Chapter 4: Crossed Paths

Ela was stunned, not knowing how she would react. Her eyes went blank, but it didn't last long. Her lips curled slightly, and tried to stop herself from laughing. She swear, she did! But that was just so funny for her. Of all the jokes she heard from Mijo, that would be the most hilarious one! Or maybe that was the only funny thing she heard from him ever since he spoke after they first met.

Calming herself from laughing so hard, she tried to crack a joke. "Seriously, what are you? A dog with a twist?" Unfortunately, none of them got a sense of humor, as she thought, that not even one person in the living room bothered to move a muscle and let out a laugh. Rolling her eyes, she sat again with her legs crossed. "Fine, drop your fiction."

That seemed to caught the other's interest. All eyes were on Mijo, but he remained his unusual expressionless face, staring at the carpet. "I have nothing to tell. I just found myself unable to smell foods, and everything. I could only smell words. It stinks when a person lies," he hastily said which made disappointment to drew on Flute's face. He's likely to expect Mijo to say more. He seemed to share the same disappointment with Ela.

"Ain't sensible at all," Ela commented. She stood up and was about to leave when Black stopped her.

"Where's your necklace?"

She touched her neck and failed to feel her necklace. Turning her head to Black, she raised her left brow. "I lost it, why do you care?"

Instead of responding, he looked straight on her eyes. "You have a mosquito bite on your neck's left side."

She gulped and covered it with her right hand quickly.

"You had your hands manicured. You seem to have sleepless nights because of your dark circles, you have a small cut on your wrist," he continued.

Ela's eyes narrowed as she stared at Black. She tried to guess what's the point of him saying those. It could be that he has a photographic memory. But that's quite usual nowadays, she thought, remembering a tutorial on how to acquire the skill she had seen back then while browsing on Twitter. She also thought that it could be some sort of advanced eyesight, seeing small details easily. On the other hand, judging by Era and Mijo's imagined abilities, it should be like having predictions. "Right, he will tell me that the first time he saw me here, he already saw what will I be today. That would be a laugh, if ever,"  she concluded, brushing away the thought that it doesn't fit at all. To confirm her thoughts, she raised her left brow and asked, "So what?"

"You don't have those when we first met a week ago."

"And then?"

"Aish! I have a photographic memory! Why don't you just believe that we're telling the truth?" He face-palmed and frowned.

She winced. "I don't believe any of you and dear, anyone can have that photographic crap."  Looking so done with all the craps she heard today, she shouted out of frustration. "Gosh!" She took a deep breath to calm herself.  "I don't know what's happening to you guys, but I think all of you should consult a psychiatrist."

"Crazy people, and their imagination!" she shouted when she reached the door and slammed it hard. She stayed outside, leaning on the door. Her heart is breathing so fast. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fist. Worry and fear flashed on her face. "It can't be," she whispered under her breath.

SUMMER is over which indicates the opening of classes.  Students filled the university. June and July seemed to be enjoyed by everyone with their joyful faces beaming at each other. Couples walking with their intertwined hands and group of friends talking about how amazing their vacation became. Ela, on the other hand, wore a smug look on her face. Walking beside her is her boyfriend who can't help smiling seeing how cute she is for him with that face. Ela haven't forgotten about what happened two weeks ago, and the fact that it affected her relationship with her twin makes it more frustrating! They live in the same house, but it seems like they don't. Well, it's kind of her fault that she called Era names because the latter still claims that she got some supernatural powers. They end up ignoring each other's existence for the rest of the summer. She had thought of apologizing, but she also insists that Era should drop her claims for her to say sorry.

"Aw!" she shrieked when Win pinched her left cheek. She slapped his hand and glared at him while massaging her cheek.

"It's too early to frown," Win said, shaking his head lightly with a small smile.

It made Ela frown more. "It's Era! This is the first time that we didn't go to school with her on our first day!"

Win put his arm around her shoulder. "With your situation, I think that's normal."

Ela thought he has a point and didn't dare to argue more. She put her arm around his waist and together, they head straight to Architecture Building.

First day of classes usually have the students introducing themselves to each other. Some professors prefer to just check the master list and do a roll call, while some seemed to be on a rush that they already discussed an introduction to their chosen courses and upcoming lesson. Almost half of the day almost went well for Ela, still not feeling the pressure of finally being a college student. She has an hour of vacant time, and as hungry as she is, not taking a breakfast because of her frustration, she went to the cafeteria with Win. Along the way, she has been ranting about how irritating Ms. Wehima, their professor in their major subject is.    

"You know what, if only it isn't a major subject, I'll surely drop it!" she whined.

Good thing is that Win got used to her attitude. If it's another person, for sure she will gain a bad impression. To her luck, Win shares the same vibe with her. He laughed hearing her complaints. "But yeah, her eyebrows were telling me that she's kinda strict," he agreed.

It made Ela's eyebrows to stop from meeting. She laughed and said, "So true, it makes me think how did she became an Architecture teacher when she draws her eyebrow like a single line."

Their building is a bit far from the cafeteria. It was a long walk, that will surely be boring and tiring when you're alone. They were able to talk about various things, or insult people who becomes their topic rather. Ela nearly forgot her frustration about her sister. If only they didn't reach the cafeteria entrance. Ela suddenly stopped when she caught sight of her sister with a guy on headphones. Her eyes narrowed at his familiar built.

"Fluan?" she muttered under her breath, not sure if she's seeing it right. A part of her says she's right after she knew that he'a Fil-Am whose family decided to migrate in Philippines last year.

Win followed what she's staring at. "Oh," he reacted when he saw Era, not minding the guy she's been with. He grabbed Ela's arms and approached Era. "Hi, Era! You didn't come with us this morning," he greeted while he sat beside Flute and Ela beside her twin.

"I had to join some people," Era explained and shot a sideway glance at her sister who stared at Flute.

There was an awkward silence until Win stood up and insisted to buy foods for them.

"Someone already ordered for us," Era said and smiled. Win just nodded and left them, heading to the counter.

Ela cleared her throat. She was still suprised to see Flute with her sister. For sure, he studies in their university now and she has no complaints with that. It's out of her concerns, anyway, and they're living in the same village now. "So you're here to study," she said while still staring at Flute, who now put the headphone on his nape and stared back. She heard her sister whispered, "Obviously," exactly the moment Black approached them, carrying two trays of food over both of his hands. He instantly flashed a smile when Ela looked at him. The latter just raised her left eyebrow and threw him a suspicious look while he put the trays down on the table and took the seat infront of Ela.

"That's my boyfriend's seat," Ela muttered before he can even sit. He silently moved to the seat on Flute's right side. Ela sat properly and crossed her legs. "You're planning something," she said. She was sure of it when Black appeared. He was supposed to go back to Korea a week before classes started here. Ela thought they're gonna deny it, but Black just smiled at her.

"What is it that we're planning?" Black asked cheerfully, not minding how serious Ela is.

"I'm certain it's about those abilities you keep on insisting to have."

With her words, Black and Flute looked at each other and flashed a victorious smile as if they just confirmed something.

"What made you think it's about that? I thought you don't believe that bullshit story 'we just made up'?" Black asked, grinning as he emphasized the last four words.

Ela was taken aback. She was about to say something when Win finally came back. Silence covered them again as they started eating.

Flute unconsciously touched his left ear. His forehead creased as he focused staring at his friends' left chest one by one. When he reached Win, his stare gone longer which the latter noticed. Win cleared his throat that made him snap back to reality. Win gave him an awkward smile and asked, "Anything wrong, bro?"

It caught the rest's attention. Flute closed his eyes and blinked many times. "Nothing," he plainly said and turned to his food while still shooting sideway glances at Win.

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