The Red String Of Fate

Chapter 1

 Ethereal (adj)

extremely delicate light, not of this world

                     E P I P H A N Y                S O N D E R

I was sitting at the cafeteria table, munching on my apple, when my best friend Alice, slid beside me and snatched my apple away.

"Soooo, Epiphany have you found your soulmate yet?" she asked, wiggling her thin eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

I sighed irritatedly. Alice were one of those lucky people who doesn't have a red string of fate but wishes to have one. I don't know why she wants it, but having the red string of fate is a nightmare.

She thinks it's a thrill to have a red string at your finger to remind you that the person at the other end of it can either be your happy ending or your doom.

She took a bite at my apple, chewing it in front of me openly and noisily. I looked at her in disgust.

"No, and I don't want to know." I responded to her.

She took another bite from my apple.

"Wha nawt? itsss preathy cawl," she said, her mouth full of apple munches.

If there's one annoying thing about my best friend here, it's her table manners. To be honest, bad table manners is my pet peeve. Nobody likes to talk to someone they can't understand because they have their mouth full.

Luckily, I have mastered the art of understanding people who talks with their mouth full. With years of practice from my best friend.

"Because it's a nightmare," I began to explain to her again the reason I don't want the red string of fate, "imagine this, you live your whole life worrying that you might meet the other person at the other end, knowing that that person can either be your murderer or your lover."

She swallowed the mouthful of apple and looked at me confused like she always does when we have discussions like this.

"What's wrong with having a guide to eternal romance?" she asked, then taking another bite from my apple and chewed it at my face.

"With a chance of that 'eternal romance' turning into hell with that person out there trying to kill you? Nah, I think I'll pass," I said. I stood up and left her rooting at that spot.

It's rude of me, I know, but the red string of fate was an uncomfortable subject to talk about. Especially since I have no one else to sympathise with.

I was the only person in my class who has the red string of fate. Meaning I had annoying classmates bugging me with obvious questions about the nuisance attached to my finger.

Soon enough, the fire burnt out and I was old news. The only person bugging me now is of course, my best friend.

I examined the red sting attached to my pinky finger. As much as I hate to admit, I often wondered what the other person attached to this string like but I always dismissed the idea before I get the chance to dissect it.

I head towards the library, the only place completely Alice proof in this whole entire school. The librarian, Mrs. Anemone was sleeping. I wouldn't blame her, she's 120 years old. I'm not joking.

The library was loud. The silence rule is officially forgotten. Girls gossiped, boys played, an inappropriate anime intro was playing loudly. (Ahem, ahem, buko no pico, ahem, ahem.)

It was nuts in here, but I had no choice but to enter this hellish place. It was either go to hell or being ambushed by Alice. I went North, several books went flying past me, I could hear a girl squeal loudly, chips and bubblegum wrappers littered the floor.

I avoided them all with great reflexes and went further to the north. As I nearly reached the end, the sounds of students going crazy started fading in the background. Once I could no longer hear the noises, I slumped at a shelf of books in relief.

I was at the 'ancient' section of the library. It was where the unused books lay, where the forgotten knowledge was stored, where the once white pages turn yellow over the years.

In short, it was the math section. I, myself am not really much of a math genius or a math bookworm but at least the terrible noises couldn't be heard here. I started searching for an interesting book, doubting that I will even find one in this section.

I sat down, bored. Just when I was about to give up on the hunt of finding at least even a half interesting book, my interest renewed. A man's voice could be heard echoing against the walls of this part of the library.

"-invite new students," said the deep voice.

New students? Why do we need new students for? The whole school is already crowded, some of us had to sit on the floor at class because there were no more seats left, and they're going to invite new students!

A new quirky voice emerged from the shadows and repeated the same protest I had in my head.

"New students! But sir, don't we have enough students?! Some of our pupils' parents were complaining that their children's legs began to ache because of the cold floor." replied the quirky voice in an anxious manner.

"Enough said, Regaldo," said the deep voice, "I am the principal here and I decide what happens around this school, understand?"

The principal? The same principal who has never been seen the whole time he was working here? What in the world is the principal doing here? Here of all places.

My mind was swirling. I heard heavy footsteps fading away to an unknown place far, far away. A few moments after, I heard a disappointed sigh and more footsteps fading away to rejoin the former.

Why would we need new students for? Better yet why would he need new students for? I stood up abruptly and paced forwards and backwards. And Regaldo? Who is Regaldo? I never had a professor named Regaldo!

Perhaps the principal was talking to himself! I stopped for a moment. But the voice and principal Regaldo doesn't really fit, does it? Maybe he worked for a secret society? I paced backward and forward again.

I sighed and stopped pacing. Like what Alice said, me and my conspiracy theories. I checked the rusty old watch that I was given to as a birthday gift when I was seven. 12:30. I guess I better get back to class. With another sigh, I left.