Song dedication for the chapter: "2002" by Anne Marie 🩷

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"What even!"

Before saying anything, Scarlett takes a look at his forehead instinctively. "Whoa your scar is gone already?"

"What are you doing here?"

She smiles, "Don't you think I should be the one asking you that?"

He opens his mouth to give a reply but she takes lead, "But I won't. Because I know why you're here."

"Of course you do; you seem to be a certified stalker who manages to follow me everywhere. After serious contemplation, my mind and I have arrived upon the consensus that people here are just obnoxiously intrusive because they would rather waste their time watching drama unfold than achieve something in their lives."

"Ya!" She raises her voice, then lowers it again, "Why would I even follow you it's not like-"

"I don't know? Because you just like interfering in people's business?"

Her eyes stringent. "Listen. First of all, let me finish. Second, you're not some celebrity or even handsome that I'll go around following you-"

"I know."

"Huh?"

"I know I am not...handsome. You don't need to point it out." His voice falters.
"Hey...I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine. Now getting back to our conversation, please stop stalking me."

The ounce of sympathy that took birth in her heart died before it could swell into regret. A heart deflates in the air.

"I was not following you. In fact, you're the one who asked for me." He looks up, confused. She continues, "If you're still wondering, then yes, I am your library monitor for the entire year. And yes, I'm the one who's supposed to help you with your card, else you won't be allowed to enter the library or borrow books."

His face changes colors immediately.
"Yes." She crosses her arms across her chest.

"So, I'm still getting my card, right?" He asks blatantly.

The bell rings, indicating lunch break is over and fourth period is about to begin.

"No."

"But-"

"You can't get it today because we got class now."

He nods and just keeps on nodding like an innocent child.

"So...tomorrow?"

She dismisses his question and starts walking to the stairs and down.

"Hey, wait!"

She keeps going. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I hope you'll get my card done tomorrow?"

"Let's see...would you really want to get something done by an irresponsible person?" She quotes the last part.

"Uh, about that. To be honest, you are late. You were called so much earlier but you've just come. You should carry out your duties well."

"I was busy with the choir. I am sorry."

They walk in silence until they reach the entrance again. She stops and informs Mr. Arthur about something before walking out and heading towards the class.

As they walk, Elijah realizes that they are indeed classmates - they will be reading in the same class in the same school for three whole years. Just what are the chances! He sighs. He decides to act to be on the good side of her just until he gets his card. "By the way, I'm Elijah," he stops and extends his hand. Something strikes her but she ignores it and looks at his hand. She smirks, "And I'm invisible."

"Nice to meet you too, Scarlett." He gives an ironic smile and starts walking ahead.

She stares at his back and mumbles to herself, "And it's nice to meet you again, Z. I'm happy you don't have the scar anymore."

She follows behind and enters the class. The teacher isn't here yet, she goes and sits on her seat. As for Elijah, his face becomes worth looking at. Today, I feel I am god's most vile creation in existence.

He turns his head again to not seem like a creep; also, he's yet to get the card. She just smiles at him and he wonders how can she be so unpredictable.

Periods go by and the final bell rings. Done for today! Elijah sighs. But he's mistaken because as soon as he stands up with a packed back to go home, half the class tags along and goes on asking all sorts of questions like how did he grow up and what was it like in Korea; some even go on describing their love for Korean pop and Korean dramas. Someone asks, "By any chance, were you a k-pop trainee or are you secretly one still?"

He feels exhausted with so much questions that for the first time he wishes for Skylar to appear and rescue him. But Skylar is waiting at the front gate after assuming Elijah won't like it if he bothers him too much. Just as he's thinking how to get out of this situation, someone grabs his hand and pulls him out of the crowd. She informs everyone that he's been summoned by the principal for some document verification and drags him along with her. She hears some random comments but ignores. And he just keeps on looking at her, surprised, as they keep on walking with her hand holding his. After reaching a distance in the corridor that's out of sight from their class, she stops and lets go of his hand. "If you feel uncomfortable, just say so. You did speak up when we first met, you had an argument with me back in the library. Then why couldn't you now?"

"Well...I just...I-"

"What now? Forgot how to speak?"

Elijah isn't able to make out why exactly Scarlett pops up everywhere. Still, he feels thankful enough for now. "I just don't like it when there's too many people."

She takes a deep breath. "I understand."

"What?"

"Nothing, you should go no-"

"Elijah! Elijah! Oh my god I'm so sorry I should've known you'd get lost, I'm so sorry for leaving you alo...ne..." Skylar catches his breath while running towards them.

"Skylar, I was not lo-" Before he could finish, Skylar takes him aback by throwing his arms over Elijah. Both Scarlett and Elijah look at him, bewildered. Elijah pushes him back, "Skylar, calm down. I was not lost."

"What? You weren't?" He sniffs as if he were crying.

"Thank you for your concern but he wasn't." Scarlett assures.

"Aah, my bad. Anyway, school's over. So, do you guys have something to do or we can go?"

"No, we were just talking about his library card. You can leave."

"Oh, so you're the monitor for this year?"

"Yes."

"I really enjoyed the match that day, you play well."

"Thank you."

"You're not leaving?"

"No, I've to go meet Maria for the choir. Rose is there too. We'll leave later in the evening."

"I see. Okay then, bye." He says and turns to leave with Elijah and Scarlett too turns to leave in the opposite direction but stops midway when she hears her name being called. "Scarlett..." Elijah's voice hits something in her, she turns back. "...Thank you." He says and walks away with Skylar and she just stands there, looking at his back as his figure gets smaller and smaller and finally out of sight.

***

It's around 8:40 in the evening and Scarlett's lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling, her eyelids close gently with a sudden cold breeze entering her room from the balcony. She turns towards the window, eyes still closed. Can this really be possible or is it just wishful thinking? Because it's just...so different now. She's having constant arguments in her mind regarding something she wants to confirm. She's just not sure yet as it's too early to be so, though she hopes she's right. She turns again.

"Lette, what are you doing?"

She lifts up her head to see her brother, Nathan, standing by her door. He's leaning against the door with his arms crossed across his chest and his ankles crossed as well. He's got this suspicious look on his face with his lips pursed. She returns the look, "What's cooking in that scheming little mind of yours?"

He takes his right hand up and places three fingers on his forehead, his left hand supporting his right elbow. He lets out a deep breath. "Lette," he says in a very concerning voice, "I think..."

"Yes?"

"...you're having constipation. Hmmm." He nods twice. Both look at each other, one with genuine concern and the other giving a deadly glare. "Ya!" She hops down the bed at one go and literally pounces upon him.

"Aaaaahhh! Wh...what are you doin...mommyyyy!"

"You think this is funny? I've been so tensed lately. Mom's so right, you're just a brat."

"Let go of my neck, Lette!" He bites her fingers.

Mrs. Williams comes and stands at the door where Nathan was standing just a few seconds ago. "My lord, what a wonderful sight to behold! This is why I always say that we don't need pets around because we already have two."

"Mommy, please help me. This monkey will eat me alive someday." He looks at their mother with puppy eyes, somehow lifting his head from Scarlett's grip. They seem like two snakes draped around each other fighting for their survival, one waiting for the other to take their last breath; 'pious' would be a word too shallow to describe this sibling love!

"What you say? I can't hear you!"

"Mommyyyy...please!"

"But don't you love your sister? You help her sneak out so often, now bear with it." Mrs. Williams whistles.

"Ma, I'm telling you we should send this kid to a boarding school."

"You shut up. If we have to send someone, you shall be the first."

"Mommy, nooo! If you send Lette, I'll go too." Nathan pouts and Scarlett bursts out laughing. She lets go of him and he finally sits up straight. She hugs him and starts tickling him. Meanwhile, their mother just passes them some cringy looks but ends up smiling too. God, please let my children always stay this happy.

"Alright, you two. Dinner's gonna be ready within minutes, so come down soon after playing. And I should hear no more screams." She goes down.

After some time when they finally have their breathing intact, they resume their conversation. Nathan starts, "So what's bothering you? Tell me please so I can help you." Scarlett makes an 'aww' face and explains, "I don't know, kid. I think it's just, umh, school work?" He raises a brow. "You sure?"

"Hey, where did you learn all those suspicious behaviors huh? Also, do you even know what constipation is?"

"Look, sissy. Times have changed, you know. Kids these days are way smarter than you can imagine. And my teacher taught me about it and some other diseases. Also, internet!"

She chuckles over her little brother's newly learned sassy way of communicating.

"It's not a disease, silly. It's just...being sick?"

"Whatever. If you have that again, let's tell Mommy, kay?"

"Kay. Noted." She nods. "Now, let's go have dinner before your mommy comes after us."

They go and have dinner, although some thoughts still linger in her mind.

***

Don't think too much, Scarlett. Just go to sleep, you got a lot of work tomorrow.

Uh, why do the initial days after every break have to be so hectic though?

It's okay, you got this. Just. Sleep.

She's about to sleep when she feels someone getting on her bed.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Nothing. Can I sleep with you today?"

"Yess, baby, come up." Nathan gets inside the blanket with his long pillow. "Do you wanna hear any gossips, little mister?" She whispers in his ear.

"No, but I wanna know something," he says, upset.

"Yeah?"

"Do you really want me to go to a boarding school?"

She can't help but feel like gulping him down at one go. Nathan can be just too adorable sometimes, especially when he becomes a total baby.

"You really think I'd want that? Who's gonna help me with my missions if you're not there, huh? You little monkey!" She hugs him tight.

"Lette, you're choking me..." She holds even tighter. "...and you're the monkey."

"Shut up and go to sleep, else I'll really have you sent to a boarding school."

"I know you won't." He smirks.

"Goodnight, Nathan."

"Goodnight. I love you."

"Hmm, you too." They soon fall asleep and her thoughts finally fade away into sweet dreams.

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A/N: Hm, I wonder who's Z? 🤔
Also, how can Elijah who can't even speak while interacting with others actually argue with Scarlett?