Labyrinth | ✓

e l e v e n t h ♂

Anger.

People would often say that anger is a powerful emotion that gain control of one's thoughts and feelings in no time. Anger often started up with an arousing fire that was triggered by something or someone. When provoked further, such flames will often disperse and affect every inch of the body like a contagious virus.

When pushed further, volcanoes started building up. They were usually on the verge of erupting inside one's head, and might cause some hectic and chaotic scenes. If I were to be a cartoon character, I would have smoke fuming out from both my nostrils and my ears. Holding them back from exploding can be compared to someone trying to barricade a very, strong force that might easily push back against them.

I had been on this situation a lot of times, so I knew what exactly happened soon after. I was currently feeling this when Raphael re-appeared into my supposedly ordinary life.

Ever since that fateful day, I cared less about Raphael's fate and whereabouts. I thought he would be gone when he moved out the town. I thought he would be living in another state for the rest of his life, away from my sight. I seriously had expected him to come back. Now, there he was, standing right in front of me, grinning and all.

"Uh, hi Chris..." Raphael eventually greeted me after some moments of silent scrutiny. "Do you remember me?"

"Yeah." I answered, brusquely. I didn't want to reply at first, but the intense stares I got from Seb and the girls forced me to. I maintained my stern expression, and kept myself a few distances from him. He even had a decency to call me Chris, after all these years.

"Dude, you changed a lot!" He exclaimed, making me jump. "It took me, like, some time recognizing you, and that's with Seb's help. I thought you be somebody else! You know, we actually met at the bus station 2 days ago. I didn't even know it was you!"

"Yeah." I grumbled, looking away from him. He wanted to shake my hand, but I told him my refusal through my body posture. I really wanted him to shut his mouth; he was just blubbering nonsense things. In other words, he was an ignorant, happy-go-lucky person, pretending that nothing tragic happened in the past.

The girls then stood up simultaneously and warmly welcomed Raphael. I observed each and every of their methods of greeting him.

"Hello, I'm Florence, your typical bookworm. It's nice to meet you, boy." Florence beamed and gave him a handshake. Raphael did the same.

"Hmm, I think I've heard and met you before..." He commented.

"You and I had the same feeling." She shrugged. "Maybe we will find out soon."

"Raphy!" Alyssa suddenly exclaimed and opened her arms wide to hug him. At this, Florence groaned quietly and face-palmed. "Oh my gosh, dude, I missed you so much!"

Ugh, Raphy. I used to call him that too, and I never knew I regretted it this much.

"Same here, Buttercup!" Raphael's grin broadened. "My! You changed a lot too! Dang, I must be missing a lot!"

"Same to you too, and yep, you missed a lot of things!"

"Oo, can't wait to find them!"

I think Raphael and Alyssa will get along well. They had no problem with each other and so did Rena.

"H-hey Raph..." Rena greeted.

"...Rena right?" After some pondering, Raphael uttered out her name. She brightened up and nodded. They both smiled while sharing a small hug, and this fueled me with more fury. Fortunately, I was able to kept it under control, although I found myself glaring at Raphael.