Written by the Moon

15~ PERSISTENT

My eyes remained on his face. It was blank and it had no expression. My brows furrowed looking at him. For a moment, my body didn’t feel anything but just numbness. Complete numbness.

Even after years of convincing myself that I have changed and accepted my distinct aspects, I still find a way to stumble eventually. All the years of neglect and trauma yet I never hated Paredes and I never blamed the place.

It was the Angels behind my scars. They will always be first before Paredes. Despite that, I embraced my breakdowns before. I accepted it. I accepted my ill fate. Everyone matured and grew up but I remained. My pain remained.

So, I decided to move on. but I guess, you can’t force that. I had to be stuck in my room and acknowledge my breakdowns and anxiety. It would take days but…

This time it’s different. It shocked me, yes. My meltdown ended in an instant. That never happened before. My eyes went down to his hands. It looked warm and welcoming. But the blank expression he held made me hesitate. I bit the insides of my cheeks.

I snapped back to reality when he held my palms without notice. My eyes widened a fraction. My mouth made an o shape as he held me up. Then I realized I was too stuck to the moment that I moved away from him. That surprised him, though.

“You okay?”

His voice is gentle. My mind thought.

I avoided his gaze and just nodded in response. I dusted myself off the ground soil on my knees. I silently gasped when he helped me do it. My hands stopped from what it was supposed to do that Forest was able to finish my dirty knees. I gently pressed my arms to each other.

“Thank… you,” I said in my small voice.

“I saw you trembling from afar. Are you really fine?”

His voice sounded concerned and everything worried but his hands in his pockets now say that he is actually not that interested. My eyes stayed there for a while, observing, before answering him.

“Daydreaming is not good for a wolf,”

He smiled.

“And lying is not good for a… white witch,” his eyes darted on my I.D.

My brow raised when he trailed off for a moment. I thought he was going to guess it right. Thought he would mention Angel instead of a Witch. But seeing him read my I.D. he might have seen the White Witch mark. I smirked. I realized that Angels and White Witches are somewhat the same in terms of… honesty, I guess.

I shook my head trying to hide my smile. I just turned around him and started walking away. I really don’t have the energy to talk to anyone right now. I saw Mark picking up my things from afar.

I felt quiet footsteps behind me. He must be following me now. I shook my head when I saw him follow the fast pace of my walk. He is now beside me with a curious yet playful look.

“You always leave me without saying goodbye or some farewell,”

I shrugged my shoulder.

“I hate goodbyes,”

“You look good here,”

My brows furrowed and looked at him but I just regretted it. I saw him grinning. It’s disgusting. How can he keep on smiling? He must be a different breed of wolf. Knowing them, they are aggressive and not friendly. He’s different, I can say.

“It’s good seeing you here. Does that you’re not mad at me anymore?”

My brows furrowed more. What the hell is this guy spitting?

“I’m not mad,”

“You look angry,”

I turned to him and he made a face. But then I realized he was imitating my expression. He made an angry look. I shook my head and just continued to walk. He must have noticed my indifferent treatment towards him. Does he observe that much?

“Can you stop?” my irritated voice naturally rose up.

He stopped with the expression he was making as I started to calm my face. He smirked looking at me that made me uncomfortable. I pursed my lips and just restrained my boiling blood. He looked intrigued with me. It made me curious why he’s still here with me. I am already near Mark where the Witch department is.

Witches and Wolves have different departments and buildings. And as far as I know, Wolves must stay at their quarters during lunchtime. They tend to invade the cafeteria which can result to chaos I heard from a professor.

“I believe you should leave,” I said when we arrived at the Witches department.

He shook his head.

“No. I intend to escort you,”

“You don’t have to,”

“You’re not feeling well,”

“I already said I’m fine,”

“You’re not that good at lying, you know,” he grinned making me grit my teeth.

I sighed and shook my head.

“Get lost,”

I heard him chuckle but I just ignored it and went to Mark instead. Fortunately, he didn’t follow me anymore. I proceeded with my next classes. And remarkably, I was fine. I wasn’t in panic and I was actually calmer.

Mark noticed that too so he convinced me to participate in playing with the Wolves after classes end. I just declined it. I may be calm but I want to go home badly already. Even though it might be hell there, of course, Christiana’s there. Still, I would choose the mansion rather than here.

I focused on the classes even though I have already learned almost half of them from Paredes. It didn’t actually seem hard since I already had some stock knowledge. It made me think about going to the library of the mansion to read.

Going home now is more exciting thinking that I’ll be reading books. But Mark, Michelle, Sham, and Jedi already decided to play with the Wolves after class. So, I had no choice but to go with them.

The campus is already full of students wandering everywhere. They decided to play in the first section of the field. I find it funny though. They are already grown-ups yet they still find this fun. I wouldn’t question why Wolves still play until now. That’s their nature so I shouldn’t question that.

I went to the bleachers just near to the field they decided to play. From what I noticed, Wolves are the majority of the players and Witches are just… the Angels. I wanted to facepalm when I realized they were the ones asking to play with the Wolves.

I just shook my head and try to be a support by… sitting in the bleachers. They started playing which I really didn’t mind. I put out my iPad and did the homework our professors assigned us.

I might say I am stunned that I am able to write on a flat-screen. I am used to writing on paper. Being an Acadian that’s my job. To write and write. So, using this iPad to write is something really new to me.

While the others are loud with all their cheers and games, I focused on an assignment. With my digital pen, I got a hold of writing on a screen. I haven’t fully adjusted but it’s manageable.

“Your penmanship is nice,”

My body stiffened as I heard his voice.

I didn’t even notice he was close to me already. I just felt his presence just now behind me. I shrugged my shoulders to relax and continued with whatever I am doing.

I don’t really mind him being near except that he’s noisy sometimes.

“Why don’t you play with them?”

My brows raised at his question.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that, dog?”

A chuckle escaped his mouth. I remained on my screen, focused.

“Calling a noble wolf, a dog, is kind of an insult, you know?”

“Are you insulted?”

“No,”

“Then that’s good,”

Another chuckle. I seriously don’t find anything funny. I shook my head lightly and focused on the screen instead. My body instinctively moved away when he sat beside me and gazed at my iPad. I swallowed a chunk on my throat and continued with my business.

He never stopped looking at my iPad. I did for a moment felt intimidated but it immediately disappeared thinking he’s just an imagination, a fantasy.

But it didn’t go well when I realized that he’s too close looking at my screen intently.

“You have potential on being a writer, perhaps a journalist,”

I just nodded and continued with my work.

“You’re actually good. Have you gone to workshops before?” he asked with a smirk when I faced him.

I was about to answer when I noticed a car coming into the parking lot of the school. It’s Christiana. I have never thanked the heavens so much upon seeing Christiana arrive. It was a sign that we’re going home now. I packed my things without a word.

“I can escort you to the gate,” I think he noticed Christiana too.

I shook my head.

“No,”

To be continued…