Soul Rings [HIATUS]

Chapter 2-2

:::

Cloud sucked up a breath as he stood in front of the gates of his new school. Excitement, anxiety, and fear came like a wave on the beach to him. Mixed feelings were scattered all over on the shore.

He was prepared for the bombarding questions once he enters the gates. Not forgetting to be also prepared for the people chattering around him.

It was like entering his old school all over again.

He exhaled, and took a step forward, looking around in case if people were gaping at him.

'Smile.' He noted.

From his observations, the girls were wearing the same uniform as the Brownie from yesterday. He wouldn't be surprised if he encounters her sometime soon.

Cloud unequipped his backpack to check if he had brought his things while walking. He had his locker number, including his shoe cabinet number and his classroom directions. He sighed in relief. It would be awkward and humiliating to forget the important things right on the first day.

He breathed in, and exhaled.

The whole atmosphere of the school, he noted, felt toxic and dull. Just like his old school.

-

First few steps since Cloud came inside and people have been gawking at him.

It was just like what he had expected.

He caught a group girls murmuring to each other while looking at him. He smiled at them, of course. And he was sure that they blushed.

'Ah, the power of having charms,' he mused. 'Even though there's whopping bandage on my head.'

He already had changed into his indoor shoes, and received his books from the registrar's office that was just a few feet away from the main entrance.

Cloud rummaged through his slacks' pocket until he felt a small piece of folded paper and took it out to read his classroom directions.

"Third floor, class 1-B." He mumbled.

He took the stairs nearby as he shoved the paper back into his pocket.

"Well, be prepared Cloud." He mumbled once more as he took a step.

:::

Classmates were flocking around him when the teacher dismissed the class and left the room. As expected, he was bombarded with questions, mostly about his eyes. He still did a good impression, nonetheless.

But one thing is for sure, He never expected that Brownie would be his classmate and his seatmate.

Speaking of Brownie, or should he say, Ms. Windneil, she was, well... quiet throughout the whole class as he observed. She seemed like she forgot the whole limbo spawn incident, but she sure was jittery when he called her out before she exited through the door.

"I bet she'll give you the silent treatment if you hang out with her." One of the girls said.

"Yeah. She ignores almost everyone." Another one spoke up.

"Only talks when needed."

"She's like a mute, but not reall--"

"Okay, okay." Cloud cut them off. "It's nice trying to 'warn' me, but honestly, this is making fun of her." He never liked people who talked behind other innocent people's backs.

Relief washed up inside him as his tone didn't sound snappy or rude. He couldn't afford another chance to make everyone have a good impression just on the first day. The crowd was taken aback, but they weren't offended or anything.

"So, um, what are the next subjects?" He stood up, gathering the things of the previous subjects. It felt like it'll be bad if he stayed any longer.

"English, History, and Math." One of the boys said.

"Thanks." Cloud smiled, and walked out of the crowd.

He noticed his shoulders was tense, and sighed afterwards to relax them. Sliding the doors open, he leaned forward to see various students from different years. They had smile plastered on their faces, but the atmosphere was heavy. And if you look closely, their smiles looked forced and uneasy.

'This heavy atmosphere surely isn't caused by any normal cause.' he noted.

He huffed as he began walking, stealing glances at the uneasy people around him.

His locker was at the ground floor, near to the main entrance of the school building. Even though there were lockers within the first-year hallways, all of them were taken. It was a first come-first serve basis.

Although the flight of stairs was long, it gave him time to study the other hallways. They pretty much the same. Hallways, lobbies and lockers in each floor. Each year was divided by floors. So there would be three floors. First year on the second floor, second years on the first floor and third years on the ground floor.

Once he reached his designated locker, he opened it to see a nice and clean inside, having two shelves--the top and bottom. He placed his things on the top shelf. The rest of his things were on his desk shelf back at the classroom.

Once he closed his locker shut, chattering spread all over. And stares were prickling his back.

'Yes, yes, I'm the weird looking kid.' He mused and smiled at those who were looking at him and hoped that itbwould charm his way out before heading out the entrance to explore the school and find Brownie.

But a few steps to the entrance and his second objective was accomplished.

Brownie was sitting by the entrance, her hair swaying with the wind. Just looking at her back could make anyone tell she needs a company.

Pushing the door, he expected the girl to flinch, but no, she didn't. When he looked over to see what she was doing. Which was, munching on a sandwich.

Cloud sat beside her and waved. "Hello!" He smiled.

The brunette chewed on her sandwich and swallowed before her eyes landed on him.

"...If you're here because of yesterday, I'll pretend I saw nothing."

"What?" Cloud raised a brow. "Of course not!" 'Maybe we can get to that later.'

She squinted at him, not a hint of trust was in her eyes. "Then... is it the school tour?"

Cloud nodded and smiled afterwards.

After his response, the brunette went back to her sandwich, munching on it until the last bite and drank her bottle of water until it was halfway empty.

"...Let's go."

+++

A/N:

Seems that each chapter won't be having just three parts now hue :^3

Everything i do seems rushed ; - ; Trying my best here q 3 q

Trying hard too avoid plotholes heeee

And the I combined the concept of the school with some stuffs from my school and the japanese ones. I'm not anime obsessed because it's partly based from a japanese school.

They just have a good concept, that's all.

[18/3/17]

[Unedited]