97 Rabbit

Elrae's POV

It took me half an hour to reach the green gate where me and Neo passed through earlier. I stood in front of the gate for a while, contemplating if whether I should enter now or wait for a while until the last period ends.

I looked at the time on my watch wrapped around my left wrist. There is still 2 hours left before the classes ends. I can't go back in my class looking like this. The white printed shirt under my cardigan and my cardigan itself have wet stains or porridge stains on them. Not to mention my sweaty body and my messy pony tail. I am really not in my best to go back in class as of the moment.

I helplessly shrugged and proceeded on entering the school premises through the green gate. I better stay here until the classes ends. Neo said that I snatched his spot by the lake earlier which means this is his territory. This explains why I didn't see anyone else loitering around the area despite how beautiful the scenery is.

I never explored the school premises or socialized with my fellow students that is why I am not aware of the latest gossips or the off limits zone in this school. Why didn't they put signs here anyway? Signs like 'Do not enter' or 'Beware of demons in the area' would have helped us innocent civilians a lot. (-.-)

I scanned the area for a nice and slightly hidden spot to plant myself in. I do not want to go near the place where I encountered Neo earlier. After making sure that I found the perfect hidden spot this time, I then squatted and leaned against the tree behind me. I closed my eyes and meditated for a while before opening them with a new found light and calmness.

I still have things to do other than keeping myself busy with the thoughts of what happened earlier. I better let my resentment towards Neo go for now and focus on the most important task and that is my project.

I reluctantly opened my sketch pad to start drafting my proposed coffee shop but my hand froze as I saw a glimpse of a drawing on it. My brows furrowed as I intently stared at it. On the white sheet of paper, a beautiful face of a sleeping maiden is skillfully sketched. What... How... Why is my face drawn on it?

The nose, lips, closed eyes, eyebrow and the way the hair cascade down the jawline. I can immediately tell that it's me! Who would-- Neo! That pervert have been watching me sleep longer than I thought! He is the only culprit I can think of!

I am flustered and mad at the same time. It feels so awkward knowing someone used your innocent sleeping face as model for his art but also mad for being stared at and used without my consent. I am in the middle of thinking if I should confront him or not when a gust of wind suddenly blew pass me. My hair swayed following the winds direction. The pages of my sketch pad also flipped and swayed. By instinct, I pressed the sketch pad to my chest to prevent the pages from being torn and blown away.

When the wind finally stopped and calmed down. I sighed and brushed my tangled hair using my fingers. I then looked at the slightly crumpled and folded pages of my sketch pad. I was about to straighten it out when I noticed a part of a drawing on the next page. I curiously flipped the page and to my surprise I saw a beautifully drawn front of a coffee shop. The windows, the entry way and even the small landscapes by the corner were well drawn. I then looked at the next page and as I thought, the inside of the coffee shop is also drawn. The professor said that we can also ask the students of the MA curriculum for help, since we are not trained to draw well. I don't have other friends in school aside from Vincent. He would have been a big help if he is here but I never expected to receive help from someone like Neo.

I stared at it for a while before noticing a small rabbit shape on the lower right side of the drawing. My heart pounded hard and fast as I stared dazedly at the small little rabbit covered by lines of the coffee shop drawing. It feels like I am possessed by an unknown spirit as I flipped every page and scanned every inch of the drawings to see if the tiny rabbit shaped drawing is also concealed on them. My heart skipped a beat when I flipped the page where my sleeping face is drawn and saw the tiny rabbit by the line of my neck.

There is only one person I know who always leaves a concealed little rabbit shaped mark in his every painting or drawing. Does this mean he's back? He was here?! Vincent was here??!! My head then moved like a cctv camera scanning the area around me to see if someone else is here. I looked first at the cluster of trees in front, then to my sides. I sprung up to my feet with the sketch pad close to my chest.

My heart raced as the thought of my dear friend being back from who knows where crossed my mind. Before I knew it, I am already walking towards the exit of the mini forest. My feet then brought me towards the direction of the MA curriculum building. The pathway towards their building is very artistic and lively because of the occasional wall paintings on the side.

I am already near the entrance of the building when I came back to my senses. I then faced palmed myself as my rationality kicked in. How can I be this impulsive? There are no other students in the area since classes is still on going at the moment. I can't just barge in there looking like this. How will I explain the reason why I am here to the others? I can't just say that I decided to be rebellious and skip my afternoon classes to relax and run here to see for myself if my so called best friend is really back from outer space!

I was silently debating with my self when I saw through my peripheral vision that a male figure suddenly appeared and is walking towards the side of the building. My senses then actively ignited as I recognize his back. That hair, that broad shoulders, and that tall stature. I can recognize him anywhere. I am sure, that's Vincent. All my rationality flew out of the window as I run to catch up to him. I don't know, why I am being like this. Just the thought of seeing that familiar face again makes me antsy.

But as I turn around the corner; I almost collided with someone, good thing I decreased my speed. I looked up and saw a different familiar face. "Miss Tan?" the boy in front asked with a surprised expression on his face.