The Cursed

A Stand for Arrow

I proceeded towards the tables at the corner, the ones where only the quiet unpopular kids sat. After having hung our bags over the carved hard plastic chairs, we walked along to join the queue where each student filled his tray with the good-for-the-bin food. Amy told us about how she nearly avoided a major car accident the previous night in La Cite Street and how she felt and all. Hira on the other hand spoke about her day out with her one and only BF (Boy Friend obv.). As I listened to her, I wondered how it would be to have a boyfriend, definitely not like the bodybuilder Dexter Portio (Amy's perfect BF), but one who would really love me, maybe someone like Arrow.

Think of the devil and here he comes. As soon as I thought about him, I saw him a few distance away walking alone. I felt strangely elated and blushed silently.

The canteen was strangely empty that day comprising only of my group, that of Arrow's and a dozen other kids. I guessed it was due to the unscheduled talk about The Economy Career Guidance, in which Science students were not concerned at all. Yet the talk was open to everyone.

I stood at the end of the queue, where soon after Arrow joined in. I sensed him more wildly than ever, even though he seemed completely unaware of my being there. I tried to answer Frankie's and the company's questions but my attention was drawn to him only.

-Do you also have practical biology in the afternoon session Iris?.... Iris??, demanded Frankie.

-Hmmm.. , I replied.

I dared not turn my back but I could inhale his fragrance, a sweet smelling odour of coconut water and maybe mint?
His voice seemed like a lullaby to my ears as I stood still in front of him,

-Hey Iris, are you free this weekend? Hira blurted, or what about tomorrow?

They were hell bent on disturbing my one-sided telepathy with Arrow I guess.
As soon as I was about to reply, Zeke Hillton, the school's bad kid showed up with a girl. I did not know her name but I had seen her a few times. Zeke was forcing her against a wall and misbehaving with her. She yelled for him to get off her but he continued and kissed her hand. Arrow stepped forward.

-Hey you! Stop that right now, hurled Arrow to him.

-Dude, she's mine, what's the big deal, hah? Zeke laughed at him.

Arrow marched confidently towards them and pulled the girl away from Zeke. She was in tears and deeply affected. She came to our side and we tried to recomfort her. But the matter was not over yet.

Zeke pushed Arrow by the side and punched him in the back. Arrow went a few steps along with the force. I tensed for him and watched him with pain and agony.

Arrow turned back to face Zeke and punched him so hard into the abdomen that the latter fell to his knees. He rose up again and gave a side kick to my crush. Arrow defended well by avoiding his hits but then Zeke started to bleed. The fight turned more ferocious than ever, with endless kicks and punches. And then, out of nowhere, the headmaster, made his apparition. As soon as Zeke saw him, he turned the story and made Arrow the culprit.

-If this true Arrow, then you're gone, muttered the headmaster with a serious look.

Arrow tried to explain the situation but the headmaster would hear no more unless they got to the main office.

The students who had all witnessed the fight stayed quiet and resumed to their normal activities, including the girl whom Zeke was misbehaving with. Nobody dared to go against Zeke's words.

-He's gone that chap, affirmed Amy as she poured a spoonful of mashed potato and minced biftek in her tray.

-Ahaan, confirmed the rest of them.

I felt an urge to help Arrow. After all he had helped someone and he deserved it too. Maybe if I tried to defend him, he would not be subjected to any penalty. He did not deserve any punishment. And I could not watch an innocent getting scolded and punished like that, especially not Arrow.

I just ran up the fleet of stairs up to the headmaster's office. I had never ever defended someone or even get in there in my life. I would help Arrow without a single flinch. I definitely had a terribly soft corner for him.

I finally landed in the office with a BOOM!
The headmaster was there scolding Arrow while the latter listened quietly, and at the other end Zeke, that creep was getting the attention of the nurse.

-Good afternoon, Sir. I was present the whole time during the fight, so that makes me a witness. And as a witness I can tell you that it's Zeke who started the fight and not Arrow.

-Shut up, you bitch! snapped Zeke.

-You shut up, answered Arrow, his eyes changed to a deeper azure blue colour.

-Both of you keep quiet now, and you, tell me exactly what happened! demanded the headmaster, peering at me intensely.

Zeke looked at me with frog eyes as I spoke. I felt my face reddening and droplets of sweat dripped down my face. I was trying so hard to talk and the headmaster was fixing me too much with his hollow Korean eyes. Moreover there was fear from Zeke and hardness to even glance at Arrow (who would make me forget all my words if I even looked at him).

-So is it true Zeke? Is she saying the truth? It's no point lying, I'll just make your punishment worse.

Arrow nodded silently while Zeke kept still, glowering at me, eye for eye. I swallowed my saliva as the headmaster told me 'Thank you!' and I left from there.

I walked nonchalantly down the stairs, my face flushed with exhaustion. It seemed hard to see clearly suddenly despite my  two mm-thick lensed glasses. I walked past the school library, past the biology lab and down to the outdoor play area. I sat down for some minutes in the cold soft wood benches lying along the side of the area. I closed my eyes and pondered for a while. Suddenly I felt an unknown delectation, and I felt a gentle tap on the side of my shoulder. I kept still for a few seconds and then turned around. My heart became overwhelmed of surprise and subtle glee.

It was him...