Chapter 8

27 more days to go....

"Let's talk about forbidden love, guys" Mr Henderson said "What is so appealing about the forbidden?"

"Uh...... great forbidden sex?" A guy joked

The whole class burst into a fit of giggles. Some of his jock friends high fived him.

"Haha very funny Jomar" Mr Henderson said "Out of my class"

"Come on Mr H"

"Out now".

"Please. Pretty please with a rosary on top"

Everyone laughed again. Mr Henderson chuckled.

"Fine. This is your last chance"

"Thanks sir"

"Alright. Let's go back to the book. What are your thoughts on Romeo and Juliet?"

I raised my hand up. I actually liked the book. Rainer loved Shakespeare. He used to read it to me all the time.

"Yes Miss Adams"

"The book is a tragedy" I started "Romantic but tragic. It's about two star-crossed lovers who couldn't be together. The characters will do anything for each other which was a bad thing because it resulted in their death"

"Very good. I have a question. Do you really think Romeo loves Juliet?"

"Yes" everyone chorused

Isn’t it obvious?

"I would die for a man like Romeo" a girl swooned

"I bet he was hot too" another added "in an old fashioned sort of way"

"How so?" Mr Henderson asked

"He died for her" a girl at the back answered "What's more romantic than that?"

"Or so you think?"

I sat in the front row in the middle of class today. Mr Henderson walked to my table

"May I?" He referred to the table

"Yes sir"

"Thank you"

He sat on my desk and faced the class. I shifted my chair backwards to create space for his legs. I stared up at him as he spoke.

"Romeo had a girlfriend; Rosaline. Am I correct?"

"Yes" we chorused

"The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? For swear it, sight. For I never saw true beauty till this night"

I was stunned for words and I'm sure every other person in this classroom felt the same way. He can quote Shakespeare from his head? His voice was so soothing and he took it slowly. For some odd reason I feel like falling asleep to the sound of his voice.

"Interesting, isn't it? Romeo forgot about his love for Rosaline immediately he saw Juliet"

"Meaning he never truly loved Rosaline" a girl said

"That may be true but have you ever thought of the possibility that Romeo's desire for Juliet is nothing more than a meaningless physical attraction? Or worse- infatuation?"

Silence. Nobody ever thought of it that way. I don't even think Rainer did

"For example, you have clothes on a normal day but when you get a new bunch of clothes; you suddenly forget the old ones, don't you?"

This is true

"Yes" we nodded

"Exactly where I'm driving out"

A boy in front raised up his hand

"Yes Lucas?"

"What if he found something in Juliet that he never saw in Rosaline?"

"That might be true but you see, if an author writes a book, most times they write a book for readers to decode it in a way that doesn't seem too obvious. No. That would be way too easy. Most authors try to confuse readers to think something else when they mean another and that my dear learners, is why a large majority of you fail English. You need to read the book and understand it from all angles. Try and feel the writer’s emotion"

I suddenly remembered Rainer's words

I'm trying to get the author's feelings. What were her emotions when writing this book?

"In my opinion" Mr Henderson continued " I feel Romeo and Juliet weren't really in love. I think they were both entranced by the idea of the forbidden. They were excited to be going against their parents will. I think they were both seeking escape. The thought of forbidden love is more exotic and adventurous, don't you think?"

And that was when our eyes connected

Chapter Eight

The thought of forbidden love is more exotic and adventurous, don't you think?

"Hello! Earth to Ruby!" Annabelle snapped her fingers in my face.

I blinked multiple times, slowly dragging myself back into reality. I didn't even realise I had zoned out.

"Sorry" I told her

We were in the common room doing our homework. Even with the noise and the chattering of the other girls in the room, I still managed to get lost in my own thoughts.

"You okay?" she asked me

I rested my elbows on the table and stretched out

"Yeah"

I kept thinking about Mr Henderson. Why did he look at me when he made a statement?

I've had a lot of experience with guys - even older guys, so I can tell when a man is giving me signals. Was he trying to imply something?

I doubt it. He's a teacher and a seminarian. He couldn't possibly be interested in me. Could he? The thought seemed appealing.

Calm down Ruby. It's probably just a coincidence. I was right in front of him, he would obviously look my way, just the way he looks at everyone in class.

I kept telling myself that it didn't mean anything even though, deep down I knew that it did.

I couldn't help but feel Goosebumps when we made eye contact. It was as if in that brief moment he could see through me.

I need to chill. I just met this man a few days ago.

I shook my head. In times like this I would seek Rainer's advice. He would know what to do. He always knew what to do.

I need to feel close to him tonight. I miss him so much. The only way to do that is to stare at the stars and pretend he's right beside me- like he always was.

"Is there any way I can go outside at night?" I asked Annabelle

"Yeah. Seniors are allowed to"

"I mean later than the curfew"

"It's against the school rules"

"I know....... I just wanna watch the stars outside" I took a deep breath "it's something my brother and I would always do"

She put my hand in hers and gave me a commiserative smile.

"I'll show you" she said "I like to escape sometimes as well"

I smiled at her in gratitude. I think we're all a little broken on Earth, only some people hide it better than others. We all need a means of escape sometimes.

"Thank you"

"Awww so cute" a voice said

I looked up and saw a group of three girls standing in front of us.

"Let me guess, the president's daughter is a lesbian too?" the middle girl said

She was a pretty girl with blonde hair. She looked confident and proud. Doesn't take a genius to know that she's the 'it girl' of this school. In a way, she reminded me of myself. That was how I behaved in my old school, like I was better than everyone else. I was actually.

"If I didn't know you any better Cindy, I'd say you were jealous" Annabelle said

Cindy? That's her name

Cindy scoffed

"Don't be stupid Ann. Of course I'm not"

"What are you doing here?"

It seemed like there was bad blood between them. I've never seen Annabelle act so cold to anyone before.

"I'm here to chat with Ruby" she faced me and gave me a fake smile

I suddenly felt uncomfortable. She's smiling at me for no reason. Her friends are glaring a hole in my head. Annabelle looks lost like she has no idea what is going on. Neither did I.

"Yes?" I answered her

"Are the rumours true?"

"What rumours?"

"That your parents hate you enough to send you to a school on the other side of the globe. How does it feel?"

I took slow deep breaths and tried to calm myself down. I was getting angry, because I knew what she was saying is true. Who does this girl think she is? She has the guts to come up to me and say shit?

"Who do you think you are?" I questioned her

"I don't care who the fuck you are or who your daddy is. This Is not America. This is Rome. I run this place. Do you understand?"

I looked at her for a moment then I burst out laughing.

Oh. This is what it's about? Marking territory? What a childish thing to do. Even I wasn't this petty.

Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment

"What's funny?" she shrieked

Annabelle chortled

"You" I continued laughing "You're acting like a child. This is something a fourth grader would do"

She cleared her throat and adjusted her hair.

"I hope you got the message" she spoke "Let's go girls"

She and her stupid minions walked away. Annabelle and I looked at each other then burst into a loud fit of laughter.

That was so cheesy

"What the hell was that?" I laughed

"Uh Mean Girls 3?"

I laughed even harder. This is good to be fun. I can tell

"Ha!. Anything you think I should know about little miss perfect?"

Annabelle hummed for a while as she thought

"Uh not too much. The ‘it girl’ of every school you know. Normal thing. And she's the leader of the 30 days bet. She initiated it"

I wasn't surprised. She looked the type

"Oh really? How many more days to go now?"

"Not sure. Probably 27"

27 days huh?

Hmmm

*

So you're still thinking of me

Just like I knew you would

I cannot give you everything

I really wish I could

I'm so high at the moment

I smoked while I gazed up at the stars and listened to music from my airpods. Luckily I brought my vape pen from home. That was the easiest thing I could smuggle.

After lights out, Annabelle and I sneaked outside the school building. She showed me all the routes to take and how to navigate my way through. She also showed me all the alternative doors in case the back door was locked.

After she showed me everything, she went back inside while I sat on the grass and watched the night sky.

Smoke + chill music + good scenery = perfection

I looked at the stars and remembered my brother

* flashback*

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. How I wonder what you are" I sang

A twelve -year-old me and Rainer laid on a blanket outside and watched the night sky.

"The sky is beautiful tonight" I said

"I know right" Rainer sighed "How I envy the stars"

"Why do you say so?" I asked him

"They see everything Ruby"

"True" I agreed

"What if dead people reincarnate as stars?"

I rolled my eyes. Oh no. He's started with his deep talk again.

"That's ridiculous Rain"

"Is it?"

"Yes, it is"

"When I die, I'd like to be a star. If I happen to die young, just look at the night sky and search for the brightest constellation. That will be me"

"You're not going to die" I playfully punched him "we'll grow old together"

Silence

"Perhaps you're right"

*End of flashback"

"Can't sleep, huh?" a voice behind me said

I turned around and saw Mr Henderson. Oh shit. I am in big trouble.

Think of a lie. Think of a lie.

How about I was looking for the bathroom and I got lost?

Or I was sleepwalking?

"Uh I... I"

"Don't be scared" he laughed lightly "I won't tell on you. I do it too"

I heaved a sigh of relief

"Thank you"

"Mind if I join you?"

"No sir"

He sat beside me

"Sir? Lord, I'm just 26. You guys make me feel like I'm 40"

I giggled

"You are our teacher"

"Doesn't matter. I tried getting the students to stop with all the formalities but they wouldn't budge"

"I can understand why, Mr Henderson"

"Oh please. Call me John"