Chapter 2 - Last days before

[July 9, 2016, Friday]

*About a year and half ago*

"Hey, hey. Did you hear? About that girl in section 6 confessing to Mark yesterday?"

"Really? Gosh… I haven't heard of it..."

The sun is terribly radiating in the middle of the afternoon like an erupting volcano melting every bit of my existence, and this long sleeved polo of mine is making the mood even worse.

"That 'War of Rings' was indeed cool bro."

"Really? It was just pretty decent to me."

"Oh come on, don't be like that"

Sweats are irritatingly dropping from behind while forcing myself to listen to the teacher in front despite the noisy students who were not paying attention.

"Aren't they so pretty?"

"Whoa girl, how did you do that?"

"Hey bro. Why do you think that the grass is green?"

"Why?"

"It's because... the sky is blue."

"Dude. You're stupid."

The room is full of gossips about their boyfriends and girlfriends, about how gorgeous the girls' nails are, of how cool that newly discovered games of theirs are, and of other nonsense being spouted involving in their care-free lives.

It wasn't that loud for our teacher to notice, yet their voices have reached at my spot.

At the corner of the last row, I'm sitting with full silence near the window.

Having my current seat placement is indeed favorable since it is obviously far from the board, giving me lesser chances of getting attention. But unfortunately, it resulted into an up and down situation.

As one of the people at the last line, these chatty students in front would easily get me distracted, and it is like a double edge sword for being one of the tallest inside the class.

This was a price to pay for not wanting to sit in front. Good grief.

Meanwhile, my closed fists were already itching and eyes were burning pissed while glaring at each of them with a bad intention. Yet in the end, I let out a disappointed sigh since it is such a risk even though it would be stress-relieving to smack them on their heads, but still it would be worse hearing noises from behind.

I would shout at them if that had happened, and this is leaving me no choice but to bear the environmental barrier inside the room while continuing to pay attention.

After a while, the minute hand of my watch has moved and struck at three; it is time for dismissal.

Accordingly, the school bell is ringing loudly with its ear-piercing sound enveloping the entire school campus, and then it has been followed by another annoying sharp and loud noises coming from the chairs when the students have hurriedly stood up and wore their bags even though our teacher hasn't bid farewell to us yet.

Talk about manners, and it seems that they already have prepared themselves and were excited to go out.

Furthermore, the peaceful and quiet atmosphere that I enjoyed just a while ago, despite the discussion in class and the talkative students because it was inevitable, has vanished when the students from each classroom have gone outside and were letting out their loud, irritating voices as they are talking at the hallway.

The countdown begins for my head and eardrums to explode from this deafening crowd, 3...2…1.

'Keep your mouths shut mongrels!' I shouted in mind out of irritation.

Even with a door, the room was not completely in closed, and with this fact, I can tell that it is still difficult to go out for now and especially because there were classmates of mine who were forcing their way out which gave me the hint.

Once again, it leaves me no other choice but to stay inside and patiently wait for the path to be cleared.

Tsk. Troublesome, tiresome.

My usual decision: I lay down my head on my armchair with my body bending a little, close my eyes, and nap while waiting.

At some point in time, there is a change, the noises around have lessen.

"Hmmmm?" I slowly open my eyes while trying to sit up straight, and as my senses have come back, I notice that my nap has gone too far for it to be a normal nap, causing me to drool over a bit on top of my armchair.

"Oh crap, my bad" With a scratch paper inside my bag, I hurriedly reached and used it to wipe out the shameful result.

I then stood up with my eyes blinking from the drowsiness and while yawning to check things outside, and when I opened the door, the pathway was already empty.

Packing up my things would come next, and without having to notice at first, it looks like I'm the last person about to leave the room.

Slowly I start walking down at my five-story school starting from the 4th floor step by step, taking my time as if there is nothing good from coming back, or maybe it is.

It is already expected of what to face when I get to arrive at my house.

I could kill time, but instead of not being able to do so, I have no other interests and plans in mind.

Well, there isn't anything important to do so on my side for today anyways, and it's a good thing that the gang is busy, he-he-he.

While on my way, walking down using these wide and long circling stairs have made me a bit exhausted from making heavy steps.

Lungs were heavily gasping for air and legs have been shaken a bit, and there were more noises coming from the different directions as I set foot on the ground floor; the mass of noisy students present at the canteen, people's shouting and yelling inside the gymnasium, and the comforting sound of a blowing wind that recently has passed through my ears made me feel a little better from this afternoon's blazing heat.

"Here it comes!"

"It's all yours girl!"

While walking my way out, a group of students has caught my attention as they were very energetic and lively on playing their favorite sports (volleyball) at an open space, inside the campus grounds.

Looking at the play, a girl who has stretched out both of his arms has luckily received the ball that was coming from an opponent's spike and in which they have prevented the opposing team from scoring a point, but the ball has bounced curvedly high up in the air about 6 meters from the ground.

With an instant, the ball has reached its peak, yet it seems that it is starting to head down towards a car that was parked inside the campus, and eventually, the result was obvious afterwards... the vehicle's alarm has sounded loudly when it got hit.

"Oh my—"

"I'm outta here."

"Gotta run away quickly!"

On the other side, the guilty students were noisily rushing away from the place, avoiding the responsibility, and the rest of the students that were around and have witnessed the scene were just questionably staring at them as they fled.

The commotion was not that alerting to take action, but I find the scene quite humorous due to their stupidity for taking the risk to play, and while proceeding to my way, the road is now just at the other side of the school gate.

Vehicles are passing by while leaving a black smoke with a strange smell to it, and I cover my nose with my hand from the pollution along with the other people around me.

These vehicles need to be replaced sooner or later if we don't want our lifespan to be shortened.

But on the other hand, the stinky smell got me disgusted with my face showing it.

"*cough*--- I feel like dying on this very moment-- Hmmm?" As I noticed a Jeepney approaching, I then raised my right arm that was forming a ninety degrees angle, causing the vehicle to have started slowing down on the road afterwards, and directly a traffic enforcer has popped out from out of nowhere and is guiding it with some of his hand gestures.

As I eventually have gotten inside the Jeepney, there weren't that much passengers inside so I decided to take a seat at the back portion of the vehicle.

The Jeepney then was taking its time to move forward and has increased its speed as it got back on track.

Not for long, the streets were full of loud horns and under casual traffic, and I already had taken another ride for the trip to go back.

I always do a double-ride routine when going to school and back and it is such a hassle, but the trip would be enjoyable during the morning and while during the afternoon would be like a death parade.

This time, the seats are full, and passengers' shoulders, including mine, are stick closed to each other, and the weather was intensely warm as usual which made me poured a lot of sweat by just sitting down.

With a handkerchief inside my bag that I placed sat on my lap, I took and used it to wipe every bit of sweat from my head down to the neck, and when the traffic light has switched to green, the vehicles resumed on moving forward.

I then close my eyes and maintain my ninety degrees posture while trying to rest along the way.

"Hmmm?" Looking at my watch to know that thirty minutes have passed, I noticed the scenery in front of me with no passenger at front blocking it while imagining the roaring sounds of the waves as I gazed at the sea, and together outside there was an eye-opening flock of birds flying high above.

As the flock has passed by, I then stare ahead at front, seeing that my place is closing in.

After waiting for a couple more minutes, I finally have arrived at my stop.

I then went down from the empty Jeepney and have let out a tired sigh once again.

Damn, this series of walking. Instead of physically, it is making me mentally exhausted first. Since my house is still a few meters away from my current spot, I've got no other choice but to move my feet again.

"Whoa- easy there." While walking my way on a cemented road, and without having to be aware at first, children have appeared out of nowhere while boisterously and carelessly playing and running around in the middle of the way and have almost bumped into me.

Jeez, these little monsters.

While under pressure, a cold sweat was dripping down on my forehead for being carefully focused in distancing myself away from these kids, putting my right hand at front to safely catch them if they would ever pass through me again.

"Waaaah! Bad guy! Everyone! Fire your guns at the bad guy!"

"Bang! Baang! Bang!"

"Baang! Bang! Baang!"

"Bang! Baaang! Bang!"

"Baang! Bang! Baaang!"

While walking non-stop, I was being followed by these kids from behind with their toy guns pointed and aimed towards me.

Good grief. Now I'm involuntarily getting involved in their game. Hey kid, do I really look like a bad guy to you?

Good grief, good grief. Why are kids nowadays so spoiled? And where are their guardians?

I sigh. Anyways, those aren't my businesses to take care of.

"PASS IT!"

"PASS TO PG! PASS TO YOUR PG!"

At last after increasing my pace, I got away from those annoying little brats, and further away, a covered court has sounded lively with loud noises of dribbling balls and shoes were making sharp sounds from running. The people watching were also shouting and yelling about the basketball game.

At a corner, I took a peek of the entertainment, and just after half a minute, I walk away.

As I finally arrive at my last destination, a strong wind has passed through me. Having second thoughts in getting inside, I stood still at our red gate and have gazed into the cloudy sky above with a depressed, and the usual poker-face look.

My colored green house is just a decent two-story building with a room of my own and its size is just enough for a family of four members.

But without ado, I enter, open and close the gate, and did the same when reaching the door.

Inside the house, I saw my parents that were already in a busy state. After taking off my shoes, I made a few number of steps further from going in yet, the people inside ignored, or maybe they haven't noticed my presence; neither greetings nor attention.

My Father, Haruki Hanuzuki, who is 42 years old, is at the living room sitting while having a phone call with someone, and my Mother, Linda Hanuzuki, who is 43 years old, is at the kitchen, and it seems she just came back from grocery together with all the goods.

But on the other hand, this gloomy atmosphere inside the house is starting to make me tense, giving me this uncomfortable and threatening vibe.

It would always get into my nerves when the things that had happened before are remembered, and whenever I see these two people, especially those annoying faces of theirs.

It would be troublesome to get into trouble now plus the trip made me tired, so I just walked up the stairs peacefully while ignoring my surroundings.

Inside my room, I take off my color marooned necktie and then followed by my long sleeved polo and grey pants, and not to mention also my I.D and watch.

'Changing my clothes task' is now finished, and I head back down to the kitchen to fetch something to eat for early dinner.

Inside the fridge, there was a sandwich when I opened it and so I immediately took it along with a bottle of juice.

I plan to waste the remaining time of the day by just shutting myself inside my room and do some homework, but there was a sudden disturbance in the area.

While walking back up to my room, I instinctively detected the immense aura of the gazes from behind.

Even though without looking back, this kind of thing always happen when I'm around.

We were already in bad terms for a long time, and it seems like there is not likely a high chance of an ending to this.

It is so different back in the days where I used to live a care-free life and had always sought out for adventure.

The days where I used to wear a big smile on my face and had always been looking forward to see the both of them get home from work every day... but no, not already this time around.

As much as possible, I don't want to see their faces even once in a day.

----*----

"Hmmmm?" Letting out a groan, I slowly tried opening my eyes as there was a warm sensation that has suddenly embraced my entire face.

Seeing the possible cause as my vision was restored to full, clear 180 degrees, sunlight has streamed through the windows which had woken me up from my sleep.

Remembering the date today, it is now Saturday morning, and from jumping out of bed, a big yawn came out from my mouth. Succeedingly, my stomach has growled out of hunger even though it is still a bit early in the morning, so it is time to get some food for breakfast then.

Gladly when I secretly took a peek at the kitchen, father was not there and mother was just about to go outside of the door as she was trying to put on her shoes.

Trying to not get her attention, I tip-toe heading towards the table, and there was food already on top as I got a good look of it.

There are "Pandesals", and thankfully these breads are still hot, making my appetite to kick in as I smell its delicious aroma, and all that is lacking is to cook some scramble egg and make some coffee to complete the morning.

It is a lucky timing for me to enjoy the moment by just being alone inside the house, and it looks like my little brother is not around either when the thought came into mind while I was munching my food at the same time.

Maybe Hiro had something going on at school too, but on Saturday? Hmmm... Maybe it's for his extracurricular activities or something.

Oh well... but if those people were still around, I would probably go back to my room to avoid them.

But more importantly, this feeling is like heaven, happily spending the rest of my time doing homework, some household chores, and exercises throughout the day and without any ruckus inside the house.

At the living room, I'm watching Anime; one of my hobbies, and daydreaming about the usual thing, being a superhero, with a smirk on my face despite my age. It sounds childish but it is what I am.

I continue to savor the temporary freedom and peace while being the only person inside the Hanuzuki residence.