It's Your Birthday

Part 01

My footsteps quickened, matching her as she drifted away. Wasn't it just yesterday she was excited to take me out for a walk? Why is she acting like this? I don't know how many times her name came out of my mouth, but she didn't even look back, what did actually happened.

I pulled her arm slowly, just enough to make her stop in her track, "HEY."

"What happened? Is there something wrong? A...Are you mad at me?"

With her head down, she didn't respond to me at all. And soon let go of my grip, choosing to continue walking away. Leaving me alone in the middle of the hall filled with confusion that hit. I decided to just go back to class, maybe she needed some time alone first. By the time I got there, the atmosphere was the same, quiet and calm, too calm than usual. At least unlike what I remembered before, my memory starting to recover bit by bit luckily. This silence was too piercing and too cold from the time I was in the infirmary, I looked around the class, no one was chatting. Everyone was silent, even Daffin.

Not long after, the classroom door opened quite loudly, revealing a female teacher dressed in all white entering the room. An unfamiliar face and the strong smell of roses filling the classroom felt foreign to me, she began to approach the teacher's desk on the left side of the classroom. As soon as she stood there, suddenly Meri came in, with a pile of files in her hands, a stiff and flat face, making anyone would have goosebumps deep until their bones.

I wave my hand at her, she doesn't even look up, I don't think she blinks either. Maybe they're planning something behind me, very silly of them to play tricks, and thinking I would be falling for it. But, their effort is really good, maybe 95,5% perfect.

"Guys, let's just stop it right here. I know what you all hiding, you got me fair and square. Let's stop, okay?"

I didn't expect that in such a short time I managed to become the center of attention, now everyone's gazes are flat on me.

"Heyy, why are you guys looking at me like that? You know what...You guys can keep looking as long as possible, I'm not afraid. But, I'm sure you will be tired if you don't blink."

The female teacher suddenly laughed, "Is there something wrong, Mrs. Auburn? My class has started, but you still dare to joke?" She paused before continuing, "Are you underestimating me? Your other friends are ready to learn, but here you are being the only one, yelling about nonchalantly. You got a very serious problem, young lady. I have no choice but to bring you to my office."

As soon as she finished speaking, Alin suddenly stood up from his chair, came to me with an ambiguous smile plastered on his face. He said with his arms outstretched in front of me, "It'll be okay, She's the best. Just follow me, trust me, Keiy."

There was a loud squeak of a chair, which made me flinch. Mark was the one who made the noise, his hand also stretched out without saying a word. I don't know which one to choose, both of them looked very convincing.

The teacher dressed in all white is starting to feel annoyed, "Mr. Jourell, what do you think you're doing? Go back to your seat now, you won't want to know the consequences."

Hearing that Mark smiled lopsidedly, "Try me."

Alin who didn't want to lose now shouted at him, "MARK, back off."

He replied, "Never."

Between the intense breaths of the two people beside me, one of them began to forcefully pull my hand, it's definitely not Alin. Mark pulled my hand hard, but I didn't expect someone to hold it. Alin on the other hand, gently gripped my left palm, didn't forget to give it a few strokes, with pitiful eyes as if begging me to stay.

A whisper was delivered to my ear, soft as his breath touches it, "I need you to come with me, just for this once. Have faith in this freezing cold boy."

Dominated by my instincts, I chose to go with the man surnamed Jourell. With the grip of his big hand, maybe 3 times bigger than mine, he led me out of the classroom. At the school parking lot, we finally arrived, immediately he put his red helmet on me, as some calls of my name sounded faint.

We were zooming here and there passing through these busy streets, as the strong winds hit my face, and my hair flew out in freedom. I felt comfort, something that I've missed most.

"Where are we going?"

He replied, half yelling, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU."

"WHAT?"

Mark yelled, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"HUH?"

That tall boy parked his motorbike on the side of the road, then took off his helmet, "What were you trying to say?"

I replied while smoothing my messy hair, "Dumb Mark. Where are you taking me anyway? Are you sure I'm going to be okay if I go with you? What if I die? How desperate am I to believe in you?"

He raised his hand to help smooth a few strands of my hair, "You can go back to your prince, I didn't force you to follow me."

"Huh, really? Is that so? Then what was that 'Have faith in me'?"

With his arms folded in front of his chest, he replied, "I won't be bothered coming all the way here if I wanted to extinguish you."

Hearing that, I shook my head hard, "Well, I still don't trust you. You could have killed me and throw my body elsewhere."

Mark returned to his motorbike earlier, and started the engine, "You can go back, bye."

Without further ado, I resisted with all my might so that he wouldn't leave me alone, "You really know how to make me obey, don't you?"

He answered curtly, "Better hold tight, or you might fly."

Once again we're speeding, splitting the wind, and moving forward towards the day that never seems to have an end. The majestic house with beige dominating now appears in front of me, the elegant-looking wooden gate begins to open after the man pressed the bell.

"ARE YOU GOING TO SELL ME AWAY?"

The cocky boy replied, "Nobody wants you."

We arrived in front of a towering wooden gate, several statues seemed to be waiting for our arrival. The fence then opened, revealing a woman the same age as my mother, in a peach dress that hung down to her knees, she looked charming. Her facial features clearly show that she's his mother, Mark Jourell's Mother.

As I watch the mother and son converse, something in the corner of the terrace feels familiar to me.