"What a tiring day....." I mutter while climbing the stairs to my room.
As I enter my room, I find myself retreating in my bed. Nothing in this world can make me felt comfortable other than this pink-colored bed. What a safe spot it is.
Once I try to close my eyes, I can't help but to remember what had happened on my first day at school. All of it flashes like a clear image in my mind.
But eventually, my tired body need to sleep, and I have to prepare everything for tomorrow, my uniform, my homework and whatever that might comes next.
***
*Alarm blaring
"Hmmmmmm..... Ohhh, it is already morning."
That alarm sound is annoying enough to wake me up from my slumber. I can't help but stretch and after that, taking my towel and go to the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom, I see the reflection of myself, hair messy and tired eyes. However, it only take a splash of water to rejuvenate me from the fatigue clinging on my body once I turn on my shower.
By the time I walk out of the bathroom, I look at myself again in the mirror while uttering;
"Today is going to be better than yesterday."
It is like a chant that I will say to start my day, as if it is a fuel to encourage me to walk stronger.
Once I wear the school uniform, I have my hair tied neatly at the back before spraying my perfume on my uniform.
Then Maira comes, "Ama-nee, come on! Father is waiting for us."
I have not even have a breakfast yet, and father is already on the car. Guessed I have to buy breakfast at school.
***
Inside the car, it is all silent until my father himself breaks it with a question.
"Do you still have money for this week?"
Then, Maira says "Yes."
"How about you, Amane?" Father asks me.
"Same." I utter. My penny is not even going anywhere on the first day, because of that Iru guy.
"If you need more, just tell me later, alright?" Father says, while his face straightly faces his phone.
So I turn to the window and watch as we are passing through the villages to get to my school.
I don't have any idea why would father choose this place to expand his bussiness. He even says that this place has a great potential for his bussiness, yet I don't see it that way, or maybe I can't see it that way.
This place has nothing but villages, a developing town and many remnants from the past era, which will not pique the interest of those who had used to live in the city, like me.
But Father had promises us that he will show us something, something that we would not get in Japan. I don't know what did he mean by that and I would not even care.
Then Father asks me and Maira "Have both of you make friends at school?"
"Yes, I have one next to my seat. Apparently she is very fluent in Japanese, because she is kind of like an otaku." Maira giggles while talking about her new friend.
"Well, I also make one-fluent in Japanese as well." I say, but I don't mention who it is, afraid that they might assume otherwise.
"Wow, I don't expect that there are people fluent in our mother tongue in here, to be honest. But I always know that this place is perfect for us." Father is amazed by our stories, even commenting that this place is perfect for us.
But the truth is, this place is perfect for him, not for me, for I have zero interest in this place.
First of all, of all the place in this Earth, why would I have to follow Father to this unknown land? Second, it will be best to stay with Mother in America, yet Father insisted on bringing me and Maira to this place, a land called Semporna.
And, without me even realising, the car already arrives at the school while I am whining on my own. The moment I step outside of the car, somehow I can feel something is lingering on my shoulder, like an invisible burden. The closer I walk to the class, the heavier my shoulder felt.
Once I enter the class, there are already several of my classmates gazing at me, and that make me slightly uncomfortable, and there is him, who is resting his head on his arms, seemingly not care about his surroundings.
After I put my bag on my seat, I see two girls-my classmates-are approaching me. When I look at them, they greet me with a smile and say in Japanese "Ohayou, Amane! Do you already have breakfast?" before handing me a bag of sandwiches.
Then, I reply "Thanks" and one of them introduces themselves and says "I am Wan, and this right here is Zera. Nice to meet you! If you ever need help, you can always find us, okay?"
I only nod once, for her words seems assuring and say "Alright...".
Then, the girls leave for Iru's seat, and I hear them asking whether their Japanese is correct, which Iru only replies with a nod.
However, looking at them casually talking to Iru, I wonder if I am the only one that guy dislikes in this class.
What a mysterious person he is.
***
The moment the bell rings, everyone make their way to the cafeteria, including that Iru guy. It is that time when I remember about yesterday.
Once he walks out of the class, I decide to follow him from behind, and I intend to approach him nonchalantly enough to catch him off guard.
I will definitely settle my debt with him. Definitely!
As I am slowly approaching him, he suddenly stops midway.
"Why do you follow me from behind? Do you have any beef with me?" He says as he turns to face me.
I can't help but flinch and look away from him, unable to stand his cold stare.
Then, I continue to follow him as he walks to the cafeteria. However, I lose my sight on him inside the crowded cafeteria, as if he turns into a shadow.
The time for recess is almost up, yet I don't even find him, let alone buying anything.
So, I give up...
***
During the chemistry class at lab, we sit together and I hand him the money nonchalantly "Here is your money, and thanks anyway for the pastry yesterday.".
"Like I said before, no need." says Iru in a monotone voice. His gaze is fixed to his notebook and doesn't even bother to look at me.
"But why? You can just accept it." I ask. For real, I am so irritated right now. He just have to accept it and that is all. Why does he have to act like this?
No answers from him, as if I am talking to my shadow alone. How can the other classmates withstand this guy? His attitude and smug face, is all irritating.
And, I finally reach my limits. So I leave the money on the table and retreat to my seat.
For the rest of the class, we don't talk to each other. I can't stand watching this guy's face, even for a second.
And, I don't even know what am I learning anymore in this class.
***
By the time we return to the class, all of us are packing up our bag for we can call it a day. But, the moment I zip up my bag, the money that I gave to Iru happens to be on my bag pocket.
When did he do that? If I am not mistaken, he was the last to come out from the lab....
He is starting to get on my nerves now.
As I try to look for him, he is nowhere to be found in the class, which means he has gone from the school.
So I walk faster to the gateway, looking for him among the crowds outside of the school. Fortunately, I manage to get a sight of him as he is walking away from the crowds. So, I silently follow him until I lose him the moment he enters a dark alley,
The alley is eerily disturbing, yet he enters it like nothing. Once I reach the alley, Iru is nowhere to be found, much to my dismay.
But the moment I am about to walk away from the alley, I halt my step when three figures, possibly delinquents, stand about 5 metres away from me. All of them grin sinisterly as they approach me slowly.
One of them says something in the native language. I don't understand it, yet I know he doesn't mean well to me.
So I run head over heels towards the opposite direction, only to find there are two of their friends waiting for me.
I can feel my lungs are burning. Even my feets scream in pain and now I am surrounded by the delinquents. They are getting closer every second, and the air starts to get tightened on my throat.
At that moment, despair claws at my ribs. I wonder to myself "Will this be the end of me?".
And I am wrong.
All of a sudden, two of the delinquents from the alley fall on their knees, followed by the other two, leaving only one standing.
That man speaks something in the native language again. Fear and confusion carved on his face. He might be wondering what is happening right now.
Then emerges someone dressed in black hoodie like a blur of shadow, standing before the delinquent and punches him directly in the face, knocking him out cold.
The hooded figure come and hold my hand as we make our way out of the alley. At that moment, I don't understand how, but I genuinely feel the warmth from his grasp.
At the end of the alley, the hooded figure turns to me and speaks to me in English "You should not have come here. This is the spot for delinquents and their shady activities. Don't come here again." His voice is very deep, and it turns out that he is speaking under a metal mask under the hood.
I can't help but to ask him "Wait! Who are you?"
"I'm Bayang." He simply replied before vanishing.
I can only gaze in awe before he disappear. Who is he? Is he a superhuman?
Then, we parted ways.
***
At night, my mind can't stop rewinding that moment. At that shady place, I never thought that anyone would come and save me. I couldn't imagine what will happen to me if he wasn't there.
But who is he actually, and why is he wearing a mask? Is he some kind of vigilante? Well, that does make sense considering the place itself.
The more I think of him, the more my curiousity grows. I guess I have to find out who he actually is.
Bayang, huh?
You had caught my interest..