Defying Destiny

Chapter 2

Asha

"Did you bring your lunch?" Teacher Kilian asked.

She always asked me that before I left for school because she said I was always absent-minded and tended to forget things. I can't blame her on that.

"Yep. It's already in my bag," I replied as I fixed my shoes.

"Good. Go on ahead. I'll finish this up and head to school too," Teacher Kilian said. I nodded, kissed her on the cheek, and suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Teacher Kilian!" I pulled my umbrella out of my bag and handed it to her.

"It's going to rain later," I said with a smile. She ruffled my hair and thanked me. That's one of the few good things about my ability. Most of the time, it only brings bad things.

"Go now. You'll be late," she reminded me. I nodded and ran toward school. Our university was only a short walk from home. Teacher Kilian would be heading to the daycare center later.

"Good morning, Guard," I greeted the security guard as I walked past him. Even the guards knew I was the weird girl, so they rarely talked to me. I straightened my uniform before entering the classroom.

"Good morning!" I greeted cheerfully.

No one answered.

Well... I was already used to it, so I just laughed to myself.

"Did you do the assignment?" Sean asked Nancy.

"Nope. Sir's going to kill us," Nancy answered.

Sir wasn't even here yet, but I decided not to tell them. Maybe they'd finally do their assignment if they thought he was coming.

"Hey, where are you going?" Frances, our class president, asked.

They always call me "Hey." I have a name, you know.

"The restroom," I answered before walking out. It was boring inside the classroom. No one talked to me.

I'd rather look for Sushi. At least that little bird chirped back whenever I talked to it. Unlike the people in my classroom, they were human, but sometimes they acted alike they are not.

"What nonsense! Who does she think she is? My mother? Damn it!" I stopped walking and looked toward the girl I had seen yesterday.

Mrs. Right's daughter. She was crying... and she looked furious.

"Hello!" I greeted her. She jumped in surprise and quickly wiped away her tears. I had already seen them. Why bother wiping them now?

"Oh... Sorry. I guess I startled you," I laughed. She rolled her eyes.

Looks like she inherited her mother's attitude. Mrs. Right looked exactly like that whenever I came to class late.

"So you're the crazy girl from the Education Department," she said. I grimaced.

So she knew me. I was famous as the school's crazy girl.

"Am I really that famous?" I laughed. There are just some things you have to accept and laugh about. Otherwise, they'll only drag you down.

"What's your name?" I asked.

She ignored me completely. She brushed the dust off her uniform and was about to leave when I spoke.

"Laura Felicity Perez... if I were you, I'd talk to your mother before she's gone."

She froze.

Then she turned around and slapped me across the face. Her eyes blazed with anger.

Ouch...

"I don't care! And if everything you say really comes true... then I hope she disappears! I don't care!" she shouted.

I simply watched her walk away.

"Geez... that really hurt," I muttered, rubbing my cheek.

It's not that what I say becomes true.

I simply say what will happen.

Although... I lied about the "before she's gone" part.

I only wanted to give Laura a little push.

Maybe she'd come to her senses.

"Sometimes, even fate can't do anything against people's stubbornness," I whispered as I stood up.

I only said it so she'd go see her mother.

Yes, Mrs. Right had hurt her.

But if only she knew the truth...

At least she still had a mother.

I sighed and looked up at the sky beyond the school building.

"My cheek still hurts," I mumbled.

I should head back.

Mrs. Right's class was about to start.

"Sorry I'm late, Mrs. Right!" I called as I opened the classroom door.

Then I froze.

"Asha! Asha! Why are you just standing there? Sit down already," Mrs. Right shouted.

I hurried to my seat.

I glanced at Robin—the school's notorious playboy.

Mrs. Right continued teaching...

While I sat quietly behind Robin, lost in thought.

....

Justice's POV

"Master."

I shot Quinlan an irritated look.

"As far as I remember, I already warned you, Quinlan." I walked past him. I still couldn't understand why they transferred me to this school.

"Wait, Robin!" I stopped walking when a girl ran past me, chasing after a guy.

For some reason...

I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"Let go of me! Can you stop dragging me into your craziness?" the guy shouted. He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm.

"It's okay if you all call me crazy. But believe me, Robin... be careful of—"

"Ow!" Before she could finish, the guy shoved her to the ground.

Seriously?

Why was she chasing someone who clearly wanted nothing to do with her? She simply watched him walk away.

I didn't realize how long I had been staring. She stood up and dusted herself off. It was her. The same girl who shouted that the police were coming. Honestly, I could've handled everything that day. She just happened to get there first.

"My cheek swelled earlier... now I scraped my knee."

"I warned you."

"That's all I can do."

"So why won't any of you listen?"

She sighed in frustration before turning toward my direction, probably heading back to wherever she'd come from.

"Hi?" she said awkwardly with a smile as she walked past me.

Seriously?

I shook my head and was about to head toward the main building when something glinted on the ground where she'd been.

I picked it up.

"Asha."

That must be her name.

It was engraved on the necklace.

Tsk.

I'll just have Quinlan return it.

"I should get to class."

"The rain's pouring."

"I told you, Master, we should've waited."

"The parking lot is so far from here," Quinlan complained.

"Stop calling me Master, Quin," I replied.

He fell silent.

Then we continued walking.

"Ah-choo! Seriously... where is it?"

Quinlan and I exchanged glances after hearing the sneeze.

"Uh... Justice, there's a girl," Quinlan said, pointing toward the same girl from earlier.

I already knew what she was looking for. She was crawling through the wet grass, soaked by the rain and covered in mud.

"I know. I can see her," I answered.

Quinlan walked over and held his umbrella over her. I wasn't sure if he realized he'd left me standing in the rain while carrying my umbrella.

"Miss, what are you doing?" Quinlan asked.

I walked over and took the umbrella back from him. Judging from the guilty puppy look he gave me, he had finally realized.

"Huh? Oh... I'm just looking for something," she said before searching through the grass again.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the necklace, and held it in front of her.

"My necklace!"

"Ahh! Thank you!"

She immediately stood up and snatched it from my hand the moment she saw it.

"Why do you have it?" Quinlan asked.

"I found it earlier," I answered simply.

Then I turned around and started walking away.

She could've looked for it tomorrow.

Why insist on finding it in the middle of the storm?

"W-Wait, Mas— I mean, Justice!"

"Miss, we'll get going first. Take care!"

Quinlan called before hurrying after me.

There was definitely something unusual about that girl.

I just couldn't figure out what it was.

Was it...

her eyes?