Chapter 2

LEVI'S POV

Five months ago...

I turned my head to the window on my right side where I could see the students passing by through its transparent surface—a boy and a girl with elated faces holding each other’s hands while walking on the school hallways. My lips twitched as I got myself back to the book I was currently reading.

“Aren’t they aware that doing PDA should not be seen around the campus? They’re obviously violating the 500-meter-away rule from school campus! How annoying!” I mumbled to myself as I turned the book’s page next.

“Ige mwoya?” What’s that?

I glanced at Caius; my seatmate, buddy, and my dormmate. His eyebrows arched and his neck was getting long by looking outside the window as he asked me in Korean which I had come to memorize its Filipino translation. He would ask me that question everytime he would feel curious—no—much more like being a gossip monger.

“Stop asking me in Korean, will you?” I whined.

“Aigo!” Aww! he said teasingly, “A Levi feeling envious.”

“Shut up!”

He chuckled. “Ne, alget seum nida,” Yes, I understand, he said as he bowed his head. Feeling so irritated, I snorted.

“Tsk!” 

I raised my hand and acted to hit him, but he just laughed as I tried to focus on reading again. After a moment, he leaned on my shoulders as his eyes landed on the book I was holding.

“So, you’re now interested about lucid dreaming?” he said after he saw what I was reading that time.

I nudged him and said, “Stop bothering me, okay? Go away!”

“Nappeuda neo,” You’re bad, he pouted.

“Neorang yaegihago sipji ana,” I don’t want to talk to you, I replied as I looked over the pages.

“Jeongmal motdwaesso! Jinjja!” You’re really mean! Seriously! he shouted.

“Dwaesseo. Dwaesseo, o?” Enough. Enough, okay?

He just stuck his tongue out on me several times as he crossed his arms. So childish!

“Make sense, Caius.”

“Alright. Typically,” he suddenly said, then sat properly on his chair, fingers on his chin, “when we dream, we are not conscious that the dream is not real. As far as I remember, there is this character in the movie Inception quite aptly puts it, “Well, dreams, they feel real when we’re in them, right? It’s only when we wake up, then we realize that something was strange,” pretty cool, right?”

He got my attention.

I immediately closed the book, then looked at him. “By any chance, do you experienced lucid dreaming?” I asked.

“Me? Yeah, once,” he said as he nodded. “It’s when I wanted to see my mother who took away her own life when I was still a kid,” he added.

His words struck me with a sudden pain in my chest. I could suddenly feel the same pain I felt years ago. 

“S-sorry,” I stuttered as I cleared my throat. That was awful.

“Geokjeongma,” Don’t worry, he said, “It’s okay. At least, I had come to know her reasons to end her own life,” he added as he looked at his wrist watch. 

“Anyway, I’ll be right back!” he said before leaving the classroom.

“Caius! Is it—ugh!” I shook my head. “His mother took away her own life to end the pain, but the pain for Caius has just started after it happened. I wonder if he’s really okay now,” I mumbled to myself as I kept the book inside my bag.

Was it the only last resort... lucid dreaming, a way to know what would be the reasons of a certain person that happened to take away their own life without giving any hint? Was it the only last thing that we could possibly do? Like what Caius did, it was my last option when I lost my mother when she jumped off of a 10-story building of a city hall and died.

Every eighty-five minutes, someone in the United Kingdom had taken away their own life, but what do you think would happen to those who had left behind? The aftermath of it? Nothing could take away the pain of loss—I was thinking—It was killing me how your mind could make you feel so worthless. 

I was thinking, what could I’ve had possibly done to help you? So, before you go, was there something I could have said to make your heartbeat better?

College life. New life... or not?

Was it going to be good to me?

It was just a spur of the moment when I took Computer Engineering course. People told me that I should have picked among Law, Architecture, or Accountancy because I’m smart, while the rest said that I should have take Political Science or Engineering except to the course that I was already taking. I didn’t know what’s my reason at all, however, I was enjoying it. I was really enjoying it—because of her, Adalee.

I was suddenly distracted in listening to the professor when I heard Caius complained about something.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered to my right when I noticed him looked uncomfortable. “You’ve been holding your tummy since earlier.”

Biting his lip as he clutched his stomach, he said, “I have an upset stomach. It damn hurts!”

“Is it the reason why you were in a hurry a while ago?”

“Yes,” he answered. “I... I just took a dump.”

Twitching my lips out of disgust, I snorted.

“Gross. Do you want second round?”

“No. I can... I c-can still handle. Ugh!” he whined, pressing his belly hard.

I just shook my head as I turned to the middle-aged man in front.

“Anyone?” Professor Pantoja asked in the middle of his discussion. 

“If the magnitude of positive numbers is just the binary representation, then the magnitude of negative numbers is found by what?”

None of my classmates other than me raised their hands. The professor noticed me, but instead of calling me, he turned his head away.

“Miss Alfuen? Are you with me?”

“P-professor...”

The commotion started as everyone in the classroom turned their head to her. I simply did the same as I put my hand down. 

Shoot. She was caught sleeping again.

“Stand up, Miss Alfuen!” the professor shouted.

I turned my head back. 

“Why do you keep sleeping during my class?” he fumed, making the students hold their breath.

“Jeez. Poor sleepy, little princess,” Caius whispered.

“I’m s-sorry, Professor. I didn’t notice that I dozed off. I’m s-sorry—”

“Is that the only thing you can say?” Professor Pantoja asked with his creased forehead.

I grabbed my bag as I raised my hand to get the professor’s attention. “Sir,” I called.

“Yes, Mr. Bonifacio?”

I stood up and said, “Disturbing your class wasn’t her intention. Adalee is sick. Please allow me to take her to the clinic.”

And there I heard them whispered.

“What? Is he out of his mind?”

“When did those two became close?”

“Levi, what are you doing?” Caius asked as he pulled the end of my polo.

I didn’t bother myself to look at my classmates nor answer them asking why, and what was I doing. My eyes locked up at my professor, waiting for his permission.

“I’m not yet finished with my lessons, Mr. Bonifacio. Are you sure to take responsibility with Miss Alfuen?”

I nodded. “I promise, I’ll catch up with your lessons later,” I assured him and walked towards Adalee.

There was a trace of confusion in her face, and I could clearly see it as I made my way to her desk.

“Levi, I’m o-okay. You don’t have to—” I cut her off.

“Not a word,” I whispered. “Give me your bag.”

“W-what? W-why?”

My lips twitched. Instead of giving her an answer, I grabbed her sling bag and put it over my shoulder. I bent a little over her, and lifted her up. 

34-24-36.

Dang! I immediately wagged my head and pulled myself together.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Adalee stammered.

“Please excuse us,” I said politely, glanced at the professor once more, then walked towards the door. All I could hear was their gasps before I left the room.

A minute after we stepped out from our classroom, and just sauntering down the school halls, Adalee suddenly touched my face which made me startle. My eyebrows knitted as I looked at her.

“I’'m s-sorry. I just r-removed the dirt from your cheek. I didn’t mean to—”

I quickly looked away when I noticed that she was biting her lower lip. "Don't do it again," I warned her and kept on walking.

“L-Levi,” she said reluctantly.

“What?” I replied without gazing at her.

“Everyone’s watching us. P-put me down, please? We both know that I’m not sick.”

I stopped from walking and roamed my eyes around before I put her down. She was right. Almost everyone around was watching us as if we’re celebrities on a show.

“Here,” I said as I gave her the bag.

Her lips caught my attention once more. Words couldn’t form from her mouth, so I turned my back at her, and started to walk on the same direction.

“Levi, wait!”

We’re now walking in sync. I refused from looking at her because without any doubt, I would probably couldn’t get a hold of myself if my eyes would land on her lips again.

“Levi...” 

He already called me countless times. I was enjoying it though. Her voice calling my name was like music to my ears.

“What?” I responded, still eyes on my way.

“W-why did you do that?”

I put my hands in my pocket and asked, “The what?”

“Um...” she mumbled. “Why did y-you tell them I’m sick?”

“Because you are,” I simply uttered.

“I’m f-fine,” she said. “I’m n-not sick.”

Was she that too intimidated by me to stammer like that throughout the conversation or she’s just really sick?

“Cerebrovascular accident, with or without aphasia, head trauma, Ischemic attacks, degenerate diseases, drug-related causes, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, AIDS—” she cut me off.

“D-drugs? AIDS? Guillain—what? W-what are you t-talking about?”

I glanced at her for awhile. 

“It’s the injuries and diseases you possibly have or experienced because I’m actually starting to think that you’re suffering from Neurogenic stuttering,” I explained.

Adalee pursed her lips.

“W-what’s that? A-are y-you a doctor?” she stuttered. 

My lips curved, and before it could be able to turn into a smile, I gulped and cleared my throat.

“I’m not. Obviously, I’m a student like you that’s why I’m here with you,” I replied and turned my head away.

“I’m just wondering why your speech sounds fragmented and halted. I noticed frequent interruptions when you speak. You rattled everytime you talk. That’s all,” I continued.

“I’m n-not just used to t-talk to you, but don’t get m-me w-wrong. It’s just that, you approached me all of a sudden. I’m s-sorry,” she uttered.

“Because you’re annoying.”

Two more steps forward, then I stopped. I barely turned my head to her when she stopped from walking after what I said.

“Im a-annoying?” she asked as her hold on her sling bag tightened.

I turned to her and filled the distance between us. She slowly lift her head up when I was just an inch apart from her.

“Yes. Annoying,” I repeated while intently looking at her eyes—the gate to her soul, her identity... the whole her.

“Is he going to kiss that woman?”

“I can say she’s beautiful, but her brain is just like an empty container, contains nothing.”

“The good-looking, genius boy seems attracted to that stupid lowly wench. How could he stare at her so lovingly?” I instantly closed my eyes as I overheard the students not too far from us.

“L-Levi?”

“I guess Professor Pantoja is now at his office. I’ll just get the copies of the lessons I missed earlier,” I said as I opened my eyes again.

Did Adalee didn’t hear anything?

I clenched my fist inside my pockets, turned my back at her again, and started walking.

“H-hey! Are you j-just going to leave me here?” she shouted.

“Come with me if you want,” I shouted back, then in just a snap, I saw her beside me. 

A smile wanted to display on my face, but I managed to hide it.

I let out a sigh while heading to Professor Pantoja’s office. My thoughts were overflowing about overhearing those annoying people.

How could they run their filthy mouths against Adalee? How could they just judge her and say that she’s just a stupid lowly wench? How could they belittle my Adalee? 

Adalee who was pretending and ignoring it made me more irritated. She’s so annoying!

“Levi? A-are you o-okay? You—”

“Are you pretending that you didn’t hear anything earlier? You’re so annoying, Adalee!” I wailed unconsciously.

My eyes widened. I even looked startle more than her. I was so lost with my thoughts that I already forgot that she’s beside me.

“W-why? How did I a-annoy you? What did I do wrong? Tell m-me,” she managed to ask when I turned mute for awhile.

I didn’t say a word after, instead, I walked fast and tried to ignore her. That’s so embarrassing!

“L-Levi? Talk to me. It’s b-bothering me,” she kept on asking like a broken tape recorder, but I kept my mouth shut.

After getting the photocopies from Professor Pantoja’s office, I went to the college library and sat to my favorite spot to rest.

I thought Adalee would leave after I decided to ignore her, but she kept on following me.

“L-Levi?” she called me, but I didn’t respond. 

I rested my back on the chair. I crossed my arms as I closed my eyes. I was trying to calm myself. 

The view in front of me was just so splendid. She was dazzling while just sitting. Or was I overreacting?

“I won’t l-leave until you tell me h-how did I annoy you,” she said with firmnessnin her voice.

I could figure out what she looked like now. I could tell that she was pouting like a child who didn’t get what she wanted. I remained cool and firm as though I was giggling at my thoughts.

“Do as you please,” I mumbled in a teasing tone, still eyes closed. 

She wouldn’t leave? I smirked in my mind. That was a great idea of her. 

“If the magnitude of positive numbers is just the binary representation, then the magnitude of negative numbers is found by—ugh! Where’s that? I can’t see it,” she complained to herself.

As I opened my eyes a little, I saw her browsed the photocopies I borrowed from Professor Pantoja. Her cuteness was making me crazy.

“Page 4,” I uttered. “Complement the bits, replacing all the 1's with 0's, and all the 0's with 1's, and add 1 to the complemented number.”

I bent over the table and showed her that lesson from the photocopy. 

“It’s the Two's Complement. It’s the representation for signed binary numbers. Leading bit is a sign bit," I paused, then turned to the next page. 

“Binary number with leading 0 is positive while binary number with leading 1 is negative,” I continued.

“You’re really a quick-witted person. You almost memorized it,” she said, then a smile showed on her face.

I was almost swayed with her smile, but I didn’t let myself of course.

“Well,” I said and leaned back to my chair. “Everyone can do it. It’s just nothing. Anyway,” I paused and stared at her. 

“You’re no longer stuttering. I guess, you’re already comfortable with me.”

“Oh,” she whispered and touched her lips with her finger. 

“I guess so,” she added.

“That’s good,” I barely said.

“I’m just curious. Professor Pantoja caught you sleeping in the class twice already. Do you have some business every night? Do you have insomnia? Difficulty in sleeping?”

She lost her smile with my questions. My forehead creased upon seeing the sudden change of her expression.

“N-no, I don’t have any b-business or insomnia. Just a simple s-sleepy feeling,” she explained.

And now, she started to rattle in speaking again. What’s wrong with her?

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Instead of answering me, she stood up and returned the papers to me.

“I forgot, I h-have to go. T-thank you. And about me a-asking you about the reason how did I a-annoy you, you c-can keep it to yourself. I p-promise not to annoy you again.”

She rushed out and it confused me. Did I say something wrong?