MAPEL

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Winter is approaching in steady dragged feet, almost blanding with the background. Except it gets chilly before the sun goes down, a rush to return home earlier among people.

The bird, the pretty little bird that nested on the maple tree is no longer there. Probably left for hibernation, afterall that's around the time when all the bird make a skie for survival.

Kylie titled her head, staring at the empty branch where the tiny bird has been for- for six weeks maybe, her unofficially- official sit by the window in the last raw offered a clear view of the cozy nest.

It was only a flitting presence of her hours spent in the last bench unwillingly. Yet, she adored it. She adored how the tiny bird would crane its head from that tiny little furry body of its, eyes like tiny black marble. How it hopped near her in cautious step when she offered crumbs of cookies.

Is it childish that she felt unfaired how the bird has left almost hiding from her. Animals, don't feel like humans- they aren't supposed to. Still...

" Anything interesting out there Miss. Rivers?"

- "Yes- sir... ... Organic."

The kid next to her snickers, though he covered up when the glaring eyes flitted to him, the one of their chem teacher Professor Richard standing between there desk. Shifting the attention back at Kylie, he glances at the test sheet spread before her, the sigh after wards much more aloud as if it were for her to hear as well. Pitiful, it must be for it was close to time out yet her entire sheet was void of even a single scratch mark.

"Focus!" He streacts the last word, leaving with a tap on her paper. Kylie huffs yawning groggily. Chemistry was never in her forte. Its not her fault-the subject just plain hated her. She tried- tried to mend. It just had her throwing the book , slamming doors so she had cncluded a lady of her class should never live in such a toxic relation.

Truth to be told she had no idea about the quiz today, well that's what happens when you are absent minded and careless. She only knew when Rachel told her with a vigours disappointed shake of her head.

It was on organic chemistry, while she only remembered vague portion of it. Only a handful of basic reaction.

She glances around her. Everyone is in such a rush that it's almost comical. Lily was typing away on her calculator, while Rachel was writing more like scribbling on her sheet with such a vigour...

The boy with the mid shoulder afro hair was bounching his feet in such a vigour, she could make out the uneven shake of his desk along. Ayline, the red head of their class was bitting on her nails continously, glancing at the big clock three time out of each two second.

They still have fifteen minute left, that Kylie noted. Fifteen minutes before the medium stick ticks at 9. Maybe she should you know, at least put up something for the print outs sake. It just looks unsettling with a test sheet, clean and neat.

So, she pulls the sheet close to her.

🍁

Kylie scribbles away on her travelling sketch book, glancing at the basketball court every now and then.

It was way past 7.00 pm, yet Kai was in the pitch. They have a tournament in a couple of weeks. In the three years that he has been in this team never have they ever gotten to hold the bulk trophy in their own hand, weigh it with glory.
Now, that it's his final year in high school he would like to give it all, anything- anything to poses the pride of victorious captain.

Hence the extra hours spent in the pitch. It's almost an everyday routine now, packing it up by 8.00, though he has a hunch that he might need to call it off earlier today.

He shuffles the ball, passing it on to his team mate in swift motion. As the other one takes the lead his eyes flits yo the lone figure sitting on the bleachers.

He had to suppress the groan that brought out his frustration. Honestly he will never get his sister. God knows what she is doing there scribbling away in her notepad. He just has an ugly feeling she has spewed some trouble and he had to be involved in her crime as well.

"Your sister, is it?" It wasn't really necessary to reply, everyone knew Kylie. Initially for all her lunatic stunts, now as the friend. The good o'l friend of that deceased kid who committed suicide on fall. The whispers have toned down but it still existed.

"You should talk to her, you know..." he recognised the tone, he recognises it all too well. The pity, the burden of the dead that the livings have to weigh. Sometimes-sometimes he does try to put himself in her shoes, to be a subject of pity constantly. He fails miserably, he can never make out how she has ended up at that. His mind simply gravitas to blame her.

"Younger siblings, I'm telling you man those are tiny satan. Everytime I get that big brother treatment believe me I just know I'm gonna be that scapegoat." As they jogg around the pitch one of his team mate slash old friend comments earning snicker from the older brother squad and a round of protest from the younger sibling squad.

"She is kinda pretty." A low whisper yet it prickes on his hearing range. Those guys..

"Focus!" He snaps sternly, musing down the mumer, that's it enough of this drama.

"I'll be back in a minute. " No one dared argue perhaps sensing his damp mood. Instead they usher him to go, as if in a que he excuses himself. He would really love to have a  chat with his sister right now.

Ignore the weird, messy chapter, I wrote it in one go without double checking. It's so exhausting- writing in short.
I have decided to finish the book for good this time, even if it turns to be a complete shit. It will probably be my last literature work, I have recently came to realise that this writing business isn't for me. I should stick to the reading part. Whoever is still here thank you for your endless support.

29.09.2024.