Heina: The Red Demon Dragon

Sirra Has Spilled The Secret

HEINA

It was time for recess. Students from every year filed into their respective cafeterias. The cafeteria labeled Year One was freaking huge! Even bigger than the one back in Royal Ridge College.

Just like her brother, Irana was also popular. The moment we stepped into class that morning, she'd been hailed from every corner in the classroom, even the lecturer knew her and asked about her parents.

I noticed students standing in line and wanted to join them, Irana pulled me back, shaking her head. "I do not stand in line and you will not stand in line."

"But how will we get food?" I questioned, surprised as she insisted and pulled me away from the waiting crowd to a corner of the cafeteria that held few students, including Sirra who was on a different table with some girls.

She was yet to see us. In class, she wouldn't stop giving me that stink eye and when she'd attempted greeting Irana, the latter's response had lost its warmth.

We went to an empty table and sat. I saw the looks students threw our way. It was as if they couldn't believe Irana was sharing a table with me. I couldn't believe it myself.

But I guess I was lucky.

A young lady with unusual yellow orbs — almost like sunset — came to take our order. Another went to take orders at Sirra's table.

I felt pressed just then. "I'd like to use the bathroom. Do you know where it is?"

She directed me. Just as expected, it was spacious and clean, just for female first years.

I was coming out when I spotted Aslan emerging from a corner. He didn't look surprised to see me as I was.

I was aware there were chances of us running into each other especially as we attended the same school but I didn't expect to meet him at that certain point and time.

"Hey." He greeted, his smile huge.

"Hi." I greeted right back, wondering why I felt so happy to see him.

"Are you done with lunch?"

I shook my head. "No. Just came to use the bathroom. What about you? Why aren't you having lunch?"

"Well, you won't believe me if I told you." He said. Was that a little coyness in his eyes?

"I don't think there's anything I wouldn't believe at this point given all that I've seen these past few weeks." I told him honestly.

"Tano smelled your presence." He simply stated.

A mouth curved in a curious smile. "Who's Tano?"

"My dragon."

"Your dragon has a name?" This was strange. I...damn, I didn't know what to respond to this.

"Every dragon is given a name by their human selves."

Suddenly, I wondered about my root. How dad had come about me. Why he'd hidden the truth from me? Who my real parents were?

I noticed him surreptitiously lean in, I froze, trying to calm my racing heart. "W-what are you doing?"

He immediately cautioned himself. "I'm sorry. I should get back to lunch." He walked away in the direction I'd seen him emerge from.

A part of me so badly wanted to follow him and stick with him, but that would look desperate, not to mention stupid. Plus, Irana was waiting for me.

I went back into the cafeteria, thoughts of Aslan leaning in to smell my hair filling my head. Definitely, that's what he was doing. Sniffing my hair. Did it smell bad?

I washed it this morning while showering as I did every morning. I grabbed some strands to sniff, still in a daze why Aslan had...

"Ahhh!" I flailed my arms helplessly trying to stabilize my balance but unfortunately, my weight made it difficult and I landed face flat on the floor of the big cafeteria.

Roars of laughter could be heard. Humiliation had me lying there, tears rushing to the surface as I felt a sharp pain on my left knee. I righted my glasses.

"How dare you, Sirra?" I heard the angrily scraping of chair against the floor. It was Irana.

"Serves her right. Even with her glasses, she's still blind. Not my fault." Sirra said nonchalantly.

Irana helped me to my feet, my knee hurt. I realized it had hit the ground too hard when I'd fallen, courtesy of Sirra.

I could see Sirra's face now, the sneer on it. The sneer was replaced by a frown when she turned to face Irana. "Why are you friends with her, anyway?"

"Because she's the exact opposite of your evil self? Because she's a sweet person? The list could go on and on, Sirra. You have always wanted friendship with me, and this character is the reason why I'm never going to extend that hand of friendship to you, you spoiled brat!"

Enraged now, Sirra got up. "You did not just compare me with this heina." She pointed at me like I was some disgusting object she couldn't wait to get rid off, then went off in a stream of that language I couldn't understand.

Irana replied her in the same language, her response like a clap-back as well because the other students 'ohhhed' when she was done.

I might not understand this language but I could tell Irana was winning the verbal war.

"So you know why her name is Heina? Do you know why? Does any of you know why?!" She was facing the whole cafeteria filled with year one students and servers.

"N-no, p-please. Sirra, don't do this." I begged. I didn't know the whole story but after what that white-haired man with mystical eyes had said, I couldn't let Sirra expose me like that.

Telling people I was dangerous or that Heina was a bad, evil name for reasons I couldn't fathom was enough to make these people hate me even more. Even Irana.

"She's the heina we've always been warned about. She is the history we're learning in Red Moon History class. The demon dragon reincarnated. The danger of every dragon." She announced boldly.

Everyone gasped. Even Irana, suddenly moving away from me.

She looked at me in...shock? Disbelief? Fear?

I shook my head but I couldn't defend myself. I knew nothing of this world. Of its existence. Of any stupid demon dragon.

"Is this true?" She asked in a very low tone. I could detect the fear.

"I swear, I-I have no idea." Tears flow seeing the look on her face. "I-I don't know."

I reached out for her but she moved back.

"Is this this truth you've been hiding? The life you were not ready to tell?" She questioned, gazing at me like some stranger she ought not to be around with.

"N-no, Irana. I-it's complicated. I-I swear."

But she wasn't listening. "Are you here to kill us? Were you trying to make friends with my brother and me so you c-could use us?"

Now, I could see the fear. She was afraid of me. Carefully sidestepping me, she hurried out of the cafeteria. I met the eyes of others and all I saw was hate and fear.

Both raw. Both intense.

And I ran out — had fast as my twisted knee would let me — not to go after Irana, but away from this environment, to the bathroom, to cry my eyes out.