1.) I have a theory about empty classrooms.
They we're never empty, but felt like something is in there even there is not; The room where I stood has dusts from a chalk, and a rotting smell from someone's lunch. 2.) The place place felt vivid and the silence pressed in; I was stuck alongside a quiet boy who just sat on the chair and rests his head on the table—his name is Hamazura Haru, a law student from the next building inside our campus. 3.) I'm Tasaki Meiko, a culinary arts student from this building. 4.) It's been thirty minutes since I was stuck here with no reasons why—1 hour and 30 minutes ago, I felt the room was choosing me to enter since it looked comfortable and relaxing place to listen to music. I still went to my last cooking subject before entering this room, to my surprise—it suddenly locked me. 5.) I saw a familiar figure sitting on the third row named Haru—he never talked nor looked at me. The atmosphere inside this room felt as if it's pressing me in, forcing me to sit down on the chair.
6.) My gaze never left Haru; I felt suspicious. There is a famous rumor here that says: "Anyone who dares to enter 4-B on wednesday 4PM—never gets out until 5." It's not even that intimading for a one hour trap. 7.) What confuses me the most is that—the tennis player on the field were often training this time, and yet no one was there. The cars and the street vendors outside was supposed to close their store by 6pm, but this 4:30—no one was there. 8.) There's something wrong with this classroom; I stayed calm and waited for another 30 minutes. Those who spreaded the rumors must be lazy students who choose to go home rather than staying at school for another one hour. 9.) I remained quiet and began pulling my novel on my bag and started reading as I listened to music. The room is a pillow for a comfortable rest; the chair and the desk is a sleeping matress.
10.) My music is a lullaby, not for sleeping, but for relaxation; calming my mind. My book is a literal television, the correct choice of words appear as a adapted version of it.
Why can't you just take it?! Like your brother?!
11.) A female voice came to my head; rising and falling in a haunting tone. Even if the lullaby of my music couldn't sweep my mother's scolding of me, my expression remained straight. 12.) "…Deciding college courses for me even thought I never liked it in the first place," I muttered, loud enough for Haru to hear. 13.) Haru looked at me for a bit before gazing back at the orange tinted sky.
14.) To a guy like him; I couldn't feel more less embarassed—he never cared about what I say; even farting here wouldn't make him laugh, just saying. 15.) "Good luck," I heard him talked for the first time; it's like finding a diamond in your yard.
I stared at him, then a smile formed in the corner of my lips, "…Thank you, you too."
He never talked again. Wow.
16.) He just there gazing at the sky again, waiting for the time to pass by. I'm also skeptical—what if this classroom closes forever? 17.) Starting my second month in this school was never like before when I was in High School, although some of friends back at my previous school studies here too; something changed when my mom forced me to be a nurse, but I'm glad I fought for me dreams. 18.) They keep comparing me over my dead brother who just graduated in this school and worked as a nurse. Tragedy struck where the whole hospital had a gas leak that caused thousands of patients and workers there to burn. 19.) His death gave my mother psychological scar that made her more delusional—thinking my brother is still alive. It also hurts me quietly, a silent battle for my dreams. 20.) Even if this room stayed shut forever, I won't even care—there's no reason to leave this place anymore, is it?
As her little sister! Make your brother proud!! He will be home soon; he went overseas just to send you to a good college!
"I know; he respects my decision…"
-Haru's POV-
21.) I wonder if it would take 50 people to beat a grizzly bear to a fist fight—for that's the mind of someone who's trying to escape the harsh reality of the world. With an overwhelming decision to even enter a college with a severe depression. 22.) Even with my twisted thoughts of thinking something like this: Can a cheetah outrun a car? 23.) Even without something to say; I could at least try to be my own self—hence, the world wouldn't even care about you. 24.) The room is a kid leader on a playground choosing its next man to play along inside its delusions; to sit on a slide and let my lifeless body slid across slipery steel and always end up lying dirty of my own sins on the muddy ground. 25.) Sit on the swing, and watch your world move closer and further, slowly causing yourself to be dizzy like a consuming an alcohol 'till your liver gives up.
26.) Seesaws that represents your life, a wall blocking your vision when you're below—and the beautiful scenery when you're above. 27.) A metaphorical way of saying: You're meant not to see the world unless you're rich. 28.) But we're people who'd do anything just to be something in life; a man who worked hard and ended up being successful,and yet he stayed humble; a man who who didn't put too much effort but ended up being successful through luck, and yet he fell to a job he never asked for. 29.) The difference is—the first one has the knowledge while the other hasn't. 30.) I'm neither—I never asked to be a law student.
31.) In conclusion, I was pressed down by my parents against the muddy ground of the playground; watching the other kids to play whatever they wanted. 32.) I wonder if this culinary art student had her head pressed against the ground or she broke free. 33.) The bell rang and the sound of the ball that hits the ground with a loud Clamp, was heard at the tennis field outside; the vehicles purred like beasts on the highway; the street vendors yelling had finally cut through the silence. 34.) It was 5PM.
-Meiko's POV-
35.) Once I heard the door was unlocked with a loud Click, I quickly packed my things up and suddenly Haru rushed and left the school, without even saying "Bye." 36.) I shrugged it off, then started leaving too. 37.) I slid the door shut as soon as I stepped on the hallway.