Chapter 3. A Fallen World

Author's note: I've changed Ronan Vercetti's name into Asher Blake because I thought it'd fit his character better. Oh and, The title of this book is no longer Everlasting Fragments of Memories Bloom Towards the End. It's My Fleeting Youth Days.

Clayton and Ethan weaved through the crowd— rushing their way to the cafeteria as their hair whipping back as they sprinted toward the cafeteria. Dammit, we might be too late... Clayton muttered, glancing at the clock above the lockers as they sprint.

"Wrong stairs! Take the other one!" teachers who saw them shouted, their voice sharp as a whistle. But the two boys ignored them, leaving them in their dust— their laughter trailing behind them like a rebellious anthem.

"Man, this feels great! It's been too long since we've done something stupid, right, Clayton?" Ethan yelled, his grin stretching ear to ear.

And just for this time, Clayton also agreed. "Yeah!" he shouted back, their laughter mingling as they burst into the cafeteria.

However, the cafeteria was packed, shoulder to shoulder with students clamoring for their lunch. Dammit, we're late! 

"Looks like we're late Clayton." Ethan said with a steady voice as he glared at the golden clock in the middle of the cafeteria. 

12:30 PM. 

The lunch break was at 12:20 PM— during those 10 minutes, the cafeteria got packed!

"Ethan and Clayton," a deep voice called out. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, revealing the principal standing with his arms crossed. His stern gaze bore down on them. "Biggest slackers of the school, causing trouble again. If this keeps up, you'll find yourselves repeating senior year."

Clayton sighed, bowing slightly. "We're sorry, sir." He nudged Ethan with his foot, signaling him to do the same.

Ethan reluctantly followed Clayton, but his lack of sincerity was seen though his grin masked under his hair only by Clayton. 

They knew what's going to happen next, all too well. Detentions, lectures, threats—it was routine. The teachers' words rolled off them. And the whole school knew it. All eyes were on them, waiting for the next scenario.

As they left the cafeteria, Ethan let out a low whistle. "Phew! Getting called out by the principal on the first day? That's a new record, even for us!" He puffed out his chest proudly.

Clayton chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You know, if you hadn't been knocked out during class, we wouldn't have had to run in the first place."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Me? You're the one daydreaming about Evelyn and missing all the important stuff."

Clayton's smile faltered. He sighed heavily. "Mhm. Maybe I did get us into this mess." He glanced at Ethan and grinned. "But it's not like we care, right?"

Ethan smirked, his laughter bubbling up again. "Right!"

As the boys were walking back to class, a voice called out, no... a voice screamed out. "Ethan, Clayton, you morons!"

Ethan and Clayton immediately froze right on their spot, their hearts sinking. Ethan leaned closer, muttering "Are we in trouble again?"

Clayton didn't need to guess. He knew exactly whose voice it was. That voice could only belong to Charlotte Mae—the teacher who had been Clayton's mentor since the early days.

Clayton carefully turned around, his most charming smile plastered across his face. "Miss Mae! What a lovely surprise! You look fantastic today!"

For a brief second, Miss Mae seemed caught off guard, her eyes narrowing as if weighing whether to accept the compliment. Then her expression twisted into a scowl.

"Yeah, like you'd care!" she snapped, closing the distance between them with a speed that made Ethan flinch.

You morons getting me dragged out of the staff room on the first day of school?! she hissed, her voice dripping with exasperation.

Ethan, always the instigator, chuckled nervously. "Technically speaking, beating your students is against the—ow!" His quip was cut off by a sharp jab to his side.

Miss Mae eventually let go of their collar and began her tirade, pacing like a general before a pair of unruly recruits.

"I knew you two were a pain in the a**, but this just unbelievable!" Her hand shot out, flicking Ethan on the forehead. 

Clayton rubbed the back of his neck, wincing as he exchanged a glance with Ethan, who was trying to look apologetic.

"Oh, you'll be sorry?" she shot back, crossing her arms. "You two are going to clean up your act this year if it's the last thing I do. Otherwise, I'll make sure senior year isn't your last year here. Got it?"

"Yes Miss!" Ethan and Clayton chimed in unison, though the smirks tugging at the corners of their mouths suggested otherwise.

Miss Mae sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why do I even try with you two?"

As she turned to leave, Ethan leaned toward Clayton, whispering, "Think she'll ever give up on us?"

"Not a chance," Clayton replied, stifling a laugh.

And as Miss Mae disappeared down the hall, they both couldn't help but grin because they knew despite all the scolding, she cared. And that is why, they respected Miss Mae more than anyone—or at least Clayton did because he had doubts whether Ethan could understand these complex emotions. 

"You know, I am genuinely glad Miss Mae is our homeroom teacher." Ethan muttered, shifting his gaze downwards — precisely to his shoes as his expression became softer.

Clayton's eyes widened for a brief second before raising his gaze upwards instead of down— precisely looking at the plain white ceiling. 

So, you are capable of such things... That makes me wonder, are you capable of seeing what I'm seeing? A fallen world— a world where nothing is genuine, a world comprised of 'fakes'...

An unfair world where the best people had the rottenest luck. Or rather, fate. Whatever you wanna call it.

Clayton clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms as he stared blankly ahead, lost in thought as memories of his family swirled in his mind.

Clayton's mother, Sarah Beth lived a normal life. She had a decent family, though, she doesn't mention about it. Sarah was the middle child with two sisters. She grew up in the countryside, back in the day where internet itself wasn't introduced.

She grew up safely, graduated high school, got a job and lived a normal life. One day, she met this guy called Argus and eventually fell in love. They lived together—laughing together, sharing together. Soon, Sarah gave birth to a beautiful girl, Marrie Beth.

But as they say, "fate is cruel", they never got the chance to marry. Argus had an unknown reason to visit America, and well, Sarah had decided to follow him. Only for her passport to fail her.

Sarah was left behind. And as technology itself wasn't advanced enough, two began to become distant. Anyone would, as time passed, without any sort of communication it'll only grow farther.

She raised Marrie on her own. Earning just enough for the two of them to survive. 

Then, she came across another mam, Samuel. Samuel comforted her and gained her favor. Through the process, Sarah decided it's best to forget about Argus and move on. So, she married Samuel. And later, Clayton Caseleen was born.

Marrie had a stepfather and a half-brother—same mother but a different father. 

That's the story Samuel told Clayton when he was young. Clayton remembers the day vividly. There was this huge pandemic at the time and schools had become online. Clayton was caught in the act playing video games with his mic and camera turned off. When Samuel confronted him, Clayton refused to listen, leading to a fight.

"Why do you always act nice towards Marrie, but not me!" Clayton remembers himself yelling at his father while crying.

And that's when his father told him the story. First Clayton didn't think much of it, or maybe he didn't buy it. He just moved on and continued to get in a fight with Samuel every so and then.

Then, as he matured and become more sophisticated, her mother had also told him the same story.

Now, Clayton who had just reached his senior year can't help but laugh. 

Growing up, Clayton and Samuel always got in a fierce fight. Clayton usually being the one to be defeated, intimidated by his father's anger and strength grew up to resent him. 

Now reflecting, Samuel isn't entirely a bad guy. He's more of a short-tempered fool, he'd say. Samuel was not capable of thinking it through, still stuck on his old, "war" days.

...

 Once I become stronger and once you grow weaker. I swear I will kill you. Even now, he's able to recall the malicious thoughts he had towards Samuel. 

Although, the malicious intent of killing Samuel is gone, the resentment towards him hasn't faded. 

He's pretty sure Sarah feels the same way as well. Because she'd sometimes complain to Clayton about how her luck is rotten, and not to become like that man when he becomes an adult.

Clayton would feel sorry for Sarah whenever she mentions it, because now that Clayton has grown older, he can see how hard his mother is trying to not make him feel less than others. To give him the best life, to not live a life that's worse than others, she works with barely any rest.

Then, after coming home from working all day, she would take care of the house, Clayton and sometimes deal with Samuel.

Now days, Clayton even speak to Samuel—if possible. Apparently, that's the most ideal method to avoid any unnecessary conflict. That made Sarah's job a bit lighter, since she doesn't have step between the two. 

...

Everything Clayton has believed were a lie. He's luck, he's family.... everything.....

Clayton exhaled sharply, his thoughts darkening.

That's not all, this world is compromised with filthy selfish bastards who won't hesitate to take one's life if necessary. Varies types of problems and crimes such as 'murder', 'famine' are still present around the globe. It's spread around the world like a deadly disease, to the point where the citizens are no different from the 'selfish' bastards.

Love is nothing more than a mere joke to them, lusting after the opposite gender. 

I believe love isn't just 'lusting' after the opposite gender. There's more to it, the time you spent with that person— sharing together, laughing together and becoming good friends. All those memories build up strong bond. However, I'm not saying appearance doesn't matter either, because it is what attracts our attention and the character keeps it, that's love. 

Clayton stared at Ethan blankly, clenching his hands tightly as he bit his lips. 

Boys now days, especially teenagers constantly crave for 'romantic relationship' with the same excuse all the time, 'I just want true love." That truly disgusts me, because I can see right through them, they just want them for their body... Ungrateful bastards, what about your parents? Don't they love you? Isn't that love? You guys have no idea about what it means to be not 'loved'

But can true peace be achieved? Can people become 'innocent' and live without conflict?

No matter which world, as long as we live in this 'fallen' world we would be intertwined in karma. Because we slaughter other living beings to survive, don't we? We hurt each other for our own sake, don't we? Even if we forgive that sin, because it is just the 'nature' of humans, we still manage to create incident, exaggerate it, and even distort it to develop a story in a place where an incident does not exist. 

After realizing the true world— the second stage of Clayton's worldview, 'suspicion' he began to isolate himself from society. He is afraid that he might get betrayed, or may get forced with a cruel fate and a rotten luck like her mother. And from the result of being isolated for a long time, Clayton eventually reached the third stage 'opposition'— hating the world, then the fourth stage, 'oblivion'. 

He stopped hoping for anything to happen as he let 'fate' lead him in life. Clayton has become the 'passenger' instead of the 'driver' in his own life.

Even in novels, where 'true peace' or 'happiness' is said to be achieved, there were still bitter struggle in the past. But that's what makes 'happiness' feel more genuine, doesn't it? Because of the terrible past, the future becomes more promising.

Will you turn out to be 'fake' like the rest, Ethan?

"Dude, you okay?" Ethan's voice broke through the fog in Clayton's mind.

Clayton blinked and turned to his friend, forcing a faint smile. "Yeah. Just thinking about how lucky we are to have Miss Mae as our teacher." His voice was steady, betraying none of his inner turmoil.

Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, he grinned. "Yeah, she's pretty cool. Let's hope she doesn't send us to the principal's office again anytime soon!"

Clayton chuckled softly, shaking off the lingering heaviness in his chest. "Come on, let's go."

Ethan smiled as he slinged an arm around Clayton as they made their way down the hallway.