Call It Whatever

Chapter 9

I still don't know his name.

It's killing me.

Xander and Yugo are teaching the new class. I'm watching from my spot on the ceiling beam. I'm hidden in the shadows, out of their sight. The way Xander teaches martial arts and Blading is like a father teaching his children. He's a big guy with a big heart. Everybody loves him.

I watch him demonstrate a kick. I watch the class copy it. I yawn and stretch out over my beam. I'm getting bored. I should join them.

Why am I not joining?

Because good ol' what's-his-name is down there.

I might not know his name, but I do know one thing. He is amazing at martial arts. His kicks are high, he's amazingly flexible, and he's incredible with a staff. I find myself watching him intently. He's extremely sweaty by this point. He's panting so loudly I can hear him from all the way up here. He grabs a towel and wipes the sweat off his forehead. He grabs a bottle of water, but rather than drink it, he pours it over the top of his head. It drips down his face and neck. He shakes his head like a dog that just got out of a pool. Water flies everywhere. His wet hair falls into his eyes, and he moves it to the side. His braid is coming undone, and the flyaway hairs are sticking to his wet skin.

I can't stop watching him. Something is eating away at my brain, my heart, my stomach, every single organ in my body. What's his deal? He sort of freaks me out. He's amazing, better than Xander. The only advantage Xander has over him is the size advantage. Xander is about twice his size. But Xander is not quite as agile.

He notices that his braid is coming undone. He takes out the tie holding the end of it. He undoes the braid and runs his fingers through his long, light brown hair. He shakes his head, and it falls around him like a caramel waterfall. He shoots a sideways glance at Xander, and then resumes his routine.

Who's breathing so loudly?

Wait, that's me.

I feel my face getting hot. There's one thing I can tell about what's-his-name: he's attractive.

At that moment, what's-his-name looks up at where I am. We make eye contact. I feel my heart jump. Can he see me? He's staring right at me. When other people look at the place I'm in, their eyes miss me. His eyes aren't missing me. They're hitting me dead on.

I don't know how he can see me. Xander still can't tell if I'm here or not, and I've been at the dojo for at least a year. Yugo's been here just as long, and he can't detect me either. How can this guy see me if my two closest friends can't?

Xander notices what's-his-name staring at me. He follows what's-his-name's gaze, and his eyes glance right over me like I'm a four-leaf clover in a bed of three-leafs. He looks back at him and asks something.

What's-his-name finally takes his eyes off me to answer Xander. His eyes then land on me again, and I sink deeper into the shadows. He gestures with his head and Xander looks up at me. His eyes miss me again like an archer with bad aim.

I'm silent. I'm invisible. I'm silent. I'm invisible.

I should just sneak out of the dojo. I should go visit Lui again and see if he's doing any better. Maybe I'll do that later, once what's-his-name leaves.

What's-his-name keeps looking at me. He then speaks. "Ukyo."

I bite my tongue. No. don't answer him. Don't respond. Don't give him that satisfaction. I give him my coldest stare and stay silent.

Xander's eyes leave me. He stares at the dojo's open door. His eyes light up, and he jogs over. "Hey! Quon's here!" he says.

Quon's here?