moonflowers and jasmines

• sixteen •

..-. .-.. .- ... .... -... .- -.-. -.-

the air was still. the sky was dark, blocked by the heavy clouds of the impending rain.

it was his lunch, and as per normal, merrick put his head down on a table at the timber deck adjacent to the walkway to the canteen. that section of the school was abandoned due to some unsettling rumours and myths about the eerie incidents that took place at the deck. but merrick had no clue. he preferred to remain low profile in his school, and that not only meant having no friends but also choosing to be unaware of the happenings in school.

he had one goal: to excel in his studies and get a scholarship for a university out of his city, even better out of the country.

in his four years of high school, the last thing he cared about was socialising and bonding or living a conventional teenage dream. his 'dream' was more like getting freedom from his dad, or should i say his 'genitor'. the words 'dad' or 'father' carried too much love and emotion that was obsolete in their estranged connection.

his present was not a sob story, just a reality he chose to accept. he was living for one person, and that was himself. if he dies, he dies; if he lives, he lives. his perception of life was as simple as that.

he didn't have the energy to heal his pain or reflect on his feelings. now, he was more intended in the true crime murder podcast that was plugged in.

[...amidst the veil of darkness, the bodies of three young women were discovered—each one bearing the unmistakable mark of a ruthless killer. as the investigation unfolded, the town's facade of serenity crumbled, revealing a labyrinth of lies and deceit that threatened to consume all who dared to uncover the truth. the shadowed grove case was a labyrinth of deceit—a puzzle with pieces stained by the blood of the innocent. but as we delved deeper into the shadows, we uncovered a revelation that shook me to my core. the killer we sought was not a stranger lurking in the darkness. no, the true perpetrator was one among us—a wolf in sheep's clothing, hiding in plain sight, masquerading as a pillar of the community. and the one who wore the mask of deception so convincingly—]

cut.

wtf. merrick lifted his head up. there he felt, a shadow looming behind him. his earpiece lay disconnected, and his phone was missing.

he clicked his tongue. which joker had dared to pull a prank on him?

he sat up straight, with his elbow's tip placed on the table. he snapped his finger and made a beckoning gesture to summon the imp.

a boy strided over, before making himself in merrick's field of vision.

that boy appeared to be a year 2 like him, judging by his uniform. his name tag was stitched perfectly, and merrick captured a glimpse of his name, 'pranawin'.

his torso was laid back, his one hand in his pocket while the other fidgeting with merrick's phone. he emulated mischief and merrick wasn't so fond of it. he didn't particularly recognise the boy in front but, he deemed him trouble. the sly gleam that danced in his eyes suggested so.

merrick glared at him, hoping that scrutiny would nudge that dude to surrender his phone. but he didn't budge. instead, he slipped the phone into his pant pocket as he moved closer. he placed his arms on the table and leant forward, looking down on merrick.

merrick rolled his eyes up to meet the latter. he gritted his teeth, "what do you want," he rumbled.

it was more of a 'piss off' than questioning pranawin's intention.

"you," he responded smugly.

his eyes were fixated on merrick, not even shifting by a micrometre.

every hair on his skin perked up by the strong conviction. he was entranced to the point that he was willing to throw away his pride and submit to the boy across.

merrick blinked. what the hell am i thinking.

he abruptly withdrew from his seat, pushing his chair back and standing up.

now, they were eye to eye.

in the grey-lit surroundings, pranawin's intense gaze bore into merrick, while the usually undaunted latter was defeated by fluster.

a smirk plastered across pranawin's face. "alright, nothing much. i want to be a student councillor but i was tasked to befriend you by the end of this term. so i seek your cooperation, that's all."

"ridiculous" he muttered before storming away. he would not let himself be used. the teachers believed that having friends would break his walls. a problematic alien was what they had fathomed of him over the past year. now out of pity, they sent someone to get him on the right track. merrick didn't give two shits being the outcast. all he wanted was a scholarship and he would be done with this school. what entitlement did these adults have to force him into a friendship?

ridiculous.

a voice echoed, "oi, i have a deal."

merrick's ears perked. he shifted, his momentum halting. and upon hearing what followed, he froze in place.

"you give me my leadership and i will give you your scholarship."

scholarship.

merrick needed that. it was his lifeline that would escape him out of the stormy sea he was sinking in. merrick needed that scholarship. that one piece of paper which would turn over his life.

merrick turned and walked towards pranawin. pranawin arched an eyebrow, curious. in return, merrick blankly glared at him, like a pitbull threatening to pounce, before snatching his phone away and heading back to his class.

he didn't need anyone's help. even if he were to kneel and desperately grasp someone's foot, begging for help, he would likely be left stranded behind; left to wither in the desert of indifference. no one would bat an eye unless they gain a selfish benefit from it. that was what pranawin offered, a help in return for his leadership. maybe the society was wired this way, every act of kindness or generosity is indeed an act, a pretence or a fucking business transaction.

- .... . / -. . -..- - / -.. .- -.--

TAP.

a paper aeroplane landed at merrick's table. resisting his temptations to unfold the plane, he flicked it away to the floor.

someone came forward and crouched down, picking up the flicked paper plane. the next second, the person below dropped his bag and plopped down next to him.

"it was a bit noisy behind, you see, so i came to sit here," a milky voice spoke.

merrick was agitated. he was happy that his table partner was away on a long break for a few months. apparently he was starring in some series, so he had special permission. merrick couldn't believe he remembered that but not that guy's name.

coming to the point, now with a table partner who also had quite a dramatic entry, merrick thought his solitude was going to be disrupted.

"but you are a quiet person, so i am looking forward to peaceful lessons, with you," he added with a charm.

merrick cast a distasteful side-eye.

oh.

one look at the guy and his solitude was 100% going to be disrupted. because, of course, this new table partner has to be pranawin out of all people.

merrick lips inadvertently unfurled as he looked at the boy next to him. one hand was placed on the table with his jaw resting on his knuckles. the other was fidgeting with the paper aeroplane. his vision was groggily focused on the paper.

now that he thought about it, pranawin's eyes were rather pretty. he had small sharp eyes complemented by the puffed love bands under. it balanced his face by softening his steely appeal.

"is this a staring contest 2.0?" the milky voice silked out.

merrick rapidly blinked before looking back to his book. he heard a soft chuckle from the one beside him and just rolled his eyes.