The library

Ever felt scared of eyes? eyes, eyes, and eyes everywhere? looking right at you? That is what Maya felt when She stepped inside the dining area of school the next morning; the abnormal sweat on her forehead in this cold weather is seriously unusual. 

Keeping her food tray on the table she started eating; trying to avoid the eyes that stared at her; questioning her, but not speaking making her assume a lot of things that she does not want. 

" Are you okay? " the masculine voice made her stop eating as she looked up at his face. Why is he here when I do not want to see his face? wasn't yesterday's event enough? 

" I asked you something, " He whispered as He sat next to me; She scooted, not wanting her skin to touch his. the cafeteria was quiet; a little too much when she looked up. 

" Are you sad that I was not killed? " sarcasticness, here it comes. 

" what? " I seriously think he should try in acting If I would have believed him if... 

" experiencing the worse and making others experience the same? isn't it what you do? " Maya said as Ash frowned. 

" What have I ever done to you? just took your seat once because you were absent? Ash, this behavior of yours is venomous, " she said looking at his confused face; his cold eyes are enough to give chills but surprise, surprise! she knew it. She felt intimidated but she tried to keep a calm and composed exterior. 

" I do not know what you are talking about, " He said as he got up from his seat and walked out of the dining area. Maya kept looking at him until he was not in sight; sighing I pushed the plate of food away from me; she did not feel like eating anything. 

" heard you got missing yesterday, " Azora said as Maya looked at her; she had her plate in her hands and bag on her shoulder. 

Maya just nodded; already irritated with these questions and stares. 

" It is too much, I know, " Azora said as if she read her mind; She gave her a grateful smile before taking two painkillers. 

Ish! bitter! 

Walking to the class together would have felt nice but Maya had to take her bag from the room; opening the door of my room, suddenly She felt a hand over her mouth; panic started to kick in, the first thing She did was biting the hand on her mouth but a harsh push to the wall made her dizzy. 

Holding her head, she glanced at the person who was in her room; her heartbeat stopped when she saw Ash standing right in front of her. 

" Are you here to kill me because you couldn't yesterday? or is it because I spoke back to you? " She said as she stood up holding the bed. 

his hands reached for her arms making her flinched; looking into his mysterious black eyes, Maya felt the rush of adrenaline in her veins; " I was busy trying to find you when you got missing, I was not the one who did that to you, " He said pointing at the big time scratch she got yesterday. 

" Then why you were trying to scare me? Why are so... shady? " She could not put a stop to her mouth but she could surely use nicer words? right. 

" Because your Uncle Maxy is hiding something, " her eyes widened when he said that; not because he said uncle Max is hiding something but because She saved his contact number with that name. 

" here, I wanted to return you this, " He said as he put her phone in my hands.

" If he is hiding something then so are you, " Maya dared to say it; Ash looked into her eyes. 

" I am, " he whispered. 

She did not say something when he walked out of the room nor when he looked at me once before closing the door; there was something in his eyes, something She was not able to read, something she can not put in words but she knows, she should stay away from this man. 

better for the remaining days I have. 

. 

The day for Maya was not nice at all, with every teacher asking if she was fine or not, students giving her weird looks; she was getting irritated even more with the headache that was not leaving her side. 

Maya knocked on the door of the principal's office as she heard a ' come in ' Max smiled when he saw his niece. 

" the... the duplicate library keys, is the offer still valid? " Maya asked; to was awkward between Maya and her uncle because of the other day; she is not the type to pour her feeling in front of anyone. 

she was not the type to shade tears for something she had no control over; " Anytime, " Max said as he put the keys in her hand with a smile. 

Her throat felt dry as she stood up; " umm... have you told... " She was about to speak when Max shook his head at her. 

" I didn't tell them a thing, it's between you and me, " Max said. 

" and the entire school, " Max chuckled when he heard her reply. without another word Maya left the room; at least now she would not have to walk through the muddy area to sneak into the library. 

that night when Maya came back after having dinner; she did not feel well; she could not walk around just now so she just opened the window; the boy's hostel was on the other side, but she could see the building from her room window. 

Bile rose to her throat as she ran towards the bathroom, emptying whatever she ate a few minutes ago. Coughing she drank some water after brushing her teeth. she laid on the bed but passed out as soon as she touched the bed. 

. 

Click! 

the library door opened as Maya stepped inside, only to the same guy from yesterday night sitting alone on the same chair. Maya glanced at him before she walked to take the same book she was reading yesterday. 

When your story is getting tragic, other tragic stories feel more connecting. 

Maya took her seat and started reading; taking a few sweet glances at him; she noticed the almost non-existent flickers on his face. She smiled before she resumed reading her book. 

A few more nights went like that, Maya would sneak into the library and walk out before anyone could see her; she knew she do not have to take tension of CCTV cameras; so she roamed around as much as she wanted. 

" Woah! did you even sleep last night? " Azora said when she noticed the dark bags under Maya's eyes; Maya nodded at her as she raised her eyebrow. 

" Nightmare, " Maya lied as Azora nodded and resumed her work. She would never tell anyone, she developed insomnia after leaving her medicines. at least not someone she met a few days ago. 

" you are getting nightmares, " Ash stated once he got a chance to say it; everyone was busy copying notes. 

Maya raised her head as She looked at him; Ash's eyes softened when he saw how pale she looked. his hands itched to put the strange of her hair behind her ear but he could not do that, and he did not know why in the first place. 

" What if I say you are the reason for my nightmares? " Maya said; not wanting to speak to him at all; she closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. 

" Am I? " he asked looking around. 

" Aren't you? " She replied to his question by another question. 

" Miss, may I go out, please? I am not feeling well, " She stood up as the teacher allowed her; Ash looked at her with a blank face as she walked out of the class. 

Ash was confused not only because of Maya's behavior but his thoughts too; it was confusing and frustrating at the same time. 

he wrote something on his note and tore the page before sliding the sheet in Maya's books that she left on her desk. 

Maya was in the bathroom when she heard some of the girls gossiping among themselves. She would not have taken any interest f she had not heard her name. 

' what are they talking about? ' she thought. 

" That girl spoke to Ash and now see what happened to her, " she heard someone say. 

" And have you ever looked at her face? She looks like she hasn't slept for days, " she heard a hushed voice. 

" First she got missing, now she is ill, this Ash is bad luck or maybe some bad spirit in human skin, " another one said. 

" But how is it all connected? " A soft voice murmured. Maya was even more curious; not because they were talking about her but because she wanted to know about Ash. 

" Old story, It is his third time in 12th grade, that guy is shady or maybe even ... " before they could say anything else; a teacher entered the washroom as girls walked out giving each other smiles. 

What mystery are you Ash? She could not help but think. She walked out and went back to the classroom avoiding looking in Ash's direction in every way possible.