and declared, “Oh, right! You forgot this in the staff room. Here’s your folder and other relevant files.”  While stuttering, he expressed his gratitude, “Oh, thank you very much.”  He was so nervous that he almost made a fool out of himself. Depressed, I just slipped away as I didn’t want to hear anymore of that. While I was engaged in dragging my heavy steps out of the classroom, I ended up bumping into the guy who was fast-approaching the class.  My head had collapsed with his chest. Since he was tall, I initially couldn’t see his face clearly. Just when I fixed my hairs behind my ear, I could raise my head and look at the person present  in front of me. Precisely then, I realised it was actually my boyfriend. He didn’t seem to mind that I walked without taking notice of my surroundings.  Nevertheless, I had to apologise. “I didn’t see you,” I spoke while lifting my gaze. Definitely not the earnest apology you’d have heard.  He didn’t respond as he too could clearly hear the voices of both of our teachers laughing and making merry with one another in the classroom. I grew extremely uncomfortable and jealous of Miss Natalie as the voice of her laugh grew considerably louder. That was pretty evident through the manner in which I awkwardly clenched my fist. I was hurt. I was ignored, and needed an escape from this ever-growing feeling of loneliness which amassed from the depth of a river, to that of an ocean.  After glaring at my face, the guy whom I had bumped into, claimed, “Oh, I thought you’d cry.”  He knew me very well, and my circumstances as well. I knew he’d say something like that. That was particularly the reason why I swallowed the hurt and forced a smile.   I grinned in a silly manner as I spoke, “You’re stupid if you think that.” Hopeless, painful, and unrequited love, that’s what it was. I couldn’t help but think that it would have been better if Mr Silas were with me, instead of Miss Natalie. My fickle mind kept comparing myself to her. The only question that kept tormenting me was- Are they really beautiful together, Mister Silas and Miss Natalie? Within a breath, I responded, I don’t think they are.  The guy observing me gazing vacantly outside the window, finally waved his hand in front of my eyes to grasp my attention. Just when I glimpsed at him, he remarked, “Hey, why do you appear lost? Come with me.”  Though we haven’t been together for too long, we did begin to perceive each other’s emotions quite clearly. I could see that he observed my uneasiness at that moment. That’s why he grabbed my hand, and I willingly walked with him to an unfamiliar corner of the campus.  There, we held each other’s hands tenderly in hopes of ridding ourselves of the familiar ache. Gradually, he moved his face closer to mine. In similar scenario, any girl in my place would get shy. I didn’t. I just stared at his face, hoping he would just kiss me. Also, there was nobody around us. Just I, him and our loneliness making merry behind the back of a tree on our playground.  As he brought his lips closer while eradicating the space between us, I couldn’t help but speculate harder on the angst of Love. While I was lost in the thoughts, the guy finally claimed my lips.  Though the nature was certainly there to witness our little make-out session, our hearts weren’t. That somehow didn’t bother me much.  Finally, he held me in his arms while still circulating his tongue inside my mouth. While his grasp over my body solidified, I hugged him back. Soon, I grew breathless. Just when he let me go, I began to breathe again. In discussing the matter of my heart, I almost forgot to tell you about the guy that I collided with, and I have been dating for few moths. He’s my boyfriend, Zack Henley. I don’t love him.  Even though I was making out with Zack, Mister Silas was the one I adored. It was the same with this guy. Though he was with me, he was in love with Miss Natalie, our literature teacher.  In concrete words, we were each other’s replacement for someone else.   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ AUTHOR’S NOTE  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Add this book to your library, if you’re an avid reader of the romance genre. Thank You.
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