Beyond a Reflection

Chapter 2: The Witch

Fifteen minutes after I passed out, I perceived myself leaning against the wall while sitting on the ground and that's when I realized where am I— at the back of the cafeteria. This place is f*******n for us students since there are some that have been caught doing shady businesses such as gambling, smoking, and drinking liquors. The school officials even put a tape surrounding the possible entrances of this place to secure that there are no students entering and leaving this place. How did I even get here?

I looked at Drake who is sitting beside me.

“Are you just hungry or are you anemic?” he suddenly asked as he looked back at me while eating the bread that he gave.

Who would’ve thought that the quietest kid in the class approached me? And given that he defended me earlier in our homeroom as if he is a hundred percent sure that I am not guilty. If I’m like those normal people out there, I would be flattered. But since I'm not, I’m creeped out.

“The latter,” I responded using my bored tone.

Am I that rude? Or do I need to thank him since he's been with me since I passed out? I bet he even breaks through those yellow tapes just to get here!

He just nodded and placed his hand in front of me as if he is asking me for something. I looked at him and raised my brows, my way of asking “What’s the matter?” What should I do with his hand? I don't think we are in a gala where he would offer his hand for me for a dance. Or does he want compensation for helping me? I didn't even tell him to help me.

“The wrapper,” he said and pointed the wrapper in my hand.

I blinked many times and processed what he said and unconsciously gave him the wrapper of the bread that I’ve eaten.

“Why are you talking to me?” I asked him directly making his forehead creased. He crumpled the wrapper and put it inside his pocket.

Wow, portable trash can.

I actually like the view here. Facing the deep forest. I bet it is one of the reasons why the school officials restricted this area. Having a forest at the back of your school is already shady. Lots of stuff could be happening there without the knowledge of any teachers. But for me who is strangely attached to nature, I could find the place we were is relaxing.

“Is it f*******n?” he threw my words back at me.

I didn’t answer him and just stare at the fallen leaves from the trees as they touched the ground. I also noticed that there are scattered black feathers here as if a crow just landed. In my peripheral vision, I saw how his eyes twinkled while looking at me as if he was looking at a treasure or something. I looked back at him but he didn’t faze at all as if he is already expecting me to look back.

“What?” I asked using my irritated tone.

He just shook his head and shrugged. “You have green eyes,” he commented, making my forehead creased.

“So?” I asked again impatiently.

“Do you believe in witches?” he suddenly answered in question making me more confused by the sudden shift of topic.

“No,” I shortly answered without hesitation making him nod.

“You should believe though. It can answer your question why do you have anemia even though you’re perfectly healthy,” he stated and stood up.

I remained my gaze on him as he started walking away until he disappeared from my field of vision. I looked in front of me and sighed as I recall his words. What does he mean?

I slapped myself to gather my thoughts and stood up to take my leave too. I rushed myself to the classroom and as expected, my classmates were already here, studying their notes for the next two exams. I head to my seat and looked at the glass window, and there, I could see my own reflection. It’s true that my green eyes are the most attention-seeking.

I looked at Drake who’s sleeping on the top of his desk, unbothered. Why did he say those words to me? No, the question is… who is he?

Mr. Lovewort arrived carrying a bunch of test papers and he began distributing them. The exam already started but my thoughts were flying, I couldn’t answer my questioner properly but at least, I’m the first one who finished. I sneakily glance at Roe who is polishing her nails under her desk. She’s already done too?

When she caught me looking at her, she rolled her eyes and covered her face using the test paper. I raised my brows because of her action and just focused my gaze outside the glass window when a random idea popped into my mind.

Witches, huh?

My grandmother mentioned something about them, and according to her, the existence of witches is the reason why our family crumbled. It’s the reason why I’m living with her instead of living with my mom. That’s the reason why I need to go through all the trouble I've been encountered.

The exam went smoothly and we finished all the two exams this afternoon. I thought Mr. Lovewort will call it a day but he announced something.

“Next week will be our retreat activities, and I’m distributing the parental consent now. Make sure to have your parents sign this. No consent, no retreat. Easy,” he stated and started giving us a piece of paper, the same size as half of a short bond paper.

When he was about to give mine, he whispered something, “You're not allowed to come.”

I just rolled my eyes and seized the paper from his hand and folded it into four parts then I slid it into my pocket. Who is he to dictate me?

“That’s it, class. Let’s call it a day, you may now leave,” he announced making the whole class cheer happily and start forming in their groups to walk together outside the room.

But Roe glanced at me with her annoying smirk as if she's belittling me. "Enjoy the air conditioner in the faculties room, Kenny," she smirked and left together with her pals.

I didn't react to everything that she has said and just leave the classroom alone without any companion. I was about to walk towards the gate when I remembered that I need to meet our adviser in the faculty room. Roe did remind me of that one but it seems like my system can't accept everything she's saying. I sighed and took heavy steps as I head to Building B where the faculty room is.

The moment I arrived, I knocked on the door before entering. Mr. Lovewort who is busy organizing his things greeted me. When he felt my presence, he stopped what he was doing and looked at me sharply— I did the same. It’s just I and him here in the faculty room and it seems like other teachers took their leave.

“When are you going to stop this rebellion stage?” he asked in an authoritative voice and placed all of his stuff above his desk.

“I’m not rebelling,” I responded quickly and tighten the grip on the strap of my bag.

I thought we were going to discuss what happened earlier?

As we exchanged looks, I could feel the tension building up between me and him as the cold breeze of wind blew the curtains inside this room. The setting sun reflected on my eyes, making them gleam.

“Oh, you’re not? That’s why you don’t want to show your face to Mom?” His tone intensified, making my eyebrows furrow.

Why does he need to bring that topic right now?

“Your mom,” I retorted.

“Keindra!” There it is, he lost his temper and started massaging his temples.

Luckily, there is no other present here except for us. These kinds of matters shouldn't bring up to school yet I assume that he already broke that rule that moment he mentioned her.

He plopped down on his seat and looked at me with a glare, I didn’t faze at all and fought his stares using my own kind of glare. He sighed in defeat and lean on his swivel chair as he rested his head above it, staring at the gray ceiling where the big ceiling fan is located.

“She needs you, Kei,” his voice softened. I can also sense anxiety in his voice as if he doesn’t know what to do, and most of all, concern.

“If she needs me then why―” I was suddenly cut off when his tremoring voice interrupted and tears from his eyes suddenly fall as he looked back at me furiously.

“She’s sick! I know that I should be the one to blame since I’m the one who’s responsible for all of your sufferings. I know that I turned out to be a bad brother towards you but please help our mother, Kei. You’re the only one who can heal her,” he pleaded.

The funny thing is he took education as his college degree so that he could be a teacher in this school and watch over me. It’s been a long time since I saw this side of him, hidden in his cool when he’s in class. I didn’t despise him, though I didn’t like him too. But I couldn't really see any reason why is he blaming himself for everything that had happened.

When our parents got divorced, my mom changed back her surname to her maiden surname― Lovewort. Isaiah did the same thing, while I stayed at my grandmother’s place, still carrying the surname of my dad.

They are just a bunch of cowards who ran away from reality.

There’s a dead silence between us. I started to think deeply about whether should I help him and my mother or not. I looked down and simply looked at my trembling palm, and tried my best to let out the hidden power inside me that my family only knew.

I sighed as I let out a huge green fire on my palm, reaching near the ceiling of this faculty room. My brother gasped at what he saw and stared at my green fire amazingly. I just looked at how his eyes reflected that fire that I have made. But his face suddenly changed when it started to run out as if it was like an engine without enough gas.

“What happened?” he asked confusedly and rushed towards me.

He seized my hand and started examining it but he couldn’t see anything. Sweats started running down from his forehead while his lips are still trembling as if he cannot believe what he had seen.

He looked at me with confusion in his eyes, asking the same thing, “What happened?”

I looked at him with no emotion and took back my hand and hid it in the pocket of my skirt.

“What you’re thinking is right. My magic’s starting to fade, Isaiah,” I said casually, leaving him dumbfounded.

I looked at him seriously. “I’m no longer a witch.”