The Moon Hiding at Dawn

Chapter 15: Literature Week

Weeks have passed, the very words of Kallen are still ringing in my ear. 

Soon we will be left all alone...

Paranoia is once more banging at my doorstep, telling me it's a sign of something, as I lay down in the comfortable bed of the reality that I see: that we love each other, we frequently go out, we do most stuff together, and so on.

So why am I bothered by those words? I mean we both studied philosophy as well some part in class so random spurts of eerie phrases of distant realities should seem normal. Yet again for the nth time it got ingrained in my head.

And for the nth time, I yanked it out of my system. There is nothing to regret but potentially destroying our relationship if I succumb to my overthinking mind and go out of the line.

Call me a madman for possibly ignoring her words for this one and I'd willingly accept the label. I just might be tired of thinking too much when I don't really know much about relationships and human interaction.

The day is just like any other October that I had: cool gusts of winds that embraced weary faces, cloudy skies that might breakdown and cry anytime, people dragging their bodies everywhere like soulless ghouls, and, of course, the ominous negative vibe that sends you the shivers.

Nope. Not Halloween.

It's just your typical Literature Week where people vent out their deepest grudges and sins against the whole world. I don't know why this month in particular makes the students emo and dark but studying here probably made me think that it's because of the school's vile administration after all.

Like, go around the city and you'll see most of the people in town hanging cutouts of snowflakes, laying around wreaths, bells and balls stringing around. Generally just preparing for Christmas. Meanwhile, go to our school and you'll see everyone's spirit in the lowest of the lows. It's like our school is a small dot of ink in a clean white paper: doesn't really have that much of an impact and relevance but boy is it the most noticeable thing in the whole paper.

Not that it affects my lifestyle that much though.

The usual happens either way. Not just today but also in the previous years.

This day in particular, I still woke up, did my usual morning stuff, walked to school. Then passed the gates, walked up to our room, slumped on my desk, stared at the ceiling and window, slept.

Except that this time, the routine was broken somewhere at the fifth step as my phone rang while I was making my way to our classroom. It can't be Kallen. Knowing her, she'd still be snoring like a hibernating bear at this point.

I grabbed my phone from my pocket, the display showing an unsaved number. Nothing new I guess, I never saved numbers in the first place other than Kallen's.

I answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hey, introvert. You at campus already?" A familiar voice called. Even if it's not familiar, only one person calls me that.

"Riz?"

"Who else calls you introvert?" Yup. Exactly as I thought. "If you are in school then go to the bench where you had your petty duel. Need help."

And she cut the line. Funny how she was the one who needed help yet was the one who was teasing me as if I unnecessarily bothered her or something.

I went to the same place. Instead of a bench, however, what awaited me was a long line of booths and tents once again as if the club fair was extended. The fact that October meant Literary Week never got to be imprinted in my mind.