CHAPTER FIVE- FACE OFF

MADISON

My day ended just fine and a bit weird because of our last encounter with that Otis boy. Even just thinking of him makes my skin wary from even getting close to him.

I stood up from my seat after keeping my things that I have used in my desk. I looked at Sishy who is now seriously looking at her phone and so I went to her to take a look at what she's preoccupied about.

The moment she felt me getting close to her, she immediately moved away and looked at me with those crossed brows.

"What are you doing? Privacy, Maddy. Privacy." she seriously uttered those words as if she didn't invade mine.

I just shrugged off what she acted and directly went outside without even saying anything to her after talking to me. We aren't that close in the first place, I know that I also did something wrong for maybe attempting to read something she's preoccupied in her phone.

I clenched my fist tightly and felt a sting afterwards, my nails dug dipper into my palms that caused it to bleed. So disappointing. Disappointing... Really disappointing.

I didn't mind anyone who I bumped with and minded my own f*cking business while walking. I was disappointed of myself to act like a lost child in the first day of school. I forgot what I am after.

My mother said to follow my instinct to where the everlasting stone is, and I just felt that it might be here in this school. There's just something about being here and I can't understand what it is.

Since I wanted myself to cool down, I decided not to contact our driver and just walk home. Before getting out of the gate, a blue colored sports car that I think is a 2000 MR2 Spyder stopped and beeped at me.

I stopped from walking and looked at the car intently, the window from the driver's seat then suddenly rolled down. I stepped back upon seeing Otis' face.

"Need a ride?" Otis asked and gestured me to sit on the shotgun seat. I directly shook my head and started walking again. "Why not?" He added.

I faced him and raised a brow at him, "Are we even that close for me to ride in your car?"

"Don't think any malice about my offer. I just wanna help," he scratched his nape and smiled shyly because of what he said and so I tsk-ed that surely was loud enough for him to hear it.

"Thank you for being generous and thoughtful, but no."

I walked fast enough to get out of the gate, I never looked back and thankfully, he stopped from bugging the hell out of me. I started to walk normally when I sensed that there are no cars suspiciously following me. I fell in a deep thinking after that annoying happening. 

I don't wanna think about the possibilities this early since it is not really appropriate to blame someone you just met but maybe... just maybe, it is between Otis or Sishy, it is between them who I will be facing against in the future. I just have a feeling that one of them has the stone.

But what if it is not with them? My mother just advised me about following my instincts, nothing more, nothing less. Not knowing that I already arrived at our street, I saw mother coming back home from the opposite direction. She is as always wearing a black cloak same as mine and is running way back home without even noticing me. 

I just watched her actions and slowly walked near her but then... a sudden call ringed on her phone and then she directly answered it without any hesitations.  I instantly hide in a wide bush near a wide wall that is connected to our door when my mother was about to look back to my direction. I sighed when she didn't got a glimpse of my existence as of the moment. 

"Please... this is not the moment for you to bug me. I already told you about it and I can't force myself to foresee more of it. Just... just stop, okay? Relax, kid." my mother said as if she was convincing the person from the other phone. Minutes after, I heard the door opened and so I walked near her as if I just arrived. 

She held her chest as if she was shock because of my sudden appearance. I scratched my head and raised a brow because of her reaction, "What?" 

She heaved a deep sigh before answering, "Have you just arrived?"

"Yeah," I said without any expression and walked pass her. I unwore my shoes and added, "Why did you look so shock upon seeing me?"

She immediately shook her head and replied, "Nothing, I was just creeped out." 

I shrugged my shoulders about her reply and was about to walk up the stairs but was stopped when she grabbed my hands carefully and let me face to her. 

"Aren't you going to eat first? Our driver said that you didn't call him to get you from school. What's the matter, Madison?" she asked and so I abruptly rolled my eyes out of habit because of a dumb and a bit shocking question from my mother. 

"As if you care," I replied and grabbed my hand back and started walking to my room upstairs. I heard her sigh again and saw in my peripheral vision how she disappointedly walked to our kitchen. 

I felt a bit of pang from my chest but I ignored it, as always. I went in my room and lie down my bed because of exhaustion. Before I know it... darkness already consumed me. 

THE loud knock from the door led me to wake up from a deep sleep and saw from my windows how light crept in from there. 

It's already morning!?

I immediately got up from the bed and opened the door where I saw my mom standing.

"Someone is looking for you awhile ago. I think her name was Sishy," she said and so my eyes widened.

"What did you say? Did you say that I lived here? Damn!" that mysterious girl! What's she doing in our neighbourhood?

"I said that you don't live here," I sighed in relief upon hearing my mother's answer.

"Though she's a bit weird. I bet she's not from our barangay, anyone would never dare go to this house." She added. My mom's right. Only a few dared to go and look at our house directly, and only a few knows that there are people here living and that's us. Pretending to be this mansion's caretaker.

"She's a fr-classmate, mom. I don't know what has gotten into her mind and went near here. She really is weird even for befriending me," I said and took the towel and bathrobe from my closet.

I heared silence before she has finally spoken, "Do your morning rituals and after, go to the kitchen for breakfast. You haven't eaten since last night, I just didn't wake you up 'cause I think you are very tired from your first day in school." She explained and told me that and so I just nodded in response.

I heard the door closed behind me and so I did went to the bathroom and did my rituals.

When I finished everything and also from taking my clothes on, I grabbed my things and went downstairs since I am already feeling hungry. My mother wasn't in the kitchen but I already saw how the table was already ready with all the foods, and so I began eating in silence.

I just can't stop thinking about Sishy. I don't really wanna get close to her! Aside from her being a pain in the ass, I bet she's be willing to know the truth about me yet won't accept it. Cause who will even do that , right? After what my family has done? Never, I bet.

After eating and putting aside the dishes, I went to the living room and the veranda but there is no any signs of my mother doing her usual thing-- watering the plants every morning.

I think she is already out for God knows where she has gone to. I just locked the door when I got out and already saw our driver waiting. Again, our street is very quiet, our neighbor's house are very far from ours and so we aren't worried about anything anymore.

WHEN I arrived at the gate, I saw Sishy waiting near the guard's area. I just threw a glance and continued walking not minding the stares she's been throwing at me.

"Good morning! How are you?" I ignored her and continued walking. "I'm sorry for what I have acted yesterday. My mom called me and told me about what happened in the house and so I got frustrated of the news that I have heard. I can't tell you about it 'cause it's something personal but I hope you'd understand."

"Just don't meddle yourself in my life and I will not add more to your frustration. Thank you and I hope you'll solve that problem of yours. Good luck," I said with an expressionless face. Why is she saying all of that to me? We're not close and I am not her girlfriend for goddamn's sake!

"Still mad?" She asked and catched up to me since I fastly added pace to my walk. I heard her heaved a deep sigh and gave up.

"Alright, alright. I'll give you space. Just for an hour I guess," she chuckled and ran to our classroom. I was about to heave a deep sigh because of that second phrase but then the last sentence got me.

It's my second day in school but I don't get why Sishy is already attached to me and stays friendly when in fact I don't really consider us as friends.

I also went in to the classroom and sat directly on my seat without even giving any glances and attention to my surroundings.

I thought that I'd have a peaceful hour but I felt sudden chills and now I am holding both of my hands tightly. It's gonna be Otis!

I suddenly stood up the time he set foot in our classroom, he noticed it and so he called my name.

"Yes, Ms. Forne?" I immediately shook my head and sat down. Everyone got quiet and attentive, other boys even greeted him and asked about some sports and things. While other girls asked him about why he's here today.

"Good morning, Grade 12. I am Otis Hughes and I am here today as a substitute for Mrs. Dela Torre, your Oral Communication Professor. Mrs. Dela Torre got some things to attend today and since our section is having a free time, he messaged me on the last minute to give you an activity." He explained but I didn't even looked at him directly.

I just stared at the white board behind him like it was the white board who was talking. We are actually schoolmates, it's just that there are a lot of sections from our batch because of how many we are.

He started giving the printed activities in the front and so they started passing it to us. I saw him staring at me and so I looked away.

Now, it was another feeling that lurks in my body, a sudden excitement and happiness has awakened from inside of me and so I looked at a thing that suddenly shone on his belt.

"Ehem," he faked a cough as if he caught me staring into his something. I glared at him because of his assumptions. He chuckled and smirked before talking, "I will be here for the whole period of your teacher's subject. When you are done with the answer sheet, please don't hesitate to come to the desk and pass the sheets to me."

And I rolled my eyes when he chuckled at the last statement. God, this boy! Before answering the sheet, I stared at the thing again. Is that it?