Twenty-Eight

Asher

I swear I just almost knocked myself out of the bed. The bastard slapped me in the face and just walked away.

I glanced at my phone that is lying at my bedside table and turned it on to look at the time. It's already 5:28 a.m. so I quickly hopped out of the bed to go to the bathroom.

The bathroom door seems to be locked as I squeeze it, trying to open the door. Then I heard the shower running, coming from the bathroom. I placed my ears on the door so I can hear the person inside.

"Archer?" I called.

He responded immediately. "Yeah?" he said.

"What the hell are you doing there?"

"I'm obviously taking a shower, dumbass!"

"What? I thought you were in the kitchen."

"No, I got here first. It's your fault for not waking up early you shithead."

I exclaimed and rolled my eyes. I just waited for Archer to finish his bath. While waiting, I went to my brother's bedroom to wake him up and get ready.

Finally, Archer was done taking a bath. I went to the bathroom to take a shower and prepared my clothes after. We left the house at exactly 5:45 a.m.

We walked to the street while the cold weather is hitting us. We also stopped at the nearest convenience store to grab my morning coffee. I always need my morning coffee. Always.

When we arrived at the school, I'm pretty sure Archer and I were both amazed or astonished by the current scenery.

The academy was filled by students from other schools. Some have bands, cheerleading squads, flags, banners, and other things that indicate support for their schools. It is amazing even though I've seen this kind of view for a couple of times.

We rushed to the meeting room as soon as we knew the time. Luckily, we're not late.

Just in time.

Mr. Eric gave tips and bits of advice to the team and I, by his side, explained all the rules and regulations. The meeting lasted for half an hour and we all went to our respective classrooms to rest and spend our free time.

Well, I think you know what I did so no need to tell that.

I woke up an hour before the match. Lying on the floor, I scratched my sleepy eyes and sat up. I'm still sleepy even though I know I slept for more than 2 hours.

Everyone is busy. They were all getting ready for the match. Cristina was doing some weird stroking of letters to a large piece of paper. Calligraphy, I think that's what they call it and it looks easy if you're the one watching.

Irish, Kylie, Mika, and Agatha were working the chants. They have a piece of paper that contains the lyrics and they practice it redundantly.

Maddie and Jane on the other side were working for the choreography along with the chants. Well, not like dance choreography, but just little movements of hands and head.

And then my eyes met Candice.

She was alone cutting the colored papers. The next thing I did was standing up and walked my feet through her.

As soon as I got to her, I put my hands in my pockets. "Can I help you?" I asked, looking directly at her. She looked up to me and smiled, "Sure." she responded and then I sat facing her.

"So," I muttered as I look to the stuff she was doing. "What exactly can I do?" I asked. That put a small grin at her face.

"Oh, uh, you can cut these out." she said and handed me the papers and scissors. I stared at the paper and flipped it then I saw an outline of some symbols.

I glanced from the paper then to her. "You drew this?" I asked while looking at her and to the paper. She hummed and nodded. I was amazed and went to the fact that I can't get my eyes off the drawing.

"You do have good hands." I chuckled. At the corner of my eye, while still looking at the drawing, I can see her face turning slightly red. She smiled softly and continued cutting.

I also smiled and started cutting the papers.

There are still 6 colored papers left to cut and there are extra pieces of paper beside those. I took one from those papers and then folded it and cut it.

Candice stopped on cutting and furrowed her eyebrows while looking at me. I felt her stare so I glanced at her and saw her gracious blue eyes. Not blue as the sea, but blue enough to make it stand out.

"What?" I shrugged. She gave me a soft chuckle. "What are you doing?" she asked and pointed out the paper that I was cutting.

"Uh, cutting, obviously." I scoffed. She chuckled again and proceeded on doing her own work.

I was done cutting the paper and then I unfolded it and raised it up to show it to Candice. Her eyes widened with amusement and took the paper that I just did. She looked at it while still in the state of shock.

"Holy mother of God." she muttered, staring amusingly at the paper. I cracked a grin and put down the scissors then looked at her.

"Asher, you do have...nice hands." she complimented. I smiled again and bowed my head. "Well, thank you." I said and laughed.

"How did you learn this?" she curiously asked.

I took a deep breath and shrugged. "I used to spend my weekend inside my room than usually I just overthink stuff, so aside from listening to music that's what I do. Cut papers until it shapes something and I give it meaning." I explained.

She caressed the paper that she is holding then glanced at me. "Then what does this mean? A phoenix with a hallowed heart?" she asked.

My feelings for you.

I went silent for a moment before processing myself to speak. "Uh, love? I guess." I scratched the back of my head.

"A phoenix that burns to death and is reborn from its own ashes means love to you?" she reminded.

"Well, yeah, I mean phoenix symbolizes death and rebirth but, the reason the heart is there is because..." I paused and lifted my head to look at her. "...it symbolizes love. You know, even though the phoenix dies, it still has a heart and for sure that phoenix has someone special so, even if it dies and gets born again, that phoenix still has the same feelings for its same love one."

She just looked at me and at the same time, she is silent. She looked back to the paper and caressed it again.

She smiled and put the paper inside her book. I looked at it and saw the title of the book. "Catching Fire, huh? Well, then that phoenix is just suitable as a bookmark." I confidently said while smiling at her.

Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes squinted at me. "Katniss represents a mockingjay." she corrected me pointing at the book cover.

Well, shit, you one stupid human being, Asher.

"Right." I uttered in embarrassment. I scratched the back of my head as she continues cutting the paper.

We only have 30 minutes left 'til the match starts. We gathered all of our stuff and did a quick rundown of cleaning before leaving the room and went to the stadium.

The rest of the school students are already here and they've got their own support system prepared.

My classmates went to the benches and I went to Mr. Eric's side. "Just in time kiddo." he patted my shoulders as I got to him. I roamed my eyes to have a glimpse of all the students here at the stadium.

They were all thunderous and cheerful, along with their own bands and cheerleading squads.

15 minutes 'til it begins.

Mr. Eric gave us quick words of wisdom and as we listen to it, I noticed that the team is incomplete. "Guys, where's Jared and Archer?" I broke into the conversation. They all looked around and saw that two guys are both missing.

"Son of a bitch." I heard Jason muttered. I looked at him, "What?" I asked. He pressed his lips because of annoyance.

"Jared told me earlier that he'll take a nap." he answered. We all snapped and looked at him.

"A nap?" both Roller and I said at the same time. Jason shrugged. Roller exclaimed while I put my palm on my forehead. "Alright, I'll go find both of them." Roller said and then immediately left.

Thankfully, before the event started, both Archer and Jared arrived. The event started at exactly 10:00 a.m. as the speaker welcomes and introduced each school.

We were the last team that will compete against the other school. When the speaker called our school, we all stood up and the students from the academy started cheering.

"This is it, guys. Knock yourselves out." I greeted them.

We all put our hands together. "For the pack?" Roller looked at each one of us. We smiled and answered. "For the pack!" we all yelled.

Before the official game started, Mr. Eric told me to buy more bottled waters. The team chugged it all out because they were too nervous.

I immediately went out to do what Mr. Eric told me and went to the cafeteria because there I thought that I can grab some water, but sadly the cafeteria is closed so I immediately ran out the school.

I arrived at the nearest stall and immediately asked if they sell bottled waters. Sadly, not.

Then I rushed my butt out to go to another stall. I asked again yet again they don't sell some. That is when I arrived at the perfect stall because they told me they have bottled waters.

After the purchase, I ran again to go back to school. Then my right side triggered pain again. "Why the fuck now?" I grunted in pain as I slowly walk and held my right side.

I decided to take a seat and rest. I sat at the sidewalk and put the bottled waters that I bought at my side then I leaned back to a tree.

I rested for just a couple of minutes with my eyes closed and I was breathing heavily. When I opened my eyes and realized that I still need to go back to school, I noticed a strange boy looking directly at me.

I can't have a good view of his face because he is too far. Then he showed me something.

He raised his right hand and showed me a necklace. And there, my eyes widened. It was my brother's necklace. He suddenly ran away and I immediately followed him.

I kept chasing him while shouting and calling him. And I gotta say, this freaking boy is really fast. I even tripped on my way to him and my right side is triggering pain again.

He took the next turn that is leading to a bridge and when I took the turn, I saw him stopped so, I stopped too.

I bent down panting while my both hands are at my knees. I glanced at him, he is at the side of the bridge. Leaning at one of the rails while staring at the river.

I slowly approached him. He's wearing a red hoodie with the necklace still lying at his hand.

"Hey." I approached. "Who the hell are you and why do you have my brother's necklace?" I asked immediately.

He turned his head slightly in my direction then looked back at the river. He then stood accurately from leaning and take off is hoodie then face me.

Then I froze.

Out of words, I stared at him and looked from his toe to his face with my eyes completely widened. "What the hell." I whispered while still staring at him. The boy that I am currently staring at, is me.

I am standing in front of my younger self.