January 19th. Friday, 10:41 AM.
It was a late start for the first years. Today they didn't have any lectures, only classroom lessons. Their schedule ended at two, a light finish to their first week back. A good way to end their first week back.
The paths leading toward the academy building were quiet but alive. The wind carried the faint chatter of a couple of students walking together. The cold breeze was letting the students know it was there. It was still a little early for classes, so the path wasn't busy. A few students here and there.
One of the students was Malakai. He was walking alone, his puffer jacket hugging his body, his hands snuggled in their usual position in his pockets, and his earphones plugged in his ears. Once again, his friends had gone early and left him behind. It was a late start, so Malakai made sure to enjoy every second in his bed and slept as long as he could. This led him to rush to get ready. Lucky for him, he was on time. The panic to get ready was for nought. In fact, he would arrive 10 minutes early.
Malakai was enjoying his alone time nonetheless. Music filled his ears as he walked. It was needed after what happened yesterday. He apologised to Lucas, and Lucas apologised too, but it was still a little awkward at dinner. Lucas was his best friend, so they'd get over it quickly, but even still, the whole thing left Malakai with an odd feeling. What Lucas said wasn't wrong. He had judged his girl based on her class. He didn't mean to do it, it just happened. He knew it was messed up, reflecting on it now.
He exhaled, watching the pale breath fade away in the cold air. He needed this walk. Just music and his thoughts.
"Hey".
A face popped out in front of him to his left, making his eyes flinch slightly.
"Yo", Malakai asked, taking one earphone out. "Why are you alone?" he asked, blinking in mild surprise.
"Tanisha left a little early", Maria said, her voice soft. She had a soft light brown coat with a matching cream scarf around her neck. "And I wanted to stay in bed a little longer", she gave a small smile. "Why are you alone?".
"My friends don't love me", Malakai joked, putting his earphones in his case and pausing the song on his phone.
Maria lightly giggled. She was used to his humour now, "At least you're not late".
"True", Malakai replied, half smiling. "But that means I could've stayed in bed longer".
"You really love sleeping", Maria said, pulling her scarf down to show more of her face.
"I do, but I don't do it enough", Malakai replied.
"Do you still sleep late?" Maria asked, glancing at him.
"Yeah. I can't sleep before twelve. I don't know why", Malakai said, looking down at his shoes.
"Are you waiting on the balcony for me?" Maria teased, eyes glinting.
Malakai smirked, "Nah, are you?".
"Yeah", Maria casually replied, looking away.
"Wait, do you actually?" Malakai asked, stopping for a second, feeling bad if she was.
"No, I'm joking", Maria said with a grin. "I haven't this week. I've been sleeping early, and I haven't been waking up in the middle of the night".
"Oh yeah. You are a model, innit. You need to have eight hours of sleep", Malakai replied.
"All humans need to have eight hours of sleep", Maria giggled. "Achoo!" she quickly covered her mouth and sniffled.
Malakai turned to her, "You good?".
"Yeah. I've just got a little cold", Maria replied, her voice slightly nasally. She lifted her scarf a little.
"You're ill? Aye, get away from me", Malakai smirked, taking a step away as a joke.
Maria smiled at his reaction, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but you shouldn't get too close to me in case you catch it".
"Nah, it's calm. I rarely get ill", Malakai said, stepping closer again. "That's why you're wrapped up like that", he finally recognised her cosy outfit.
"It is cold too", Maria replied, looking at her coat, not thinking much of her outfit.
"Still though. I've only got a puffer jacket. You've got a designer coat. It looks like you're on a catwalk or something", Malakai said.
"It's not designer", Maria smiled, knowing he was teasing again.
The two standing side by side were a mismatch. Malakai looked like an ordinary guy with a black puffer jacket. Simple streetwear. Maria, on the other hand, looked like a fashion model. Well, she was a model, but standing next to Malakai with this outfit emphasised it more.
"Is that why you stayed in bed longer?" Malakai asked, connecting dots.
"Yeah, I felt a little weak in the morning", Maria replied, not wanting to admit that and sound dramatic. "Are you sure you'll be fine? I don't want you to catch this cold".
"I'll be fine. I don't get ill", Malakai said, waving it off. "I can't remember the last time I was ill".
"Really?" Maria asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah, I've got a strong immune system", Malakai said, tapping his stomach. "Do you get ill a lot?".
"Not... really. I get ill as much as a normal person does", Maria said, a little awkwardly. It was a strange question, but kind of cute in its randomness.
"You saying I'm not normal?" Malakai smirked.
"You already know the answer", Maria teased back. "Do you have any allergies? You must have something".
"Nah. I don't have any crazy allergies", Malakai said. "Only hay fever".
"Hay fever?" Maria questioned, looking at him funny.
"…Yeah?" Malakai slowly replied, seeing the surprised look on her face.
"Hehehe", Maria giggled, covering her mouth.
"Why's that funny?" Malakai asked with a small smile.
"I didn't expect you to have hay fever", Maria said, composing herself, trying not to laugh. "You're born in July, so I thought you would be immune".
"How does that make any sense?" Malakai asked, his smile breaking fully now. "That's like me saying you're born in winter, so you should be immune to colds".
"Hahaha", Maria laughed, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook. "I know. I'm only playing".
Malakai's smile lingered as he watched her laugh. For a moment, he got flashbacks to Maria's birthday when he saw her genuine laugh for the first time. This laugh was softer and more tame, but had the same warmth to it.
"Who taught you how to be funny?" Malakai smirked.
"Myself", Maria proudly teased, keeping up the act. "But you having hay fever was unexpected".
"I had to get nerfed somehow, innit", Malakai shrugged.
Maria's smile remained as they walked. The two fell silent. The conversation faded for a few moments. It's an awkward silence, just a breather.
"Did you have a party yesterday?" Maria asked suddenly. "I heard some shouting".
Malakai's eyelids flickered. He just remembered that Maria was her neighbour. That meant she could've heard everything that happened yesterday.
"Nah, not a party. Just a little dinner", Malakai replied, not making eye contact. "Were we noisy?".
"No", Maria shook her head. "I did hear someone swearing at one point, that's all".
"Oh", Malakai smirked faintly, realising what she must've heard. "Yeah, we were playing a game and someone got mad".
"Who was it?" Mari asked, intrigued.
"No comment".
"Was it you?" Maria teased, giving him a knowing look.
"Me?! I was winning, that's why they got mad", Malakai replied confidently.
"Hmm, okay, whatever you say", Maria said, playfully rolling her eyes. "We should have a game night and invite everyone".
"You just had your birthday party", Malakai reminded her.
"That was a month ago", Maria said. "And I barely remember some parts of it", she quietly added.
"And whose fault is that?" Malakai asked with a smirk.
"Mine", Maria accepted with a smile. "That's why I'm not going to drink anymore".
"You're not?" Malakai looked at her, genuinely surprised. "I thought you had fun though".
"I did", Maria replied, looking ahead. "But I'd prefer if my memory stays clear".
Malakai didn't know for sure, but he felt like he had a part to play in her decision. He still wasn't sure if Maria understood or processed his mini rant about alcohol that day, or if she was too drunk. Maria, of course, didn't remember. The only thing she remembered about the conversation with Malakai was his cold stare when he said,
'I'm not gonna drink. And I never will'.
That stuck with her and was the main driving point for why she wasn't going to drink again. She didn't know the reason behind that cold look, but seeing that look hurt her. If drinking caused Malakai to produce that cold look, she didn't want anything to do with it.
"You can still drink", Malakai said, glancing at her. "I don't know how much you drank on your birthday, but don't drink that much and you'll be fine, innit".
The idea of drinking wasn't even appealing to Maria anymore, "Nah, I got carried away that day. The taste wasn't even nice", she said honestly. "I've tried it. I don't need to do it again".
"Aryt", Malakai shrugged, feeling a little responsible. "You're the elder here".
"Only by a couple of months", Maria giggled, her voice light again.
"Still older. You're nineteen. That's old, bro", Malakai teased, his grin widening.
"Shush", Maria smiled.
Those two walked together, following the path and getting closer to the academy. However, neither of them realised that the whole time they were walking, someone was behind them. Not close. Around forty to fifty feet, but enough to keep them in sight.
"Why do I have to keep walking behind them?" Lorenzo thought.
The distance was awkward because he couldn't overtake them. Malakai and Maria weren't walking slowly, so unless Lorenzo jogged, he wasn't going to go past them. He had to stay behind and see Malakai and Maria walking together from a distance. Trailing them like a shadow.
It wasn't the best experience for Lorenzo, considering he liked Maria… and he thought Maria liked him back.
That misunderstanding is still going on.
"I didn't know they were that good friends", Lorenzo enviously thought, eyes locked onto them. "I thought they only knew each other. They look close".
Lorenzo did a lot of reflecting during the winter break. A lot of thinking. A lot of fixing. The sad realisation that he was nobody made him want to change. Instead of being on his phone 24/7, he started going out more. Nothing crazy, just walking around his neighbourhood, and doing little errands. He'd even invite Ryan to hang out a few times, which was huge, as it was always Ryan asking to hang out.
He started working out, too. Just homework outs at first, since paying for a gym membership would've been a waste. But now that he was back at the academy, he immediately signed up for a gym subscription. He hadn't made any noticeable gains yet, but he felt different. Sharper and slightly more confident than before. Overall, he felt better about himself.
And the confidence was showing. He was talking more to Ryan and the group. He didn't start the conversations, but he had much more input than before. He'd still yet approach and talk to a girl, but that was a hurdle he was willing to jump later. Besides, he didn't want to talk to other girls.
"I wanna talk to her", Lorenzo thought, staring ahead at her wavy hair flowing. "But Malakai's there", he switched views to Malakai. "Should I approach Malakai? I've talked to him before. Talking to him is easy... But I don't want to be weird in front of her".
He hesitated, watching their silhouettes edge closer to the academy building gates.
Lorenzo was impatient. He still hadn't had a proper conversation with Maria. And now watching her happily converse with Malakai stirred something uncomfortable in his chest.
"Does she like me?" Lorenzo wondered, his head full of doubt. "Ryan told me she was interested, but nothing's happened. Whenever I look at her, she's looking at someone else, not me. But Ryan wouldn't lie to me... Maybe... Ryan was wrong".
The cold breeze was starting to hit Lorenzo now.
"Tsk", Lorenzo ruffled his hair from frustration.
He lifted his head and looked ahead at Maria. For a moment, he caught sight of Maria's smiling side profile. Lorenzo felt his chest tighten,
"I hope Ryan wasn't wrong".