Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. There is no relation to any real persons, groups, events etc. They are all fictional.

Chapter 7

School Life - The Play (Part 1)

“Aden!” 

My name ringed in my ear, which brought me back from my space out.

“What were you thinking about?” Yumi asked curiously, putting down her pencil.  

“Uh…it's nothing, I–I was thinking what to read next,” I lied. 

What else can I do but lie when faced with that question.

Just as Yumi opened her mouth, 2 girls, maybe seniors, respectively, walked through the door shouting. 

“SO! Next month, we are doing a play for Talent Fest, but we’re currently short on actors, therefore as the Leader of Theatre club, and collaborating with Animanga Club, we’re looking for volunteers. Would anyone like to participate?” They announced.

Great, some free time for me to read my book while the participants go practice.

The room became silent after the announcement. It seemed like no one wanted to volunteer themselves, but the sudden change in atmosphere as the leaders saw me together with Yumi was overwhelming.

Something’s definitely going to happen…

“Okay…so no one is willing to participate. Hmmm…” The Theatre Club leader muttered to herself while staring at me and Yumi through her glasses.

After a while, she left with the senior girl* who I saw at the entrance ceremony.

Why does she remind me of someone…

The morning bell rang, and classes had started, the school grounds were empty and voiceless, but still I had an eerie feeling that lingered within me.

Why do I feel this eerie and uneasy feeling? And where is Dad? After the dinner at Yumi’s House, Dad still hadn't come back after he abruptly left. Did he find out that the forest fire was done by Jake and his gang? Also the police have been very active lately, they even have patrols at night, and the school is completely protected by them, so why?

My mind was clouded with unanswered questions.

“ADEN!”

A scream echoed, louder than my thoughts, which snapped me back to reality. 

“YES SIR!” I shouted as I stood up from the shock. 

“Are you even listening, Aden?” He questioned in a very deep voice. 

He was our P.E.* and English Teacher, Mr Abraham Beckenburg. When he was a little kid,  his role model was a famous fighter in MMA, which inspired him to enrol into a Fitness Elementary School in Germany, in the middle of his education in the elementary school, his family shifted here for some reason which he does not wish to share. After he graduated, he chose to be a teacher instead of being the fighter he dreamed of. Despite being of German heritage, his knowledge and proficiency in English was better than anyone at our school. And of course, I got this information from others.

He had a very distinct hair colour which was a gradient of black and brown. His white skin, which still hasn't gotten tanned by the intense heat lately–is evidence of him being a German. The short glasses he wore gave him a funny look, but his personality does not match his appearance. One time, during our school’s Sports Events, he became a completely different person. His ground control was like that of a Sovereign reigning over his kingdom, keeping track of every movement, and making calculated plays which gave him a massive advantage. 

“Well… ” I answered awkwardly, after all I am new to the school. 

“Pay attention during class. Next week onwards you guys have Talent Fest Practice , and I do not wish any one of you to come and interrupt me with questions on whatever I have already covered in class.” He ordered in a commanding tone.

I guess he’s high up in the chain of command in this school.

Time passed in a flash, it was already lunch time. Yumi is still drawing something that I still can’t understand, though I do know it is a pencil drawing. 

I turned my head towards my right, facing a window across the class, when I felt a pair of eyes staring me down. Before I could see who it was, the figure vanished, leaving me with only a glimpse of their shadow.

Who or what was that? 

“Ady, what do you think of this?” asked Yumi ebulliently as she handed me a thin sheet of paper. 

It was a sketch of an outline made with pencil, though I couldn’t really tell what it was, nor did I even bother trying to find out as I was terrible in art and had no interest in it.

“Sorry but I can’t catch what you’re drawing… ”  I replied. 

A smile curled slightly right before she spoke. “It's a character sketch, I was thinking what to draw until I saw the cover of the book you've been reading lately .”

After looking at the sketch longer, it does resemble one of the characters in the book I finished recently. 

The day went on as usual. The day’s last bell rang, and soon, school buses scattered out of the gate, while students on bicycles followed after the bus like chicks tailing their mom. 

As me and Yumi were heading home, I heard a voice calling out to me and soon felt a hand being placed on my shoulder.

“How was your day? Did those buffoons bully you guys again?” Reid asked as I turned my head to look at whose hand it was.

He looked different today. His long hair which was nicely styled, is now messed up, 2-3 buttons of his white shirt have been unbuttoned from top, blue pants loosely sagged, and black shoes covered with dirt spots. 

“No, but what happened to YOU?” I stared at Reid’s dishevelled look as I questioned.

“Ahhhhh…nothing, today has been very boring.” He sighed. It seems like it was a very bad day for him. 

Just as he finished the sentence, he quickly turned around. His eyes were fixed on the lifeless pole that we just passed. 

“W-what?”

He was on guard as he slowly approached the pole.

“Ady, take Yumi and run back home. I think someone is following us.” His voice made us stand still in place. 

“No wait!” a voice yelled from the pole. 

A familiar figure walked out, it was none other than The Leader Of Theater Club, shaking in fear while Reid didn’t let down his guard. 

“Reid, don’t worry, I know her, she is from our school.” I assured him. He doesn’t go easy even with women.

We got scared for nothing I guess, or I fell into a trap?

“Y-Yes yes, I mean no harm," The Leader said. She nearly cried from the fear. 

Both of them relaxed but for some reason my heart is still pounding fast. 

“Well, care to exp-” 

A huge shadow appeared behind Reid cutting off Yumi. Reid stood there, eyes wide, until he leaped forward and kicked with his right leg towards the shadow’s face. But it caught the attack.

“Be respectful to the mas-” 

Reid kicked the shadow’s hip with his other leg, but the figure stood there unaffected. Suddenly, Reid’s four limbs were clinging onto sir Abraham’s hand, as his right fist was inches away from Reid. Sir Abraham unexpectedly lowered his arm in a flash, but stopped just before Reid’s head hit the ground.

“Kids these days don’t know how to respect girls and older people,” commented the figure.

It was our PE sir Mr Abraham. 

“Sir, he is our friend!” Yumi yelled.

Sir overpowered him that quick?

Reid was still clenching on Sir’s hand, his sweat dropping one by one in the ground.

I never saw him tense up this quickly before.

 Reid slowly let go of his hand after realising it was futile.

“Then why was he fighting Emily?" He questioned as he stood in front of us arms crossed together in the chest.

“I was in the wrong, Sir.I was following them to understand the bond between the 2 of them for the Talent Fest.” answered Emily with a still voice and pointed to me and Yumi. 

Sir Abraham stood there for a while, thinking. 

“Be careful next time and don't stalk anyone. Do I make myself clear?" He ordered.

“Yes Sir.”

“Where were you a few days ago?” Reid stood in front of Sir and asked. 

“I was busy since it was opening day and the rest is none of your concern.” Answered Sir. 

“As a teacher shouldn’t you be ensuring the safety of the students?” asked Reid. 

What is happening now?

I stood there processing what had happened. I was thinking to stop the conversation before it goes too far but why do I have this sense of familiarity… 

“What do–” 

Reid was leaning on the wall nearby and held his head, his breath had an unstable rhythm, sweat flowed through his shirt. Confusion spread among us. 

“This h-headache is—” 

“REID!!!!” I yelled. 

Asterisks*:
*female senior who was promoting the club and had a ponytail tied with black and red stripes in Chapter 1

*Physical Education

Author = Ryujin (@gol_d_ryujin) 

Editor/Proofreader= Tricky (@tiky_tricky)  

Art = Sara

Instagram = ryujin._.200