Elr looked at the cheap smartphone in his hand. He'd returned everything she left behind except her phone.
A smirk grew on his face.
"You badly want attention? Hmph. Then I'll give it to you."
***
The next few weeks on campus were a blur. I'd lost my phone and couldn't find any trace of where I left it last.
My contact information wasn't what mattered, of course I had a spare phone for all those b's. What made me worry was my list of unfinished projects, assignments and test samples I drafted in them.
My whole life was ruined!
~'Hey, did you hear? There's a new transfer student on scholarship this year.'
~'Yeah.. I heard he's from overseas.'
~'That's so cool!'
And somehow, most people just couldn't keep their thoughts to themselves. Ari was already going crazy learning different languages just incase she was ever to bump into him by accident.
I can't believe everyone. If I didn't know Ari as much, then I'ld think she was studying hard for this Year's College exams to become one of the toppers.
Whatever. Such baseless rumours didn't matter to me. I have to fight my way back to the top this year or it'll be a breach to my scholarship contract.
"Run girl! We'll be late!" That was Sammy's annoyed voice calling me out of my thoughts.
"One sec."
The only class Sammy and I had together — 'Physics of Light'. Core for her, elective for me. It was cross listed, so.. yeah.
I really didn't want to attend it. Honestly.
I walked behind Sammy, hoping that the whole class would be over by the time I got there.
"Hi, Kurvy. New makeover."
"I'd call dibs on that, girl."
Tina and Cassie, yeah.. they've been all over me since our first year.
What did I do to deserve having so much toxic people around me since school week?
"Hmph, lemme guess.. wanna impress the new kid at our department?"
He's on our department?! My gut did that twitch made me feel something BIG was coming. This new new kid had a major role to play. But what.
I really don't want to be in that class.
Sammy dragged me still.
I plopped on my seat and pouting at the fact that I was there.
Sammy ditched me the second we entered and made for the front row. I don't know what people see in the front seat, seriously.
The seat right next to me was empty. Someone walked in and took it right when the lecturer was blabbing about how important the sun was to humanity.
I really didn't care, but I still made notes. I mean.. who wants bad grades? Not me.
"I came in minutes into the Lecture, but I can still tell that's 'Quantumn' not 'Quatunné'"
" Excuse me?" I was at the brink of snapping when I looked up to him with fiery eyes.
I almost choked on my own voice... "Elr?!"
"Hmph. That's right. Let's try a formal intro." He held out his hand, "Hi, I'm Elrin D'Carter."
I froze.
After seconds of 'Not-believing-he-was-really-there', I accepted the handshake.
That was the only way I could have peace, or else he would've just stayed in that position until someone else had to intervene. Which would be embarrassing enough.
"Kurv Daynes." My voice came out through gritted teeth.
He smiled back, enjoying my misery. I deserved it, but did he really have to go that far.
Yes. He went TOO far.
Elr kept showing up for all my classes until I wished him gone.
Five days started to feel like a nightmare with him around and if I wanted to escape him, then I had to skip classes which -- I would NEVER do.
One date had completely ruined my life.
---
"No. Way!" Elr cried, "I lost AGAIN?!"
"Don't fret it Elrin, you always do." Wyatt's tone was sharp.
" Your thoughts are impressive, but most times you don't always have to think outside the box... Most things are just so plain, you could actually miss them even when they're right before you."
Elr raised his eyebrow. 'Why do I feel like you just taught me another life lesson?"
"Because I just did."
"Tch. Little.. "
He rubbed Wyatt's hair violently.
"You dick, it's all messy now!"
Elr smirked, "Hmph. Serves you right.. Now you look nothing like me."
Wyatt shook his head and his hair fell back into the style that Elr had just scattered.
"How do you even do it? That's supposed to work only for me!!"
" Hm. I suppose we're pretty much alike then,, no denying it."
"Tch. Copycat."
"I told you I'm obsessed with you."
"Easy for you to say. That's why Isa always mistakes me as her you-know-what."
"Right. I hate to bring her along,, she always dumps me for you."
Speak of the devil and the devil--
"Daddy! where can I get the fruit snacks?"
" Up--"
"Shush, Not you, uncle.. " she turned to Elr. "You, daddy."
"It gets worse with each visit." Wyatt cried.
Emily came up to Elr. "Uncle Elrin, where's your phone?"
Elr reached into his pocket and pulled out his iPhone. "Here, stupid."
Emily giggled as she took the phone away, "Thank you! Idiot."
"She says it like it sounds so nice." Elr put forward a pile of cards to Wyatt. "And actually,, it does."
"Really? You're going for another round?!" He took it and played his turn with a wicked grin. "Have you no shame.. in your defeat?"
Elr flipped his card, "I'll keep trying till I get it right. One to countless defeats isn't enough to pull me down. Instead.." he squinted his eyes in battle mode, "It shows that I'm trying and how much effort I'm really putting in."
Kath and Albert stared at them from the sitting room. "I get really scared when they decide to play cards. It's more like a battle of wits than a mere game." Kath said.
"It's really obvious that Wyatt will win, but my twin just won't give up."
"Giving up is my greatest form of defeat. I wouldn't even dream of it." Elr said, over his shoulder.
"Checkmate!" Wyatt exclaimed.
"..."
Elr rearranged the cards again. Huffing in exhaustion.
" One smart move and you would've gotten me." Wyatt adjusted his cosplay glasses. "A little distraction is enough to pull a mighty beast off its throne." Wyatt sighed. "A lot happens in a second. It's small.. but weighs so much in time and space."
"There you go again.. making me feel small." Elr pouted.
Wyatt stood up to leave. "I'll be heading towards my Angels' rooms now."
Elr scoffed. "What? To give them an hour long speech about how much you matter than me?"
" Pssht. I guess that's the only thing you've managed to beat me at so far.."
"..My daughters' love."
"Quit making me sound like the villain here." Elr muttered, packing up the cards and arranging them into a box of their old childhood toys.
" Pssht."