16 Page 16: Burst

The wind blows through my hair and I hear buzzing sounds from the table's metal surface. The students have started to arrive. It's been over an hour since I decided to take a nap on my seat just so I could avoid any possible interaction by the time any of my classmates notice how I was already in school. And by classmates, I am most certainly referring to Miya, who had been keen enough to record my movements as part of her "watch" program, keeping track of my activities and habits as a part of my improvement in society.

I can't really see due to my head facing the desk with my arms serving as its pillow, but I can tell that there had already been students in the classroom for a while now. I hear some notice me sleeping and telling the others not to bother me and others who would still nonchalantingly slam their chairs just to spite me. I believe those were Niko's followers. Even when Niko appears to have been calm around me, his minions does not seem to conform with their idol. However, all they've been doing lately was scowl at me as opposed to the first few days where they would physically block me in the halls and snatch my indoor shoes making it disappear for a day or two, only to find it at one of the girls' bathroom stalls.

"Is she asleep?" said a familiar high pitched voice.

Of course, dear Princess Langley has arrived with her rowdy scuffling over the seats just to get to hers. I hear her lay her books on her desk in front of me. I could tell it was her. Her strong flowery perfume was all over the place. I could feel her stare at me then leaning over to tell if I was asleep or not. I felt her finger poke my side and I hear the classroom gasp as if she had done the most unthinkable. Thankfully I wasn't ticklish in that area which saved me from revealing my act.

"That's odd," she mumbled, "Has she been here long?" I hear her turn to our other classmates.

My heart started to race. I was slow but I did realize soon enough that with any of my classmate's responses, Miya could start suspecting something. And if that suspicion arouses her curiosity, she might start connecting the dots. It took a minute of silence before the first person who arrived after me spoke up.

"She's already been in that state when I arrived about an hour ago."

Good. Good response. True and vague, nicely done. Thank you. My throbbing chest started calming down knowing there's no way Miya would still dig deeper on that.

I could feel her staring at me again. I know what she's thinking: Something must have happened at her home.

I always use my family as an excuse whenever I feel like escaping or running away. That way, no one suspects what I'm really up to.

"Let's let her sleep. I heard her grandma was in a bad state. She must have gone home and took care of her." said Miya in a concerned tone.

See? Safe.

But right when Miya had already made the people in the room quiet for me, loud banging noise was coming from the outside echoing in the hall. Everybody started murmuring, crowding to the door, petrified of what they're hearing. I, too, was very curious of what it could be, but then again I should be sleeping. I wait for the loud banging to come nearer as for me to picture what it was when it suddenly did get louder but with a much clearer wailing and audible flailing outside the door.

The door slammed open and I the room fell silent. I bet everyone was staring at the animal who had just stepped inside panting.

"Niko...?" said Miya, sounding alarmed of the scene she's currently seeing. Even without the visuals, I could deeply imagine what might have caused his hype and excitement early in the morning.

Principal Langley must have done something. I had a feeling he was giving me hints on what to do so he could insinuate something to the boy.

I hear Niko drag his feet, limping from desk to desk coming from the back door. Being the one beside his desk, I can hear every inhale and exhale he's been letting out. I hear his bag drop to the floor then he pulls his chair away from the table.

How is he knowing what to do? What exactly did that principal tell him?

"Did you see her?" his voice was airy.

"I-I just got here." replied Miya,

"Who-Who exactly are you talking about?"

"Did anybody see her?" he yells to the whole class. He didn't sound angry though. I thought he'd be knowing how he usually acts all cold to everyone. He's like this child who starts asking if the mascot from Disneyland had arrived and if anybody had taken a photo with it.

The room was filled with a number of muffled 'no', which made him sigh.

"Oh. But Eve got here before everybody." prompted Miya.

My heart started pounding. I could feel my nape is starting to feel cold but my palms were overflowing. Damn it, Miya!!!!

"Ishioka?" he retorted.

Oh crap, I can really feel his cold stare right now.

"Hey," his voice came out deep, "How long are you going to pretend you're sleeping? I saw you flinch just now."

I swallowed a bit of saliva just hearing his voice. You see this is why I don't trust my body with keeping secrets. Sure, I can keep my mouth shut, but physical reactions? If I had a tail, it would most certainly be up by now.

I slowly make my head creep up as if I had only woken up, yawning and stretching to the open window on my left. I rest my arms to the table then casually turned to the boy who had been staring at me.

"Oh, hi." I said.

"Don't 'Oh, hi' me." he frowned, "Langley here says you had been here way before everybody else."

"Yeah, so?"

"Did you see anybody come in?"

I looked at him up and down, passively checking him out with a bored expression,

"Yeah, me." I said.

His hand went straight for his face, posing like a disappointed idiot, sighing to himself.

"Can you be more dramatic?" I accidentally said out loud.

I see his face flicker in anger, "Could I beeee more dramatic?" he even made the question sound more dramatic as it already is.

"You're making a scene, Stepanov." I instantly replied.

He looks around and insanely glares at everybody else making the crowd drain out to the door. The room is now only occupied by me, Miya and lunatic over here.

"They all went out." Miya whispered, amazed.

"Thanks to this idiot over here." sarcasm emanating in my tone, "What is wrong with you, Stepanov?" I stood up, extending my arms, gesturing and pointing to the emptied seats, "First, you enter the room like a gorilla, now you scared everyone like a hungry lion."

"I asked you a simple question, Ishioka."

"And I'm telling you you're insane." I said, resting my hands on my hips, "You have got to manage your temper."

Niko didn't reply. He stared at me, eyes burning in anger. I wasn't backing down. I've had it with his tantrums and with the situation I already am, I know I'm the only one who could set this jerk straight. I see Miya slowly stepping away, feeling all the heat.

"Miya." I said, which made her jump.

"Yes?"

"Calm everyone down outside just until the bell rings."

"Okay." she said, stumbling on the desks and proceeded to the door, closing it shut.

The moment I heard the click of the slot, I leaned back to the table, pushing my weight into it while my eyes still glued into his face.

"Look," I sharply inhaled, "I'm sorry I sounded proud and uninterested, but really I have no idea what you're talking about."

His face softens a little, "You know I've been searching for someone these past couple of days. I've been very explicit about it."

"Yes, yes, I've heard. The posters and that radio interview. The mystery girl from LIA." I smiled, making sure I sounded breezy.

His face turn to disappointment. I see him reach under his desk, pulling out the note I've set underneath earlier this morning. My heart skipped a beat. To all the gods out there, I am praying so fervently right now, hoping that my face isn't looking suspicious at all.

"Oh, a note?" I said, pointing at the piece of folded stationary.

He glanced at me then back to the paper on his hand. I was worried he would open it and read it out for me, but he pulled out his wallet from behind and carefully slipped it in. Securing it like it was more important than of his insurance card.

"I guess you really didn't see anybody, huh?" he mumbles.

I know I should feel glad that he's dropping the issue on hand, but, I'm starting to feel bad for him. He may have acted rashly earlier, but that's just his way of showing his excitement.

"Did I disappoint you?"

"No, no," he said shaking his hands in front of me, "It's not your fault." he sighed, "Your right, I guess I should get my temper checked."

I pat his shoulder so he'd feel at ease. I see a small smile grow from the side of his lip but then he looked away. I guess he felt embarrassed.

Looking at Niko's calm expression right now makes me think about something. It's not been long since I've been hanging around with Niko (or the other way around), but his burst of agitation and irrational emotions to the extreme, really bother me. I know that there are people who have hot and cold personalities but...this doesn't feel like the case for him at all. This happened when we met for the first time, then he was calm when we talked at the basketball court. He was very unhappy when we got called to the principal's office that he ended up holding a sob in, then he went on a daze when we got out. There was also that press conference. Although I did not know he was Cherry, but he also lashed out on everybody at the conference room, dragging his anger up until the suite, only calming down afterwards but in a completely trusting state.

I caressed Niko's arm noticing how he's been in a daze for a while now. The boy blankly glanced at me, making direct eye contact but with such tired eyes.

"You okay?" I said softly, "You look tired."

"Yeah, I'm fine." he responded almost to a whisper.

"Why don't you sit down?" I pull his parted chair, leading him to his seat. I was relieved he obediently followed my instruction. He looked really tired and sad right now that I was starting to worry what was going on in his head.

After that, Niko stayed silent for the rest of the day.