The Moon Hiding at Dawn

Chapter 16: Poetry

Gray skies, crowded with armies of clouds that block any sort of light trying to reach the life on this world. Like the truth trying to reach their audience only to be blocked by every single phenomena, distorting it that only a small ray passes through. Something we'd call signs that we can barely interpret until it's too late.

That's how the scenario feels as I wake up and glance at my window. It's probably just an afterthought and the school's mood getting into me. Being left with not much to do but to assist in selling when things get rough and sometimes turning to an errand boy, it comes as to no surprise that life got snuffed out of me as well. I imagine that this is how it would feel when I soon lose control of my life and turn to a corporate slave.

It's the last day of the literature week. I don't know whether to look forward to it ending as it would either mean a period of boredom or a period of stress. Nonetheless, all that is left is to go to the booth and hope things would be as kind as to make some things happen...

As if a lot happened with two introverts guarding a booth, rarely even talking as one would be stuck with a book and the other in his dreams. As if a lot would change with Kallen being added to the picture... Okay, things are bound to change with her being all noisy and stuff again. I've come to love that part of her so it doesn't matter either way.

I arrived early as usual, expecting to be either the first one there or second since Riz usually goes early to arrange the booth. Somehow, things seemed to breathe a different air today as not only Riz but Kallen also beat me in the arriving the earliest game.

By the time I reached the booth, the two girls are already there chatting and looking serious.

"Why the long faces?" I asked. I'd understand Riz being infected by the school's aura these days but Kallen? This is the only time she appeared and should still be the same old and lively girl, unless life seems to have disappeared too fast for her if the opposite's the case.

Both of them seem startled. This is the main proof I needed. I usually get noticed even if I'm a few steps away. Today, that doesn't seem to be the case at all.

Kallen's face shifted from startled to something like a cautious one, then the usual cheery face. She lunged at me with a hug, kissing me in the cheek. Riz, who seemed startled on the onset, was already laughing now.

"Here we were just talking about graduation then you pop up and change the mood." Riz said. "For the better, I guess..."

Graduation, huh. I guess with the year nearing its end, we would only have roughly a few months together as a class. I guess thinking about that makes it a bit melancholic but I never thought that I myself would feel that way. I remember wanting to just get things over and move on with my life.

I guess things do change for the better. I'm just thankful for everything taking a turn. Maybe they didn't and everything would proceed in the same course except that I would still be the plain and slightly hateful person that I was. Now that I think about it, I have no one but one girl to thank about it.

Kallen turned to me, arms still clinging on my neck. "I missed you."

"Me too." I replied. "I mean dude, every time I tried to call you it turns out unattended. That's some damn long sleep and it's like that's the only thing you do."

"You know me" she laughed. "Eat and sleep all the way!"

"Now I wonder which is the introvert between the two of you." Riz scowled.

She sat at the booth and rested her head. "Go on. I lied about needing help for today. Just go flirt around or whatever."

"You sure?" Kallen asked.