Out On The Hunt

The day trod by slowly and soon, the bell rang through the hallways once again– invading the serene environment in the classrooms as it announced school over. All the hallways swarmed up with the rumpus of the students from their classrooms as the teachers staggered out.

Someway somehow, Irianda managed to pull through the school hours without looking awkward or being noticed as acting weird but little did she know someone was really keeping an eye on her. Students in their groups of two or more trod out of the classrooms, with some chit chatting whiles others giggled at their friends funny jokes.

Some also sauntered out in singles– not really bothered by anybody but in a haste just to leave the school's premises. Among the few who were yet to pack and leave was Irianda. She instinctively took her bag which was hanging around the arm of her chair; shove her assignment books into it and shove it over her shoulders as she sprung to her feet.

"See you tomorrow Ji- Soo. " She said, throwing a glance at her desk mate who was busily packing her things.

"Oh," Ji- Soo mumbled while she lifted a quick gaze at Irianda. "Wait let's go together." She commented, allowing her attention to travel back to what she was doing; hastening up a bit.

Irianda knew what to expect from the way Ji- Soo was relating with her and was not in her right mind going to let it happen as she was not ready for any commitments– not to even talk of the disappointment that was sure to take charge after she finally finds out about her true identity. She instinctively grumbled, thinking of an excuse to escape her desk mate. At that instant, a thought clicked.

"I really need to go now Ji- Soo." She mumbled, trying to sound convincing enough. "I'm sorry but I need to pass by Sinpo- dong International market to get some things for mum." She lied which actually worked for her anyway.

Stuttering into the busy hallway, she scampered her way out to the school gates without noticing her stalker.

After a few strolls through the streets, she finally got to the subway where she was going to join the train that passes directly through the lsland which she found more convenient than the bus– since it was initially her mother's idea to go by the bus earlier on in the morning by which; literally speaking, she was not going to keep doing but just to please her, she did anyway.

Just when she was about to step into the train, someone crossed her path with his leg. She could tell the person was a he; judging from the blue-black trousers he wore which was actually the colour of her school's uniform.

Instinctively, she lifted her gaze to the intruder who was staring at her with sluggish smile. As if on an impulse, he wiggled his brows quizzically which made Irianda's brows creased in confusion– not sure on who he was nor what he wanted.

"You're actually in my way, can you please step aside?" She muttered casually, not particularly interested in who he was.

A scoff instantly escaped Neo's lips– slightly biting on it with a tactful smile across his face while he involuntarily glanced over his shoulders. " Are you kidding me?" He grumbled, allowing his gaze to travel back to Irianda with a deadpan look. "Yah–." He spontaneously added on an impulse, "Are you just playing dumb with me? Look carefully at this face." He went on, staring expectantly at Irianda in a composed posture as some seconds of silence passed by.

"And what am I suppose to see?" Irianda suddenly asked, totally confused after a while of searching through her memory. "I better go now." She added and without waiting for a reply or reaction; glided into the train.

Before Neo could say anything, the door closed up and the train took off. "Woow.., this girl." He muttered with a scoff, bewildered by her attitude. But then it hit him; he was so into his quarrel with Irianda that he forgot to return her students ID to her– his main purpose of following her.

Involuntarily staring at the card in his hand, he slightly shook his head while a scoff escaped his lips again and turned on his feet; deciding to return the card to her in school.

******

It was almost 5pm when Irianda walked through the gates into their small apartment; reminiscing on the earlier incident at the train terminal as she tried to recollect on any earlier encounter before that. It was then that it clicked, their first encounter was in the forest when she saved him.

She involuntarily closed her eyes, clicking her tongue while she bated her eyes opened in the next second; slightly biting on her lips in the process.

Stepping into the terrace, she noticed her mother's car already packed outside– which she initially didn't see due to how occupied her mind was but wasn't surprised anyway since it was usually her time of returning home.

Taking another glance of her surrounding, she felt something unusually awkward but couldn't place a hand on which. Intuitively, Irianda shove off the nagging feeling with a half shrug as she pushed the door opened.

Like the feeling of a chilled water poured on her, she instinctively froze in her tracks at the site that met her eyes. The whole house was literally turned upsidedown.

As if on an impulse, she quickly rushed in as the rate of her heartbeat increased; her state of foreboding not helping situations either as her subconscious mind echoed for her mother.

"Eomma! eomma! " She roared as she finally managed to voice out the single word which kept echoing in her mind– scampering off to her mother's room. "Eomma!" She shouted once again with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes whilst her hands sent the shut door ajar.

At that moment, she hurried to the washroom– hoping she might be there but was instantly met with disappointment. She felt her limps went weak at that instant as anxiety took the best of her.