"Let me go, Nelson!" Naomi harshly pulled away from him as soon as Lana and Samuel disappeared from their view.
"What's wrong Naomi? What did I do to you that you despise me that much?.."
"As I said. Nothing wrong, just stay away from my business."
"No. It's not going to happen. I'm not going to let you go. At least I won't."
"Don't make me repeat myself!" Holding up the rage buckling in her, she makes sure Nelson heard her well this time. "Stay. Away. From. Me."
"NO." Nelson gets a hold of her arm before she gets the chance to run away again. "Give me a chance, let us prove that we are not meant to be together." Nelson hadn't staggered from his position, inoffensive by Naomi's harsh attitude toward him. "Give me a chance." He said, almost half whispering.
As if the time had frozen, for a second, Naomi had listened to him. Their eyes locked, and a surge of adrenaline rushed causing her dewy cheeks to beet red.
"I..."
"It's alright Naomi, I know I shouldn't force you into accepting me. But I'm eager to make you heard me, this time." He pleaded, tiring of the games of chasing around.
"You are..., ridiculous," Naomi stuttered, averting his gaze, in a way too soft to sound angry nor irritated. The sour taste was crumpled in her chest, waiting to be released.
Hoping Naomi will catch up with him, he leads the way. Throwing one last glance, a hand stuffed in the pocket, he said, "Come, let's go." He ordered. "Perhaps I should make a move first, since, you still refuse me to be around?"
"No, I mean, Nelson..."
"It's Neil... You may call me Neil." The striking clear brown eyes penetrate into her soul, assuring her it's alright to let her insecure down.
In this world, she had no one else to turn to, if even her only uncle won't bother to ruin her why would anyone else care. Yet anyone who bothers about her will only be left with a burden larger than themselves as if she is a living curse.
Her aging parents had to abandon Nora's needs to support her studies, and Nora had no choice but to leave the house...
And Lana...
Lana shouldn't be at the scene at that time, even though she had done her best to protect Lana, it is the grudge that acts to the sinister disastrous ending.
She had allowed the devil to take over her clear mind on that day...
In fact, anyone could be the victim, but fate chooses her only best friend. If only it wasn't Lana..., then it wouldn't end that way.
It was Lana's fault after all. She had made her into the mess.
Her life is totally a joke to the world.
Impatient by Naomi's clueless demeanor Nelson returns to her, casually putting both hands on her shoulder, "Come on, I know what you think about me, so, you should prove this blurry guy is terrible." Nelson says it to her face to divert her attention to him.
An unexpected chuckle escaped from Naomi's thin light rosy lips which then erupted into an infectious giggle. Nelson burst out a suppressed laugh trying to figure out the source of the comedy. "What? Why are you laughing."
Breaking their eye contact, she looks away and finds a distraction from the empty walls. Clearing her throat, she composes herself, fighting the urge to smile, she answered, "You are funny."
How long had it been? Nelson had no memory of this side of her. Eventually, Naomi had overwhelmed him with her hidden bright personality.
Alternately nudging her glass frame upon the bridge of her nose, she quickly responded, " I think... I should go, see you around." She said as she goes, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Halt." Nelson gets a grip on her again.
The warms of his touch send erratic thuds in her chest echoing in her ears. Yet, she withholds to look back.
"It is suffocating to be at school all the time. Don't you think so?" Nelson suggested.
In slow motion, Naomi responded to him. Her curious rounded, prominent innocent eyes fixated on him, making his heart skip a beat as a soft reply slip away her lips. "Huh...?"
Warding off the robust desire to devour her lips. He uttered in his forced baritone, "Come with me." Holding her hand, he hauls her away with him.
"But..."
Taking one last glimpse at the empty hallway for witnesses to their truant, adjusting her spectacles, Naomi quickly matched Nelson's steps.
His back view encloses her way, broad shoulder of him establish a warm refuge to her, and the fact that Nelson is clutching her hand securely in the palm of his hand had ceased her ability from functioning as usual.
"What on earth is wrong with you today? Wake up, Naomi!" Her inner voice screamed to herself. When they are standing beside Nelson's metallic lime green sporty Z-style superbike at the school parking lot, Naomi is yet to be aware of her surrounding.
Handing her one of the ebony matte helmets, Nelson puts on his gloves and leather jacket he tugged nicely in his backpack. Acknowledge that Naomi will stay confused, he gently assisted her to put on her helmet. Igniting the start button, the engine rumble to life. As he mounted on, he lifted his visor, gesturing Naomi to take the seat behind him. "Let's go to a place, I will drop you home afterward."
The details of his words were silenced by the roaring of the super machine, she didn't get what had he said, yet, Naomi decided to neglect all the norms and accepted his offer.
Making sure his passenger is safe and sound at his back, he advised, "Hold me tight, Naomi. We are going on a date." He said softly, a smile deepening his dimples formed from behind his full-face helmet. Twisting the throttle, he maneuvered smoothly and accelerate out of the school compound.
The hot day of the day is beginning to subside as the sun is going down. Naomi and Nelson take a seat on the bench by the riverbank overlook from the bustling of the metropolitan Capital City. "Promise me, from now on, never turn your back on me again." He muttered. Naomi paused, staring into the eyes of a boy who wanted to be with her persistently, Naomi lost, the stone-cold heart of her melted a little by little, starting to warm her from the inside. "Naomi..." The way he speaks her name awakens her soul. Urging her to feel human again. After the bad encounter with her uncle, she has no reason to be happy anymore. In her subconscious mind, man is a monster. Being strong, they only wanted to conquer the female and threaten the weakest. But... Why is there another one other than Samuel Jin in front of her, denying every thou
In the heart of the most luxurious neighborhoods of Capital City, the Hills of Moon Village is ironically stuck in a re-development that is still in progress after so many years due to the terrain. Thus, if there is the unurgent business to settle, the villager won't bother to go through the unwinding stairways alley just to get to the city as the basic essential supplies still can be acquired from the row of old shops which I barely remember, consist of a barbershop, little cafe, and a groceries mart Yet, Naomi is going through the same route daily to get to the school. I almost admired her strong will, looking back to check on Samuel, I had caught Samuel had been wiping away sweats many times. "Are you alright, Sam?" I deliberately ask just to check whether he regrets his decision to go with me this morning. "I'm good, watch your steps." In his breathy voice, he replied. "We are almost there," I said, showing him the significant gate at the
"What?" Once again we are exclaiming the same question to the fact. There is really a bundle of newfound information that surprises us. Gently, Mrs. Jang pours the tea into our glass cups, her hands are steady in her age. Drawing back to her seat, her bitter smile reflected as the poignant memory resurface. "Indeed, he is my half-brother. I don't pledge for Naomi, she has the reasons why she is ashamed to declare his own uncle." She demurred. "Growing up, he had always cast problems. Drugs, gambling, and debts from the loan shark, always gave my mother heartache and disappointment. My mother died soon later, having no one else to depends but for me, my family is living in hell soon afterward. " Tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall at any time. "Aunty... it's alright. The bad memories are best left behind." Samuel puts his hands on hers, retaining her from being sad all over again
Good weather is a good day, I tell myself. Wiping away the droplets of sweat from my forehead, I push the left-ajar gate wide. "Naomi?" I called to her as I shut the gate properly behind me. Am I too early? I wondered; it seemed like even Mrs. Jang was not around either. I proceeded to the front door, and knocked, "Naomi?" The unlocked door sound startled me; Naomi was at the door. "Come in, my mom has gone to the market." She said as she held the door, letting me into her house. Naomi, how are you? I'm glad to see you again. " "I'm good." She replied in her cold undertones. Bolting the door behind me, she takes my hand, leading me into her bedroom, where we always spend time after school during the first year of middle school. Naomi's unusual behavior had me pondering the reason she called me in, yet I decided to hear her out. I take a look around. Her bedroom hadn't changed much, everything is in place and neat as usual. Books were sprawled on her study desk, indicating that
"Cheers to our Nelson first girl!!" They yelled joyously over the non-alcoholic cocktails. Glasses clinking. Naomi's cheeks were almost burned by the surprise arranged by Nelson at the private yacht club lounge belonging to his family.
It is past 10:30 pm after our late night revision class, I definitely disapprove of doing study at this hour. But this is the only way I can avoid getting home earlier, mom wouldn't be allowing me to go to Samuel's house for the sake of studying, and definitely, a boy coming to my house to study with me is a no-no. And so here am I, sitting on Samuel's passenger side, trying to stay awake on the 25 minutes drive home. "You keep dozing off, Lana. Tired?" Asked Samuel while his gaze concentrates on the road. "Hmm..."I mumbled, lazily turned to him, "Yeah, Hansel have an episode again last night." "Just close your eyes then, I will wake you up later," Samuel suggested. "Sure," I replied in brief. Silly, my eyelids are heavy, I would be glad to be granted 10 minutes of eyes close. I just don't want to be rude, having Samuel drive me home while I was asleep. Giving up on trying to stay awake, I le
Drip, drip, drip... The white voice of rain awakens me. Gradually, I regained consciousness. Looking around to the familiar place, I realize I was back in my classroom, alone. I had fallen asleep. The classroom is empty, and the clock above the whiteboard shows that it is 5:50 pm. A realization hits me like thunder, could it be... I pulled away from my desk, heartbeat racing, wildly looking around me. Am I having another nightmare again? "Student?" A voice startled me, practically had me get a heart attack. I gasped in horror as the person I feared the most appeared at the front door. "Student, are you alright? Why are you staying alone in the classroom?" The perfectly fine Mr. Bong asked. No, there is something wrong with the setting. Am I returning to thi
It's late in the middle of the day, the sun is warm, a soft breeze gently ruffled her middle-length wavy hair. Naomi had just finished her Sunday part-time job, noticing the front gate isn't locked, she pondered whether her mother had forgotten to lock the door again. "Ma?" Her voice echoed into the empty house. Her mom isn't around, she sighed to no avail, her mother had gone out for the day, the dining table had been prepared with the meal, waiting to be re-heat. She looks over her surrounding, her sixth sense gesturing she isn't alone. A terror strikes as she found the door to her room was ajar. She never left her bedroom left unlocked! Her steps stuttered, unable to think for a moment. She purposely left the main door open wide, grabbing the handle of a broom which coincidentally was the most suitable weapon she found closer to her, she carefully entered her room. "