The Rivalry (Discontinued)

Prologue

“Would you sacrifice something just for the person you love?” he asked.

It was a hot and humid afternoon, and all students had gone home. The only people who were left were the school staffs, him, and me. We were standing at the top of the stairs in second floor; I had run all the way up from the fifth floor to this level just to catch up with him. I just couldn’t let him go… no matter how obvious it was that he doesn’t like me… that he liked somebody else… that he’d always tried to push me away from him. He hated me. But I couldn’t just let myself give up.

I stood there, looking up at him for he was a few inches taller than me. I don’t know what to answer; somehow my brain had stopped working temporarily and I was mesmerized by his deep set of eyes. It always struck me how the color changes from time to time, and it always leave me wondering how it wasn’t normal for someone to have those colors of eyes.

I blinked, snapping out of my own trance. I managed to gulp the lump that had formed in my throat and took a deep breath, not taking my eyes off him. He was still staring at me, like he could see something I couldn’t, and strangely, it made it hard for me to break our eye contact. “Um, of course,” I finally found my voice. “Of course, I will. Love is unconditional… and eternal, but at the same time, meager. It’s vast, as long as you let it be limitless. But if you let it stay for infinity, then it means you don’t want anything to mar your relationship. If you truly love someone, you will sacrifice anything just for them to be happy, because happiness makes a bond stronger.”

He didn’t talk. He kept gazing at me, probably thinking about what I just said. Maybe he was trying to convince himself that it was true. Honestly, I don’t even know where I’d get that. I didn’t feel like I was the one who talked, didn’t feel like the words came out from me.

But then, he stepped one foot towards me, and then leaned closer, making me tilt my head back a little and hold my breath. I could smell the sweetness of his radiant skin, his breath, and his hair. His plump lips were pink and soft and healthy, and I suddenly felt the urge to kiss him.

He moved his head closer, and his eyes were still on me. I could see that his pupils were dilated, and that it had turned darker. It was beautiful and magical, it sometimes looked like it was glimmering like a cat’s… shining like a star… glowing like lava…

“What if I tell you… to back off and stay away from me because I don’t want a love drunk following me wherever I go?” he finally said. “Isn’t that called ‘sacrificing’?”

I stepped back, blinking rapidly. My heart suddenly dropped to my feet. I know exactly what he was talking about. I had confessed my feelings for him, but he told me he doesn’t feel the same way and that I should keep myself away from him. But then, I didn’t listen to him. I kept bothering him and now… he wanted me to go away. I love him but... he doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even like me. He hated me… very much.

“What?” I asked, frowning. The word just came out from my mouth before I could even stop it.

He stared at my eyes for a moment before pulling himself back away from me. He ran his fingers through his hair, looked up and sighed. Then, he met my eyes again, and now, his were a darker shade of orange. I don’t really know what the fuss about his eyes was, but I really wanted to know.

“I don’t want to waste my time talking to a moron.” he said and turned away and started to walk down the wide steps of the stairs.

And I was left there, standing alone, watching him as he leaves, his last words still ringing in my ears: I don’t want to waste my time talking to a moron.

He hates me.

I turned around, closed my eyes, and sighed. When I opened it back again, I saw him, just a few feet away from me. I felt a sudden twist in my stomach, making me want to crouch down and wince at the pain. His blonde hair was a mess, his skin was dull, and his eyes were different…

He looked very sad.

And then more of them came. All of them looking defeated. The girls and boys that I knew from their faces, their hearts, and even the ones I thought I knew, were standing there, everywhere, circling around me. They were calling out my name, pleading: January! Come here! Don’t listen to them! You’re in good hands if you join us.

I moved a foot towards the one I trust the most. The one girl I shared secrets with. But then once I drew farther from any of them, their faces turned into the expression I hate to see: disappointment.

I felt sad as well… I felt guilty for the reason I don’t even know. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t understand anything.

And so I sat down and buried my face on my knees… and cried out loud.