Astraea's Moon

Chapter 1

This scene isn’t particularly new to me anymore. Staring at nowhere in the cafeteria while waiting for Raven, who’s in the Guidance office right now, has been a very normal thing in the past years. I’m lucky enough she only gets in trouble, or rather gets caught, once a week. She used to meet our guidance counselor every single day. She said I was a good influence on her but I’m not really sure how to believe that.

During hours like this, you could only see a few students since most of them have already gone home. I don’t know why despite the fact that nothing really changes in the cafeteria, I still find it rather interesting. Like any other things I find interesting, I believe everything in this place has a story. Even the frowning cafeteria lady.

Realizing that Raven probably will take a little longer this time, I took my sketchpad and pencil out from my bag and roamed my eyes in the cafeteria. Right by the corner of the room, I saw a woman sleeping, her head slumped over the table, making anyone unable to see her face. I started sketching her but instead of just drawing the exact thing I see, I let my imagination take over. I drew a woman who’s protecting herself from this cruel world. Her head down so no one could see her tears, the chairs serving as her walls, and the table as her safe place. A place you can escape darkness from, everyone deserves it.

A few minutes after I finished my sketch, I saw Raven walking towards the entrance of the cafeteria. Her smile immediately appeared when she saw me waiting for her. She hurriedly ran towards me like a nursery girl being picked up by her parents on her first day of school. When she was finally beside the table I was at, her eyes darted to my sketchpad and snatched it, something I got used to. She demands to always be the first one to see my drawings because according to her, she’s my number one fan. That actually flatters me so I just let her be.

“Deep.” she says after staring at my new drawing for a few moments before she directed her full attention to me. “Do you want some fries and cola? That sermon with Miss really starved me. I just don’t get how she’s still not used to me.” she looked really stressed about it as if it was our guidance counselor’s fault for still not getting used to her causing troubles.

“No thanks, I’m still full.” I answered her first question that made her attention diverted to me.

“Okay, then I’ll also just eat at the house. Let’s go.” She grabs her bag and hooks her arm around mine then we exit the cafeteria and start walking to the gate of the school.

“By the way, you took longer today. What did you do this time?” I casually asked as we were walking.

“Just the usual, cutting of classes.” she shrugged her shoulders then a little frown formed on her face. “But I got caught so I wasn’t able to watch the drag race I was supposed to watch.”

I laughed a little and patted her arm that is locked with mine to comfort her. If my passion is arts, Raven’s is definitely racing.

“You can try again next time but maybe try to watch races that don’t take place during school days. I just want to remind you that you have grades to take care of, okay?” I told her with a gentle voice while still patting her arm.

“Yes, yes, I know. Don’t worry, I’ll try my best next time.”

“You’ll finally study?” I asked, a bit shocked since I know Raven isn’t really the type that can sit still and read books or study lessons.

“I’ll try my best not to get caught next time.” she grinned widely at me before letting out a loud laugh. I just sighed and slightly shook my head at my sly friend.

“You know you can always go to my apartment if you need help, right?” I told her after she finally finished laughing.

“Yeah I know, but I wouldn’t want to stress you out with my schoolworks too. You always have to look fresh so people will recognize you, Miss Tarpaulin.” there she goes again.

I recently joined a national art contest as the university’s representative and I won. To celebrate this, the school had a big, and I mean really big poster of this achievement posted in front of the gates of the school. Obviously, it had my face on it and I didn’t look bad. In fact, as Raven said, I looked ‘fresh’ in the photo. She just likes to tease me about it because she knows how embarrassed I feel about people giving attention to that poster.

I’ve joined a lot of contests before but that was the first one that was an official national contest. Being able to join was already a great opportunity and experience for me, winning it was so much more and I’m proud of myself. So are my parents and friends. And obviously, the university. Some people started recognizing and congratulating me for it and I could only voice out a gentle ‘thank you’ and that’s it. Another obvious thing? I’m not a people’s person. Not totally introverted but definitely not an extrovert.

I rolled my eyes at Raven, pretending to be pissed, but of course, that won’t work on her. I just pouted my lips as she enjoyed teasing me.

“Speaking of the contest,” there was a suspicious interested look in her eyes, “was there anyone, perhaps, eye - catching?” she continues while looking at me with a spark of hope in her eyes.

I knew it.

I tried to hide my smirk before answering, “Actually, there was.”

I felt all the blood coming up to my face causing it to redden and heat when Ven unlinked our arms and raised hers as if reaching for the sky as she shouted.

“YES! FINALLY! MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!”

I looked around and relaxed a bit when I noticed that there were only few to no people around anymore because again, classes were long over. If this happened in broad daylight with the eyes of thousands of people, I’m done.

I pulled down Raven’s arm who was still looking up like God really answered a wish she’s been asking for before she was even born. She turned to me, glowing.

“Did you ask for their name? Where they live and what are their plans in life?”

I suddenly felt bad because she looked really excited but her madness has to stop.

“I know the name and address but I don’t think sculptures have a plan in life besides being the symbol the sculptor wanted it to be.” I carefully answered.

I saw how her expression slowly changed and how the glow turned to grim. I waited for what she would do but then she only looked down, her head bowed. Then she started pulling her hair. I immediately stopped her while trying my best not to laugh. I mean I feel bad but she is just really hilarious right now. After her explosion of frustration, she just rolled her eyes at me and walked away. I let out the laugh I was containing and followed her. I hooked my arm with her and we walked side by side again.

We were already near the gate when I heard someone call my name behind us. When I turned around, I saw a guy. He’s our schoolmate and if I’m not mistaken, he looks a little older than us, probably just a year.

“Eya, the dean wants to see you in her office.” He said when he finally arrived in front of us.

I was a bit confused on how he knows my name, specifically my nickname, when I don’t think I’ve ever met him before. But I was more confused about what he told me. Before I could even process it, Raven already blurted out the question in my head as she put her right arm around my shoulder and looked at the guy with her fierce eyes.

“The dean? Why?” Raven arrogantly asked but the man just shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head. “I don’t know, but if I were you, I wouldn’t keep her waiting.” he says before leaving us confused.

“Did you cause trouble without me? I thought we were best friends?” Raven faced me and threw those words at me and even acted hurt. This girl.

“Stop it.” I told her not so firmly. “You should get going first. I’ll go to the dean’s office to see what’s up.”

“Are you sure?” she asks hesitantly to which I just nodded to. “If only I don’t know that Miss Guidance has already informed dad about my new offense, I’d stay with you ‘till later. Sorry, Luz.” I could see how sincere she was so I gave her a smile and assured her that I’m going to be fine. Besides, the apartment I stay in isn’t so far from the school.

We parted ways and I walked my feet to the dean’s office. I might look calm outside but honestly, my heart was beating faster than normal. This was already the second time that I will enter the dean’s office. The first time was when we discussed having me as the representative of our university for the national art contest. But this time, I have no idea why I was called and that doesn’t help ease the nervousness.

I stopped on my tracks when I realized something. I kind of stayed up last night because I was having so much fun reading a new book I bought the other day and as a result, I was feeling sleepy during classes. In fact, I would have fallen asleep if the bell didn’t suddenly ring.

Was this about that? Did my professors noticed and reported me to the dean?

With that thought in mind, my heartbeat doubled. Or even tripled. I gulped hard and continued walking with my shaking legs. I should’ve begged Ven to stay with me. I continued walking and when I reached the door of the office, I took a deep breath and with my trembling hands, I knocked three times.

“Come in.” I heard our dean, Miss Ramos, say.

I slowly opened the door and peeked a little before entering the office. There, I saw that it wasn’t just me and Miss Ramos inside the room. An old lady was sitting on the single couch, her strict eyes directed at me. I’m not sure if I can even address her as an ‘old lady’ because despite the obvious old age, her aura was as sophisticated and modest as a queen sitting on her throne. My eyes darted on the woman beside her, who I assume is the old lady’s secretary, judging from the way she stands beside her with the digital tablet in one arm and the other, holding the strap of a luxury shoulder bag. I’m guessing she’s in her 40s or I might be wrong. My eyes went back to the old lady and she was still staring at me with those stern eyes, which strangely, I couldn’t look away from anymore. Not until the dean cleared her throat. I almost forgot she was there.

“Take a seat, Miss Alvior.” She motions the couch parallel to where the old lady was sitting, with only the coffee table in between. My nervousness came back but I tried my best to stay calm and strudded towards the seat.

“Good afternoon Miss. I heard you were looking for me.” I asked as soon as I sat down. It took me a lot of effort to not stutter. I was nervous and I couldn’t take the tension I was feeling. The old lady’s eyes are too much.

“Yes, actually, it is not me who demands your presence right now.” My forehead creased a bit in confusion. “If you would excuse me now, Lady Seraphina. I would leave you two to talk.” the dean continued, now talking to the old lady, before she gave a little bow and grabbed her things then straightly went to the door. I just innocently watched her walk out and through my peripheral vision, I saw the old lady slightly nod at her secretary and like a signal only they understood, the secretary left, following the dean’s exit.

I was left there speechless and confused.

I felt those eyes at me again, not that it disappeared for a moment. Instead of roaming my eyes around, which I think will be rude, I met the old lady’s eyes and gave her a smile. For a second, she looked taken aback but then she became serious again.

The silence stretched and before I could even utter a word, she blurted out the words I didn’t know would change my life.

“Will you marry my grandson?”