Distorted | Shimada Genji | g.s. / s.g.

act I: i.

October 2057   

When it rains, it pours. Though, when the storm is over, there is a rainbow stretching across the sky for endless amounts of eyes to appreciate. Through the passenger window, Neala's probing eyes study the never ending rainbow sticking out like a sore thumb in the lusterless sky. Her pupils only continue to dilate as her eyes flicker over to the dismantled, irregular clouds in her line of sight. Her fingers subconsciously grip at the edges of the polyester seat that secures her body. Her tanned fingers subtly turn into a sickly white as her once weak grip grew strong. The girl is taken aback as the warmth of a large hand resting on her shoulder interrupts her wondrous mind, and her eyes trail to meet the soul of her family servant, Darius. Neala relaxes her shoulder and her grip on the seat as reality begins to set back in.

"It's okay to be nervous, miss," Darius's soft voice in Tagalog lingers as she hums in reply. She vaguely squirms in her seat as she fails to discipline her discomfort. The girl notices the limo has not moved when she glimpses outside the passenger window. The view is now of a rather neutral wide-reaching building with about five stories. There is a vibrant, grassy green gate connected to the walls around the school that evidently locks when the school is at its closing hours. The luxurious concrete path leading to the school entrance came across as a newly painted maroon which intrigued her. Her line of sight scaled over the pairs of feet continuously walking towards her and away from her which caused the pit of her stomach to grow sick. Neala shifts her head to meet Darius who was already aware of her reluctance. The sympathetic man already could guess what she was going to say.

"I do not want to go, Darius," Neala says to sway his mind. She offers pleading eyes but Darius shakes his head with pursed lips. He steps out of the car and closes the door behind him. The girl quickly envelopes her face into her hands with dread and accepts her fate. Her hands barely brushed over the latch when Darius had beat her to it as he held the door open for her. He closes it behind her as she tries to open the limo door where her school bag would be resting. Darius steps in front of her as a reminder that it's his job. Neala rolls her eyes as she feels that Darius's actions to do everything for her is quite unnecessary. Though for Darius, all he is doing is what he usually does; He is caring for her to fill in the duty her parents fail to do.

He shuts the door as he gives the girl a warm smile. He wishes her well on her first day of school and nods his head towards the entrance. Neala, though she did not feel like it in those moments, smiles and waves him off as a gesture of her being fine. She drags her whirl around, and, to her surprise, there are multiple stares she receives. Neala gulps as she observes the students' looks of curiosity, disgust, surprise, and gladness when her feet guide her to the entrance doors. Neala wondered if it was jealousy of her lifestyle, if she was truly unlikable at first sight, or if people knew she was a lost puppy. She clutches her school bag's wooly handle. To her valid reasoning, it was handmade by her mother. Though her relationship with her mother was not present much in her life, the school bag being made by somebody who is supposed to love and nourish her gave her a sense of comfort. The squishy, soft wool made her senses stimulated and turned off the alarms that were wharring in her head, but her knowledge of countless amounts of eyes on her did not falter.

Her eyes shine subtly as the front doors of the entrance automatically open themselves; It was such a difference compared to the Philippines. From her country, the gesture of kindly opening the door for people was common courtesy. Her scattered thoughts often distract her, but Neala's breath hitched as she stepped through the imaginary portal; The environment inside was a giant leap compared to how it is outside. The phosphorescent lighting illuminating in the center of the outstretched school brightens her skin and plasters a permanent smile on her pink lips. Her eyes scan over the humongous floors of the building and endless hallways inside as well as ahead of her leading to God knows where. A voice speaking Japanese rings in her ears; This breaks her from her frenzy and results in her flinching. She gains sight of a Japanese girl that is petite like Neala but slightly taller. Her chocolate eyes gleam at Neala in an attempt to greet her.