PARADOX - SEULRENE

pringles

irene didn't come to school that monday. to your dismay, she was absent the whole week.

you're not sure if she's really absent or if she's just cutting classes again. you got your answer that friday afternoon when you saw her waiting on the school bench alone. one of their family cars came to pick her up.

so, she's going to school but isn't attending her classes with you.

is she avoiding you? why would she avoid you?

---

days went by and she keeps on skipping her classes with you.

it's been almost two weeks now since that acquaintance party night. how you wish you could turn back the time and do it all over again.

especially the part where she kissed you.

"beep! beep! beep! beep!"

a speeding car heading your direction disturbed your thoughts. you were ready to jump and roll on the ground to avoid it but the car stopped suddenly with its breaks screeching.

you can't see the person inside because of the tinted windows. the driver went out. it's simon. you rolled your eyes.

"are you dumb!" he slammed his door closed and walked towards you.

"i'm not," you said nonchalantly.

"then why the hell are you walking here in the parking lot like you're walking on the moon?" he asked. you could smell his breath. this dude had some drinks.

"as far as i am concerned, all the students who go to the dojo use this route in the parking area," you explained calmly. "if you weren't running at forty--"

"sixty," he corrected you.

you can't believe he's even proud of it. "sixty? you're only allowed to go up to twenty around the campus and you're running at sixty?"

"the hell you care?" he snarled. "mind your own business!"

you rolled your eyes, couldn't believe that a person with the level of his intelligence exists.

"i was minding mine until you almost ran over and killed me a while ago."

simon grabbed you by your collar. you could see the anger in his eyes. "look, if you think you could scare me with your kung fu then you're wrong..."

you stared at him apathetically. "look, i'm not trying to scare you, okay? i was just talking about the car speed. also, it's not kung fu, it's aikido."

"whatever. that lame karate is just for losers like you." he lets go of you and walked back to his car.

okay. that was below the belt. you hate it when people are degrading such art.

"yeah, because aikido is no place for dumb people like you," you spat, and that's when he snapped.

he turned to you, his eyes fuming. he grabbed your collar again. "what did you say!"

"i said you're dumb! even at basketball, you're still lame!" you answered him back.

simon's nose flared. "you know what, i am so itching to punch you in the face now knowing that you won't be able to fight me back."

but he's right. it's the school's strict policy for aikido members to not use their skills against any students or teachers of the school, even outside school premises. such violation could cause being kicked out of the club and worse, for you, it would cost you your scholarship.

the door on the passenger's side of simon's car opened. and your eyes could have fallen out of from their sockets due to surprise.

"simon, will you stop that?" said irene, pushing the car door closed.