Modern Day Santa Claus

MDSC [7]

Chapter 7

Sam walked off before Jae could even open her mouth. Uh-oh. "Hey, I got to go," Jae said, closing her lunchbox and stashing it inside her bag. She glanced once at Skye and smiled apologetically. "I'll see you."

Skye didn't say anything as he watched the girl get up and leave. She didn't even turn back around for the last time. Sighing, he fixed his attention to his phone once more as a bored look settled on his face. His eye caught the glint of the watch on his wrist, and a corner of his mouth twitched upward.

"Is somebody seated here?"

Skye went upward to the source of the voice. A female student, a cute one, had dared ask to sit beside him. He swept his gaze towards the group of girls a distance away behind her like they've been coaxing her to ask him herself. Skye's grin widened. "Nope."

***

"Sam!" Jae called for him again and again. She tried to walk as fast as she can just to catch up with him. She can't run, running was strictly f*******n in the corridors. The last thing she needed was to get sent to the guidance office. "Sam!" She tried not to raise her voice too much so it wouldn't attract attention.

Too late, though. Sam's annoyed look and dark aura had fascinated girls of different classes. They looked at him like a predator circling their prey. Well, Sam was already hot, to begin with, but with this kind of expression, he looked like the bad boy type every regular girl dreamed of.

Jae kept walking. Some girls had thrown her glares for even trying to 'call' his attention. And she was about to reach his arm when someone grabbed her hair from behind and almost pulled her to the ground. With wide eyes, Jae looked at the culprit.

It was the girl from her first class. Mitch. Yes, her. A wicked grin was fixed on her face as she looked at Jae in disgust. "What were you saying earlier, b***h? I thought Sam wanted your company?" she mocked. Her friends were right behind her and laughed at the insults thrown at her. A crowd gathered and it consisted of those who have seen her chase Sam so desperately. Or that was what they saw her look like.

Jae combed a hand through her already frizzy hair and tried to untangle the knots that Mitch made. "I'm sorry, I have to go," Jae said as blankly as she can and then walked away from the forming crowd, only to get pulled back into the circle. This time her hair was grabbed with so much force, she was slammed to the ground.

"Don't f**k around with me, Camilla Jae. We've all heard about you. But look at what we have here. It looks like he doesn't want you anymore, s**t," Mitch hissed. A few students from the group snickered.

Jae tried to stand up, only to get pushed back by a different student. "You think you're better than us!"

"What the hell are you all talking about?!" Jae whispered. This is what happens when you try to befriend one of the hottest guys in school? And Sam was a transfer student, for Christ's sake. If Jae had known this would happen, she wouldn't have approached Sam in the first place.

No, definitely a lie. She would still hang around, Sam. Sam was her friend. Someone she managed to connect with even with unsaid words.

Mitch sneered. "Stop trying to take him all for yourself, bitch."

Sam, you asshole. This was his entire fault. For being friends with her and for not entertaining anyone other than her. But Jae knew deep inside that this was none of his faults. It was these girls' fault for being so thirsty. It wasn't like Sam was the only handsome guy around.

An image flashed in her mind and she tried not to scowl. Why did she think of him? Well, Santa Claus was a really, really beautiful man with his silver-white hair and strong jawbone. Okay, stop. What the hell are you thinking about, Jae?

Jae tried to stand up again and this time, she didn't falter when somebody pushed her again. She remained standing. She locked eyes with Mitch. Mitch raised one of her eyebrows as a smirk played on her lips. "So what do you say, s**t? If you want this to stop, you stay away from Sam."

Jae was about to open her mouth to say a retort when an all-too-familiar voice appeared. "You stay away from her."

The crowd parted and Jae tried not to beam as he stepped slowly into the circle. He wrapped a hand around her arm and then faced Mitch with a terrifying sneer. "If I ever found out you bothered her again, I would end you," he said with such venom in his voice that a chill ran down Jae's spine. Good thing Sam wasn't talking to her.

Mitch turned pale but nodded once. Sam then walked off with his hand still around Jae's arm and dragged her away from the silent crowd. Jae couldn't find any words to say so she clamped her mouth shut as Sam tugged her out of the building and onto the parking lot. To the tree.

Once they arrived, that was only when Sam pulled his hand away and then crossed his arms while he leaned against the thick trunk. Jae couldn't look at him as she sat down on the grass and stared anywhere but him. The silence was not the comfortable one they were used to.

And surprisingly, Sam spoke first. "You left the clinic," he said drily.

Jae didn't turn around to look at him. "You were gone when I woke up," Jae answered. "I thought you left."

"I left to get some food because it was lunch," he replied.

Jae cringed. Oh. So that was the reason. "I'm sorry." So that was why Sam did try to look for her. And found her at the rooftop, with Skye. Was he angry because she left so suddenly and then when he finally found her, she was friendly with someone else? Jae's eyebrows furrowed. Of course, he would've come back. Sam's not that much of an asshole.

"Do those girls always bother you?" he asked.

Jae shook her head. "No, only today." She didn't want to add that it was because she was chasing him down the hallway.

Sam's mood darkened. "Tell me the next time they bothered you again, alright?"

"Ok," Jae only answered.

Sam glanced at his watch. "We better go. The next class is going to start."

Oh right. Jae stood up and then dusted herself off. She suddenly remembered something. "Did you manage to eat, Sam?" He didn't answer. Jae frowned in concern. "You didn't."

"I'm fine. Let's eat lots after class," Sam said as he walked off first.

Jae followed behind. After class? They were going to hang out after class for the first time? A smile lit up Jae's face. "Your treat?"

"Don't get too cocky, CJ."

Jae gasped, offended. "You did not just call me that. That sounds like a name for a boy!"

Sam turned his head sideways to look at her. "Then it suits you well, CJ."

"Oh my god, seriously. Stop."

"It's too late now. You shouldn't have made it obvious that you hated the nickname, CJ," he said with a slight teasing smirk.

"You really are an asshole."

"Did you think otherwise?"

"I'm never making the same mistake again."

***

They had different classes for the next class. That was the only time they weren't together. It was also the only time Jae gets to hang out with a wholly different person from Sam. Her name was Margaret. They both don't know anything about each other, but Margaret had stuck with her whenever they were in this class since Day 1. They never hang out with each other except only if they were in this class.

"Hey, Camilla!" Margaret greeted. She wore her usual plain white sweater and black pants. Jae had only seen her change the color of her sweater every single time and had not seen her other than those clothes.

"Hey Maggie," Jae greeted back. She sat down beside her as usual. They were always seated at the back of the class. And there was always that one, empty seat beside her next to the window. There used to be a student sitting there. But now, that student doesn't come as often as he used to. Which was seldom.

Maggie rolled her eyes. "Oh god, Camilla. You didn't let your hair grow again this year!"

Jae's hair was always, always, just above her shoulders. She liked the medium-length hair the most. Even if Margaret had persuaded her that her frizzy, curly hair would look good in a longer length. "You know my hair's too thick, Maggie. It would be so difficult to wash it. I already have trouble washing this at this length," Jae said as she gestured to her hair.

"Whatever. I told you you'd look great with long hair." Margaret let the subject drop and then leaned her cheek against her hand while she looked at Jae in the most playful way possible. "So... did Santa Claus come to visit you again?"

Jae's cheeks were tinged with pink. Margaret was the only person she told about Santa Claus. She only recently became close with Sam this schoolyear and he was a guy, so she can't tell him. Margaret's like her best friend. But they only interact in this class. But it was also a good thing since Sam wasn't here to disrupt their girl gossip.

Jae put a finger to her lips. "Don't say his name. He knows when he's being talked about," she whispered as if anyone else would be interested in their conversation.

Margaret practically beamed. "Woah, really? So didn't he feel that when I said his name just now?"

Jae shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe not. I don't know how it works. But you kno—"

They both were interrupted by the classroom door opening. A tall, mid-30s man walked inside. He must be their substitute Math professor. Last month, before their Christmas break, their old Math teacher had a stroke and was still residing in the hospital until now.

"Well, damn. I've always wanted a hot professor," Margaret said under her breath as the new substitute teacher walked inside, calling the attention of everyone in the room. Jae couldn't disagree. Their substitute teacher was tall, with a strong jaw and sky-blue eyes. Which sounded like someone familiar.

Jae's breath caught as she finally realized. "My older cousin would be working here." He looked exactly like Skye, except maybe older and his hair was long that it can be tied into a bun. He had a bit of goatee around his jaw which just intensified his matured but kind face.

"Good afternoon everyone. I'm Mr. Wynter Claus, but you can just call me Sir Wynter." His voice was deep but friendly. So unlike someone she knew. And also, Wynter? Seriously? Can these guys be more obvious?

Sir Wynter passed his gaze to each one of our faces and Jae swore she was frozen. Did he know that she knew that his cousin was Santa Claus? Or did Skye tell nobody about their encounters at all? His gaze stopped at someone who sat at the back of the room, someone next to the window, someone beside Jae. But there was no one beside Jae—

She turned her head and almost screamed. Fortunately, she managed to bite back her tongue as her wide eyes took in the person seated right beside her. It was Skye!

Sir Wynter narrowed his eyes. As if he was sending a telepathic message to his cousin to behave. Skye saluted silently and Sir Wynter continued with his interactions. Jae was no longer listening as she stared at the person sitting right next to her. Margaret didn't pay attention to her, she was too busy gawking at the new professor.

"What are you doing here?" Jae whispered under her breath.

Skye pretended that he just saw her. "Oh hey there, Jae. Didn't see you there."

Jae pursed her lips and looked at the teacher before focusing on Skye. "What are you doing here?" she repeated.

Skye shrugged as he coolly leaned down on his seat. "What? I'm just 'sitting in' for my cousin's lecture." But his playful gaze said otherwise.

"Oh my god, get out of here."

"What?" Skye slowly raised an eyebrow, a cheeky glint in his eyes. "You can't concentrate with me here?"

Jae puffed up her cheeks. "Damn it, Skye."

"What?" he said, laughing a little. "You did say my name earlier."

"I di—" Jae paused. If Skye knew that it wasn't her who said his name, then he'll know that she was talking to other people about him! "—did. Y-yes."

Amusement lit up his face. "Then you did call me. And now I'm right here."

Jae rolled her eyes. "Please. As if you can sense where I am."

"You're right. I don't. This was just my cousin's next class. And I was bored to death waiting at the rooftop. Might as well learn something, right?"

Jae frowned in concern. "Aren't you studying or something?"

"Eager to send me away, Jae?" he said dramatically and she scowled. With a little laugh, he added, "I am. But like I said, my cousin wanted to have company today. It's his first day. Plus, didn't you say you want to see me often?"

"I did not!" Jae said it too loudly. The whole class stopped and gaped at her. Skye's cousin that was also her teacher, pursed his lips. In disappointment or amusement, Jae didn't know. Jae sunk on her seat, partially embarrassed by her sudden outburst.

When Jae looked to her left, Skye wasn't there. As if he escaped the moment he knew Jae was going to embarrass herself. That bastard. And with another blink, Skye reappeared, trying to contain his laughter. Jae rolled her eyes and flipped him off.