Love Alarm [Based On A True Story]

No One Asked

January, 2015

The noises from the floor above me has me grunting as I lift my head up, unable to take a nap. Waking up at five in the morning wasn't something anyone likes to do during winter. Winter means bundling up in layers of blankets and cuddling with your pet cat.

But for us students, it is a different story.

My eyes turn watery as I yawn, at the same time I watch Claire sauntering inside the classroom before dumping her bag to the seat next to mine. "Well you look like shit."

"Thanks." I grunt yet again, rolling my eyes while Claire assesses me. "First day of school not going as planned?"

"The day just started Claire."

"And you already look like shit."

"I want to sleep."

"Then sleep?"

"Can't."

Claire scoffs, folding her hands over her chest, while I yawn yet again, pushing my hairs away from my face. "Let me guess, you don't want to fall asleep on school grounds because it's 'unethical'?"

My eyes were already hooded with sleep, so when I looked at Claire, it seemed like I was glaring at her with my blank face. "Do I look like I haven't tried?"

"Well then, what's wrong?" Claire sighs in frustration, unable to understand why we are having this conversation first thing since arriving. Even I don't know why we are having it. But I reply nonetheless. "The noise."

"The noise?" Claire questions, before pointing a finger towards the ceiling. "That noise? From above?"

I nod.

"That's the construction workers."

"Wow really? I didn't know. I thought there was an Earthquake and the building was collapsing." I reply in mock sarcasm as yet another yawn breaks out of me, making Claire rolls her eyes. "Well, if you knew then why ask?"

"I didn't ask anything. I merely said I couldn't sleep because of the noise."

"Right."

Ever since December, the school has been under construction, or more like the building we were in. They are building another floor, right on top of us, and the noise is... deafening.

Releasing a long and frustrated sigh, I push myself out of my seat, dusting my pinafore of any imaginary dust before turning to Claire. "Let's go walk outside. It'll drive away the sleep."

As the two of us make our way out and down the stairs, a sudden question sparks in my head. "So how many students have joined so far?"

"So far?" Claire muses, a frown on her face. "Not much really. Even if the others did join, they still haven't started attending classes. Many might start from February."