She captured me and this gullible heart by her smile.
I grabbed her by her wrist at that time, so forceful and tight, without perceiving or even realizing the harmful action I had gravely done to a female. And I thought females are supposed to be neat, fragile, attractive, wearing skirts (and male instinctively, the shorter the better) and ribbons on her hair. And I found her the other way around.
She was too ill-natured for a woman, too manly for a woman, and too ugly for a woman. She wore weird overalls instead of a skirt. She didn’t just looked like a man but acted even manlier than the guys at the next town. And she is too unattractive for me.
And yet, she had the sweetest smile a most fragile and attractive girl could ever have.
And ever since that day, instead of receiving a slap or a punch (which I was expecting the most) for what I have done, she just had her eyes on me or at nowhere, which remained a puzzlement of my mind. The sun shone on her unusual short black hair, tainting it gold. And that time, she was smiling eagerly back then, elegantly despite the appearance. And for an unknown reason, I can’t help flushing. Unaware of what she was smiling for and unaware of what I am flushing about, despite those I tried to smile back at her. And I had this thought in mind that she was being too sarcastic to smile like that and yet I didn’t had the strength to tell her so, for I was captivated and lost in thoughts.
And ever since that day, I kept hoping for seeing that same smile- the smile of my first love.
TWO
I stormed out of my mansion and banged the door behind me. It’s not that I wanted them to chase after me but to remind them that minding other businesses is annoying. It was raging hell in there. Everyone in there most of the time blabbered his or her own thoughts about my future and like hell I am asking of their opinions. I disgust everything in there, excluding my stuffs. I hate my parents and the way they converse every morning. I hate their sermons, their unending dictations of what I should do and what I should not do. It is an interminable process. I hate our lousy maids, watching every move that I make then reporting everything to the old man. It was like I was their experimental specimen and everyone was enjoying torturing me bit by bit.
If only I could easily use my credit card, buy a plane ticket, and get the hell out of this country, I will really do but yeah, sure. Like hell I can do that. Beats me
I hate my life.
I walked to school for the third time that week, ignoring the pleading driver in front of me to send me to school. Usually, I have my own service (my very own Toyota Vios, although I don’t have my driving license yet) sending me to school. So this is freedom for me. I walked and walked until I passed commercial areas. I saw several buildings and faces; each has their own stories, but unfortunately doesn’t have the time to story tell. Then after, I walked alongside the residential areas, where most of the people notice someone or something unique. There I have been well-aware of the eyes gazing at me every morning – either of admiration or of jealously. I know I stand out. Everyone told me I am a perfect guy with a perfect physique. They say I could make anybody fall for me easily, even just by winking at the fortunate gal. Man, I am talking like I am some kind of a narcissist. Beats me!
Along my way, I noticed someone whom I’ve never dared noticing before.
Along the sidewalk I saw a woman around 5’3 feet tall, who have a long black hair tied with a pigtail at the back portion of her head. She was wearing unusual loose blue hooded shirt and baggy pants. She was carrying books on her right hand and on her left side hanging her mail bag stuff obviously stuff with school items. She also wore a think, black- framed glasses and her eyes seem small.
I know her well, the ‘Geek Woman’.
Taking a place in the honorable mentions, she is one of the unpopular kinds lurking in my batch. I have heard some good rumours about her – about her I.Q. and how unattractive she was. I did wonder why they called her ‘Geek Woman’ when they are a lot of girls like her, and even uglier than her. They said she’s special – like as in she never speaks to people that much unless school-related. I have never talked to her once but I did engage with her to some activities. And not even once I have seen her glanced at me.
She was a total outsider to me. I never dared wondering about her in my past three years; staying with her in the same campus. All I know was she was just there and nothing else. And I also never speculate about other people around me. In other words, I don’t truly care.
And I do really wonder if I really don’t care, or it is just me saying that.
She was passing the same direction as I do, her back facing me four meters away. Her head was hanging low, but had a poker face.
Suddenly, a stupid idea came into my mind. Seriously, I might be out of my mind that time.
I started running ahead. And as I was about her pace, I pretended accidentally bumping her shoulders. She fell, her face facing the cemented pavement and I just thought I heard a crack somewhere, somewhat like glass. It might be her glasses. And her books were scattered everywhere. Pretending unaware, I turned around and faced her then said, “Sorry I was in a hurry. Are you alright?”
I tried lending her a hand, stretching my right hand to her. But to my surprise, he slapped it and exclaimed, “Don’t touch me!” while her head remained low, trying not to look at me. I was a bit startled.
She began picking up her stuffs – her books and her glasses. She placed her glasses back on her nose. She did while maintaining her head low. Then she stood up and instantly ran away, her speed was unbelievably incredible. She did not even manage to even look at me and said a word.
‘What a girl!’ I thought. Then I began walking to school again.
Class had started the moment I arrived. And as usual, everyone (especially the girls) saw me at the instant then approached me. Girls in my class all have the same reactions about me - giggling, blushing, and sweet-talking - and I am used to it. I talked to them back so they will be satisfied. That is enough for them.
“Where were you?” the girl in front of me said. “We were looking for you all around this morning.” Tsk! ‘You’re not even my woman. Stop asking some questions as if I am your boyfriend!’ I thought.
“I just took care of some business at home,” I answered. “Personal stuffs”
I am their ideal man- or is it just me arrogantly thinking that way. Boys just don’t mind perhaps (or maybe within themselves they are actually plotting to kill me).
I went back to my seat. Some guys (mostly my friends) approached me. One of them jokingly slapped my head then said, “Personal stuffs, my a**. Dude! You were maybe chasing a skirt that’s why you were late.”
“Shut up!” I said. Then we laughed at the same time.
And as always, during classes, I have to do most of the reciting in my class since teachers are expecting a lot from me, even thought I not among the smartest dorks. Thanks to my father’s reputation. My classmates are exempted to these exemptions for the reason which I don’t know. Perhaps they just don’t mind. Truly unfair!
During fourth period, I suddenly felt like coming out of the classroom once in a while, leaving behind my classmates who are depending too much on me and test their vitality without me. I raised my hand then asked the permission to go to the lavatory (which my former teacher told me once it is a word considered as a dead language but I am still fond of using it). She granted me her permission and then I went out.
I had another coincidental encounter with the ‘Geek Woman’ when I passed along the corridors of the first years, might be going out also. When our eyes met, she instantly turned her face and looked the other way trying her best to pretend I wasn’t there. I did the same. We remained silent when we crossed paths.
That afternoon, as I was about to go play arcade at the nearby commercial district after bidding my goodbye to my classmates and the girls, I encountered with one of the security agents my father hired. He was wearing black coat and black shades that made him look even more suspicious. I can’t distinguish his face well because of his shades but he might be newly hired by my father. I knew every people at our mansion. And I think it was already his first time meeting me.
“Sir, I was ordered by your father to fetch you home," He said. “He needed to be at home at once. He has some urgent business for you, sir”
I tried ignoring him, passing by without looking at him. I continued walking. Then all of a suddenly, he grab my hand, went behind me and arm locked my arms. I can’t move my hands. “He told me if ever you won’t come with me, unfortunately I have to bring you to him by force” He said.
‘This jerk,’ I thought. I tried breaking away from him but his muscular strength was beyond mine. I can’t fight him hand-on-hand. At an instant, I head butted him hitting his face by the back of my head. His restrain loosen. “Y-YOU!” the guard shouted at me. But I didn’t look back at him. I ran instantly back to the campus, bumping to some students. I ran and ran without stopping. I climbed every stairs that I encountered. I ran without turning my head back. My heart was racing fast. I thought if I was caught, he will definitely kill - that old man!
After a while, I saw a science lab, probably the Biology lab since at sight I saw some specimens. I instantly went inside of it and shut the door behind me. I breathed hard, trying to catch my breath.
‘I am safe,’ I thought. ‘For now,’
I leaned my back on the door. I can believe running that far would exhaust me so much. I’ve never run like hell before. I think that old man was really serious this time.
“Y-you,” the voice said. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Ahead of me, I thought I just heard a voice, a familiar one.
“I must be hearing things,” I said aloud. “With the exhaustion and everything” Yeah, that’s right. Of course I am alone. Everybody were already downstairs, going home. Of course I won’t be hearing voices from nowhere. I am not crazy.
“Moron,” the voice replied. It was a female voice.
“What?!”
I focused my eyes in front of me were the sound was.
My eyes weren’t really kidding with me. It was right. There was a really person aside from me, in front of me.
My eyes widen. My jaw dropped. Cool sweat dropped over my forehead. And I felt speechless.
Ahead of me is the same person I’ve been encountering since this morning, the ‘Geek Woman’. But she looked so different from the person I’ve just encountered few hours ago. Her hair is untied, flowing freely on the back of her hooded shirt. Her seemingly small eyes under her think black-framed glasses were actually big black eyes. And peculiarly, she has the complexion of a gorgeous woman. She changed into a total new person. She was like a goddess that came down on earth – an Aphrodite.
She was looking straight at me with those big black eyes, with a poker face. She was surprised at first but she seemed to manage to calm herself and analyze the situation, while looking at me of course. While I, on the other hand, was about burst out. My brain can’t analyze my situation calmly anymore. I was totally exhausting running away from that muscular guy. And my heart suddenly can’t take the image of a goddess in front of me.
I suddenly remembered her question, but I can’t think of a good answer to tell.
I don’t know if I am unlucky at that or perhaps – lucky.
-neminekomimi- Community Member 
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