Tattoos

2

recap:

my eyes darted across the hall, searching; i had only one person that i could ask, who was smart, who paid attention and kept me happy to this day.

lei.

  but she was nowhere in sight. no sign of her brisk and hyper movements in the hall, no sign of her breathtaking brown hair bouncing in those pretty french braids. no sign of her stunning, sweet voice anywhere. maybe she was with that good-looking guy. i change my line of sight, but it seems she isn't if his eyes, too, are wondering.

1 more step into the classroom.

i'm in now.

  there's no going back now. i'll figure out what i need in order to be registered soon enough. so we're all here, lined up at the back. i need to take my mind off of things. glancing around, i decided to check who's in my class. first person i glance to is that handsome-looking guy. i already knew he was with us; his aura and sparkle are hard to miss. everyone here seemed quite normal. two girls snickering in the back, and one girl propped up on the table, cross-legged and observing a bat in the corner of the classroom, and it is the way that she glares, which is that of a lion targeting it's prey, alongside her cat-like eyes and stoic face that sends shivers down my spine.

  we're all lined up irregularly at the back, glimpsing at each other and trying to remember faces when our teacher was the last to enter and walked up to the front to pick up a piece of chalk and write her name.
"miss... hina. call me miss hina." her voice was small and high-pitched. it was almost identical to lei's beaming voice, except it lacked the spark and joy.

  miss hina was a prim and petite girl, no taller than around 5'2", but definitely not someone intimidating at first glance. she had a black pencil skirt suited with a long white blouse which hung loosely around her torso, which contrasted with a coal black, oversized blazer draped over her shoulders. her outfit was completed and wrapped up like a gift with round spectacles and dull loafers.

  "before you ask, i, too, am new to this school, so everything new will be experienced together. i hope we can all make great memories together with the next three years...." her introduction was long, so i started thinking in the middle of it. what the hell was the principal talking about earlier? where is lei? why can't i remember what i'm forgetting? all these questions drifting and swaying in my head. surely it shouldn't be this hard to remember.
"now, i have a seating arrangement." oh. great.

the entire class groaned as she began talking.

  "i will go from left to right, starting from the back. lei, han, jin, hana and kyoko, please sit at your assigned desks. in the next row..." the teacher continued. i took my seat as she continued reading out names. so lei is supposed to be in this class, but where is she? miss hina's almost done. she has one row left to do. i listen in to the people who will be in the front row.

"feng, mei, aki, mia, and ji."

  everyone's in their seats but there's something peculiar about this class, whether it's the two empty seats including lei's seat, or the fact that i feel that this probably is not the right place for anyone, particularly me, to sit in. but, at least i gathered some information. that guy's name is aki. i'll have to keep a close eye on him so that lei doesn't-

"alright, before we get dismissed for your first class, can i please ensure you all have your i.d. cards?"

could it be...?

  shuffling through my pockets, i searched desperately for that small laminated card. it's not in this pocket, not here either. i reach into my bag and searching for that i.d. card made me shut off all other thoughts, and my grasp on reality started to quake, as i slowly started feeling like time itself was put to a stop. my palms started sweating as i tried to remember where i put it. it wasn't in the emergency compartment, nor was it anywhere between my books. it wasn't in the sides of my bag, or at the bottom where most things get lost.

there's no way i forgot it.

  time froze as everyone held up their i.d. cards, as miss hina inspected them and gave a nod of approval for each one she passes. her silhouette inched closer and closer and it is the frightening tension that holds me still - paralysed, panicking. for a moment, i was able to feel my rising, heavy pulse jutting out of my chest, thumping and increasing rapidly in tempo.

  miss hina stepped to the back row and eyed the evil girl... i recall her name to be kyoko. her card was already scratched up, as if it were remnants of a war and despite it's terrible state, miss hina gave a hesitant, nod and stepped over to the next person. i was the last one so i had time to look for the-

"and you, han?"

  i froze in place. jolts of nervousness and anxiety rattled my bones as i was thinking of something to say. i have to tell her the truth now.
"actually, i-"
"HAN~!"

that voice.

so she was here, after all!

"who is this? lei, why are you late?"
"yeah..... it's a long story. hey han, i have your i.d. card!" the people around us started to mutter and gossip.
"why does she have his i.d.? are they dating?"
"no, of course they aren't!"
"such a beautiful girl with an average guy like him..."

  maybe the rumours were cute to me, but i don't want anyone believing these rumours against lei's will. i mean, it's not okay to lie, right? lei strutted down the gaps between the desks, our i.ds in one hand and a slushie in the other.
"my dad called me at reception to hand our cards to me." oops, she made it worse.
"her father knows him?"
"just what kind of relationship do they have?"

  it was only the first day and rumours have already sprouted. i hung my head in shame, hesitating to accept my card from her hands. to the front of the classroom, i glanced at a boy's arm. it's happening.

half a heart, the other half a tear drop.