Coincidences

Act VI

The teacher keeps on giving us a ton of work to do, in exchange for our efforts and tiredness. With the whole class hanging on a thread, hell tortured us while we wait for the next break. The devil whistled with joy, singing, "Detention, to any troublemakers."

My hand aches from making this essay. It's like I'm writing a thousand words for my will. Resting the poor limb, I glanced at Zoey, who was calmly spraying words halfway across the paper.

Minutes passed, and I was about to be done with mine. After writing the final words, I self-declared victory. As I stood up, Zoey did the same, and we both gave our essays on  the teacher's desk.

The bell rang, and, with relief, the whole school made a stampede.

I wasn't going to waste time. I'm going to spy on her, observe every detail and check any problems.

That alone is a hard job, though. I mentioned it before; the crowd hunted the transferees. They found her, and a flock of boys gathered around her. As it turns out, she was an attractive girl, and caused many other boys to fall in love with her.

I hid over by a pillar and looked at the commotion. They gave roses and chocolates and letters. A little overboard, in my opinion. I waited for her reaction. She turned her back at them and said, "Sorry, I'm not interested." The boys were all frozen into stone.

I let out a chuckle, showing absolutely no pity to them. The moment I turned around, the group of girls surrounded me. They were all confessing whatever they felt to me. They, too, gave me flowers, chocolates, letters. I spy a coincidence.

I have been found.

Thinking about nothing else but her answer, I ended up saying, "Sorry. I'm not interested."

I left the group. I noticed the boys from before laughing at the girls. I avoided any more attention like a disease, while I pretended none of that ever happened.

I stopped by the fountain. I gulped down the cool water and wiped my mouth. I watched the whirlpool spiral down the drain. I had to find her ASAP. I realized I didn't need to do that.

I turned to see Zoey, looking at me.

She immediately ran up the stairs, as if she didn't want to be seen. I chase after her, almost losing her a couple times, until we both ended up in the rooftop.

The roof was quite high up, since the school itself is on a cliff. If you dared to look down, you'd know it wouldn't take a Sherlock to come to a conclusion, a conclusion that you'd die as soon as you make contact with the ground.

She was crouched near the edge, catching her breath. I come to her, till she shouted, "Don't come near me!"

I stopped in my tracks. I didn't move an inch. She inhaled, then exhaled. She looked at me.

"Why do you follow me around?" she asked.

I didn't know if I should answer or not. I stayed still.

"What do you want from me?" She was hysterical, although it didn't fit her nature.

I stuttered, "I... want... I... want to..." I was eyeballing my surroundings, not knowing what to do. "I... want to help... you..."

She stared, clueless to what I said.

"I... know you're going through... something. I just... want to help you." I was gaining confidence.

"Help me with what?" she asked.

"Look, you're acting strange. There's something going on here," I said. "Who is 'he'?"

"Who?" she kept questioning.

"You said 'he' is gone! Just who is 'he'?!"

She remained silent.

I have gone from confused to irritated of her behavior. She was hiding something, keeping it inside her, let alone hurting her. I just wanted to help. I stepped forward and held on to her shoulders.

"Stop hiding it and let it out!" I shouted now.

She was shocked. She stared at my eyes and a small tear emerged, followed up by many others. She broke free from my grasp and ran away. I stood there, regretting my actions.

I slowly strolled down the hallway. I brushed my hand on the metal lockers while I hummed a low tune. I feel bad for shouting at her. I arrived at my classroom and noticed she was there.

"Martin, do you know where Zoey is?" said the teacher.

I shrugged.

"I wanted to tell you," the teacher announced. "You both got a perfect score on the last exam. It's funny to think that only you two get the same exact scores. You both make the same mistakes, if you make any."

Like I care. I slumped onto my seat. I stayed mute until the end of the day.

I'm now eating dinner in the comfort of my home. With my phone displaying a YouTube video, I chewed my beefsteak and swallowed down the soda. I trapped in my own boredom and regret, a mix of these and many other feelings crumbling into one.

I was cutting down the last piece of meat, when I heard the doorbell ringing a million decibels.

I opened the door to see Mrs. Hudson, expecting to talk to me.

"Hello, Martin," she started talking. "May I come in?"

I helped her inside and I offered her a seat and some drinks. She kindly declined.

"It's fine, thanks. It'll only a short while."

Her face became serious. I awaited her words.

"Zoey came home today, and I could tell that she had recently cried. I tried to talk to her, but she has locked herself in her room again. Judging from her expression and based on my opinion, I guess you know a thing or two about what happened," said Linda.

I nodded in response.

"So, what happened?"

"I said I'd help her...," answered I.

"Help her with...?"

I said, placing my hand on my forehead, "I mean, she is depressed, right? She avoids everyone."

I saw the opportunity to reveal her secret. Then, I added, "Do you know anyone that might be gone in her life? She said something like, 'he's gone'. Who is this person?"

She delayed her reaction for a while, as if I have asked a stupid question.

She sighed, "I suppose you don't know." She bent over to augment her next statement. She asked, loud and clear,

"Do you ever see Mr. Hudson at all?"

That put me into a pit of thoughts and doubts. I never did see him. I shook my head, until I realized.

"Well," she followed. "He's dead."