North Wind and the Sun

If I were to go to hell, I would want to be in the freezing version. Where I'd forever be immobile and cold, uncaring of anything at all. On a long enough timeline, I might be able to adapt and endure the coldness.

Sigh, If I had one ability I'd give my life to get, it'd be cryokinesis.

If I could easily make myself a six-foot tall block of unmelting ice─and sleep for all eternity.

"Then why shouldn't you just die?"

You're served a cold stare and a chilling voice, a poignant reminder of how I'd failed before. Azalea Ocampo hasn't been ominous to this narrator in the old days. Yet now, we're practically exes who can't seem to forgive each other. Why we're only winding up together is that we share these frivolous incursions─she has butterflies and I can see them.

And yeah, we're in the same neighborhood and school.

I wish it was a virtual relationship where you're able to cast each other off at a single restrict function.

"Chill, that's too edgy," I bantered, lagging behind her already frigid stance towards my forlorn identity.

Yeah, I talked out loud: I apologize for wishing I was frozen in ice when I'm not gearing to be the country's valiant war superhero.

I was this enthusiastic in thinking I'd be riding a WLA Liberator when suddenly, Miss Azalea took her smartphone out of her pocket.

Snap!

"Wow!" Our spirited newcomer mused, hand covering her gaping mouth.

"What was that for?" I subtly protested─gazing upon those disrespectful camera lenses before Miss Azalea's caprice.

Snapping a photo of someone else in the open.

Sigh, I'd never seen someone do a blatant crime before.

She shrugged, sliding her phone to her backpack pocket. "Well, I guess, you two just look cute being with each other…I can't help but root for her."

Hellish…Primrose squeed! What, like a heartstopper moment giving about a dopamine boost that we're actually built for each other. Romance was only an armor to hide the truth─and so, she must want her name called onstage at Oscars.

Let go of my right arm, will you?

Chatter, chatter. Chattering were these flowers blooming in the desert, and I was the lost ornament sticking out like a sore thumb. I let them be, thus, I didn't talk.

I'd taken into awareness how I had an actual muse now.

Well, we do look good with each other.

For one, Azalea doesn't─and wouldn't─lie.

For instance, now, she's hurting over something I shouldn't ask about.

Else, she will be prompted accordingly, to tell a truth I'm not yet supposed to know. As her bluish banshees squirmed, her soul silently screeched. I peered into her eyes─and urged to say, "I see…You have enough courage to take me down now, huh?"

I suppose.

Yet, I can't let myself accuse her─for I'd be the monkey to my own wolf.

"My bad, Primrose, but can you leave us both?" Smiling heartily towards Primrose, Miss Azalea's graceful facade requested. "Class is starting soon, we don't want you to be late."

Okay, the chattering has come to an end.

Damned Stuco prez, she even spoke for me when I didn't care if any of us wound up late.

"Hmm?" Primrose tilted her head, directing her look above head. "Mika would, though…"

"Nobody expects from the problem child," I deadpanned, faking a sigh, accordingly.

When you have a name too prominent for infamy, then you're granted a freedom of sarcasm.

"We'll catch up to you," Azalea calmly assured.

"Okay!" Primrose cheerfully agreed, letting go of the right arm I no longer feel nor own. Such clinginess brought from nowhere

Hopping and skipping ahead of us, Primrose pranced, her joyfulness unfettered.

Who she left were the two people she's seeking to become within the remaining days of our high school.

"She's been giving you bad days and it's only Tuesday," Azalea affirmed as soon as our bubbly enmity stepped into the staircase. "How about you try to avoid her instead of putting on a silly bet?"

"Nuh-uh, an idiot like you shouldn't be concerned whether I'd laugh or not."

"Did you just call…?"

Yes, it's quite rare─but I talked smack.

Which…I suppose my little sister would veto the thought just now.

"Yeah right, I shouldn't bother with you because I can't help to begin with…That has been a nice talk," she said, turning around. "Let's go."

She must have been irritated, hurling her backpack in a place it shouldn't be.

My face would've hurt if I hadn't caught the strap. I'd be playing the henchman again, and I'd follow her somewhere to talk about something important. Maybe not necessarily, she just doesn't want the outward investment spiraling out of control.

Now that Primrose's presence left, the fuse no longer lit─we walked quietly, none the strangling 

"Whoa, these are thick encyclopedias…Why not just use your phone?" And I stated the obvious, "It's the digital age."

Mikhail Salazar, of course, couldn't possibly escape being frowned upon─all because he's an indispensable prick.

"For someone who calls concern stupidity, you sure got a lot of nerves ostracizing my preferences," she bantered, sharp eyes offsetting the newfound sereneness.

As if I care enough when peace is only a short-term thing. "If I'm being made to carry, then I have the right to complain," I said, belligerently faking a wince.

"Yap if you want, you'll still be carrying that," she said, annoyance gushing out. "My back hurts."

"Yeah, you do get that when you're carrying books around." I asked, "What are these even?"

"Not important," she answered. "So, you're planning on doing this alone…What makes you think you can handle it yourself now when you failed last time?"

"Yeah, that's the issue, I failed last time," I said, I suppose a little bit too nonchalant for comfort. "What makes you think I'd fail twice?"

"Okay, fine, volley of questions, I don't care anymore!"

I might be leaning on an afterthought, which is disrespectful to this delicate figurine, but we're talking better…huh? I must have been thinking we'd be spitting needles at each other. Yet, no predicament has truly transpired compared to our encounters earlier this school year.

Well, you don't know how we usually interact.

So there's no point in making that assessment.

I suppose it's because her butterflies weren't making a fuss nor were they complacent. Her blue masquerades, being all wriggly when Primrose was around. I could've had a heart attack, thinking was their subject.

I sighed…well, a lot has changed.

"Yeah, it's better if you don't get caught into it again." If I could, I would have patted her. "Just act normal, and everything will be fine."

"Hands off, now." Along with her friendly flying critters, she wriggled─and it might have been optimal to revert back as caterpillars…Okay, I couldn't contain myself.

"I'm sorry for misbehaving," I apologized and took my hand off her head.

"Mika," she called as she stopped on her toes. "Please…don't push yourself too hard."