Nethania

Chapter 5: It's a NE

AUSTIN VINCE

ONE of the sights that gave me shivers was seeing the girl who once made my life complete and captured my heart.

Knowing from my parents that I would be studying at Alviana Academy, the first thing I thought of was the fact that I'd be seeing Avia there. After our vague breakup, I distanced myself away from her as far as I could. But now I find myself wearing the academy's uniform, living in a dormitory inside the academy's premises and, most especially, having Avia as my classmate.

What a tough life.

I placed my arms on the railing of the balcony while holding a cup of coffee. I settled on the third floor of Dormitory 1M, which is basically for male students. Our room was located on the far right and from here, I could see the open field with some benches surrounding it where students could hang out. I had two roommates and both of them were on a basketball team.

"Hey, Tin, morning brew huh? Why didn't you wake us up so that we could join you?" Nico said, smiling. He leaned his back against the railing while his lips were curving upwards. He has this mid-faded brown hair, blue eyes, and an enthusiastic smile every time he faces people.

"I don't want to ruin your sleep and if I did, Tyrone might give me a black eye," I replied.

"Tyrone is a good boy—"

"Uh-huh," I interjected sarcastically, turning my body to face him. "He gave me a bruise when I got here, Nic, and it was awfully painful."

"He wasn't that bad, Tin. In fact, yesterday, she comforted a girl who came from a breakup."

My brows furrowed. "Why didn't I know that?"

"You went to the library and stayed there until five, Austin. You didn't see my heroic act," Tyrone said, looking at me like he was arguing with me. He has high fade black hair and a pair of black eyes. His hefty chest made him more manly than us, I mean, we do have bulky muscles, but his was more fit and robust.

"We will be meeting up later," he continued.

Whether you say all your activities and events with your girlfriend, I don't care. I have my own business and your 'heroic' act didn't mean a lot to me.

I just nodded and faced the field again. Nico left the balcony and went with Tyrone. I sipped my coffee while watching the sun rise. It was six am in the morning and all I could do was to stand here and watch as the day unfolded upon us. Yesterday's event gave me a hard time last night. I wasn't able to fall asleep in a second and I kept thinking about it.

I had no concern about the girl who approached me, but the way Avia reacted bothered my mind.

Maybe I'll just get myself a cold shower.

*

"Wanna watch our practice later, Austin?" Nico asked, putting his arms on my shoulders.

I shook my head. "I have to work on my project. Maybe next time," I declined that made him nod languidly.

"Ok, I gotta go. I have to meet our coach for later's practice."

I motioned my brows upwards and he turned his back to me and jogged away behind my back. I looked down. Watching basketball practice is sometimes worth my time, but when I had something to do more crucial, then it was not hard for me not to attend such an event.

My gaze fixed ahead, making my walk slow in pace. I blinked multiple times and I couldn't believe my eyes. Ahead of me, was a girl in a dirty uniform and with messy hair, covering half of her face and intently looking at me.

She began to lift her feet and walked, heading to my spot. I wanted to stop and swerve, but I couldn't take my attention away from her. She was strange.

Students just pass us by. Were they even aware that I was facing a girl? Well, I knew that students here didn't care anyway, so I had to face her.

I was much taller than her, so she held her chin up. Our eyes met and I felt shivers. Creeps began crawling onto my skin. The wind was cold, but the atmosphere was even colder. A weird feeling that I shouldn't feel right now.

"What is it, lady?" I asked in a serious tone.

"There was a girl," she began, her voice was hoarse. "Laying unconsciously in an abandoned room and she needed help. Go rescue her before Hades can." Her downcast face and pitiful eyes began to change as her lips began to flash a curve and she opened her mouth to laugh in a shrill voice.

She cracked up. Her eyes fixed on me while she laughed at the top of her lungs.

The hallway became empty and the wind blew hard, making my body hair stand up and it made me freeze. Creeps began running down my whole body. I tried to divert my gaze away from her, but it felt like she kept pulling my attention to her.

She kept laughing loudly. I couldn't bear it anymore. "Stop!" I raised my voice.

She hushed down but kept a sharp glare at me. "W-Who are you?" I asked.

The sides of her lips began to rise. "Ne..." she said, taking a step backwards. "Ne..." she repeateds but she was getting far from me.

My brows knitted. "Ne—what?" I dragged my feet toward her even if my body refused to. I wanted to hear her name. Thoug my heart was racing, I wanted to know the truth.

"Nevermind..." she giggled and abruptly turned her back to me and her feet carried her like a dashing wind. She was gone from my sight within a minute.

I walked backwards while looking ahead where the girl vanished. "T-That was weird," I muttered, leaning against the railing of the hallway.

I inhaled and exhaled heavily, trying to calm down my system. I ran my fingers through my hair and looked around. Students are now pacing along the hallway. Didn't they just see what happened? The hoarse voice? The shrill laugh? The weird girl?

Then I remembered what she said. I instantly dashed my way to the abandoned room.

I knew the 'Ne' word made sense to her.

That was the information that I didn't tell Avia. The word, or should I say, probably letters of her name, 'Ne'.

*

"Austin!"

I flinched in my chair when the deep voice of my teacher hit my ears.

"Crap," I mumbled. I was so occupied with my thoughts that I even forgot to listen to our teacher. I cleared my throat and sat up straight in my chair. I roamed my eyes only to find out that all eyes were on me, especially Avia, but her stare was emotionless and empty.

I sighed.

"Seemed like you have an inconspicuous teacher who was teaching behind the window," he reprimanded. His voice was low and deep, yet I recognized it as a sarcastic statement.

I'd never been in a situation like this before. Just because of thinking some weird and fuzzy thoughts, I got this kind of attention.

"A warning, Mr. Hilardo. Let's continue."

The teacher went on with his discussion. Everything went back to normal. I held my pen and wrote something in my notebook.

NE... what's this?

Two letters that kept bothering my mind.

"Tin," Nico whispered, "You were f*****g serious as hell earlier. You were staring at the window. Did you see anything strange? Don't tell me you're planning to jump off—"

"I was in deep thoughts, Nic. That's it," I cut his words short in a low tone. I couldn't afford to be caught again, not by staring at the window, but because of talking with this man.

"Hmm..." He held his chin and looked upwards, then stared at me. "What kind of thought was it? Care to tell me? Maybe we can talk about it," he said, throwing me a perverted look.

I cringed and punched him on his shoulder. "I'm not like that. I'm different. Just listen to our lesson so that your empty mind will be filled with some intelligence."

"That's rancid!"

"Nico!" Our teacher called out.

I glanced at him with a smirk. That's what you get man! He stiffened like a tree in his seat and managed not to make eye contact with our teacher, who had a grouchy attitude.

"If you don't want to listen, just leave this room and never come back again," he announced in a deep and dreadful tone. Such a quick-tempered man. Mr. Hilles was rumored to be a man of bad temperament. He likes reprimanding everyone and punishing them if they do something unlawful. His lips always curved downwards, wrinkles were visible and his eyes were the most frightening physical feature of his! Imagine staring at an animal who was about to devour you whole. No one in this academy ever dared to make fun of him or confront him.

Nico didn't talk to me after he got called out. But he was throwing me a glance with a playful smile, like he was teasing me. Since I wasn't in the mood to entertain him, I simply ignored him.

A couple of minutes passed before our class ended. Mr. Hilles left us homework and it was quite difficult.

Unnecessary mumblings and footsteps filled the whole room as our classmates began to walk out of the room for lunch. I felt a stinging sensation in my chest when Avia and her clique passed in front of me. I even saw Hannah, who eyed me and gave me a wink. I took my eyes off them and looked at my notebook instead.

I could see questions which were written on paper but my mind was thinking of her. Till now, I couldn't take the fact that we were together in one room and seeing her happy with somebody else.

"Tin, I know you have a brilliant mind and commendable intelligence..." My awareness came back when Nico mumbled.

I moved my head up and down sluggishly. "Uh-huh, just state your straight to the point request, Nic. Don't make compliments as a front," I replied, without turning to him.

"Can you help me with our homework? I'll get you snacks later," he offered, leaning closer to me.

I eyed him sideways and back at the notebook. "You know, I'm not a fan of eating between meals. Just keep your snacks."

"Ok fine! I'll treat you lunch today, but please help me with our homework," he pleaded, putting his hands together on his chest.

I closed my notebook and turned to him. "You said it man, don't withdraw your words," I said, raising an index finger.

"I never withdraw words, Tin. Trust me."

We stood up and got our bags on our shoulders. I ran my fingers through my hair while walking and Nico closed the door behind us.

Nico's eyeballs met my stare when our dear friend appeared in front of us with a familiar girl who happened to be a famous cheerleader in the academy. Students who were passing by apparently turned their heads in our direction, where Tyrone and Margaret were standing in front of us.

A beauty which no one can resist!

I caught Nico winking at Margaret. I glared and nudged him on his side.

"What the hell, Tin!" he snapped.

"She's our friend's girl—"

"Tyrone didn't tell us yet if this girl was already his—" he cut me off.

"What are you whispering about jerks?" Tyrone interrupted.

"Whoa, did you call us jerks by now?" Nico scoffed.

"Yeah, was it unbelievable?" Tyrone sarcastically replied, raising his voice.

I looked away and irksomely rubbed my nape. Trading barbs was their cup of coffee, I guess.

I cleared my throat. "Gents please, there's a girl before you. Show some manners!" I reproached that made them calm down and look away.

I looked at the blonde head girl. She wore heavy makeup and a super fitted uniform that was way too different from other girls here. Oh well, what could I expect from a cheerleader anyway?

She smiled at me and offered her hand for a handshake. "Hi! I'm Margaret Fylvin, Tyrone's girlfriend," she informed us, plastering a big smile on her face. She was quite enthusiastic.

"I'm Austin," I simply said and accepted her offer.

"I'm Nico Smith, and if ever you don't want to be with Tyrone anymore, I'm here, available for you," Nico introduced himself with full innocence in his tone, as if he was speaking to a single girl alone.

"Yeah, and try to get her from me, Nic. I'll break your jaw," before Margaret could offer a handshake to him, Tyrone confronted him.

"Okay, okay, hold one's horses, dude! I'm backing off, but mark my words Margaret," he said and instantly hid behind my back.

I pulled him away from me, but he refused to leave me. I sighed. This man was annoying as ever.

"We would like to invite you for lunch!" Margaret invited us.

"Sure!" I accepted it.

THE cafeteria was filled with the buzzing and unclear utterances of the students who were having their lunches and snacks here. The chattering of the silverware and audible footsteps were heard across the whole building.

"Hey! May I remind you that there's a line behind you! Don't be uneducated!"

My head turned, facing Nico, Tyrone, and Margaret. We were standing in line to buy our lunch and Margaret was making a noon scene here.

"Oh, Margaret, I didn't notice you, but I'm in a hurry."

"I know you, Jamsen. You're a jerk! After breaking up—"

"We are done and finished, Margaret. Just move on."

"What's going on here?" I touched my chin when Avia showed up and confronted Margaret.

Margaret's eyes widened as her stare met Avia's. She absolutely recognized Avia as one of the powerful students in the academy.

"You're Margaret, right? The girl who forced our friend to be her boyfriend," Hannah appeared and said something defaming to her.

The students behind us and everyone who heard her statement gasped. I'd seen in their eyes and expressions that the cheerleader whom they idolized had a secret in her pocket. Mumurs became audible and they quickly spread throughout the room.

"You're wrong, b***h! I never do that!"

"Talk to the hand, Margaret. I have some pics here that will prove you to be a bitch."

Margaret just stiffened as Hannah showed her phone to her. She probably saw something that could have ruined her entire existence as a cheerleader. Margaret shook her head and slowly took a step backwards. Students were looking at her like she did something cruel and hideous.

Tyrone held her arms, but she shook her arms loose from Tyrone's grip and skedaddled out of the cafeteria without looking back. Before Tyrone could follow Margaret, he glared at Hannah, who was flashing a wicked smile and waved her goodbye.

Nico eyed me with a confused look. "What was that?" he asked, looking around us. I just shrugged.

Jamsen kept his line ahead of us without receiving harsh complaints from the students behind him.

Avia walked away from the line and sat at their table talking happily with Hilary and Hannah. I combed my hair with my fingers. She changed a lot after several months.

I stepped forward when the line moved. I was waiting patiently, though I was a little bit starving. Nico often mumbled about the slow moving of the line in front of us. I knew he was starving too, but this was the life of a powerless student. No pain, no gain.

My eyes unconsciously landed on a student's phone in front of Nico. She was holding her phone sideways, and fortunately, its screen was facing directly at me. What was written on her screen caught my attention. I squinted my eyes to read the words written on the screen and my lips moved as I read them word by word.

I'm done. All my days have been miserable. Murderer, they thought I was. Never I had the life of an ordinary student—

"Oh crap," I mumbled and frowned when the girl left the line along with her friends. I combed my hair as I walked forward, getting closer to the counter.

Nico probably heard what I said, so he glanced over his shoulder to check on me. I just raised my eyebrows and gave him a thumbs up while smiling. He looked away and my lips curved downwards again.

I felt uneasy after reading those words. I wanted to finish it, but crap, I didn't know where she got it.