One

DANIKA

         Mondays are usually great and exciting days for me but for certain reasons, this Monday is a horrible one. First, I woke up extremely late and had to rush through my morning routine. Then, I went to the kitchen to have breakfast only to find out that my evil younger brother who goes by the name, Cade, had just finished both his breakfast and my breakfast! I went to school with an empty stomach and also ended up with a detention slip for coming to school so late. As if it wasn't enough, I realized that I didn't do my homework! Here comes the worst part. Our maths teacher decided that out of the blue, he would give us a maths test! I feel like I'm really going to pull out my hair because of how frustrated I am. I can't even smile because like I said, my Monday has just become a disaster.

So, here I am in the school cafeteria sitting alongside my bestfriend, Amy Walker.

I quietly pick at my food, miserable about the fact that I had probably failed the maths test. Why did today have to be so horrible? I let out a groan and hang my head low, my shoulders slumped dejectedly.

"What's up with you, girl? You look so depressed!" Amy says, her blue eyes holding concern for me.

"I'm having a horrible Monday, Amy. I feel like I was cursed" I respond and pick up my sausage rolls, my eyes widening when I notice the long strand of hair in one of them. "See? I must be cursed!" I lament and Amy gives me a smile.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, D. Everyone goes through bad days at one point or the other. So chill out"

I roll my eyes and drop my sausage rolls on the tray.

"I'm starving and I can't eat these. I'm grossed out already" I groan and she chuckles before moving her tray towards me.

"There. You can have mine" she says and I grin.

"You're a lifesaver"

"I know I am. Now eat up before I change my mind" she states and I let out a snort. While I dig into the fries, Amy whistles under her breath.

I instantly look up with a frown. "What's the matter?" I ask and she grimaces.

"There's the new Asian kid" she tells me and I turn to look at who she's looking at and I blink, trying not to drool. Okay, I know that is really weird, but hey! He's that good looking. He's tall, maybe around 6'2 ft and he's quite leanly muscled. His collar length brown hair frames his face beautifully, his sharp jaw in full display.

He's wearing a black hoodie with the inscription, "Fuck off" and his black jeans trousers fits his lower body smugly. On his feet are a pair of black combat boots and on his ears are a pair of black stud earrings.

Despite how drop dead gorgeous this guy is, there's something really off about him. There's this negative energy emanating from him in waves. I watch him as he settles down on one of the isolated chairs in the cafeteria, almost robotically. Without sparing anyone a glance, he begins to eat his food rather apathetically.

"What's up with him?" I ask Amy who shrugs, her eyes still on him.

"There's a rumour about him that's presently going around" she tells me and I raise a brow.

"What rumour?"

"They said he committed two murders in one night at a very young age. Apparently, he was forced to go to a mad house after the incident and was just released two years ago"

My eyes widen like sausages as I stare at my bestfriend, shocked.

"No way" I breathe and she shrugs again.

"I mean, he sure has the aura of someone who is capable of commiting murder without feeling any remorse"

"It can't be entirely true, I mean... it's just a rumour, right?" I say and she scoffs.

"Believe it or not, there's always an iota of truth in every rumour that comes up"

Gobsmacked, I turn to look at the new kid again but this time, I find him staring at me with his light blue eyes. His steely gaze sends shivers down my spine, the hair on the back of my neck rising stiffly. Swallowing hard, I lower my gaze, trying to maintain my composure.

There is something weird about the way he'd looked at me and even now I can still feel his gaze boring holes into me. "Amy?" I whisper and she hums in response.

"He's staring at me and it's creeping me out" I tell her and her eyes goes wide. Then she grabs my hand and brings me to my feet.

"Come on, let's get out of here" she says and steers me towards the exit. I turn back to look at the Asian guy, my gaze meeting his electric gaze. One minute we're staring at each other, the next minute I'm smiling at him like a fool. His eyes widen slightly and before I can process what's happening, he gives me a blinding smile that instantly makes my heart flutter in it's cage. How did he transform from darkly handsome to undeniably cute so quickly?

Damn, he's fine.

"What's wrong with you?!" Amy snaps all of a sudden, as we make our way down the school hallway.

"Huh?" I blink and she exhales sharply through her nostrils.

"What's with that goofy smile on your face. You look like you're in love or something" she frowns.

"Oh, sorry- I was just thinking about something" I say and she rolls her eyes.

"You are so sappy"

***

   I walk into AP Biology class and freeze when I realize that I'm a few minutes late. All except one of the seats are occupied.

"Get seated, Ms Simmons" Mr Ryan, our teacher hisses at me and I nod, immediately making my way towards the only unoccupied seat in the class and as soon as my butt touches the chair, I realize with a start that the person sitting beside me is no other person than Mr Asian guy. Holy cow!

How did he get here so quickly?!

"Will you quit staring at me? I'm going to puke if you keep staring at me like that" he says to me and I let out a low gasp. For someone who has been speculated to be a murderer, this guy has a voice made for casanovas. I mean, if most people weren't avoiding him, he would totally be quite the charmer. For an Asian, he doesn't sound like one. His English is really smooth too.

"Well, class, we have a new student in our midst. Please stand up and introduce yourself to us"

As soon as Asian guy rises to his feet, whispers begin.

He clenches his fist and shuts his eyes briefly.

"My name is Lee Kang Dae. I'm nineteen years old. I would say that it's nice to meet all of you, but I would be lying if I said that" he states and sits down. The whispers and comments increases to the point where I start to feel bad for Lee Kang Dae.

"Wow, how rude"

"I can't believe I'm sitting in the same classroom with the murderer"

"He might as well slit our throats and hide our bodies"

"He's cute"

"Disgusting attitude"

"He should be in the mad house, not here"

"How is he even here if he had spent most of his life in the madhouse?"

"Alright, class. Be quiet! I do not want to hear any more statements about murderers or madhouses or you will be thrown out of my class!" Our teacher states and everyone falls quiet.

I turn to look at Kang who has his head lowered slightly, his eyes squeezed shut. He looks so.....dejected.

For the rest of the class, I barely concentrate on what's being taught. Can you blame me? There's a smoking hot piece of something spicy sitting beside me and it's making me really anxious.

As soon as the bell goes off, I quickly rise to my feet with my bag and speed walk out of the class without looking back. "Hey, Dani! Wait up! What's up with you? You look like you're being chased by the bogey man!" Cade, my younger brother says as he runs up to me, moments later with a lopsided grin on his face. I roll my eyes and quicken my pace.

"I'm still mad at you remember?"

"Come on, Dani. I apologized. I was just so hungry" he pouts and I scoff.

"Did you hear about the murderer in our school?" He suddenly asks as soon as we get to my red Ford Mustang. Technically, the car belongs to my elder brother but he'd left it behind when he went to college because according to him, he didn't want the attention.

"Do you have any evidence that he's a murderer?" I ask and he frowns.

"Are you defending him? No, wait- that's a wrong question. Are you in love with him?" He asks, his eyes wide. Biting my lower lip, I hit him on his arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Keep your mouth shut, will you?" I hiss and he grumbles under his breath and puts on his seatbelt.

Taking a deep breath, I turn on the ignition and hit the gas. It's weird how the only thing that occupied my mind in this moment, is the new guy. I let out a sigh, mentally scolding myself.

***

Nightfall finally arrives after a few hours. I had lunch with mum and Cade since Dad travelled a few days ago.

Thankfully, Cade didn't talk about Kang during dinner or mum would totally flip if she knew that a murderer was my classmate. Now that I think about it, is Kang really a murderer? Has anyone bothered to know the truth about him? I'm getting curious, very curious if I might add. Letting out a long sigh, I stare at my make up free face in the mirror. Then, I wrap my blond hair in a messy bun and step out of the bathroom, wearing my favourite blue PJ's.

Stretching my arms above me, I let out a yawn and walk towards my bed.

Thud!

I stiffen and grab my metallic bat, then I quietly make my way towards the balcony adjoined to my room. Carefully, I move the curtains aside and open the door. Standing outside is an unexpected visitor. Under the glow of the moonlight, his skin is so pale and there's something eerie about him.

He slowly looks up from the ground and when our gazes lock, my heart begins to pound harder in my chest.

"K-Kang? What are you doing here?!"

***