MidWorld

Chapter 2 [Coincidence~]

‘Where should I believe in—- Fate or Chance?’
-Aeris Journal Entry #0002
———-
    The twins were very much obliged to take the new student around their school. The school bell had already ringed so it was their responsibility to take her.
David and Joshua were skipping down in the hallway in unison as they led Aeris, who was just walking calmly behind. She seemed to be in a deep thought as she followed the twins.
    “Something wrong?” one of the twins asked.
    Aeris did not really know which twin is which so she didn’t bother herself with that thought. But something was really on her mind that day. It was troublesome because she cannot take it off her thoughts.
    She didn’t reply to the twin’s question which made them worry. They looked at each other with furrowed eyebrows. ‘Did we do something bad? Or maybe she’s not feeling well…’
    Those were not the reasons. Aeris was thinking about what her mother told her.
“You will be transferring to the school were the person you are arranged to marry is studying.”
    “Do you feel bad about something?” the other twin interrupted her thoughts.
    “Eh?” she replied, oblivious to the world awhile ago. “N-nothing is bothering me, really.”
    The twins looked at each other again. She was really an obvious liar. ‘But it makes her cute…’ The twins mentally agreed then smiled at each other and continued to guide their new classmate.
***********
    Kelvin was leaning on their classrooms window pane. He looked down at the students, who were happily going home while he was stuck there, doing his classroom duties.
    He sighed as he thought about what his mother told him that morning; the reason for why he was almost late.
~~~~~~~~~~
    “Remember the thing I said about your arranged marriage?” my mother enthusiastically talked to me while I was eating.
    My mother was an energetic girl, to begin with. But whenever the topic reaches up to her husband, she would become silent for a second then change the topic. I myself did not know anything about my father. All I know was that he kept on sending us money as my mother kept on working day and night managing the company.
    “Yes, Mom,” I replied when my mouth wasn’t full. “What about it?”
    My mom clasped both her hands and there was a bright glimmer in her eyes. This could not mean good news to me, I know that. I prepared myself for the worst thing she could say.
    “You must be really lucky, Kevin.”
    “Why is that?”
    My mother stood up from in front of me and patted me in the back. ‘Why did she think I’m lucky?’
    “I heard that this girl that you are marrying is quite unique.” I looked at my mother with confusion. ‘What is she trying to say?’ It sounded like she was consoling me. “I heard she was pretty and smart. She had long…”
    My mother was not able to finish this girl’s features because I suddenly stood up from my seat. I kept on exclaiming inside my head that I was going to be late. So, I hurriedly grabbed my bag and bade my mother goodbye and ran as fast as I can, even though I was still biting the last bit of bread.
~~~~~~~~~~
    “Lucky, huh?” he said to himself.
    Somebody just suddenly flung their arms around Kevin’s neck.
    He looked to see who it was. A girl was behind him, smiling sweetly and leaning on his shoulders.
    “Were you thinking how lucky you were because you have me?” this girl suddenly said.
    Kelvin did not answer her question. She was his girlfriend yet he often wondered how they started this relationship. Whenever he thought about it, he never really had special feelings for her.
    “Won’t you answer me?” the girl sulked.
    “Trixia,” he replied without even looking at her. “Go home now. It looks like it’s going to rain.”
    “But, aren’t you going home with me?”
    “I still have something to do.”
    “Fine!”
    Trixia pouted and stomped her feet as she left the room. He was all on his own again. Even though it was a lie to make her leave, he felt a little freedom from what he did.
**********
    It was getting late and the rain started to fall down. The three freshmen were still at the lobby.
    “It’s getting late, Rain,” the twins said in unison.
    “You go ahead without me,” Aeris replied. “I have my umbrella anyways.”
    The twins just bade her goodbye and then disappeared into the darkness, though it was not really that dark yet. Finally she can spend some time alone by herself.
Somehow, at this time, she felt as if she didn’t want to go home and just stay there by the row of lockers, sitting alone by herself. It was nice to be once in a while being able to think only about her self. She assumed that no one else would be here anymore.
    She knew that at this time her mother was worried and she would be scolded by her grandmother if she stayed any longer. She decided that she had to go home. She opened her locker to get an umbrella but luck was against her today. Sadly for her, there was no umbrella there. She sank back down to the floor and closed her eyes, trying to weave a plan to go home.
    Just then, somebody approached and leaned over her. She noticed that it grew a bit darker so she opened her eyes. Someone’s face was so close next to her. She just blinked once, and then froze.
    That boy stood up straight and helped her get up. He handed her a handkerchief to wipe off the dirt in her skirt.
    “Can’t go home?” the boy asked.
    Aeris nodded. This person seemed to be older than her.
    “Let’s share my umbrella.”
    She nodded once again without saying a word. He seemed honest enough. The boy just laughed at her.
    “You’re cute!”
    She blushed. What’s up with the random comment? She never liked the days when she can’t predict what would happen. She would have the feeling of insecurity.
    They walked together silently. The only thing you could hear was the rain drops falling over their heads. The silence was nearly awkward and to break it, the boy spoke up again.
    “Where do you live anyway?”
    “Just by the right corner of the flower shop.”
    “Really? So that means we are neighbors.”
    “Eh?”
    “My house is just a few meters straight from that shop.”
    “I see”
    When they arrived by that flower shop they spoke of, they separated on their own ways. Aeris can’t help having the feeling of being watched. She walked as fast as she cold to arrive home.
    When she did, her mother was waiting at their door. Aeris was completely drenched because of the rain. Though that boy told her that he would walk her home, she refused it. She could not have anyone know that they were rich.
    “I was so worried,” her mother said as she hugged Aeris.
    “Sorry.”
    “The boy you walk home with…” a stern voice came from behind her.
    It couldn’t be that her grandmother saw them together. She might assume something and make up stories of something she did not do. She looked calm on the outside but she was frantic on the inside.
    But that wasn’t what her grandmother said. There was good news and bad news. Good news was she wasn’t scolded. The bad news was worse than bad.
    “WHAT?!”
    What could be the bad news that made her burst out like that? Was it really that bad that she couldn’t contain her emotions?
———-
-fin
[Author's Note(AN): "Done in two hours... hah!" -was not lazy today- "It's still short though"]