Relax.

   That incessant word was what kept ringing in my ear from the minute I woke up. Fortunately, my usual morning routine hadn't ended in a nervous breakdown. Right down as I had my breakfast, it was safe to say that I was actually pulling this off. So far, anyway.

"Why are you playing with your food? What's wrong?" Mum asked from the other end of the kitchen counter.

   I wasn't going to describe the expression I had on while Mum's curious gaze refused to leave mine.

   So I wasn't pulling it off, but I don't think anyone one could say this was my fault. We all know, after all, that Mums were secret witches with the uncanny ability to sense fear.

   And apparently go more than two minutes without blinking as well.

"Nothing." I kept my reply short and in a monotone voice.

   Hopefully, bringing my bowl to my mouth to slurp my cereal like soup would hide my anxiety-ridden face. I just had to be too scared to do drugs, didn't I? I would have been calm enough for today if I had allowed someone to hook me up.

   I gave an internal sigh of relief when she rolled her eyes and reached over for her car keys. Now all I had to do was make it through Zavlon's annual Liberation Week, which began today and ended next week Saturday, without cracking.

"Go get your stuff," Mum said.

"You're taking me?" Was I really that bad at acting innocent?

"Now I know you don't think I'm giving you extra money for transport because of that luggage you're taking with you?" she frowned.

"Extra-money for transp— I use the bus pass everyday!"

"Just go get your stuff."

***

"So we just leave our belongings outside?" I couldn't help feeling wary as I added my luggage to the many others gathered in the corner of the school's main entrance.

"That's what a teacher announced earlier," Minji shrugged. "And we did the same thing last year so there's nothing to worry about. The school has some people hired to take it into the Quarters."

"The Quarters?" I was certain that it's location was not mentioned during the orientation.

   After reminding me a few days ago of what Liberation Week entailed, she had failed to include where exactly 'the Quarters', the built hostels on Zavlon Academia grounds opened purposely for Liberation Week, were situated.

"You'll find out eventually," was Minji's curt response.

"Okay."

   I was about to break the awkward silence that ensued by asking about the dance when I remembered that there could be undercover cops camouflaged somewhere, ready to pounce.

   Comfortable silence is overrated anyway.

   I couldn't just be grateful she wasn't bringing it up, could I? I had to implicate myself as well.

"Come on." Her hand suddenly grabbed mine as more students were dropped off, dragging towards the entrance. "This is going to be epic!"

***

   It really wasn't. It was not epic.

   We had been in the Electronics classroom for hours. Okay, I'm not certain enough to confirm that, but it certainly felt like it. My initial thoughts that we were going to be directed to the Quarters right away were crushed when every Zavolonian was guided into respective classrooms. Minji had immediately sensed my confusion and filled me in on the fact that before we made our way to the Quarters, we spent up to normal school hours(on a Saturday!) in our classrooms(on a Saturday!) watching a video diaries about the origin and significance of Liberation Week (On a Sat—I think you get by now).

"...This virus swept almost fifty million people. It's highly infectious nature and people's inability to abide by the necessary protocols to curb it were the main factors for its devastating impact. The world began to wonder whether it was just best to accept this dreadful new reality that didn't seem to budge, until our scientists found a vaccine. Then more were made. Then more. And just like that..."

"Please tell me this is where it ends," I bent over my desk to whisper to Minji. "What happened to 'epic'?."

"I never said we wouldn't have to suffer through a tireless documentary first." She shrugged.

   Giving the woman on the screen my harshest glare, I retreated to my seat.

"Zavlon, however, does not believe that world historic events like this pandemic, that occurred only twenty years ago, should be forgotten. This is why we have Liberation Week to not just remember the habits that were cultivated due to this virus; frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitisers, wearing of face masks, quarantine, among others but practice them ourselves. We will get to understand what the survivors had to go through and end up instilling habits of our own. To know how far we've come to the very ways that we take for granted nowadays. From tonight, students will be staying in 'The Quarters' and will have classes adorned in their protective clothing and face masks..."

   Not even the beautiful, spacious rooms from the Quarters currently displayed on the screen could steer my attention from last night. How far had Clearwater River taken the chip and laptop by now? Had the school being able to track it befo—

"NO! LET GO OFF ME! NO!" A frantic voice from Zavlon's hallway pierced through our classroom with ease, alarming every classmate out of their desks to find out what was happening.

"All of you, back to your seats! Now!" Mr. Walsh snapped.

   But Mr. Walsh's voice was drowned by the thunderous footsteps that rushed to the hallway. It appeared other students already had us beat though.

"THEY'RE HERE! GO! GO!" The figure overpowered by two stern people in black suits wouldn't stop squirming.

   Fear and confusion merged into an unsettling pang within my gut when the oppressed figure revealed itself to be Mr. Sacury, my Mechanics teacher.

"I said let me GO!" The hoarseness in Mr Sacury's throat didn't do much to stifle his yells.

   Everyone else in the hallway seemed to flinch when our teacher was thrown with merciless force to the ground. He seemed undeterred though. His wild eyes flashed in anger as he stared back at the robot like man and woman in suits, but switched to pure horror when he traced his stare from the shoes in front of him upwards.

"COLIN! THEY'VE DONE IT! COLIN!" He snapped at our principal standing in front of him.

   The black-suited people were at Mr. Sacury's side instantly, preventing his unexpected lunge towards Mr. Speck from turning into a full-on attack.

"Please go back to class students," Mr. Speck said, his tone calm for some reason.

   I know that's not the way I'll react if the person before me looked like he wanted to murder me.

"Mr. Sacury's... nature is an open secret," he announced to the petrified crowd of students, referring to my teacher being one of the subjects in the dark matter merge experiment that was shut down. "But many of you are unaware that there are still certain persisting side effects that he as well as the other subjects have had to deal with. Unfortunately, as you can see, such effects have finally taken their toll on his mental health. Be rest assured, however, that these people are going to make sure he gets the help he so clearly requires."

   During his speech, I couldn't take my eyes off my favourite teacher, refusing to stay still in the grips of the towering bodyguard-like man and woman with sunglasses and unchanging expressions. How did he go from being the cool, unbiased, teacher whose class I'd looked forward to this very week to this?

   And who were they?

   Mr. Sacury's stature eventually slumped over in exhaustion as he was dragged the rest of the way to the school's main door. My stare never left his frame.

   Which was why I could say, without thinking I'm crazy, that for a second, his eyes were in my direction, etched into a frown of confusion.

***

"Party at the Quarters tonight. Tell your friends," Rav said to the girl over his shoulder before taking his seat at our table next to Dorian.

"You know, Rav, literally everyone will be unpacking," Minji turned to Rav. "Do you really think anyone is going to come?"

"Oh, Minji, Minji, Minnnnjj-"

"Just get to the point, will you?" Camila's bark wiped the smirk on his face right off.

"I'm just wounded that you think I didn't think this through." He sighed. "Trust me, I have everything that'll make them beg to be a part of this."

"You don't mean you, right?" Minji asked, still shaking her head however, like she already knew the answer.

"Not entirely. But I am a major factor, don't worry." He winked.

   No eye remained unrolled at that. 

   Except Dorian's.

   Speaking of Dorian, I couldn't not feel uncomfortable as he continued to play with his food across from me. So far, his responses to anything Minji or Camila had said were as absentminded as his face. As his lost eyes rose to meet mine, they held the typically deadpan Dorian look.

   I guess our mo—the moment at the dance was over then.

   At least he wasn't interested in the reason behind my sudden disappearance from the dance last night. Why didn't that make me feel good like it was supposed to? Whatever.

   What kept replaying in my mind had more of my attention right now and was getting harder to suppress. So I stopped fighting it and asked no one in particular.

"What do you think is the deal with Mr. Sacury?"

   That question channeled everyone's focus my way. As much as I didn't want to bring any attention to myself after the whole me destroying a limited edition Speck Tech device, I couldn't ignore the incident that occurred less than two hours ago. Strangely, everyone else, including the students beyond this table, seemed to have moved on.

"Well," Viola shrugged, digging her fork into her salad. "He has always been one of the weird teachers. I'm honestly not surprised."

"What are you talking about? He has never been that weird!" I said. My frown and confusion disappeared at the sudden realisation. "It's because he called on me first that day isn't it? I can't believe you're sti-"

"Beth, just drop it." The tone Minji had was unrecognisable. If not for the ingrained soft tone of her voice, I would have said that her comment was meant to be a snap.

"Yeah. Not everything is about you, Beth," Viola added with a satisfied smirk.

   Her scorn, however, didn't do much to dominate the hurt of Minji's words toward me. Since when did she start taking Viola's side?

   The table slipped into silence after that.

A/N: Thank you all so much for your support 🎉❤️!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Published: 21st September, 2021.

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