3: Smaze

Ephemeron closed her eyes and calmed herself.

She was acting out of her character.

It's just that when she heard the word "too", she felt insulted. It sounds like this guy is telling her that their feelings are the same. Which is absolutely not.

Yes. Exequies might be one of them. But he managed living his life away from them most of the time. Unlike her who's very dependent to the group. In which she wakes up in the morning just for the group. It's like she's breathing just for them. Her only family.

She sat down at the swing. The rain stopped falling. It's as if the sky was tamed just like her feelings.

"Take a sit." She offered.

He immediately sat down.

They just sit there. Quietly. Having different thoughts in their heads.

Minutes passed before Exe decided to break the silence.

"I'm sorry Eph. I didn't mean to mock you or your feelings. I just want you to know that you're not alone. I'm still here." He said, trying to comfort her with words.

She just sighed and not utter any words.

Exe spoke again.

"Everybody thinks you're the next one."

Her eyebrows furrowed in the topic he decided to open.

Even him?

She was sick of the topic.

"I'm not suicidal, Exe. And fyi, I don't need any help either." She stated.

Her voice is so cold that warns him not to talk about the topic anymore or else she'll lose again her composure.

Exe sighed. He took something from his gym bag and put it on her shoulders. It was a towel.

"Good thing, my bag is water proof!"

She heard him whisper.

They turned their attentions to someone when they heard its call.

"President! President!"

And it was Yara. The Student Concil's PIO or Public Information Officer.

'She's here for Exe.' Eph thought.

Yara seems taken aback when her gaze landed on Eph.

She take turns looking at Eph and Exe.

"Er. Hi there Eph."

"Ow hel--"

Yara cut her off

"President, the Investigation Club is looking for you. They said they found some things relevant to the case. And they said you should be there to have your insights about it blablabla"

Eph mentally rolled her eyes as Yara blabber things. This Yara obviously doesn't like her.

Well, as if she would care.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed the two staring at her.

"What?" She asked irritatedly.

"I said are you coming with us?" Exe asked smiling.

Eph was about to decline because of Yara's glare but had to think again. It was about the case. She have assumptions about it and maybe it's about time to check if it's right.

And maybe a good timing to irritate this P. I. O. as well.

"Well, if you insist then I would gladly accept the offer."

She held Exe's hand and intertwined it with her.

"Let's go."

When she looked at Exe's eyes, she saw a glint of happiness causing her to remove her hands away from him.

She felt hairs in her nape standing up and when she looked behind her, she saw Yara looking at her like she'll murder her anytime soon.

She gave Yara a smirk and started walking.

The three of them walked until they reached Room 13 of Building G.

Yara opened the door and they were greeted by 9 pairs of eyes. These people were sitting around a oval-shaped table.

"Oh. You came."

Eph felt chills run down through her spine as she heard the voice.

And when she spotted the source of it, her world seems to stop.

Black hair. A pair of black orbs. Pale skin.

A bit different but she's certain that it's him.

"Smaze" she uttered unconsciously while drowning in the fast rhythm of her heart.

"I guess you know me, Ms. Ephemeron Kerubin." The guy called Smaze said and give Eph a smile. A mischievous one.