Chapter 31
Hell University (PU...
Zein's Point of View...
I thought there was nothing more painful than the expression I saw on Matt's face when I just walked past him. I didn't know that it would hurt more if he was avoiding me too.
For the past few days, hours that have passed. We're not talking, he is even avoiding my gaze. I know our other friends feel this way too but they just chose to remain silent.
Friends? Are there still friends like this? We even rarely see each other. I'm busy because of the upcoming foundation while they have their own concerns.
"A penny for your thoughts,"
My attention was drawn to the new person sitting next to me on the bench in the wide space. My forehead creased immediately but I also looked away from him.
"Sigh. Things are really complicated." He said irritably while stretching.
Psh.
"They're already complicated, we make them more complicated."
"What fuck do you want, Liam?" I couldn't stop myself anymore. I want a peaceful place where I can refresh my mind.
"Nah. I am just wondering. Why do feelings suddenly fade?"
I couldn't help but glance at him. "Why are you trying to say?" I asked.
"Why do people suddenly change?"
I put my backpack on my back again and stood up.
"Because there is no permanent in this world." I answered all his non-sense queries.
"Even a friendship?"
That hits me! I couldn't move away immediately from there.
It seems that a huge hard rock hits me. All his questions were also the questions flying through my mind and I answered the questions through my own mouth.
"You said it yourself." He left me dumbfounded.
It takes several minutes before I step away from that place though his words are still following me. Damn it!
There's no permanent in this world. Everything might change in a snap. Even the one you built for the rest of your life.
"Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Shion?"
I was brought back to reality when I heard my name from Supremo's lips. I forgot that we were having a meeting for the Foundation Day because I was distracted. My mind is not with me, it always fly away from many such as.
"H-Huh?"
"Are you with us? You should be the one planning this, Ms. Shion because you are the secretary, we are just here to approved your suggestions." Teacher Kath lectured me.
I focused my mind.
"I guess, a leisure games will do." I suggested.
"Like what?" Vice Ty asked.
I stood infront and list down on the white board all the events I suggests for the week of foundation that will end on saturday. The day I will just fade.
I moved aside so they could all see what I wrote. I saw Teacher Kath smirking while Supremo was looking at me. I met his gaze so he immediately looked away.
Ok. What was that?
"I approved." Supremo said without even glancing at the event plan I made on the white board.
He approved it even without throwing just a glanced!
UGH!
"I must say, you have a brilliant idea." Teacher Kath said before ending the meeting and leaving first.
Woa! She praised me. That's new a
"She seems happy with your idea huh?" Vice Ty said again.
"Thanks."
"I told you. She is really qualified to this position." Supremo said as if boasting that he was right in choosing me.
I suddenly felt uneasiness when Onel smirked at me
.
"I have to go" I excused myself too. I want to spend my remaining days with my friends.
I raised an eyebrow to ask why he was smirking but he just shook his head.
"Are you ready?" For the second time today, I was frozen in my spot again.
"If you are talking about my death. I told you, I am a-always." It felt like something was blocking my throat.
Now, I am thinking. Am I really?
"You sure? You still have 5 days to go. Aren't you going to beg for my help?"
My forehead creased at what he said. What does he mean by that? Can he help me if I ask him for help to save my life?
"You can't do anything about it." I said without thinking. Supremo doesn't hold the law here. Yeah, maybe he's the one imposing the punishment but there's no exemption to this. He can't take sides and save someone just because it will affect the position he has.
He wouldn't risk the position he has just for the sake of some stupid newbie.
"Is that how low you think of me?" Now I know he is serious. "You must know, I am not named Ace without one." He left before me.
I was dumbfounded even though I was confused by what he said. He has an ace? What's his ace? What is Supremo hiding?
When I arrived at the Dorm, I almost screamed when I saw Vanessa hitting Hoy with a broomstick.
"What the hell?!"
"Waa! Get away from him, Zein! He's a ghost!"
I carried Hoy and stroked his fur. Damn, Van. Animal harassment is what you're doing. Poor Hoy.
"He is not! He is Hoy!" I protested.
Vanessa threw the broom and came near me. She stared at Hoy so Hoy just shifted his gaze to me,
"Look, he has a phobia."
"Ate Allison said so, right? The black cat is a ghost."
Oh my gosh. That's what I thought at first but it's not. I don't know if everything Ate Allison tells us is true anymore.
I got tickled when Hoy licked my hand again so I couldn't help but smack him on the head.
"Lah. Why did you smack him?"
"Just a friendly-smack." My excuse. We laugh together but I know in myself that there is still a big thorn stuck in my throat.
I need to talk to him.
"Did you see Matt?" I asked. I carried Hoy so he hid under the table.
I scared Vanessa. Smacking with a broom, apparently.
"N-No. Do you two have a problem? Are you two having a spat?"
I know she's been itching to ask this whole time. She only got the courage when I started the topic about Matt.
"No." I answered.
We really don't have a problem. We're not having a spat or maybe me, I got offended but that's over now. That's why I want to talk to Matt. I need to talk to him in person. I'm having a hard time with this situation now. We don't see each other often anymore but when we do, we don't talk to each other.
"No? But why are you avoiding each other?" The next question.
I was about to open my mouth to answer when the door suddenly opened and Matt came in. He just gave me a quick glance before passing me by.
I quickly stood up and held his arm.
He stopped walking but remained turned away from me.
"W-We need to talk." I said stuttering. In all the time Matt and I have been together, this is the only time I felt this way and stuttered around him.
It seems everything is new to me.
"We have nothing to talk about."
I almost went limp with his answer and the fact that his voice was so cold. I couldn't even recognize his voice. It seemed that word didn't come from him.
The tightness in my chest showed up again.
"A-Ah I'll go outside first," I heard Vanessa say goodbye to me but I couldn't manage to look at her.
My eyes remained staring at Matt's back.
"Sorry."
I don't know why but that word just suddenly came out of my mouth. I felt somewhat relieved by saying it but it still wasn't enough for me to breathe easily.
He faced me. I blinked when I saw he was smirking at me. I almost smacked him on the head because of the smirk he was giving me.
"I'm so good, I made you believe I was offended ak- Ah!"
I hit his arm hard along with my tears flowing out. His face crumpled and he was feeling the pain from me hitting his arm.
"Sorry if I've been cold to you these past few days. I just have a lot on my mind." I said in the middle of crying.
I felt his arm wrap around my waist to pull me close to him. He held my chin to lift my face and with his thumb, he wiped the tears on my cheek.
"You don't need to say sorry. I don't care why you're avoiding me. I'll understand you. You don't need to ask for forgiveness because you have no fault. Asking for forgiveness is only for those who have done wrong."
Damn! I did wrong to you. My trust in you was lost for a moment. I avoided you even though there was no reason. I ignored you, don't pretend like it's nothing to you because I saw in your eyes that you were hurt.
"I hate myself, Matt. I'm disappointed in myself."
"Sshh. It's nothing, sorry you felt this."
I hit his chest out of annoyance. Annoyed at why Matt is always like this. He has a reason to be angry or offended but he chose to just ignore it. Don't you have an ego, Matt? You can pretend to be angry because you have a reason!
"I hate you," I said again. I hate you because I can't trust you the way you do.
Damn! I doubted Matt. I have done a great sin against him.
"I know you have a reason, Zein. I won't force you to tell me your reason why you were cold because I don't care about that. What's important to me is I know that in the end, you'll still hug me."
He locked me in his arms so the sleeve of his shirt lifted up slightly where the symbol of BBG was tattooed.
My hug tightened around Matt and my tears poured out even more.
Maybe, I was wrong but it is never too late. Whatever your reason is, I trust you. Matthew Hurt.
I glanced at the slicing Matt was doing to the garlic and onions. He's really amazing. He slices so fast.
"Try," He put down the knife he was holding and moved aside to give me space, He probably noticed I wasn't holding the knife so he spoke again.
"Come on, Zein." He pulled me so I had no choice but to take the knife.
I swallowed because I didn't know how to slice.
I have never experienced this before. It was always Mommy or Ate Allison who cooked and I was just the taste tester and eater.
"Just be gentle." He reminded which is what I did.
I don't know why but tears suddenly poured out while I was slowly slicing the onion. Why is it like this? Tears of joy?
I sniffed but I continued slicing. Gentle. Why is it like that? With every slice I make, my eyes sting and I can't help but tear up.
"Pft."
I glanced at Matt when I heard him stifle a laugh. His cheeks were puffed up and it was obvious he was trying to hold back a burst of laughter.
"What's wrong with you? These are tears of joy. Slicing is apparently fun."
He really laughed hard so I put down the knife and washed my hands. I glanced at Matt who was still laughing and laughing.
To be honest? I was stopping myself from throwing the onions I sliced at him.
What's so funny?!
"Tears of joy?" He said laughing. "That's how onions are, like love, they make you cry!" He laughed again.
The four arrived and Matt told them about my encounter with the onion. I was poker-faced while watching everyone die laughing.
Seriously?!
"Tears of joy." Dave and Jerome teased me while Vanessa was insulting my sliced onions saying they were too thick. It was like I only sliced one onion three times.
"I'll learn how to cook too! You'll see." I bragged even though I really had no interest in cooking.
This is all Matthew's fault! He even did that 'try' thing when he knew I was new to the kitchen and then he would laugh at me. Oh my gosh, Matt.
After we ate which took almost an hour, we went to our room.
"Meow"
I almost shrieked when Hoy licked my foot. I laughed so I picked him up and put him on our bed.
"Hoy! That cat might have lice oh my gosh." Vanessa fussed.
"Waah! Hoy is so cute." Mia pinched Hoy's cheeks and the cat could do nothing but stare blankly.
I smacked Mia's hand because she was already hurting Hoy.
"Animal harassment." I said.
"You smacked him on the head earlier though." Vanessa countered.
"You hit him with a broom though." I retorted.
Poor Hoy. He gets abused a lot in our dorm. These girls are too sadistic.
I suddenly remembered my scene with Ace. I still can't believe he's afraid of cats. Pft. I couldn't help but blush when he started counting and because I was frozen, he suddenly carried me.
He massaged his shoulder! Then I even accompanied him to the bathroom to change his pants. I couldn't resist because of his famous line
"This is an order from the highest Supreme Student Government and you can't do anything about it. UGHI"
We stopped messing around when Hoy suddenly jumped off the bed and ran outside. I quickly put on my slippers to follow him. He wasn't running that fast so I could follow him but I stopped when I realized where we were heading.
The back of the HU where the overgrown part of the HU was. This is also where the Dark Hell Jail can be seen.
Hoy went inside the forest until he disappeared from my sight but I heard something.
Someone whistles. And I think, that person called Hoy.