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(Asher’s POV)

“…Well, apart from the upcoming exam, nothing interesting.” I answered, deciding to not tell her about the déjà vu whilst using the same answer I’ve told her yesterday. I guess it’s the truth because she’s not asking me what happened to ME, she’s asking what happened at SCHOOL. That alone saved me many explanations.

Our call ended after I finished my breakfast. Then, slinging my backpack onto my shoulders, I checked the house for one last time before I closed the entrance door of the apartment.

My walk to the school took no time at all. When many kids have to go to school by bus or any transportation, my house was located at about 15 minutes away from school by walking distance. I massaged my jaw several times before opening and closing my mouth repeatedly to loosen my face muscles. Afterall, the moment when I stepped past the school gate, people will know me as Asher E. Ildian, the most kindhearted and warm student in Maplewood High School.

I’m not trying to give any tips, but I found out that being kind and generous with smiles makes it easy for people to know you.

Or it’s just my face and the fact that I’m one of the members of the school’s ice hockey team which made me popular.

Probably not.

Anyway, the moment when I passed the school gate, a wide smile formed on my mouth as an indication that it was time to mask my face with a smile.

“Hey, Asher!” I told you if you smile and greet people well, they will want to get closer to you. Though, that voice wan’t one I expected. Sarra Curts came into my sight like some sort of blasphemic déjà vu. To add to that sense, she waved her hands in a seducing manner—just like yesterday—before she sashayed in my direction together with her other two friends who did the same type of walking.

“Hey Sarra!” I greeted back and threw her a half-smile—the one I usually made towards people who I dislike.

Luckily, Sarra and her friends didn’t seem to realize the difference in the smile I gave her and returned it to me as a shy smack on my shoulder. I silently winced from the sharp pain.

Sarra might not look like it, but her slapping force is strong. As expected from her, who send her exes to hospitals after one single slap because their jaw cracked or they lost consciousness.

Sarra then bat her eyes to me as if she’s giving me a signal. I knew what those eyes meant because I’ve seen it yesterday, and I swear I don’t like it.

“Hey, Asher!”

I was hoping he would show up sooner or later; my bestfriend, Ryan Suez. He was a bit different from me in terms of nationality. I’m an Italian mix and he’s half African—which means his skin is slightly tanned.

Immediately after he reached to my side, Sarra shot him a disgusted look. “What do you want, Black? Seeking protection from Asher?”

Black.

In this school, only Sarra called Ryan by that name. Because of her close minded family, she was raised in an atmosphere which created a sense of racism inside her. Because of that, she couldn’t even differentiate between a tanned skin or a black skin.

But let me tell you this, in this school, Sarra was the only one differentiating people based on their skin color. The teachers couldn’t do much, especially when her parents was one of the school sponsors.

“Am I?” Ryan rested his hands on his hips, just like yesterday. “Or was it YOU who wanted to seek someone else you would want to sleep with because you couldn’t forget how I taste like?”

For the first time after knowing Sarra, her cheeks flared while she threw Ryan a look of disbelief. She was at a loss of words. Then, as if trying to show that she’s still winning—although she doesn’t look like it—she turned to her back with a loud HMPH! Before stomping her high heels away and followed by her friends.

I tried to stifle my giggle. Even though I’ve witnessed the exact same scene, I still find myself entertained by it. I cleared my throat after tearing off the last bit of laughter out from my throat.

“Dude, are you alright?” Ryan asked, which was a bit different.

Obviously, because I wasn’t laughing like this yesterday when Sarra stormed away from the two of us. I shook my head a no.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go, the class will start soon.” I patted his shoulders and walked before him.

The class progressed just like what I’ve witnessed. From the first lesson when Miss Bethany started a mock exam, until the last lesson of Biology which most of the students enjoyed because Sir Austin is equally funny and intelligent.

When the bell rang indicating the end of school day, I froze on my seat.

“Asher?” Ryan approached me when he saw me daydreaming. “Are you sure you’re alright? You look strange today.”

A script of line which wasn’t there yesterday. Somehow I can imagine where this is going.

“Rufus invited the two of us to hang out at Chips n Charm. If you’re not feeling good, I can tell them to let you go.” Ryan took out his phone.

Chips n Charm.

I remembered it vividly now. After me and Ryan went to hang out with Rufus and his friends, Chips n Charm was the place where I first saw that violet-eyed girl. Things took a weird turn when I decided to follow that girl. And conveniently, it started to rain.

I angled my head towards the window to see the sky. My God, the sky is dark with grey clouds swirling on it, as if summoning the rain just like in my dream. I darted my eyes to Ryan, my breath started to become shallow.

“Dude-” Ryan stepped near me and grabbed my shoulders.

Flash of images from my dream came creeping up to me and slowly eating away my consciousness. I grunted at the scene where the lightning flashed as me and that girl fell down from the building.

“…Sorry, Ryan. I don’t think I can join today.” My voice trembled.

Ryan looked around the empty classroom briefly before returning his gaze to me. “If you’re feeling sick, I can send you home.”

“No. You don’t have to.” I shook my head again.

“But…” I paused. “If something strange happen, can you inform me immediately?” I gazed at him.

Ryan threw me a strange look before he slowly nodded, albeit puzzled.

Then, we parted ways with me walking back home and Ryan walking the opposite direction to Chips n Charm. I really hoped nothing happened according to what I dreamt.

I reached home while feeling heavy. My mind was strangely muddled with anxiety and regret, without me knowing the apparent reason. I sauntered to the sofa and slumped my body on it.

Then, as I blankly stared the ceiling, my eyes drifted to the ticking wall clock. 4.30 in the evening, about 4 hours before that violet-eyed kid killed herself.

A pang suddenly hit my head and I grunted. To ease down the pain, I tried to make myself sleep, or at least, take a nap or something. But even when my eyes are closed, I still can see those vibrant violet eyes looking at me.

“Help me…”         

***

I don’t know how long was I out. When I opened my eyes, I was in utter darkness in my living room. Before I could even fumble my hands to feel my surroundings, my phone rang.

“Hello?” I somehow managed to answer the call at the nick of time after scrambling to find my phone. Ryan answered me at the end of the line.

“Hey, Asher…” His voice sounded aghast as if he just saw a ghost.

“Hey, Ryan. What’s wrong?” I tried to sound as clueless as possible. My beating heart which thumped a bit louder when I just woke up now drummed against my chest.

“You see…” He paused.

“Me and Rufus, we just saw someone died.”