Boundaries #1: Crossing Boundaries

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4

Dei Pov

I couldn't ask for more hardship, torment, and difficulty than what I have experienced here in this small, obscure town in Monti Alegri Province. Living in this province has already been a source of pain in my life since the day I was dumped here. For me, waking up in an unfamiliar wide white bed was already hard. Waking up at 7 a.m. to catch my early (7:45 a.m.) flag ceremony was a dreadful experience. Flag ceremony attendance is really killing me. Climbing the four-storey building every day was a daily occurrence in my life at our school. Then, there are the rooms without air conditioning. Bitch! What a totally agonizing life I've ever had! I almost forgot about the dusty windows and cheap people around me. The only thing that made my nerves relax and somewhat calm was the fresh and clean air that I freely inhaled. The wide green landscape doesn't calm me. It only makes me more depressed. The tall mountains veiled with green plants, grass, and trees don't set my mood for serenity either. They only bring back the thought that I was left in this province. I cannot find my dose of serotonin in this type of place.

Gosh!

Everything wasn't really going my way. First, I was dumped in this place. Second, my family has not called me all week. Third, Lala Fausta is such a cruel person in the house. Fourth, I hate my school because it is so sultry. And now, the seat that was vacant for a week is now occupied by none other than the guy I called poor, Alcinous, the guy cornered with his pals, or whoever they were. What a dreadful life!

I was happy that the chair beside me was not taken by anyone because it was really hot at our seats. There are wall fans hanging on the two walls, but the wind didn't reach our place. And now that this Alcinous guy is seated at my right side, it's getting hotter. The beads of sweat are now coming out nonstop on my forehead and back.

I rolled my eyes and heaved. My back was now soaked with my own sweat.

Hindi na ako maka-focus doon sa Gen. Chem teacher na nagd-discuss sa harap dahil ang inaalala ko ang basa kong likod. Gosh! I was jotting down some important details from the discussion, but I halted midway when a drop of sweat fell on my notes.

"Gosh!" I grumbled. I put my pen aside to get some tissue paper from my bag when I heard a pen clatter to the floor.

Nang makakuha ako ng tissue sa bag ko. Maingat akong nagdampi ng tissue sa mukha at noo ko na pawisin. When I lifted my eyes from my armchair, my pen had already vanished from where I had placed it. I scanned the room, searching for it, and finally spotted it on the floor. There lay my prized pen near Alcinous's foot.

I glanced over at Alcinous, who was attentively listening to the teacher's discussions. He truly resembled a diligent listener—or maybe he was one.

"Excuse me," I spoke up.

Alcinous didn't seem to notice.

"Ahem! Excuse me."

I rolled my eyes as Alcinous turned to face me. I blinked as his dark eyes met mine. There was something peculiar about them—round and very dark, devoid of any glimmer or sparkle.

"What?" he queried.

"Um, could you please pick up my pen? It's right below you."

He raised his eyebrows and slowly looked down at the pen near his feet, then back at me.

"I can see that you have perfectly good hands and feet. Why don't you pick it up yourself?" His rough, deep voice sent shivers down my spine.