Chasing Time

Chapter One

I did not catch a good sleep after that nightmare. I am yawning due to lack of sleep.

I climbed down the ladder from the attic that will bring me to my true room.

I bet this day will be the same as any other days.

By the way, my name is Cassandra Mia Buenacerra. My close friend can call me Cassey or Mia.

My favorite spot in our house is the attic above my room. This is my hiding place when I am sad and uncomfortable.

I am an only child and a prisoner of this house. My mom said that I always had a terrible headache and pass out in school so she decided to stop my schooling for the meantime because the doctor said it is getting worse and I am not allowed to go outside at all.

If I hadn't stopped, I will be in senior high school next year.

I am turning 17 years after 3 months and I am so excited to gain my freedom again!

I hope these frequent headaches will disappear sooner!

I am drying my hair when I heard my mom's voice calling me from the first floor. Since I am in my room, I did not catch what she said, something like a visitor. I ignored her and brush my hair in front of a mirror. It is weird that every time I looked in the mirror, I always noticed that my looks became matured. My guess is, this is the effect of being stress staying 24 hours inside the house! Hmp!

I clipped my bangs with my favorite colorful hair clips and tie my hair in the side. This looks better!

"Cassandra! You have a visitor! Please come down!" My mom shouted.

Oh my! Are my classmates here??

I am so excited while running through the hall down our stairs. At last, my classmates finally remember to visit me!

As I walked down the stairs I stopped when a familiar looking person stands when I finally reach the end of the downstairs.

"There you are," my mom said. "Cloud is here to visit you. He also brought your favorite fruits."

I frown. I don't know why he is here, but I bet it is not for food reason.

"What?!" I said while showing my annoyance. "You called me just for Cloud? As I said, we are not friends."

This is getting irritating. For the last few weeks, he always visits me but we do not talk to each other. Strange, because he is not pulling any pranks at me but keep silent while staring at me most of the time. What keeps me irritated more is he knows my favorite food, things, and now even my favorite fruits.

I sat down on the sofa and crossed my arms and look at him feeling annoyed. He also sat down across me smiling. It creeps me out!

Cloud Rex Alley Lazarna - The most annoying playboy in our school. He's happy wasting his effort ruining my mood all the time inside and outside our school.

And wait? What has probably brought him here again?

If my nose can literally smoke due to anger, this house will be burned.

"Mia.," he said faintly.

"Watch your mouth. When did I agree to call me Mia?!" Only my close friends can call me Mia, and in our case, we are not even friends!

"Calm down my dear." my mom holds my shoulder and laugh. "I'll be back for your snacks."

As if I want to have a chit-chat with this Alley!

I rolled my eyes to Cloud as soon as my mom exited the living room.

He is my childhood enemy since Elementary school days. We are not close back then and up to this date.

I am always angry at him because of bullying issues inside our school, and sometimes in front of our classmates!

**Flashback**

I am discussing my report in front of classmates while my teacher listens from behind. Everyone is listening and attentive except Alley and his stupid friends. I am feeling uncomfortable because they are in front of me while whispering, while silently giggling and all.

My teacher excuses and tells me to continue, she needs to go outside the room for a while. Right after that, Alley's friend started to laugh.

"Blah blah and blah!"

I don't need to guess who said that. There is only one person in the world who's idiotic enough to interrupt me.

I glare at him while he's laughing endlessly. I don't understand what's funny. Such an i***t!

"Please don't continue." he laughed at me. "We can't understand anything at all."

"Oh really? Isn't because you guys don't have a brain?" I said coldly.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Our classmates cheer and laugh at the same time. They all know that whenever the two of us have an encounter or talk to each other it will end up in a war.

I don't know why this guy always makes fun of me and take note this is not the first time.

"Okay, guys listen." He stood up and go beside me. Our girl classmates started to get excited and even have to scream.

I am not surprised. He's a heartthrob and playboy, almost every girl likes him and his stupid useless schemes. He's an angel in the eyes of all the students who have probably have brain damage.

So they tolerate all the things this jerk do, while me?

I want to remove every drop of blood on his veins.

"I will be discussing an important matter together with Miss Cassa." He said facing our classmates.

I sigh and started to rip out all the visuals in the blackboard. This scene makes me feels tired over and over again.

He even always make fun of my name. How dare him!

"I will teach you all how to kiss a girl!" He laughed.

I turn to him and hammered all the visual papers I rolled into his head.

"Kiss your face, Alley-butt."

Our classmates laughed tremendously as if my actions make them more excited. They are really hoping for an action today. Sorry to disappoint them but I do not have the energy to waste for their mindless acts. I continue to rip out the remaining paper in the board and Alley seems to be teasing me endlessly behind my back and all they are all buying it.

When I turn to face them, I am really shocked by what happened.

Our lips met! He kissed me with his useless, dirty, vexatious mouth!

Our whole class turned into silence. My eyes widen but Alley's eyes are closed and he seems to enjoy what happened.

I'll definitely kill you for stealing my first kiss!!

I punched him in the face and blood started to flow from his broken face.

**End of flashback**

I felt furious thinking of what he did and I did not realize that I am already squeezing the pillow on the sofa with my hands.

"Ahmm, Cassandra, how are you?" He said to me with an awkward smile.

I am staring at him directly. I noticed that he is more handsome now than a few months back, and he even got taller but that doesn't distract me on what I wanted to say.

"What are you doing here?" I said indifferently and raised my eyebrow.

"It's because -"

"I don' care."

"Well actually -"

"I'm not interested."

Whenever he will start to talk I will interrupt him rudely. This is my retaliation for causing me so much trouble!

"I will not forgive you for stealing my first kiss, not now, not ever!" I stood up.

His facial expression is somewhat unusual, I saw a glimpse of hesitations and sadness.

For what?

"And please, don't come here anymore! Stop ruining my day!"

"I am sorry. I did not mean to make you angry and ruin your day. I guess I should get going." He stands up and looks at me one more time before walking to the door.

"Where's Cloud?" my mom asks while holding the tray with juice and biscuits on it.

"He's gone." I run through the stairs and go to my room. I went directly into my attic room. I am feeling uneasy and hurt but I don't know why I should feel this way? I should be happy because took my revenge.

I sit down and face the window with a circle shape and look outside. I saw Alley walking towards the tree and punch it.

I am a bit confused why he did that, then this uncommon feeling suddenly aroused again, this feeling of pain and sadness that I do not know where came from.