Code Red : The Series

Chapter 3

It's just a girl.

A girl with white hair.

Seriously, how did she get in here? My private room! Did she pick the lock? Or maybe she has some kind of master key? Is she some kind of professional thief, maybe it runs in the family? This is crazy!

And I can't even see her face! All that hair, completely covering it. She's got her back to me, facing the wall. All I can make out is a light blue windbreaker. The whole thing is just so weird and unsettling. What's going on?

Seriously? Are students actually this crazy now? It's a heatwave, and they're all wearing jackets? Wait...

It can't be that girl, right?

My curiosity is getting the better of me and I hope it's really not that girl because I SWEAR!! I'll kill her!!

I was about to touch her, wanting to at least slightly pull her bangs up to finally see her face. But unexpectedly, as I reached out, she reacted.

“hmm... Sin-sino...—” she mumbled, with her voice of a sleepy whisper. She's also fighting the urge to stay awake—her eyes... Red-rimmed eyes fluttered open, but the pull to sleep was just too strong. Tssk...

“Sleep.”

I whispered back as my hands reached and gently closed over her eyes, shutting out the world. But the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips sent a shiver down my spine.

I didn't know what I was feeling. Was it fear? Or something deeper, something more intense?

Ugh, none of my concern.

—

So... when's she going to wake up? Does she even have a schedule? It's been fifteen minutes already. I wish she was dreaming about me so she'd wake up, because, let's be honest, I'm a nightmare.

Sipping my coffee, I'm sitting here with my legs crossed, managing my finances on my laptop. Yeah, I run my own business. Pretty awesome, right? I'm busy with school, but I handle everything myself. It's a lot, but I'm managing.

I had a ton of customers today, and then my supplier called—they're completely out of stock. I'm hoping tomorrow's supply arrives...

"Sino ka?" Hmm.

I turned my face to this girl, glad she's awake. Her almost white hair, a bit longer than shoulder-length, falls in soft waves around her face, almost like a wolf-cut. Her bangs are also not overly thick, just a touch of shadow frames her forehead.

Her eyes, though... were strange. They held a strange stillness and a lack of emotion that made my skin crawl. They were like pools of blood or black water, reflecting nothing back. Plus, her eyebrows make it even worse. She has thick, straight eyebrows.

But then, my gaze was drawn to her lips. They were slightly parted, as if she were about to speak. Again, I found myself drawn back to her eyes, our gazes locking in a strange silence.

“It's hot, why don't you take off your jacket? ”I broke the silence.

“It's mainit, take off—”

“Naiintindihan kita.” Her cold voice interrupted my words.

"Oh?"

I watched as she slowly pulled off her jacket, revealing that she was literally sweating. She's also wearing a simple white tank top with a cute necklace shimmering against her pale ski—

...

A wave of self-consciousness washed over me. I was totally checking her out, like some kind of p*****t. I quickly looked away, focusing on my laptop screen. I'll wait for her to speak. And... I need to stop this. I need to remember why she's here and what this is really about.

—

A minute has passed, the heck, she still hasn't spoken a word!! The silence is so frustrating!!

So I decided to turn to her again, but this time with my full body. Btw, she's kind of funny, sitting curled up like a child, knees drawn to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. And oh, she's wearing glasses.

"Gosh, why do I have to deal with a child..." I muttered under my breath, and a sigh escaped my lips. I couldn't help but feel annoyed.

But I took a deep breath, and I decided to close the distance between us. As I stood before her, I felt her shift, and her gaze finally met mine.

You're in trouble now.

"So... tell me, how did you get into my private—PRIVATE—room? I have the key, and I don't recall giving it to anyone, not even my cousin. So how?" I asked, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed, head tilted slightly.

“Buk..s nay...” What? goddammit.

“Ok look! Speak clearly!! I can't understand you!! And oh! stop sulking or hiding your face now!!”

“Bukas nayan!”

I wasn't expecting her little shout as she responded to my words. I was surprised that I jumped, startled, and my body jolted away from the wall.

“Ok, like how? Who opened it if it's not you? 'cuz you said it's already opened?"

"Ewan ko." she responded.

"Oh, wait... Do you even know that this is my property? Na this isn't just some random room—"

"Hindi, kaya ."

"Ambaho pa.. na. man... d.to"

I watched her sulk again, but I recognized her. The girl in the windbreaker who left without a word of respect!

"Okay, okay, wait... Do you even know who I am?" I asked. Because she's either a transfer student—explaining her unfamiliarity with the place—or just incredibly shy. I'm actually glad she's still in school, considering her situation. What confidence!

"No, but I'm looking forward na maging professor..."— I froze.

The carefully constructed image of myself, my composure, all crumbled. The heck, she just called me Professor!!!?

“Hold on—hold on... I'm not. Laughs ... I'm not a professor!! ” I blurted out.

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing in my room. Someone actually thinks I'm a professor! It's too funny, too ridiculous.

Her beautiful red-pupiled eyes widened. "Akala ko..." she murmured.

She did look nice, so I walked closer and sat beside her. Only then did I notice three moles arranged in a diagonal line—one near her right lip, one beside her left nostril, and one beneath her left eye. They were pretty, just like her.

"Are you perhaps a transferee?"

"Yes, p—grade 12" She replied.

"But... don't you have any idea how my room was opened?" I really need to be more careful now; even my private room isn't safe anymore.

"Kailangan ko po bang umiyak para pagkatiwalaan nyo'ko?" she asked, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

It was so unexpected, that it almost made me laugh again. Like before, when she thought I was a professor—it was just too funny. But I shook my head, smiling instead.

I saw a strand of her hair fall, so I reached out, gently moving my hand closer to her. "I didn't say you had to cry." I said, my voice almost a whisper.

I gently moved a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. And my eyes are drawn to hers.

"You're beautiful..." The words escaped my lips before I could eve—

"Manyak.”

"What?..."

"p*****t!"

“WHAT??!!—I-I'm not a p*****t!!!”I exclaimed and jumped back, my hands also automatically flying to my chest, as if shielding myself from some unseen threat.

"Pfft."

“Oh please... laugh now. Duh” I said, I saw her face have a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, as if she were trying to hold back her laughter.

I then just rolled my eyes at her, and turned away, walking towards my table.

To be honest, the air between us still has a strange energy, but it seemed to change with something new, something... exciting.

“Btw, what's your name?”I asked and sipped on my coffee.

“.... Cle.. " What?

“Cleiy...” she said.

Cleiy, as in clay huh.

I smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Arkhava Everette McXain,” I replied, my voice a bit softer than usual.

But I noticed a hint of surprise and wonder in her that made me curious, and she smiled again... a slow, thoughtful smile.

I feel like she was trying to figure something out, maybe about me, or maybe I... I don't really know.

I gave her my greatest beautiful smile “Nice to meet you, Cleiy. ”

"Nice to meet you, ms. Ark. ..” I stopped moving for a while after she said that.

I took a sip again at my coffee until it hit me. My heart is pounding in my chest, my breath's catching in my throat, and I nearly choked on my coffee.

“Ok ka lang po ba?”

“N-yes, earghhm. Yes, good. Uhmm. Btw, are you hungry? Should we eat?” I asked.

But wait... Why am I asking her though?