Chapter Two: Just her name before I go. 

 

A D A M

 

Who does she think she is to accuse me of being a thief? 

 

She can't even stop staring at my face the whole time. I even had to hide away from her eyes so she would be aware of the boundary. 

 

But I like her bravery though and the way she argued with me. I have never seen someone like that before. 

 

She must be someone I saw earlier from the bottom of the stairs when I was coming out of the room. I almost had myself believe that it was somehow a ghost, but I didn't mind it at all. 

 

When she passed the gate right after we confided in each other of how a thief I am and how ungrateful she was, I was watching her, sternly, the whole until she turned to a corner and disappeared. 

 

The first time  I took a glance at her face, I think I have never seen such sadness that hides inside someone's eyes before. I could tell there was so much sorrow in hers that dragged my heart down into a pit. 

 

That's why I asked her if she's okay. It wasn't only because she tripped but because I saw something that I wish I didn't. 

 

 

 

 

 

A text comes on my screen. It's from Justine:  Bro. U gotta be here ASAP. Everyone is expecting you to come, so don't be late. 

 

I type: On the way.

 

 

It's only been a week since I transferred to Grandland Academy. Justine is one of the first people I have gotten close to. He was a basketball lead player on the campus. We have class together in History so that's basically how we met. We are only been getting along with each other and hanging out. 

 

The first thing I noticed was almost every girl is crazy about him which is no surprise but the way he takes advantage of them is in no way good. 

 

I am not planning to come to tonight's party but I just want a drink tonight. To numb pain. And maybe to kill time.

 

When I reach to his streets, I lift my phone and text Chloe: How's everything in there?

 

Her typing-dots appear instantly on the screen. 

 

She typed: Waiting for you. People are filling in. Walk faster idiot...

 

A smile creeps on my face as I read her words.

 

 I reply:  Just don't get near to Justine.

 

She doesn't reply. 

 

So I finally decided to not force her again this time. I know she won't be nearing him tonight. She's never interested in him. She told me that enough once before. 

 

The moment I hear the blasting sound, I know I am nearing Justine's place now. I put my phone in my pocket and force myself to never think of the girl I met earlier. 

 

Just something about her bothers me so much. 

 

I step into Justine's house. And Chloe's not lying when she said people are filling in because I can barely move through the crowds without walking sideways. My shoulders keep on bumping on random people with heavy sweats and warm bodies.

 

The red and green lights flash on everyone matching the beats of the music, as they dance in the random corner of the room.

 

 

I walk up to where Justine is. He is playing a cup game with a group of guys from school too. He's holding a beer when I approach him. 

 

He lifts his head to me while having a smug smile on his face. Our fists meet in the air.

 

 Then he has to yell because it's too impossible to hear him clearly  “Bro! You gotta check one of the rooms upstairs. Someone is waiting for you!” 

 

I smile at his words. He can't be this serious about this. I nod and leave him to make my upstairs. 

 

There are at least ten bedrooms in this house, so I am not sure which one he is referring to. I grab a red cup that someone might have left from a couch next to a door. 

 

I open the fourth door without knocking. Two people are making out on the bed causing them to jump out of embarrassment. 

 

The guys say with a raging crumpled look in his eyes at me, “Don't you know how to knock!” He yells across the room.

 

 

I just smirk before swinging close the door. I walk up to the next one and when I step inside, Chloe is sitting on the chair by the window. 

 

She's wearing a blue plaid shirt and a tank top. 

 

Her head turns to me. Our eyes meet. 

 

“Hey,” I greet her. 

 

She stands up, “You're late again.” Her voice drags in a drunken sound. 

 

“Are you drunk already?” 

 

She puts her arms around me and her head on my chest. 

 

She doesn't answer. 

 

“Are you okay? I can walk you home if you want to go. I'm not sure if I want to be here though.” I say.

 

She looks up to me; her eyes are slowly flapping close as I hold her with one arm.

 

Then in one second, our eyes are glued to each other. Her eyes are back on her side as she stands in front of me with longing eyes. 

 

Her eyes land on my lips then back to my eyes. 

 

“Adam...” Her voice trails before she pulls me in, crashing her lips to mine. 

 

She opens her mouth and kisses me at a deep slow pace. Her lips are cold and shivering as they move against me. I can't believe she's doing this with me.

 

When she notices me not taking any move, so she pulls away. I can see the hurt in her eyes as she stands there with her head low. 

 

But before she can say something, I pull her towards me and kiss her. This time I make a move and open my mouth to meet her kisses. 

 

She breathes my name as I move us to the bed without breaking away from her.

 

Chloe pulls away from the kiss to remove her tank top. I don't want her to but she already has it out so it's a little too late to tell her so.

 

 I don't want to ruin our moment. 

 

She sits on me with her legs wide apart and we continue to kiss. I break away for a second to look her in the eyes. She barely opens them but I just have to know if she has eyes like the girl I saved earlier.

 

But she doesn't. Chloe's eyes are just heavy and need badly of sleep. 

 

She puts kisses on my lips again. We continue kissing but when that girl's sad eyes keep on flashing back in my head. I try to forget it by kissing Chloe deeper but it's no use. 

 

So I break away from the kiss. 

 

“What's wrong?” Chloe whispers but her eyes are closed. Her lips are swollen and red from the kiss.

 

 

“I gotta go. I think forgot something. ” I lie.

 

 

 

I don't think Chloe still has the urge to move and make another long conversation with me, so I remove myself from the bed and walk out of the room. She's already going to fall into a sleep anyways.

 

Why did I suddenly think of that girl?

 

I don't even know her. She's...

 

“What's up?” Justine is standing in the hallway with a girl I don't recognize next to him.

 

“I have to use the bathroom. Chloe's inside. She's passed out.” 

 

Justine laughs also drunk. “You guys are done with your business?”

 

I shake my head trying to give back a chuckle, “Yeah. I mean she's tired. She needs a rest so bad.” 

 

Justine nods and stops laughing. “Well,” he looks down at the girl clinging next to him. “I still have a business to do, so see ya when I see ya,” He says before walking past me. 

 

As soon as I make my out of the house, I feel more relaxed, and the fresh cold air kind of soothes me. 

 

I'm not sure why that girl suddenly become the center of my company tonight. She must have been thinking about me too. 

 

 

If I see her again, I need to make sure I get her name at least. But she already hates me so much since she assumed I am a thief. 

 

Well, I am a gorgeous thief then since she couldn't stop looking at me when I was holding her. 

 

And her eyes. Her eyes are something. The way her brown grim eyes are looking right into me. Without words, they are telling me things. 

 

I have to know that girl. And I'm only hoping that when we meet we won't fight or argue. 

 

When I arrive at my apartment, I put my shoes off and head straight to the bed. 

 

It's been a long day. Tomorrow, I have to clean up a little bit in the abandoned room. Not to fully clean up but to at least give myself a space to sit and read. And peel off some cobwebs out of the way.

 

Then I feel my eyes getting heavy as those same sad brown eyes looking at me in my head.

 

 

 

                     THE NEXT DAY...

 

 

It's 4:56 P.M. I hear the bell rings for dismissal. Everyone is yelling, laughing, screaming, and even weirdly whining in the background as they slip out of their classrooms. I put my things inside my bag before I see Chloe passes my room. She's chewing a piece of gum but doesn't seem to notice me. 

 

Last night was the first time she kissed me. And I am not sure if she would remember it now, but I hope she doesn't. The last thing I want is to talk about it and make it happen again. 

 

I decided I don't want to be kissing or sleeping with anyone starting now. I am just exhausted. I don't think it's right for me to keep wasting someone's feeling that isn't real and sincere. 

 

I'm not even interested in anyone. In fact, I have never been. And I never been interested in dating ever before and won't be in the future. I think it has been like that. And it will never change for me. 

 

When I walk outside the room, some students are still in the hallways, taking in and out their stuffs from the locker area. 

 

Justine is over the corner of the building, making out with another girl. I'm sure enough she's not the one from last night in the hallway with him because her hair is different from anyone. She has pink highlights on that's why. 

 

“Excuse me?” I hear a small voice behind me. 

 

I turn around to see three girls smiling at me. 

 

I smile a little, “Can I help you?” 

 

“You're the new student, right? The half-Chinese one? I didn't know you would be so much more attractive up close.” The short-haired girl screams almost silently with her hands clasped in front of her.

 

I chuckle. Really? “Yeah. I guess that's me.” I put my hands in my pockets.

 

“My friend wants to give this to you.” She hands me a folded white paper. It says For Adam with three doodled hearts on the sides. 

 

I hesitate to take it but I don't want to embarrass any of them. “What is this?” I try to sound interested.

 

“It's something you two can only know.” She says. “Can we take a picture with you?” The girl with long hair requests. 

 

I nod saying, “Sure.” 

 

She pulls her phone from her skirt and moves over towards me. They all count together from three and I almost laugh because it was too cute. I make a straight face as one of them clicks on the camera. 

 

They say in unison, “Thank you, Adam.” Then they leave discussing over the picture we have. 

 

After that, I just keep walking toward the back of the campus where the abandoned room is. I turn to the little concern before I slip myself inside the building. Nobody goes to this area because it's kinda dark but I like it and I really need some sleep. 

 

But when I twist the knob of the door, it's locked. How come this is locked? I left it open yesterday. 

 

I sigh and walk away. Maybe I can go somewhere. 

 

It's getting a little gloomy and darker as I sit on the bottom of the stairs exactly where I saw that girl yesterday. 

 

I look over my shoulder and the idea of going upstairs intrigues me all of a sudden. I start marching my way up. It is a little tiring because there are just too many stairs, but not until I open the door and reveal a dull rooftop at the end. 

 

So, this is where she goes to. 

 

What's that smell? I pinch my nose quickly as the bad smell blows up with the wind passing by. It smells dead here. How did she bear it in here?

 

The sunset looks perfect from this view. The town glows in golden glares.

 

I sit over the ledge and position my legs underneath me. 

 

I look down to watch over the students walking towards Jongwon Park. I think I missed out a lot on everything. Jongwon has a lot of street foods and they're very tasty. 

 

But it feels like, sometimes,  it's no use with the fun you get with the people and with things. After all, everything is temporary even marriage. 

 

Speaking of marriage. I am still waiting for a text, for a call from my mom or perhaps even from my dad too, but none of them ever actually press a key once. 

 

And it seems fine to me. 

 

My mother once told me that if you're waiting for something, might as well be happy in the waiting. I am happy. I just don't think how long would have to wait for something unpredictable.

 

 

“Everything is just ending,” I whisper to the wind as I gaze through the sun setting behind the wild clouds.  

 

“Uhh,” I hear someone says from behind, “Excuse me?” Her voice is a little fierce.

 

I hope she's not from the three girls in the hallway earlier. I look over my shoulder but she's way too far, so I move away from the ledge. 

 

The moment I lift my head up to see who it is, my heart skips a beat. A loud gasp leaves my mouth in shock. 

 

It's the girl from yesterday. The one that I saved and she's standing there. Her hands are gripping on her floral backpack she's hugging. Our eyes meet as soon as I look at her eyes.

 

 Her sad eyes. 

 

 

Her eyes aren't surprised at all. They're just not showing any emotion but unhappiness. But I can tell she's going to say something. 

 

“I need you to leave.” She says in a  serious voice. 

 

I can't tell if she's angry again at me or she's just not always in the mood. 

 

She lowers her eyes to the ground before places it back to me.

 

But I won't grant her with her request. I have to know her name first. 

 

Just her name before I go.