Maia

I was late.

Last night I had a lucid dream, I was wandering through a forest, advancing more and more into the deeper, denser part, away from the inhabitant.

I didn't know how I got there, what I was doing, maybe I was in a trance and purely acting on my impulse.

Everywhere I looked, the darkness latched onto the trees, gorging on its leaves, branches and trunks, leaving behind nothing only a shadow of their existence.

The pale moonlight being merciful, stabbing the murkiness out of my way so I couldn't get lost and stay in my path.

My eyebrows were scrunched in concentration as if I knew where I was going and those dirt paths seemed so familiar to me, I had been there before. But when? How?

The stillness in the air felt so tangible and eerie, I could hear my own breathing. I should be frightened and screaming. But I was not. Because I wasn't alone.

At first glance, I couldn't spot him. How could I? The darkness had engulfed everything in its path but when I caught a slight movement from the corner of my eyes, I turned my head at once and there he was.

Had he been stalking me all along? Watching me from afar? He took a step forward to emerge himself out of the darkness but his silhouette never fully immersed under the moonlight as if he was one decision away to step into reality and showed me his face.

I stumbled upon and frantically spread my arms out to save myself from falling flat on my face. Gladly, it never came to that, someone grabbed hold of my arm and helped me to straighten to find my footing.

"Thanks," I muttered even before I saw who the person was. I took my time to collect the books, brush off any traces of dirt. All the while I was gathering myself, trying to stay focus on the present moment rather than going back, recalling last night dream.

I looked up to meet Jimmy, the topper of our class, who was still standing there with a polite smile on his face. "You are okay?"

I smiled back and gave a small nod "Yeah. Thanks for saving me from a bad fall. I didn't notice. I was getting late." It was an awkward chit chat, we hardly ever had a decent conversation, more like a smile in passing and a greeting while submitting my paper.

"No, it's okay. We still have a few minutes left before the first bell." He rolled up his sleeve and pointed his watch at me to confirm his statement.

"Oh, yeah. Basically, I have to go to the library to return my book. It's already over the due date. If I don't return the book in the first hour, more fines will be added." I was already late and on top of that, he was stalling me.

Jimmy gave a glance at the book piles on top of others and asks, "do you need help with economics? I could help you with that." He shrugged.

I was kind of confused with his sudden offering to help when everyone knew how competitive he was and even fought for a single mark when he got less on his paper. Then why he had a sudden change of heart? Could it be he didn't see me as one of his competitors and just being modest?

"No, thanks. I will manage…"

Before the words even escaped my lips, Jimmy flew back, he crashed onto the wall and the force toppled him onto the ground. I shrieked and put my hands over my mouth. He crouched on his stomach, clutching his body and let out a groan. It took me a moment to realise what just happened.

Clyde was standing over at Jimmy, breathing hard. He stared down at him with such a murderous look I almost hesitated to approach him. He looked like every bit of a brute, not the relaxed and easy-going person I had known.

His hands were fisted at his sides as if he was one step away not to lunge at Jimmy again and shoved him onto the ground. This time with the intent of causing more damage.

I had never seen Clyde being so violent and easily got into a fight with anyone apart from his social knit circle and they never fought actually. They all saw it as some sport, challenged one another into some daring act and where Clyde knew very well his opponent could strike him hard as much as he would.

But with Jimmy, it didn't make sense. He knew without putting too much of his strength he could easily do much more damage to Jimmy and I was glad when he held himself back even though it was not what he wanted. Quite the opposite.

I didn't pay Clyde a quarter of my attention after what he did. Broke up with me without an explanation and now he had the guts to show up unannounced and act all tough. For what?

Though it had been months and I didn't know how I still felt about Clyde. Definitely not in love with him anymore.

More like hurt. Underlying sadness. I still could have some feelings for him but not love.

"Are you okay?" I hunched over Jimmy who was still on the ground, groaning. I felt bad for him. "Do you need…?"

"He doesn't deserve you."

"And you do." The words just flew out of my mouth before I could even stop it and I didn't want to. He needed to listen to those months of frustration and the tears I had gone through, searching every possible reason that he never said to me. But no. I had found none. And it made me more irritated.

We stared hard at each other.

After we broke up we never been in each other's proximity. At first, at any chance Clyde got he avoided me and then I had made it my mission and taken many detours to not cross his paths.

I looked away because it was too hard to stare into those eyes and find nothing when once they were filled with love and warmth.

Clyde made a sound in his throat in annoyance and looked down at Jimmy with disgust. "he isn't right for you?"

I didn't correct him for thinking there was something going on between us because with his jealously and such sudden reaction he was putting thoughts in my mind, why did he even care? He was the one who left me. Not the other way round. But I did not voice out my thoughts. This was only lead to more arguments and hurt.

"Let me be the judge of that. You don't have to worry about my private affairs."

I thought maybe I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes before it faded away as swift as it came. I could be mistaken because the next minute he became more into his usual self.

"We both know how a bad judge of character you are. Don't we?"

And that hit me. My anger flared at his taunting remark and I vented out.

"I'm so glad we aren't together."

He clenched his jaw in suppressed emotion and when I thought he would say something to hurt me back, his reaction flipped and he shook his head and laughed.

"If I had known you could bite, baby, I would have never left."

Tears sprung my eyes and I had to look away before I let him see how he could still affect me when I wanted nothing to do with him. I was glad at that moment, Jimmy made his presence known. He sat up, running his hands on the floor, searching for his spectacles. He may be still in shock and feeling dizzy.

Clyde being a jerk suddenly, at the swipe off his feet he tossed the specs away from his reach and stooped down. He looked into his eyes so Jimmy could see the rage swirling in his gaze and understood every word he spoke clearly.

"Don't talk. Don't look. Don't even think about coming closer which isn't yours."

"I am nobody's."

Clyde met my eyes with a serious look and held his tongue and when I was sure he would let the matter slid and said nothing, he spoke "You don't want to tempt a wolf at a full moon. "

I rolled my eyes. Being in a football team and having its name Timberwolf didn't necessarily make him quite the wolf but who would put some sense in his head when he was sporting a wolf tattoo on his biceps with some ancient symbols and markings, literally taking it too far than it actually was.

Instead, I picked his eyeglass and handed it over to Jimmy and helped him to gather his belongings. But he snatched them before I could even hand him properly and hurried down the corridor, half walking, half jogging.

I sighed and straightened. Clyde was still leaning against the wall and watching our exchange with utmost curiosity. It felt strange and this time his friends had also joined him. I hardly spared him another glance before I marched towards my class.

The thought that sprung up to my mind after the bell rang, damn I forgot to return the book.