The Warlock's Azalea (EDITING) ✔

Chapter 1 - The Warlock

Chapter 1 – The Warlock

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"Congratulations!"

Echoes of wails and cheers amid cold sweats trickling down foreheads and necks painted the venue; the relief plastered all over faces upon reaching this long-awaited point in one's life refused to waver.

"Keir!"

A girl stood tall in the middle of a pair's shared laughter, a group of friends' picture-taking, and the flying hats in the air. Pitch black wavy locks of hair danced, following the lead of their respective roots, and faced the dirty blonde hair of butterfly blue irises.

The caller fell to his knees, panting.

He raised his head, and a smile found its way to his lips. "Congrats on becoming our batch's magna cum laude!"

"Thanks."

He huffed, "Come on, Keir! Be more enthusiastic about it! You're amazing, you know?"

But her facial muscles remained unmoving.

"Collin! Let's take a picture together on stage!" A mixture of expensive perfumes loomed nearby, accompanying giggles and hurried steps that grew louder.

Collin averted his eyes, his shoulders receiving weight; back slightly slouching.

His eyes met Keir's again. "Um, so, Keir. Do you, uh, want to come to the grad dance with me this evening?"

"No."

His eyebrows met. "But, Keir-"

Collin pressed a hand forward, but a group of girls blocked him from Keir's view.

She turned around to leave, avoiding any more unnecessary interactions.

-

"Keir, wait up!"

Keir stopped, her fingers wrapped around the doorknob lingering, while her other hand lets her baggage rest on the peach cream tiles.

She turned to face him but didn't say anything.

"Keir, I..!" Collin trailed off as soon as he met her eyes. That infamous brown-orange hue flaring outward from her cornea ring that gets people in one stare...

"Collin."

In one blink of both eyes, that unusual sight disappeared, and her eyes were back to their bronze color.

Collin averted his gaze to the ground. It must be the dorms lacking air conditioners in the hallways forming a sense of heat inside him up to his face, but the gasps from the side indeed had something to do with it.

Keir's eyes shifted to each pair of brown and blue seeping from the agape entryway that relied on her fingers wrapped around its trigger.

The pair exchanged looks, their mouth lining thin as they gradually faded back to the other room, separating them from Keir.

The sound of the doorknob twisting—should be enough to signal Collin to continue what he wants to say, no?

He nodded slightly at her subtle gesture. "...You're really amazing, Keir."

The bottle of soda shook; now, there's no other way but to let it all out.

"Keir Morin." He met her eyes, but again and again, failed to keep up. "I... I know it's ridiculous. But you've always been a great person to everyone, to me. L-like that time when no one else took me seriously just because they didn't know that idea was mine or that time w-when you gave me honest, respectful feedback on a bad artwork." Collin's gaze peeked upwards, only to retire almost immediately after meeting hers.