I tilt my head back gently then forward many times before standing up and joining my weird friends. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if they’re my friends. I don’t know why.

Ashen quickly pulled me to his lap which I tried getting out of, but the man is made of steel. Strong warm arms were wrapped in around me and I could already see Cassie blushing at us. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t comfortable right now because I am. The broad chest on my back and the manly scent were very comforting.

We were childhood friends—no family because our parents were friends even before we were born. I guess that’s why I was very comfortable around him and him to me too.

switch eyes with Ashen or with Clarie even with Mrs. Gray, but mom just laughs at me and called me silly. She said that I couldn’t be able to exchange eyes with someone. I said that I saw people do it. She frowned and asked where I saw such a thing. Of course, I answered—through a cartoon. Ever since then she wouldn’t let me watch T.V.

His eyes were glazed over like still deep in a dream. I grew annoyed as he hasn’t gotten the message that I am still here stuck because of him. I thought by all the noise and the glare of the sun he would be already awake and ready to go. In annoyance, I threatened, “If you don’t let go of me in less than a second, I will tell your mother what you’ve been doing to me.” It was a soft warning that made him open his eyes and quickly got on his feet; it made me fall on my bum and he even had the audacity to laugh! Like every meeting we had, I glared at him. Finally, he got the note to shut up.

“But wait, are really serious that you’ll do it,” he asked. His overused bag in one hand and the door handle in another.

“Yes, and you know that even if you play victim I will still win,” I teased and grinned at him. That seems to get under his skin.

“Fine. I’ll leave here then,” he said then walked out of the room. I didn’t try to stop him since I would also run away from him later, so why not make it earlier. Even if he wasn’t here anymore, I shrugged and stood up as well. I found my stuff at the far corner of the room. I made sure that everything is neat and nobody left something before leaving the room.

The air is still chilly. There were few students left, the ones mostly with positions in associations identified with their numerous identification cards. Even though it’s cold right now due to the weather earlier, they seemed to run from Egypt to get here from the amount of sweat I could see on them. My hair whipped my face one too many times that I growled in anger and I was forced to put them into a messy bun.

I’m not sure where to go since if I went home I would be lonely and the annoying bunch that I call friends would let themselves into my humble abode even if I didn’t open the door for them or know they are going to my home. They acted that my home is theirs and often would climb on the fence at the backyard just for fun. Though they’re like that I still like them very much. I guess in my normally boring life, they’re one of the weirdly annoying friends that you couldn’t help to love.

On the other hand, if I wait a bit later to go home, where would I go? I didn’t answer that question and just let my feet do the job. The scent of rain in the air, the puddles, and the trees drenched by the rain were very comforting to me. I don’t know why, but I like rain a lot. I was too engrossed in watching the scenery past by me as I walk to notice the familiar path I was taking. Minutes later. I was in front of...

irreale ma reale