Chapter 4: Crossed Paths

"Oh god, how are you going to eat that much food?" Melissa said as she watched Eleonna scoop a large amount of rice, worriedly. 

In this particular morning, the girl has been acting strange since she woke up. She was spacing out the whole time and rushing whatever she's doing at the same time. How is that even possible? 

Melissa gasp again as she added another spoonful of rice into the lunchbox which was almost full already. Melissa had enough and snatched the spoon from her hand. 

"Auntie, I'm not done using it yet." 

"Finally, you're paying attention to me," Melissa exclaimed and pointed the lunchbox the girl is holding "Don't you think you added too much rice in there? Dear, I know you have a big appetite, but you can't finish that amount of rice!" 

Eleonna looked down at the lunchbox and smiled at her. 

"Auntie, I'm not gonna eat this alone..." her auntie raised a brow at her, humming in wonder "I'm sharing this with Nesha! You know how much she loves your foods." 

Oh god forgive this girl for spitting a lie early in the morning. One of the reasons why the girl is spacing out this morning, is because of thinking of a way on how to pursue the boy named Yuan, not to mention how to find him in their school too. Well, how are you going to manipulate a person into helping you though? If you ask her, the way to get people's side is by their stomach. 

Who doesn't love food anyway? So here she is right now, packing a lunchbox for the boy just in case. 

Second, was the polaroid that she found yesterday. She couldn't help but to wonder how that photo got in Eleanor's room. It was also the first time she'd seen it, Eleonna met a lot of his father's friends but she hadn't met those in the photo. 

"Are you sure you both can finish that?" Melissa asked her once again as the girl closed the box. 

"Yes, auntie. That girl eat a lot just like me, y'know? don't worry." she grinned. 

"You girls ready? We'll get going now." Andy interrupted them. His wife nodded and walked towards him to help him with his necktie. Andy chuckled at this and grabbed his wife's waist, grinning, that made her blush. Eleonna groaned at this and looked away from them.

It's 7 in the morning, lovebirds! 

"I'll go in the car first." she dryly stated which the both didn't here as they were busy with their little moment. 

As soon as Eleonna got in the back seat, she scrolled through her phone and scanned the list of fourth year's sections which she had efforted to list last night. 

"I got 10 in total... where am I gonna start?" she murmured. 

Now let's just wish that that guy really was in fourth year, 'cause if not, then she just wasted staying up all night to list this and do her school works. 

Pretty determined, Isn't she? 

🔫

Eleonna patiently stood beside the gate, humming a random song to keep her entertained as she watch every students that enters through the gate. The guard in front of her looking at her suspiciously. 

"Aren't you planning to go to your class, kid?" the old guy finally asked her. Eleonna looked at him and flashed a cute smile which made the guy cringe. 

"I'm still waiting for someone, mister. Don't worry! I'm not planning to cut classes." 

"You can wait for that someone inside your class, young lady. We have a rule to follow here," the guy walked towards his table and grabbed a yellow slip, "If you won't go to your class now, I will give you a warning slip and ask for your professor's sign in it." 

Her eyes widened at this and looked at the gate then the guard again. 

"One last minute, mister! Please!" 

"You're leaving me with no choice, young lady. Now, 1st offense--" she didn't let him finish as she approached him to stop him from writing. 

"Wait, mister! Okay okay I'll go now! But can you do me a favor please?" she continuesly said. Panicking. 

Getting a warning slip is the least that she wanted. She doesn't want to have a bad record for her graduation, does she? 

The guy sighed and nodded. 

"If you ever scan an ID with the name of Yuan Salazar, can you tell him to go meet me in my class please? I'm in class 2 of fourth year."

The guy agreed and the girl walked away satisfied after thanking him. 

"Teenagers nowadays really prioritizes their boyfriends over school, don't they?" 

🔫

Now it's almost lunch time but the person she's been waiting for didn't show up. She had been desperately looking at the door every minute. Nesha noticed this and tapped the girl's shoulder. 

"Are you looking for someone? Girl, pay attention to the class first!" she lectured which made the girl form a peace sign before paying attention to the class. 

Who is she kidding? Of course that guy won't come to her himself. He barely even talk to her yesterday and now you're expecting him to come to a stranger's class? 

Guess I'll have to find him myself then. 

As soon as the bell rang, indicating for their lunch break, Eleonna went out of their class and headed towards the other class of other fourth years. A lot of students already went out of their room which made it even harder for her to find a certain face. 

She cursed under her breath when someone bumped into her, causing the bento that she's holding to fall which fortunately didn't spill. Other students just looked at her way and laughed secretly. She rolled her eyes as she looked up to the person who bumped her, ready to shower him with a sermon, but it seems like fate decided to be on her side this time when she saw him. Yes, him, the guy she's been looking for. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked first, looking at her in wonder and confusion. 

Eleonna stood up and smiled triumphantly. The boy still had his face bandages. She couldn't help but to notice his uniform's buttons that were undone and obviously weren't ironed. Still had those bed hair too. Does this guy not know about proper school grooming? 

"Nice to meet you again, Yuan Salazar."

Yuan's forehead creased as he looked at her. Not liking how she's motively smiling at him. 

"Are you stalking me?" 

Eleonna looked at him in disbelief and pointed at herself. Seriously, stalking him? The term stalking isn't the right term for her, she's just looking for him, alright?  

"Stalking? Can't you see my uniform?" 

Yuan scanned her uniform which he somehow failed to notice that his school has for some reason yesterday. He turned his back at her again and continued walking. 

"Whatever, just continue on your way and don't talk to me." even if that's the words that left from his mouth he couldn't help but to worry if he's being rude or not, but he didn't want to talk to her. Who knows what this girl is up to. 

Eleonna was left there with mouth open. She ran to catch up to his pace. 

"Hey slow down! I'm not stalking you. I've been looking for you everywhere, you know?! I need you!" 

Yuan was forced to stop in his trance. Eleonna looked around too when she felt the stares of the people around her. She said those words too loud, didn't she? 

Now imagine Yuan's reaction when he heard a malicious whistle from one of his classmates. 

"Yo, Yuan, a girl right there needs you, be a gentleman." of of them said which made the others who witnessed everything laugh. 

Eleonna looked at them, confused, wondering why they're laughing. Now slap this girl for being too occupied of her objective with Yuan to not realize what she had said. 

Yuan clicked his tongue in annoyance and grabbed her wrist as they made their exit to the embarrassing scene. 

Eleonna quietly let him drag her towards the place with least students. 

"What do you want?" Yuan patiently said as he faced the girl, fixing his polo to make himself atleast presentable. 

"Like I said, I need you--" the boy interrupted him

"Stop using that word, why are you looking for me?" he sighed, trying to compose and stop himself for taking it differently. 

"I... I need your help to look for my sister." she said straightforwardly, seeing him being impatient and a little frustrated. In this mood, her food manipulation won't work. She couldn't help but to feel like she's bothering him, which was ofcourse true. 

Yuan looked at her. 

"I already told you, I can't help you."

"Please! I know you know something, Isn't Eleanor your friend? Aren't you worried if she's in danger right now? I need to find her!" 

Silence enveloped the both of them as Yuan stared into her eyes. He might seem like he didn't care about what the girl said just now, but it's really troubling him too. He himself is also contemplating whether to help this girl or to respect Eleanor's decision. 

"I'm sorry... I really can't help you, but I'll look for her myself. So just stay still and I'll tell you when I find something."

Eleonna hummed in confusion at his statement. Just what is this guy and her sister is hiding? Just when she was about to say something, the bell rang, indicating that their lunch break is over. 

"Excuse me." he immediately walked away and blended amidst the students. 

Eleonna sighed in defeat as she looked at the bento on her hand. 

"How am I going to finish this alone?" 

🔫

"These projects are so annoying!" Nesha exclaimed which Eleonna agreed. 

Both of them are walking home. Nesha is ranting to her about their projects being due at the same time while she is thinking about what happened earlier. She couldn't help but to wonder why he chose not to help her.

Just as they were about to turn right, she saw Yuan walking past them. Seems like he didn't notice her too. An idea came to her mind. 

If he doesn't agree this time, then I'll stop pursuing him! 

"Nesha, I have to go somewhere important." 

Nesha hummed in wonder but agreed anyway as both of them walked in different directions. 

Eleonna followed the boy silently as she slowly regret that she did, but she couldn't stop now, she'd gone this far just to back down. As they were walking, she began to notice the familiar street. Her eyes widened when she recognized it. It was heading towards where he was beaten! 

Eleonna looked at him worriedly, afraid one of those thugs will attack him again. 

"Yuan!" she absentmindedly called him. She wanted to slap herself for that. 

Yuan turned around in confusion. He silently cursed to himself when she saw her heading towards him. He rushed towards her while looking every corner, panicking and as if looking out for something. 

"What are you doing here?! I told you to not follow me, didn't I?!" he furiously said to the girl as he tried to hide her figure from who knows what. 

"I-I just happen to walk this way and saw you." she lied, who would admit that you stalked a person though? 

Yuan looked down at her and grabbed both of her shoulder tightly. 

"Listen, you need to leave now!" 

Eleonna just stared at him, confused by the way he is acting right now. 

"But-" 

Before she could even finish her sentence, she felt a sharp pang of pain on her right cheeks. She instinctly caressed it as she felt a liquid coming out from it. Her eyes widened when she saw her hand stained with blood. 

"Took you long to get out of your cage, rat." 

Yuan and Eleonna looked at the owner of the voice in unison. She saw a blue-haired girl with blades on her right hand, one red-haired boy on her right, and a gray-haired boy on her left. Yuan cursed under his breath with what he saw. 

"Time for payback, my bitch."