ROXANNE {ongoing}

• 2 •

My morning started out, well, nothing unusual.

Heading to my classroom, from far away I could already hear the noisy conversations coming from my classmates.

Is this about him again?

I walked in to the classroom, and I caught the sight of my classmates hovering towards Damon, he was wearing a smile on his face, talking endlessly with my classmates. His eyes weren’t smiling though.

I observed him for a moment, and when his familiarly hypnotic eyes met mine for a brief second, I almost jumped out from my seat.

That surprised me.

I quickly looked away with a nonchalant expression.

I had my expectations, which rarely exists, but it seems like he’s just a hot guy who’ll hangout with popular guys, and then so on.

What was I expecting anyway? Weird. Maybe just somebody interesting.

I cut off my thoughts and listened to the teacher who seems like he had something important to say.

“We’ll be having a group project, which consists of three people. I had already chosen your group members. The topic will be different for each group.”

I really don’t care what group my classmates are in; it has nothing to do with me. I only listened attentively when I hear my name from the teacher’s mouth.

He continued, “group D: Roxanne Underwood, Damon Salamanca, Michelle Ellis. For Group D, the topic will be about what people call “the call of the void”. Explain clearly in your report about anything relevant of such topic, everyone has a week time before it will be due.”

“And Roxanne, since you have the highest grade here, I especially assigned you to help your group members, everyone has to participate.” Placing such importance on his last sentence. He knows that I don’t particularly like working with people.

After that, he continued on with our lesson.

I mentally cursed inside. Shit.

I hate group projects, it’s such an ass. I would rather do everything by myself and not leave my grades to a bunch of people I don’t trust, who’ll probably jeopardize it all up. Sigh.

I really liked the topic though.

Time passes, our first period ended, and people were already discussing things with their group members.

It seems I don’t need to go up to Damon, as he personally came over my table and said,

“Let’s discuss the project after school, you and Michelle can meet me up at the Café across the school.” Why though?

 “Sure.” I replied shortly. Since he came to me, my classmates naturally look at our direction as well. I hate this.

I got up and walked pass him to get ready to leave for our next class escaping this overbearing attention placed over me.

** AFTER SCHOOL

I met up with Michelle and Damon, it seems like they get along pretty well.

“Let’s go.” I walked together with them in silence, as both of them chatter.

The three of us went to the famous café everyone knows about, I drank their coffee once, it was good but I don’t really like crowdy places, they suffocate me, so I never went there again.

We sat at a table, thankfully there was one available.

Damon insisted that he’ll get us drinks and he’ll pay. How nice.

Michelle spoke up first, “I’ll have a cappuccino, no sugar please.”

I thought about what to order for a second, and replied, “I’ll have a black coffee. Thanks.”

After Damon left, me and Michelle suffered in 5 minutes of awkward silence.

I’m not particularly chatty person, and it seems like Michelle doesn’t have the interest to talk to me. Great.

Damon finally came back carrying three cups in his tray.

He placed them down, and turned to us with a smile on his face which almost blinded me because of his heavy mysterious yet weirdly familiar aura I can’t decipher.

“Do you guys know anything about the topic, the call of the void?” I heard his question.

Hopefully Michelle knows, but it seems like she doesn’t know anything. Why don’t she use her pretty head of hers?

Sigh.

I looked up to him, avoiding his eyes, and spoke in a calm tone, “I’ve heard that it’s the sudden thought of jumping on a building without ever being suicidal. People have this thoughts every now and then.”

Damon chuckles lightly, before looking deeply into my eyes which sucked me in.

He slowly spoke, “Good. That’s the basis of it, we’ll research why people have those thoughts, the origin of it, and anything else related. I’m hoping we could meet here 5 days in the week to discuss what we find, in the weekdays after school, of course. Is that fine?”

He looked at both of us.

“Of course!” I heard Michelle replied not long after.

“I don’t mind.” It’s not like I can refuse anyway.

“That’s great, that’s all.” Hearing his words I got ready to leave, I don’t know why but I just can’t stand his presence.

But before I could leave, he continued,

“Since, we’re group mates, it’s important to exchange our phone numbers, no? So, if you guys have plans, I can know before hand.”

Can’t we just tell it to you in class though? I retorted inside my mind.

Michelle happily exchanged her phone number with him.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but..

Suffering in his stare for too long, I quickly gave up.

“Here’s mine.” I offered him my phone number.

I didn’t miss the suspicious glint in his eyes though. I think I’ll regret this.

We bid goodbyes to each other, and I quickly headed home.

I live alone, the person who gave birth to me and that other person are living far away from here.

They still gave me money to survive though, I guess they can burn their money to me.

I quietly head upstairs to my bedroom.

All white. Not much personal belongings except for school supplies, my bed, a table, and a bunch of clothes. It’s nearly empty.

I don’t mind.

The heavy silence indulged me.

I looked into my phone and into my contacts. Three numbers in total. Kind of pathetic.

The person who gave birth to me.

The person who gave me money to live.

And finally, Damon Salamanca.

I can’t shake this familiar feeling I have with me though. I feel like I met him somewhere before, and the way he looks at me isn’t exactly friendly.

I stare into the wall, and concentrated where I could have possibly met him.

“Oh.” A silent gasped came out from my lips.

It’s him.