Written by the Moon

14~ BREAKDOWN

I made it to the mansion. The night was getting deeper and I figured out the others were already asleep. I don’t know for how long I stayed in the forest but at least I had my peacetime. I tiptoed my way, in the same way, I went out. The moment I went inside my room, the first thing that I noticed was my balcony. The French doors were open and the curtains waved as the wind blew.

The moon incredibly made a good view just outside my balcony. The cold gush of the wind touched my pale skin. I went to the balcony when I realized the wind blew stronger. I was about to close it when a small bird flew in my direction.

Surprised at what was coming, and because I felt no harm from the bird, I waited for it to get inside my room. It landed softly on my bed and I closed the doors of the balcony.

My eyes gazed upon the tiny bird. Then my eyes saw a small rolled paper attached to its little foot. My eyes narrowed at it and I realized it might be a letter. I slowly untie the rolled paper from the birds’ feet. I am trying to be gentle.

My brows furrowed looking at the rolled paper. What an old fashion way for this modern country to communicate.

I opened the paper and saw a short hand-written message.

Did you arrive safely? I made sure there were no rebels in the area so you’d be safe from danger. Please, do reply if you did arrive with no scratch. But from talking with you, I know it’s impossible for you to reply.

Regards,

Forest

The letter was written well. No erasures and even the penmanship was gorgeous but after reading the content of the letter I realized how much of an i***t he is. He could have just texted me. Well, he doesn’t even know my number. But what’s the use?

How much does he think of himself to write me this letter? I thought he noticed my hint of indifferent treatment to him. I didn’t know he would be stupid to not realize that. I shook my head when I realized a lot has traveled my mind.

I scratched the paper and threw it in a bin. I slumped my body on my bed instead. Then my eyes traveled to the paper Mark gave me. If I stay here longer, he might bug me even more. But what if he’s just a nice person? He might be just naturally that type of person.

I shouldn’t be thinking of all of this.

Morning came and it was different from all the mornings I used to have. Base on Sham and Mark’s reaction, I think I look different today. I pouted my lips when a smile crept on Jedi’s lips. I sat at the dining table where breakfast was already ready.

Mark even stopped to look at his food and just gazed upon me.

“Are you…” Mark trailed off.

With my face trying to look unexcited and unpleased, I handed him the enrollment paper which I already filled up. Sham and Jedi both gasped looking at the paper while Mark’s jaw dropped. Good thing Christiana is not yet here.

“I’m so happy!” Jedi hugged me first.

I just plastered a small smile. This decision is something I just did hastily. I figured out nothing will happen to me if I stay here for long. I must move or else I might stay here even longer. I just wiped out all of my pride.

Everybody couldn’t really get over my decision. Did they really think that I won’t go with them? Even I accepted that one way or another, I have to do something about my assigned pair. So, it really took some little convincing to me and I signed it!

“This is really a good choice, Nav. I’m happy,” Christiana said for the ninth time as the car stopped in the parking lot of a university.

“I know it makes you happy because you’ll get rid of me sooner,” I smiled sarcastically to annoy her.

Her brows furrowed at what I said. Mark just laughed at my words.

“That’s not true,”

I rolled my eyes.

“Tsk,”

The university is big. Other than it looks different from the school we had in Paredes, the students especially look diverse. Different fashion styles, races, and statuses. I’ve been in school for many decades, I’m sure this is nothing different.

I looked at Mark who has been eyeing me for the longest time. I raised my brow at him. He just smiled at me.

“You’ll make a lot of friends here,”

“I’m not up to friends. I’m doing my job here,”

He just smirked at me. I shook my head at him and my eyes caught the big gate entrance to the actual university.

Christiana finished a call then looked at me with her too-sweet smile. As if she won a lotto. I just remained indifferent here. I think that’s the only thing I am good at.

“You’re enrolled. The school already sent your schedule via email. Check it,”

I nodded. I don’t really know which course or department they enrolled me in. Nonetheless, it doesn’t really matter. I have more important matters to do here other than study and be a good student. I have done that at Paredes already.

I may be different but I guess it wouldn’t be that hard.

After Christiana left, we went inside the premises of the school. There were big buildings. Even billboards inside the campus. Everything is too modern and full of new technology. Mark gave me an I.D. which was a bracelet. Everything is digital. It’s a good thing, Mark, here is assisting me.

Students have their own iPads too provided by the school. Screen displays all over the school are just sickening to the eyes. I’m not used to this. But looking at Mark he looks like he already adjusted. He has… friends too.

Too many friends. Every person we come by casually greets him.

And it’s… weird.

“Give me your schedule,” I handed him my phone.

I looked at him did some manipulation with my phone. I intently looked at what he was doing. he then asked politely for an iPad from the reception. My brows immediately raised when they gave him a huge tablet. He did some doodle do and then he’s done.

“Here, your phone and iPad are connected now. You have to take care of the tablet. If you break it, the next time you’ll get another one, you need to pay for it,”

“It’s connected?”

“Yeah, and based on your schedule we’re block mates for two minor subjects and one of them is our first subject,”

I shrugged and just followed him to our classroom for the first subject. It’s really new to me that he has made friends. Back in Parades, nobody really cared to be friends with him for the sole reason that he’s friends with me.

I saw my schedule. There were subjects that I only heard of back in Paredes. Their educational system here is different from what I grew up and learned with. In Paredes, we mainly focused on history and our gifted skills given by the moon goddess. It was always training and exercises to enhance our skills.

But here, there are many subjects to master and learn. Our system back in Paredes was mixed training. Here, they have to learn about their skills in the first year but in the next four years, they will all be focusing on mastering their skills. But of course, it had to differ in the race you belong to.

It is still new to me that I am able to encounter different types of witches here. Before, I only see them in books. Now, I get to actually breathe in the same air with them.

Class started as the clock turned to eight. The classrooms are as big as we have in Paredes. Only the color palette was different. Everything here is all so modernized while in Paredes, we were traditional.

I was able to survive half of the classes, fortunately. I actually got to enjoy some lessons since they were new information to me. The world here is really different.

Lunchtime came and all I could do was keep my poker face on. I can’t believe it. In a span of two weeks, they were able to have a lot of friends. I immediately feel uncomfortable when a lot of witches hurdled to our table.

“I’d like you to meet Nav,”

They started to introduce me to their… friends. I am really not used to this. My responses to them were only a smile and a nod. I couldn’t shake their hands when they would gesture to shake hands.

It was new.

Something I found different.

“So, you were the girl Mark always talked about,” a white witch exclaimed.

Mark made an awkward laugh while I just smiled tightly.

It was lunchtime and I expected to have a break from social interaction since I had enough of that inside the classroom especially that I just enrolled. I couldn’t even eat properly. I really shouldn’t be surprised that they made a lot of friends.

I mean, if I would compare myself to Mark, Sham, Jedi, and Michelle, I am the one who despises having friends. Maybe it was because of the trauma it caused me back in my childhood. I remembered how they bully me because I was different. It left a scar.

It healed but it never disappeared. It remained and will always linger my peaceful days and nights.

Good thing Markus sensed I was uncomfortable. And besides, I would just leave the table even if I don’t know where to go next.

“You okay?” Mark sat next to me when I started to calm down.

“I’m fine. I’m not dying,”

He sighed as he heard my answer. I just giggled and continued to eat. I thought I only get to adjust in a short period but I feel I need months to get used to this environment.

The cafeteria felt crowded and I had an inner breakdown. When I knew I couldn’t handle the stress and tension my body was getting, I had to leave. I stood up which fortunately didn’t catch too much attention. Everybody was having their conversations.

I packed up my tablet and pen immediately. I was shaking that Markus immediately knew what was happening.

“Hey, hey, hey. You look pale,” he cupped my face which only irritated me more.

My lips trembled with my knees. My eyes were getting blurry because of the tears. It was overwhelming. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t fake it.

Even Angels have traumas.

When Mark couldn’t hold me down, he helped me with my stuff. Even Michelle started to panic. Sham and Jedi were into other groups of witches having their fun conversations. My stomach was going upside down.

I felt suffocated and choked.

I went out of the canteen without grabbing too much attention. I ran as fast as I can, looking for a space to breathe. I need space.

And the only thing my eyes focused on was the football field. I ran as fast as I could. I never minded if my things were falling. My body just commanded me to go somewhere safe and quiet.

The moment I arrived in the middle of the field under the scorching sun, my knees fell. My head throbbed and my tears disappeared. My mind went blank. My eyes remained on the grass on the ground. My breathing started to calm down.

My trembling body softened like it didn’t just experience a meltdown earlier.

I felt good. Safe and calm. 

I closed my eyes when my heartbeat came in unity with the serenity of the place around. It was a drastic change in a split second I never thought would happen. I thought it would take me a lot of time to recover.

I pursed my lips as my eyes opened. My gaze went to a certain shoe. It looked expensive and shiny when it hit the suns’ rays. I eyed it for a moment. My mind couldn’t process why there’s a shoe here.

My eyes widened a fraction when a hand appeared in front of me. My head moved away as a reaction.

But then I wished I never looked up. I wish I didn’t let my stupid head raise and looked at the owner of the shoes and hand.

To be continued…