Two Faced

“Everything is not always what it seems” - unknown. Reign had two problems: his starving curiosity and his uneven haircut. He was supposed to attend his usual class at Santa Fe National High School, but for the past hours he’s been watching the clouds, while laying on the school’s rooftop. If only the classes are interesting he would surely attend and not miss any. “The sky sure is blue today” he whispered. It reminded him of someone he know and secretly admired. “There you are!” a girl shouted while clenching her fist. Her face was fully red and has a deathly glare. Reign stood up, he stared back at the girl and then grinned, “You got me, Prez.” He then ran as fast as he could and left the girl. Reign arrived at the front door of his classroom with his uniform drenched in sweat and out of breath. “Where have you been?” his teacher shouted with an interrogating tone. Reign glanced everywhere in his surroundings trying to find a valid excuse. Then he saw the track and field team, “Oh I was tra-” “He was doing some errands for the, sir.” The girl from before interrupted. She was panting and also drenched in sweat, with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “Okay, back to your seat.” The teacher resumed his class. “Hey, Thanks!” Reign tapped the shoulder of the girl; the girl turned his back quickly and ignored Reign. Cold as always are you. He then went to his chair at the right corner of the room, at the back, where a window seat is located. His teacher’s voice was loud, but his attention was fully occupied by the blue sky outside, and to his fortune, the weather was perfect that day, specially the soothing breeze coming from outside. “I think this class is not half bad.” He whispered while staring outside the open window. Then the whole room was filled with sudden noises. Every girl inside the classroom cannot hide their emotions as they witnessed a festive on their eyes happening in front. A tall and handsome transferred student was introducing himself. Girls was going crazy as he displayed his pearly white teeth in every smile; his thick eyebrows are perfectly matched with his black hair. “I’m Malachi, nice to meet you all.” And his jolly personality was cream of the crop: the girls were falling on their knees while the boys, well , if stares can kill then Malachi was already dead even before he spoke. “Can I sit here?” Malachi asked the Class President as he pull the chair on her right side. He stared at the girl waiting for a respond, as was the class. “Sure,” she responded. He slowly pull the chair and sat down, with their shoulders about only five inches apart. Every actions he did screams elegancy, even the way he breathed. “Hey” Malachi quietly whispered. He looks at the girl trying to catch her attention. The Class President turned her head slowly on the right and looked at Malachi. “What’s your name?” he said. “Zoey” “We have the same eye color, Zoey.” Malachi said with a cheerful tone while looking forward, pretending to listen to their teacher. Zoey paused and put her pen down, then she stared at Malachi’s eyes, deeply. Malachi stared back but he turned red and drowned into Zoey’s deep blue eyes ----- hypnotizing blue eyes… like that of the Atlantic? or the planet Neptune? or even like the Sapphires? Their eye contact lasted for a few seconds but for Malachi hours have passed by, clearly hypnotizing eyes. “Tsk, lil cocky, are ya?” Reign mumbled. He looked at his reflection from the glass panels attached to the sliding windows. He gently brushed his hair and cleansed his face. If only he got a decent haircut and blue eyes, maybe, just maybe he will also stand out. Well, there’s something that is noticeable in his face: bruises. Every second he looked at himself, he discovered brand new insecurities. After a moment, he sighed, then shook his head, and his hair came back to normal. This class became boring again. He hid his face between his bags and took a short nap, yes, while his teacher is giving a lecture at front. Hours have passed, and Reign’s awaited moment has finally come: the ringing of the bell, signaling that the long day at the school has come to an end. Everyone quickly vanished into thin air, leaving not even a single dust on their tables. Reign is not one of them, he quietly sat down, patiently waiting for something. As the Class President finished cleaning the scribbled blackboard, he stood up. “Hey, want to walk tog-” “I’ve been waiting for you to finish. The teacher said that I can ask you for help.” Malachi spoke, leaning at the front door facing Zoey. Zoey looked at Reign with the same blank expression she’s been giving him. Then she followed Malachi without saying a word. After some time contemplating, Reign picked up his bag and walked out the room with a broken spirit, dragging his feet on the ground. The sky showed it’s empathy to Reign cause before the sun set, it’s color turned into milk gray, the air hung thick with the smell of something indescribable, then thirst has gotten into Reign. He stopped into Felicidad, a small store he had been shopping at since he was a toddler. He memorized everything on the store, from the wood-carved signage hanging above the front door to the exact number of snake plants that can be found inside. He knows every name of every faces that worked there, and of course everyone also knows him. After he grabbed a bottle of ice-cold water he slowly approach the counter. As he was about to pay, he realized something, his wallet is not in his pocket. He nervously patted his pants from top to bottom, thinking it was just misplaced, then he remembered, it was left at the rooftop of their school. He hurriedly ran outside, leaving his belongings and the battle of water, he ran with one thing on his mind: his wallet. He arrived at the front gate but instantly stopped, not because his out of breath but because he realized that it was passed the closing time of their school and the gates were completely locked. If only there was another entrance anywhere, he took a peek inside, looking if someone was guarding. Then he climbed the gates in an instant, with every step seemed that he had done this before. The whole School was bright outside but it was opposite when you entered; everything was pitched black inside. The small sparks of reflection from the lights outside was the source of single visibility inside. Every step he took on the stairs was slow and precise. He grasp the railing on the stairs tightly, and reached his destination with his heart about to jump on his throat. He looked around the rooftop, on every corner he could find and not even a single dust escaped his search but it’s still nowhere to be found. Hopeless, he went back down. As he slowly took every step, he heard something disturbing from afar. A humming and crying sound--- maybe it was a mix of both. The sound echoed at the corridor of every room and it was nearing. He felt shivers down his spine, he then silently tiptoed towards the sound, hiding at the right side wall of a room. He took a peek and found a disturbing sight -- a walking, crying lady. He crawled away in fear, “Wait” He stopped and stood then slowly took a peek again. He sighed in relief as he saw what it was. “You okay? You scared me, I almost piss my pants, Zoey,” He said calmly as he approached Zoey. “You okay?” “I forgot my bag at our classroom. And after I enter the School, it was pitched black, and I was lost.” She sobbed while wiping her tears. “Sigh, you don’t have to cry, I also left my wallet there, so let’s go together okay?” He patted her head, trying to comfort her, then they went to their classroom. As they were walking, a noise was heard coming from somewhere. Maybe it was just a wind or not. Zoey quickly grabbed Reign’s right arm and held it tightly. Reign loved every single second of that moment; it was clear on how red his face was, from his checks to his ears. “Okay, we’re here.” Reign said. Zoey released her tight grip as Reign’s slowly opened the door. As they fully opened the door, everything went silent; even their slightest breath could not be heard. Every part of their body screamed to flee, but they could not; their feet were glued into the cold white tiles. They couldn’t move nor breathe, not yet. In front of them was a scene that can shatter even the strongest mind; there a silhouette was seen. Hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly from the faintest creak, was body. Lifeless