Brightest Flame

04.

I can feel those stares behind me, looking at my back. The hair on my neck stands up. Yup, that judging look. They are reckoning what on earth is going on between both of us.

Please, fellas. I don't know either! I'm just as curious as you are. I want to know so badly why he chose not to go with them. I need to know if what Aileen said is true.

I glance at him. He is staring blankly at the floor number. He is biting his red lips. His fingers are drumming on his thigh. One hand hiding inside his pocket. He is impatient.

Finally after a forever, there's a ding! and the door slides open. The first half are waiting there outside the lift. We walk out of the lift and join them. The girl leads us out of the building and to wherever in hell she's taking us to.

But one thing for sure, I'm not leaving his side. Not ever. Right now, I'm not really sure if it's because he's the only person I know. But my heart orders me not to leave his side. So I'll do exactly what it says. I don't know why. But who cares... right?

"You see that guy over there?" Callahan suddenly asks, pointing with his chin. "The one with mushroom hairstyle?"

I chuckle. "Mushroom hairstyle?" I ask. "Yeah, I see him. Why?" How rude.

"I've met him in a competition before," Callahan answers. "He was so kind to everyone. But he's so damn ambitious."

"So he's like hey-guys-let's-be-friends kind of guy but actually a hey-guys-you're-my-rival kind of guy?" I say, glancing at him.

"Exactly," he says, smiling. Can you stop?

We walk into another building. This one has MATHS written the top of it. This one is smaller and looks new. The girl leads our group up paths that look like stairs but have no rungs. We turn left, right, left again, right again until I have no idea where the hell we're going.

Finally she stops in front of a door which looks same as other doors in this corridor. Except for one thing. This one has a paper glued on it with Flames written with red marker. She opens the door and lets us in.

"Please sit according to your participant's number," she orders. So that's what the numbers about. I look at my nametag and try to memorize it.

One by one enters the room. The room is smaller than my classroom but it can hold twenty-four persons. There are chairs connected with tables. The chairs are made of steel while the tables are made of wood. There is a piece of paper attached to every table with numbers written on it.

I walk by the first row, looking for my number. I reach the end of the first row and turn to walk to the back of the room. This column has my number. I just need to find mine.

Finally at the back of the room, I find it. MO192837465009. I put my backpack on the floor next to my desk and sit down just as Callahan does.

"This is happening," he laughs. So I laugh too. I don't know. It's not funny at all.

"Attention please," a guy says. We quickly look to the front of the room and find a college guy standing next to the girl. "Take your stationery and put your bags in front. Neatly."

I quickly unzip my backpack and grab my pencil case. I unzip it and pour everything inside out. Okay, you must be thinking my on earth I just don't use my pencil case. That's because I'm used to my school's tradition when doing exams. I put the pencil case back and zip the bag. I walk quickly to the front and place my bag next to... his.

Okay. I'm lost here. Why am I always doing the same thing he is? Okay. I'm no stalker. Okay, Claire Bear, it's just another coincidence. Coincidence that keeps repeating itself.

I go back to my seat and just wait for that guy to continue his talk. I don't want no talk with Callahan. I just want to... glance at him.

"Who wants to go to the toilet?" the guys asks. "Do it now."

I stand up and follow those who rush out of the room. Okay, okay, I'm starting to fear this guy. I don't know where the hell the toilet is so I just follow them even though they may lead me to hell.

There is a T-junction in front. One leads to ladies restroom, one to men restroom, and the other one back to the room.  When I turn right, following those talkative—screamative, is that word even exists?— I realize that Callahan was walking with me the whole time. He turns left to the men restroom and disappears. I follow the girls and enters the restroom.

The restroom is not big. But it's big enough. While those talkative girls are chatting from their rooms, I rush into one of the vaccant ones and lock the door.

I go out of the restroom and look around in case there is Callahan. No signs of Callahan. I bet he has returned to the room. And no talkative girls to lead me back. So I decide to follow my instincts and arrive safely.

When I enter the room again, there's no Callahan. Where on earth is he? I thought he's here. Is he waiting for me? I shake my head hard. No, he's not, you stupid.

I walk back to my seat and just wait for the rest of the group to come back. Fortunately, that guy is not here.

I drum my fingers on my desk. There's nothing I can do here except for waiting. At least drumming means make my fingers do some exercise... right?

Five... four... three... two... o—

My eyes jerk open when I see him walking a few seats away from his. He sits down and wait just like the others.

Finally after what feels like a century, that guy enters the room. He says those words easily. "Let it begin! Good luck."

Life sucks.

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