Chapter 5
2376 Words
“Zara, are you done or not?”
“Yeah, almost done.”
“Can you believe it? We are graduating today!!”
“Yeah Nadine, even I can’t believe it. How did you even score that much with just the help of your brain?”
She threw a glare my way and resumed playing with her yellow tassel.
I was way too happy today to even think about the events that took place on my birthday two weeks ago. I knew I had to face Karl today and I was ready for it. I didn't tell anyone as to what happened that night apart from Nadine and to say the girl was furious would be an understatement.
The very day she had gone to her home and brought two vervain chains to keep Karl away from us. As the supernatural now live together with humans, the substances that could kill them are only kept for legal use.
I heard from old history books that before the revelation, the human world used to keep guns and other stuff in order to protect themselves from any kind of threats. The vervain and wolfsbane were now such a measure too and could only be kept if you have an authorized reason for it.
Nadine’s parents, being government officials, were given a few boxes for their protection and she brought one for me and one for her from those boxes.
“By the way, I heard that the school has invited some officials to the ceremony.”
“Officials? But why? Isn’t it just a normal graduation?”
What could actually go wrong?
She shrugged and took my hand in hers as we left the room. Mom and dad along with Nadine’s parents were waiting for us in the living room, catching up with everything they had missed.
“I have no idea. There are many assumptions going around but no one confirmed them.”
I only hummed in response as our parents looked our way with proud smiles on their faces. Mom and aunt Mila came our way and placed kisses on our foreheads. Aunt Mila and uncle Ben had increased their stay for a few more weeks so that they could attend Nadine’s graduation but the council told them that their leave has been extended for two months.
Nadine was over the moon when she heard about the news. The last time they had such a long vacation was three years back and no matter how happy and cheerful she behaves, I knew that she craved some family time too.
“Now now, don’t you two look great.”
“Thank you!!!”
Me and Nadine said together and everyone chuckled at our excitement.
“Come on, we don’t wanna be late.”
Everyone then went out and both our families went to their own cars. I had seen pictures of the cars back in the 21st century and I must say, the world has evolved a lot in such a small span of time.
Currently there are many different electric cars, some as far as running on renewable resources without emitting greenhouse gases.
The car that mine and Nadine’s parents have is quite similar, only the colours are different. They have a white one and we have black one.
It is a sleek black Audi A-100 that runs on electricity. It might look windowless but it does have windows that can be operated by a single touch. A tap was all it took to open and close the doors and the windows. There was nothing like tyres in today’s cars as the roads were magnetic too and easily operated the movements of the cars by themselves. You don’t see sign boards saying ‘slow down’ or any particular speed limit. It was all written boldly upon the roads and when the cars come in contact with it, they themselves follow the instructions. Due to this you can say that the chances of road accidents have decreased to none.
We reached the school in 10 minutes and me and Nadine bid our goodbyes to our parents who made their way to the audience section.
I was walking happily with a huge smile on my face when I saw Karl standing ahead of me with an intense emotion in his ruby eyes. My steps faltered and my right hand involuntarily raised to grip the vervain chain that was tucked under my graduation gown.
“What’s wrong?”
Nadine asked while tugging me forward. She looked ahead and saw Karl and immediately a sour and then an angry look took over her face.
“The bloody bastard.”
“Nadine relax. We don’t wanna ruin everyone’s day. Just ignore him.”
“Oh I will but if he keeps looking at you then I might give away my cool.”
“Ignore him.”
We kept walking in his direction but he didn’t bother looking away or showing any emotions on his face. The guy that until two weeks I thought was just having a crush on me was now behaving like an obsessed stalker.
Walking past him, I made sure to not look at him or even act bothered by his presence. We entered the huge hall that was dimly lit with lights at the end and at the far end was the stage. The room was filled with chatter of many excited voices including mine and my friends. I didn’t have many friends in the class but I knew each student.
Wishing them all and giving hugs to a few, me and Nadine went and sat in the fifth row.
The ceremony started soon and the stage was now filled with the high authorities of the college while the whole auditorium was dead silent.
“I would now like to call our special guest Mr. Alexio Remus and Mr. Alden Remus to the stage. It is an honour to have such huge personalities in between us.”
My eyes became wide upon hearing the names and I looked at Nadine who wore the same expression as mine. Looking back to the stage, the two people who had snatched my peace and sleep for two weeks made their presence on the stage.
The once silent hall was now filled with murmurs, some of appreciation and some of confusion.
“Who are they?”
“Damn, don’t they look surreal...”
“Are they single?”
“Can I have one?”
What the hell?
Were they pieces of chocolates that you are asking whether you can have one?
An emotion that I had never felt before, now erupted in my heart. My ears took in all the praising comments that the girls were saying while my mind processed them and gave back a snarky reply silently.
Was it?
Jealousy…..
But why the hell am I being jealous? I don’t even know them properly. What is happening?
“Zara, stop glaring at the poor seat.”
I shook my head and looked at Nadine who had a teasing expression on her face. Narrowing my eyes, I looked back at the stage and let out a silent reply.
“I wasn’t glaring.”
She lightly bumped her shoulder with mine and smiled teasingly.
“Hmmm, someone’s jealous…..”
“Shut up! And stop behaving like that. I am not jealous.”
“I reject that statement.”
Blocking her out, I silently took in whatever was happening in front of me.
The twins greeted the people on the stage and then Alexio came forward to give a speech.
“A very good morning everyone. Today is a big day for all of you and I hope you know what you want in the future.”
His eyes suddenly snapped to mine and caught me off guard. With his eyes staring into my soul, he continued,
“You need to make a fixed goal, a goal you want to achieve by hook or by crook but make sure to choose the right path during this journey. Many hurdles will try stopping you from getting what your heart desires but do not give up. If it belongs to you, then you should grasp it with a vow of never letting it go.”
Goosebumps rose on my skin as he said those words looking directly at me. My eyes could no longer bear the intensity in his eyes and so I diverted my attention to the other side but alas, when was luck with me?
Upon getting rid of Alexio’s stare, my eyes connected with the same once again but these belonged to a different person. Alden was looking at me too and God, how the emotions in both of their eyes were the same. The same intensity, the hidden promise, the vow….
Loud sounds of clapping had me breaking the staring contest. Alexio had finished his speech with me zoning out in the middle half.
The ceremony then started and I tried my best to not look into those hypnotic pools again. I knew they were looking at me, more like looking into my soul by the constant goosebumps on my skin.
My name was soon called and I walked up to the stage. My parents and Nadine were screaming from their places and I almost fainted when all the attention was diverted my way.
Ahh!! I hate the spotlight…
Giving a timid smile to anyone who I had by mistake indulged in eye contact I kept walking until I was in the middle. Up until now it was the principal who was giving the diplomas and the certificates but just before mine, Alden took over the job.
Great. f*****g great!!
My heart if possible now started beating even faster and I am sure the supernaturals around were definitely able to hear it.
Deep breaths...take deep breaths Zara. It wouldn't be that hard. You just need to take it from his hand, all the while making sure NOT to make any skin to skin contact and you will be fine.
Giving a small Ted talk to myself, I then stood in front of him. Just to seem polite, I gave him a small smile which he replied to with a nod and small smile of his own.
"Congratulations Miss. Becker."
"Thank you sir."
He forwarded the diploma which I took softly, making sure to keep my fingers as far away as I can from his. He then gave the certificate but this time my fingers brushed against his and instant sparks flew between them. My whole form froze and I could feel a hue of red appearing on my cheeks. Before it could get out of control, I took the certificate, bowed a little and murmured a quick and small 'thank you' and practically dashed down the stage.
Once at a good distance from the stage and out of the spotlight, I took huge gulps of air that I felt like I was deprived of till now. My heart was still thudding loudly in my chest and I kept moving a hand above my chest.
“Calm down. Calm down. You are fine.”
“FINALLY!!!”
I jumped in fear as Nadine screamed the word directly next to my left ear. Rubbing it a little, I slapped her shoulder but the girl was way too high to even register the hit.
High on excitement by the way.
“Why are you blushing?”
I looked anywhere but in her eyes and quickly denied the statement.
“Blushing? No, I am not blushing. The attention just got to my nerves.”
That seemed to have convinced her because everyone close to me knew how I was when in the spotlight.
“My daughter has finally graduated!! Oh dear God, Edward, can you believe it? She has become so big in just a blink of my eyes.”
I saw mom weeping terribly on dad’s shoulder as she said those words. Dad was trying to control my ever so emotional mother as I walked up to her and gave her a tight hug.
“Mama, I have just graduated, nothing big. Don’t cry so much. It’s not like I am getting married today.”
“If only you knew..”
She whispered, it was only meant for her but me and dad heard it loud and clear. He frowned upon the statement and a scowl made it's way on my face.
“Liebling, what do you mean?”
“Yeah mama, what do you mean by that?”
I felt her form getting tensed before she lightly swatted her hand in the air and said,
“You both will not understand a mother’s emotions. Let’s stop this weeping session right here and plan on a stress free vacation. What do you say?”
Everyone agreed to her last sentence and the topic was successfully diverted.
We all went to the nearby restaurant to have a delicious lunch while planning about the trip.
“So where should we go?”
“Italy?”
“No, we went there last year. How many times do you wanna visit the same place?”
“Fine, then what about Spain?”
Everyone looked deep in thought when suddenly mama said,
“Why not Romania? I mean, we have never been in that region.”
“That seems like a good idea.”
Everyone agreed to a trip to Romania and after a few hours of us hanging out with each other we then went back home.
It was night time and all the work since morning was taking a toll on my body. Jumping on the comfy bed, I went under the comforter and welcomed the relaxing slumber along with the mental list of what all I would do in Romania but what I didn’t know was the extra baggage that was on its way.
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- Writer
