Extra for a Reason

Chapter 3 | No sign of a better day

*huff* *huff* *bang*
*huff* *huff*
(stares.......)
'Ahh..... my first impression,'

On the first day at the 'Ancient Tongue' class.....,
Terla underestimated the distance to the class building.
So when she arrived at the building, it was already 30 minutes since the class has started.
Terla ran up a long stair to the third floor in a hurry. She rushed to the classroom and opened the door carelessly.
*bang*
Everyone in the classroom stared at the intruder and the teacher looked a little angry.

Terla smiled awkwardly and took the nearest seat.
The class continued.
"Hey...Terla, long time no see. You have changed a lot." a girl besides her whispered.
When Terla turned to her and was about to return the greeting, she was confused.
The girl beside her had a silvery-white hair that stops under her chin, and her face looked unfamiliar to her.
The girl looked astounded to see the dumbfounded Terla.
"Oh my, oh my..., you don't remember me?"
Terla was at a loss for words, and she only could smile.
She looked around nervously in search of Angelina for help but what she got was a glare from the teacher.

She turned away and found a boy staring at her.
However, as soon as she met his eyes, the boy looked away.
She didn't think much and looked away too.
She looked back at the girl and saw that she was not looking at her anymore.
So, she sighed in her mind and retracted her gaze.

*chime* *chime*
the bell rang and lunchtime came.
.
.
.
"Hey look." the girl beside called out to her.
"Yeah?"Terla responded.
"My name is Suzanne Julia Collins." the girl introduced and then she left.
'Suzanne Julia Collins?' Terla thought...

She was a neighbor of the Ophelia house but she moved to another town when Terla was 10.
She was a mischievous girl who liked to stick to Terla every day.
The neighborhood recognized them as best friends but Terla never liked her.
Susan was arrogant and she never had manners.
She did what she wants and bully those who ignore her.
Terla once asked her why she does that and her answer was
"Nah...I bully them because I don't want to be the one bullied."
Terla was disappointed and avoided her from then.
Soon, she moved away.

Now that girl is back, sitting just beside her, Terla is at a loss.
She is not confident they can be friends again.
###
Terla looked around but Angelina was nowhere to be found.
She went out of the classroom and wandered around.
In the morning, she came in a hurry that she didn't have time to look about.
Now that she looks at it, the building looked like an old tower.

Under the tower....,
Unakin to the lonesome tower, the street was bustling.
Terla found a family store and a small but spacious restaurant.
She went into the restaurant and ordered a bowl of ramen.
*ching* *ching*
The door bell rang and a group of girls entered.
Terla turned around and found Angelina in the group.
She waved at them and called out but the group just passed by her.
Terla was left with a raised hand awkwardly.
She stared at the parting figures and sighed,
" Guess she didn't see me."
The group sat down at a table not very far from her, ordered their dishes, and continue their chats.
"They look quite close..,"

*whoosh*
A girl came and sat down at Terla's table.
" Auntie, mushroom soup and a rice bowl, please!"
"Hey..., where are you zoning out?" the girl waved in front of her eyes.
"Susan...?"
"Yes! Now you remember?"
Terla responded with a nod.
"Where were you looking at just now? Already found a crush?"
Terla ignored.
"Here comes the ramen and the mushroom soup." a woman came to put the ordered dishes.

*ching* *ching*
the bell rang again and a group of boys entered.

Terla pulled some chopsticks but dropped them accidentally to the floor.
She picked them up and got up...
*bamp*
"Ah."
"Oh sorry!! Are you hurt?" the boy asked.
He was handsome, tall, and well-built. His blue crystal eyes and blonde hair looked majestic.
His hands attempted to reach her but stopped in the mid-air, he looked concerned and his eyes filled with worries.
Terla looked at him and thought 'Are you joking? It's just a bump.'
But she shook her head and answered "Nope."
"Hey., what are you doing there?" his friends called out.
"Are you sure?" he confirmed..., but was soon pulled away by his friends.

"You know him?" Susan asked curiously.
Terla shrugged.

She grabbed another chopstick and ate her scalding noodles.
She tried to concentrate on her meal but her gaze kept turning to a table from afar.
The girls at the table were chatting and laughing heartily.
'It looks like they are having a good time.'

Yesterday, she received a letter from the Academy of Orton that she had been accepted and assigned to the sorcery and wizardry department. She got admitted as the 8th in role and she had been praised a lot since that day. Terla was excited thinking she can finally meet Angelina and shared the good news. But... things didn't turn out as she imagined.

Terla turned aside and her eyes met another.
The boy was staring at her again.
As they made eye contact, he turned away.
'What's with that guy? Is he worrying I would make him pay for a bump?'
Terla glimpsed at her watch and noticed that 30 minutes has passed already.
She had another slight glance at Angelina's table and gobbled up the noodles.
"Huh..? Why you eat so fast!!!!!" Susan shouted out but she couldn't bother.

Terla then billed and bailed out of the restaurant.
She bought some drinks from the store beside and stood outside to look up to the sky.
The sky was blue as always and she, alone as before.