Noor was sitting in the library.
Ashraf dropped a pile of books on the table.
Thud
"Noor, take a look at this. I bought them from the festival."
"Seriously, what am I going to do with books? And why did you bring me here? You know I don't like reading that much."
"Just take a look, you'll like this. I'll go look for Suvro." Runs off.
Thirty minutes passed.
Yawn.
"He's been gone for thirty minutes… the awkward silence in the library is suffocating. I want fresh air. And what's with these books?"
"Well, let's take a look."
"This one is science fiction."
"This one is about THE UNKNOWN CAPABILITIES OF THE HUMAN BODY by Abir Ajad… not my cup of tea."
"Let's see… this one's cover design is beautiful—"
'A Perfect Romance Guide for Beginners.'
"What the hell—why did he bring me this?"
Noor held the book, disgusted.
"I didn't know you were into things like this."
Ria giggled.
"What the—" Noor's expression turned black and white.
"No, I'm not! Ashraf brought me these! I picked that one by accident because the cover was beautiful."
He turned his head away.
"Oh, I see." Giggles.
"What is with her now…? Why is she sitting next to me? Oh wait—everyone's looking at me with furious expressions."
Noor started sweating heavily.
A girl in the corner was loading her imaginary gun while others held her back.
"Let me go! I'll kill that little shit! How dare he—"
"No, snap out of it! Your gun isn't real—you can't do anything!"
"What is wrong with her…" Noor muttered, turning the other way.
Another girl was chomping on books while glaring at him.
"Eek… this room is filled with crazy people."
He looked down.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I was just teasing you. How's your fever? Let me check your forehead."
Ria reached her hand out.
"No." Noor moved away.
"But why?" She tried to get closer.
"No, no, I'm fine—my fever is gone. Ha… ha…"
(What in the world is wrong with this…)
"What? Are you afraid of me?" Ria asked with a sad tone.
"Yes." Noor answered without hesitation.
"But why?"
"I've stayed away from girls since childhood. I feel uncomfortable. The only person I never felt uncomfortable around was my mother. Sorry, that's something I can't change… and don't want to."
Noor replied unfazed.
Suvro and Ashraf walked in.
"Hey Noor, we're back—let's go to the—what in the world? Why is he sitting with Ria?" Ashraf asked.
"Hm." Suvro munched on food.
"Ah, don't worry. We're friends now. I even slept on your bed, remember—?"
Ria froze. "Oops… I said that out loud…"
She covered her face.
Dun dun.
Everyone in the room froze.
Some girls and boys fainted.
Some stood motionless.
"Urragh—"
Suvro threw up the food in his mouth.
Crack.
Ashraf's glasses cracked.
Noor looked upward, turning grey.
"Noor, what in the world—"
Ashraf rushed to him.
"Aaahh… my ears… what have I just heard…" Suvro yelled.
"Silence, genius," Noor said. "She lost her mind after losing to the princess. That's why she's sprouting nonsense."
(I know lying is bad… but it can't get worse than this. God forgive me.)
"Yes, he's right! Maybe I dreamed that… hehe…"
Ria scratched her head.
"Yes, that's not real. Finally…" some students sighed in relief.
"But why is she talking to that rat anyway?"
"Who cares, maybe they got along." Some girls murmured.
Sigh… everybody is gossiping about us, Noor thought.
"But now, Ashraf—what is—"
He grabbed the romance guide.
"Oh, that one." Ashraf sweated.
"I didn't know I brought that… the cover design was beautiful… I didn't even check the title—"
"Don't make a fool out of me. You deserve a smack on the head."
"Oh no—Suvro, save me!"
"Why would I?" Suvro said carelessly.
"Oh no—"
Noor chased Ashraf.
He threw the book at him after being hit.
"Wahh I'm sorryyyy—!" Ashraf rolled away.
Humph.
Noor went back toward the library.
Before entering, he overheard Suvro and Ria talking.
"Ria, why are you bothering Noor?" Suvro asked.
"You hated and despised him from the beginning. And now you're acting friendly. I don't get your intention."
"I changed my mind, that's it. I don't hate him now. I just wanted to be friends."
"I can't digest that answer," Suvro said.
"You clearly lost because of him. He lives in the same house as your rival. And now you want to be friends?"
"But what's wrong with that? It wasn't his fault." Ria replied.
"Yes, it wasn't his fault… then why did your precious student council members—who idolize you 24/7—beat him just because you talked to him? He was bleeding from the forehead."
"Oh… you're aware of that…"
"They chose inexperienced Noor as the festival management leader just so he would fail and they could humiliate him. To get votes, they did everything under his name."
Ria looked down silently.
Other students in the library became quiet.
"They even went further. Somehow they found Noor's father's number and complained he was causing chaos. Who does that? It's evil." Suvro continued.
"Look, I don't know what you want from him… but if you're trying to get revenge by pretending to be nice, please stop. He already had enough. Don't hurt him anymore."
Some students silently left.
Ria lowered her gaze.
Noor stood at the door, hearing everything.
Ria looked at Noor with remorse.
Suvro noticed him.
"Oi—Noor."
Noor turned away and left without saying anything.
In the hallway…
Why do I feel pathetic again? I don't want people to know what's going on in my life. It pisses me off. Suvro, that idiot… why did he sprout that nonsense…
Sigh…
"Wait—Miss Jenne? What is she doing here? Maybe out for a walk… I haven't seen her since last week after the festival. And she's alone… she's usually surrounded by 10 or 20 girls."
"Miss Jenne," Noor called.
Badump. Badump.
(Damn my heart… why does it get so unstable around her…)
"Noor."
(She called me by my name… that's weird.)
"Miss Jenne ah… I haven't seen you since the festival. Also, I've been sick, so—"
Jenne looked down. Her eyes were covered by her hair.
"Oh, I see. I was busy taking care of some of Father's business."
She spoke softly.
"Oh…" Noor awkwardly replied.
"But Noor… why do you smell a little different?"
She looked at him for a second.
Her eyes glowed red.
Chills. Goosebumps.
A sharp sensation pierced through Noor's spine.
(What was that… it felt like a spear went through my heart…)
He froze.
"Well, forget about it. How about we meet at the house later?" Jenne asked softly.
"O… okay…" Noor said with a shaky voice.
"Then I'll be going."
Jenne left.
Noor collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, holding his chest.
"What was that…"