"Your heart knows the best,
why do you fight it?"

~●~

The professor made the way to the blackboard with a wide chalk.
We all were noting down whatever the person was writing down on the board.

"Are you fine? Because you don't seem like one."
Luna approached me, out of sudden. How could she get to know about my every little things, where we just have a meet up of a week.

"And, what made you think like that?"
I raised a skeptical brow. I wanted to know answer.
That's true, today morning my mother again scolded for a non-existent reason. And, that too just before my exit from, my house to school.
So, kind of, not in a great mood.

"I know, you are my friend. I get to know whenever my close ones are not fine. That's a sixth sense of mine."
I gave her a half lighted laugh.
She grinned.
She gave me her most comfortable smile that can knock anyone's socks off.

"Well, I am like this. I don't like to talk much."
I acknowledged her. Honestly, I wasn't like this earlier. Only I knew how did I end up like this.
From colourful, and full of light like rainbow to dark, scary thunder.
It wasn't a good way, but at the end, this is how I am. And I have to accept it.
I can protect myself from drowning in someone's else comfort words, because I am very well aware of how that person can be morphed into a poisonous snake. The world just need a finger to posion the whole body.
Poison of not to trust anymore.
Poison of not to show your inner child.
Poison of getting insecure of yourself.

And the sad part is, once they get a hold of you, There's no going back of that deep wound which will be soon carved to your heart.

"You are not like this Zelda. I know. You are full of spirit. It's just some cruel people make you felt that way."
This time, she was speaking without scribbling her notebook. And was just looking by my way. She get a hold of my cheeks and laid them in her broad palm.
My skin felt a cold surface, upon which it was laying on. I flinched when a blast of icy touch almost touching me up.

"You got this all! Just believe yourself. You are the best."
The sight of her turbulent eyes and trembling shoulders awakened a part of me that was infinite times more comfort than any hug. It brought me to a place, where I just want to scream every freakin' thing to her which haunts  me till now.
But unfortunately, she's not someone whom I know so personally and closely. And honestly if I say, my past doesn't help me either.
With the look in her eyes, I spotted a flicker of emotion in her eyes. It wasn't sympathy- but the warmth for me.

I parted myself from her palm and concentrate on the class. That was a relief, the teacher didn't caught us talking. Actually, he never did, despite of , she talk so much with me like everytime she gets chance but still never get a detention from him.

"But-"
A muscle ticked in my jaw. My breath whooshed out of my lungs to calm. I again parted my lips to say,

"But- you don't know me, you actually don't know my true story, Luna. Still, you keep sticking with me. No matter, how many times I have resisted you."
I said what was being a heavy weight on my chest. I know she is very well aware of how much I had ignored, yet she comes to me everytime.

"Because somewhere, I know you need one to console you, to hug you, to inform you that it's ok if life is not going along your side."

I lifted my chin. Her sentence attempt like a thud to me. The memory tore at the scabs on my poor heart, so much, so that I had to down the moisture drink in one gulp to ease the drink.
If I were smart, I'd leave right now and never look back at her. But my ass remained glued yo my seat.
She went silent, tapping her fingers on the table like she was contemplating her next move. A minute passed, before she whispered,

"Maybe it's have been so tough for you to suspect everything, but that's was life is. You get a lesson after every chapter, and you step in the next one with a very strong and unbreakable personality. And remember, I will be there for you, whenever you want."
I couldn’t formulate the words to speak. Should I believe her or not? My brain ping-ponged between decisions.

'She' was also like her, so honest infront of me, only if I knew I have been giving milk to a snake. 'That girl' is the root behind my miseries, which still hamper me.
'Jessica'
__

"Where are you taking me, Jessica?"
I questioned her when she was guiding me to walk by holding my shoulders, right above my hand. I was blindfolded with a cotton strap, making my vision of sight block. The only thing I can feel is her hot breath tickling my nape, and the silence around us.
I was stepping carefully, but frankly, I also knew that the girl beside me is never gonna let my hand go off...

"Just wait, Zelda. Have some patience."
She spoke not so stiffly. All I could do was move and try not to question her much.

"Sorry."
I mumbled in a whisper. My voice slowly faded.
I can feel her mouth twichthed, as if trying not to laugh.

"Don't be sorry."
She assured that.

"Sorry."
I repeated.

She shrugged, and continued to move with me. Not so long, I felt her releasing the grip on my shoulder, and a door opening sound could be heard from other side, as a creak.

"You can open your fold, Zelda."
I abruptly did that, when her voice alarmed in my ears. I tried to unfold the knots and soon, it was all open.
As it have been covered for last 10 minutes, I needed to rub it, then blinked for few minutes to get the view of my front.

Shock stuttered my breath. I was unable to continue my words. So, for this she was planning for so long.

"Happy 2nd anniversary darling."
She exclaimed. Her voice all dry, still her eyes was watery.
I closed my mouth. I was stupefied with the view.

There were balloons all over that room, with our photos hung on the creaky wall, making it look more beautiful. The pictures of us, reminding me the best memories I spent with her. The confetti getting displayed in the air. To fall on both of us.
A decorative cake was also in the view, presented on the middle of the table. Written with '2 years of us'.
Emotions were taking the best of me. I couldn't hold the urge to hold her in a bone-crushing hug.

"Thank you Jessica. Thank you so much. I didn't you know you have been planning-"
She didn't let me to complete and spoke in between,

"Don't care about that, I am your best friend girl. So, its my responsibility to make you happy."
She smiles so hard, that maybe her cheek must be hurting.
I overlaid the pad of my thumb on her eyes, and wiped off her tears which were about to fall.

"You are the best gift I can ever ask for."
I smashed our cheek with each other to show the happiness I am feeling right now because of her surprise.

"Yeah, let's cut the cake. It's the 2nd year of our meet up as friend. I am so happy."

"I know right. Thank you."
__

Silence descended. I rubbed my thumb over my pendant, seeking comfort in its cool familiarity.
Only of I knew Jessica's intention earlier, I wouldn't be having this terror of my teenage.

I swallowed the lump of disappointment in my throat. I hate this! Being weak infront of someone.
I inhaled a sharp breath and tried to control my breath with the advise techniques.
"You are strong to let them go and stand on your feet."
The letter voice speaks to me now. The only motive I am getting from those scrunched letters. Those words echoed in my mind. To let me know, he/she is here. With me.

Without my knowledge, I saw a bottle of water infront of me, provided by Luna. Her eyes still helds a place where I could melt easily, they are that soft.
I grabbed it, drank and placed the quarter-empty glass on the table.

"Thanks."
I replied shortly.

"I hope you are fine now."
I nodded minutely. She didn't ask me the problems, but now, sitting with her, I guess curiosity ate at her.
Whatever, Zelda, don't trust anyone. They don't deserve you.
I kept palying in my mind for last 5 seconds.

Till now, I didn't noticed her gaze, all focusing on me until the heat peireced my skin.
After that we both were focusing on the lecture, only by outside. Inside, there was a storm to debate about informing her every single thing or not.
__

The teacher went, and now we were packing our bags for the lunch.

"What's your middle name Zelda?"
Luna questioned me after stuffing her mouth with chocolate souffle.

I arched one sleek, well-groomed brow.
"And What's the point of asking?"
I kept waiting for her reply to say. My middle name is something, which I actually don't clarify to anyone.
There are two reasons for that,
1) it's actually so weird
2) I don't like big names

"While going through the students register, I saw your full name. So just curious. I couldn’t read that properly."
She acknowledged me the reason.
I gaped at her disbelief.  Why would she open the register?

"OK I will tell, but don't tell anyone about it."
I dropped the fork and responded to her.
She even left the food she was eating, and put all attention to me. Like, I was the only thing she can see in this whole class.

I sighed a puff of air and spoke,
"Zelda Manga Schekov"
I ended up. Closed my eyes to hear her laugh with the name.
But didn't heard anything from her side.
Slowly opening my eyes,I caught her eating the lunch as usual.

Earlier,she was so hyped up about my name and now, she doesn't laughed, or didn't reacted anything.
"Hey? Didn't you find it funny?"
I directed a question at her.
It actually shocked me. That's the very first reaction I got from someone after being acknowledged about my full name.

"No, why would I find it funny?"
Bewilderment slashed through me.

"But-"
I gazed at her, chewing her food.
After the completion of her lunch, she grabbed the tissue and wiped off her face.

She get a hold of my hand, and gripped my knuckles before rubbing it with the pad of her thumb. We both exchanging gaze right now, all alone in the class.

"Its actually long, so I would you call you 'petal'."
I inhaled sharply. This is the same name which I have been called by that paper person. He calls me by the same name.

I tried to find the answer of this quiz,why only petal? Why not other name?
I was caught off guard, when the expanse of my hand skin was littered with kisses.

"You are so soft like a flower petal. So delicate. So smooth. So beautiful. Everything about you is just so full of calm and peace. I want to hold you but 'm afraid what if I couldn't grab you in one plate? I am afraid what if you fall and get scattered, all for people to exploit, to crush. But still I will do my best to protect you. That's why I named you petal."
This was the death of me. Even I don't know, how am I controlling myself to not let my tears fall. To not show my pathetic state. 
My face paled, then flushed so red an onlooker would think I am having a heart attack. A vein pulsed in my forehead, but I didn't disagreed to any of her talks. I didn't said a damn thing.

Someone else, however, did.
"Excuse me?"
The soft voice behind me get attention of both of us.
A girl standing right near the door, with some textbooks holding against her abdomen. All decent dress up.

"Is this L2 A3 batch ?
She finished her question. I replied her with a nod. She grinned before getting out of the room, she yelled to some people out there, but were incoherent to both of us.

"Who is this?"
Luna questioned me, while boxing my lunch.
I replied her with a negative response. Ofcourse, how would I be aware of her sudden arrival.

Not so long, we both justified a group of students entering our classroom and standing by the blackboard side with their textbooks in their hand.

Soon, my class was occupied by my own classmates too. Everyone was in their particular seat. All freshed up.
But I still wonder, why these other bunch of students are here?
My thoughts were interrupted by our English professor interruption. We all greeted him and were seated.

"Good morning class, how are you all?"
He asked his with a smile lingered on his face. He was very sweet. We all replied him with a positive answer.

"Good. So, let's head to the Main point, these are your seniors. Batch L3 B2 ."
Oh, that's the reason why they all were looking not so young, like us. There are so many students in this batch.
With many type of students, classic, chic, arty style-wait what?!

"They are going to study with you for the next few months due to some inconvenience of teachers and some other reasons. Only in English period. I hope you all cooperate with them. Get your seats."
The word barely left my mouth. While looking around the students, I caught him.
The Kim Taehyung.

Why on the Earth he need to be in this batch? I didn't match with his gaze, or that would be a problem-
"Petal, I got a call, I will join you later."

Without any response from my side, she grab her phone, took the call, and extracted herself from the seat. I kept watching her until she get out of the class, out of my vision.
Why only now? Why you have to get a call right now? When I am not in a good stable state.

I kept my gaze down to avoid everyone.

"Excuse me?"
I overheard a male voice. His announcing ringed in my eardrums, making me to crane my neck towards that person.

_____________________
Thank you!
(Word count -2505 words)

Hey how are you all? Love this chapter? Then please do vote.
Love yaa...and yeah from now on there will be more interaction between Kth and Zelda
~Jiya