Meet Me Here

Chapter One: These Things We Carry

It's 5:30 am and I am already running laps around the oval of Anderson Compound. The sound's created from the band Clean Bandit rings my morning enthusiasm especially as the cold gush of wind slaps my face. It's like silver meets mercury.

After some time, I sat at the nearest bench located at the Endpoint intersecting the statues of some heroes I didn't know as I puff ragged breaths. I stared at the view ahead of me only then I realised that the sun's already rising.

I took out my phone and scroll to my list of to-do-list tasks today. I have class that starts at 8am, a specialized subject at 1pm and a sparring with coach Espada at 3pm. Of course, I wouldn't have to list my minor activities just to prolong my tasks, just the majors.

I have to get to my apartment to prepare my things.

When I got home, I went to take a bath 'cause who wouldn't? After that, I grab my pack and off I go to school.

The ground's looking like an actual dump. This was caused by last night's aftermath celebration of the school's victory during the Interhigh. I stopped by my locker to grab my books only to be slammed with the school quarterback, Adrian himself who met me with a smirk. The books fell off to the ground. It's still early so no one's expecting to be lingering the hallways at this early hour. I'm surprised for a jock which mostly spends his time building muscles and not brains proves me the typical definition of a student hanging through his scholarship in his physical attributes. But that's just my observation, don't get offended though. Even if we fight 'till ends meet, there's no way in hell that'll gonna happen since we were both star athletes in different events.

I met his eyes with my eyebrows raise telling him, 'So what? You done now?' Truly, that ripped the smirk out of his face. He released me and walked off without glancing back. For the fact, if he didn't know any better, I am a taekwondo player and he better knew the code that, lay a hand on me, then goodbye-scholarship-hello-regular-student type he will turn out to be.
I wiped my pants, pick up my books and went to the backside of the Jacob Building. It's peaceful out here. I don't get it why there are rumours that it's a werewolf territory. It's a place where in werewolves who is attending this school get to report what's happening inside if there are circumstances that involve them finding their mate. Ah, rubbish. I'm not actually convinced to that rumours since it doesn't come to my senses.

Just as I flipped my book, I heard a fierce growl. I'm alerted and my defence mechanism is already high as I stared into the deep forest. There's nothing there but darkness. My phone beeps startling me as I read the text Red had just sent me telling to meet him at the front gate.

"What?" Red said as I got near him. He is wearing an undershirt grey shirt that says 'I'm cooler than your pops' topped up with his regular hoodie jacket combined with tattered pants which, in my eyes, is not pleasing to the eye.

"Keep being yourself." I said and walk on. Red has been a friend since Grade 7 in this very same f**** high school. We met during the entrance exam test where in I forgot to bring any pencil and a pen is not allowed. Just when I thought the instructor is ready to kick me out of that room for not following instructions, Red stood up and handed me a pencil in which he jokingly said that, he steal them from the store and I have the privilege to pay it to the actual store owner. We passed the entrance exam and yeah, we have become friends since then.
I was startled when a hand leaned on my shoulder until I realised who it was. "You're in deep thought, mind sharing it?"

I smiled. "Nah." It doesn't concern me too much, really.

Red looked unconvinced but finally realised he would try for nothing. He removed his hand, which is leaning on my shoulder and walk a few paces more so he could be ahead of me. He suddenly faced me, "Say, since we're graduating. Have you gone to think what college you will be attending?" he asked randomly and I stopped on my tracks 'causing for Red to stop in his tracks also.

Truth be told, I'm sick and wanted to puke every time I walk within this same compound. I'm never the type of person to settle to the same place in my years. But I guess it doesn't bode well with my thoughts. "I haven't gone to choose." I replied. "What about you?" I asked in return.

He smiled, as if he wanted me to be the first to know. "I'm planning to enrol in JFK University this fall." I was right. I'm glad that he wanted me know since 2 months from now, we'll be parting ways.

"Wow, that's a relief then. Lest you know where you intend to be right?" I laugh and it's real.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." I laughed harder. You wouldn't know if it's laughter with sorrow or just pure happiness or maybe both. But I'm happy.

***

I can't think as I was being kicked to the floor by my coach as we did a sparring. Two days from now, the competition will start and I need my guts to be ready.

"C'mon kid, what happened to the pursuer I used to know? Spread your crap out and get up." I stand and readied my fighting stance only to get kick again. "Ah, this is hopeless." I heard my coach Espada said. He urged me to go home early to get my mind to rest, expectant to be in full shape for tomorrow.

Not only that this day is weird but I think it'll only be getting weirder in the coming days. I hope coach Espada was right.