My Broken Nemesis

They said he wasn’t the type to bring home. Too much baggage, too many stories, and scars. But none of that mattered the first time I saw him. At that moment, I didn’t see the man whose reputation was as untidy as a stain of coffee on a piece of white clothing. I saw someone who was not just seen. But his presence was felt whenever he walked in. He didn’t beg for attention. He owned it. Effortlessly. It was on a cool Monday afternoon at my campus, Glennfield University. I was done with my first class for the day — Abnormal psychology — and my brain was fried from dissecting the roots of human behavior. I walked briskly with Jane to the café nearby to grab some lunch, while waiting for the second class — Social Psychology We met Anna, who had left earlier to save a seat for us, because the café was usually crowded by that time of the day. We were in our second year —sophomores. Not quite new, or experts with the school system. But somewhere in-between, figuring things out and pretending we already had. “Have you all heard the latest,” Anna started with a high pitched voice, I just knew I was going to be updated on the recent happenings around campus. She worked part time in the newsletter department of our school, and owned a personal blog. We always got first-hand info of news, before they go flying around school. “Here we go again,” Jane responded rolling her eyes as she tapped the spoon against the edge of the cup, carelessly carrying a small scoop of melted ice-cream to her mouth. “Shoot!” I said, always excited to get both exclusive and non-exclusive gist from Anna. I wondered which it would be this time around. Either ways, Anna never disappoints. “Sorry to burst your bubbles, guys, she started. This really isn’t breaking news. Half the school knows about this already.” “What are you talking about? What’s the news? I asked.” “I’m surprised you guys haven’t heard about this yet. What would you do without me?” she giggled excitedly. “Anna, Spill!” Jane almost yelled, getting impatient with how Anna was trying to drag the matter. “Alright, chill out! Gosh,” Anna said waving her palms to Jane. “Well,” she continued, “There is a new transfer student in campus, and he is going to be in our class.” “Everyone says he’s trouble like big, time, trouble and that the only reason why he’s here, is because his dad pulled a few strings.” “Woah! he is new and already famous, nice,” Jane said. “That’s not fair, because he, being a transfer student doesn’t mean he is all that bad, Right? You know how students are when someone new comes to campus,” I stated firmly. “Jane, you were once a new transfer student, during the first semester of our sophomore year — when you moved into town with your mom. You didn’t join in as a freshman. Remember all of the bad stuff that was said about you?” “Hey, don’t bring me into this mix! Mine was totally different. It was a very big misunderstanding that got sorted out. But this… this is way bigger than that. Anna, tell her to stop,” she said, tugging on Anna’s hand. “Anna, what did he do that made him leave his other school? What exactly are they saying?” “Yeah, does he have a record?” Jane chipped in. “How ridiculous are the rumors this time?” I continued. “I don’t know, guys. That’s all I’ve got on the guy. But I can dig deeper,” she smirked. “Well, he can’t be all that bad whoever he may be,” I said defensively. “He wouldn’t have been admitted to our school if he was extremely dangerous. So y’all chill out. And hey, Anna — no need being all investigate-y on the new guy. Don’t be weird, okay?” “Alright. Fine,” she agreed. Then suddenly, the noise in the hall died down to whispers, someone had just walk in. I turned to look at who had caused such silent commotion. Then I saw him, for the first time. He had this long gentle strides — with every movement which seemed calculated, they were filled with grace and confidence like he was one of the king’s men ready to carry out a royal command to the subjects. “OMG! that’s him.” Anna squealed. “He doesn’t look like the gangster y’all just painted him to be.” I said, directly to Anna. “Gangsters don’t go walking around with a label that says, ‘I’m a gangster’ attached to them,” Jane said, taking the last scoop of her ice-cream. He had a face cap on which sat pretty on his head. He was dressed in all black. He had on a black leather jacket, a fitted black t-shirt underneath, black Denim trousers and a black lace-up boots. He walked straight to the counter, towards the café Staff and made his order. He just stood there waiting patiently for it to get ready, while it was being prepared. I stared at him hoping to catch a glimpse of his face, to know if I was going to get any bad vibe from his look. All I could get was a calm unreadable expression from his quiet posture. I paid attention to nothing else except him. Trying to take in every single detail of his personality. I think I stared for too long, because when he suddenly turned, I caught his pretty eyes looking right back at me. My curiosity got the best of me that day, I was never one to let go of something I found interesting— He was interesting and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the door they said no one should ever open. They said he was trouble, That was mostly what the rumors carried. I didn’t know he’d later be mine.