Chapter 26: Fairy tale
Zein's Point of View...
My impatience must have reached my eyes. They were almost closing from sleep and I was trying my very best to entertain myself.
Quiz. My classmates were busy writing on their papers. Some had wrinkled foreheads while others stretched their necks. Typical students.
Lyka stood up and went to the front, carrying a piece of paper which I assumed was her answer. Teacher Aya looked up and a smile escaped her lips when she saw Lyka.
My eyes narrowed. There's something with that smile, maybe sadness? longing? Supremo suddenly came to my mind, did he feel the same way while thinking about the reason for my smile?
Was he just curious? Maybe, yes. What else could I expect? Maybe he was just not in control of his curiosity? He was just so damn curious about the reasons behind my mysterious bright smile.
"You've got a perfect score. Your mother must be proud of you." Teacher Aya said with a smile.
"T-Thank you." Lyka's voice trembled and suddenly, they hugged each other.
They seem like, a mother and her daughter. Yeah.
Before Lyka went back to her seat, she first wiped her eyes. I looked at my classmates who were still busy answering. Was I the only one who noticed because everyone else was busy or they just didn't care?
We all froze when the speakers around us suddenly rang, creating a deafening noise that only lasted for a moment.
"Good morning students,"
One sentence and I just found myself seeking for air. I have a bad feeling about this. Her voice was so happy.
She seems so happy. Together with the Vice President under admins of Hell University. Francisco Augustine. What is it now?
It seemed I wasn't the only one nervous. All my classmates were visibly nervous; some had unknowingly dropped their ballpens. Teacher Aya was looking sadly at one of our classmates who was also clearly nervous.
"Do you find bloody week boring?" She asked, laughing.
Boring? Boring your face. Weren't you satisfied? Many students have died because of you people? Wasn't it enough? What are you planning now to satisfy your boredom? Black Lady,
"Let's play a game."
Game? Where our lives are involved? I opened the contents of my bag. My attention was immediately caught by an oblong box. A smile formed on my lips. Well, I am ready to play. I closed my bag again.
"We put something in your locker. A name, the name of the person you need to kill before the sun sets tomorrow."
Tomorrow is the end of bloody week. Finally, but I know we shouldn't be complacent. Shit! They really won't stop, they want a bloody ending. Curse their souls,
"Let's add a twist. If you don't find a name in your locker. You are doomed. You don't know who will kill you, you need to get to them first. If you don't finish the game, we will finish you ourselves."
The speakers around us died down but the anxiety in us was permanent. They are really crazy. They settled a bloody shit 'cause they were not satisfied. They wanted it bloodier.
To the locker....
I stood up and it seemed I was a signal to everyone because they all stood up too, grabbing their bags and hurrying out of the classroom.
Only Lyka, Teacher Aya and I were left. I also left because maybe they still had something to discuss and they might think I was eavesdropping. I know there's something between them, maybe they are relatives.
I almost fell flat on my face because of the students rushing to see their lockers. I stopped for a moment so I wouldn't get caught in the crush, I knew the space where all the lockers were was already full.
"Zein!"
I looked at the grimacing woman. Fritzy.
"OMG. Don't kill me if ever. We're friends 'di ba?" She said dramatically.
Friends? My friends suddenly came to my mind. What if it's one of them? I firmly shook my head.
"Sorry, not friends."
I walked ahead of her, leaving her jaw dropped. What if I don't see a name in my locker? Who would kill me then?
As I got closer and closer, the silence of everyone while looking at the pieces of paper they were holding was noticeable. There were others who were looking around and didn't have a paper.
I felt the nervousness again when I was in front of my locker. I have to open this locker! I have to face it! I was almost not breathing as I opened my locker nervously.
I didn't see any paper except for my three books. I checked my books one by one, hoping it was slipped in the pages but there was really nothing.
This only meant one thing. I am doomed. I don't know who holds my name, definitely the person who will attempt my life.
I looked around. It's hard to read them. Everyone has a secret, a secret their lives depend on. Who? Who holds my name?
"W-Who did you get, bro?" I heard one ask his friend. One guy was holding a paper while the one who asked had no paper.
We are in the same situation.
"What do you care?" The guy was shocked at his friend's behavior. "I-It's none of y-your business!" He squeaked and hurried away.
The guy was left staring blankly. Unable to believe his friend's actions. One question, I think, was circulating in our minds, mine and this guy's. Why? Is it me?
I left that place because I felt uncomfortable. I would never be comfortable because I don't know my enemy.
What's better? To have seen a paper and you know who you need to target or you have no idea who will kill you?
It's also not easy when you know who to take down, I know how the minds of those who made this work, I know they made sure it would be difficult for whoever is tasked to kill to do what needs to be done. Maybe because of their cruelty, the one they need to take down is someone close to them. It's not far-fetched.
I jumped in surprise when someone suddenly held my arm.
"M-Matt!" I breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me!" I even held my chest because of the shock.
He suddenly put his arm around my shoulder. "They are crazy." He whispered in my ear which caused a tickle so I backed away slightly.
My forehead immediately wrinkled. His scent permeated my nose. His smell was dizzying so I quickly removed his arm from my shoulder.
I raised an eyebrow at him. Now I noticed his sleepy eyes that looked very tired.
"You are drunk." I said coldly.
"Maybe I am, but what is the difference?" He asked with a smirk. He took a step towards me so I backed away a bit more. "Even I am drunk or not, I can still clearly see your beautiful angelic face, Zein." He suddenly hiccupped.
He is drunk indeed.
I pulled him and brought him to our dorm. I pushed him down onto the sofa and put my hands on my hips.
"Dammit, Matt! We are in danger for pete's sake but you still managed to get drunk!" I stamped my foot in frustration, "You are unbelievable." I blurted out.
"You must believe in me." His previously sleepy eyes suddenly became sad. "Please." He added as if pleading for me to believe him.
Even if he didn't say it, I have long trusted him, them. They are the ones I believed, believe, and will believe in.
My trust is just for my friends, not for anyone.
I argued with my gaze with him but I was the first to look away. Maybe he's drunk but he is still in control of himself. He knows how to handle himself, he can handle everything about him.
Why did he get drunk? "W-Whose name did you see?" I asked directly.
He froze but then suddenly laughed. "Does it matter?" He asked.
"Of course it does! Damn, Matt! Did you see one or not?? Tell me!"
"What does it matter now if I saw one or not? They can't order me around and make me follow what they want. They can't manipulate me. They are just bullshit!"
I don't know if I should admire Matt's bravery or be scared. Scared that if he doesn't do what he's supposed to do, he might get into trouble. But when Matt said it, he meant it. Whatever comes out of his mouth, you can expect him to do it.
Shit, Matt! You're giving me a headache! Where are the others anyway?
"They are not my queen. There's only one I want to be queen," He looked at me again so I had no choice but to look elsewhere. "Can you be?" He asked.
I looked at him. He is still in his serious expression. Why are you saying this? You are drunk, Matt. Maybe you know how to handle yourself but you can't control the words you are saying.
"You are just drunk, Matt. Go to sleep."
What's happening to you, Matt? You're making me worried.
I got a pillow and blanket from their room before returning to the living room. His position was still the same; leaning on the sofa with his head raised, eyes closed.
I fixed the pillow on the sofa and laid him down there. Because he was drunk, he couldn't resist when I forced him to lie down. He struggled to open his eyes, which would close any second now.
"Go to sleep."
"Can you tell me a story?" he asked.
I don't know why, but I wanted to laugh at what he said. Really, Matt? Does your mind go back to childhood every time you're drunk? But, oh well.
"Fairy tale?" I just played along with what he said. I sat down in front of him. He turned sideways to face me.
I got to see his handsome face even more clearly. His eyes, which were once happy, were now heavy with sleep. His red lips were closed.
"Yes, please."
I adjusted my sitting position and faced him. I suddenly thought of my favorite fairy tale that my Ate (older sister) Allison always used to tell me. A story I once dreamt to have.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named—"
"Can you name that beautiful girl as Zein?"
I froze at what he said. A smile formed on his lips, so I hit him on the arm, which made him open his mouth slightly in surprise. It was just a light hit, why is he so dramatic? Psh.
"Please," He made puppy eyes and I felt like getting a camera and taking his picture.
OMG! He's cute and I hate the fact that I can't resist his cuteness! UGH!
"FINE! Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Z-Zein?" I blushed, but his face remained serious. "Whatever! So, she lived with her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters." I paused for a moment to see if he was serious about wanting this story finished.
"Are they going to maltreat Zein?" he asked with a frown.
"Y-Yes."
"What?! Tell me their names!"
I don't know if he was serious, but based on his angry look and frowned forehead, he was serious.
Eh?
What does it matter to him what the name of Zein's—I mean Cinderella's—stepmother is. UGH! Why am I having a bad feeling that my name was already involved in the story of Cinderella? Psh.
"Her stepmom's name is Lady Tremaine."
"Where can I find her?"
I hit his arm again to make him stop asking useless questions.
"Dammit, Matt. It was just a freaking fiction!" I almost shouted in front of him.
I didn't know that telling a fairy tale to a, ummm, drunk person was this hard? Or maybe it's just with Matt?
"Fiction? But, Zein is rea—Nevermind. Proceed please."
I just sighed. Why are you making this so difficult for me, Matt? One more time and I'll slap you so you fall asleep immediately.
"Where was I?" I asked because I forgot where I stopped.
"Her wicked mother and bitches sisters." I glared at him.
Oh dear!
"Until one day, they were invited for a grand ball in the King's palace. But Cinde—"
"Zein."
"Whatever! Her stepmom would not let her go. She was left at home, alone."
"They are really bitch huh?"
I frowned. "Are you just hearing this story now?" I asked in disbelief. Everyone knows Cinderella's story. Even, boys.
"Yeah, don't ask anymore. Proceed please."
He only asked once and already snapped at me? Oh my gosh, Matt, be thankful you're drunk, or else hmp! Moody! He's the one who keeps asking questions then gets mad at me?
"Zein felt very sad. Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared and said she will send Zein to the ball."
"Thanks to her." He commented with a wide smile.
"Yeah. But, sadly, Zein doesn't have a gown to wear for the ball. The fairy godmother waved her magic wand and changed Zein's old clothes into a beautiful new gown!" I told excitedly.
"You are excited than me." Matt said with a frown.
"Then, the fairy godmother touched my—I mean Zein's feet and turned it into a beautiful glass slippers."
Is it me or did I really take on the role of Cinderella? Err—It doesn't matter.
"The fairy godmother made the six mice playing near a pumpkin into a four shiny black horses and two coachmen and the pumpkin into a golden coach."
I suddenly imagined myself riding in that! UGH!
"But, the fairy godmother warned Zein that the magic will only last until midnight and she must reach home by then. When she entered the palace, everybody was struck by her beauty. Nobody, not even her stepmom or sisters knew her."
I got excited because I was at my favorite part.
"The prince went to ask her to dance—"
"Name that prince as uhmmm..." He looked up as if thinking. "Matthew. Prince Matthew." Then he grinned.
Fine.
"Ok, so Prince Matthew danced Zein all night." I gulped. "Zein was so happy dancing with Prince Matthew almost forgot what the fairy godmother had said. At the last moment—"
"Cut it. I am no longer interested. What happened in the end?"
I just winced. "They lived happily ever after." I said unconsciously while smiling.
Silence fell between us after I said that. Fairy tale has a happy ending but, does fairy tale exist?
"They lived happily ever after?" Matt asked.
"They fell in love with each other? In such a short time?" Matt asked in disbelief and I don't know what he meant by that.
"Yes." I answered briefly.
"Maybe, yes." He looked into my eyes. "Even if you've known and been with a person for a long time, sometimes, there's still someone else who, even if you've only just met them in a short time, you fall for more. Isn't that right, Zein?" he asked.
I lost words to say. He's right, time is just a number. But why is it like that? I have a feeling he means something else?
"G-Go to sleep." I stood up.
"Will you promise me, Zein?"
"Promise what?"
"When you found someone that has a special space in your heart, someone you love. Don't ever stop your feelings for him just because you know someone will get hurt."
Damn. "Why are you saying this?" I asked.
"I just don't wanna see you miserable."
"Sleep now, Matt."
"Promise me first."
"I won't promise anything. Stop this shit."
I don't know what he meant and why it was hard for me to promise what he said.
Sacrifice is a constant part of our life. But, make sure the sacrifice is worth it.
I wish I could live in a fairy tale way so I could have a happy ending. I wish I could have a life like Cinderella's.
Would you like me to identify the title or author of this story?