18 On our way

The sound of the roosters crowing from god knows where woke the dozing Zero and Lilith from their sleepless body. Just before the dawn, these mythical creatures located at the nearby nests on a nearby backyard served as an alarm clock for them, saving their classes scheduled in the morning.

The first to wake up was Zero. He brushes his hair, oblivious from the world around him, slowly realising the tasks he needs to achieve; which was them to attending their school. Still lying on his side, Zero sat up, eyes perking grand and wide, which made him use his hands to block the blazing sunlight which had crossed his translucent window.

"them…" trying to recall what had happened last night, he browses for whatever's happening around his vicinity, only to see her, sleeping student council president, snoring thoughtlessly like a drunken man.

"mnhmmm…" She rolls her body, reaching on the other side of the bed, like a shushi hugging intensely a pillow that I used from last night. They somehow managed to sleep together on the same side of the bed. Fortunately, nothing had happened last night…thus a sudden dejecting feeling weighs down his whole body.

Being reminded on the events that had happened from yesterday, Zero gazes back unto Lilith's rear whilst poking her loose end spaghetti strap cloth.

"mnhmmm…I'm sorry mummy… I miss you dad… please come… back to us dad" tears came rushing out from the tip of her pupils, moaning… grieving from the sadness she suddenly felt from the people who were once close to her. Lilith never mentioned anything about her parents nor her past life… not until last night when she abruptly blurted it out, which he found it cute. It must've been tough for her to experience such hardships throughout her life.

How can he grant peace inside her uneasy heart?

How can he somehow reunite Lilith from her parents?

And most importantly, how can he do all this?

He felt a warm sensation from his face as he began staring intently on the helpless woman shedding a tear on her bedhead face. Zero knew that for whatever good intention he has in his sleeves, their morning classes should be held into outmost priority. Looking at the clock could bring these two to anxieties.

"Hey, rise and shine sleepy head. We don't want our old man Snow to wait for us, do we?" Zero flashes a morning smile while brushing off her scattered bangs around her forehead which were blocking her beautiful eyes. Producing some weird sounds, Lilith, being entangle by her hair, gazes blankly on to the man who promptly woke her royal snooze.

"What are you looking at, witch." Throwing up a tease, he stood up and comfortably sinks in his feet right on the nearest slippers he could find.

"Who're you calling a witch, witch?!" grumbling beneath her breath, she puffs out a sigh combining it with her morning confuse rays that crumbled her baffled hair.

"If you're having the luxury to be mad about this nonsense topic, try checking out the time. It's even deadlier than the assessment we had before." As per his instructions, she gazes upwards for the clock and examines the time

: 6:30 :

"…." Her cold stare pierces Zero's behind as he slowly chuckles his way out. "There's no point in rushing out right now. Let's take our time and eat lunch together, hmm?

Lilith catches up Zero's shadows and saw him preparing her for a seat. He flashes up a smile but apparently Lilith's eyes were shut closed, ungrateful for the efforts laid by Zero and sits on the offered seat.

"Did you two fought again, son?" Zentih throws out these questions to Zero despite having her mouth full of rice and veggies.

"No, I did not. I don't know 'bout her though" pointing out a spoon towards Lilith's side which I had early prepared upon arriving on the table. We are seated at a round table in a triangular angle, me facing Lilith's and my mum in between. Zero had also placed a set of utensils for Lilith to use. She shrugs her shoulders and proceeds eating her free meal. 'This ungrateful swine' I thought. I was confused whether or not I said those lines out loud but the moment that thought crossed over my head, I made a quick jerk on my crouch, feeling a sharp pain between my knees. I stared at Lilith in misbelief while she gave me a hideous smile. This donkey.

We soon finished our meals and fixed our plates. Lilith offered some help in cleaning all the dishes but Zero's mother politely declined saying that we are in a hurry and she will accept her kind offer the next time she would be staying in our home. With a dejected look, Lilith said okay as she headed off to the room to fix herself. I, on the other hand, got nowhere else to go and headed towards the restroom to do my thing. We both came out at exactly the same time, wearing our respectful uniforms.

"Mum, gotta go now" Zero said while kissing the cheek of his mum.

"I can't thank you enough mrs. Zenith. I hope I could return the favour the next time we'll meet" while flashing a radiant smile, she hugs Zero's mother. Zenith surprisingly kisses her left cheeks too and whispered "Just be there for Zero and I'll call it even, okay?" giving her a mischievous wink

we began marching our way to the streets heading towards our school.

: 7:08:

Undoubtedly, whether they would plan on rushing their current pace or stick their normal walk would result for a late attendance to mr.Snow. Without further ado, they start walking down a mile, unhurriedly taking their time.

A little bit anxious, Lilith couldn't help but fidget his little fingers unable to swallow the fact that the elected student council president was late on their first day of class. And making it more interesting, she was being accompanied by a strange man without any particular achievements in life. In short, your typical average man. Cold sweat are dripping down her cheeks. Overwhelmed by her thoughts, she couldn't grasp anything to blame on her current situation and lashes it out on the person beside her.

Pouting with her arms crossed, she mutters "Aargh, if we could've been faster then maybe we might had a chance on attending a little bit earlier, don't ya think? Nerd."

Annoyed by the statement that Lilith had said, Zero stopped on his tracks and turns around which made Lilith bumped on Zero's chest. Feeling short and confused, Lilith's eyes grew wide as Zero utters his sentences

"Well, even if we did made haste then at what costs? Didn't you had fun eating together as a family right there with us? Surely being late is a bad thing to do especially on the first day of class but eating together without anyone rushing you over is quite a delightful feeling early in the morning, you know?" he might've done it this far. His eyes of annoyance slowly turned soft when he saw Lilith's arrogant looks fades away

Lilith Point of View****

Was I been lectured just now? Don't tell me that this guy, whom I just met quite, starts lecturing me about eating together as a family… which

I had wanted the most.

I couldn't lie. Eating together with his family made my heart jump in excitement and happiness. Never had I felt so welcomed and warmed, surrounding myself from the people who cares deeply for me. I wasn't part of their family but they treated me as one without asking in return. If I was In Zero's position and if someone… who was like myself

acted the way similarly from the way I did I… on the other hand would have slapped them so hard making that person pretermit his/her memories… instead, what I felt from Zero's words wasn't in a form of anger. It was frustration. Frustration from me not appreciating the efforts that he and her mother did for me. I lowered my head in embarrassment… hoping that we could make up.

He swiftly turns around and… much to my surprise my finger was already there, grabbing the ends of Zero's jacket halting him to move forward once again. I softly muttered to him

"I'm sorry… I had fun earlier and I didn't mean what I said...I… I hope you can understand…" this was the first time I ever admitted my mistakes. Recalling my sister, she was strong and brave. What made her strong was the fact she re-observes her actions, studying every bits and pieces answering the question "where did I go wrong". Admitting one's mistake isn't a form of blame but a courageous act of learning. 'Without mistakes, how can we learn' giving me a warm smile while…admitting to our parents our mistakes. Punishment or scolding was the result of our wrong doings but it was indeed needed. It was our part of life. it was a virtue which I find it difficult to achieve. But here I am, apologising to the person unconsciously.

Lost in my thought, I began mumbling these things. And as soon as I realised, Zero was walking towards me, slowly making his way. I was frightened that I might receive 'his' punishment. I brace myself and closed my eyes. After a few seconds, the pain which I had expected turned into a gentle pat on my head.

"As long as you understand then that's good enough for me. Don't you ever do that again or else I'll smack that beautiful face of yours. Come on, we're going to be late"

flashing me with that radiant smile once again.