Opposites Attract

Chapter-3

The library has been my haven ever since we came back after summer. Nobody will find me here. Tiren and Rachel will be on their own. Khumtsa is not one to step foot inside the library. Vito comes occasionally but the chances of finding me is zero to none. Satisfied with my calculations, I go to my seat. I found this seat that day I started running. It is the one in the far corner at an angle where the cameras could not see, dimly lit and surrounded by piles of books. I pull out my earpiece from the bag and plug it into my phone and tap along with the beats.

🎼Things are looking up, well finally
I thought I'd never see the day when you smile at me
We always pull through oh when we try
I'm always wrong but you're never right...
...
Could've given up so easily
I was a few cheap shots away from the end of me
Taken for granted... That I would've died for
Just yesterday... 🎼

I closed my eyes putting my head on the table.

The stars never shined brighter. The lightning never accompanied a clear sky. The moon lit up his face. He went down on his knees.
"This is what's gonna happen in our future." he said. I stood there, he took my hand and looked up at me "Will you marry me?" he was saying but I couldn't concentrate. Someone keeps tapping my shoulder.
"Just a minute" I said and turned to the one kneeling in front of me. I opened my mouth to say yes but the tapping on my shoulder continued. A distant song kept playing, there is just too many distractions.

I opened my eyes. The song came from the earpiece plugged into my ears. The tapping still continued but the person is gone. The librarian stood in his place instead. I took off my earpiece.

"It's 3:30 pm. We have to close the library." said the librarian.

"huh....?" I looked at him.

"You can come tomorrow." he said smiling.

"uhh... Okay. Thank you. Sorry sir." I said blushing and gathering my bag and belongings, I hurried out the door.

How can you sleep in the library?!

Great. I embarrassed myself.
I look at my watch and it's almost four. I increased my pace. What will I tell mom?
I reached home after forty minutes.

"What happened? No bus?" mom asked the moment I entered.

"Uhm...yes." I replied.

"You should've called." she said with concern.

I'm sorry mom, I screwed up.

I go to my room without saying anything.

"Come and have dinner after you change" mom called after me from the kitchen.

Dinner is the time we discuss everything in our family. Mom makes sure that we always have meals together.
As always, dad sits by the fire waiting to be served. Mom sits my sister in place.

"Sit still." she says as she fills her plate.

Dinner went by without much discussion and I happily secured myself in my room. Not long after, Jungtina comes knocking.

"Oya, let's study together" she said with beaming eyes though her academic year has ended.

"Ask mom" I tried to say as softly as I could.

"She said she's busy"

"Study with Odimar" I said again not wanting to decline directly.

"Okay" she said happily and hopped away.

I pulled out my phone remembering to change the wallpaper. I stared at it for a moment. It was a picture of two similar key chains in the shape of hearts. Does he still have it? Does it mean anything to him?  The dream came back to me. The fact that it was not just a dream but he had actually went down on his knees that night brought back the hurt.

Hold it together.

"Oya, let's study together" Jungtina came peeping again.

"What about Odimar?" I asked

"I don't want to study with him" she pouted.

Where did she learn to pout that well?

I laughed looking at her.
"Come here" I patted my bed.
She happily jumped up on my bed and opened her picture book. She fell asleep on my bed after twenty minutes of play-studying. I look at her and smile. There sleeps my little sister, unaware of what betrayal is. Safe in this circle of four people who loves her unconditionally. She won't have to go through anything alone. I'll be there. I tug her in and sleep next to her.

At least somebody sleeps smiling.

***
So there's chapter three.
If you are wondering what Jungtina meant by calling Grace 'Oya' , that is what we call our elder sisters in my community.