Chapter 4: The Drift

They also locked the door? Ughhh…It was dark, the lights were not working. I’m not sure how am I supposed to get out here.

“maybe I could find something useful here…” I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. Do they ever clean this place? It smells like a fish in a barrel being stuck for months.

“Why is this lock? Dang nab it… these kids again…” A voice coming from outside made me pound the door hard. The person from outside quickly opened the door in a panic, once the light from outside touched my face, I can now breathe normally.

“What the hell are you doing inside?” I was kneeling and I look up, it was Benjamin.

“Oh…Nothing Benjamin…I was just looking for something to clean our classroom because it was all messy” I put on a smile while standing up and patting my knees.

“I see…” Benjamin smiled at me.

“H-Hey…Benjamin…Your eyes…is it contacts?”

“Oh…haha…no I’m too old for contacts…It’s inborn…” He replied.

“Okay…I’m just curious…” I waved goodbye at Benjamin while running towards our classroom. I just got curious because it’s my first time seeing a person with greeny-colored eyes that is actually not in any books or manga I’m reading.

My head is still aching while going downstairs. This is bad, this is really bad…I felt like crying. I need to go to the nurse's office right away. My legs twisted then losing my balance, I was about to accept my fate falling face down on the ground. But someone caught both my shoulders.

“Alex are you okay what the heck happened to you?” Austin exclaimed.

“Oh…Uh…headache?” I couldn’t speak properly my head feels like it was being hammered down by a club.

“Jeez…I’ll bring you to the nurse's office…hold on tight…” My arm rested on Austin’s shoulder. And assisted me to the nurse's office. Laying down like a steamed burrito with a hot towel on my forehead. Beside me was Austin reading a book while touching his eyeglasses in the middle.

“You okay now? What are you even doing up there anyway?” He then closed his book.

“Oh…Uhm…I was trying to find a mop for the juice…?”

“You know I’m really surprised you would do such a thing…” Austin murmured.

“Oh…I’m sorry if I caused a huge trouble downstairs earlier…”

“It’s nothing…the girls are in on with their stupidity anyway…But I can’t imagine you bursting out like that…I know we’re not even that close but, ever since that incident…the bullying and stuff…you’re still composed for some reason…So, it’s surprising your actually going to hit them…”

“…Are you okay about this? Being with me here? People will talk about you…I know you hate too much attention in your hands…”

Austin let down a sigh.

“If someone is in need I’ll help them, isn’t that what a normal human being is supposed to do?”

“Well, I think some people wouldn’t agree in terms of helping others. Some are just too greedy and can’t lift a single finger to a person who is in need…”

“That’s how the world works right? That’s why I don’t care about what the world’s pattern is, I just do what is right…”

“T-Thanks Austin…I know We’ve been classmates since last year and I don’t talk to you that much but…Thanks…I really appreciate it…” I smiled at Austin.

He suddenly stood from his seat and walk straight at the exit.

“Hey…” he then stopped.

“I’ll be back with your things…You left them on the top floor, right?” I nodded.

“Alright, I’ll be back…” Austin left. I just laid down and smiled, I think Austin might be a good person after all.

“Looks like someone made a new friend…” My head ached again.

“Shut up! Shut up!”

“Let’s see how long will that last…” feels like my veins are going to pop right out.

“Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!” my voice echoed inside the nurse’s office. I covered both my ears and screamed.

“Park are you alright!?” The nurse slid the curtain and held my head.

“Oh my…your head is burning…” I can hear a clanking sound and something cold went to my underarms. It’s a thermometer or something. About a minute it started to beep.

“That’s weird… your head is burning but your body temperature is normal…” The nurse touched my chest and even my neck.

“What…this is weird…” She murmured.

“Alex…your not doing drugs are you?” She exclaimed.

“Wha!? Of course not!” I replied.

“Then what the hell is going on with yer body young man?” She flipped her blonde hair back on her white coat.

“You should know that! You’re the doctor here!”

“Oh yeah… right…hehe my bad…” she made a make face then balled her hand then lightly touched her head.

“Jeez…No wonder you can’t graduate…” her tanned hand, hammered my head.

“you're rude for a highschooler…” She pouted.

“I was just kidding…”

“So? How is college life? Dane?”

“Ugh…don’t even ask me that question…for now…you should rest!” Dane stood up and handed me a pill for headaches.

“Let’s talk tomorrow…if you ain’t busy…Seeya!” She slid the curtains again and left.

Oh yeah…Foundation day fiesta is tomorrow…I don’t know if I’m excited or what…but, I wish something good will happen to me. But for now, I still need to find the answer to what the heck is happening to me, even the meaning of “The Drift” he’s been saying to me…maybe if I find out about it…I could eventually get rid of him.

“Well…I guess time to head out then…” I dragged my aching head outside then saw Austin holding my bag.

“Yo…are you good? Like? Walking with a headache…you look, terrible man…” Austin handed my bag and patted my back.

“Y-Yeah…I-I’ll be fine…I need to pick up the garbage after all…Let’s go back” Austin just nodded but the look on his face is telling me that I should really rest. We went to our classroom, as soon both Austin and I entered everyone starred at us like we're a couple or something. It’s annoying.

“Tsk…Didn’t Philip and you went to the guidance?! Hmp…can’t even look at a guy who’s about to hit a girl in the face!” Samantha suddenly burst.

“N-No…We just went out and talked everything out…Right Alex?” Philip looked at me.

“…” I just nodded.

“Hey…Could you shut your babbling mouth…That thing you did to him is not a laughing matter…!” Austin exclaimed.

“Wha?! So what? He's the reason why this school protocol is now being managed…next year we might not be able to bring any gadgets because of what he did…” Everyone started murmuring.

“Still…It’s not humane what you did…If you want to deal with the fact that he’s actually a perverted person then report him again…but by the looks of it…he didn’t do anything wrong he just picked up the trash and you provoked him”

“Tsk…” Samantha crossed her arms and circled her eyeballs.

“Hey! Guys come on we must work! Let’s just settle this next time let’s work together” Philip exclaimed putting water in the fire, again letting down that innocent smile at Samantha and Austin, Samantha blushed and nodded at Philip.

Then everything went back to normal and then every student in the classroom started working again. Even me, while picking up the trash Austin patted my shoulders and walked straight to Philip to report the materials and the designs if something is missing or ruined.

Philip and my eyes caught, then he just stared at me blankly, since when will you put on that mask of yours, you bastard…What?! No! I slapped both my cheeks and continued to pick up the trash and arranged everything at the back.

The class was in a hurry it’s nearly dismissal time and we have to keep up the phase, so far…I’m holding two bags of trash that I need to bring down later.

Got to admit the lightings and the designs are at it’s finest, the stand for the coffee serving is awesome it’s like entering a true café in malls.

Philip called everybody's attention and every single student circled, except me of course.

“Looks like we’re going to win the prize money after all? So let's do our best everyone tomorrow!” Philip exclaimed, so does everyone. I let down a sarcastic “yey” while cleaning up the left-out trash lying around.

I took my things and dragged the trash bags out, I plan to take out the trash and head home, but I think it’s going to change.

“H-Hey…” Hana in front of me gave me a slight wave, at her side is Lea and Reggie.

“Going home?” I asked, Reggie gave me a cold stare. Suddenly Lea rested her arm on my shoulders.

“Wanna come with us? We’re going to eat! We know a place!” She smiled at me and pinched my cheek.

“Uh…I-I can’t sorry, I’m preoccupied” I would love to but, I can’t stand Reggie's cold stare. I was about to drag my Santa-looking bags but then Hana tugged my hoodie.

“Uhm…Can…you?” She was blushing.

“Sigh… Maybe I could…After this?” I lifted the two bags. Hana smiled. Then Lea hugged me she was too close. Reggie just clenched his fist and averted his gaze to me.

“Oy…Wait I’ll do that…” Lea suddenly carried one of my trash bags.

“Just let me! Come on! Let’s just go…!”

The three of us moved straight down and headed out. Reggie was not on board with this so he slightly kept his phase slow. Guess my dinner will be early.