It's Not Him, It's You

Chapter Two: War and Peace and the Alchemist

I missed the bus. The freaking school bus. This is no more news to me. I always miss the bus. I rarely ride the school bus because I always missed it that’s why I walk to school.

I sighed as I stood still on the street looking frustrated as I watch the school bus move away.

“I told you, reading will be the death of you,”

“I doubt that,” I retorted after I rolled my eyes. There he was, in the driver seat of his extravagant-looking car. He held out his head out of the windshield.  He gazes at the book I was holding. “Haven’t finished reading it yet? You want me to just summarize everything for you,” he offered.

“No thanks, I know how to read,” I gritted my teeth and started to walk away.

He keeps up to me by slowly driving his car which really attracts some people from our neighborhood. With my arms on my chest, I pivoted facing him again, “Will you stop following me? Just go and drive away!” I complained while gritting my teeth, faking a smile as two elders pass by.

“Hop in,” he said.

“No,”

“I heard they’ll be putting demerits most on tardy students, especially those who are always late,” he suddenly said, making me quickly look at his way. I glared at him. “What are you implying?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Your first subject is English literature, right? And you are always late on that subject,”

I was surprised. “How did you know that? Are you stalking me?” I said with wide eyes.

“No need. We’re in the same class. You just don’t know since…you’re always absorbed reading your books,” he quickly looked away and I swear, I just saw his cheeks blushed.

I smiled playfully, “Sure, I’ll hop in,” I said and opened the passenger seat. After I settled myself inside his car, I quickly added, “But you have to answer two questions first before you start driving,”

“What is it?”

“Do you always look at me? Am I that attractive?”

He stayed silent.

“Mmh?” I grinned. “Oh, come on! It’s such an easy question!” I giggled. “Everyone can answer that,” I added, a playful smile still etched on my face.

He stays still while seriously looking at me. “Do you really want to know?”

“I want to know,”

I thought he was going to answer my questions but he just started his car and started driving. “We’ll be late,” he said, cold as ice.

Was he really serious about what he said last Christmas? Does he think I’m just playing his feelings for me?

As he pulled over the school’s parking lot, he was not like the jerk I used to know. It felt awkward between us. I pursed my lips for a while. “Uh, thank you for the drive,” I cautiously said. I quickly went out of his car and walk away as fast as I can.

After three days, I decided to say something to him. You know, in case, I really did hurt his feelings.

It’s the weekend and I’m alone inside the house. So, I decided to invite him to go to the library. Well, I wouldn’t mind if he doesn’t want to.

Standing on their front porch, I pressed the doorbell. Luckily, it was his mother who opened the door and not him because I still have no idea what to tell him.

“Oh, hi dear! You’re Nikola, right?” she said before I could even introduce myself.

“Yes, ma’am—”

“Oh, come on. Just call me Margarette,” she said with a sweet smile.

“Sure,” I smiled back. “I was wondering if…Uhm, Scion’s home?” I nervously asked. After spending 16 years here in this neighborhood, this is the very first time I went to a neighbor's house and ask if their son was home. Seriously, I don’t know anyone in this neighborhood except this new family. It's my parents that are so good at socializing.

“Sorry, dear. He just left an hour earlier. He always spends his Saturday at the library or some coffee shops nearby,”

Bingo.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll just go,” I said. “It’s nice talking to you again, Margarette!” I said and wave my hand for goodbye.

“See you next time dear!” she said and wave back before she closed the door.

I was gasping for air as I reach the entrance of the library. Gosh, why am I so worked up?

I showed my school identification card and ask for a library card at the front desk. The moment I walked on the isle of the library; it feels like I was transported into another world. A world without the bustle of the busy crowd or the purring of engines on the streets.

It’s just the books and the utter silence.

I continued roaming the library for a minute or two before I was able to locate him at the very corner of the library. He was reading the War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. He asked me the other day why I love reading classic novels. I was wondering why he wouldn’t answer his question himself?

I carefully pulled out the chair across him and silently sat down. I pulled out the book ‘The Alchemist’ on the table before I crossed my leg and put my arms on my chest.

“I reserved that chair to somebody. Move to another table please,” he said in a low voice while his attention was on the book.

I did not say anything. I just stayed still. The hell if he reserved this chair for someone. 

He sighed, “I said I—” he paused as he realizes that it was me. I raise an eyebrow as he looked at me. “What are you doing here?” he whispered as he leans closer to me.

I pointed at my book I placed earlier at the table. I purposely ignored him and started reading as if reading here was my first intention.

I tried to concentrate on what I was reading but I just can’t when you know someone has been staring at you like I was some candle he can easily melt by staring down at me.

I put down my book and stared back at him. I mouthed “What?”

He just kept staring at me. When it started to irritate me, I finally stood up and started walking on narrow isles of the library. What section is this? Huh, what a coincidence. ‘Historical Novels’ it says.

Nothing seems to interest me of the books I just passed by, so I decided to go back to Scion’s table.

He was gone.

I sighed. Is he still mad at me? I think I just went here for nothing. Maybe I will make it up to him next time. 

I just grab my bag and book and went out of the library. I was three steps away from the library when a familiar voice called my name. I turn around and froze for a moment. It’s Scion leaning his back lazily on the wall.

I walked closer to him but maintained a safe distance between us. “I thought you already left,” I said. I looked down at my boots like it was a very interesting thing in the world.

“I want to show you something,”

Show me something?

“What?”

“It’s where,” he corrected. “It’s a place. Will you come with me?”

“Right now?” I hesitated. This is not a part of my plan, though. I mean, I really don't have any plans for today except this one. 

“We’ll be back before dark,” he assured seeing, maybe, the hesitance on my face.

I pursed my lips, “Sure,” I gave him a small smile.

It was a 25-minute-long ride, though. I was getting nervous because it seems like we’re going up to a mountain. When we arrived, I was so awestruck by the place. It was a cliff with a breath-taking view of the whole city.

“The city lights would look pretty up here, right?” I ask Scion when I felt him stood beside me.

“Yes,”

“Do you always come here?” I look up at him.

He was staring at the view below, “Often. When I have too much in mind,”

“But you and your family are new here. How did you find this place?” I said smiling at the beautiful view before us.

He was silent for a moment. I looked at him and I saw his eyes glistened. It seems like he remembered something sentimental in this place.

“You don’t have to answer, you know…if it’s too personal,” I said carefully.

“I really don’t want to move here in Massachusetts. I grew up in Minnesota and I don’t want to leave my dad’s house. The place was too precious for me. My dad, mom, and I used to go here for a picnic,” he said solemnly.

“You used to? You no longer come in here?”

He looks down at me, “My mom married again a year after my dad…died,” he started.

I paused, surprised. Of course, how could I know? “You mean, your father right now isn’t your biological father?”

“Yes," he said. "My mom’s happiness is also my happiness, so the fact that she wanted to get married again I have no against with. My step-dad was a doctor and works at a big hospital here in Massachusetts. We have no choice but to move in here. Mom sold the house and found a better one in the neighborhood and soon after, we moved in,”

“Do you love him?”

“Who?”

“Your step-dad, do you love him?”

“Love is a strong word. Let’s say I like him for my mom. Well, as long as my mom is happy with him, we have no problem,”

I smiled, “But those two young boys, are they—”

“My stepdad’s son from his previous wife. Yeah,” he nodded.

“Then, why did you bring me here? This place is too valuable for you and your family. My presence here is way too unimportant and intervening,” I gave off a laugh but stop right away when I saw him went serious.

“Did I say something weird again?” I hesitated.

“Did you know that the boy in the book found his true love in the desert?”

“What?! I thought it was the girl in the bakery!”

“Nope, it was a girl named Fatima. She lives in the desert. They met at the well,” he spoiled.

I no longer care about the fact that he just spoiled the story but I was kind of interested to ask for more, “But what about his Personal Legend? His treasure? Did he just ignored it after he found Fatima?”

He chuckled and sat down on the green grass, his arms supporting his weight while he savors that beautiful scenery in front of us. “He almost gave up his Personal Legend because he thought it was Fatima, the treasure, he has been looking for,”

“Almost?” I sat down, facing him.

“The Alchemist told him about the future of the boy if he will choose to stay in the desert with Fatima,”

“And then?”

He looks at me, “He left Fatima and journeyed together with The Alchemist,”

“What about Fatima?”

“Oh, she was the one who convinced the boy to go and find his treasure. I think Fatima told him that “You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend. If he abandons that pursuit, it’s because it wasn’t true love, or wasn't it the Alchemist himself? I'm not sure,” he thought.

“Just like that? Then, the boy left her?”

“Yup and nope. He promised Fatima he’ll go back to her when he already found his treasure. Don’t worry, if you wanted to read it yourself, I’ll assure you, he found his treasure at the end,”

“Well, that’s a relief, then.

“It seems like the author wants to tell us that sometimes, the love we were looking for isn’t always at the places we expect it would be there. After I finished reading your book, I realized something,”

“What is it?”

“I think I have to accept that I can’t bring back the past and I have to live in the present. I can no longer bring back my father, and my mom, she wants to start a new life with me, my step-dad, and my step-brothers in here,”

“So, you no longer regret moving in here?”

“I would still be missing my friends but thankfully,” he paused and looked at me. “I met you. It seems like you are my Fatima," he chuckled and consciously look back at me again.

We sat still on the green grass while looking at each other. My heart beats so fast, I’m afraid he might hear it knowing he’s inches away from me. Slowly, he leaned closer to me until I can already feel his breath fanning on my face.

He smells mint and dark cologne.

My eyes fluttered a few times and my chest unnaturally went up and down. I look into his eyes.

“It’s almost a month the last time I remember I am so close like this to you,” he murmured.

“I—I thought you…just wanted to be friends,” I said, not daring to break the contract between us.

“I think I can’t…be just friends with you,”

Before I could even utter a word, his lips were already on mine.