It was getting late. I stayed wondering around for too long after today's tests.
I still have one more day. Some simple non important subjects and then I'll be free... for at least a month.
My life is about to take a radical shift. I'll be going into the weird and dark life of adulthood, all by myself.
I spent the rest of the evening at the yoga club to meditate before I headed back home.
That took away the last of my money, after i spend it on the pomegranate tea, to get detoxed from today.
After getting stretched well, i thought about heading back home forreal now.
But then i got distracted again. I couldn't help but notice how nice the weather was, befitting for the start of the summer night. A really good time to be escoted.
Hahaha. What am i saying, getting escorted at this late hour, with the final exams day three tomorrow... I'm sure a quick little lounge wouldn't hurt.
"Good evening. Ma- Ruby?! What brought you here at this hour?"
"I'm not gonna be here for long... You got anything for me."
"Not much... Zee was asking about you, i told him you're off duty for this week."
"Hmmm... That's a shame, i would've loved to crash at his place."
"... You look so down, are the exams going badly?"
I was about to start rambling about myself, but i was so tired i couldn't even vent.
"No... I just wanted some action..."
In that moment, a really nice girl just appeared in front of us, she had a small frame, a well fitted dress, and good manners, i was wondering what she was doing.
She greeted the host as he told her to head upstairs. She looked so cute and huggable.
"... Are girls getting prettier lately? I've never seen her before."
"I was fooled too, she's not new, but for some reason, she wasn't acting like that until last week, it happened once this girl showed up."
"This girl?!"
So she's for the women.
"She's been keeping Rin's club all for herself, putting Rin in a tough position, since there's not enough space for regular costumers."
I reviewed recent events to guess who it might be. I had a couple of options in my head.
"I hope nothing bad come out of this situation."
"Well. I think Rin's should not be worried about her."
I felt like there's nothing i can do, so i finally decided to go back home.
To sum up the events now. Inna is homeless. She is now using service spots for herself.
And now that she didn't show up to the final exam, i guarantee that her family has abandoned her.
As i was scrolling in my bed, a funny thought has crossed my mind. I was fighting it off because I couldn't accept it, but thinking about it this way was easier to digest the situation.
Inna really has outdone herself. As wild and lively as i am, I'm not in a position to simply dismiss the final exam like that.
I could only dream of doing such a thing, all i could think of was how i couldn't wait to tell everyone about it tomorrow.
. . .
Today is the the final day for the exams, by evening l will finally be free.
I was planning to hangout with my friends tonight after we are done, we're going to celebrate the end of our highschool life.
Haime's mom picked me up from my house, and then we linked up with the clique and headed to our classes.
"Haime. You seem to have a big shot with the exam. I hope you don't start to look down on us in the future."
Faiyza was the type of friend that wouldn't be cool with her friends getting something good happening to them.
"Well, I didn't join the academy to be listening to your yelling ass all the time."
"You guys would never guess wh-"
"You too Julia. I see how you be looking at me- What's that? Guess what?"
"Yesterday! I went outside late at night to Rin's club and i saw..."
My mind shut me up immediately. I remember an event happening last night that i completely forgot about.
"Tell us what?"
"N- nevermind, i forgot what happened."
We were walking together to the school entrance, i continued to listen to them rambling, while trying to remember the details of last night. But then i slowly started to trail behind the group, and their voices slowly started to fade away.
I was looking at them as they were approaching school closer, i tried to follow them but i couldn't, my legs felt heavy to move.
A well distance formed between us. Then i stopped walking all together.
*Last night*
"... No. She's still here... Eh! Ruby?! what are you doing at this hour."
"Rin... I need your help. Fate is punishing me as of late and i have to make things right."
"Is that so...? What are you talking about!"
"That girl who's been attending the club."
"Huh!? Why are you concerned about that now... The final exam haven't finished yet right? Now's not the time to concern yourself with the club."
"It exactly what i should be concerned about. Your hosting skills are lacking if you're can't recall who she is."
"What are talking about... Do you know her?"
"That person i brought with me the other night."
"Oh yeah , i remember her... Nah! That's the same person?!"
"Indeed. She has not been attending the exams, so i need to talk-"
"You stop right there. I'll not let you disrupt my money. People like her come once in a while. Taking her away will blow up the club earnings."
"Come on now, you can't be serious... This not right!"
Rin was firm on his position. So I took it upon myself.
"Well then, I dare you to stand up to me."
I headed to the underground, Where the dance floor and the sections were at.
"Ruby! Stop! I swear I'll make Camilla throw you outside!"
There was a whole area that was empty, like someone has rented it out. Two girls were the only ones in that area. It was Inna with the petite girl.
My impulsiveness faded away when i saw her playing with that girl, i simply started watching them from a distance.
I was glaring shamelessly, my heart was on fire from jealousy.
I felt like she wasn't the Inna i know. If i came to her to convince her to comeback and finish the exams, she'll mock me.
She was caressing the girl in a very arousing way; she had put her in a state of lust. The scene began to excite me.
I was so engaged into the scene, i forgot about Rin, who i turned around to when he started tapping me on my shoulder.
"You seeing something you like?"
"Fuck off... Kinda."
A moment later, they finally started making out. Inna was wearing a deep blue jean crop top and bottom. She looked so attractive.
"Alright that's it!"
I made Rin call the girl to a meeting upstairs, i needed to put an end to this.
The girl came up a bit furious.
"Did you seriously call while I'm in the middle of a session?"
"There's something you need to hear."
Rin directed his head towards me so that the girl would now shift her conversation to me.
"Can i help you with something? Are you looking for some fun~"
We locked eyes and i cut the distance between us and carefully stepped in making sure she get to hear me clearly.
"Inna, the girl you're with. I want you to never see her again. She's off limits. People are searching for her. So you're no longer will be able to contact her anymore."
I was trying to look worried about Inna, but i came off as threatening to the girl.
"Off limits?! What's that mean. She's mine. I love her. She takes care of me so well."
"This is not a choice. I'm here to let you know."
I dismiss her and pulled her off.
Now that Inna is alone. It would be easier to talk to her and convince her to come back to school.
At first i wasn't motivated. I didn't think I'll be able to acheive my objective.
It would be the first time for me telling Inna to do something, it was always the other way around, i wondered if I'm up for it.
I finally decided to to have that talk with her, i just wanted to have a talk, just so i know what's going through her mind.
I went downstairs again but I couldn't find her anywhere.
I was sitting next to the exit door the whole time, if she left I would've noticed her.
I searched in the bar and in the dance floor, she's nowhere to be found, bringing the options down to the balcony and the 4th floor room.
I took Inna one time to the 4th floor room during our first session together, and i told her how special the room was for me.
So i headed to that room. I opened the door slowly, and i found her gazing at the window.
"I always wanted to be together again in this room. But i never thought it would be under these circumstances."
"... Yeah. It can't be at any better time."
At first I didn't address the matter directly, instead i started chatting with her.
"... Didn't you tell me you hated being at places like these? How you looked down at people working here?"
"I said all that? I mean. You're right. But didn't i say also, that you don't know me."
"Know you or not. There's no excuse for skipping the final exam with a record like yours."
"A record like mine? Don't be fooled. That don't mean nothing. For me, this is what life is really about."
The way Inna was acting was like watching a completely different person, I never thought she would say things where i look like the reasonable one in between us.
"No. You're wrong."
With the way she was excited while grabbing my hands together, i couldn't help but notice how her actions could've been provoked because of me.
"I was feeling lost for most of my life until the day i met you. You helped me turn my life around and be a proper woman, you can't convince me now otherwise. I inspired to be like you, to see someone i once admired say stuff like that...! It's like realizing my whole life is fake. Please... I'm begging you... Comeback."
I was holding onto Inna's jean jacket trying to emotionally stroked her heart with my tears and desperate begging.
"Stop with the crocodile tears."
I released my grip on her jacket and slowly rised my head.
"C - Crocodile...?"
Inna sighed and held her head looking disappointed.
"I'm on drugs so I'm a bit dizzy. I can barely talk right now."
"... Don't say that. Please, listen to me. I'm your friend. No, I'm your student. You're my mentor. Remember the times i served you. I care about you Inna."
I looked at her eyes to see if she felt anything. But all i could see was an unbothered look. My speech did nothing for her.
"Please, sit down and listen to this sweet short story. After you hear it. You'll realize that this mentor-student relationship was never that deep."
"... What?"
"One day, i was sitting at the principal office with my guardian, who happen to know him personally. During the conversation, a name of a girl with average grades and a whole bunch incidents in her record trying to apply for the academy. This was at a time where I've already had a couple of companions who i had control over. I decided to give that girl a chance since most of my companions were just regular students with dull personalities. I didn't know who she was or what's her name, all i knew was that the principal has put her in the same class as mine."
"... So? You mean to tell me... The one who brought me to the academy... Was you?"
"Apparently, yes."
Any other time if i was exposed to this information, i would've looked at Inna with gratitude. But bringing it right now for this specific conversation made me feel weak and vulnerable. My fate was decided at a random setting just like that. That's what i was thinking at the time.
"Oh my god... This whole time."
"You shouldn't worry about me. Not everything needs to be fixed. Just be grateful of how you've become now."
Inna walked besides me, about to approach the door and leave the room.
"... Your hand???"
"You..."
In that moment, i looked at Inna and then i closed my eyes. Everything that came after was a blur.
Inna's eyes were wide open in shock after buried my lips into hers, she wasn't comfortable with it and was trying to pull me away, but i was persistent.
I pushed her into the couch. And then, she finally returned my kiss. Engaging her toungue with mine in swirling motion.
I was captivated by her look when i saw her face under the illumination of the street lights coming from the rooms window.
. . .
I was walking away from the lane that students were taking headed to take the exams, until there was no one on sight. It was three minutes before the first test starts.
I took a moment to assess the situation. I was chessing with myself as i tried to slow my heartbeats. I kept checking on the clock to see if the test began yet. When the clock hit 9 am, i felt like my whole life has shifted.
I was sitting on a bench by myself, just watching the world as it passes by like nothing happened, before i decided to set my mind for my next move, which i found standing in front me.
"Do you have any idea about what you just have done...?"
"Yes. I'm very much aware."
"Really? You cannot go back to the academy. You're chance at getting into a good university is now none."
"Indeed. I'm aware of that part also."
"No. I don't think you are. You can't be, you're stupid, like you're always are and will always be. That's the only way i can explain it. For god sake. It was just a couple more hours away from you?!"
"... I have done things that are considered to be wrong, and everytime i did, i could tell I'll regret it later on. But what i did just now was a decision I'll stand by for the rest of my life."
"I'll tell you what'll happen later on. Your academic record will be ruined, your friends are gonna grow without you, your life will be a lot tougher, and I'm pretty sure your grandma will be feeling devastated too... You telling you have no regret for any of that?"
"No. I have traded those things for something that's way more valuable to me."
"... What kind of thing is that?"
"It's a thing that i need more than anything that you have mentioned. When i was wondering how I'm gonna fix my life and how i could beat my insecurities and weaknesses, only one person was able to help me do so."
Inna started to catch up on what i was insinuating.
"... That person... Was your future worth sacrificing for him?"
"Yes. Because... My future would mean nothing if you're not in it with me."
I felt like those words shot right through Inna's heart, leaving her unable to respond.
"I love you so much Inna. I love you to the point where i wanna follow you for the rest of my life. I wanna be there for you when you're lonely, when you grow and take over your family... Even if you don't, It would still be worth it. Me sacrificing the final exam was the least i could do."
"... I see now. This feel tough for me... I don't know what to say. There's nothing i can say. *crying* Just know that i... I love you too Ruby."
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End of Novel
I wanna thank everyone who took the time to give this story a shot. I hope I did well for my first story.
I started writing as a fine late night activity. I didn't know it was a very tough hobby, that why my uploading schedule has been so bad 😅
I hope you continue reading my next work. I have already planned out my next story. I might switch to Wattpad so be sure to follow me there🙏♥️
At the end i wanna say, don't bond to anything, be free 🕊️