The Apprentice

the Class.

The first thing that caught Fiel's eyes was the fluorescent light. Shining a painfully bright white, He covered his face with his hands out of reflex response. Fiel felt Siegfried's hands on his arm, tugging them down. With a small whimper, Fiel did.

Unfamiliar faces seated behind jet-black tables looked at him curiously.

No, their eyes weren't on him, he thought. He realised that most of their attention was focused on Siegfried, who kept a straight face.

"Come on, introduce yourself." Siegfried smiled and pinched Fiel's cheek playfully. Fiel stood still. He had not expected that he had to introduce himself. Nor had he thought that he would be surrounded by strangers.

Siegfried ushered and nudged Fiel to the stage. The smile now seemed sinister in Fiel's eyes. The encouraging gesture made him felt as if he was pushed into a deep pit.

Socially inept, Fiel stuttered and stumbled on his words. Unable to pronounce even a single word fully. Until only a repressed whimper was the sound he made. Siegfried was covering his mouth with his right hand, his left hand a clenched fist at his side. He was holding in laughter.

The woman in a cozy-looking brown coat only smiled and shook her head. She took a what seems to be a big pen from her dainty floral-printed case. And handed it to Fiel.

"Write your name," She smiled "That'll be easier."

Fiel felt a warm glow spread on his cheeks. Gladly, he took the thick pen from her and began writing his name on the board. The pen squeaked as he wrote it on the grey board. Along with a few details, following the customary procedure of introduction he read in story books.

Fiel
15 years old
Likes: Writing, Singing, Plants.
Dislikes: Baskets, Disturbance.

He then faced back towards the class.

"umm...Ni..Nice to meet everyone!" Cheeks red out of embarassment, he gave a nervous wave.

"AWWWWW HE'S SO ADORABLE!!!"

A loud, high-pitched voice sliced the awkward silence in the air.

"Omg, there she goes again..." Fiel heard the words mumbled from the front seating area. He also heard Siegfried chuckled. Fiel turned to look at him, going out of the door with a goofy grin pasted on his face. Siegfried gave a  little wave towards him and  a thumbs up towards the crowd. Then he was gone. The door closed with a satisfactory click. 

Alone and now the centrepoint of  attention, Fiel returned his gaze to the whole class. And was suddenly hugged by a skinny girl in a pastel peach hoodie matched with light blue shorts. She also wore a dainty pearl pendant around her neck.

"We're going to be the best of best friends!"  The words escaped her glossy lips with a hearty laugh.

Fiel couldn't help but blush and smile in embarassment.