The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 13

'IT FEELS LIKE a thousand years have passed since the last time I had the opportunity to study again,' Eien whispers, letting his eyes drink in all the details.

Yamato prides itself on its western-meets-eastern palace ambience. There are lion heads on the walls, which are fake, Alasdair said, and portraits of philosophers both from the East and the West looming in the corridor. Whoever did these had done a great job. I have this silly thought that these portraits might come alive at night.

A medieval-esque long table for meetings between the students and the academic staff is settled near the big fountain. Declan had joked that he had this bucket list, and one of his wishes was to relieve himself there. Fumihiro then warned him that he would do anything to get him expelled if Declan did that.

The red leather chairs in the lounge room would make anyone feel like a royal once they settled their bums on them. This school does not kid when they say you'll feel special once you become their student.

The door that leads to the headmaster's office is carved with linen folds and has glass-like handles, and the walls are painted with different themes for each floor. Themes I don't understand since I'm not into the arts. Every time Fumihiro goes through each floor, he'll look up at the ceiling as though he's never seen them before, some student whispered to me.

'Yeah. So behave yourself,' I say, forgetting what Eien was even saying as we open the door to the office of administration. I don't mean to ignore him. The rational part of me pounds my head. This is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong. Turn back now and tell the kid you can't do it.

A deal is a deal. So the selfish part of me counters, Remember the pain, remember the pain, remember the pain.

* * * * *

'Noritaka has left a letter. It says he's not going to attend any classes from now on,' Mister Williams announces. He pushes back his glasses as murmurs spill into the whole class; questions and speculations enter and exit my ears. 'While we respect his decision, we will still try our best to persuade him to pursue education. We're also contacting his parents at the moment. I hope his reason has nothing to do with this class.' The way he drops the last word makes it clear that he suspects us.

Noritaka has spent his junior high school years here. If he has had any trouble with this school, he could've left sooner, given that he's a natural Zone 1 citizen. He must be skiving off.

'Leaving already? What a pussy,' I hear Jake exclaim. I don't have to turn my head to confirm it's him. He's got this unique voice: grating that is and stuck between a pre-teen boy and an adult. As usual, his minions laugh along with him. One of them is Barney. I don't know much about him, except that he has a peanut allergy. Also, his metal braces shine so brightly under the white lights that it hurts to look at him. The last thing I know about him is that he's always with Brad, his first cousin. The two of them had tried to invite me to hang out outside the school, but they soon gave up when they realised I was with Alasdair and his gang.

Mister Williams throws him a sharp look. 'Settle down, everyone, especially you, Jake. This is your last year, so I'm hoping you will at least try to behave. Remember that you're not from here. None of us. Well, except for a few.' He fixes his glasses, his gaze hard and cold. I take back what I had said about him. 'While we have our freedom in this area, it is still best to remain humble. We never know when this freedom will be taken from our hands. No offence meant, Mister Yamato.' He nods to the redhead, who, in return, smiles. To someone, Alasdair is acting fine. To me, the brief pause before giving his smile is a silent warning to Williams.

'Who cares? It's not like I want to be here,' Jake says.

'Please, just shut it. Nobody likes your stupid voice but you,' somebody at the back counters. At first, I thought it was Declan, but his voice is deep. More so, he doesn't like involving himself in anyone's business unless he's asked to.