The Absent Years

"Don't squirm it will only hurt a bit" A female voice whispered into my ear, she caressed my arm and felt tingles on my spine. I couldn't see anything. I can feel something wrapped around my head. I tried to shake my head to remove the cloth that’s covering my head, I felt a sudden hand grab my head and slowly bring their hands close to my chin, and clench it. “What are you trying to do?” I shook my head to answer. Silence settled in, it looks like she left, but I can feel that she’s still in here. I hear that she placed something down a metal table then picked something up, it's like she's sharpening a knife. My heart beats like I finished running a marathon, I heard the footsteps beside me. I need to get out of here. I'm too tied down and restricted to do so, I start panicking more until I give up hope. "Nancy.." I whispered under my breath, I probably won’t see her beautiful face ever again, my life flashed before my eyes, She grabbed my shirt and removed my cloth, even with the dimly lit light my eyes couldn’t adjust well the mysterious woman leaned over, I can see her eyes, it's filled with anger, her green eyes turned dark. "Who are you?" she smirks, “Valerie” -------- "Jason time for breakfast!" I jolted up from my bed, feeling my sheets to just see if I’m back from reality, I had a nightmare again. It felt so real, I felt like I was going to die. Thank God it wasn't real, I don't know what to do in that kind of situation. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and walked to the bathroom to freshen up, I looked at the mirror and noticed that I had dark under-eye bags again. "Fuck." I splashed cold water on my face and brushed my teeth. I headed downstairs and noticed my dad wasn't in the dining area. I asked my mom if he wouldn't eat breakfast. "Your father is running a bit sick today hun." She placed her palm of her hand on my cheek, smiling "Don’t worry, he’ll be alright soon" mom answered in a cheery tone As I finished with my breakfast, I heard my phone beep in my pocket. It's Nancy. Nancy is my girlfriend in college. I met her when we're looking for courses to take before we enrolled. She caught my eye when I saw her falling in line at the dean’s office. I unlocked my phone and read the text. [ Hey Jay Good morning! I won't be meeting with you after lunch since I have a presentation to go to... maybe after classes? Xoxo] I frowned and replied [ Okay it's fine babe, just do yo thang :) I'll be waiting for you ;) ] I smiled as I placed down my dishes on the sink. Mom nudged me on the arm “Don’t forget the newspaper honey” I headed to the front porch and grabbed the newspaper for her, I don’t know why my parents are still reading news in the newspaper, I thought them how to use their phones already, I guess they will phase out of it soon. "Thanks for breakfast mom." I packed my bag and headed to the garage. I grabbed the key and started the engine. ------- I arrived at my college and parked my car. I heard someone running behind me and I looked back it was Angie, my childhood friend. I ran to the other side of the car. Angie pouted at me and chased after me. she's always been this playful ever since kindergarten, people always tease her for her orange curly hair but I didn't mind. She was the first one to befriend me since I was that boy in class who doesn't talk to people, I feel bad that I didn't stand up to her before. I wasn't that brave. My back fell on the concrete floor and saw Angie about to jump over me, I can see her freckles shift as her smile widens. She stopped and looked at me on the ground. It didn't help me at all, I thought she was about to pounce at me for a minute. I felt a bead of sweat roll down on my forehead and Angie poked my nose. "I gotcha!" She laughed so hard it's like her face is going to explode at how red it is "you should've seen your face Jason” she held her stomach from laughing too hard. “It's like a mountain lion is going to attack you" She slapped her knee while laughing and I began to pick myself up and dust the dirt outta my black jeans. I looked at her smiling "Just you wait... I'll have my revenge" I laughed like a villain clenching my hand to my chest. she squinted her eyes and ran "You can't catch me villain" and when she reached the entrance she waved goodbye. I stood there for a bit and gathered my stuff in the car and proceeded to my first class which is Introduction to Biology. I'm a Hotel and Restaurant Management student and that is one of my minor subjects. It's okay though since the instructor in that class was a cool guy. While I walked up the steps I stopped and noticed this girl with brunette hair looking at me, her bangs are short to cover her eyes. I waved hello but she ignored me and walked away. "Maybe I was being too straightforward," I thought to myself and continued to go up the stairs. As I reach the second floor I see my Biology classmates hanging outside the classroom and huddled at the entrance of the door, there seems to be a notice on the door. I moved closer and read the notice To All Biology Students (7:30-8:30) Mr. Hansen won't be in today but he left you all an exercise to do when you meet him next meeting. My classmates were whining and cheering at the same time all of them whipped out their phones and took a picture of the exercise that they're going to do and head out. This is normal for college students, the instructor may be late or they leave a notice on the door of the classroom. I waited for my classmates to leave so that I could copy it in my notebook. I don't usually use my phone in school because I'll be distracted from my studies. I only use it at lunchtime or when I have free time. While I was writing the exercise in my notebook, I felt someone staring at me so I looked all around me and found no one there. I continued to write the exercise and headed downstairs to the library. I felt my phone vibrate and brought it out of my pocket. [ Angie: I'm bored. can you come and visit me? ] I shake my head and replied "no" When I was about to put down my phone I saw an unknown number call me. I don't like answering random numbers so I ignored it and placed it in my pocket. I know that's rude and what if it's an emergency? I'll know if it's an emergency if they called 3 times and that's when I pick up the phone. I shook my head and opened the library door to enter, Ms. Jeena the Librarian smiled at me and gestured to me to go to her. I walked to her desk and she whispered "Hey, do you know how to tour a new student?" I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. Ms. Jeena frowned at me and brought me outside. We walked outside and I saw her cross her arms. "Jason please show around someone for me I'm supposed to be in a meeting at 9:00 am but nobody wants to volunteer" She clasped her hands together and pleaded. I don't want to, ‘cause I really wanna be in the library to just relax until my next class. Ms. Jeena was the one who helped me on my first day as a college student so I slowly nodded. "Okay yay! Thank you, Jason! I knew I could count on you, I'll treat you later" She pulled me into the library and I followed her to her office. Ms. Jeena opened the door and I saw the girl again from the stairs. She's the new student, pretty late for a new enrollee. It's already midterms. The girl looked down and clicked her pen over and over again. Maybe she's not used to socializing from her behavior. Ms. Jeena introduced us to one another and I brought out my hand to shake hands with her. She gripped her notebook and looked down. "Okay Jason, be good to Valerie okay?" Ms. Jeena raised one eyebrow asking me to say yes. "I will."  I forced a smile on Ms. Jeena. We both walked out of the office and I remembered the girl from the hallway a while back. As we stood there, I was thinking of where to start the tour, I looked back at her but she still looking down holding her notebook "Welcome to college Valerie... uh, we'll start at the first floor going to the fourth floor is that alright with you?" Valerie nodded and we walked to the Cash register’s office. That's where we start the tour. I gestured my hand to the Cash Registers Office, “Here’s the cash registers office, well you already probably know about it by now since you paid your tuition fees here.” She still hasn’t lifted her head, always looking down on the ground. We moved on to the other offices and a research room. I finished the tour on the first floor now we have to go to the second floor because that’s where the classrooms are, I don’t want to make this tour too awkward for her so I tried to start a conversation “Hey, I hope you don’t mind me asking but how old are you?” She stopped in her tracks and turned her head to me slowly. I can't still see her full face since her bangs are covering it but I can only see her mouth. “20” she answered softly. “I see” I looked away, I saw where the classrooms are now. “I’m sorry I asked so suddenly” she shook her head. We continued the tour of the first classroom.                                "The rooms are kinda tricky but you'll get a hang of it soon!" I looked at her to see if she's listening or not but she was looking at me. I felt chills because her eyes were wide open. I wanted to break this creepy atmosphere so I waved my hand in front of her face. She blinked and looked down at the floor again. "As... I was saying.. uh.. so this lane is 201, 202, 203, 204 and so on.." I pointed at the room numbers. I didn't feel comfortable when I'm walking with her but I need to finish this tour. so we went to the next row of classrooms and it's in front of a half wall with railings. "These classrooms are different, it has the letter A instead of number 0" I looked at her again and she took a glance at me but looked at the room numbers immediately, is she listening? I cleared my throat "For example, this classroom is 2-A-1 not 201" I pointed at the room numbers. She nodded and suddenly started walking without me. I chased after her and asked her what was wrong. She glanced at me and looked down again. I asked her if she wants to continue the tour and she lifted her face and said "Thank you, I already know." She replied. I shrugged and bid goodbye to her. I saw her say something and grinned but I was too far away from her to tell what she said. I finally finished the tour and sighed in relief. I looked at my watch and it's only 10:15 am but I need to head to the classroom first before my classmates arrive for the next class. I arrived at the classroom and brought out my phone, I noticed there’s an unknown number that messaged me. Maybe it's Ms. Jeena who always changes her number every time she has a new boyfriend, it’s always a nuisance receiving random text messages from her. [ I like your dream ]