Third Loop
It's lively inside the Ravenhall College as they're celebrating their 75th anniversary. You can hear the screaming and the cheering from the distance. A small stage surrounded by a 360-degree audience with all the stage lightings and fog hovering over the stage floor made by the fog machine. On it, Zachary and Odette can be seen performing 'Bring Me to Life by Evanescence' with the band.
The students were either taking a video, cheering, singing along… To sum it all up, it's chaotic. They've become a youtube sensation since a year ago although their contents were mostly not age-appropriate. Sometimes they do song covers, music videos, parodies, and short movies. Would have been great but it's usually on the darker side. They make short movies about death, suicide, murder, deceiving, mental illnesses, and even kidnapping. The version of the song covers they make was a creepier one despite having a happy tone.
Nicholas, who was amongst the audience had been busy recording a video on his phone. He is a hardcore fan of 'Zach and Odette'. Although they only post one video a week, he patiently waits and oftentimes, he's the first to comment. He is one among the many people who had become obsessed with their contents. One reason is that they're relatable. They are not afraid of talking about controversial things. As weird as it may sound, Nicholas is kind of suicidal. He had never been in love with life. Not that he chose to be like that, it's just that he cannot stop himself from thinking negative things such as self-deprecation. He didn't like sharing it with other people either as they would only say he's dramatic, way too emotional, or that it's all in his head. That's why when he stumbled upon 'Zach and Odette' on youtube one time, he immediately become a fan. As other people say, when you're sad, happy things make you even sadder while sad things make you happy.
The moment the performance ended, Nicholas hurriedly went to the backdoor. In there, he saw the couple he looked up to going down the stairs. They look cool in their grunge outfits. Odette in a crimson tee, black miniskirt, fishnet stocking, and heeled black ankle boots. Zachary on the other hand wore a simpler one but he looked cool either way in his all-black attire.
"H-hello… I'm Nicholas and, I am a fan!"
"Hello there Nicholas! I'm glad you like our videos. How can we help you?" Odette, in a singsong tone, accompanied by her carefree smile.
"I…I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU GUYS!!" he shouts as he closed his eyes. As if he would have cold feet if he didn't do so. It earned a chuckle from Zach before taking a groupie with him. That had been one of his happiest nights.
*****
Inside the apartment, Zach and Odette slumped down the couch. They're a tad tired from their mini-concert. Ever since the start of their third loop, they decided on living together in one apartment.
"Zach, we did great, right?"
"Hmm…"
"Are we doing the right thing tho? What if we fail this time, we'll go back again. I'm tired of this."
"Me too, I'm scared. I am scared of dying only to wake up two years before dying again. I become disgusted with myself for all the things they did to us. I feel dirtier than a pig who rolled on the mud. In our first loop, I was so afraid you wi…" he was cut when Odette kissed him. She cupped his face with her trembling hands and stared straight into his eyes. "Shhh. It's okay. We will make it this time. We have to. Okay? I'm disgusted with myself too but you're not disgusted with me, are you?" he shook his head.
"Then, isn't it fine? I'll still love you, Zach, no matter what they do to us. Let's end it here. Let's be happy already, hmm?" he touched her cheek with his left thumb and smiled before crashing his lips onto hers. He held her by her waist then made her sit on his lap as they continued kissing ever so passionately. There's no need to talk, with just that, they already knew what the other wanted to say. It's not an erotic one, it's filled with passion, with care, and with love. She closed her eyes and responded with her left hand on his chest while the other on his hair.
The moment they parted, Zach cupped her face and stared at her who was still closing her eyes as if treasuring the moment. "Odette."
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I know, I love you too."
"Don't leave me, hmm? I'll go crazy."
"I won't."
They stayed in their position with Odette sitting on his lap, hugging him, with her head on his shoulder. They didn't want to move as if separating would mean game over. They're tired, both physically and mentally. They wanted to rest. They wanted to end all of this already. They didn't want to go back again.