Ephemeral

Chapter 3

YEAR 5009 - DAY 157

MANIA

My head was throbbing painfully when I jolted at the sound of a rough voice, whispering in my ear.

"Live, Mania."

My eyes scrunched at the sudden pain but it was then that I start to see a hazy figure flash on my mind, his face is bent over me, clouded over except for his eyes but I could clearly see his soiled white robe and hands that are tenderly grasping my shoulders, I feel their resolve despite being caked in dirt and grime. The pain in his voice is sharp, and so is his gaze even though they are lined with worry.

"You must live for the sake of those who offered their life for you,"

Offered their lives? For me?

The knock on the door brought me back to reality and I find myself alone. The knock came again.

"Miss Mania?"

Ah, it's Reeves.

"What is it?" I answered my voice hoarse.

"Did something happen?"

"No," I answered and looked around, searching for that man who suddenly appeared right in front of me. Was it real? Was I hallucinating? I couldn't figure it out but I can still feel my heart beating so fast I think it would jump right off my rib.

A pause was heard from the other side before he continued,

"Do you need some assistance? I'm coming in."

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the side of the tub.

I heard the door clicked, his footsteps nearing. I opened my right eye and watched him as he bent down and unplugged the tub to drain the water. His eyes never went up to me as he reached out for my robe hanging on the wall and threw it on my face.

I hurriedly sat up and coughed.

"Cover yourself and get ready for breakfast," he said, still not looking at me. I did not reply and watch him as he went out of the bathroom, his face not giving anything away.

I shrugged and stood up, put the robe on myself, and stepped out of the bath. I looked down when I noticed my hands were shaking despite the distraction, I was pretty affected.

What's with that sudden figure?

-

Even the dining hall is majestic. I didn't know universities like this exist. Everything's grandiose; I wonder how much the students even pay for this.

"... are you fine with your room, Miss Mania?"

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Reeves' voice. I did not pay him much attention as I was too distracted but he seems to be in the right mind, so I nodded my head at his question.

"You look gorgeous in your uniform, my lady."

I checked my uniform and nodded. I do not know how to check if I look good or not in an outfit so I don't give any thought to it. However, I do know how to differentiate normal looking people from good-looking ones.

Reeves, unfortunately, belong to those extremely-good-looking ones without even putting too much into it.

"I prepared Japanese cuisines for you, my lady."

"Japanese?"

Japanese, Japan, I've read them from history books. They are one of the most advanced and great countries from before, not until The Rhapsody. Now, the lands are one, they say it was like from the very start when the Earth was still uninhabited by humans.

Ah, I remember, they call it PANGEA.

"Yes. Do you not like them for some reason?"

"I'm fine with anything," I picked the napkin and settled on my seat. "Did you prepare all of these?"

"Yes, my lady."

I picked up the fork, admiring its elegant handle then sensing his gaze, I turned at Reeves who's patiently standing beside me.

"Are you not going to eat?"

I'm used to eating with plenty of eyes watching me but Reeves is a different case. His gaze makes me feel a little tense, I could not enjoy myself properly with him staring all the time.

"I've already finished," he answered, smiling. My forehead creased. When did he manage to eat and prepare this at the same time?

My eyes landed on what he's wearing. Isn't that our school uniform?

"Yes Miss Mania, do you have something to ask?"

I looked up to him, examining his face, "Yes. Why are you wearing a school uniform?"

"That's because I will be coming with you, my lady."

I paused, that was expected but I still had this little hope in me that he'll stay here and wait for me until I'll go back. I guess that would be unjust for him.

"I will be your classmate," he answered coolly.

My forehead creased again. Why is he, my classmate? Isn't he 4 years—no maybe even 5 because he's in his 20. How did that happen?

"I'm sorry for breaking your thoughts but you really look perturbed," he added. I sighed and continue to eat; I'm no longer in the mood to talk.

So I said, "Doesn't matter."

He smiled at me so I ignored him for the rest of the time until I was done. He then cleaned up after, he then told me to brush my teeth and so I did. When I went back to the dining room, he was done with everything. He even prepared a weird-looking thing that he is hovering behind him. It looks like a bag but different. He checked the time on his wristwatch before looking back to me and nodding,

"Your class starts at 20 minutes, my lady."

I sighed when he did not drop his 'my lady.' I was only trying to ignore it thinking that he'd stop if I would not mention it but I guess my prediction was wrong.

-

I glanced at each side while walking in the hallway. I would like to applaud the Academy for not disappointing the money that the students are paying for their tuition, the place is particularly classy. Nevertheless, I received a lot of curious glances from everyone whom I encountered. It somewhat bothered me but glimpsing at Reeves from time to time made me realize that it was normal to receive this kind of attention.

I mean he completely appears fine even with this. He's his usual self, smiling as he walked beside me.

"Are you not bothered by all of this?" I whispered enough for him to hear.

I continued walking but I can clearly see him in my peripheral view. He scratched the back of his nape and his smile vanished for a while, his eyes scanned left and right, checking his environment. When his eyes went back to me, I automatically focused my gaze on the front.

"I didn't notice them until you mentioned, my lady."

Is he inattentive?

"My attention was all on you, my lady. I don't really care about them. Their existence is nothing."

My face scrunched with what he replied but did not bother replying. He chuckled behind me and mumbled,

"As what I'm expecting from my lady."

I stopped midway when I noticed several students gathering on the field, but what they were looking at, I couldn't see. Reeves stopped beside me and followed where my eyes pointed at.

"Do you want to know what's happening there, my lady?"

I blinked my eyes and diverted my gaze to Reeves. He's also looking at me, his eyes patiently waiting.

"No," I lazily answered and continued. Why would I want to know their business? However, as we have to pass by them to reach our room, I couldn't help but hear what they were saying.

"Peasants like you should never step their feet in this holy ground. Who let you in any way?"

I stopped when I heard a few more rough words spoken and slowly turned my head towards them. The students were jeering, some were looking at the scene without sentiment, and some ignored it and carried on.

"Discrimination in the very first day of class, guess events like this will be normal in prestigious schools like Grace East Academy."

Reeves muttered beside me, his eyes danced with amusement but I can sense his disgust as he watched the students giggling.

"You seem bothered by this, are you concerned?" I asked him, he gazed at me, his face unreadable before a mysterious smile appeared on his lips.

"Not much. How about you, my lady?"

Reeves looked at me, his expression altered for a second but before I can even distinguish the face he made, he plastered that smile again and tilted his head sideward.

"Do you want to involve yourself, my lady?"

"You think I will?"

"Who knows?"

I moved my eyes to where those students are flocking around a single student who seems to have had picked a stroke of bad luck for their first day at school.

I walked towards them, as for Reeves reaction, I do not know because I left him there.

I bumped whoever was on my way and pushed myself against those students who were swarming around a female student. She has a pretty face, a not so innocent one but her hair isn't combed and she even has some small cuts on her cheek. She's hugging herself and that weird thing that Reeves was carrying with him.

"What the f**k, b***h? What do you think—" another female student, who I think I bumped when I walked my way here grabbed my shoulder and forced me to face her. She was about to holler at me but ceased moving when our eyes met.

"What?" I asked. She opened her mouth, prompting, but pressed her lips together and mumbled curses before she looked up to me and pushed me away. She then snickered.

"Do you not know me?" she asked. I shook my head; she snorted and looked at her friends like she couldn't believe what is happening.

"Are you related to her?" she added and nodded at the girl whose still on the ground, tightly clutching on that thing.

"No."

"Then stepped out of this, b***h," she said and took big steps towards me. She raised her hand and was about to slap me when a huge hand held her arm and stopped her from what she was about to do.

My eyes moved to that tall creature and found Reeves proudly grinning at me.

What is he grinning about?

"If I were you, I'd advise you to not continue. It can result in you being humiliated for your whole high school life," is what he said before he licked his lips and let go of her hand, "But of course, I am not you. Please feel free to continue."

My eyes move to the female student, however, she seems not to be in her right mind as she only stares at the guy behind him, which happens to be Reeves. I am not sure if I'll be using the right word but I guess this is what they call, star-struck.

I cannot blame her; I've already acknowledged the physical attributes that he has.

I shook my head and faced that girl who was on the ground; she's still there, trembling as she let her hair cover the entirety of her face. I kneeled and offered a handkerchief. Reeves prepared this for me so now I'm giving it to her.

"Aren't you going to continue?" I heard Reeves asked that female student. What does he think he's doing? I stared at the girl I'm offering my handkerchief to when she did not accept it. I reached out for her hand and placed the handkerchief on her palm. That was the time she looked up to me, her eyes were blank but her lips quiver and that was when I realized she's wet.

I stood up and was about to ask Reeves for his coat when my ears rang from the aftermath of a slap. My head tilted sideward and I tasted my blood along with it. I spit it out and slowly faced the female student.

She looks like she was so proud of slapping me that she gestured for her friends to cheer for her, which they did. I heard some sharp gasp from the onlookers but no one dared to step in.

I glanced when Reeves let out a chuckle; he was slouching as his hand was covering his mouth while the other one is inside his pants' pocket.

"What a bad girl," he said and looked up, his eyes dark, and an immoral smile was spread on his lips. There was no humor in his laugh as he closed the distance between her and that female student. Even if it wasn't for me, I felt a pint of fright from him that I took a step backward.

"Wha- what? Aren't you the one who told me to do it? Are you now happy? Aren't you proud?" the female student asked him. Reeves let out a snicker before his eyes move to me.

"What do you think, sis? Shall I break her neck for you?" he asked, his tone playful but full of venom. He's not kidding.

I touched my cheek where that female student slapped me.

"Sis? She is your sister?"

Reeves' eyes moved to her, his stares are pernicious.

"You don't want to know that," he answered in a low growl.

"Leave her alone, we'll be late for class," I said and pulled the girl on the ground. She shrieked and panicked but I dragged her with me, not bothering to look at Reeves for the last time.

It made me feel weird and I am itching to break her neck. The sensation that crawls all over my body is too much for me to handle. If I am not backing away, I know this would result in something awful. I am burning with something hot inside, an impulse that I never thought I had... or maybe I did but forgot.

What?

It was disturbing and I don't like how it satisfyingly feels inside.

I need to get away.