Chapter Two: The Starting Line

Aziekyell Dawn

I stood before the mirror as I fixed my necktie before combing my long hair. This was the day. I formed a fist in my hand. Closed my eyes. Ease my breathing. As I remember him. The way his lip curved into smile. The scent of his morning perfume. The way how he moves, screaming his existence in the world. I madly missed every piece of him. Before I reopen my eyes, cold tears traveled down my cheeks. I wiped it off, along with my longing and pain for him. I stared myself in the mirror, focusing what I must do.

I grabbed my bag and head downstairs. I saw my mother getting ready to her work as she put her white lab coat, she was a psychological therapist. When she saw me, she greeted me short ‘good morning’.

“I’ll be heading out now. I’ll be late tonight so your father will be the one to cook dinner. Be careful your way to school and don’t forget your medicine, it’s in the counter. Love you.” She gave me a peck of kiss before going out.

I headed to the kitchen and ate my breakfast. I saw a bottle of medicine in the counter like my mother said. I grabbed one and drink it then out the bottle inside my bag. The Academy is a twenty minutes’ walk from the house. There were some students who are also walking to schools, I was the only person in the neighborhood that wears a uniform like mine.

Wilward Academy. It’s a well-known academy that only few qualified students can get there. Many alumni from Wilward are now successful, after their last year in the academy they were all accepted to famous collages and became well known. Despite being well-known, there was no clear qualification on how to be accepted to the school. That’s why when I was transferred here, I was shocked that I was accepted despite being home-schooled. Now, this will be my last year in Senior High. Twelve months to spend before the end.

I’ve arrived in front of the gate. I looked up and saw the sign with bold letters of ‘WELCOME TO WILWARD ACADEMY’. It has a deep brownish red color with a background of black that gives more deeper color to the name.

I step beyond the gate towards to my class. There was a letter came to my house 3 days ago, informing me my schedule and class. Fortunately, I was put in the same class last school year—Class A. Every section has a class representative. They’re the ones who handled the class and to make sure that everyone follows the rules. Angelo was the class representative of Class A. Like a movie scene as I closed my eyes, the first time we met started playing.

*****

“This is Aziekyell Dawn. For some personal reasons she was enrolled mid-year. For now, she will be exempted to the rules until then no one can tell what are those. Mr. Fuentes, because you’re the class representative you’ll be in charge of showing her around. Ms. Dawn you can seat at the back beside the backdoor.”

I quietly go towards my seat. The room has weird tension for unknown reasons, it made me feel nausea. But still, this was my first time in school that’s why I’m pretty excited. I felt a pair of eyes staring at me for a while. I roamed my eyes throughout the room. A seat in front beside the window, there’s a boy intensely glaring at me. Then he smiled genuinely and transferred his gaze to the teacher, as if he never glared at me at all.

Lunch break came and I was still glued in my chair. I don’t know who can I ask so I just stared at students who’re already leaving to get lunch. Then he came.

“Class Representative, Angelo Fuentes at your service.” He said with a glee tone. ‘So, he’s the class representative, then why the hell would he glare at me like that’ I thought.

“So, I’ll be showing you here in the Academy. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here uhm miss...”

“Aziekyell. Aziekyell Dawn.” He shortly smiled.

“Then let’s have lunch together, Aziekyell”

I quietly followed him to the cafeteria as he tried to build a conversation between us. Every time he gives me a question, I’ll shortly replied. I’m still not comfortable around him, after what he had done. All I could think is how to avoid him. He was dangerous.

“Hey, Aziekyell”

This time he’s tone was different. It wasn’t playful anymore; it was the opposite. I looked at him. His eyes and mine meet. He has light brown eyes; it was calm and comforting to looked at. But I was taken back when I saw his face saying his serious. He stayed quite a couple of minutes before opening his mouth.

“Do you like playing cards? You know cards are war, in disguise of a sport. Either you’ll be the Joker to be laugh on or you’ll be the King who rules all cards” He pulled a card in his pocket. A black card with golden lining. A playing cards. King of Spades.

“Then do you like cards?” I never understood what he said or why does he have a card like that, but my mind instinctively asked back his question. At first, he was dumbfounded then he brushed his expression with a giggle and said.

“I love it.”

After he said he loved it, he displayed a face that left me frozen in my standing. He smiled mischievously, then came of a laughter. He was like a child playing pranks. So pure yet noxious.

*****

I breathed heavily after remembering his words. Until this day, I still don’t understand how that short laughter was the reason of me not running away from him but closer. I felt a hard wall in front of me, the impact didn’t hurt but it was enough for me to step back. I heard a low groan, then I realized that I have bumped with someone.

“I’m very sorry. Are you o ̶ ”

It was as if cat got my tongue. My mouth was left hanging when I saw his face. It was impossible how he’s here. Realization hit me. I grabbed that person and wrapped him in my arms. I’ll never let him go again. Never.