9 Chapter 8: Past

I stunned. A hot breath blew in my ear.

What is happening...

I closed my eyes tightly.

"You did not feel my presence,"

I gulped when I heard how deep his voice is. I saw Ariella trembling while bowing her head. She gripped her hands because of fear.

"You didn't know me?" He whispered. His voice is deep, and he suddenly turned my face at him.

The first thing that I noticed is his blue-deep-set eyes. His pointed nose, his thin lips, and his perfect jawline.

I saw how he was stunned when he looks into my eyes. Wait...

"J-Jasper?"

His eyes went wide. "J-Jasmine?!"

I heard how fast his heart beats. It looks like he wants to say something, but he doesn't know-how.

"Impossible." He suddenly pushed me and left.

"J-Jasmine? Are y-you okay?" I turned my face at her. She's worried. That's what her eyes told me.

I gave her a small smile. "I'm fine."

She nodded. "Do you know him?"

I shook my head. "I... I don't know."

"He's Prince Kacper." Kacper. Jasper. "He's the arrogant prince. You should bow whenever you met him in the academy. But I think he just came back from his mission." She reminded me and started eating her food.

I let my eyes look around. Everything goes back to normal like it doesn't happen like they are used to this kind of situation, some of the students eating happily while talking to their friends, while some are eating their food. I closed my eyes tightly. It's impossible. But... He called my name. Or I did not hear it right.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes, and worry was drawn on Ariella's face.

"Are you okay? You're spacing out, Jasmine." I nodded and smiled at her, assuring her that I'm okay.

After lunch, we went to our classroom. I let my eyes explore the room. Some of my classmates stopped from what they are doing when they saw me went in. When I sat beside Ariella, that’s when the teacher went in. He started to talk, and some of my classmates are back in their seats.

After he finished fixing his things on the teacher’s table, he explored his eyes around the room like he’s finding someone, until his eyes stopped into mine.

He smirked. “We have a new student,” he licked his lips and leaned on the table. “Can you stand up and introduce yourself, miss?”

I cannot believe that he’s a teacher because he looks like a college student. He’s tall, has a nice body, his hair was styled with a clean-cut, pointed nose, and his jawline is perfect.

I slowly stand up and look around before I introduce myself. They turned around just to look at me because I’m sitting in the back row beside Ariella.

I took a deep breath before I started to talk. “Hello, I-I’m Jasmine. Jasmine Hutton…” I smiled at them and the teacher also.

“Ahh..” He crossed his arm. “Hutton...” he whispered even though I heard him.

He nodded and looked around. “So, class, do you have a question for her?”

Someone raised his hand and parted his lips before he speaks. "What ability do you have, miss Hutton?"

"Uhmm.. the enhanced senses, but I still don't know how to use it."

“You’re a late bloomer? It’s okay. That’s the reason why you’re here, miss Hutton.” He smiled at me. “But I’m surprised because I only knew one person who—” he stopped when he realized something. “N-Nevermind.” After he said that, he let me sit.

“So…” He looked around the room. “Good morning! I have good news for all of you,”

"What is it, prof?

"A field trip?"

"Is it a holiday?!"

He shook his head and chuckled. “No, no. Have you forgotten? That your exam is on next week?”

All of them sigh in disappointment, and our teacher laughed.

"Ohh, yes, yes! Jasmine, since that you are just new here. You have to get your tuto--"

I shook my head. “Uhmm… n-no need, sir.”

He stopped. “What? Are you sure?” I immediately nod my head. “Okay… just tell me when you need anything.”

After that, he started to review our lessons for the exam next week but Ariella slept during classes.

“Are you sure that you don’t need help? You still don’t know-how, and more importantly, you’re not familiar with this place.” She said while we are walking.

"Hmm… tour me, then."

After the classes are finished for the afternoon, we went out into the room. Ariella started to tour me around the school.

I’ve met the other teachers for the afternoon. I can’t believe that this academy has beautiful creatures. Am I in showbiz? Well, they’re not that interested when they met me. They just called my names from the records that they have and let me sit after that. Ariella pointed to the places where I should go when I want to study. I should take note of this.

“You should have a library card when you want to borrow the book.” She said while hugging her books.

“I think I already have those.” I opened my bag and look for my library card. When I found it, I showed her.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw my library card. My card was gold. My name is written in capital letters. It also has a logo and the name of the school, and at the bottom is my section.

She looked at me and smirk. She shook her head. “I am more getting curious about you.”

I chuckled. “You won’t get anything from me.”

“Let’s see.” She said and her eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, someone called her so she lost her attention from me. She bid goodbye, and she left.

I went to the library. My lips parted when I saw what’s inside. The dome ceiling is high, this place has four floors, and I can see from below the tall shelves on every floor. It has a label of topics on each shelf.

Some students looked at me when I walk past them. I stopped when I heard something. It sounds like a moan and moving lips. Is that a kiss? I felt my cheeks heated up for a second. I walked fast and went to the second floor.

I didn’t expect that they are the same in the mortal world. I thought they are different… my innocent ears… huhu.

I remembered that scene again. There’s a miracle happening behind the shelf. I remembered the sound of their lips and also their moans. I’m just at the other shelf so I can hear it. I’m reading a book while sitting on the floor. And it’s because I’m curious I slowly took the book from the shelf and take a peek at the other side. And I saw how they are hungry at each other and how they kissed.

I was stunned and covered my face. What am I thinking?! You’re thinking dirty, Jasmine! You’re disgusting!

“M-Miss? Are you alright?” I looked at the man in front of me. He was reading earlier. “You’re blushing…”

“W-What?” I nodded immediately. “Y-Yes! I’m okay.” I said and covered my face using the book.

You're embarrassing, Jasmine! Look what happened! You’re disturbing someone!

I continued what I am doing. Ariella said, since that, I’m a new student. The test that I am taking is different from the others. It looks like I’m taking a test in a lower grade.

She also said that they don't usually accept newcomers like me because most of the people from this world, since childhood, are studying here. She’s wondering why did I just enter this school. Thank goodness that tia Celestia let me read the book that she gave me. The first book that I took is about history. The title is Antiquity, the story of this world. The second book is the history of this school.

The first thing that I read is Antiquity. When I opened the book, a wind blew strongly at me. I looked around. Where does the wind come from? There’s no window on this floor… but why are the students moving so slowly?

"The past is a place of reference,

not a place of residence."

- Unknown

When I move to the other page, I suddenly felt strange. My body feels light. Like I was about to fall. My visions were blurred and spinning like there’s an earthquake. I looked at myself. My hands were fading slowly. It was like a cloud of dust into a smoke floating in the air. Then, the smoke was going directly in the book. I felt my heart beats fast. I’m scared. What’s happening?

I look around. Why did they stop moving? I scream, and I ask for help, but they didn’t hear me. I tried to close the book, but my hands just float in the air until the book took my smoke completely.