Both of them rush to my side. "Are you alright?" Donna asks.
Damien offers a hand but I brush it off. Then he forcefully grabs my injured arm to pull me up.
"I'm fine! Release me already." But my contorted face gives it away.
"Doesn't look like it," he states.
"Let's go to the nurse's office," she suggests. "Some ice will probably do the trick."
"What were you doing out here anyway? Were you secretly watching me?" Damien remarks snappily.
I have this urge to punch him right here but I know I can't. Instead I ask, "Am I not allowed to be anywhere I please? Why are you still here Damien? Are you worried about me?" I give a cheeky grin. Goodness...since when did I start liking this feeling—of giving quirky remarks?
"Am I worried you ask?" He gives a sly grin. "Shouldn't I be?"
This guy! But before I could speak Donna takes me to the nurse's office. Damien follows us which irritates me for some reason.
"Donna, I need some air. Less people would be appreciated please," I request. "Would you mind joining me outside after we're done here?"
Her head wavers before she gives me a tentative nod, passing a side glance to Damien who was standing at the doorway. She flashes him a smile that says—I hope you didn't mind his words.
Finally he leaves us alone and I sigh a relief. "I didn't know you two were close."
"We weren't... Not for long. But I kind of owe him. He helped my younger sister. Even though she could've done it on her own... Still you know...how some rich parents' kids are—a total waste when it comes to actual talents."
I snap my finger. "So Damien Frost helped you? Without expecting anything in return?"
Donna takes a lock of her hair and coils it around her finger. "It's not hard for him usually. His father's a reputable politician. Besides we just needed a reliable channel."
I try to calm my already alerted senses. "Don't tell me he's the son of..."
"Kennedy Frost, yes," she completes my sentence making an exasperated grunting noise. "Recently I learnt it this from a classmate of mine. After that I asked his help. Honestly I didn't expect him to help me. But he surprised me. So yeah, we're friends now, sort of."
"Why wouldn't he? I mean if his father's a politician, why didn't you expect him to help? In fact he'd do them more often—you know show-off, giving the public sweet pies so that he secures a good spot in society as well?"
She clicks her tongue. "That's the problem Saint. You see, Damien's not the type you often would expect. I even confronted him about it...but he just doesn't spill his family beans. I guess he and his father doesn't see eye to eye. That's why I thought he wouldn't be able to help me—my sister. Cause helping her would also mean that he'd have to ask for his dad's help which he did in fact," she explains. "But when everything went smoothly for us, I did notice a flash of regret in his eyes. And I couldn't just apologize to him... instead of giving him a big thank-you, you know."
I cross my arms. "Your observation skills will land you on a detective field oneday, Donna."
"Haha... I'll be your maid for a day if that happens and greet all your grumpy expressions with a smile, Saint."
"C'mon Donna I'm not that grumpy Gramps."
"Are you sure?" She laughs out and I join too.
••••
When all the classes end and everyone's heading home already I realise that I forgot to ask both Zeb and Donna about what's going on. I couldn't even find Damien after I shoo him away earlier. Seriously what's gotten into me? Whyyy my demeanor changes when I see him? Son of Kennedy Frost... Hah! That explains his manners.
After getting back to my house I decide to choose a topic. I make myself some instant ramen seeing mom sleeping. Recently I found out that she's got sleeping trouble at night so she takes naps whenever she can. Yet she refuses to open her mouth when I ask about it. Why am I unaware of things? Ugh!
3rd topic—composition and explanation. So Damien has picked this. He likes to show off even though he doesn't want others to see it as a show-off. A singer and guitarist huh... composition should be a piece of cake for him. No...I don't want to be jealous of him...but at times I can't help it. Although I like challenging stuffs, I don't think this topic is suitable for me. Without a partner I won't be at the same height as Damien, let alone doing better than him. Let's see the easy one...since I never really dreamt of being a singer anyway. Even if Damien can do well in the former part, the latter —explaining things isn't for him—he'll probably rely on his partner for that. Wait. Didn't Zeb confirm that Damien didn't choose any of his band members as his partner? Then who has he chosen? Is it the guy who scored highest in last month's test? Or someone who's well informative on literature stuffs?
At night I sleep with questions circling around my head and when I wake up I still feel the stamp of frustrations on my not-well-slept face. I want to skip today. If I have to do the assignment by myself then I might as well do it properly.
Mom enters with coffee mug. I don't drink coffee on a daily basis, but three days a week. Chris thinks I'm high maintenance. But I say, I have specific tastes when it comes to things. For instance, when I see Damien my specification meter lands on—Stay Away. He's unruly. Ugh...again his thoughts first thing in the morning.
"What's with that face honey?" She sets down the mug.
"Uh.. lack of sleep? And before you say anything, I will stay in today. I'll take a nap later so don't worry."
She chuckles. "I didn't even say anything haha... But you're getting good at reading mind."
"Speaking of which...can you read my mind?"
Her keen eyes dance up in anticipation. "I would be saved if I say No, so I better go with that."
"How so? Don't you know what's going through your son's mind already?" I bite back my ire. She always does this to me.
"Every mom does my boy. It's just, some words don't want to be released at times."
"What's really going on with you mom? Everyone acts like they're hiding something. No, they're clearly doing it. How is it my fault that I don't know?!" I pull my front hair angrily. I show all kinds of emotions only in front of her.
She pulls me in a hug. "Everything will be fine Sein. Let me make you something delicious. Don't stree yourself out with studies. You're doing just fine alright?" After releasing me she heads to the kitchen.
••••
I engross myself with the assignment. Whatever I'm doing with my life? I yawn several times and when I finally look up at the clock, the day's all gone. I turn on my phone to find a missed call from some unknown id. Oh he's calling again. Who can this be?
"Hello?" I hear Chris's dried hesitant voice.
"Hi... You got new number Chris?"
His voice trembles again. "No Saint."
"Is everything okay there? You sound weird."
Another voice speaks from the other side. "Saint Angel, if you want your friend safe and sound meet me at the location I've just sent, at 7p.m."
"Who are you? Why should I believe you?" I ask not sounding too worried. If they're bad people...it won't be wise to break now.
"We don't like question. I almost hoped that you'd want to see him tomorrow at school."
Chris's voice comes again, more desperate this time. "Don't Saint. Don't even think about it. I don't want you to be messed up for my sake."
"Chris what are..where are you?"
"Enough talking shit!" That voice rebukes as the line cuts off. I call back again only to find it out of service this time. What kind of nasty prank this is? What happens if I don't go? No... He's my friend. What shit he's gotten himself into now? Is it revenge? Money? Or grudge?
I dress up to go to the location. I've never come to this side. How did he end up there? Should I inform someone else...police maybe? No. I can't risk it.
When I finally track down the place I discover a rather normal looking two storey house at the end of the big ground with several trees scattered around it. The house's not too wide and there are bushes around it. This area is rather peaceful. Oddly quiet. But wait, is that music coming..? Yeah...and shoutings, coming from the house. Is he in there?
I give a willynilly knock on the door. My phone vibrates with Chris's message. "Sorry."
For what? Am I too late? Even the slightest wait and hope of someone opening the door discomposes me. But when it opens finally, I become wordless seeing him. A weird mixed feeling of anger and weary exhausts me and I fail to do nothing except blinking blankly.
Chris leaps at me with a clownish grin and I jerk myself away. "I reprimanded myself that this might be a prank. Guess it's my fault that I got fooled."
My eyes go behind his outline to see a bunch of people inside. I spot a couple of familiar faces from our class. A party—that's what it is. Why here out of all places?
Chris presses his hands apologetically. "Saint believe me! I too was a victim. They called me around 6p.m. spewing the exact shit that you're in trouble and you know the rest."
Todd comes to the door from inside. "Welcome Saint Angel. Join the party. Everything's on us."
Us? I turn to Chris.
He scratches his head styupidly. "It's arranged by these four. Today's the day they formed Four of Clubs. It's kind of an anniversary."
"You arrived here before me, Chris Issac. And despite knowing everything you didn't tell me and played their game. Seems like you enjoyed it so far." I give him a cold stare but Todd defends him.
"Actually Saint, it was sorta Boss's idea. Not everyone is dragged here like the two of you. You were the only ones absent today at school."
Chris agrees with him. "Yeah. It was a bit out of the box I admit, but it was fun I must say. Besides..." Chris takes a closer look at my face before continuing. "I've been watching you carefully for these past few days, Saint. Don't you think you need to come out of your hard shell once in a while?"
Before I could complain both of them drags me inside. "I can walk you know."
The music changes to a pop song and some starts moving to the beats.
"Are you looking for someone Saint?" Todd asks handing me a drink.
"Is this..uh...contains alcohol?"
Mika comes over with Damien. Todd slaps on my shoulder grinning. "You were probably looking for Boss."
"Absolutely not!" I turn my head around to realise Chris has abandoned me and gone to the drinking counter. I really want to kick him right now. That careless moron!
Damien smirks scanning my face then my clothes. I'm wearing red. He's in black, a lightweight jacket on top of a white vest, a chain hangs from his jeans, the silver cross pendant on his neck and a strong woody perfume hangs in the air around him.
"So the baby boy's tongue's virgin huh..."
I glare at Damien. What does he mean?