Chapter 16: It Is Where I Belong

Light and Joy both endured the scorching heat that had been lingering at the flag ceremony- it wasn't new to them, but they still stood in line with a considerable number of people that had been early. After the long, tedious ceremony, Nick and Mari appeared from the sidelines and greeted Light and Joy. There was a sudden gush of a cool happiness that bulged inside Joy and it traveled into her body like it made sure that she can feel it, but she was somehow nervous because of the mission they had at hand. But that didn't stop her from being happy to see both of her best friends to be happy. She looked at Light who seemed to be in lost in his own thoughts.

Light looked at the picture of the location again as he walked with the three, hoping to find some kind of a landmark that he might use in asking where the school was. He doesn't even know the name of the person in the picture to start with, and that made him frustrated because of the options and the limited features of his necklace. It was when he saw the tree that looked like fire and that was when he realized that he had already known it last night when he laid down on his bed like a dying vegetable because of his exhaustion. He had been through the school that was in the picture when he looked for Joy- and it really was on the town near them, just as he thought. They were at their classroom the moment he became aware of his surroundings again.

'Please... Let me know his name.' he looked up at the sky as if there was something he could grasp- or he was waiting for an answer. 'Please.'

Just then, a frail light started to escape the necklace he was wearing, and he was sure hoping that it was the answer to his prayer. He looked at it intently and smoke appeared at the glass and it formed into letters- and it started to form into words- nay- a name. NATHAN GUMM. Light looked at the sky again to send his gratitude, but their Literature teacher was already walking towards the desk. Light took his seat and thought of many things he believed to be beyond human comprehension.

Their Math subject came again after the seemingly long hours of boring teaching of their Literature professor who had just blurted out his entire life to the students- it was- how he first had a crush when he was just a young, fresh highschool kid [ he is old now], how he stepped up and had his first girlfriend, and how he ended up being alone. He described the world as cruel and unjust. As their Math teacher was just enterring the classroom, Light was leaving after making sure Joy, whom he called Hope knew where to go later while he investigates Nathan.

He walked past the silent corridor and went away from school. He went home to go get his bike because his destination was set on the next town. He figured out that it wasnt really far enough, it's just that the road had so many curves- however, the scenery is so breathtakingly beautiful. The sea had projected an out-of-this-world beauty, as if it was full of glitters because it was shining the moment the sunlight touched it- and the people were happy too- it was when he was already enthralled by the scene that he had realized that his destination was at their town- and it took him about an hour to get there because he slowed down to appreciate the beauty and the smell of the cool breeze of the sea from the sideline.

At last, he successfully arrived at Teltrio Laboratory High School- a public high school where Nathan- his subject, was supposed to be. He was warmly welcomed by the fire tree he saw at his necklace and he parked his bike next to the thousand others and chained it. He walked inside the school and he saw the familiar scene he had seen the first time he took a step there. He thought that he would have a hard time looking for Nathan- he was supposed to be- but Light saw him in front of the 2-storey black-stained glass looking building, looking for something in the trash bin.

Nathan was not too tall and not too small either. He was pale and he had black eyebags that would be easily mistaken as black eyes. He had his hair dyed with a vibrant red- and he was wearing a black long-sleeved uniform. Thoughts started to come to Light like a strong gust of wind- what the person over there was looking for - why he was looking at the trash bin when he was supposed to be at class, and many others. Light observed and approached him with the friendliest atmosphere he can ever project.

"What are you looking for?" Light asked. Nathan flinched as he heard the sudden, unexpected voice.

"Sorry- I thought you were those horrible people that threw my bag from that window." Nathan said, still looking for his bag while he pointed out the window above them. "Will you help me uhmm... What's your name again?" He said, disoriented.

"I am Light."

Light searched the dirty trashbins as Nathan stood there like a statue. He had been taken aback by Light when he said his name. He felt like he was destined to meet him- it was no coincidence - and he was sure of it. A moment later, he figured out that he had already been staring too much at Light, who was holding a bag- his bag.

"Is this yours?" Light asked, and Nathan looked at him and realized that his eyes were golden as the sun shined onto them. He took the bag and nodded.

"Thank you for helping me." Nathan said as tears almost seemed to be bursting out from his eyes because of the relief he felt when he saw his bag. "A-are you new here?" He asked Light.

"Actually, I am not from here. Do you have classes?" Light asked Nathan who looked so sad. There is a sadness that was wrapped unto his being that surged at Light like a monster wanting to devour something.

"I don't want to go to class. Imma just head out at the beach." Nathan replied and started moving towards the bicycles.

"I'll come with you." Light said and came unchaining his bicycle. Nathan frowned- he wasn't used to be around people all the time, and there is a possibility that the person who had suddenly appeared was a bad person- but there was a ray of sunshine that seemed to be blooming out of Light's eyes - and yes, his golden eyes- it was like it only tells the truth and everything he said was sincere, so he let him join him without a word. Both of them did not ride their bikes - they were walking with it while Nathan was leading the way towards his favorite spot in the beach. They reached a beautiful spot that had a tall tree that was easy to climb, and before Light knew it, he was already sitting on one of its branches. Nathan followed and sat on one of the higher branches.

"You chose an intersting place. It's got a nice view." Light commented.

"Yeah, it was the nicest spot I could ever look for... And... I this is where I belong. Up here. It's peaceful."

Nathan wanted to be alone, but bullies like Albie and John- his classmates- never left him alone. He had always been so kind and so monochromatic. But having Light hanging out with him today had sort of given him a relief he never had experienced with anyone latelty. They just sat there watching the waves in peace and Nathan seemed to have found his inner calm.

"You project a very sad aura." Light said, breaking the silence that had surrounded them.

"Er... D-do I?" Nathan asked, unused to being talked to. "That's strange." he said and let out a laugh.

"It isn't strange for people who had been laughing out their frustrations."

There was something in Light that must have been wierd, but Nathan thought that this stranger seemed to have understood him, and maybe meeting him wasn't a coincidence at all.