It was just a bright, sunny day, I supposed.

I was forced to keep track of the baseball team in school by Prez Tristan, who didn’t have the authority to force me. Instead, he babbled this to the principal for the sake of our newest article which would be featuring the baseball team and I knew it was just an excuse to keep me out of the club. Seriously.

Not only was I forced, but I was told that someone was going to accompany me. Surprise, surprise, and it was not a student from here too. I was flabbergasted, they were going to send me in the field with some stranger. Just great.

And so, I waited for the stranger at the entrance of the field. The field was divided by four, one for football, basketball, swimming pool, and lastly, baseball with funky rainbow colors painted the ground. The field was so huge that I didn’t know who was standing opposite of the field approaching in my direction.

Gray hoodie, auburn jeans today, check… wait, was that, Never-Ending Guy?

Surely, I sucked at choosing nicknames.

Immortal College Guy then. It was Immortal College Guy, alright.

“Yo,” I waved lightly.

He merely glanced at me and walked ahead of me. Oh, so we were gonna walk and observe? Suuuure.

I followed him, more like catching up his pace, but Immortal College Guy sure had long legs. I tried nudging him and catching his attention… the guy still hadn’t looked at me! It was awkward at its finest.

“Um, you know that we have to observe right?” I finally said this, because he still walked like he couldn’t stand the bright sun.

He stopped abruptly and merely glanced over me. It was like he was giving me a signal to observe too. Son of a monkey, telepathy didn’t exist alright?! He only talked when he had something important to discuss. I sighed and took out a small notebook for me and began to analyze while writing. Our baseball team was always good, but not good enough to win an international award. The principal must have thought about this and decided to send his goons, which was us. I think.

I rubbed my eyes, while pretending to look at him. Immortal College Guy stood like a bodyguard, without the uniform which looked heavily ridiculous. Truly, I held my laughter as I continued doing what I was told to. I wavered slightly when the baseball seemed to be closer to us, although I was sure that it would not come to us, right?

Turned out, it was.

My eyes widened when the ball came forward to our direction, more to Immortal College Guy. Afraid that he would be injured later on and the ball would create a bleeding wound, which would horrify others if they saw his immortal abilities‒ probably the international news would feature this, I literally jumped on him and we crashed on the ground. 

Like a prey pounced on its predator.

Okay, I didn’t mean to be that scary, but his face wrote that off.

A gush of whispers filled into my ears and one of the baseball players approached us.

“You guys doin’ okay?” He shouted and I gave an OK hand sign. I smiled and breathed out when Immortal College Guy seemed fine, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask right?

“Immortal College Guy, are you okay?” I asked and offered him my hand.

He stood by himself and dust off the dirt on his clothes, his lips twitched a bit. That should be his signal of ‘okay’. I guessed.

“Immortal College Guy?” He questioned.

“Oh, that’s your nickname from me since I don’t know your name.” We continued to walk around the baseball field and I almost forgot to write when we didn’t stop for a while. 

I cleared my throat, “So, Immortal College Guy‒”

“Cassian.”

“Um, yes?”

“Cassian.”

That must be his name, I was sure of it.

I cleared my throat once more, “So, Cassian, or should I call brother‒”

He gave me a ridiculous look.

“Don’t call me that,” he wiped the trickling sweat on his forehead.

I just grinned and muttered: “Sure.”

After I finished jotting down my notebook and tucked it into my skirt pocket. I started this unusual conversation to ease down the tiny awkward atmosphere.

“So‒”

And then, I was cut off again.

He walked after me, completely ignoring me. He stretched a bit and I realized that he was waving at me. Not quite waving, but his hand was above his head, not moving side to side. I heard a grunt afterwards. Should I assume that he was opening up to me? Nope, I guessed not.

I let my eyes wander around, until I stiffened when I felt someone staring at me. It was Zen, Cassian’s best friend. His eyes screamed ‘this girl got on my nerves’ and I scurried to the hallway as I endured the uncomfortable air around me. Luckily, I spotted Isis hanging around the lockers and a few of her books fell from hers. Her locker must be messy, I bet. 

“Hey, I just saw Zen on the way here.” My ears felt tingly and I scratched it roughly. Was it my imagination that made me shudder or did he intended to make me feel like that? We would never know.

A scoff came out from her mouth.

“That golden head better not disturb you, bestie,” she clucked her tongue and continued, “Come on, I brought your sweet and sour pork for lunch, girlie.” 

“Besties forever,” I munched it happily.

***

School had ended ten minutes ago, Isis and I decided to walk home together. Though my house was far from Isis, hers was closer to school. So we always took the road to her house first. We said our goodbyes and I walked alone to my house now. It wasn’t until I was out of Isis’ neighborhood that I realized a penetrating gaze over my back. I gulped. I slowly looked back and saw him again, Zen, the guy basically stared at me like a hawk, then he marched towards me. I grew confused and annoyed.

“What’s up, Anne?” He stretched his back, and my face began to grow pale. His muscles were packed with guns and I was scared that he would do something to me. I could not run away from his guns.

“It’s Rheanne, dude.” Still, I couldn’t lose my cool.

“Yeah, Rheanne, right. Smurfette’s best friend.” He looked at me with two different feelings, a confused feeling rushed through me. One was astonished, and one was bitter. It balanced well, and it was harder to read his face than Cassian.

“Smurfette?” I got a feeling that I knew who he was referring to.

“Yeah, Isis. Dang, that girl bites,” he fake shuddered, a grin appeared on his face that looked oddly suspicious.

From afar, people would assume that he had a crush on her, but I think he just liked teasing her. And no one had the guts to tease Isis, or else they’d embarrass themselves.

“Wait, so, why are you looking… at me earlier?” I tried my best to blurt out the words. I couldn't believe that he was practically stalking me, it was hard to get out of the uncomfortable atmosphere later.

He seemed to have forgotten his original plan and it snapped his smiley expression.

“About that, don’t get too close to Cassian.” He folded his arms around the chest, successfully making himself intimidated.

“Why?” I asked.

It was my choice to befriend anyone, not him.

“No reason, just don’t.” He walked away and waved at me.

Seriously, why did everyone leave me hanging today? Zen's one was weirder than others.

My stomach growled when I reached my house, inhaling the familiar Chinese foods my older brother ordered online. He could cook, but I presumed that he was tired from his work.

“Yoohoo, where is my sweet and sour pork?” I called out and dropped my backpack on the couch, already heading towards the dishwasher. The floor creaked a little when I bounced a little. I grabbed two plates and two sets of cutlery for me and my brother. He threw me an appreciative nod and we wolfed down the foods like we hadn't eaten for days. 

Rayden was a dentist. He worked in his own clinic, because he liked his privacy and he was secretly nervous around his former colleagues. Though, he wouldn't admit it.

“It’s rare that you’re coming home earlier than I expected.” I plucked out some pork and popped it into my mouth. The gushing flavor hit my taste buds so good.

My brother cleared his throat, “Seeing your face brighten up when I brought food is a sight to see,” he smiled softly.

I smiled back, I wondered if he had a girlfriend. But from his behavior, I guessed not.

“Yeah well, don’t be so hard-working. Your eyes screamed for help.”

He cocked his head and chuckled.

“Okay, okay.”

After dinner, I showered and did my daily skincare routine while calling Isis out of boredom. My bedroom was filled with medium wardrobes, two bookshelves, one book cart, a soft bed with cute dolls like octopus and a study table covered with writings related.

Isis: So, I was like, shooketh! I spotted a couple made out like they’re hungry for each other, yucky!

Rheanne: Info on the couple?

Isis: Nada, their hairs and hands covered their faces. But still, it’s like they battle each other lol. 

Rheanne: Don’t tell me the details, gross!

Isis: *choked back a laugh

Isis: By the way, have you found the answers for the Biology homework? I can’t seem to find it on Sir Google.

Rheanne: Aren’t you a smart bad ass girl? Welp, me too.

Isis: Sometimes, this smart bad ass girl does need help in her studies, after all.

Rheanne: *chuckled

Isis: Anyway, I heard that there will be a school trip next week.

Rheanne: Are you sure? That’s fantastic!

Isis: It's fifty-fifty news, so let’s anticipate it.

Rheanne: Yep, still excited to know where we will go.

Isis: I bet it’s another lame event…

Rheanne: You’ll never know, Isis.

Hours later, the call between us ended when Isis began to yawn. Her sleepy side came out and we quickly said our goodbyes. I was laying on my bed, reading a book called Six Crimson Cranes. I loved some fantasy romance, yum. 

I stopped reading a while ago and decided to turn off the table lamp while adjusting my alarm clock. I thought about many things, because my mind couldn’t be empty when I was alone. I thought about the school trip, Isis, Zen and his weird behavior, lastly Cassian with his quiet nature. My eyes fluttered and drifted close, as I clutched my pillow tightly.

One week later

Finally, the school trip ended up as an official trip to a city named Shuwei. An unfamiliar city, but whatever kept us studying in school. This week seemed peaceful, with Cassian and Zen nowhere around me. Isis and I hung out yesterday and had delicious dinners with my brother, Rayden. We joked a lot, including my unordinary hairstyle. So now, I was checking my suitcase one more time and bid goodbye to my brother. He gave me a warm hug and told me to have fun, well I will. I walked into the school, saw the bus and hopped inside. The first thing I noticed was the buzzing sound of students chattering and laughing about the school trip. The bus radiated happy energy and I contributed. I beamed when I spotted Isis on the very back of the bus, her eyes wandering around the bus’ structure. 

“Yo!” I grinned.

We bumped our butts together as our usual greeting and sat side by side.

“What’s up, bestie?” Her eyes shone when the bus started to move.

“Are you excited? And wait, you’re earlier than me. Is this a horror movie?” I gasped and clasped my mouth, “is this where you told me that you’re Isis’ doppelganger?” 

“Quit the joke, missy, I just don’t want that twerp to steal our seats.” She pointed at the seats Zen sat with someone.

“What’s with you and him?” I asked.

“Nothing, I just have a feeling.” She joined her hands and placed it on her head.

I squinted to see Zen properly, and holy, a familiar brown hair made me gulped.

“Wha-what is he doing here?!”