The return of a monster

Chapter 22 : The return of a monster

ALAN INSTITUTE.

07 : 46 AM.

'Have a wonderful day, honey.' Dad kissed my forehead.

'Thanks, dad.' I smiled at him.

Bounding out of the car, I pocket my hands in the leather jacket on my back. Apparently, today is MUFTI THURSDAY. Every student can wear anything they like, as long as the dressing is decent.

My attire was mum's idea. she made me wear blue denim jean shorts over a black net leggings. My white long sleeve top, which was bought at a comic con in Japan, hid behind the leather jacket. It had the picture of Demonslayer. Black boots covered my feet. I hope I don't stand out too much.

'Looking good, English.' Someone slaps my left shoulder playfully and I almost wince in pain. It's Gracie.

'Thanks' I massage my shoulder and smile back nervously. 'You look like you're prepared for war.'

Gracie wore black T shirt over camo shorts. Her stockings were green and her boots were camo. Her bag too.

'I'm prepared for war. Class president is returning today.' Gracie smiles.

'Class president?' I asked confused. Wait. Now that she mentioned it, I realise I haven't seen or met this class president before. Did he take some kind of leave?

Gracie put her arm over my shoulder and we walk into the school compound. 'Derek took a leave of some kind. It's been 2 weeks since anyone last saw him.'

What kind of leave did he take? I become too astounded to speak. Did he just leave the school for some family matter or was "Leave" a code for dead?

Gracie begins. 'He took a leave. Said it was a family thing blah blah blah.'

I exhale with relief. Thank God, it wasn't the latter.

Grace went on. 'Last night, Derek tweeted in our class group chat that he's resuming today.'

'Wait. There's a group chat?' This school never ceases to amaze me. 'I'm not in the group chat.' That's odd. No one added me. Matter of fact, no one told me about a group chat.

'Don't worry about it. I'm an admin. I'll add you.' Gracie winked at me. 'With that being said, I'm gonna need your number. You won't just magically appear in a group chat if I don't have your number.'

We both exchanged phones. 'Sure.'

I have being present in school for 2 days and again, I have failed to notice the cars in the school premises. They must be so lucky to drive themselves. In a split second, I hear a scream followed by another then another till it became an uproar. What the hell's going on? Did an alien crash into Mr Gale's car or is Lin making an appearance? I pick the latter.

'Derek's back.' Gracie squealed. I have never seen her do that before and I wish I could "unsee" and "unhear" it. She quirks an eyebrow as though there was something on my face. Of course there was. The disgusted scowl I'd wear on my face whenever I see Levi. Every time I think about him, I get this pain behind my left eye.

With a smile, I nod. 'Lemme guess. This Derek is the class president.'

Gracie corrects me. 'He's the school's heart throb too. Well, He's basically both.'

'What?!' I yell almost like an anime character.

Gracie pulls her arm off my shoulder and link arms with me. 'Let's go see him.'

We begin to run towards the school gate.

'How are you sure it's even Derek? For all we know it could be Lin.' I'm almost out of breath. Why the bloody hell is Gracie running as though her life depended on it? Don't tell me she's one of this Derek's fan girls? Well, I won't blame her. Back in London, I'd give my life for George if I could. That's how crazy in love I was. George and Jung Kook stole my heart. Let's see if this Derek is up to standards.

We halt to a stop at the sight of a mob of girls.

'Can't they get out of the way? These fucking first years.' Gracie clicked her tongue in annoyance.

'Wait. They're making way for him.' I point toward the gate. The girls are parting like the biblical Red Sea.

I heard it's more sexier if you stare at someone from their shoes to their face. Damn, it's almost like in movies. Before our eyes could meet, a hand blindfold me. Who's that asshole that stopped me from looking at Derek? How will I know if he's hotter than George?! Wait. This perfume. Don't tell me.

I pull at the hand from my face. 'Get away from me, Levi.'

'Oh? How do you know it's me, dear lamb?' he whispered behind my ear.

'G- g - get away from me.' I'm stammering. The whisper of his voice makes me feel - - -

Levi begins to laugh and pulls his hand from my face slowly.

I turn beet red from two different emotions - one; from being aroused in public and two, from anger.

'She looks like she's gonna kill you.' Gracie holds in laughter but it's clear she wants to laugh.

'Asshole.' I yell at Levi.

'Damn. She's feisty.' Levi bit his lower lip and runs his hand through his hair.

Oh no. I'm falling for his charms.

'Sup.' I hear a voice behind me. Now, it's close. Closer to me.

Levi approaches me closing the distance between us. What's he going to do?

'You're back, Derek.' Levi said with an intimidating tone.

I whip around to see this Derek. Before I could behold the sight of Derek, a hand blindfolds me.

'What the hell?' I yell.

'You should only have eyes for me, your lover.' Levi says.

Before I could reply, someone cut me off again.

'I don't know what is going on between you too but is that the welcome I'll get from you Levi?' Derek sounded angry.

'Careful, people are watching.' Gracie intervenes.

The PA system echoes. It's time for assembly.

'Later, Levi.' Derek makes a final remark. The last I hear were retreating footsteps and the squeal of other girls.

'Derek.' I hear Gracie call before leaving.

I exhale softly. 'Isn't it time you let me go?'

'No. Let me hold you.' Levi's hand moved from my eyes to my neck, tracing his fingers to my top. Again?

I pull away from him. 'Hentai!'

'How am I a pervert if I'm touching what belongs to me? hmm?' he smiled.

No way. Is he crazy?

'Charlotte.' Lin calls behind me. Alas, a saviour.

I rush to her side. 'Hey, Lin. Wassup.'

'I'm fine.' she too must be confused with what she just saw or if she did see any.

'Assembly's starting. Let's go.' I link arms with her and we shuffled to class.

- - - -

8 : 15AM

(Jacob's POV)

Charlotte is acting out of sorts. Lately. She frequents the clinic. Out of the blue, she switch seats with Grace and worst of all is, she hates going home with Levi and I. I certainly am not the problem. Is it all Levi's fault? It must be because he's being a jerk to her every time. But why? Did it have to do with what happened on Tuesday? I remember Charlotte called him "shoplifter". And on Monday night, when he returned home with Charlotte in his arms. What really happened?

'Shit. I hate being kept in the dark.' I yell to myself.

'Mister Jacob, thank you so much for volunteering to solve this equation.' I hear Mrs Sullivan's voice.

Lifting my head, I look at the equation on my touch screen monitor. Differentiation, my mortal enemy.

Oh's fill the air as students began chanting my name.

'Can you all settle down?' Mrs Sullivan must've smacked her textbook on someone's desk because everyone went mute.

'Done.' I send the answer to the equation on the board.

Mrs Sullivan smiles. 'Correct.'

Everyone went wild again with the chants except someone. I could feel a glare behind me. It was so intense I feared my head would be lopped off if I turn around.

'Fuck it.' I look behind me and the feeling's suddenly gone. What was that just now? I could feel someone staring at me. Is it Lenin? I look at his seat behind Levi's. It's empty. He's absent?

Eventually, the praises were silenced.

'Now, for the next problem. How about you solve it for us, Derek? Take it as my welcome-back-to-school present.' Mrs Sullivan has a dirty grin on her face. She had never liked Derek. No teacher had but if they wanted to keep their jobs, they are obligated to listen to whatever he says. What a hassle.

Derek stood to his seat and walked to the board. To Mrs Sullivan, he smiled. 'Can I get a light pen?'

While grimacing, she gave him one. 'You have 15 seconds.'

'I know.' Derek looks at the white board. The equation appears on the screen.

'Woah. Am I supposed to know this?' Derek scoffs.

The class burst into laughter.

I clench my fist. 'How can this asshole be the class president if he's this dumb? Even Little Layla can solve this with her eyes closed.'

'If you can't solve the equation, pick someone else to do that for you.' Mrs Sullivan said in annoyance.

Derek smiles and faces the class. 'Levi, come up here.'