In The Dark

Chapter Eight: The Beginning

I was astounded about what he said. Of course, I thought he was just joking.

"That was supposed to be a joke, right?" I asked.

He snickered. "Sorry I was too straightforward."

"Yeah. Shocker." I said.

"But it's true." He continued.

"What.Does.That.Mean?" I asked, too dumbfounded.

"We---" He couldn't find the right words to say what people call them so he just resumed on what he was planning to say. "---are born again on the day that we really died."

"Wait. So, at what age did you die--before?" I asked.

"Eighteen." he said straightly.

"And how old are you now?" I asked.

"Same as you. Seventeen." He said.

The feeling of knowing when you're gonna die is very...eerie? But for him, I think it wasn't. But he should be nervous because it's his first time.

"Aren't you nervous?" I asked, very keen to know his answer.

"Not at all. Trevor told me that it would be wrong if I did." He said, looking intently at me.

I shrugged.

"When is your birthday?"I asked, hoping he would say something like 29 or 30 since today is June 30 then that would mean I still have a month to see him.

"27th of July." He answered dryly.

I realized then I was holding my breath.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Great.

I didn't realize I said 'great' out loud.

"Pardon?" He said, looking deeply into my eyes.

" I just mean---you know, I still get to be--talk with you..at school, you know." I know. I stutter a lot.

"I understand." He said, like telling me 'You can stop babbling now.'

Fortunately, the bell rang and we walked together to our next class. The only class we have together.

I really wanted to not-to listen to Mr. Bart anymore. Remembering that I only have a month to see Jeffrey, Education doesn't matter anymore. I still listened, though. But Jeffrey didn't. He was just staring at me which kind of bothered me but it was okay. Rather look at me for a day than ignore me for a minute.

I looked at him and smiled. And he smiled too.

I knew then this was the beginning of another story of me being zany. Hanging out with a guy who is going to leave me in month and probably make me devastated was the most brainless idea I have ever thought.

But, of course, I was wrong.