One

When I was nearly seventeen, I lost my heart. To the world, it's barely the start of my life, which is ironic because I only saw a brick wall and nothing to live for. I finally had reasons to give up on life. My fears of never being able to escape from my father's assualt were assuaged. I could not care less, so long as I was leaving the earth. I was going to... do it.

With enough years gone by, I look back on them and smile, not truly though. You know that smile you give yourself just to make yourself believe that things may get better in the future. The past few years of my life hasn't been funny enough to allow for a single smile. I've grown to believe that's how 'life' is and will ever be. I've thought a lot about the cause of my problem. It's hard to discern who is to blame. I blame myself most times (so thoughtless of me). A part of my mind maintains that I caused it. I did many things, most of them not worth any punishments but in my world, everything single thing counts. My sudden misfortune started the day I decided to go against my father's stringent rules. Another says it began when I got a diary. Maybe having something to talk to made a difference.

However, if I take a broad view of things, I'd say it began when the first day I got into my eighth School, Mcade high. Eighth school? I'm not a bad student and I've never gotten expelled. Jude Kam changes my school whenever he wants to.

That cold summer morning, I stood outside my new school, with little hope of a good day. I've had numerous 'first days' and I know how they usually end-- bad.

At sixteen, I was a bit older, five foot eight, a thick brown hair and ugly brown eyes. I couldn't understand why I was so conspicuous. My  cat eyed glasses makes thing worse. I wasn't the only one who lingered at the concrete pavement in front of the school and it all seems like they were all chitchatting about me. A loud buzzer had rang to remind us that we were in school. 

I trotted along the school aisle, adjust my eyeglasses at every interval, my bad habit. That gets people thinking that I'm a nerd but they always get disappointed when they realize I have nothing upstairs—i mean my brain's empty. My class, senior high-class three was the last room on the main block. There was a security man at the aisle, dress more like a policeman. His gaze was fixed on me as I approached him and that only got me nauseous.

"New student?" He asked.

" Yeah" he ran an hanhepd scanner up and down my body.

" Student ID?" He questioned.

I was puzzled. " What? "

"Your identity card. Where is it?"

I had no idea. I've never used any. It's the first middle class private school I've ever attended. 

"I don't know what you are talking about and I don't have it." I blurted out.

The guard frowned. " You should always be with your ID. What kind of student are you?"

I was dumb.

" What class…"

"Senior class 3"

He picked up his cb radio and spoke into it.

"Class president, come take one of your students to detention now. Hallway 3G5."

Weird.

"Wait here. Don't move." He addressed me. I wanted to argue or at least ask what detention meant but my guts didn't let me. After a while, a guy, also a student, joined us.

"New student without her ID. take her to the principal."The guard instructed him and he just nodded.

"Newbie. Follow me."He said.

 He had this cold but stunning look that could sweep any girl of her feet. As I walked behind him, I could not help but notice his stylish or rather arrogant gait. He's a class president anyway. 

"Where are you taking me to?"I asked. He was walking too fast and I wanted to slow him down a bit with small talks. Besides, it's my first day and I'm getting into 'detention', how unlucky? 

"Principal's office. You'll get your punishments there."He said nonchalantly. There's something about his voice, or maybe the way he speaks that irritates me. I saw myself getting more pissed as time passed. No, it's not him. It's the school, I haven't spent a day in it and  I was already getting into trouble. I had a feeling it's going to be the worst school ever. " Well, I'll be done with highschool soon" That was enough consolation.

He stopped at a glass door and turned to face me.

"I'm Damien. Your class president."He said. "Your name?"

"Paige."I winced. He pushed the door open and walked in. He sat on the couch at the reception area and asked me to go into the office myself.

"I'll be waiting here for you."He had said.

A blonde woman, probably in her fifties or sixties sat at the table. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail and her face -- revealed her make up was done by a quack. I felt a little pleased that I've found someone who I can brag to be better than in looks. She had this stagnant frown on her face that made my heart shake at the realization that she would have to give me a punishment. She had her eyes fixed on her laptop and I had to announce my presence.

"Good day. I..." I trailed off while her huge almond eyes met mine.

"What do you want?"She asked.

"I was asked to come here. I don't have an ID."I paused, waiting for a response but she had resumed back to her typing. 'Bit what's with this woman?!' I screamed in my head.

"I was asked to get punishments from you."

"What's your name? What class? Have I seen you in this school before?"

"No. I'm new. Paige Kam." I saw her face brighten, a sly smile played around her cheek.

"Kam? Have your sit kiddo" She shoved aside her laptop. I wasn't surprised. She must have met my dad.

"It's not your fault. Your ID card is here."She opened a drawer and brought out the 'Almighty' identity card that almost got me into trouble on my first day in this strange school.

"Keep it well, huh? Welcome to Mcade high."She smiled. "You can go back to your class now."

"Send my regards to your uncle."She said as I unlocked the door to get office.

That got me off the hook. Uncle? Jude Kam is so unpredictable! I was lost in my own maze of thought that I forgot they was a chair at the reception and I tripped on it, falling on cold flesh. It's Damien and I fell right on his chest, our innocent eyes locking in a funny knot. Time stopped.

His black hair reached his shoulder. His skin -- olive tone. His grey eyes...my heart skipped multiple beats. It wasn't until he snapped his fingers across my face that I realized the position I was.

I jumped off his body. Embarrassed, I hurried to the door. School that day wasn't any better than I'd projected but a bit different. I had something to think about, my brain only had one question in it: "What was that Paige?"