Perfect (Watty Awards 2013)

Chapter 3.50: Gravity Defies You

Chapter 3.50: Gravity Defies You

              Escape reins the laws of humiliation. It tends to overwhelm courage and even agitation itself. Escape is a jaunt to a place we call loneliness; a place that every time serves us convenience yet at the same time a recreant abode. We tend to defy gravity every time. We fly too high and think nothing of the breeze that feeds our egos up, but what if gravity will defy us? Scientifically, this is impossible… but socially, it is.

              …

              The ashen clumps of clouds flocked over a great area of the skies. Its grace and beauty wasn’t seen as how Ethan saw it; dark, flamboyant, cold, powerful. Its numbness made it unique even how negative its attributes were. It didn’t feel neither humor nor anger as it forcefully bombarded Walter High’s steel cerulean roofs.

Ethan’s chessboard bowtie crumpled itself as it badly defied gravity. With his feet above the ground, he felt nothing but fear. His pristine khaki pants, stained in the end with dust, defied gravity indefinitely.

His suffering seemed a jocund accomplishment for others. It seemed an achievement everyone can do to him over and over again. Zak took his pleasure in it. Seeing his face wrinkle in fear served him a full meal with scrumptious and iridescent desserts; with a spicy carrot soup appetizer, a St. Louis cut of pork with jalapeno sauce and an affogato with dark chili coffee.

“Please let him go, Zak,” A voice said.

Zak looked yet never lifted his hand from Ethan. He smirked and silently laughed. “We were just playing. Right, Colchester?” Zak implied an apology as his clutch on Ethan tightened as a signal to make him nod to his statement.

Ethan do so yet glared at the figure who asked for his freedom.

               Zak put him down gently like a poor ransomed puppy. Ethan looked at his savior. His head reached for support, quivering. He stood up and groaned. Ethan turned back and stood beside the person whom he considers a perfect example of a perfect student.

              “I’ll check you later, Frince. We still need to meet Coach Bare.” Zak waved and ran down the dark hall.

              The silence was still and their silhouettes played a scene.

              “Are you alright?” Frince asked and patted Ethan’s back.

              A soft line crossed his face. “Better than under a spell of a coven of witches,” He replied as he dusted his outfit. “My bowtie’s ruined.” He groaned as he tried to perfect the knot. “You are friends with him?” He asked and picked up his things.

              “Yes. Ummm… no. Not much. He asked me to go with him on dinner. He said it was for our ‘project’. Is there anything wrong with that?” Frince returned him interrogation.

              “What would I expect? Perfect for perfects.” Ethan rolled his eyes.

              “And that is why were friends,” Frince said as his tone modified the atmosphere. He smirked and teased.

              Ethan flushed and bashfully asked, “Are we even? I-I-I mean like we are nothing alike. You are far better than me.” He pushed his glasses to his eyes. “I am nothing like you.”

              Frince laughed. “I wouldn’t be saving your pretty bowtie if we aren’t friends.”

              Ethan cringed and stared at Frince’s smirking lips.