I felt their eyes on me—except one.
"So? What about you?" asked my unfriendly friend.
Me? I just want to go home.
I looked around, pretending to search for whoever he'd pointed at.
Obviously, I did it on purpose.
"You, idiot!"
Wow. He's rude too.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I'm fine with the group thing," I said. "My name's Aito. And yours?"
…
"What? Too early to ask names?"
…
"M-my name's Lina," said the shy one.
"Vali," said the reserved girl, being… reserved.
My sixth sense says something's coming.
"I'm Darion Loxwood, of the Loxwood family."
I don't even want to think about it.
…
Great. Another awkward moment.
Shit.
"Well, glad we introduced ourselves. I'll write down our names. You guys can go," I said, standing up.
They grabbed their stuff and left without hesitation.
Not even a goodbye. Oh well.
I walked to the desk, grabbed a sheet and a pencil.
Aito Meletes.
Darion Loxwood.
Lina… Valii
What about their last names?
Shit.
Now I'll have to ask.
I rushed to the classroom door and peeked out.
Left: no one. Right: no one. Up: what?
It's a seven-meter hallway… how did they walk so fast?
I headed right, picking up the pace, thinking maybe one of them turned the corner and hadn't reached the exit yet.
Or maybe they all went the other way.
I guess I'll walk a bit faste—
"OW! Mmm… watch it," Vali complained, rubbing her head.
As if it didn't hurt me too.
I think that killed 80% of my brain cells.
"Sorry, I didn't see you," I said. "Are you okay?"
…
She looked at me for a microsecond.
I think she just tried to analyze whether my apology was genuine.
"Yeah… the scare was worse than the hit, but I'm fine."
At least she's not looking at me like she hates me.
"By the way, I was looking for you."
"L-looking for me? Why?"
?
"I wanted to know your last name. I need it for the list."
"Last name?"
Didn't I say it?
"Oh, right… it's Istan. Vali Istan."
Weird, but pretty. Matches her vibe.
Now that I see her up close… she's even more beautiful.
Looks like her parents made her with love.
"H-hey…"
"Yeah?"
"Could you stop staring at me?" she said, looking away.
?
First person I talk to and I already look like a creep.
"Oh, sorry. I was just admiring your beauty. Thanks for the last name," I said, turning back toward the classroom.
I felt a tap on my back.
"Do you think I'm pretty?" she asked, cheeks almost fully flushed.
I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
Obviously that was internal. Outside, I stayed cool.
"What? Don't you look in the mirror every day? If I saw that reflection, I wouldn't even ask," I said as seriously as I could.
"So… that's a yes?" she said, voice soft and almost flirty.
Huh?
This is… kind of weird. Totally different from before.
Maybe it was the head bump?
Or not.
I just caused someone to have a stroke, triggering a sudden personality shift.
"U-uh… yeah, a definite yes," I said, barely paying attention.
If it were a stroke, she wouldn't be walking.
Maybe she's always like this, and usually wears her cold, empowered-woman face to keep people from seeing her as weak.
That's even less logical.
Shit.
Inhale. Exhale.
"Aito? Aito?"
I think I…
"Aito? Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah… I'm fine. Just thinking," I said, trying not to sound worried.
"Really? About what?" she asked, voice slightly higher than before.
"A movie."
She bounced lightly, excited to know which one.
"Whiiich?"
"Vali Istan… Vali Istan."
"What? I'm right next to you, dummy."
"Vali Istan," I said one last time, closing my eyes.
I opened them.
She was still there, still, doing nothing.
"Vali?"
"WA!" she shouted, trying to scare me. "I thought we were meditating, hehe."
Shit… that worked in Split.
I touched my face, almost tearing it off.
"Hey, I forgot my backpack. That's why I came back."
Really? That's what I'd been wondering the whole time.
"Will you come with me to get it?" she said, grabbing my arm, basically dragging me.
I don't think I have a choice.
"Okay," I said reluctantly.
"Hey, why are you so quiet? I always see you alone, looking bored. Like you've got no friends and your life's dull when you're not at uni," she said, smiling and jumping. Pretty high, actually.
…
So direct. But true. I'm not complaining.
"If by 'dull' you mean 'peaceful,' then you're absolutely right," I said.
I don't think she should jump that high.
She's gonna hit the door.
But I won't say anything.
"But don't you think it's ki—...?"
It happened.
Ouch. That must've hurt. At least she didn't finish the sentence. I wouldn't have liked to answer.
"Hey? Are you okay?" I asked as she crouched down, staring at the floor, curled up like a ball.
Getting hit twice in the same spot must hu—
"Mh?"
I reacted, blocking the blow aimed straight at my face with my palm.
I let go, and she quickly pulled her hand back, angry, hiding her eyes behind her hair, staring at the floor.
"Don't come near me," she said, quickly entering the classroom and rushing out with her backpack, heading back the way we came. No words.
…
Looks like my theory was right.