Rainbow Within the Darkness

Episode 3

Chapter 5 "A secret negotiation"

"If my understanding is right, pardon my rudeness, madam but do you perhaps want me stay in the main class or you just want me to avoid this guy named Ran?" After a long silent, the young lad queried.

The old lady was taken aback. No wonder why Marica's popularly recognized, her mouth is indeed apparent, straightforward as ever hence, you can't help but to feel cornered but respected at the same time. The old lady pursed her lips and awkwardly smiled, unable to think of a good alibi, she answered, "Either way." Forsooth,she seemed confident but deep in her heart, she was nervous. Obviously, she was just running away.

Marica smiled in avail. "Then, there's only one solution for that, Madam." She replied. Her voice was certain but her tone was clearly negotiating. Seeing the way her smile seems serious and how her eyes sharpened, the old lady can't help but to feel hesitation yet at last, she replied, "What is it?"

After their long conversation, the young lad no longer want to waste any more time thus when the principal finally settled her decision, she couldn't wait anymore and immediately run off of the office. Of course, it was indeed out of poise and display of rudeness however, a gold fish is no match for a gold coin, at least for Marica, that's the case.

According to what had been negotiated in the principal's lair, Marica indeed went to the main class. In other words, she was forced however, even when forced, thinking that she got the upper hand, she couldn't help but to smile in triumph. Actually, it was a win-win for the both side. She followed her and she was followed too, so what's there to lose? Nothing particular. But is there something gained that made her the upper hand? Indeed, in terms of value, she got more than what she had expected.

"Now, now, enough the talk and go to your sits." In front of Marica lies a sliding door. And from the inside, she heard the teacher's voice.

Standing outside a classroom, it was indeed obvious that it is the main class. Marica pursed her lips and took a step back away from the sliding door located in front of her. Through the window, she wandered her eyes around the room's interior. And inside it lies about forty students. Looking how their uniforms were completely wore, there's no doubt that they're the most respected attentive students among all. Every student have each table and chair, just like the class beside it and the class after a class. Indeed, there's not much difference with how the other rooms are designed. So, Marica was somehow relieved.

She then took a breath and performed her po-faced smile. After a short silence, she walked back near the door and knock for a few times. It wasn't that long when the teacher said, 'come in'. So, she opened the door and what immediately welcomed her is a bunch of dissimilar students yet identically looking straight at her. Without making any noise, she ignored them and finally entered the room, as if the door itself devoured her.

Now, on her side was the teacher who's standing after about a meter high table and behind her was a huge white board. Above all, what lies in front of her are students most of her age, some are confuse, some are a little mad, some are cold, some are smiling and some are just looking at her without emotion. What made her flinched a little was the person smiling in the back, indeed, that familiar face belongs to a girl named Yumi.

"So, kids, this is your new classmate. She came from the country's capital.", The teacher paused and turned her gaze upon Marica. "Please, introduce yourself." She added and smiled. Marica smiled back at her for a moment and immediately looked back in the front.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Marica Liandro and I came from the country's capital, just like what the teacher had said. Currently, I'm at my 17th year. If you have some questions, just ask." Hearing Marica say that, Yumi on the back couldn't help but to feel a little awkward and shock. She was indeed happy that Marica will stay in the same class with her but hearing her tone and words, she couldn't ameliorate to feel awkwardness. For her, that's not the Marica she met yesterday. Indeed, her tone seemed more and more formal. But then, the young and elegant Yumi's disarrayed queries began to disappear upon seeing a hand, a palm reaching mid air. That hand was from the class's top beauty.

"Ah, that fast?" Marica was taken aback but didn't let them be informed and smiled instead. "What is it?" She again asked.

The beauty smiled too and with her hand on the air, she seriously queried, "Transferee? You are, right? Isn't that a bit too unfair?" Her tone was full of authority , she was as if demanding a reason that is indeed acceptable. For others, they might tremble in nervousness but for Marica, even a flinch, she couldn't obtain to act. And so, she replied in question, "Isn't sitting here is also a display of unfairness?" Truth to be told, her answer was quite vague yet malicious. It looks like this young lad already expected this to happen.

Now, it wasn't only the beauty who got taken aback, not only the teacher too but every students inside the room. Indeed, this mouth of Marica attacks differently. It was amazing, I could say but that's definitely not the case for others. Now, all she could see was a two paired eyes, full of rage and abhorrence piercing straight at her person. "What do you mean by that?"

"Do you guys really want me to explain?" She again talked back, clearly cornering the top beauty.

Of course, the aftermath was a long silence. They themselves knew that although they want the young lad to explain further just to suppress their curiosity, It's still indeed regrettable to hear it from her mouth for they all quite knew the answer itself. Besides, why would you dare to do something that'll surely hurt your own feelings? Isn't doing that a bit idiotic? Unarguably, that's correct thus they kept their queries into themselves.

"We worked hard to achieve our place... it's not fair for you to enter—"

Marica couldn't hear anymore any longer hence, she cut the beauty's words and said, "I'm not a show-off, but I can beat you with my intelligence. Look, I didn't come here to form an argument, nor a fight, I also didn't come here to achieve anything and certainly, neither the school's educational system nor standard took me from there to here hence I don't need to explain anything anymore. Besides, why are you questioning me? I wasn't the one who gave some approval. All I did was to send my request and took the test." Her words left the students speechless.

On the back of Yumi's mind were praises after praises. For so long, she belonged to the main class and neither her ever won an argument against the top beauty. That's why when she saw the beauty's speechless and embarrassed expression, she couldn't suppress the joy she feels. For her, Marica deserves her praises.

Marica parked her eyes upon the top beauty's anxious face and on the other hand, the students were watching her every movement. Their expressions were quite blurry for half seemed happy and half seemed mad even so, Marica couldn't feel anything but desperation to get out of the room. For her, no one, not even Yumi makes the room comfortable hence, she doesn't want to stay any longer.....or so she thought.

The teacher clap her hands together and said, "That's enough. She was right, if you want to question her transfer, might as well go and ask the principal personally. So, you can go to your seat now." For the last sentence, that belonged for Marica.

The teacher swayed her palm gesturing for her to seat down so Marica nodded, smiled and walked. Obviously, she sat in the vacant seat behind Yumi and on her side was another vacant seat. Thinking whom that chair and table belonged too, she can't help but to feel hot and shy. That, it wasn't a long time when the door opened wide, without a knock nor a warning, and from the outside comes a tall guy, wearing the same uniform and on his shoulder was a bag, that guy entered with a frown on his face. He looks somehow pissed yet in majority, he looks a lot colder than ever.

Marica felt excited and the other students were shock and puzzled. Who would thought that the notorious walking ice would come here so suddenly? Without warning! Hence, they felt worried.

"Put me back." Ran frowned looking straight at the teacher. The teacher gripped the table's edge and forcedly smiled at him. While she looks tensed, the other students, excluding Marica, Yumi and another girl beside her, looks pathetically disapproving and strongly confused. It was as if this guy Ran was a virus they should be beware of.

"I'm sorry, Ran. But I can't put you back now." That's the only words the teacher had said.

"Are you seriously making fun of me? Put me back, I'm telling you. " Ran threatened in reply.

Seeing the situation, the top beauty couldn't endure any longer and finally stood up. Even when enraged, her poise is still graceful and elegant but still, Yumi's a lot better than her. Due to her sudden movement, everyone's attention came back to her. Marica's eyes sharpened, Yumi's lips smirked and the girl on Marica's right side pierced her eyes upon the beauty, looking obviously displeasured. The way she stared didn't scape Marica's eyes, and for a brief moment, she was curious who might she be. That didn't last long as she put her attention back to Ran and this beauty.

"Stop talking as if we want you here, Ran. Our feelings are mutual." That's all she had to say that made some facial expressions' into a display of disapproval. Indeed, why would others don't want Ran to stay? He's maybe a troublemaker but he's a lot advantageous than any of them, however, no one of them raised their opinion for they knew themselves that they shouldn't. And they couldn't. Still, Marica with the other two around her watched intently.

"Vivian, enough." The teacher arbitrated.

"I'm not backing on this, Miss Shirayuki." Vivian said in response. The teacher was indeed authorize however, even a high authority could never beat someone's determination hence, she kept quiet. Well, as long as it's not a physical fight, then she shouldn't at least interfere for the mean time.

"You opinion is the least I want to hear, Vivian. Besides, are you really sure no one wants me here? Is it fun to watch the lowest class on top of the main class?" Ran talked back. Looking calm yet sounded pissed.

"Are you insulting us? And besides, that only happened ones. You just got lucky."

Yea, that's right. Three years ago, when Ran wasn't yet at the lowest class, he once belonged to the main class. He was the highest among highest and even the teachers' couldn't help but to praise him second per second. Because of him, the west school won different competitions particularly with four subjects, intelligence, violin competition, swimming and volleyball. But that didn't last long when one day, Ran left the main class without a word. He didn't came back until he was finally removed from that class. Aside from Yumi and a girl named Virana, no one really knew what happened and at first, no one aside from five people cared, no one until one day, the ranks of the classes turned upside down. The lowest class came on top of the main class. It was indeed a frightful sight, at least for the main class, that's the case.

"Oh, did I? Do you want me to repeat it again?" Ran replied, he was challenging everyone. Obviously, what Ran wanted to mean was 'someone told me not to repeat it, do you want me disobey?', If you focus closer, you'll understand that he was just gripping on them too loosely. As if he was never gripping them to begin with. So, basically, he was pitying them.

"Just leave! You were the one who left us to begin with." A tip of longing and anger passed through her voice. Hearing that, everyone looked at each other and ask themselves quietly, is it possible that Vivian was mad because Ran himself left them? Perhaps that thought was right. But still, no one dared to talk.

"I'm not thinking of coming back, Vivian. That's why I'm here. Now, enough the talk, let me go. Give me back my badge

Chapter 6 "The ambiguous young lady"

"Badge? What are you talking about?" Asked by Vivian. Her tone was confused, innocent and slightly mad.

Indeed, every student wore badges. That badge signifies the class they belong too. Wether you're from the main class or the last, it won't matter for everyone should have it. Anyone have the privilege to or not to wear the badge, do it whatever they want however, if one lost her or his badge, ready yourself for a great misfortune. And so, might as well destroy your uniform than loosing your badge. Nevertheless, this matter isn't something to make fun of.

The moment Ran spoke in reply, Yumi's hand began to slightly tremble. As she try to remain her tranquil poise, her brain began to remember her and Marica's conversation yesterday.

It was a silent night thus the moon was on top of their heads, brightly giving light against the gloominess of the dark night. It was just minutes before Yumi and Marica part ways when the young lad suddenly stopped the other party. It was Marica who stopped Yumi.

Of course, Yumi's brows slightly curled downward, obviously surprised yet confused. She was half consciously staring at the woman in front of her, smiling as if she thought of something wicked and naughty and that smile made Yumi uneasy. Just then, the second the young lad opened her mouth, the elegant Yumi showed an unreadable expression.

"Take his badge."

Indeed, what Marica said was unsuspiciously vague yet that words didn't scape Yumi's understanding. Marica need not explain anymore for Yumi herself knew what she had meant. Indeed, Yumi's thought was right, besides aside from the badge she knows, that word doesn't refer to any anymore, unless it was something unrelated to her however, it was more impossible for someone to mention a thing unrelated to someone she or he converse with. Perhaps in that part, she was clearly right. Thus, she didn't ask for any explanation anymore and said, "Okay. I will."

In that moment, witnessing the eyes of Marica full of determination and desire, she couldn't help but to feel brave and determined too and so, when she reached the southern subdivision, she immediately visited Ran, who's a neighbor of them, and took the badge without hesitation.

It was indeed a shameless insensible act of her, hence, upon seeing the angered pair of Ran's eyes, she couldn't stay still and rather felt more and more devastated. For her, she's no different from a criminal hiding against the interrogation of cops. However, even when guilty and pressured, she forced herself to shut up, silencing her words and her deed. In her mind, spitting her sin would be dragging the mastermind along and she didn't want that. Especially when knowing who is the mastermind was.

"I'm not kidding. Give me back my badge." Ran, said in repeat and everytime he speaks, his voice became more and more cimmerian and his tone becomes menacing, leaving the whole class into suffocation.

"I told you! We don't have it!" Vivian, shouted. Obviously forlorn as if she wants to remove herself from Ran's accusations.

"Then who have it? Are you trying to say the class after this took it? Don't make fun of me."

Vivian cried in exasperation and went beyond silence. Not even a sound of flinch could be heard, only the suffocating breeze of the aircon lingers, taking away the strength of anyone to talk back. Indeed, Ran is someone that can't be taken so lightly. However, that silence didn't last long. It was as if a lighting struck Vivian and the first name appeared in her mind was Yumi. Thus, she subconsciously looked back, gathering everyone's attention and at last, everyone was looking at the elegant Yumi, drowning into suspicion that the culprit must be her. Besides, aside from another person that is indeed cannot be a 'suspect', no one aside from Yumi could do something like this anymore. Even when elegant, she's the only person who could come in and out of Ran's door, even with or without permission. That's why it is more natural to condemn her as the taker.

Feeling the sensation of being stared at, Yumi's slightly trembling hand finally lost its grip and trembled more in despair. On the back of her mind comes curses upon curses, and she thought, she made the wrong move, she should've seek for someone else's help rather than doing it herself. Being in a tensed situation, she couldn't help but to feel regretful and concluded to admit the crime, taking all the blame without dragging anyone. Thus, when she was about to stand up, on her peripheral vision comes a girl who already did her attempt earlier than her. All the attention came rushing to that person. And with a sweet smile, that young lad accepted the stares. But what surprised Yumi wasn't the young lad's action but rather her smile focusing only on a single person on the front.

After a long silence, finally, the young lad talked and said, "Why look for something that had been lost already?" She then revealed a badge hiding on her palm and continued, "Here, use this. Besides, even if you have that badge, it'll be useless." Indeed, Marica was right. Even if Ran finds where that badge is, nothing will change anymore. It's either he'll stay in the main class or he'll not go in any class.

"Will you stop talking, Marica? You're adding fuel to the fire!" Vivian snapped at her, glaring however, Marica just ignored her and instead focused her attention to Ran.

"Please? If you don't want to stay here..." Marica trailed and went silent. It seems like she was in the depth of hesitation. Seeing her confidence turn slightly wobbly, the rest in the class couldn't afford but to raised their brows. It's just, they didn't expect that someone could make her less confident.

After awhile, Ran couldn't endure anymore and was about to talk when Marica spoke again, saying , "Stay with me. If you can't stay here because of the whole class, then at least stay for me." Her words were fully absolute shameless, too inconceivable to hear but it was clear that her words were real. Too sincere and too serious.

Ran was taken aback. Truth to be told, when he saw Marica on the shrine yesterday, a feeling of excitement lingered around his heart but he couldn't dare to acknowledge it. Perhaps the reason was because he couldn't accept himself that he is no longer the Ran Marica used to adore. He was afraid that Marica wouldn't 'like' him anymore that's why before talking to her, he organized his thoughts and acted too cold. But now that they're staring at each other's eye, almost intimate and unbreakable, he doesn't know what to do anymore and indeed, Marica was adding a fuel to the fire for her words are like spell into someone's heart.

For a while, he kept silent, trying to construct a word but in the end, he was left with nothing but inability to speak. In the end, he gave up and silently surrendered.

Seeing the things settled, the teacher can't help but to breath in relief and followed Ran through her eyes. As her eyes horizontally runs slowly but surely, Ran took his time to sit in the chair beside the young lad. And afterwards, the teacher began her daily task, to teach.

The class immediately ended earlier than the original hours. It was precisely because half of the time was used up figuring out where the lost badge is. And just a minute after the teacher was gone, the class started to bluster, noise here; noise there, they're talking as if it's the first time they saw each other even though in contrary, they're just talking about the scene happened earlier. After all, a fun conversation comes from a fun topic.

It wasn't a little while when, albeit amidst the cacophony, two individual men came and stood in front of Marica or rather, more likely attempting to go near Ran, who was beside her. Those two were undeniably handsome, one looks soft while the other looks cold, almost like a carbon copy of Ran's cimmerian eyes. The last guy described was sub- consciously clinging his right hand onto the other one's waist while his remaining hand was cooly tuck on his blazer's pouch.

"Hase...are we really okay—" The one with soft features ask the other. Marica peeped her mouth and silently listened to them, afraid to be noticed.

"Yeah... it's fine. If he'll hurt you, I'll take care of it." The guy called Hase said in reply. Truthfully, the way he said it was like an easy way to do. Either he's not afraid of Ran or perhaps he just think Ran wouldn't hurt anybody, his voice indeed sounded so clam. However, his words didn't came out good for Marica's ears. In her mind shouts, 'Why would Ran hurt anyone? He's kind! Too kind!' and yet, only her hears it.

"Hey..you promised me you won't do violence anymore?"

Marica listened attentively.

Hase's lip's edge curved a little but it was just a brief moment when his cimmerian face came back again. "I won't. But you are an exception." He cooly said and gripped the other guy's waist tighter.

Still, Marica didn't talk. She thought, instead of peeping to someone else's business, perhaps, at the moment, it's better to watch silently and examine the surrounding. Of course, that's the original plan but because she knew that those two guys have a business with Ran, she couldn't help but to pour her attention to them. Besides, anything that involves Ran is important to Marica. And so, she attentively watched the two go near Ran.

"Ran..." The soft looking guy began. To tell honestly, Marica have a hint of what's happening or what the situation already is but she couldn't be so sure particularly because each of the two looks so manly. Even when soft faced, still, not even a trace of a tip sense of feminity could be seen. Aside from that hand clinging to one's waist, nothing else is an evidence to Marica's accusations. And besides, even if she's right, she doesn't mind.

When Ran heard his name, his head automatically moved and looked at the voice's source. Of course, a figures of two guys welcomed his eyes but even after being blocked, Marica was still visible to his eyes. And he was certain that this ambiguous girl is looking at them, or him, again. Still, he forced himself not to look at her and replied, "Xian? Hase....what do you need?" His voice was still cold but his tone was quite comfortable.

Xian smiled and took a glance at the man beside him. "Hase...Hase is curious with something."

"What is it?" Even though he answered, Ran doesn't believe it was Hase who was curious. It's more likely that Xian was using Hase's name. Perhaps, the question was something embarrassing?

"Ahmm...are you and the transferee is...you know....lovers?" Upon hearing Xian's question, Ran flinched. Slightly taken a back.

"Why do you ask?"

Xian took a glance at Hase again yet the other only smiled, leaving Xian in between embarrassment and shamelessness. But then, why would he still back out if he's in the middle already? Besides, Hase was beside him. "You only listen to her. I mean, we were forcing you to go back to us back then too but you always declined, yet now she was able to convince you.....to...stay...."

Ran stared at them. "Still nosy as ever, Xian. Don't say anything anymore. But we were not....lovers. she's a friend of mine a long time ago." In his last words, Ran felt a little awkward. Not because he didn't like that thought, it's just saying it is so indifferent.

"Then why does she looks so...I mean—"

Ran already answered his questions but this guy Xian still can't let go that's why upon hearing the subject changed dragging her along with the topic, Marica finally unsealed her mouth and said, "Ask me rather than him. I talk better." And that's it! Xian was shocked. On the contrary, Hase was still looking so calm.