After the rain

Sunset

  The three hour math lesson just ended.

  The math teacher was a little better than hitler. Hitler stole land, she stole periods. Hitler killed people but she only tortured them.

  And recess began.

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  It was the second break, Daniel and I sat down at a red table in the corner of the canteen. The cool air from the air conditioning provided some comfort and relief from the hot sun outside. The sun still penetrated the glass panels protecting us. It reached us, penetrating our skin every day. Its influence was here, there, everywhere. It tanned the baseball players, it guided students to the sacred campus. It gave us a sense of purpose. Play under the sun, work under the sun, because all other sources of light pale in comparison. School was the place where the sunlight was the harshest and the competition under its influence was the fiercest.

  That was our final year. Everyone wanted the best. Everyone wanted to be first, to be the champion.

  And most have succeeded in some way. Daniel was the best in physics. I was the top in economics. Luke, the school jock, was excellent at baseball despite failing every test. Jenni was popular and athletic.

  Everyone had something. No one was worthless.

  The canteen was bustling with people. It was painted in the school colours of red, yellow and blue. Dots colours in white and blue hovered around and filled the canteen. They scattered when they met larger dots. Some dots were nonchalant and just bought their food.

  Dots, however big or small, were still dots.

  And I was the smallest dot.

  The smallest in this prison camp. Dictated by the sun. 

  One of the nicest prison camps among all the other prison camps youths are sent to.

  Yes, I should be thankful. Thankful for entering the battle arena at a young age.

  The sky was a light shade of blue, it grew larger, more beautiful, with every passing day. I watched the swaying trees in the distance, the younger boys playing football together. The studious boys studying next to the field, under the harsh sunlight. Their uniforms were wet, wet with disgusting sweat. The sunlight was too strong.

  'Here's your food, Len,' Daniel placed a bowl of Ban Mian on the red table.

  'Thanks Daniel,' I took my chopsticks and began eating.

  Something in the atmosphere changed halfway through my meal. It was as though a new proton had appeared in the universe. I turned and found myself staring at her.

  Skye. Again.

  And she was with Luke. Jenni was there too. Skye found herself in the group of popular kids. The champions of the social realm.

  Daniel's quick eyes moved from their table to ours, then from Skye to me. He smirked, then he took another bite of his Ban Mian.

  'Len,' he gestured at their table.

  'LEN!' he yelled.

  I turned to him. His eyes widened, so did his smirk. He started laughing.

  'So you just ignored your best friend to stare at that newbie?' 

  I felt a burning sensation well up in my cheeks. I looked down at my Ban Mian. The new my eyes darted to the table beside ours. That aura of kindness radiating from there.

  The sky was clear. Yet I still failed to understand it.

  My eyes met Daniel's.

  'I'm done with my food,' I said. I took his bowl and placed it at the tray return area for him.

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  The day went on relentlessly, just like the sun cooking me in my thick uniform. The present seemed to stretch into an eternity, while the past seemed to fade away gradually, slipping through the gaps in the fabric of the universe. Just as clouds disappeared from the sky from time to time, so did our memories from our conscious thoughts. Sometimes we cannot recall, sometimes we remember. 

  But nothing that happened is ever forgotten, even if you can't remember it.

  The total amount of water in our planet would probably never change, with the exception of NASA people bringing water into space. It just changes form, from liquid water to invisible water vapor. It is still there, and it's impact can never be reversed or forgotten.

  I trudged up the stairs to the computer lab. I pushed open the heavy door and found five club members seated at their computers, playing Overwatch.  Daniel motioned me to sit next to him. I turned it on and opened the game.

  'What took you so long?'

  'Admin,' I replied while logging in.

  'Kay man, this is one of the few sessions we have left, don't be late next time President,' Daniel responded while toggling with his computer.

  I glanced over at the other computers, 4 other people were playing the same game. It was the four of them vs Daniel.

  Our club only had 6 members, it was going to die the day Daniel and I graduated. I supposed the criteria was a little too strict. A student had to be single to enter this club, and disinterested in the opposite gender. Thus a select few would qualify. But that was the point, it was a sanctuary for social outcasts like me.

  I always wondered why Daniel and I were friends. Daniel was outgoing where I was quiet, like two birds, one with a beautiful voice and another with none at all. Daniel seemed to attract attention, the good kind, yet he'd always turn it down. I never understood why.

  'Join my team, Len,' Daniel said.

  I nodded.

  The game began. We were playing in Hanamura, for no apparent reason. Daniel starting killing everyone like nobody's business. I was just standing by, shooting anyone who came my way.

  We won, again.

  Suddenly, there was a knock on our door. A short female with chestnut hair. Her eyes were olive, and her lashes grew out like the branches of a tree. She had the smile of an angel. Her cheeks were flushed with a light shade of pink.

  'Daniel, I need to see you,' said the junior.

  I spun around. I met her gaze. I saw it. It was that look.

  It is confirmed, she's a bitch, she's evil. Remain on high alert. I told myself.

  'I'm the club president, if you need me, or if you're interested in joining the chess club, approach me,' I got up promptly.

  'Uhhh no... it has nothing to do with the chess club,' she mumbled.

  With a disgruntled look,  Daniel got up and walked out of the room, taking the junior by her hand.

  It was another confession to Daniel, I knew it. And I knew that he would turn her down.

  I was right.

  'She was really repulsed by what you said earlier, I think she hates you,' Daniel told me.

  He shoved me a box of chocolates. It was homemade and it looked absolutely unappetizing.

  'She made them for me, and it looks gross so you can have it,' he said nonchalantly.

  I took that box of chocolates and gave it to a hungry club member, who ate in the computer lab illegally. We went back to our game. Daniel and I won every single match.

  The sunlight was fading as I walked out of the school gate. The sky was a mixture of red, yellow and orange, but nonetheless beautiful. I would always love the sky, no matter what shade it was. I strolled down the hill and past the trees. Until I reached the train station.

  At every step of the way, Daniel was always by my side.