CHAPTER 3

“Who’s that?” I was asking myself, but I think someone hears that. 

“He’s Jared, he’s very famous in here... Oh my god! You don’t know him? Are you new in this academy?” 

I looked at the woman in front of me, she’s beautiful, very beautiful. She put the tray on the table and sat in front of me in a chair. We are facing each other now. 

Wait, does she want to eat with me? This is the first time I have eaten with someone...

“Ohm, no,” I answered and shrugged.

“Ughh, maybe you're the type of a girl who only cares about studying, am I right?" I nodded as an answer.

"I can say it by just looking at you. You don’t have friends am I right again?”

“O-Oh, I guess...?”  

“Then we can be friends. I don’t really like other girls in here but you... you got my attention. I think we can be good friends!"

"Well, I honestly don’t like a plastic friend and you’re the only one who looks real in here so, I want to be friends with you,” she added.

“Yeah, sure. I’m glad to have a pretty friend like you,” I said and smiled at her.

She reached out her hand, I reached for it and we both shake our hands. This is the first time that I'll have a friend here at the Academy.

“You know what? You’re beautiful, but can you tie your hair up? Because it’s messy! Why is your hair messy anyway? By the way, are you even combing your hair?” She asked and ate some food.

She's a bit talkative, with too many questions.

“Of course! I do comb my hair, it’s just messy because my two female classmates are tweaking early...”

“My question is, why’s your hair is messy? I didn’t ask about the stupid things that you said. I mean, like your two classmates, I don’t care about them, so don’t mention them with I am with you.” she muttered.

“I tried to stop them, but it looks like I just made everything worse. They pulled my hair instead...” I continued.

“Tsk, then you didn’t even pull their hair too? You should fight back! If I were you, I will pull their hair until they both get bald.” I chuckled because of what she said.

“You’re funny when you laugh... Pfft please don’t laugh, you sound so funny.” She said and covered her mouth.

I didn’t know that I sound funny when I laugh, hmm is that why Maddie didn’t stop laughing when I laugh? Cause I sound so funny?

"Anyway your cute, your voice is cute and I like it! You look so innocent." I blink twice. 

What did she just say? I'm cute, my voice is cute. And I look so innocent? Really?

“By the way, I’m Celine Buenavista, and you are?” 

“I’m Eunice..." I added. "Hell.”

“Hell as in H E L L?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool! Oh, wait... I think I’ve heard that before." She scratches her hair.

"Right! Do you live in Hell Forest? The hunted mansion of hell family?”

“Ohm is that what other people called it...”

“I’ve just heard it. They say Hell’s family is very weird... hmm, but I think they’re wrong. You’re not that weird, you’re just like other normal girls out there.” 

“Right,” I muttered.

It’s nice to have someone you can talk to in school. I hope she’s interested in being friends with me for real.

“If I have time, can I come over to your house?” She asked.

“Maybe...? I don’t know, my Mom doesn’t like other people coming over to our house.” 

Mom doesn’t like that, and her other siblings don’t like it too. I don’t know why but since I was born, I can only see hell family in there, no other people. 

“I’m not a stranger. I’m your friend now, right?” She seemed to be disappointed.

“I’ll just try to talk to her, Celine,” I said and smiled at her.

“But if she doesn’t want to, it’s okay. Maybe instead of me, come over to our house. My mom cooked well.” I just nodded.

Why do people are interested in coming to our house? Many students tried to come into the forest but then ended up running and they all look scared. It looks like they’ve seen a ghost or a monster. Well, there’s nothing to be scared of.

“By the way, why is Jar so famous here?”

“Who’s Jar?” she asked, confused. Did she already forget?

“The guy that you said-- “

“Pfft, his name is Jared, Eunice, not Jar.” She chuckled.

I smiled awkwardly. I think I misheard it.

“He’s famous because he is handsome. You know that when a man is handsome, girls here seem to go crazy and, by the way, don’t like that guy. I mean Jared, that bad boy will get you into trouble.” I drink my juice while staring at Celine.

“He has many enemies, he’s always involved in trouble. If you don’t want your life to be hell, don’t dream of being his girlfriend. Your last name is already hell and do you want your life to be like hell?” 

It sounds funny but at the same time not.

“No!” I covered my mouth immediately when other students that were near to us looked at me.

“Well, you know, the last one who became his girlfriend. She almost died because she was beaten by his enemies.” My jaw almost drops at what she said.

A girl? They beat a girl?!

“Really? By the way, why did he become like that? I’m sure there’s a reason why he’s like that. Maybe he wasn’t like that before, maybe he changed because he had a reason or maybe he had some past. We don’t know the story of his life, so we should not judge just based on what we see and hear from other people, right?”

“Hmm, you have a point though... but still don’t go near to him because you’ll be in trouble! I am saying this because you’re my friend now, and I am concerned about you Eunice.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks for your concern, Celine." She smiled at me and even tap my hand twice. "You're welcome." She said.

We started eating while talking. It feels like we’ve known each other for so long. I don’t feel uncomfortable talking with her. This feels so good. It feels good to have a friend.

***

When our class is done, I immediately go outside the Academy.

I opened my backpack to get my wallet and I suddenly remember, I forgot my wallet at our house. What should I do now? I don’t have any money to commute. Oh, right, I have feet, I can walk.

I just chuckled.

Our house is likely in the middle of the forest, many people called our house a hunted. Well, I don’t care what they think about it because I honestly don’t mind what other people say about my family. 

We called it Hell forest because my family owned that forest, it’s like nobody lives there besides us. I mean, like only Hell's family lives there.

I’m still walking in the street and I stop when I heard something. I follow the sound and I suddenly stop.

“W-Who is that?” I asked myself.

I was shocked when I saw many guys fighting in front of me. Should I just leave them alone? Or should I call the police? God! I don’t know what to do.

“Hey, you!” I covered my mouth because of shock. Is he talking about me? They all looked at me seriously.

“Me?” I asked confused and pointed at myself using my middle finger. Oh my wrong finger, Eunice!

“Yes, you! Come here!”