5 Page 5: Delinquent

Bell rung and it was lunch time, I could finally breathe. No, I wasn't really stressed out with class. I've been feeling rather suffocated with the boy who kept glancing at me with an intent to kill. Stupidanov has been murmuring to himself the whole time and it's really distracting. When lunch came, he fled with his pals high fiving at the door headed for the cafeteria. What a relief.

I pull out my lunch from my bag ready to partake Dave's hearty meal. As I was setting up my table, since I don't have any plans of leaving the room and accidentally bump into Stupidanov again, Miya walks to me carrying her own lunch box and with a bunch of guests behind her back.

"Good noon m'ladies." I playfully greet with a smile on my face, making Miya giggle.

"I brought along some mutuals," she reveals the two girls behind her, "Can they join us?"

I put a thumbs up nodding to her and the three of them immediately pull their own tables to join mine. Now it's a bigger table with four tables combined, two adjacent to each other.

Miya sat on my right as she introduced the two new faces joining us on our meal. The one in front of me was a short haired girl in a yellow headband. Her name was Sara and she is a daughter of a pastry shop owner downtown. The one beside Sara was a girl in a ponytail. Her hair was really curly that it fluffs out even when tied up high. Her mother is a fashion designer for pets and would often be featured on TV. She was called Jill. Sara and Jill were Miya's classmates from Kindergarten and at the same time they all were distant cousins of some sort. Sara being Miya's cousin on her mother's side and Jill being on her father's side. The three didn't have the same family names, but that did not matter. Their bond was thicker than any glue can bind. And now that we're classmates, the three can finally be together more often.

"You were incredible standing up to Nico this morning." Jill exclaimed.

Sara nodded strongly, "You were so cool Eve! Most people would get scared talking back at him. I even heard that his so-called friends are only his friends because they're scared of him."

So, the honor student is a delinquent, what a weird turn of events.

"He's always been like that," Miya said sipping on to her juicebox, "He's always been ranked 1 at everything. I was classmates with him in elementary and his personality is really bad. The only good thing about that guy is how smart he is. He likes doing everything and being that star in the limelight."

I thought about what I've heard about him so far and something just couldn't quite add up, "Say, why was he so hung up on the fact that he gave a speech instead of me?" I ask.

The three of them looked at each other as if inquiring for answers.

"How do we explain this..." Sara awkwardly replies.

"How can we put this in simpler terms.." Jill replied similarly as if I was the one not getting the point.

"Think about it," I said, "The way he taunted me earlier of how it was such a slap for him that I was incapable of giving a speech because in his perspective I didn't care about my spot―which totally makes sense since I truly don't have any desire for such rankings. But he was somehow forced to become my replacement speaker despite being ranked 2 which I believe representing the student body is such an honor. Isn't that already somehow rewarding for humans?"

I was surprised to see all three of them look at me with blank stares, "What?" I said waiting for them.

"Say, why does Eve talk as if she's not human?" Jill mumbles.

Sara cracks up, "That was way too hilarious Eve."

"Come on, you two know about Eve's case. She's been homeschooled all her life, she wouldn't understand the feeling of being a substitute for that one spot you've been aiming for all your life." Miya explains.

And here we go again, am I missing out something?

"Eve," Jill pats me, "You have to understand that ever since you came in to the picture, his spotlight has been taken away and yet you look like you didn't care when all his life this was what he cared for."

"In short, you just took away something he held so precious for all these years." Miya added.

I am enlightened. I never thought of it that way. All this time I thought he hated me because I wasn't prepared to give a speech so he had to step in for me. I guess I misjudged Stupidanov. What he really wanted was my spot in the ranking. I guess, I should talk to him. He might be going through something. These three might not know, but I too understand of wanting to take back something precious that was taken away from me (talking about her mother and her Heiress case).

"I guess I'll talk to him sometime." I said biting into my egg roll.

"What? No! He was mean!" Jill retaliated, stabbing her steak.

"Woah. Don't take it out on the steak." I said.

"Look, as much as I want to support you trying to make peace, he's just that one person not worth your time." Jill explained, cutting her steak.

I look to Miya to see how she'd react, but then she responded opposite to what I was expecting her to say.

"As your societal formator and guide, I agree with Jill on this one, E. I know I told you before that you should try and get along with people since you're new to the reality, but this is also part of reality. Sometimes, you have to choose who to get along with. Nico Stepanov just doesn't fit in that."

"He's a hopeless case.." Sara adds.

"A hopeless case, huh." I mumble to myself.

The three of us were deep in thought when we were shocked when Jill suddenly taps at our table then clapping her hand, "Okay that's enough talking about such a depressing topic," Jill said, "Let's talk about something interesting." she said grinning, turning towards me as she beeped on to me without limits. My stomach churned to the questions that befall upon me.

By the time Jill had finished interrogating me of "regular girly questions" to help me understand how girls our age interact, lunch time had already ended as well. The bell had finished ringing and class has already been in session and yet there were no signs of Stupidanov. His seat has been empty and nobody has seen him even his so-called friends.

I look at the empty chair beside me and can't help but think about how people might have been talking behind his back basing on how Jill, Sara and Miya approached me about him earlier. I know, he was really rude for our first meeting but...it's really annoying how his hopeless nature distracts me.

"Sir!" I raise my hand, calling the attention of our teacher who was writing on the board.

"Yes?" He turns towards the center acknowledging me.

"May I go to the clinic? I feel light headed."

I see Miya glance at me, mouthing 'Should I go with you?' and I just smiled shaking my head 'It's fine'.

As soon as the teacher nodded at me, I quickly turned to the door and stormed out. That should give me plenty of time. Class was boring anyway. Now that I'm free, I guess I should tour the school a little bit. I barely get to spend quality time here anyway. I guess I'll have to avoid touring the classroom areas so I won't get caught loitering around.

An audiovisual room sized like a movie house, a library with Victorian architecture, a ballet studio with high quality mirrors and speakers, a cafeteria that serves classy meals and a vending machine area that serves as a ground lounge with a scenic view of the vast track field and baseball mound on its right side. Seriously, what does this school not have?

I was quietly sipped on my canned coffee, chilling at one of the lounges couches, enjoying my free time when I heard squeaking and pounding noises from somewhere. The gym? I wonder. But PE doesn't start until next week. I decided to stroll at the back of the building where the gym was and to my surprise I see Stupidanov dribbling the ball then jumping so high shooting it at the ring.

Hmmm...his form is good.

"Isn't it too early for PE, Mr. Rank Two?" I snicker leaning on the door frame. He shoved the ball to the side. Stupidanov's face was flushed in red. I guess anger isn't his only emotion then.

He frowned, "What are you doing here?"

"Who knows? I got bored in class and decided to play detective for a while." I said walking towards him. He started to become cautious of me.

"Are you mocking me Idiotshioka? If you get so bored in class, then how come you're so smart?"

"If you're so desperate being at the top, why are you skipping class?"

He scowled. Bingo, shots fired.

"I didn't come here to fight you know." I said squatting on the floor. His face isn't even softening even when I'm already trying to be this vulnerable?

"What dID you come here for then?"

I pat the open floor in front of me, "Sit." I said.

He did heed my command to sit, but his expression was clearly distrustful of me. He even made that 'hmp' sound as he drop-squatted in front of me. What a kid.

"Say, you have very exotic features. What breed are you?"

He stares at me.

"What?"

"We're really starting a conversation like that? And your communication is awful. You sound like you aren't human."

I chuckle, "I am often told I talk like someone out of this world. So? What are you?"

"Why does it even matter to you?"

Ah...he's scowling again. My lips part as I drive the words out of me. I've never entertained that thought, so I'm not sure how exactly am I going to get the answer out of me. All that came out was:

"Because I'm jealous of those who can be pretty like you."

I'm not even sure if that made any sense, especially saying it to a guy.

I was waiting for Stupidanov to get angry at me, but instead, he stared at me and said: "You're only saying that because everybody knows I am a supermodel's twin. I'm not even proud of how I'm not as manly as I should look to be. I'm stuck with such a pretty face despite being a guy." with a straight face.

I wanted to laugh, I really did. But then, I guess I get his sentiments. I too was fixated of the fact that I don't look like my mother. I desperately wanted to look like her, so I ended up pretending to be someone who can stand in as her daughter in front of the camera despite not being recognized as hers. It sucks. But like Stupidanov here, I'm stuck with this role that I can't escape anymore unless I get the job done.

"You're awfully quiet," he said, "Did I offend you?"

I smiled sheepishly, "No. As a matter of fact, I know where you're coming from. But then, I also want to clarify something to you."

"What?"

I look him straight in the eye and inhaled sharply, "I don't care who you're related to or what other people think about you. What matters to me is the you that's in front of me right now. And I say, I like your pretty face. It makes you, YOU."

His face turned red.

"Hmm..did that made your heart skip a beat?" I playfully remarked trying to peek behind his hand that was desperately trying to cover his mouth.

"Russian."

"Huh?"

"I'm part Russian."

Stunned by his sudden response, I stared at him. Russian, huh. No wonder.

I smile playing with my fingers, feeling a little lonely, "You're lucky to resemble the part you have."

"It's not like I'm Russian because I wanted to you know." he said fixing himself.

"I know. I absolutely know." Because I too can't do anything about how I look like the man that abandoned my mother in her deepest darkest times.

"Your face is scary right now." he said.

"Haha. Sorry. Was recalling bad memories."

Ah..now I feel empty again. Why is it that whenever that old man pops up in my head, I just can't shake him off that easily. It's been ten years Eve, forget about him already.

Stupidanov suddenly claps in front of me, shocking me from my silence, "First you be chatty and now you're silent on me? Seriously, what is up with you?" he complained.

"It was just five seconds, Stupidanov."

"An awkward five-second mark. And will you stop calling me Stupidanov? I have a proper name!"

"Hey!" I point, "You're the one who keeps calling me Idiotshioka!"

"Eve!" he pouted.

Wuaaaah!! That caught me off guard. "Hey! No fair! That was foul play!"

"Now, call me by my name and I'll stop calling you Idiotshioka."

Ughh what is with his aura? He's almost like giving me an ultimatum.

"N-Ni..ko.." Shit. I even stuttered a two-syllable name!

"Too slow! Say it quicker!!"

"What the hell? I'll call you whatever I want if you're being this bossy at me!" I said pulling myself up, grunting on my feet. I quickly stood up looking down at him, glaring him down to be exact. I can't believe he's ordering me around.

"I'm going back!" I exclaimed angrily and stomped my way out of the gym.

I hear him run after me yelling, "Hey, you're going to report me are you?" but I didn't turn around and let him follow me till we got out. And let me tell you, if this isn't the start of this weird cat-mouse friendship we have, I guess I was crazy enough to let this guy into my life that easily.

"Stop following me already!"

"But you're going to report me!"

Maybe a little too crazy.