VAGUE

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

The halls were crowded with people, the chaos was so perfect, like a movie. There was the couple that was always making out on the left side of the hall, and about ten feet farther down, the cliquey girls. Opposite them, the cliquey jocks, and between them, the parade of band geeks with their huge instrument cases. There were the aerospace tech kids who never did anything but make paper airplanes and the fashion kids that wheeled mannequins and clothing racks down the halls. And then there was me, not that I fit into any of those groups.

Just as always, first day of school.

The odor of the stale urine curled from under the restroom doors, depressingly mixed with deodorant and body odor in equal measure. Another day of tedium rammed down their throats with the keen sting of stress; always the tests, always the reporting, always the reminders of the consequences of failure. The place must have been designed by a manic depressive, either that or someone obsessed by grey or white something? I don't know. The teachers had done their bit, hanging posters in primary colors, yet the overall impression was of drabness. Broad and straight like the old canal that cuts through the town, only instead of watery greens overhung by new foliage it is all scarred and peeling paint. The floor is shiny though, just like the water in the mornings, brought to a high polish by the caretaker. It was a dark marble floors and white sort of grayish walls, not a hand print or scuff mark anywhere. The doors are a glossy black, numbered with silver digits that match the globe shaped handles.

Yet the school hallway was different today, a place where a sort of commemorating was with his final treasure waiting to be packed for the journey. In whatever room or place he had called him own ever since, there it had also lived and looked at everyone, not quite familiar, not quite smiling, but in its prim colonial hues delicate as some pressed flower. Its pale oval, of color blue and rose flaxen, in a battered, pretty gold frame, unconquerably pervaded any surroundings with a something like last year's lavender. It was him smiling.

It was Copper.

Heading straight towards the direction of his locker where his picture and sort of flowers and other stuffs used by commemorating him was all located. A bit ferocious feeling was being sensed by my instinct, all eyes glancing o me, others act as if they were saw a ghosts and others smirking like it was my fault. And then I realized I faked my death to cover up and solve a case that remains unsolved. Clenching my fist and swallowing air was the only choice I have. It was a tiny step to reach the area yet it seems too far because of the atmosphere. Reaching the said space, automatically close eyes and clenching fists were the only action that my body agree to deal with. Felt someone standing behind me. Yet didn't bother to look who is it and kept taking a deep breath, as if there were some heavy energy was coming from my chest after seeing my brother's face again, smiling at me as if he was not dead.

"Didn't realize that the great detective dick in town can't crack the egg of his twin" students started to gossips, whispering here and there. Giving some drama as if we are the star of the movie they're watching.

Didn't bother to look around, I just inhale some sort-a polluted air coming from the toxicity attitudes of these brats who lives for popularity.

Walking away from the scene as if nothing happened was the easiest way to do, it is like I don't have any choice but to just let it pass and walked blindly. Walking through the path, the gossips suddenly became vague, the only thing being heard was a hurrying and rushing breath from someone who is running from something, facing the floor and walk as fast as I could to get away from the eerie sound. The small steps become big, walking turns into running as the panting voice become clearer and louder.