Truth is rarely pure but never simple

Penelope is now determined to find out who Trevor really is and how he is not coming out to see everybody but her. She wants to know everything. After that argument she quickly left him behind, but what hurts more is that Trevor didn't stop her. She just let her go, and he just stands there, watching her go away with sadness on his eyes. What a coward. She told her friend, Dana, to meet her up at the rooftop to discuss about Trevor. She needed her help to find out the truth, since Dana was able to sneak up and snatched Trevor's file.

Upon coming to the rooftop, she saw Dana already there, sitting in one of the benches. Luckily the sky is very cloudy, so it is not that hot to be on a rooftop. "Dana!"

"Hey there, so what do you want to talk about Loffie?"

"I need your help Dana."

"Hmm, after being silent from me for the past few days and then here you are again. Asking for my help."

"I'm so sorry Dana. It's just that-"

"Shh, it's okay Loffie. I know, so what is it?"

"I need to know more about Trevor, didn't you get his file right? Can I peek?"

"Oh, it's already in the principal's office. I just managed to sneak that up at night, and I've read on that day. You know they can't know they have a missing student file."

"Can we sneak up tonight?"

"Sure, Loffie but why are you just now became curious about Trevor's life? Didn't you ask him about it?"

"He doesn't want to tell me. I know he is being secretive. And he's been acting weird lately like he doesn't want us to go in public and if ever we go in a public, he doesn't want us to speak on each other. And he doesn't want to meet other people except me. That's why when we are just going introducing you to him. He hides."

"huh, that guy is surely weird, but definitely hiding something. Don't want publicity and only want you to see him only? Well, what could be the sign?". Penelope mummed at her assumption. It is true Trevor has been acting like that lately.

"Oh, by the way, how did you two met?"

"It's just a normal day when I peek through the window of our classroom and that's where I saw him on the entrance of the forest. He's staring at me like straight to my soul."

"Hmm. Sounds like a fairy tale."

"Shut up."

...

"Loffie, we need to be quiet if we want to get that stupid file." Dana again complaint when Penelope just kept making noises.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." They tiptoed through the dark hallway and turned left to go up to the 2nd floor where the principal's office is located. They know the guard is patrolling this area, so they need being extra careful. Fortunately, the guard seems to his deep sleep, so they managed to get into the office without breaking a sweat. Now they just needed to open the door. Dana removed her hair pin and picklock the doorknob. A click was heard then and both celebrated in silent.

They carefully opened the door and looked around the office. It is so eerily quiet, and they walked towards the cabinet and rummage through the file. Penelope saw a folder with a name of Trevor Lee and quickly gets the said folder. She opened it and, in her dismay, it's empty.

"Why is it empty?" she looked at Dana skeptically.

"I don't know Loffie! The last time when I saw this is it is not completely empty. Maybe they were able to find out that there is someone who sneaks up in here. Let's go Loffie. It's dangerous here."

"But my file... it's also empty..."

...

"Loffie, I'm sorry I- "

"No! How could you? You said you like me!"

"I like you! More than anything! And even myself!"

"You are lying! All of you!" before Penelope could run away. The strange man holds her arm stopping her completely. "Let go of me you psycho!"

Penelope rushed up from her sleep, catching her breath as if someone is chasing her.

"Argh, my head hurts, why this is so happening so frequently?" she said to herself. She's been dreaming that dream since that night and that makes her head hurts a lot.

Could that be the accident she experienced? She stands up to drink some water because her throat is so dry. Her parents are still not home, where could they be? "I need to talk to Dana about this." She said before she goes back to sleep.

The next day, she walked groggily into the classroom, not hearing that someone is calling her which is Dana. She was brought back into the reality when Dana forcefully tapped her shoulder, making Penelope shouts in instinct.

"That hurts you- "

"shhh, don't say bad words! Loffie, you are always out of your mind. Is there something bothering you?"

"Yeah, you're in a right timing Dana. I want you to talk about something."

"Sure Loffie, I'll listen."

...

It was lunch break when Penelope decided to go the forest again to meet Trevor, after that awkward moment where both somehow fought? Penelope never visits him. When she arrived at their usual spot, she saw Trevor there sitting on the tree, but something feels strange. He is not moving at all or is he just sleeping? Penelope moved closer until she kneeled to match her head to his. He really looks like sleeping. She touched his face, and it felt cold, just like his hands. Trevor flinched at the sudden touch and opened his eyes to see a blushing Penelope. She quickly retrieved her hands and stand up. She was about to go when Trevor stopped her.

"Loffie, please don't make this harder for me. You already hurt me so many times."

"What are you implying Trevor? If you just explain to me what was happening, then maybe I can help you."

"I can't Loffie, even if I wanted to, I can't because-"

"Because of what Trevor?" but Trevor just hang his head low. Thinking if he would continue what is he saying or not, but Penelope is the one who is being persistent.

"Trevor?"

"BECAUSE IT MIGHT DESTROY YOU LOFFIE, ah fuck damn-" Trevor burst out which Penelope shocked. Everything is happening so fast that she saw Trevor crying in pain, clutching his hair for no reason. "Argh, it hurts. Don't go near me Loffie ever! Don't ever come back and pretend you didn't see me." he started backing away, but Penelope kept stepping forward in which Trevor decided to run over the other side of the river. "Always remember Loffie that I have like you since the beginning. I have liked you since the start."

And the he disappeared through deep into the woods. She wants to go after him, but it is dangerous to go that far, little did she know a stream of tears is already running through her face. What is this feeling? A feeling of pain and lost? It just like she felt this before but why?

She walked back to her class lifelessly as she sulked on her seat. How come it got into this worse? Now, Trevor doesn't want her to come and even talk to him. What is she going to do now?

"Hey Loffie, you really are so off this day. What happen?"

"Dana, Trevor doesn't want me to see him anymore." And then Penelope burst in tears which Dana began to panic. She hastily hauls her up and excuse themselves to go in the bathroom but instead, Dana headed them up to the rooftop.

"So, what happened this time Loffie?" so Penelope told her everything, starting from her frequent weird dreams lately to the argument she and Trevor had. Dana just patted her in the back saying everything will be go back in normal and that Trevor will come back to her. Penelope smiled at that and thanks her for always being there for her.

"You know what? Let's just forget all of this and start anew Loffie, how about we smashed at the upcoming school's night party? That would be awesome! We are gonna lost ourselves and forget our problems, so what do you say?" then Penelope nodded after.

Both are parted their ways when Penelope excused herself that she needed to do something. Dana made sure to her that she will always be there and call her if something happened. Penelope just nodded and goes straight to the principal office. Yes, the principal found out they both sneaked up into his office that night well because obviously the school is guarded by the CCTV so one day she was asked to be in the principal office and the rest follows. She knocked twice before entering the room. The principal was already sitting on its chair, holding a newspaper while drinking his cup of tea. She was well-aware that the principal was someone you can't meddle with, so before the principal could say anything. Penelope abruptly bowed, begging for forgiveness and of course, she didn't told Dana about this.

"Where's the other one? You two both know that you two can be expelled anytime because of what you did."

"I'm really sorry Principal Wells. I know that what we did is wrong but please give us another chance. I want to explain myself for this."

"Since you are an excellent student, a passionate and an aspiring chemist then I'll let this one slide but explain yourself, why did you do that? Suddenly, the atmosphere became serious as Principal Wells lean over his table, fingers crossed over his mouth and focused his look at Penelope.

"I-I, I just wanted to know the guy I met at the forest."

"The guy at the forest?"

"Yes, his name is Trevor Lee?"

"Trevor Lee? Oh, a lost star. A supposedly prodigy but chooses to be a delinquent. What a waste." the Principal abruptly stands up which made Penelope flinched at him. He goes through the files and pulls out two folders but different from the rest. They are in color raw. "You recognize him?"

"Everyone in the school knows how smart he is, but something strange happened to him that made him like that."

"What are you talking about, Sir?"

"Loffie, why are you curious about him? How exactly did you meet this guy?" Penelope creased her brows in confusion before nodding.

"We met at the forest a month ago."

"So, you two until now seeing each other eh? But Ms. Salvador, I am utterly puzzled."

"What?"

"Look at this." Principal Wells gave her the blue folder on his right hand. Penelope opened it, and she wished that she never opened that blue folder.

"You see Penelope, Trevor Lee was gone. Forever."