Merits and Demerits

It's dark outside when they finished their shift in the coffee shop. Although it's only four hours of work, for them, it seems like an entire day. They're both exhausted. It's as if their soul has left their own body. As they thought so, Molly's existence was like a curse to them. After they leave the fast-food chain, both of them thought she'll leave, but it's the latter. In the entire four hours, Molly stays inside the coffee shop and watches them together. They don't know what's going on inside her mind, so they end up acting like a lover. It's more exhausting to act against their will than to work.

A deep sigh escape from Kinrue's mouth as she continues to walk.

But in the middle of walking along the roadside, she precipitously stop and look at the crescent moon. Some thought came out inside her mind, it made her frown. Without hesitation, she throws her bag on Raven's head.

"Argh! What the hell is wrong with your empty head this time?" Raven said out of frustration and glare back at her.

"It's your fault! It's your d*mn family fault." She screams and crouches on the ground. Some people who pass by their area, look at her with pity and question mark on eyes. But it didn't bother her and continue to scream like a lost child. "Why do I need to live like this? It's annoying!"

Raven rolls his eyes before getting her bag and walks in her direction. "I don't get your words, but stop embarrassing yourself and get up."

"I can't! Can't you see? I'm f*cking exhausted. I don't want to move."

He heaves a sigh and crouches down, facing his back to her. "Hop in before I change my mind. I'll carry you on my back."

A smile form into her mouth as she stands and hop in his back without a second thought.

They walk along the roadside in silence. It's narrow and almost a few people walk in the opposite direction so they didn't bump into other. The source of light is only from the streetlights and those vehicles that passed by on the road. Amidst of the deafening silence, Raven notices her sniffing his neck like a dog.

"What the hell do you want now?" He asked while walking.

"What kind of perfume do you use?"

"I didn't use any of it."

"Are you serious? We worked for four hours and spend eight hours inside the school, but you still smell nice? Are you kidding me, sh*thead?" She said, shouting that irritates him.

"Shut your mouth or else I'll drop you down and walk away."

The seriousness in his voice made her shut up and look away. Another silence lingers between them. Only the sound of their breathing, the vehicles on the road and some people talking a few meters behind them. The chilly breeze brush off on her skin as the clouds hide the crescent moon. Kinrue heaves a sigh, tightens the grip on her hand that wraps around him.

"What's wrong?" Raven asked.

"Do you really like that b*tch?" He flinch because of her question, but composed himself to not make any more misunderstanding.

"Of course, I don't know the reason you despise her so much, but Callie's a kindhearted woman and mature. I like her."

"Why is it always unfair? Many people adore her but hate me. She's always the good one and I'm bad. She's honest and I'm a liar. Why do I need to be compared to..." She clench her fist and grit her teeth, trying not to finish the word. "I hate her."

"There's nothing wrong with it. Maybe the difference is you're both the same."

"What did you say?"

Raven chuckle. "You're adorable when out of yourself, but hated whenever you talk. A good person in front of people you like, but bad to those people you hate. You're honest about your feelings, but a liar to yourself. Besides, I hate you."

Kinrue bite her lower lip and buried her face in his shoulder again. She didn't talk for a while and let the surrounding noise lessen the awkwardness in-between. They've known each other for quite a long time now, but his words sometimes make her speechless. It hits the right spot.

"You know I can't swim. When your woman and I get drowned in the sea in different location who'll you save first?" She asked. It made Raven flinches and stop for a moment. He didn't answer her question, rather walk again. Contrast to it, he heard her chuckling behind. "How come you can't answer my question? You supposed to choose your woman over me. It's a common answer. You, choosing the person you like over the person you hate, is the best answer to that easiest question. Are you stupid?"

"Then, what will going to happen to you?" He asked with annoyance.

"I'll die."

Those two words made Raven stop from walking ahead.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop sh*thead? I can see the bus stop from here. You can put me down there. I want to rest, so hurry."

"Go down,"

"H-huh?"

"Go down or I'll drop you," his stern voice gives chills to her body, so she ends up going down against her will.

She's about to speak up, but Raven slams her bag to her and walks away, not turning his look back. The situation doesn't sink inside her mind yet, as she got left hanging and wondering the position she's in. Not until she realized the distance between them. She grit her teeth, clench both fists and ran in his direction. Even if she called out to him, he never look back again rather called a taxi over and totally leave her alone on the dark roadside. All she can do is catch her breath while following the taxi through stares. She stomps her feet in anger and hits the air with right fist.

"D*mn. You idiot, moody bastard! How can you leave me here alone? Drop dead f*cking sh*thead!" She shouts at the top of her lungs.

Even if those people who passed by looks at her in confusion, she didn't mind it anymore and ride the bus full of frustration.

***

The next morning, Kinrue together with her friends are lining up in the school field along with their other classmates. It's not only their section, but the other students and teachers are present. There's a mini-stage and a podium in the center, but Kinrue didn't dare to look or know what's happening in front. She just crouching down, unconsciously pulling the grass as the variety of noises resounds the area.

"What's going on? It's not Monday. Why there's a morning assembly?" Camie asked before yawning. She's wearing a plain white hooded jacket and both her hands are inside its pocket. Behind her is Ashley, leaning on her back—half asleep.

"Are you not looking at the school forum? They'll going to announce the student who received the most merits and demerits and the announcement for the upcoming school anniversary." One of their classmates said.

"Demerits? Argh! The demerits, luckily I didn't receive an email from the head of disciplinary office. Are you the chosen one Ashley," Camie asked, turning to her.

"Luck is on my side this time. It's not me either. Are you the unlucky one this time, Kinkin?"

Both of them wait for her answer, but minutes passed they didn't hear a single word. They turn in her direction and she's immense in pulling the grass.

"Kinkin, do you receive the email?" Ashley asked, crouching down to level her and catch her attention.

"Email? What email?"

"The demerits, idiot. If we both didn't receive it then, the one who gets the most is you."

"Demerits?"

"Earth on you, my friend! It's already morning. The head of the disciplinary office and the principal will be here. Don't tell me you didn't write a letter?" Ashley shrugs her shoulder, trying to wake her up from daydreaming.

"Good morning students of Lunaris High School."

All the students, including them, look in front and saw the principal talking in front of the podium. The noise turns to silence and even the disarrange students, lines up properly according to their section and grade level. Even if it's against their will, the three line up as well and stand up straight while attention's in front. The principal begins her speech by congratulating the students who join the sports competition this past recent events and those who join the other academic competition. All the representatives or winners, along with their head teacher that assigned to train them, get a certificate of appreciation and a round of applause from the students watching.

Few minutes passed, the principal went back to another announcement about the upcoming school anniversary. She called out for the student council president to a better understanding of the things they're about to do for a week's celebration. Amidst of all the commotion in front, Kinrue simply writing a letter in a piece of clean paper. She used Ashley's back as a substitute for a table while Camie tells her the words she needs to jot down. Before they notice it, they heard the students clapping their hands and whispering to each other out of excitement. All of them looked in front and saw the head of the disciplinary office walking towards the podium, holding a folder.

Those jeers turn to silence the same as when the principal talks before. But this time, some students stiffens acting like a well-mannered one.

"Good morning Lunaris students, I don't need to introduce myself since you already know me. If there's a good news, of course there's always bad news. Today, we will post the list of top 200 students who got the most demerits during this past month so you can learn about of your own behavior inside the school grounds. Along with the list of demerits, we'll post also those good role model students who receive the most merits during this past month." He said before opening the folder he's holding. "So, like before, I'm going to call out the students who excel or received the most merits and demerits in front to hear their resolution they made for the upcoming months of this school year."

Some student looks at the Kinrue, Ashley and Camie direction like they're expecting them to be called out like the past year. There's also a group of men on the next line who laugh, full of insult. The three heard it and give them a death glare so they look away and stand straight instead.

"I want to call on this stage the student who received the most merits among the students on Lunaris. He shows an outstanding academic performance, good behavior and exemplary athletic achievement. Mr. Raven Auclair." He said as the students claps their hand. "Along with him, I want to call the student who receives the most demerits among the students on Lunaris. She's... The headache..." He mumbles the last words before sighing and shrugs his head. "May I call Ms. Kinrue Cienfuegos?"

"Tsk. Isn't that old bald man too biased? He almost praises that sh*thead like a god, but called me a headache?!" Kinrue mumbles.

"Stop whining over a little things and go there. You have the letters, right?" Camie pushes her in front.

"I have it,"

"Fighting! We'll cheer you in silence, Kinkin."

She gives them a playful smile and walks towards the mini-stage with confidence, not minding the murmurs and stares of people around.