Rebel The Odds

Chapter 1 - Prologue

Chapter 1

A forlorn figure limp down the empty streets, light from the sun long gone as it sets down for a rest, replacing it was a vacant night sky, bare from any stars and moon. Only the sound of light flickering from the broken lamppost rang through the air.

Ethan floundered, carrying his injured leg across the pavement. He hissed loudly when the early autumn wind brush against the fresh cut at his right cheek, the air twice colder during the night.

It wasn't that bad really, the only thing he managed to gain was an injured leg and a cut, the other idiots he had fought were showered with bruises from head to toe, some even probably hospitalized. He couldn't help himself, especially after one of them had ran over to his bike with his shitty driving skills.

Now he had to walk back and buy a new motorbike.

As Ethan was walking pass a corner, heading straight, from his left, a rushing figure bumped against his body causing no impact on him but rather the later to fall down, dropping items on the ground.

Ethan grumbled angrily but bend down to pick up the fallen stationary that came out from a pastel pink pencil case, white and black cats decorated across it with a golden zip. His eyebrows unconsciously furrowed against each other seeing such thing.

Lifting his head, he saw the short girl that bumped against him had already stood up, her head down as she dusted off from what seem like a school uniform-a white long sleeve button up shirt with a green check tie on her neck and emerald green blazer, the logo sewed at the pocket chest. Must be a private school, Ethan thought quietly. 

The only time he wore a uniform was for gym.

He looked away when the short girl adjusted her green check skirt, oblivious to his stare. He noted the white earphones in her ear. 

No wonder... He grumbled inside his head, rolling his eyes. 

"I am sorry... I wasn't looking"

You can say that again, he said inside his head sarcastically.

She lifted her head up to meet his, immediately, he froze when he saw her face. "Are you alright?" Her voice was raised slightly, perhaps from the song that was coming out of her earphones.

She pulled one from her right ear, letting the earphone fell on her shoulder. Ethan could hear an old song he heard his aunt singing once, streaming from it.

Her light-brown blonde hair was braided to one side of her shoulder, a few strands messily escaping the braid after a long day of school. School, he forgot when was the last time he attended it... Her small button nose was red from the cold, it was rather a chilly night, the long eyelashes fluttered slightly from another gust of wind.

The brightest and lightest shade of hazel eyes he had ever seen looked at him, even from the lack of light he could see the clear color, the furrow from her eyebrows indicated her cautiousness. 

Ethan blinked. An indescribable feeling invaded the inside of his body and mind. He couldn't look away, but she obviously could as she looked at his hand. He forgot he was holding her pencil case

"Here" he said, pushing it to her within arm's length, not wanting to scare her if he took a step forward and probably intimidated her with his height.

She nodded her head, a timid thanks following after as she took it, causing her fingers to brush against his. He sucked a breath, speechless by the mere feeling. What was this?

Suddenly her eyes lift to meet his and he wondered if she felt the same before she cleared his doubts by she clearing her throat and nod her head at his hand, "You're holding it" she mumbled and then he just realized he was still holding her cute pencil case.

His hands retracted from it like it was fire. Feeling slightly dumbfounded and ridiculous by his own self.

"Thanks..." she replied, taking it and putting it in her white backpack behind her bag. He stifled the smile when he saw her cat cotton key chain hanging from the zip. So she was a cat lover?

While placing the pencil case in her disorientated backpack full with stacks of papers and a book, she stopped momentarily, as if contemplating about something, before she decided to open the small pocket at the front and taking something out.

After that, she adjusted back her bag behind her, all zips closed before glancing at him awkwardly. Ethan wasn't sure if she was just really timid with strangers or if he as a man, intimidated her, but he hoped it wasn't because of the later.

As they stood awkwardly facing each other, his feet finally succumb to the rational part of his mind and took a few steps back.

"Then..." he trailed off before turning around and walked away only to stop when he heard a nervous 'Wait!' from behind him. As if his body was waiting for it, he turned around and faced her, trying his hardest to soften the features on his face to not scare her.

The girl pursed her lips before taking a step forward and lifting her right hand up on the air towards him, her eyes looking elsewhere. "I remembered I had a few in my bag..." she mumbled awkwardly, her other hand formed a fist against her skirt out of nervousness, creasing the fabric.

Ethan looked at her tiny hands, opening his palm wide underneath it as she let go of whatever it was in her hand. His face morphs into utter bewilderment when he saw a small nude colored band aid with a cat sticker on it.

"I Uhh, I only have that one, hope it helps" she said embarrassingly, looking at her shifting feet. Her hands form a fist against the strap of her bag before she took a step back,

"Then... Goodnight"

The girl turned around and sprinted away to the opposite side, my body almost jolted upwards when her feet tripped from the small steps of the pavement before she balanced herself back and ran off.

Ethan glanced down on the Band-Aid in his hand.

His fingers tracing the small single cat picture print on it. A foreign smile stretched on his lips as he chuckled amusingly.

When was the last time he had smile so easily like this? He thought to himself curiously.

The girl was one of a kind, and even if he didn't want to admit it, he hoped to meet her someday again. It was an unfamiliar feeling, seeing her, hearing her talk and touching her, but its the good kind.

As Ethan neared his home, his hands softly grazing the Band-Aid in between his fingers, his mind was still replaying the scene that occurred a few minutes before and without even realizing it, he was standing on the doorstep of a two-floor simple house.

"Ethan, what did I tell you about going back home late?" He heard his aunt nagging from the kitchen and he rolled his eyes before making his way towards his room.

While he was about to step on the staircase, the door at the end open and Ethan offered a small nod to acknowledge the old woman that came out from the toilet. Her back slightly arched, her salt-and-pepper hair tied in a bun, with her right hand holding onto the brown stick that helped her to walk, at least, that's what it's purpose was but he secretly knew the old woman abused it to become a weapon instead.

"Your aunt cooked dinner, come downstairs after you shower" his grandmother sternly said and Ethan hummed in reply before walking up to his bedroom. Despite being old and fragile, his grandmother was still ever so stern.

When he made his way to the door of his room, his eyes slightly sweep against the door across him, a pang of hurt hitting his heart as he looks away, closing the door of his bedroom behind him.

Darkness of his room consumed him. The Band-Aid, long forgotten as it fell out from his grasp.

What good would it be getting excited over something so trivial?

Love wasn't something he could obtain.

Especially when both of his own parents abandoned him for it.