Mindful(l)

Chapter 17: Sky Eyes Sculpt A Soaring Sensation

I stretched and yawned as I sat up from the dusty shag carpet. As soft as it was, the fact was that I had fallen asleep on the hard floor, which left my back stiff. I groggily stood up and found a piece of paper on the floor: "Had to go, but didn't want to wake you. Sorry! Good luck getting home! MUA-HA-HA-HA-HA.  - Kanna " 

I looked at the time: 5:09 PM. Shit, the school should be closing by now and no one knows I'm up here... 

I frantically ran down the stairs, deciding not to stop by my locker to change my books. Thankfully, there was basketball practice, so the gym was open. Then, I realized what I had just thought: THERE WAS BASKETBALL PRACTICE. If anyone, especially the coach, saw me, I'd be reprimanded. After all, the last time I played, I almost cost us the Pep Rally game. What's worse, after I had been given ten minutes to rest, I came back a few hours later, in the final quarter of the last game of the day. Hell, if he was pissed then, the coach would sure as hell kill me if he caught me audaciously sneaking away from practice, since I had missed so many of them. 

Swiftly, but carefully, I walked through the gym as inconspicuously as possible with the hood of my jacket over my head. As I was about to make my successful escape through the exit, I bumped into someone who was on their way inside: one of the players. Coincidence? No, more like Karma. He was about my height, had lightbrown hair with blond streaks at the ends (obviously dyed in, but still pretty cool) and piercing blue eyes that made even me a little envious. He sort of reminded me of an old friend of mine: Kairo. Kairo had amazing eyes, just like this guy. But, he'd never arrived for the first weeks of school, so I figured he had suddenly transferred away without a word-- besides, he had dark hair and wasn't that tall, right? Kairo was actually a pretty nice guy. Even though he was a little quiet at times, he was always lvery trusting and talkative around friends, including myself. 

Well, let's get back to this familiar stranger. I'm pretty sure I'd never seen him at basketball games or anywhere else, so I guess he wouldn't know me either. PERFECT. 

Me: "I'm sorry." 

Mr. Sky Eyes: "Oh no, it was my bad. I apologize." Dang, I should look where I'm going. Ugh, I'm so clumsy. 

Me: "It doesn't matter, I have to get going." 

Mr. Sky Eyes: "W-Wait! Aren't you that Marlo guy from the Pep Rally?"

Me: "Y-Yeah. Do I know you by any chance?" 

Mr. Sky Eyes: "MARLO, I can't believe that you don't recognize me. It's Kairo, from last year? I had some issues  to deal with out of state, so I transferred away for a few months but was here for the Rally. I didn't have the chance to greet you, though. And, since we don't take any classes together..." 

I blinked in disbelief and looked closer at the guy. It WAS Kairo. Different hairstyle and a kinder demeanor, but definitely him.

Me: "It IS you! I can't believe it! Dude, we have to catch up another time. But, I have to go. Do you mind not telling anyone that I was here?"

Kairo: "Yeah, let's meet up later this week. And, you're right to hide, you should hear the nasty things Coach says about you at practice. I'll cover for you, but you owe me that 'catching up' thing." 

I thanked him and walked out, waving goodbye. He was still as nice as ever, I see. 

* * *

I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and fresh coffee beans. Must be the regularly caterers... I thought, yawning. But, as I made my way down the stairs, I noticed the door wasn't open and the food cart wasn't there, like they usually were when they came by. Of course, the one who was in the kitchen wasn't a caterer. Instead, it was my dad in an apron with drawn-on fake abs. I guess it was his cheesy attempt at a joke, because he looked totally ridiculous in it. He already has abs, which made it even more ironic. Maybe it was part of the joke, too?