Chapter 22 - All Too Well (Flashback)

New Year's Eve and I haven't received any call from Romeo, after that incident, he was entirely invisible – no indications, no clues where did he go. I'm sitting beside our telephone still waiting for him to call and sometimes I waited for him outside by the porch just in case he'll imagine dropping by – but all I get is being hopeless.

Fireworks illuminated up the whole town, endless bursting of colors and parade of noises but I'm not feeling grand – my heart's been lifeless and my emotions were dull. Mom called everyone for dinner, our faces plastered with our sweetest smile, and waited until the camera flashes – “Happy New Year!”

Christmas break is over and everything starts to get in the usual way. Walking through the thronged corridor with an unappealing banner dangled with a quote ‘happy new year & back to school’ – is that what they called effort? or that thing was a portion of our miscellaneous fee.

I placed my backpack on my desk involuntarily, and a girl that only a few strides away, approached me – it was Gelli. She handed me a tiny purse filled with something. “Happy New Year!”

“Really? Thanks!” I chuckled, a bit surprised. Gelli was never like this before, being friendly it's not her thing.

“It's just a nice feeling allotting things to others – it's like helping my maids.”

Then she walks away, my sights glued gingerly on her – I didn't get what she said. Gelli handed the same thing on my other classmates like she really means doing it. I checked what's inside – candies and chocolates that would be very satisfied with a first grader. I'm not stupid, it's her early propaganda for the next month's election of the school council. I just rolled my eyes.

I existed the whole day sitting and listening in class – until it was time to go home. My brain was so drained, on the first day of school of this new year 'cause we've been so loaded with pop up quizzes and group activities.

“We still have more to tackled and finals in two months!” my chemistry teacher exclaimed while I'm clearing my desk.

I'm brushing my classmates carelessly to go out first and made my way to Class E shortly – but I see no face of that lad I'm looking. I have my last option where to find him and I changed my tracks running rapidly, when I reached the spot my eyes widened, there are no soccer athletes on the field – I groaned. I dropped my body on the open lawn and started intoxicating before heading home – panting.

The next day, I came early to school and waited for him outside of their classroom. There were unwanted lurking from the class, knowing I'm not totally welcome here and this is not my common ground until the bell rings and class started he didn't show up. I trailed my steps with a heavy heart to my group and I'm late for like a couple of minutes.

“You must be looking for someone?” I raised my vision from the ground when a firm accent come up and made me halted.

“You should not be asking that when you already knew.” I blurted out, Astro was standing before me and anytime soon he could knock me down if he wanted to. He nodded.

“Maybe you could come with me later after school..” he retaliates, his lips curled and never averted my stares from him,

“Let's talk about what really happened to him.” I skipped breathing and my eyes bulged – is there really something this nutcase wanted to share. I released a faint chuckle.

“Do you think I would believe you? No – oh!” I take one step closer and could inhale his strong aroma, tilting my head up.

“Never on earth, I'll ask for help in a deceitful person – like you.” I spat out bitterly, after what he did to me, he will never gain my trust, then I stepped away.

“I'm not really sure if you knew what happened to Romeo after that night – during Christmas eve.” I looked back with bafflement and our eyes matched, he was a manifestation of a true living evil. “Because I know – and now, that you're confused, I don't feel like telling you.”

“See you around,” he added and turned his demeanor away, I froze in a moment – How did he know about it? And what else he was hiding if he's trying confessing the truth.

“Where is Romeo?” I screamed, just tossing his hand through the air as a reply.

I stride promptly and not to my class but to a place that might help me if my instinct is right. Gripping my bag and off from the corridor, maintaining my speed then I reached the building.

“Good morning ma'am, I may be asking for your little help.” I greeted the woman inside, behind the glass wall of our registrar's office, with a small crevice where to speak.

“Class already started, you're late. Come back later,” she said blatantly, I clicked my tongue and I feel disappointed.

“Please, this is urgent it won't last a minute.” I plead with my puppy eyes and a cute smile.

“Okay, what is it, boy?”

“Thanks! Could you please check the documents of Mr. Romeo Halliday if he's still enrolled? – junior's Class E.” I asked, if my instinct is right maybe he transferred school already, she started scrolling through her computer.

“Yeah! Student's status active.” and looked at me, nailing her bold eyes with a dark eyeliner. My brows furrowed. I think I'm an idiot – it isn't possible for a student to transfer when it's already finals - why I didn't think of that, I just only gave myself anxiety.

“And why he isn't in school since yesterday until now?”

“I don't know kid, maybe he wants to skip classes and most students do that.”

“Now, back to your class or I'll send you next door.” tilting her chin to left and I looked up the sign – ‘guidance office’.

“One more request ma'am, can I use your telephone?” she rolled her eyes but manages to unlock the door, I smiled.

“Just hurry kid, you know students are not allowed inside our office.”

“Thank you so much! I'll try to make a call at home 'cause I'm not feeling well.” I lied, my call is intended to Halliday's residence, I haven't made any call to Romeo since Christmas and I'm just stupidly waiting for him to make a call first. Now, that Astro shared some points about him – he gives me a weird feeling. I tried twice but no one's on the line.

“Are you good?” she asked, as I dropped back the phone.

“No, my parents aren't home, they are on work, probably.” my lips moved sideways and made my exit while she's busy on her computer.

Four had passed, I'm standing outside of the school gate. My hands in my pocket and Astro is having a little snack just across the road from the lane of street food carts. I know he had noticed my damn existence but it was him a whose damn well liar. He looked at me drinking from his plastic cup without a sign of any interest, so I walked home.

Once a devil always is a devil – he was just trying to deceive me or make a massive prank. Scratching my hair while looking up at the clear sky when someone pulled my backpack, twisting my uniform's collar and pinned me on the wall of the narrow alley.

“Don't give me that flirty disgusting look of yours, 'cause I'll never buy that.” he hissed too close from my face.

“Keep distance – ”

“Distance your face!” Astro cutting my paragraph – gripping my shirt tighter, pushing me harder and leaning closer to me. My hands clasped and I'm ready to land these fists on his fricking ugly countenance.

“You know what, I'm just holding my temper tightly but I absolutely wanted my knuckle dock on your face.”

“You want that?” raising his right hand – fisting.

“Romeo was beaten by his dad that night because of your gay crap drama – PDA!” my hands loosening from its clasp as my emotions and thoughts jerked.

“How did you know all of that?” he looked down, tilting his head and pushing me on the ground. I yelped, breathing abnormally.

“I know most about Romeo's life.” he confided badly.

“He wasn't here – away with his family.” Astro continued.

“What do you mean?” brows creasing.

“Should I repeat it? I thought you're smart – one word is enough for a wise man, as they said.” and extended his arm to assist me to get back my balance – I clutched it.

“Romeo wouldn't be pleased to know what arose here, I'm sorry and I really am.”

For a moment he was the demon and now, I don't know – but I like this side of Astro – his soft side. I am breathing deeply fighting back my nervousness.

“All I am thinking is how to help, and be a good friend and support him – and I see you as a menace, Kris – totally,” he confessed, talking like a man – with the conviction of real man that is true to his words and honest – and I fully comprehended where he was coming.

“But it's absolutely out of my control if that's what he wished, you know, to be – you and him.” I froze standing, from his last sentence, my heart melts. Emotions flooded throughout my body but I'm just concealing it.

“Now, it's time to go home – pal.” I chuckled, I couldn't believe he would address that word to me and I saw a bright complexion on him.

“But I still hate you.” he continued, I nodded shakingly and Astro turned away.

“Astro – ” I called and he stopped.

“I wanted you to be honest – real quick. Do you want me to stay away from him?” He looked back and smiled – the cocky one.

“The choice is yours.” waving his hand, leaving a smirk on my face. That bully might be right – the choice is mine.