I like happy songs—those which can make you sway like a leaf in an unknown breeze. Sad songs aren't for me. Maybe that's the reason why I liked Damien's song.
His eyes were glued to me as long as I played. When I stop he flashes me a self-satisfied smirk. "Quite average and skillfully done."
I force the immense urge to grimace at him angrily.
"But still, lacks a stroke of passion," he rubs his nose with his index like some experienced critic. "A touch of heart."
I give him a stainless smile. "I agree with you. All the more reason why you shouldn't have chosen someone incompetent as me."
I really don't like your criticism Damien Frost. So it's the best thing to agree with you cause I don't even want to waste my energy arguing or getting mad at you.
He chuckles. "Leaving that part aside, can we spot how blatantly you, Saint Angel avoided a possible question that is to arrive?" His sharp eyes penetrate me.
"What question?"
"That you don't like this... Studying Music and stuffs." He points at his table where a stack of books are lying disorderly. "Why then?"
It's been only 15 days we've been close acquaintances. Why he's bent on getting on my nerves? "How about we focus on the assignment and save the getting-closer-to each-other part for later?"
He takes out a gum from his shirt's pocket and starts chewing. "A sore topic I see. Most people avoid them in any way they can."
"Since you know so much..." I grit my teeth. "I think I'll let you work on your own."
I get up ready to leave when he throws a T-shirt that's been a reluctant refugee at the side of the couch, at me. It lands right on my shoulder.
He moves his hands wide shrugging. "I didn't touch you to stop you. I just threw a shirt. So listen to me."
I remove it from me. It has a weird scent... faintly musky and intensely masculine. Something really strong was used as a base note maybe?
I level my eyes with his. The smell is so...like him. I throw it back at his head. "What's there to listen?"
"I was messing with ya." He thumbs up. "Let's work. All good now okay?"
••••
The night comes and I struggle again to fall sleep. You live a carefree life and dare to pester me about my lack of passion, Damien. I can't say I'm really mad at you right now—at this moment when you're probably in your dream... When everything around me is submerged in silence and I can hear the annoyingly diverting scurried walk of a lizard in the ceiling.
It's not your fault to be like this Damien. You're simply Kennedy's son. He probably will have no high expectations of you. If I were entangled in a dramatic scandal like beating a junior, Dr. Martin's only son... I'd probably quit school to start afresh.
For some reason I've always dreaded the word Scandal. Even when I wanted to be an actor I thought about it several times. Fame invites the possibility of scandal. And now I don't even know what my future will hold.
••••
The next day Damien comes a bit earlier in school. It's very unusual of him to be before time. He takes a seat beside Mika. By the looks of his friends I realise they're happy to see him. He glances at my way then returns back to chatting. Well...he can sit anywhere—his will. I don't care.
Just then Chris leaps on me from behind.
"Woah! So much energy. What's up with you?"
He smacks twice on my back. "I'm happy. Can't you simply digest that?"
"What do you need from me?" I ask giving him a suspicious eye.
"Nothing duh. Why? Do I look like someone who always asks for favours from his friend?"
I squint as grins sheepishly. "Okay maybe. But not today. I got Henrietta's profile and followed her. Guess what? She followed me back. She even pitied you when I told her that you aren't on the app."
"Why did you have to tell her?" I arch an eyebrow. This girl... Did she just follow Chris back hoping she'd find me through his profile?
"She was just curious. Anyway we talk every day. He cranes his head towards me. "Our tastes match, Saint. Do you think I should ask her out? I maybe like her."
"Uhh... Maybe wait a few more days. Spend more time and get to know her before confessing anything." I pat on his back advising him to take it slow.
I've never trusted a woman. Just when Chris goes back to his seat I get a voice message from Henrietta. "Saint, can you do me a favour? I won't be able to attend classes today. Can I borrow your notes later today?"
Woah she's just blurted that out huh. I type back, "Later today? And how is that going to happen?"
"Please Saint? Can you meet me at the central park? I'll even treat you to a special coffee. I need you for something important."
Ugh! She's quite insistent. Will she go crazy if she doesn't get the study notes for just one day? I wanted to rest a while before meeting Damien for our assignment. Now I'm entangled in someone else's crush-trouble. "I'll see to it," I write back.
"Thank you so much Saint." Her reply comes immediately followed by a blue heart emoticon.
Woah... I haven't even said it surely. Women are trouble indeed.
Damien doesn't come to me nor do we talk for the rest of the classes. I have heard his got a short temple tempered. Perhaps he is upset about yesterday. But wait he is the one who provoked me. I try to make some lyrics in the empty auditorium. Which melody already kind of created but for me it's really hard to finish correct words and expressions when it comes to the feelings of a heart. What does the heart wants?
'On a summer day—yes on a summer day I have seen your smile...' No it sounds cheesy. I cut the previous line. "I watched you sing for me" I try to sing the line. 'You're the one I tried to avoid, you're the one who stumbled on my line." Trouble I write the word while muttering. 'Trouble... Trouble follows you like your shadow.' No. I cut the line again. 'You are the trouble who followed me..' No. No. No. Ugh! Why am I trying alone here? He should be helping me out too. Where's that jackass?!
Shutting my notebook I come out of the school ground and find Damien with his group outside of the small cafe just in the opposite of our academy. His gaze lands on me and I realise I'm caught staring at him.
He comes up running. "Hey! Wanna grab a coffee with us? It's already afternoon. We'll cut our assignment hour today if that's alright with you?"
The whole day he acted like I was invisible. Now that we've seen each other he dares act like a friendly clueless guy?!
I walk past him without sparing a word. He jogs up to me then pulls my sleeve.
I glare at the place where he's touching and he quickly draws back. "I f-forgot! Now can you talk to me?" He asks with an innocent smile planted on his face.
Zeb and Todd waves at me from the other side. "Heyy... What's taking you so long Boss?" They yell, "C'mere."
"Go back to them," I state coldly. "It's good that you suggested to cut today's hour. I'm tired anyway."
His cool expression changes slightly. "Why are you tired? Did you spend last night getting wild with hot girls?"
I grab onto his collar then thrust him backwards. "Screw you."
"What did I do?" He asks getting steady on his feet. "I was just teasing... Unless it was true?"
I walk past him brushing my shoulder with his. He doesn't try to follow me again. I'm losing my saintly aura because of him. He makes me lose it everytime. It feels like my facade barely tries to stand still like a broken wall made of straws.
Damien's call comes twice but I don't pick up. I have to go meet Henrietta now. How tiresome! I pick my bag and head to Central park. I'm not even hungry even though I skipped lunch today. What's wrong with me? No Saint, you're just stressed out.
At 5 I reach C.P and find her waiting there already.
"Hii Saint!" She waves.
When I come closer she pulls me in a sudden hug which catches me off guard. "What's that for hah?"
She stammers, "Uh... I'm just happy that you came. Thanks Saint."
"Alright. Just don't hug me out of the blue like this again."
She makes a sorry face. "I won't." She speaks in undertone, "Saint, why not grab a special coffee that I promised you now that we're here?"
No. I just want to sleep...so tired. Why would I drink coffee now? I just want to sleep an hour peacefully please...
"No." I decline her offer.
"Then how about a cold drink or a smoothie?"
Ah my head hurts! I stagger uncontrollably as she catches me. "Hey you okay?" She asks worriedly.
This headache is getting extreme. I feel like I'm seeing stars. She holds me close to her again. I want to push her away from me but my body suddenly needs something to lean on or else it'll shut down on its own. I hate girls like her... Advantageous and insistent.
I hear the faint ringing of my phone but darkness begins to cover my surroundings. Henrietta's lips press against my neck quickly and impatiently.
Suddenly someone shoves her off of me. "The hell you did?!" The familiar sounding voice growls at her.
"I... ah! I'm...sorry!"
Someone's storming off. Ah why the sky's spinning? My feet loses their complete balance as I prepare myself to embrace the darkness creeping towards me.
"Hey! You! Look at me... C'mon!" The faint voice rings through the air before my ears totally shut them out.
When I blink my eyes open the bright light causes them to sting from inside. Wasn't I with Henrietta? Back there I felt someone lifting me...but it felt like a dream.
I sit up to find Damien staring right at me. "Sorry I couldn't obey your condition," he cheekily says. "I had to bring you back to my place. I thought taking you to your house would simply worry your mother so..."
"What happened there? It's pretty much blurred..." I touch my forehead feeling no ache there.
"You fainted." He sits cross legged throwing a severe glance at me. "You scared the shit outta me."
"How did you find me?" I ask suppressing a tremble threatening to pull itself out. "How long have I been out?" I try to find my phone.
He blinks sardonically. "I'm not asking for a Thanks but if I didn't happen to drive by and discover you in Henrietta's arms...you would've ended up in her bed next morning, with no clothes."
The nerve of him! I try to sit up but he raises his hands. "Stay where you are if you don't want to faint again." He walks up to me from the couch where he was sitting. I'm again on his bed.
He pushes me by the shoulders and I fall back on the pillow again. "What are you..!"
"It's been only an hour and half. I thought you were a goner phew!" He gently pulls the cover over me. "You need to rest for now."
I peek at my phone. "But..."
"Would you rather have me telling the whole class that Saint Angel was being harrassed by a girl?"
I shoot daggers at him but remain silent.
"Then do as I say."