A Dull Life

Shawn

I really don't know how to react right now. I don't wanna share my room with anyone though. This drama-queen already messed up my things. I can't find my things right now.

God! Why are you testing my patience?!

I bet she didn't like how I laughed when she asked to tag along with her to the principal's office. Well I know him. He's such an asshole. I know I'm just gonna ruin my night by seeing his face though. 

It's been 20 minutes since she's gone. Did she lost her way to the dorm? Or maybe she is busy convincing that jerk! 

Whatever!

Why do I care?

I keep looking for the book where I kept the cloth. 

A piece of cloth.

But valuable more than my life.

I search my table that has been cleaned a while ago maybe.

I think she did it.

I hate it when people touch my things.

It's so annoying!

I still can't find it. I don't remember which book it was.

I hear footsteps. 

Its her.

I can tell by the way she has a disappointed look in her face that we're gonna be roommates for a while now. And that.. I have to bear with her.

She approaches me as she notices me searching for something. She asks whether I was searching for something.

Yes, ma'am. I am. And I think you just made me lose it. I yell at her and tell her not to touch my things further. 

I could almost feel my voice crack while I shout.

Damn!

Her hand is trembling with fear.

I yelled at her so loudly.

Ugh!

Before I could apologize, she has a change of expression. It's almost an anger out of fear. She tells me not to go to her side of the room.

As if I'm dying to!

Such a drama-queen!

I grab my pillow and lie down. Before she could say anything more I turn off the light and say, "Goodnight!".

There are moments when I wake up and realize how much my life has changed in just three weeks. The last few weeks has been a grueling week. I can't even sleep too well now. I look at my phone. 

It's 4 a.m.

I don't feel good enough. I wear my jacket and grab my car keys.

I look at the other side side of the room.

She's sleeping. 

It's funny how calm she looks while sleeping. 

I step forward and look at her closely. She's got pretty big eyelashes. I almost woke her up by touching those. She's just too delicate, with her flawless porcelain skin and the longest eyelashes ever.

What's wrong with me?

I head outside and reach the parking lot. I get in the car and lit my cigar.

I head towards... I don't know where even.

I sit by the sea and watch the sunrise. 

Alone.

I lit another cigar while feeling the cold breeze brush my face and the sunlight to fill my eyes. 

It's so beautiful.

Sometimes I wonder how would it feel to have a perfectly normal life. I know no one's life is perfect. But I wish mine to be a little bit perfect.

It's almost 6:30 now. I look around and she a little girl making a sandcastle. 

"Hey there, little girl".

She looks up at me and turns around immediately. "My mom told me not to talk to strangers".

I'm amused by her. "For real? My mom used to tell me that too". I say smilingly.

"You shouldn't talk to stranger. They will kidnap you".

I can't hold my laugh anymore. It's been quite a while since I laughed out so loudly.

"Mhm. What else do they do?"

"They will then eat you up," she says while showing me her teeth. "Like this. Da-da-da.."

"I see. but we are not strangers you see."

She looks confused. "How so?"

"We've been talking for a while now. Strangers don't talk that much."

"You're quite an intelligent man." She is grinning now.

"And you're quite a funny young girl."

And we both laugh. I sit beside her while I watch her build up a sandcastle. 

"Why are you building up a sandcastle at the side of the sea?"

"Why shouldn't I?" She asks as she finishes building it up by giving a touch up to the roof of the castle.

"Doesn't it look pointless to you? It's gonna be washed away by the water soon."

"Well, it will be I know but someone else might make it stand again."

"And it's gonna be washed away again."

"And someone else will build it up again. No matter how many times it gets washes away, someone will still build it up. A sandcastle by the side of the sea is like its telling you to have a hope. Just like how a broken castle gets build up again and again, in the same way, a person should be hopeful again and again no matter how many time they failed to do something."

"is that what your mom said too?"

"No! I read it in a blog. She write pretty nice things you know. You should follow her too." Before she could show me anything, her mom calls.

"Got to go. Bye, stranger!"

"Yeah. Bye, stranger!" I smile.

I park the car at the parking lot. I reach my dorm room and knock before entering. It's not just me in the room now, right?

I don't get any response.

I get inside. No one's here. Maybe she left for class.

I grab my towel and head for a taking a shower.

I enter the classroom and see a familiar face.

It's her.

I walk forward and sit beside her.

"What are you doing beside me?" I hear her ask while she open her notebook.

"Well, if you'd just kindly look around and find me a empty spot then I'll gladly leave this seat, Drama-queen."

She looks around and turn towards me making a grumpy face.

I shrug a bit.

"Can you please lend me a pen?". This time my voice softens. 

I forgot to bring pen and now I'm asking her?

Wow!

She passes me a pen. I look at her while she looks at the board. 

She doesn't seems so bad though.

I start to write down but I can't see what is written on the board much clearly. Before I could ask her again for help, she slides her note book towards my side of the table.

Nope. I take it back. It's not that she doesn't seem so bad rather she is nice!

I take her notebook and a notice a quote on the front page.

- A sandcastle by the side of the sea is like its telling you to have a hope. Just like how a broken castle gets build up again and again, in the same way, a person should be hopeful again and again no matter how many time they failed to do something.

Why does that sounds familiar?

Before I could calculate anything about it being familiar, she grabs her notebook. "Class dismissed." 

I go out following her. As I kept walking behind her I realize one thing...

Her hair looks so 

I was by the side of my locker just when someone called out my name."Heyy! Shawn! Long time no see, bro."

I look behind and see Jose standing there along with Sheryl. 

"Hey! What's up?" I ask as I hug him. 

Jose turns to her and says, "How was the class, Avery?"

"Ah! So you're name is Avery." I say. I didn't ask for her name though last night.

"You know him?" Avery asks Jose.

"Well of course. He's my best buddy. How can I not?"

I look at Avery and catch her looking at me as well as we both gasped an awkward laugh.

I just remembered something. About the quote that I read from her notebook. Its what the girl said at the sea.

I guess this was fated.

What's the point of thinking something as fated even, in this dull life?