damage || (𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦 × 𝘰𝘤!𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭)

i

October 2015

The glimmering sun had shone through the blinds, carving a pattern on the wall neighboring across them. I, for once, woke up earlier than the sun had even welcomed us with its grand presence. The air itself was cold enough that my bones felt like it's exposed to thin air, without any flesh or skin to protect them from. Yet, my fingers lingered to the hope that when I did touch the ray of sun, I would be warmer, somehow. And, to my disappointment, it was just false hope to make myself feel better.

Today was not any different from my other days in that damned high school. But, as people are more willing to find a distraction from the repetition, I found an ounce of satisfaction in the existence known as a decent schedule. I felt more at ease to plan ahead of time, to some extent I also found myself lazy and mundane because I prefer scheduling rather than doing something spontaneously. That was the reason why I was still lying on my bed without any willingness or strength to move even an inch. I was simply waiting for my alarm to ring.

Out of the blue, my alarm rang. With my eyes continuously heavy and sore from last night's editing, I checked on my desktop to check once more on the rendering of the video that I previously recorded. To my luck, I was finished and I took my marker from the glass filled with stationary. Then, I marked down the precise time that I would upload that video to YouTube. I just hope for the best that nothing bad would happen.

Unsurprisingly, my day was uneventful. I showered, brushed my teeth, had breakfast, went to school, contemplated my existence in the toilet, studied, got scolded by the teacher, and then the bell rang. The bell that just so happened to be the bell that meant the school's over. All the kids crowded and melt into seemingly an infinite ocean, and I was one of them who got trapped.

Every twist and turn that my legs could maneuver, my shoulder couldn't go for a brief second without crashing into another's. As I tried gasping for air, my hand's caught onto my locker handle. I nudged it open, not even bothering to open the lock because it's already broken since I haven't even stepped foot in this school. As you can see, my school had a problem with their monetary. It seems that they wasted their money to advertise about the destruction of humanity due to fornication and the motivation for students alike to pursue education. I, myself, didn't even bother to listen to what they had to say to us.

My eyes laid the focus on the class schedule for tomorrow and the work that had to be completed, and to my luck, I had finished all of the assignments. Without a hint of realization, my hands already caught a grip on my next book that I have been meaning to read. I examined the polished cover of the red book known as Kalatidha. My Dutch grandfather formerly lived in the city called Batavia by the Colony has obsessed over that country. And apparently, his love for Indonesian culture had passed down to my father and he passed it down as well to me. At the time of speaking, I was trying to learn its language as it was similar to Malay with a hint of my mother tongue, Dutch. I just have a nick of passion to learn new languages.

English is just my second language and I have grown fond of it. People also wondered how I speak English very well, they even often compliment me. That is why I would probably go to English Major in the near future, I speculated that literature will be the work for me, yet, I think it may also be possible that I will stop until high school due to the growing presence I have on the Internet.

Not even a hint of hesitation present within my consciousness, I remembered that I had a book club on Wednesday. Swiftly did I close the locker and went to my class. And to my extent, briefly, did I also spot and the new boy next to my locker. I am guessing that he just transferred to this hellish school. Luckily, the class was near so I wouldn't waste much breath and energy navigating through that ocean of students.

As soon as I opened the door, a gust of a familiar wind started surfacing on my skin. All eyes of the several club member were on my figure and to respond I just smiled. Some of them immediately went back to their book and some of them continued chatting.

"Eden! What took you so long, you little muffin?" The class president, Darryl, greeted me with enthusiasm. Somehow, that kind of positivity would make this whole room feel better with just his tone of voice, and I am no different. I just couldn't pass down on this lovable and huggable angel that brings sunflower to anyone felt a little melancholic.

"Traffic, the usual," the president snickered.

"Anyways, I'm going to greet the new members, do you wanna meet them? I have a great feeling that they could be the next club president!"

"I'll pass, for now, Darryl, I have a book to catch up to." Darryl scrunched up his nose and blew air from it.

"You're so evil, Eden."

"Well, I'm sorry. Did I hurt little old' baddie's feelings?" I said in a rather mocking, childish tone.

"Eden, stop!"

"Okay, okay. I'm going to the corner to read my book now."

"Alright then!"

Time really is a concept that does not blend well with reading. If I must guess how long I have been reading, I'd probably say about 15 minutes before the classroom door burst open and to tail, it behind is the familiar sound of enthusiasm, known as Darryl himself. There was a couple of names being thrown around that I didn't even bother to catch one of them. But what did catch my eyes is one of the new kids that directly went behind the back of the room. He was sitting across from me with a couple of desks between us.

I felt a sort of familiarity when I gazed at him once more. A thought struck my noggin, it must be the boy who had his locker next to mine. To say at least, he was tall and lanky. His chestnut brown hair covered most of his face but I could see glasses behind his hair. I couldn't catch a good look at him and I didn't have the courage to come up to him. He was just really focused on the book he had on his desk. I didn't wasn't to bother him.

Just as I went back to my book, Darryl took the chair in front of me and rotate it.

"So, Eden, why are you spying on that kid?" I cringed at that statement, but alas, he was stating the obvious. I am just not a good spy, I might as well state to the whole school what I'm doing every step of the way.

"I'm not spying, dude. He's the new kid who has his locker next to mine."

"Oh, so that's the case~"

"Seriously, dude, there's nothing else I swear."

"Then why don't you get yourself up and talk to him already?"

"Can't you see that he's super focused on reading right now? I don't want to disturb him."

"Okay then, fine, you won here."

Eventually, an unfamiliar voice rand to call for Darryl. Darryl diverted his attention to the other newbie that needs his help. I tried to read the book once more but my mind kept running all over the place. It always comes back to the newbie. At this time, I couldn't focus any longer. The newbie's presence got the best of me. I don't know why but his presence is unique to me. I have a feeling that it correlated with the fact that I also don't come all way just to bother someone and introduce myself. It just wasn't me.

"If you keep stalking him like this, I might as well give you his name." My head perked up to that offer. I wasn't expecting that and somehow I felt guilty if I asked him for the newbie's name. Yet, curiosity got the best of me. I gave up and sighed.

"Shoot."

"His name is Dave."