The Odd Ones

003. Polar Opposites

When Jacob finally opened his eyes, the sight of the white ceiling and the sounds of people walking and conversing met his senses. He moved his gaze all over the place as he lied down on the bed, before seeing the green curtains that surrounded him. From the looks of it, he knew he is at the hospital. It took him a few seconds before he finally remembered what happened earlier.

After passing out, he wasn’t really aware of what happened afterwards. He gained a little consciousness while he was on the stretcher, but fell asleep immediately since his body is feeling extremely tired for no reason.

He sat down and moved the curtain to look for his mother, but instead is met by the sight of a familiar guy sitting on a hospital bed positioned a little further from him. He was the one with the silver hair and purple eyes, and with a cold and cynical aura around him.

Jacob was watching him when his mother finally covered his sight holding the prescription from the doctor. He transferred his attention on his mother’s face who is obviously looking really stressed and worried.

“The doctor said you’re not sick or anything, but you probably fainted because of fatigue…” Julia then sat beside him, “Look, I already told you not to play games until midnight, right? Once you leave to stay at the dorm, you can’t take those with you… I don’t want you getting distracted and getting sick because of it.”

Jacob scratched his nape and avoided his mother’s gaze because of guilt, “I’m sorry…”

His mother sighed, before pressing her palms against his cheek. “You scared me, sweetie… I was really terrified.”

Jacob chuckled as he removed his mother’s hands from his face and held it. “You don’t worry, Mom… I’m okay now… And I’ll take care of myself, I promise that.” Something then crossed his mind, “By the way… Mom, did you hear something loud before I passed out? Like, a really annoying loud noise…”

Julia shook her head, looking confused because of what he said, “Wait, did you hear something before you lost consciousness?” She heaved a deep breath, “You stay here, okay? I’ll call a doctor so we can get you checked… We should make sure you’re completely fine before we leave…”

Before he could even say something, his mother already left him alone. That was when he finally took the chance to look for the male student he saw a while ago, but unfortunately, the guy’s bed is already empty. It seemed like he already left.

Jacob decided to just shrug his confusion. Maybe everything is just a coincidence, and he is just imagining things.

********

After placing his things at the back of the van, Jacob walked towards his mother who has been watching him the whole time he was moving his bags and boxes inside the vehicle. He can see loneliness and worry on her face, so he tried to comfort her with a reassuring smile.

Though he did not grow up with his mother, he can understand where her reaction is coming from. Now that he is moving to Faircastle High School’s dormitory, they are going to be separated again despite living in the same state. It’s only a few days before the beginning of classes, so he has to move early for him to adjust easily.

“Mom, don’t act like that… I’m still coming back for the weekends,” Jacob told his mother in a teasing voice, “Don’t worry too much…”

His mom sighed and looked at him with concern. “I’m just sad you know… This is the first time that we’re actually together… That I can finally be a mother to you, and yet I have to send you away so I can work and you can have the quality education you deserve… I’m sorry if this is our situation, sweetie… I hope you don’t hate me…”

“Mom, I completely understand everything… And I don’t hate you. I mean, why would I hate you? You’re the only one I have now…” he then wounded an arm on his mother’s shoulder, “Look, I can take care of myself now, so no need to worry… Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you… Your grandma raised you well, and I can see that…” She then grinned sadly, “It’s just… I haven’t been a mother to you for so long and I’m afraid we’ll become even more distant from each other. I know that you’re still awkward around me, since we only get to talk through the phone and we only meet each other on special occasions. But I really want to be a good mother to you, Jacob.”

“You are a good mother. And a father, also…” Jacob told her in a comforting voice, “And I am not going to waste all your efforts…”

His mother smiled, before taking something out of her pocket. She then placed it on his palm. “This is for you…”

Jacob’s left eyebrow lifted. “A coin?”

Julia nodded as he chuckled. “Yes, a coin… It’s your father’s, and he always had it, you know… It’s like his lucky charm… I thought that I should give it to you…”

Jacob looked at the piece of bronze on his palm. It is way bigger than an ordinary coin, with a sun etched on both sides of it. All the sun’s rays are all positioned at the bottom of the circle, and the ray in the center is the largest and is piercing through the sun.

He smiled, before placing the coin in his pocket. “It’s like taking him with me.”

“If he sees you right now, he will be very proud of you, knowing that you grew up so well…”

“So what kind of luck will that coin bring me?”

His mother chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t know. Your father never told me. All he said was that the coin is his lucky charm. Maybe it will work for you, too.”

Despite feeling puzzled, he just shrugged the thought off and went inside the car. He was riding shotgun as his mother drove him to the dormitory.

It took them more than an hour before they reached the massive building right across the road in front the Faircastle High School campus. In front of the entrance of the dormitory, Jacob’s younger cousin, Kevin, who is in his last year in junior high, is waiting for him. The younger man immediately approached them and helped with bringing Jacob’s things to their room upstairs.

After moving his bags and boxes containing his other personal belongings, Jacob bid goodbye to his mother. He received some reminders and warm hug, before finally leaving for work.

The room is quite spacious for two persons, or maybe it is just the lack of things that made it seem to be roomy. A double deck bed is on one side of the room, and two study tables positioned near the window. A huge cabinet with a partition in the middle is situated across the beds, and on one corner of the room is the door towards the bathroom.

As Kevin placed the boxes next to the empty study table, Jacob started removing his shoes, replacing them with loafers which he finds to be more comfortable to use.

“You can use the lower bunk, since I’m using the one on top…” Kevin told him, “If you need anything, you can always ask me.”

“I’ll be fine, Kev… By the way, why is the dorm situated outside the school? Why can’t they place it inside the campus? There’s a lot of space in there I bet…”

“It’s been like that, to be honest… Most students live outside here at the dorm, while the members of the Paramount live inside since their dorm rooms are inside the Paramount Building which is exclusive for them.”

Jacob is confused. “That’s unfair. Why?”

“They’re granted with unlimited access to school facilities so the administration thought that it’s just fitting if their dorm is inside. Speaking of the Paramount…” Kevin then sat beside him, “You took the placement examination, right? How was it?”

Jacob shrugged at the question. “It’s alright. I didn’t take it seriously, though. I don’t want to be a member.”

“Why not? Everyone in Faircastle wants to be a part of it. Some even take review classes for it,” Kevin told him, “You should have taken the exam seriously…”

“Why would I want to pass the exam just to say for after-school classes? I’m just going to waste my time there. I’d rather go back here and play video games or just walk around somewhere,” Jacob replied as he retrieved his admission letter from the backpack he brought, “Can you accompany me to the registrar’s office?”

Kevin nodded as he wore proper clothes over his shorts and loose sleeveless shirt. “Alright… I also need to take my textbooks.”

The two then proceeded to the registrar so Jacob can finish his enrolment process. Most of the important parts are already done online so all he needs to do is get his certificate of enrolment that will be needed to claim some stuff.

After passing by the registrar, Jacob and Kevin then proceeded to the supply hall where the students get their uniforms, name plates, identification cards, class schedule slips, and textbooks.

Since they are a bit early, only a few students are at the hall to claim their respective things. Kevin accompanied him on the lane for the incoming students and transferees, and while they were waiting for the staff to finally find Jacob’s stuff, the hall became filled with soft voices and whispers.

Looking confused, the cousins focused their eyes all over the place. Everyone, especially the girls, are looking at a certain direction, so they moved their gaze at the hall’s entry point.

“Of course it’s him…” Kevin said sarcastically as he shook his head, “I don’t get these girls, you know… Why do they like these kinds of guys?”

From the entrance, the guy with the silver hair and purple eyes is currently entering the supply hall. It’s the same guy he was with during the placement exam, and the same student he saw at the hospital. The male student went towards the lane for claiming textbooks, quietly waiting for his turn.

“He was in the same room as me during the placement exam…” Jacob told his cousin, “When he entered the room, everyone had the same reaction. Who the hell is that guy?

“Vladimir Hightower. He’s the same year as you, and is the best student from the Logical-Mathematical Intelligence Division. He’s the son of a business tycoon, so he’s really popular for so many reasons, aside from the fact that most girls find him good-looking.”

“So he’s a bully?”

Kevin shook his head. “Not really. I mean, how can he be a bully when he doesn’t even talk to people? But he’s really known to be super cold and rude to people. I guess it’s because he knows he’s intelligent and no one in the school can beat him. Ever since he was in junior high, he never dropped from the top spot in the general rankings. Everyone expects him to get into the Paramount, since he’s so smart.”

“Do you hate him?”

“Nah… I don’t hate him, but the attention he gets is just annoying me. I hope he finds his match someday. He needs to get served what he deserves, you know.”

Jacob chuckled, “So you’re jealous?”

“What? No!” Kevin insisted as he pouted like a child, “Just take your things and let’s get the books…”

After taking his things from the staff on the lane where he is situated, he then went to the other line where textbooks are being released. Kevin stood behind him, while he stood right behind Vladimir.

Whether he admits it or not, Jacob can’t help but feel intimidated with Vladimir’s presence. The silver-haired guy just had this certain daunting aura around him.

While waiting for their turn, four members of the school’s track and field team stood behind them. The biggest among them was situated right behind Kevin, who moved closer to him because of fear and intimidation.

The four student athletes were laughing, and it became louder when they playfully pushed Kevin forward just to tease. Kevin bumped onto Jacob’s back, causing him to lose balance and slightly push Vladimir who is quietly standing in front of him.

Jacob froze when Vladimir faced him and gave him a cold gaze.

“It wasn’t me…” Jacob immediately reasoned out, “Those guys at the back pushed my cousin…”

Vladimir looked at him from head to toe – like the guy was judging his whole existence – before finally glaring at the four student athletes that are still chuckling.

Vladimir scoffed and smirked, with the aim to inflict insult. “Stop picking on people, Nico. That will never help you get rid of your inferiority complex. How pathetic…”

The smirk on Nico’s was wiped completely, before giving Vladimir a death glare. “I am not talking to you, nerd.”

“If you didn’t push the squirt, this one will not bump onto me,” Vladimir retaliated while giving him and Kevin a quick glance, “And I told you already… Bullying people will not help you improve your self-esteem. You look like a child staging a random tantrum to get his parents’ attention.”

Nico hissed as he tried to maintain his composure. “I’m seriously going to punch you, Hightower. Do you want to fight, huh? Show me what you got, asshole.”

Vladimir heaved a deep breath before displaying a calm expression on his face, “Why would I waste my time and energy on you? To be honest, I am already exhausted just by talking to you. And I’m insulting you not because I’m smart, but because people like you are an easy target. You’re just all brawn and no brain, Nico.” He then shook his head as he smirked, “And what should I even expect from you? Of course you’d resort to violence… But I can’t blame you, really. I mean – That’s the only thing you’re good at, right?”

Nico was about to pounce on him because of anger, but was halted because the school staff already called Vladimir’s attention.

Jacob watched as Vladimir took his books calmly, as if nothing happened. Before leaving, the silver-haired guy gave Nico a menacing look, before moving on to him and leaving him with an icy cold stare.

Everyone has the right to be intimidated by him. Vladimir exudes a certain kind of aura that makes anyone shut their mouths.

Jacob sighed. He doesn’t really like starting relationships with people on the wrong foot, but with that glare Vladimir gave him, the latter is definitely going to be an exception.

********

After receiving all his things from the supply hall, Jacob then proceeded to leave the campus with his cousin. But before he can even exit the gate, he realized that Kevin isn’t with him anymore. As he looked around, he noticed his younger cousin approaching a different path.

Jacob started walking briskly, almost running. “Kevin! Where are you going?”

“I just want to see the Paramount Building, Jacob,” his cousin replied.

The path lead them to an enormous building with four storeys. A mix of cream and royal blue graced the walls of the structure, with the school seal hanging on its façade. In front of the building is a huge frame where a tarpaulin is hanging. On it is the pictures and names of the former members of the Paramount Class that just graduated, and the prestigious universities where they all got admitted.

“This is one of the main reasons why a lot of students want to become a part of the Paramount. It’s like a golden ticket, you know… If you have the name ‘Paramount Class’ on your credentials, universities will compete just to get you. If you’re financial means is slightly limited, the university will arrange ways to find sponsors for your schooling. This school has a lot of connections with different powerful people and companies, so it will be easy for them to help the student with the financial burden.”

Jacob smirked and nudged his cousin, “You really want to be a member, huh…”

“I ain’t studying hard for nothing…” Kevin said, with determination in his voice, “I’ll do my best to top the placement exam in the division I’ll be a part of…”

Jacob just smiled and shook his head, before moving his gaze on the vast structure in front of them.