As the bell rings Mrs. George stands up. "Saint."
"Yes professor?"
Just then the dean makes an announcement. "Saint Angel, come to my office. I repeat, come see me in the office."
Mrs. George gives me a sullen look as she says, "Come with me Saint. I'm headed there."
Damien grabs my hand from behind. The whole class reverberates with mild whispers again.
I whisk him away from me as I follow her to the dean's office. I hear Damien's boots echoing after me.
"Sit."
But I don't dare to as the Dean's straight questioning eyes try to rip out my soul.
"Care to explain this?" He pushes a photograph with his index towards me on the table.
Mrs. George stands beside me. "There must be some kind of misunderstanding Mr..." She tries to reason but he glowers. "I asked him a question Mrs. Tiffany. Would you mind keep out of it?"
"But they're our students Sir. And our academy's..."
"Hope?" The dean snickers.
The picture even though taken a bit hazy with hurried hands couldn't hide the faces of those caught in the act of kissing in the library. My bones become frozen as I stare at the horrible mess we've...he has made.
"What is it Saint?!" He pounds his fist against the cold surface of the table. "I expected better than this."
"Damien's in it too. I guess you'd want to call him too." I didn't want to say it but...I don't care at this point. He should be responsible too.
"Yes I would!" He growls.
Just then the door bursts open with a half panting half exasperated looking Damien. "No need. I'm already here."
Who could do such a thing? Who clicked our photo and leaked it?!
••••
Mom takes the thermometer from my mouth. "Seems normal now. How are you feeling?"
"Like you said—normal."
"And how true is that?" She sits near me. "Do you remember what happened yesterday?"
I bring the glass of water to my lips. "I fainted again... I mean yeah I fainted." I hold my head still feeling a buzzing sound in there.
She worriedly takes my other hand. "Someone brought you home. I thought you might want to know who."
I sit up straight in a frenzy way. "W-who?"
Apparently everything after the dean stood up yanking his collar and stating our punishment, is blurred.
Flashback:
"I'm here," said Damien.
"What is this Damien Frost? Do you have any idea what you've done?!" The dean gave a dejected face palm.
Damien's eyes flickered at me but his demeanor remained untarnished as he stood with his chest all puffed out. "I will take the responsibility of my actions Sir. I was the one who kissed Saint. He's not at fault."
The dean yanked his collar yelling, "Whoever you kiss is not my concern Damien. You could've done it in any goddamn place but you chose to do it here! In our academy!"
Mrs. Tiffany narrowed her eyes. "Forgive them Sir. They're... Still young. Both of them are to take part in Infinite Serenade. They've been practicing hard lately."
The dean's grip didn't loosen as he stared at her blankly. I could feel my head spinning all of a sudden.
"Damien you are suspended. As for you..." He pointed his index at me. Before he could state what to do with me everything went black.
Does mom know the whole thing too?
"Honey?" She touches my forehead.
"Yeah... I want to know who's it?"
"Damien drove you home straight from school yesterday. What happened? The doctor as you know...said your BP went low. And you've not been sleeping properly either. What's wrong Sein?"
Yes a doctor came yesterday. I didn't see Damien though. Perhaps he was already gone when I was still unconscious.
"I... I was stressed out about this competition. And the tests too... Nothing serious mom."
She holds my face between her hands looking intensely at me. "Why did the doctor say then that it could be the side effect of some other medication. What are you hiding honey?"
"I'm not on drugs mom if that's what you think!" I throw the cover off my body.
"Hey! You need to rest."
"Right now I want to be alone. Please mom."
It couldn't be the sleeping pills right ? I don't know. Many people take them on a regular basis. What's wrong with that?
••••
I don't even head to the way of school for the next two days. Damien's on a suspension. Mika called me many times since that day but I didn't pick up. Maybe I should talk to him once? How long will I evade him anyway?
He picks up after the first ring. "Saint!"
"Hi Mika."
"At last you called. Saint we need to talk."
I snicker. "The one who's supposed to have that talk with me is not you, Mika."
"I know Saint. But I also know that it's not the right time if Damien... Nevermind. I heard Boss wanted to explain something to you but you didn't want to hear him so..."
"I just don't know what to think Mika... Can you explain this feeling?" I ask strenuously as I feel my heart beating rapidly. That demon!
"Can we talk over coffee?" He asks. "Are you free this afternoon?"
••••
So I agreed to meet Mika. I mean what's done is done. What else is there to happen?
Mom shouts from downstairs. "Sein... Mika's here for you."
"Wait what?" I speak to myself. "How does he know my address?"
"Mom." I come down asking her, "How's he..?"
"Oh I forgot to mention... Mika tagged along with Damien that day you fainted."
I see him waiting at the door. "I'm all set. You didn't have to literally pick me," I say with an awkward grin. "Didn't we agree to meet outside that cafe?"
"Let's walk there," he suggests. "We can talk on our way too."
I squint. "You're too worked up for this."
Mom narrows her eyes at me then says to him, "Don't mind this boy Mika. He's quite mean sometimes."
"Well Mrs. Angel, Saint's perfect the way he is."
Well that's not something I haven't heard before. But coming from Mika it's nice to hear it. Someone whose leader is Damien—it's oddly nice to have someone adjusting to my character.
We reach the cafe soon. As we take our seats he places our order.
"So what did you want to talk about?"
He takes a deep breath."I already talked to Todd and Zeb." He starts fiddling with his neck chain. "Both of them were unwilling to keep their head calm at first but..."
The coffee arrives. "You won't regret my choice. Have a taste Saint."
He's trying to avoid it.
I sip it slowly. "Mm... Not bad. So, what did Zeb and Todd have to say?"
"They...came around. They're our friends after all."
"Your friends if I may correct you," I point out.
"No Saint. They're your friends too. Ever since Boss introduced you to us... You've become one of us."
"Why" I grimace. "Simply because we paired up for the assignment? Or the professor wants me to be an addiction to your team for the upcoming competition? Whether I have a say in this or not doesn't matter." My forehead wrinkles come out in irritation.
"Saint... I know Damien can be eccentric and stubborn at times but... He saw something in you... to make you a member of our team. He cares for you too."
"He? Caring for me? Ridiculous!"
All he can is messing around. He wants to play everyone like a puppet.
Mika shakes his head. "Do you know what he said to the dean after you fainted?"
The cinnamon latte seems to be stuck in my throat as I eye him suspiciously.
"He said, he didn't regret doing whatever he did and he'll take his punishment only if he's the one to take it. Not you. Also the dean will have to punish the one who took the photo if he finds the evidence," says Mika. "He didn't even wait further as he and I brought you to your home. I'm not overly emotional or hopeful about anything Saint. But I know Damien. And I saw him worried that day."
He looks at me all seriously then speaks again, "And let me tell you something, Boss is the most carefree and wild of us all and he's not usually like that."
I bite my lip reminiscing the after feeling of the kiss. Damien saved me from being suspended. I wonder what was going through his head at that time.
"I... Maybe I'll hear him out now that you want... But not today or tomorrow. I need some time Mika. I'll be skipping school for a week or two also."
"Why? You're not suspended. Don't tell me you're scared of facing others."
"Oh stop it. I just need some time."
"To process things or to avoid?" He asks.
"Why not both?" I finish the coffee. It's almost evening. "Btw how did Zeb and Todd react when..."
He pats on my right shoulder. "They have trust issues. And when it comes to you, they're cautious simply because we care about Damien."
"That makes no sense Mika. At this point, I'm the one who should be cautious."
He chuckles. "I kinda felt that too." He then says, "It was nice hanging out with you Saint."
"The feeling's mutual Miklan Froye."
"Haha. Let me take you back home."
••••
I couldn't shake off Mika's words. It's been four days already. Mom's out for groceries. I turn the page of my diary, skimming my fingers over the already written words of today.
Dad asked to meet me yesterday. He showed me the picture of a girl—his assistant's daughter who just returned from Canada. He wanted me to marry her after I finish school here. Our deal is still on. I have to achieve something on my own. Be someone without his money.
Suddenly an unknown caller id pops up on my phone's screen. Is this Damien's idea of pranking me again?
"If you think you can use another number to apologise and talk to me you're wrong," I immediately spill those words after I pick the call.
But the voice isn't his.
"Hello, I'm Charles. Am I talking to Saint Angel?"
"I'm Saint Angel. Charles...?"
"Charles Dean. We met in that cafe few days ago. Do you remember?"
I scratch my head and recall the vague image of a slim bald middle aged man. We talked for like five minutes. He gave me his card which I didn't even check after I came home. That day... When Mika and I were hanging out—Todd called and he went to another side to talk to him. At that time Mr. Dean approached me.
"Yes I do Mr. Dean. I've been a little occupied lately so..."
"I gave you my card with a proposition Mr. Angel." He continues with his thick blunt voice. "And I wanted you to give me an answer within three days. Yet you haven't given me your answer. Shall I take it as negative then?"
"No!" I quickly respond. I repeat again, "No, no... I really wanted to give you an answer. Can I have some of your time now?"
"I'm listening."
"I wanted for more time to think cause it is no small descision Mr. Dean and as you know I'm still in my..."
"Last year of university I know." He says interrupting me, "All the more reason you should consider it once Mr. Angel. Besides I already heard a little about you..." He pauses. "Few years back you auditioned for a role in Eternals Studio. Even after being selected you declined your role at the last moment."
"Do you want to give up again?" He asks again with an encouraging voice. "I can feel you have the potential.
"Are you sure you're choosing the right guy Mr. Dean? It's not because I..." I fumble with my words.
Most directors simply want an attractive male lead with flawless appearance and confidence. Even if I have the first I'm not sure about the second. I don't want recognition just for my looks.