"Max! Stop! Stop! Hahahaha…"
It takes a few minutes for Emmie to surrender, and for me to let her go. Amidst some boys swallowing their saliva, we adjust our messed up clothes, and hurry back to our classroom which we reach just in time.
*Riiiinnng*
Breathing fast and smiling, we step inside just before being late. Not caring about our classmates, we laugh out loud, and go to our seats.
Right then, the teacher also arrives and takes in the sight inside the classroom. No surprise. After years of experience, few things can surprise teachers, and students making themselves into a mess from playing and running is not included.
It is history again for the first class today. Maybe it is because it can become a drowning noise that makes us sleepy, so we have it as the first class more than once a week.
The teacher put down the textbook, and faces us:
"I see that most of you are having a good morning. Today we will continue with our very interesting last lesson."
The ruffling sound of pages being turned interspersed with a few groans of complaints change the atmosphere of the classroom, and the excitement Emmie and I have come back with starts bleeding away. Even the thoughts about the rumors that have concluded fade away.
"Earlier, we talked about the civilized world that followed the war of secrets last time, the controlled order that has taken the place of the previous instinctive order to become the enduring framework of the world. We still won't continue with those subjects for philosophy and politics classes. Now, we will talk about the fragmentation from that time, then about how the world came together in a tighter way to form the foundation of the countries that have existed till much later while shifting, exchanging interests through violence, or dialogue, including violent dialogue, all to constitute the world map until the first world war, the first great reshuffle."
The tension from the previous time comes back, starting from those who got hooked by the story being told, before taking over the whole room, much to the enjoyment of the teacher.
"Now, take out your textbooks, and open the world map of that time."
With some surprise, anticipation, or indifference, the noise of pages being turned takes over the focused silence again.
Even though it is not a geography book, the map is as detailed as could be expected from a subject with enough information to make one drowsy if not torturous.
The map of this world is unlike that familiar map amidst the echoes I have found a way to live with. The planet is round, of course, and though it is not marked, it does revolve around a star, a sun of its own, neither far nor close, just at the fine line that allows life to flourish.
Anyway, there are similarities, and maybe those are actually constants that every world must obey, though there might be differences I have just not seen, felt, or paid attention to. I even wonder if the universe is the same, if the dimension is the same, if the darkness outside is the same.
Whatever the case, I let go of those matters I can get the answer for, and focus on the eyeball on the opened page. Yes, the eyeball, and not in a biology book taken by accident. It is still the history book, opened at the page that carries the map of yesteryear, before the first big reshuffle, as the teacher said.
The world looks round, with two patches of white at its two poles whose coldness leaves no doubt at all. And from there, there are canals, big and small ones, like vessels filled with blue blood from the melted glaciers that run all over the yellowish brown sclera with diversified relief, irrigating it while making short or long stops at small lakes and sea-sized lakes, before finally reaching the gigantic basin holding the unique ocean of the world.
Only a little bit of a deeper blue or even dark was missing in the middle of the ocean to make the planet really look like an eye. That would have been so creepy… It is actually already somewhat creepy.
Fortunately, the spread map looks less like an eye, and gives less of a feeling of being looked at by an indifferent but oppressive gaze.
I smile at the distracted thoughts flying through my mind, especially with some winces amidst the thoughts flying around. I shake my head and focus on the very picture of fragmentation in the book.
"As you can see…"
_ _ _
_ _ _
"Max, come on~"
I let Emmie pull me through the mall with a smile. While we could have looked through the inventory of the shop where we are doing our part-time job for what I'm being pulled to buy, I refused, preferring some soberer.
"Slow down, Emmie. We don't have to hurry. Moreover, I just healed. Won't you make my pain relapse by mistreating me like this?"
"Tch, liar. You are just looking for excuses!"
I smile helplessly. It is already the end of the month, and weeks ago, I was good enough to crack some nuts with that leg I'm using as an excuse.
I shake my head, and after looking at the dark sky through the window of the mall, I let myself be led into a bright shop for accessories. I only manage to glimpse at its name above the entrance and determine that it is not a big brand. It is even a small brand.
Emmie let go of my hand and hurries to the salesperson to start chattering and list her requirements.
I smile, and turn away to walk to the display. I first go to the earrings, curious now that I have pierced my ears and they have healed. The various items glint under the lights, shining the soft reflection of their metals and gems onto the glass of the cases.
The diverse designs look simple but beautiful. I sweep my eyes over them with a smile on my lips as a saleswoman looks at my exposed ears devoid of accessories, and walks toward me.