Oblivion

CHAPTER 4: Welcome Party

EVA LEVESQUE

I suddenly gasped for air like I had been choked for a long time. My head was spinning and I was breathing heavily. My body felt numb and I was covered in a cold sweat. As my vision started to clear I looked at both of my shaky palms. I suddenly realized that I was in a bed. I looked around and it was dark, a warm light peeked through my window and the sound of laughter and music echoed from outside.

I started to calm down and looked around. The room was dark but not dark enough that I could not see what was going on around me. Beside me was another bed with a desk in between and there was a third bed with also a desk in between. There was no one sleeping in the beds next to me as it was neatly arranged.

I tried to close my eyes and attempted to remember what my dream was but it was only a number of blurred images that I could not remember and not long that my head started to spin again. I feel like there was something important that I forgot, the dream felt real and the emotions it left behind also felt real. I feel like a large part of me went missing.

The door creaked and light peeked through. Helle entered and her eyes slightly widened when she saw me, she was also carrying a glass with water in it.

“I see you’re awake Miss Eva,” she said and walked towards me with quiet steps. She never fails to amaze me at how graceful and sophisticated she is as a person. “I brought warm water for you to drink.”

“My lady and sir Sigrid are outside since there is a welcome party being held for new students.” She added.

My throat was feeling dry because of panting so I took a sip from the glass she gave me. It immediately soothed my throat.

“What happened?” I asked her. The last thing I remember was losing consciousness while being with Sigrid. I have no recollection of what happened next. Every time I try to remember what was happening, my head would just ache like it was breaking.

“Sir Sigrid carried you here and called a nurse. She said that you might just be in shock. Both him and lady Irene wanted to stay here to watch over you but they were helping in organizing the party so I told them that I’d look after you instead,” she replied.

“Oh,” I sighed. I massaged the temple of my head to calm down. Maybe moving to a new environment is really taking a toll on me.

“Do you want to go outside and enjoy the party?” she asked. I responded with a smile.

“I think it’s too late for me to join,” I said as I watched the bonfire burning from outside through the reflection on the window, “I-I think I’ll pass”

But I truly wondered what it felt like to celebrate a welcome party in Helios High. To feel the warmth of the fire on my skin while drinking and talking to a bunch of friends. That would be awesome, but then I decided long ago to be okay with this, far away from hybrids and humans so that it won’t cause a misunderstanding.

I faced Helle looking directly at me with her emotionless and luminescent eyes. Those eyes seemed to reflect who I really am and what I really feel.

“How-how about you? I’m sorry you got stuck here with me when you should be enjoying yourself outside,” I apologized. She did not seem fazed at all.

“Partying is not my style” she plainly said “unless someone is willing to pay me”

I laughed nervously and nodded. This girl says and does the weirdest things. She seems like she knows everything that’s going on, always has a neutral face, and has a weird obsession with gold and money. We were friends since we were children and I still find her disturbing at times.

“You should try and go out Miss Eva.” She said, “you should do the things you want to do so you won’t regret It later on.”

I was lost for words. It’s she hit a sour spot and I was taken aback at what she said. But then I also felt like I should do it so I won’t regret it later. I smiled a little and nodded.

“I think I’ll just see what they are doing.”

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I walked towards the center court of the school where the bonfire was being held. Students were sitting around it on logs. Some were sitting on picnic blankets and some were standing but they were all just busy talking and laughing with their group of friends.

I looked around for familiar faces once I entered the crowd, the atmosphere shifted and was warm because of the fire, the place was a lot brighter and joyful. I sometimes bumped into people dancing but they paid me no mind. My face brightened when I saw Sigrid standing alone near the long table where the food was. I grinned and raised my hand to call him when a group of humans and hybrids approached him.

He laughed and talked to them while my hand remained in the air. Suddenly there was an invisible barrier between us, he was in a place where I couldn’t reach him. It was a place I did not belong. I liked him for so long I sometimes forget how different our personalities are. How extroverted and popular he is and how introverted and timid I am.

He was always someone who makes people feel at ease and comfortable. He just knew the right words to say to people, not to mention he is also a song of the wealthiest merchant in the city.

I was staring off into space when someone bumped me from behind which caused me to lose balance. I was trained to fight as a daughter of an executioner but there was one thing I sucked at, balance.

I closed my eyes and prepared myself for when my face hits the ground when someone crashed their hand on my face preventing me from face-planting.

“That was a close one Eva!” said a loud voice. “You nearly shattered your face bones!”

I stood there in shock after that person removed their hand from my face. I felt my face numb as stared into space in pure horror. I heard people around me laugh and whisper around.

“I-Irene!” I raised my voice in embarrassment.

“What? You should thank me for saving you” she replied, cleaning her ear with her pinky finger.

“You could have saved me by holding my arm or clothes!” I answered. “and stop that, that’s disgusting!”

I looked around, thank goodness only a few people left were staring and laughing at us. I held my nose to see if it was still intact, and fortunately, it was still in one piece. I gasped, suddenly remembering Sigrid. My eyes flew in his direction and caught him staring right at me with a paper cup in his hands. The girls beside him were also talking and giggling.

“By the way, are you okay now? What happened to you and you passed out?” Irene asked “Helle and I lost you then suddenly we heard you passed out. Were you nervous and in shock again?”

I did not answer Irene and pulled her away to a place where Sigrid wasn’t there. It was too embarrassing for me to be seen by him like this. I pulled her on the other side of the venue where the bonfire was covering Sigrid and the others.

“What? Why?” Irene asked, clearly confused. I bit my lip and looked at the other direction, I couldn’t possibly tell her that I’m embarrassed in front of Sigrid.

“Ooohh,” she told me in an amused tone. The side of her lips lifted into a smirk and raised her eyebrow,” you’re too embarrassed to face Sigrid.”

My eyes widened and covered her mouth.

“Shut up Irene! I’m not embarrassed!” I told her defensively and felt my face heating up. I just wished I stayed in the dorm with Helle. So much for not regretting things, I regretted even coming here.

“Chill!” she gasped soon after taking my hands off her. “I’m not going to tease you, silly.”

“Shut up Irene,” I told her sullenly. I know she’s going to tease me about this for a month.

“You should just tell him you love him Eva. Don’t just stand there and stare at him from the corner. That’s just creepy.” She said.

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Do I look like I haven’t tried?” I told her then sighed. I don’t even remember how many times I told him I liked him. He just avoids the question every single time. He changes the topic or distracts me from making my confession. He never even gave me a proper answer. No, he never even gave the chance to properly confess to him. Maybe it’s because he just really doesn’t like me and he doesn’t want to destroy our friendship and make things awkward.

“Oh, yeah,” she said in sudden realization, “you did try, and you failed every single—”

“Irene!”

“I’m kidding!” she said and laughed out loud and smacked my back. “I’m kidding!”

“I should just head back to the dorm, Helle might be weird but she makes more sense when talking to you instead of you,” I told her honestly with a blank face. Her grin disappeared from her face then she pouted.

“That’s just not fair Eva, I’m your first love, not Helle!” she complained. I rolled my eyes and started to walk away.

I smiled a little. Irene has a loose screw in the head but she has always been there for me ever since we were young. When other hybrid kids feared and shunned me, she was there to be with me and when humans were ashamed of me and bullied me, she was there to defend me.

“Sigrid will always be my first love, Irene,” I told her jokingly.

But you will always be my first favorite person.



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END