5 Sophie Mirabelle

Hungry, Gemei headed for the cafeteria in hopes of filling his stomach which was growling and speaking as if it were a wild animal. Sadly, that didn't come to pass as he was rudely interrupted by the now student council president, Jackie.

"Yo Gemei, miss Sophie wants to talk with you. She looked annoyed. Whatever may the reason be, I'm sure you're responsible."

The request from Sophie fell on deaf ears as Ashford shrugged it off and continued his journey to the mystical land of joy, "The bland cafeteria." Ignored, Jackie grabbed Gemei's arm and insisted that he should go speak to Sophie. Reluctant to obey orders, he turned around, got out of Jackie's grip, and continued his path.

"This kid will never change," Jackie mumbled as he gave up.

Suddenly, the sound of someone running in high heels could be heard coming from behind them. It was Sophie, she had run all the way from the staff room to the entrance of the cafeteria, "Gemei Ashford, I order you to stop moving and face me."

Having no choice in the matter, Gemei turned around to see what all the ruckus was about. The moment he laid eyes on her; the guilt became overwhelming. Seeing his teacher completely out of breath with sweat dripping from her forehead and onto her face, he felt sympathy. Few seconds in, all the emotion he had just vanished. That was his cold-hearted nature taking over, emotions were just a burden for him, except for resentment, that was the only thing keeping him alive as it gave a purpose.

The only goal he had in life was to find something or someone who would change how he felt about the world and life in general. From when he was a kid to how he is now, he still hates everything. Yet, deep down in the abyss which is his conscience, fostered a small glimmer of light. A dream, hope, this illusion called love, he wanted to experience it. The feeling of being accepted, being special to someone, and having someone who needed him. Sadly, all that was wishful thinking. Being special to someone, what is this, a fairy tale? You came alive alone and will die alone. That is the sad truth for anyone who believed in this lie called human affection. At the end of the day, its survival of the fittest, everyone lives for themselves and themselves alone. In Gemei's mind, that was how the world works. If you aren't strong, you're going to get crushed.

Sophie had deep ocean eyes, the kinds that once you start staring, you'd just get lost. Long blonde hair which reached all the way to her lower back, a cute pointy nose accompanied with luscious rosy lips. For any stranger, the first impression you got was one of a high-class lady who has maintained her physique well over the years. Seeing her like this, a complete mess of sweat. Ashford felt bad and accompanied her to the restroom.

"I'm sorry if I made you run all the way from the staff room just to get me Sophie. I was very hungry so cut me some slack, will you?"

"Gemei, how many times do I have to tell you not to address me so informally on campus, people may get the wrong idea about us."

"Listen, you've known me since I was a kid and I think of you as my big sister. I hope you realize that you're the only one I think as family nowadays, because everyone who I'm related with, has cast me aside like trash."

"Gemei, I know that, but if people around the school would come to know our relation, it would put your credibility as a good student into jeopardy. They'll think that I'm giving you special favors."

"For all I care, the shit I'd give would be zero and for the love of god, are you done with freshening up. Talking to a door may come off as weird for some people."

"Don't rush me, just a few seconds, little brother."

"Hey, when are you coming back to visit my dusty home?"

Sophie finally got out of the restroom, all freshened up.

"About that, I went to your place yesterday, but you weren't home. So, I let myself in, headed straight for your study because I had accidentally left my purse from when I last visited. Surprisingly, I saw a pile of papers stacked on your desk. I might have taken some back home with me."

"Come on Sophie, that stuff is private; you can't just walk into people's home and steal stuff. Don't you dare tell me that you are borrowing those papers."

"Not my fault if you left me a spare key. Anyways, after reading the papers, I was amazed! You got me hooked from the first page. That's part of the reason I asked you to come to talk to me. However, I'm mad because the story ended on a cliffhanger

"Well thank you, the only person who has ever read my stories is me, to be honest. Quick question, which story did you take, Genesis?"

"No, it was something called Top and Bottom."

"Top and Bottom, I remember now, I don't think I'll continue it, because I ran out of ideas, the characters don't inspire me anymore."

"Oh, come on now Gemei, please just for me? Will you just complete something in your life?"

"Fine, I'll do it, but I need something in exchange, how about you stop giving me those lectures about arriving late at school? Come by tomorrow, I'll finish it for you, big sis."

Never in his wildest dream would have Gemei thought that somebody would find his stories appealing and it was Sophie Mirabelle no less, the teacher who is super critical when it comes to writing.

*Driiing, Driiiing,* "It's finally over, another uneventful day down the drain except for that whole thing with Sophie. What did you think about that Mei? She didn't fell asleep halfway into reading."

"Hey Gemei, not my fault I find your stories boring."

"Fine, let's head home."

Today seemed like a pretty good day compared to the other uninteresting days. Probably because he got a lift from Sophie, as it was perhaps her way of paying him for all the hours of reading material she 'borrowed'.