3. Warning To Stay Away

School corridor, a few minutes of time passed after the class bell rang. The hallway looked deserted, the students remained in their classes. Vivian had just returned from the photography club room, she had deliberately missed the first lesson and was only planning to join the class now. She slowly opened the back door of the classroom, sneaking inside. Finding a new, familiar face occupying the seat right in front of her,  Vivian was happy to see  Elyn.

"Evelyn, are you in this class?" Greet  Vivian standing straight with pleasure expression.

Elyn also looked happy that there was finally a familiar face in class, especially someone who spoke first and asked her then break the silence. 

"You, when were you here?" Elyn was pretty sure she hadn't seen Vivian before in class.

"Just now. I had something to do in the clubroom so I was there." 

at first period of class, Vivian was washing the film in the Photography club room. Even though she dropped Elyn at school this morning, she wanted to be a tour guide. Taking Elyn to the teacher's room, introducing the school environment, even though the motive is not purely just helping. Vivian wants to get news material in the school newspaper, about the identity of the transfer student, why and how Elyn can be accepted at SOPA. Surely many people have the same question in their minds because this is a rare case. There must be many paeople who want to know Elyn's background at this time. It seems that the goddess of fortune is on Vivian's side.

It seems that Elyn has to start getting used to it, maybe because this is an elite school so the students can do whatever they want. Like what Vivian had just admitted with full awareness, that in public schools it's called skipping class, that's not what it is.

"Aah, So you're also in this class…" Elyn didn't have another sentence that could be a topic of conversation.

"Yes, I'm in this class."  Vivian sat in her chair. “Oh! wait, Should I tell you or not, huh? hmm…"

 Vivian who spoke half-heartedly like that only made Elyn confused. "Yes? You mean?"

Instead of answering or finishing her words, Vivian just smiled. "Since it's your first day, if there's anything you need or have any questions, don't hesitate―"  Vivian pointed to a friend sitting in the front row as well. "Ask Sihan, he's class president."

" Sihan?" 

The person Vivian appointed as class president, Elyn, remembered very well that she was also one of the students who came late with the boy named Anthony. 

"Head of the class? Is Vivian serious about what she said?" Elyn protested in mind. 

But Vivian figure that Elyn stared at showed a glint of innocence in her eyes, Elyn couldn't find any certainty there.

 ***

Elyn's first day at her new school is over. Too many strange things, strange events even people bothered her mind. In addition to the indifferent behavior of students towards teachers, who do whatever they want, class leaders who are gang members, and so on. This school also looks cold outside, from the indifference of its inhabitants. The building is spacious and has the best facilities but looks dingy. There is no joy, crowd, warmth like in her old school. Each student seemed to have an individualistic or closed personality even though they were in groups. For now it feels like Elyn can't be friends with anyone.

"What are you thinking about?"  Vivian greeted seeing  Elyn's serious face as she walked home.

"Oh, Vivian! It is nothing." 

That's right, it's all just the beginning. Elyn can still try to make friends. She didn't want the gloomy atmosphere and lonely day to affect her mood until returned home. her mother would be worried to see her gloomy.

"Are you also going home on foot?" Remembering how Elyn came to school, she was curious about how Elyn came home.

"Ah! Yes." What can she do? At least this time Elyn knew the way.

"Hmm. We're in the same direction anyway, just come with me." Adding one more passenger doesn't make a difference either, assume  Vivian.

But to Elyn receiving successive favors felt like a burden or debt. "No, thanks but I–"

"Just up till the main road, come on!!"  

Vivian pulled  Elyn's arm towards the parking lot where the car was already waiting, not enough time to give Elyn a chance to refuse her invitation.

The same awkward atmosphere as this morning, Elyn wanted to refuse Vivian's offer because she didn't want to go through the same situation again. But here she is now, sitting next to  Vivian. Should Elyn force herself to start a conversation, but nothing comes to mind. She felt so tired for no reason. Meanwhile beside her,  Vivian was busy with her cell phone. Just then an incoming call broke the silence.

"Hello. What do you mean? It's not what you promised me, Wil! You can't change the word and cancel the appointment at the last moment!" 

As soon as she picked up the phone, Vivian immediately became angry with a high tone. Now Elyn knows what makes her feel tired is everything at school she has seen and heard that never calms down or runs normally. 

"Of course I want the coverage of  Anth, not other news! I will keep making reports―"

"Listen Vivian," William over the phone gave an emphasis on his voice so that she would be aware of the warning that he had given. "If you are still determined to make coverage about Anth  motorcycle race yesterday. I can't guarantee your position remains safe, if this becomes a problem and ends up on the school board table."  

Vivian was silent, unable to reply to any words of warning or sound more like a threat from  William . "I'm not contacting you for negotiations."  William  hung up the phone.

"Is everything okay?" Elyn asked worriedly,  Vivian looked very annoyed after the phone call ended.

"As expected,  Anthony  managed to escape again."  Vivian muttered.

"Is that kid named Anthony really a troublemaker at school?"  Vivian laughed sarcastically at  Elyn's question. "Anth you mean, what kind of child is he? you want to know?" 

Elyn's first impression was definitely not good about the boy named Anthony. To be honest she hates violence in the school environment the most, and can't see students who ignore school rules. All day she was tired of holding back from intervening not to make herself stand out more than position as a new student.

"Don't mind him. Act like any other kid, don't see, hear nothing."  Vivian said with a serious face.

As this topic came up, Elyn wanted to dig up more information. But Vivian is not easy to talk to. "Why should I―"

"Because other kids did the same. Are you confident enough? Have the courage to do things differently from the majority? While you just transferred to this school?"  Vivian's words directly hit the target of  Elyn's current weak position. "Stay still or you will be dragged away. There are many things you don't know about this school that you have remembered, Evelyn."

"Then yourself? Why did you do it?" Elyn ventured back to ask.

"Haha... If it wasn't for the school newspaper club, I wouldn't want to either."  Vivian's sarcastic laugh turned into a bitter smile. "Believe me, no one wants to deal with  Anthony or his gang. So you better stay away from him too. This is the warning I wanted to tell you in class earlier."  

Vivian's words were etched in  Elyn's memory, maybe because the facial expression she showed for the first time made Elyn feel sorry.