Chapter 8: Bad luck

Ah yes… Monday again.

Tuesday tomorrow.

Wednesday the next day.

Thursday ah, whatever… You get my point.

After going home yesterday, drenched in sweat from running like a maniac to the rooftop despite it not even being allowed it's back to the same routine.

Same old, same old.

I wasn't even worried about my condition anymore… It was the reaction of others after what happened yesterday.

It was… a mess. A literal mess.

Not only was my acting crap, but I also collapsed like an idiot in front of everyone.

Well… there's nothing I could do about it now.

As I kept walking, rain poured down heavily with the cold wind brushing past me. I spotted Calliope at the school entrance.

She looked like she was waiting for someone.

It's not like I have anything to do with that… so I just walked past her and entered the school.

I went to my seat and slammed my head down on the desk.

I could feel their eyes on me. I knew what they were thinking… whispering… probably about what happened yesterday.

The half-assed act.

The collapse.

To be honest… Calliope did most of the work anyway. The script… the practice… everything. I just… stood there.

All for her grades… I overheard that her parents were strict about her grades. It hit me harder than I expected.

I shouldn't have been her partner.

I'm terrible as always.

If only there was a solo act… she could've gotten the grade she deserved.

I really am good at one thing—holding others back.

I should avoid her.I… I just can't face her.

As I slowly looked up, our eyes accidentally met. Calliope entered the room. I quickly looked away.

She won't look at me the same way again… Not after yesterday.

I laid my head back down as footsteps approached… but they stopped midway.

Miss De Luna entered the room and class started as usual.

I wasn't even paying attention. My mind was full of what-ifs and regrets.

Time flew by. Subject after subject.

Then came… Sir Frednim.

I didn't even care what subject it was anymore. My mind was somewhere else.

Then the unexpected happened.

Group activity… again.

As everyone moved to their groups, I just… stayed in my seat.

Didn't even move an inch.

One of my groupmates approached me.

"Hey, Marcus… are you alright? We should do the activity now before it's too late…"

I didn't care. My mind was still spinning in circles.

I just handed him the papers, explained their roles, and that was it.

Let them do all the work… I didn't care anymore.

I made up an excuse to leave.

Bathroom break.

But really… I just wanted to clear my head.

I sat there in one of the stalls… minutes passed… maybe hours? I didn't even care.

As I was about to open the door, I heard voices outside.

A group of guys entered.

Their voices were loud… rough. I froze for a second, listening.

"Dude, that chick from Room 102… she's the real deal…"

"Yeah, I agree…"

I processed what was happening.

Ah yes… typical school delinquents.

Like what happens in those manga I read yesterday.

The sharp smell of cigarette smoke filled the air.

I quietly stepped out of the stall and went to wash my hands… tried to leave unnoticed.

But one of them grabbed my arm.

I looked back.

The guy sneered.

"Hey… if you dare snitch, I'll snitch your life. Got that?"

I gulped. Kept calm.

"I'd rather sleep anyway… Don't worry, just don't mind me, and I won't mind you."

The guy smirked… patted my arm.

"Oh… at least you got what I meant."

He shoved a few coins into my hand—enough for… two pieces of gum?

I was scared shitless.Talking to people scares me… but that? That's literally risking my whole high school life.

I had a bad feeling…A really bad feeling about this.

I went back to the classroom as usual.

Ms. Vitale—the art and acting teacher—was already at her desk.

I forced myself to approach her.

"Ma'am… I want to talk about yesterday."

She looked at me.

"What's the problem?"

I hesitated… but I said it anyway.

"Can you… give my score to Calliope? I know it was a group work… but she did everything. The script, the practice… everything. I just filled a small hole in that activity. I… I don't deserve the grade."

Her face turned serious.

"Hmm… Marcus, right? Are you really saying… you'll throw away your grade? You do know… even a small decimal missing can hold you back for the whole year?"

I didn't care.

"Please… if possible… I hope you do it. I don't mind."

She stared at me for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"I'll think about it."

I returned to my seat and tried to distract myself… but time flew by.

Eventually… school ended.

Lucas walked with me, rambling about random things like usual.

I… actually felt a bit better. Maybe I did the right thing.

As I arrived home, my phone buzzed.

A message popped up.

A group meet-up tomorrow… at the Central Mall.

I sighed.

What a pain.

All I wanted was to sleep.

But whatever… I stayed quiet, knowing full well I'll probably avoid Calliope the whole time.

I felt like… bad luck. A curse to the people around me.

I didn't want to drag her down… or anyone else.

I curled up in bed…And slept silently…

Knowing full well… things won't go the way I want them to.