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JADEN CHRISTIAN was an old acquaintance of mine, a connection forged during the eighth grade through my brother. Now, my brother and his friends were notorious troublemakers, not exactly known for their intelligence. So, when my brother tried to introduce us, my initial skepticism was understandable.
Jaden, however, had his own reservations about getting to know me. He'd overheard some jokingly flirty remarks I made about him, and he jumped to the misguided conclusion that I was in love with him. This misunderstanding initially kept him at bay.
When we entered freshman year, fate seemed to have a different plan. We ended up sharing a few classes, and there, his behavior took a strange turn. He'd openly stare at me, often joining his friends in ridiculing me. But when we were alone, he'd say odd things, making promises that I initially took as mere jests.
He used to say how he'll make my eyes roll back. Make me feel good. Have me scream his name. Moan like a little bitch. I thought that was all jokes! Little did I know that he was dead serious, following through on every one of those promises.
One thing about Jaden was that he was unwavering in keeping his promises, regardless of their nature.
Despite the rollercoaster of emotions he put me through during freshman year, Jaden had his moments of kindness and compassion. Being around him was like toggling between light and darkness, never knowing which side you'd encounter on any given day.
Then came the day he was expelled for a violent altercation in the hallway, a dispute whose origins eluded me and others. After that, he vanished, disappearing from Instagram and all other social media platforms.
Looking back, I now see his expulsion as a blessing in disguise, a separation from the toxic influence he was starting to have on my life. If he'd remained, who knows where I would be today?
A year has passed without him, and it's been a journey of self-discovery. I can't deny that I've missed him, despite everything.
While I stood there, feeling utterly foolish, while Jaden's scrutinizing gaze bore into me. He meticulously assessed my every move as I awkwardly turned around to find the entire class fixated on me. Even the teacher, who had been engrossed in writing on the board, swiveled around to focus on my perplexing predicament.
"Is there something amiss?" he inquired, catching me off guard. My heart raced as I clutched the strap of my book bag, mentally preparing myself to address the situation.
Undoubtedly, something was awry. There is this criminal, mentally and clinically insane, maniac who I believed had been expelled is sitting in the same classroom as I.
