January

Chapter 2

In her past life, Erine has encountered such odd occurrences. One of the many peculiar things involves a cat and a lake. It's just another morning stroll, one of which she assumed an encounter of otherworldly matter.

The bridge atop the silent rippling water of the lake looks somewhat empty, even in a bustling day in a hot summer, there are hardly any passersby who dared to wander off at the border, to where a seemingly mysterious forest lies. Between the highway and the forest, the late is an underlying boundary that separates both in a safe distance.

Erine made it a habit to come to the place, if not every day, her visits are a frequent pattern.

A cat was at the edge of the road, a slope matted with long untrimmed grasses. The appearance of the cat was long forgotten, but at that time, Erine's chest twisted into something painful, as the long figure of the little animal continues to overwhelm her. Before she knew it, she was already hopping over the railings, the pointed field stabbing her knees and thighs as she made a careless leap.

The cat whose color she couldn't remember has one thing that stood up the most, was those aquamarine coloured eyes, it vanished before she could even save it. 

After she didn't chase any cats anymore.

It might be a hallucination, similar to what she saw this morning. For a moment, Erine thought Luke was a stranger.

Well, if there's no reasonable explanation, it's better not to dwell in any assumptions. Although she looked as firm as stone, she was at the brink of losing her sanity. 

The whole section was almost the same, clamorous and horrifyingly disruptive. Instead of a school, it bears the resemblance of chaotic species shoved inside a cage. 

Even if the said students are an entire circus, anything else inside the academy is extravagant and in good condition. The school comprises four buildings. Upon entering the campus, if one is to turn left, there is a three-storey building, is a separate establishment for middle-schoolers. Out of the three, they were the loudest, who frequent the school court for, at times, unnecessary programs.

The second building, considered as the main and middle branch, to where highschool is located. Since this department was more adept to club activities and sports festivals, there was an extension of basketball court and a multi-purpose stage theatre in each side of the building. Which made it convenient.

The third building, designated for college students was the second largest of the bunch. It would have been far bigger if it weren't for the limited offer of courses. Unlike most teachers in the former building, the professors here were an actual terror. High school and middle schoolers are not permitted to go inside unless for important activities.

Next year, Luke would be starting his college. And that would be the year that she would spot him less frequently.

Maybe she had gotten sick seeing him all time, Erine felt less lonely by the idea.

"Come on, just a bit is fine."

"Have you heard the first bell? If we couldn't get to class by ten minutes we're doomed."

"But I want to see!"

Erine sighed.

At first, she was thinking of hiding herself. The two voices she overheard belonged to someone familiar. But you couldn't expect much from an empty hallway. Just like that, she was immediately spotted.

"You're late." The first one to talk is called Michelle, anyone could easily spot her by her tall frame and cold demeanor, her eyes are large in size but eyelids are droopy, making her eyes to appear small. Prefers to be called Mich by close friends. There are only quite a few in her social circle that truly understood her, Erine was among the closest ones. Despite having a large number of admires, Mich remains unapproachable, it's because she always has this solemn look.

"So, no Luke for today?" The other one said. Elizabeth, Beth in short. The shortest among the trio, with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and Erine must add that she has the sweetest smile she has ever seen.

Not as aloof as Michelle, but at times Beth could get a little distant. Especially when rain comes, it always gives her the blues. She always get this look of longing as if she's some kind of a heroine in a romantic novel who had a tragic past with her future hero.

Only that it's incorrect. Erine later found out that it was just her, picturing some tragic scenes in her head. As a young aspiring writer, Beth was overly fond of tragic stories, which is the type of endings Erine obviously can't handle. It's just a major turn off for her either one of the mains dying or two of the mains dying together, it's just sad.

Going back at the topic at hand, it's always been a habit of hers to come to school early, that is so that she could spend her time watching Luke in his morning practice glory, or just simply interfering by persistently trying to get his attention.

This, however, one of the things Erine was ashamed of telling to her kids.

Every day is always Luke, that's why it's going to be unusual for Erine to have a Luke-free, even for a single day.

"No, that's not true." Erine answered, in a way her past self would reply. "I have already met him at the entrance. And I got his ID."

Automatically, their eyes travelled down to the card, hanging around her chest. Their eyes gleamed with curiosity at the discovery.

"You forgot it again." Mich said. "though it's a blessing in disguise. Luke giving you his own ID for you to use means you're getting more of his favor. Good job."

Instead of feeling proud, Erine on her spot wanted to cringe but all she could do was lift both lips up to force a smile.

"Anyways, where are you headed?" Erine said, changing the topic.

Beth answered, "The fashion club."

"Why is there something new in the fashion club?" Erine asked. It's not as if she could magically remember the events from her past just because she's back in it.

"There's going to be a joint activity between the theatre and fashion club." Beth said enthusiastically. "Of course, you don't know this because Luke isn't involved in it."

This made her suddenly cough.

"Oh, I see."

In fact, she does remember something like that taking place, middle schools and highschool were called to watch the play.

In the end, they couldn't go. The second bell had already rung, it was a nostalgic feeling, having to sit in a class once again. The boredom towards a lecture she isn't interested in and the way everyone whined as presented by a surprised quiz, all of it made her beam a amused smile. Though it completely disappeared as soon as she found out that she couldn't answer most of the questions. She really thought that she has the upper hand, it's quite disappointing.

The rest of the class was spent on movie viewing. Luckily, she knew the movie too well, it was the classic Romio and Julie, Leo Decaf as one of the main cast.

When the long awaited dismissal came, Erine thought that she could breathe once again.

She expected an eventful day, turns out that it's one of those daily struggling student life. It's like she travelled back in time to be a normal student once again. Well, it isn't as if she could just recklessly change everything that happened in the past. There are still things that are better left alone.

"Erine." Beth suddenly called as they were walking among the students, all of which are more than happy to get lost from school.

She usually walks home with Beth since Mich were at times busy with activities in theatre club.

"Hmm?" Humming a response, Erine unconsciously turns her head towards Beth. Her friend points at her own shoulder to gesture at something.

"You forgot your bag."

Unable to react, Erine closes her eyes, her sigh became heavy as she shakes her head. Out of all the things she could forget, has to be a student's basic needs.

"Wait for me." She said before heading back to the classroom.

Actually, she could just leave her things, that is what drawers are for, her pocket money was in her bag. Without it, she wouldn't be able to go home.

There are hardly any students in the hallway. As she moves swiftly in each stair, her eyes twinkled. It reminds her of the difficulties she has just by taking the stairs. That was during her forties. Just a few steps she could already experience the pain in her muscles, her shoulders would always slump forward, as if she've just gone through an intense workout.

Her younger body was healthy in contrast. In fact, she felt livelier and her mood was stable, it's as if she hadn't gone into depression lately.

Still, she maintained her steps careful, her shoes is slippery against the tiled stairs, especially when wet, and the janitors just happen to be already mopping the floor. If ever she did tumble over, no one is going to catch her like in those fairytales.

Just a few steps, she was nearing the third floor when she caught a familiar figure at the peak of the stairs, making her footsteps slowed down as she realized who the person was. The first thing that came through was to hide and evade being spotted but she didn't react in time when Luke had already looked at her.

She couldn't just turn her back. If anything, she'll just come out as rude or weird, and it will only attract Luke's attention more.

So, with determination, Erine took the remaining stairs, all the while maintaining a friendly attitude.

"Luke! Going home already?" Erine said. "If it's okay with you, we could walk home together."

Of course, Luke is most likely to decline her that's why she has no hesitation while asking.

As usual, Luke only smiled gently in one of her shameless pursuits.

"Maybe next time, I have late club activities." He said. "Also, don't forget your ID again."

Erine blinks twice, thinking of something she must have been forgetting. And when she realizes, she quickly pulled the lace around her neck and handed it to Luke.

"About earlier, I am sorry you need to get punished."

Luke chuckled, "It's fine." He accepts his ID then dropped it inside his shoulder bag. Once done, Luke just stares at her, so did Erine.

It was an awkward atmosphere yet Erine couldn't really feel shy at all. For more than 20 years of marriage, they've already gotten used in the presence of each other that even if they're not engaging in any conversation, they would still be comfortable.

"Um, Erine." Luke finally says something after the long eye-to-eye moment.

It was a weird feeling, the way that Luke just bashfully scratched his hair and averted his gaze. Erine knew that Luke wanted to say something but was too ashamed to say it. If it were forty years later, and that they wee legally married for years, Erine would have just demand what's wrong, but at this time, young Luke doesn't really quite know her yet.

The problem is that she's getting impatient, it's taking a lot of time fo him to say it.

"N-nevermind, it's nothing." Luke says, brushing the tension off. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Take care on your way home."

"You too."

As Luke descended the stairs, he playfully rubbed her head, then he disappears at the foot of the stairs.

Erine frowned a little, frustrated at how she couldn't just demand Luke to just open up to her, she's not yet in that place, where they could just confide in each other.

She must have been so occupied by her own thoughts that she didn't notice somebody who was walking ahead of her, causing them to bump by the shoulder. After expressing her deepest apology, she quickly head towards the classroom. It was already quiet when she entered, her steps echoed distantly as she gathered her things from the seat. She also searches through her desk to see if thee were anything else she must have left.

Aside from some pens and notebooks, Erine pulled out something else. It wasn't really an out-of-the-ordinary thing, it was just a normal-looking notebook, only that Erine didn't remember having one such plain-looking thing, let alone something entirely colored with black.

Wanting to know who owns the book, Erine flipped the cover, but there were no name, nor contact information. But there were entries, with such barely understandable handwriting, the words she first read was,

Dear Emi,

And just like that, the book has nothing written but a life story of an anonymous writer.

It was the first day of class. Nothing out of the ordinary happened but there was a funny-looking third year with funny-looking pig hairpin. A girl was passing by a certain place back and forth.

But when this student arrived, she suddenly went out of the bush and purposely bumped into that person, she pretended to be in pain.

Talk about making a move, it was so smooth. Even her acting was on point.

Erine would have just returned the book where she found it but the book was too specific to not notice whom the owner of the book was pertaining to.

With a contemptuous look, Erine angrily shoved the aggravating diary inside her bag.

Someone dared to write about me!