CHAPTER 4: The Newfound Friends

HIRA! WAKE UP! HIRA! WAKE UP!”

I heard the voice of Emma shouting at me, as it echoes in my entire room.  'Curse that alarm tone!' I said in my thoughts as I throw that annoying phone that keeps on ringing against the wall and go back to sleep.

'I want to sleep more.' I said pleadingly in my mind. But I think, it’s definitely not possible when I feel a sudden increase in temperature at my door and sudden coldness inside my room.

I opened my eyes sleepily and my suspicion was correct. The door was turned into ashes, as my room looks like an igloo. There I saw Matt and Emma panting while holding their knees in exhaustion. 'What a very nice way to start my day.' Please note the sarcasm. 

"I'm perfectly fine. I just destroy that annoying alarm.” I said coldly as I get up lazily. As much as I want to sleep more, but then, there are many more things to do than to sleep. Soon enough, they both nod as they left my room.

Just like my usual morning, I do my morning rituals and wear my complete uniform. And for the finishing touch, “Hira, are you done? We going to  be late!” I heard Emma exclaimed from the other side of the door. I didn’t bother to answer her. Instead, I just chuckle.

I wear my bag on my right shoulder, and I’m done! And just like the other day, I was about to open my door when I heard Emma sighs. 'Oh my! There she goes again!' I thought as I already expect what will happen next.

“Adhira Solve—” She’s about to exclaim my full name when I interrupt her. “Done!” I cheerfully said, disregarding the dark aura surrounding her right now. As always.

“Haha! Good timing, Hira.” Matt said as he wraps his arms around my shoulder. “Or else the monster will chase us.” He whispers yet loud enough for Emma to hear. And just like the other days, “What did you just say, Mather Parveen?” Emma said while I saw imaginary smoke going out of her nose.

I was about to laugh when Matt grab my right hand, as the floors were covered with ice.“Run for your lives!” He exclaimed as we slid off on the frozen floors.

~

As Emma and I walked to the homeroom, I notice that almost all eyes were on us. I can't help but feel intimidated by their stares.

I know Emma is beautiful, but by the way, they look? It looks like their eyes are already glued on us. Geez.

We are not with Matt right now since he said he has another requirement that is still not submitted to the office so he will forward it first this morning.

And speaking of which, we saw him leaning against the wall along the corridor.

"Slowpokes." Yawning Matt said while polishing his well-fitted uniform. Just like us, he also wears white long sleeves, a black blazer with white lining, and a necktie. The only difference is he's wearing pants while we're wearing a skirt. Pfft. I can’t imagine him wearing a skirt. He’s too handsome to wear one. 'Gosh! What am I thinking?' I mentally scold myself.

If you look at the three of us right now, they are young-looking that even I would think that we're only the same age. I can't figure out if I look old or if they just look young. Anyway, Emma just kicked Matt’s right leg and starts walking. And now, I can say that everyone's attention is on us. Geez. What's wrong with them?

We just try to ignore their stares and just continue walking as if no one is staring. Which is somewhat effective.  Not until some annoying creature appears along the way. "Hello! Hira, right?" I just stare at him blankly and stay like that for a few seconds.

"So, silence means yes." He said with a big smile on his face.  Annoying. "She’s always glaring at me." I heard him murmur, yet I just shrug it off because I don't care about his thoughts. Suddenly he goes beside me and wraps his arm on mine. And, don't forget his annoying smile that irritates me more. "So, I hope you don’t mind if I tag along."

The twins in front of us now both frowned in unison. But in the end, they still nod as a response. 'As if we have another choice. Psh.' I said in my mind as I mentally roll my eyes at him. If before everyone was watching, now they are almost shouting what they are whispering.

"He's Shiloh, right? He’s so handsome!"

"Yes, besh. He’s so handsome, plus I heard that he’s also smart."

"He’s cute! Look at him clinging to the girl's arms. Sweet! I wonder who is she."

'Gosh! How did he manage to have a fan club in just a day?' I said in my thoughts as I cringe at what they're saying. Shiloh? Handsome? Nah. I don't think so. He just looks like a human. And even though I wasn't looking at him, I knew his wide smile is plastered on his face again. As always. I wonder if he’s still smiling when asleep.

"We're here," Matt said in his serious tone as he throws a dagger looks at Shiloh's arm that is still wrapped around my arm. "And would you please remove that arm?" He said while looking intently at my arm. We are already in front of the room door and I can feel the gaze of the other students who were just passing by. In short, they're making a scene.

But instead of removing the grip on my arm, he tightened it even more. And if he’s just clinging to my arm earlier, now he is hugging it. "Why? Are you jealous?" Shiloh said teasingly with his signature smile plastered on his face. Matt glares at him even more but, the good thing, Emma manages to stop him.

She whispers something to Matt’s ear but Matt’s expression didn’t change. But luckily, he’s convinced to go inside the room because we’re making a scene here. And Me? They left me outside with this guy. THEY LEFT ME OUTSIDE! 'Is this a good Phylax and Voithos should do?’ I said in my thoughts dramatically.

I turned to Shiloh when I heard him laugh softly. I can't help but sigh. 'He's hopeless.' I say in my mind as I slightly shook my head.

After the scene outside I entered the room as if nothing had happened. As if I have a choice. And don't forget this monkey who's still not letting go of my arm. Just hope that I won't lose my patience, or else I might able to skin him alive. All I want is to sleep, but this stupid class exists. Then, things get worse!

"Stop clinging on me. I'm going to sit in my chair." I said coldly to him as I point out my desk. But it seems like he's not affected at all. Instead, he just smiles even brighter. "Don't worry. I'm your seatmate. I'm just sitting next to you." And that words of him break the gates of hell out of me.

Today, I am totally annoyed. Swear.

~

I can’t help but yawn. It's already my hundredth time yawning in this boring class. How come, I just read everything I was taught! Who can't be bored there?

"Psst! Hira!" I heard an annoying creature whispers as he pokes my shoulder. 'Argh! This creature seating next to me!' I said in my thoughts in fury.

Since the time the class starts, he never stops poking my shoulder and calling out my name. There was even a chance the twins look in our direction because he’s talking too loud.

I glare at him and the first thing that came to me was his smiling face again. 'Is he on drugs?' I ask in my mind. He always smiles and seems like negativity can never reach his thoughts. His words are so calm, and his mere presence is so light. But the thing is, he's a mortal. How can a mortal do such a thing?

"What now?" I asked him grumpily. But he just pinched my nose and faced our teacher again. But instead of being annoyed with this creature, I just looked out the window and looked at the tree across from our room. My life would have been peaceful when a creature next to me spoke.

"Aren't you listening to our teacher?" He said while poking my shoulder. Is my patience really being tested? I turn my gaze to him once again and noticed that he flinched a bit. "H-hira," He stammered as he looked at me. 'That's right. Be frightened.' I said in my thoughts as I smirk.

"You’re beautiful!" I thought a would fall off the chair as I heard what he said. And I think, my cheeks are now burning red.

If the others are frightened when I glare at them, while him, on the other hand,

he said that I’m beautiful. He’s unbelievable! And weird.

"But you're not listening, aren’t you?" He repeated his question earlier as he pokes me once again. And he beside me is like babysitting a four-year-old child who never stops running around. No matter what I do or say, he never stops. What's with this guy?

"Hey!" He said as he pokes my cheek. And I swear, I’m about to lose my patience.

“Why aren’t you listening?”

"No! I'm not listening because I'm so bored here! I've read everything I've been taught!" I answer him annoyingly. But it was too late when I realized that everyone in the room is looking at the two of us. Including our teacher that is already fuming mad.

"If you're bored in my class, the doors are open. Get out!" Our teacher exclaims as she points out the door. I smile at her sweetly as I immediately got up and walked out of the room. I looked at the twins and gestured to them that it’s okay. But I was surprised when Shiloh followed me out. Isn’t he going to stop?

I tried to ignore him as I walked away. But someone suddenly grabbed me by the wrist.  There I saw Shiloh. With his bright smile, of course.

"Just I thought. We will be dismissed earlier than usual.”

He said and chuckles a bit. And he still manages to laugh? I scoff with the thought as I look at him unbelievingly. "Come on! Let's just go to the cafeteria too, at least, lessen your hot-headedness." He said and drag me in which direction.

But I stopped when I remembered something. My wallet is in my bag! And he seemed to hear what was on my mind when he spoke again. “Let’s go! My treat.” And I just let him drag me along.

*******

We just walk through the empty corridors. And I can say that every part of this university is too spacious! We've been walking for a few minutes but it still looks far away. And it’s also the time I’m praying that we would get there immediately because he still did not let go of my hand. My hand! Not arm, not wrist. MY HAND.

Maybe I should also be thankful that it's early so there are no students outside the rooms yet. Because if not, this is big deal! “Hey! Are you still breathing?” Shiloh asked me a stupid question that brought me back to my senses.

I just stared at him so that I would not be obvious. But my jaw literally dropped when I saw the cafeteria. 'This is not a cafeteria! This is a 5-star restaurant!' I said in my mind in awe. It’s too extravagant to be called as cafeteria! The carpeted floors. Walnut tables and chairs. There is even a chandelier, for Pete's sake!

“Hey! You’ve been spacing out since then. Are you on drugs?” I just hit his head making him frowned. "Sit down and order!" He looked like an idiot sitting at a table as I approached him. He immediately called the waiter. Wait. Waiter?

"Hira, what are you going to eat?" I just looked at him and slightly tilted my head to gesture to him how clueless I am.

It looks like he got it as he told the waiter that my order was just the same as his.

In a few moments, our food is served. And I almost cried when I saw the dish in front of me. It’s a poached lobster! My favorite! I ignored the other dishes served. I only see one thing now. And that is this lobster in perfect plating.

"It can be eaten, Hira," Shiloh said that he almost finish his food.

Compared to me as if there is no intention to move the food. “Don’t you like that food? All right, I’ll just eat it,”

He’s about to get my lobster when I slap his hands."DON'T. YOU. DARE." I said with full authority so he’s silenced. I was about to eat when someone spoke next to me.

"You're Adhira, right?" A voice of a girl said. I turn my gaze upon her direction as I simply nod. She has a petite body, long brown hair and looks, mestiza.

And the most important detail, she is an ordinary human!

“Can we sit next to you?” Another girl with black hair asks. “No.” / “Yes.” Shiloh and I said in unison. Then, I shot a glare at him for saying yes. But then, he just answers me with a smile and held my hand. And don't forget the weird feeling every time he touches me. It feels like everything inside me becomes calm.

"Sure. Do as you please." Shiloh smiles at the two, while I'm still speechless. To my annoyance, I slice the lobster that eventually looked grated. "Adhira, you're so cool earlier." Said the girl with brown hair on my right. I just give a timid smile and pretended to be interested in what she was saying.“How can you say I was so cool earlier?”

"Because you were the only one who dared to leave the room when Ma'am Madison spoke like that." Said the girl with black hair sitting to my left. Are we friends? IDK.

"Take note that you just passed him earlier as if she was invisible." Girl with brown hair added."And do you know what happens next? More than half of the class left the room!" Said the girl with black hair while clapping her hands. Honestly, she looks like a sea lion as claps her hand while laughing. I looked at Shiloh and as usual, he smiling brightly as ever. I wonder, what does he look like when he’s depressed?

"By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Gertrude Tully, 16 years old, your classmate." Gertrude, the girl with black hair, said enthusiastically."Yeah, right. Hehe. I'm Lace Philomena. Same description." Lace, the girl with brown hair, said.

I just smiled at them and said my name. At the same time, they held out their hands to me."Can we be friends?" Lace asks me, and her high hopes were evident in her eyes. And I think, there’s nothing bad befriending them. So,

"Sure," I said as I shake her hand.