Yellowed

Chapter 3; Detention

It's so quiet that I hear the water hastened below this bridge. I'm feeling very heavy and unable to move. It was dark and cold, but I was no longer submerged. I stand on the edge of what appears to be an old bridge. I know I'm dreaming, but why haven't I awoken yet? I wanted to wake up, but I couldn't. 

Slowly, I moved closer and closer to the edge, still sobbing. However, I am unaware of the reason for this. Because of the tears, my vision became blurry. Then I let go of the railing; I'm not sure how I did it, but here I am, slowly falling. The bridge appears to be far from the water, but it isn't. Despite the fact that it was dark, I could see myself reflected in the black, rushing water. Then I woke up before I hit the surface.

It is two o'clock in the morning again, and I am on my terrace with a half-burnt cigarette in my hand. From here, I can see the university field and the horizon from afar with a few moving lights, probably from cars traveling early or very late. The morning breeze always smells different. Moreso, the smoke from the cigarette surrounds me. I've lived in this dorm for almost two years, but it was the first time that I smoked here. I feel a bit strange tonight. Something seems to be missing from me. I believe it was because of those dreams. They seem to be connected, but many pieces are still missing. I blew a huge cloud of smoke again, still thinking of this when I remembered Flavus.

"Is meeting him have something to do with these dreams?" I came to think of this, noticing that I had been dreaming of that same scenario for the past week. Then all of a sudden, after meeting him and after that flashes, my dream seemed to progress. But what does it mean? 

I had the last puff of smoke, and I finished my cigarette before I went back to my bed, hoping to fall asleep again, but I was worried that if I did, I'd have that same dream and that the confusion would be much worse.

#

The sun hadn't fully risen when I arrived at the university. I went to my office and found Flavus' files, but I ignored them. I couldn't concentrate on them right now. First, because my mind is so focused on these dreams, and second because of the time, it is still early. So early that I haven't seen any students so far. And since yesterday, I've seemed to have an odd interest in Flavus. Maybe it's because he looked so familiar, even though that was the first time I met him. Either way, something weird is going on, making me unable to concentrate.

I reclined my chair and laid my hand on my forehead while I closed my eyes. Before I knew it, I was drifting and drifting away. I feel my breath becoming heavier and heavier as my body relaxes. But a knock on the door awakened me.

"Come in," I said as soon as I right myself.

"Good morning Mr. Gray. I'm sorry for going here so early, but I have found these two young men trying to beat each other in front of the university," Ms. Follon irritatedly said. Her hair was a bit ruffled, maybe from trying to stop the students, she talked about.

"No. Don't apologize. Just send them in, and I'll deal with them," I said. These fights were common during the first few weeks of the class and mostly happened to the freshman. I remember last year, almost half of the freshman was suspended in the first week because of these fights.

"Okay, thank you," she said. Then after a while, two male students came in.

"It's you again, Mr. Morris. What is it this time?" I asked, but he seemed not to hear what I said. He had bruises on his face, and his clothes were dirty. But what caught my attention was the other student that entered the room after him. It's Flavus who also had bruises, but Paul Morris' was worse, and his nose seemed to be bleeding.

I gestured for both of them to sit. The tension between them isn't dispersing any moment soon as they glance sharply at each other.

"Flavus? Really on your second day?" I asked him, but he didn't speak. He sighed and constantly avoided looking at me, so I turned to the other.