"Mhm, this is a nice start," I smiled to myself, nodding in satisfaction as I scribbled in my binder before slowly turning to my side.
"But... Why the hell are you here again?"
There she was again- the same girl who'd already made my place her own. Completely unbothered, she smiled back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Didn't I already tell you that I could just manipulate things as I want?" Her tone was cheerier than usual as she pretended to take out her notebook. But for what reason-
"You there! Mr. Abe, what could you possibly be talking about that's more interesting than my class?" The professor shouted, making the whole class look at my direction from the backmost of the class.
"M-my apologies professor, I was just... Talking to myself." What a lame excuse, there was no way that was going to work.
"Out." The professor added, leaving no room for argument.
I simply nodded, gathering my things before leaving.
Outside of class, I found myself wandering around the campus, waiting for the next period.
"Agh... Damn it, great. First day of class and I already screwed up. Great! Just great." Facepalming, I sighed in exasperation.
"This is actually way worse than how I wanted things to go." I muttered, dragging my feet toward the benches outside the campus main building.
"... still forty minutes until next period," I mumbled, checking my phone before pulling out a textbook. "I should read while I'm at it."
So I did, and before I knew it, more than thirty minutes had already passed. While I sat on the bench, the voices of two guys trying to ask out some girl reached my ears.
Frankly though, I really couldn't care less. Better not to get involved- so I just kept reading.
"Do you have someone with you? When's your next period? Maybe we can hang out for the time being." And this and that. Typical lines boys say when trying to pick up girls.
Though, as I read my book, I couldn't help but steal a few glances at their direction. That was, until I saw the familiar shade of white hair that had made my goal of wanting a normal, peaceful life go up in flames from my peripheral.
"What the hell is she..." I mumbled to myself, disbelief and confusion warred in my mind as I scowled at her.
But just as I did, despite being basically forced into a corner by those two guys, she still managed to look my way and just straight up brushed past the two of them, waving her hand at me like we knew each other well.
I froze, my jaw gaping as she walked towards me, especially with that innocent look in her face, I was sure she'd drag me into something again.
"Heya, Ruzen, so that's where you were." She said casually, walking up to where I sat.
I just pretended to keep reading, while maintaining a neutral look in my face that she seemed to easily see through.
"Pretending, are we?" Her voice lowered, almost a whisper. And then, like the weird one she was, she sat beside me without asking, like she'd always belonged there, as if she was trying to paint us both as two people who knew each other for a long time.
She smiled. Not at me, but at those two guys who tried to pick her up from earlier, almost like her making it clear that she was with someone.
Thankfully enough, the guys did leave, but now I had to deal with her once again.
I shut my book with a thud, turning to her with a mix of irritation and disbelief.
"And why are YOU here?! There's still 10 minutes till second period." I kept my calm, but annoyance got the best of me.
"The professor ended class early, that's why." She replied, still with that same soft and gentle smile. Her calm smile carried an air of understanding that made me feel like an idiot for yelling.
I sighed, letting go of my previous frustration at her constant presence around me that brought more trouble than peace.
"...tsk, alright, but what brings you here anyways? Were you looking for me?" I continued, putting the book away as I stood up.
"Well, yes. I don't really know anyone else here other than you after all."
A pause.
That actually made me feel guilty for how I treated her now. She wasn't human, and she was completely clueless as to how things worked here. Which probably only made things much worse for her.
For once, that actually made me reconsider how I should carry on with her around. That I should be more mindful with how I act around her.
And that crestfallen look of hers tugged at my heartstrings more than they should've, making her look like a small white furball. Hard to believe she could raze down a planet if she wanted to.
Conflicted, I sighed, extending my hand to her, waiting for her to take it as I looked at her with renewed vision.
I didn't really know what her true intentions were, nor did I feel like she was doing this with an ulterior motive in mind. Maybe- just maybe, both of us could figure things out as we continued.
Raising her head slowly, her gaze landed on my hand, stretched for her to take before raising her gaze to meet mine. For some reason, her eyes were glistening, like someone on the verge of tears.
I didn't understand why. Why did she look like she was being saved from something? What did she really want in the first place?
But perhaps that's another question for the future.
Slowly, she placed her hand on mine as she slowly stood up, gently tilting her head as she smiled at me. Not a smile that didn't reach her eyes, nor a wry one, this time, more genuine.
"Thank you..." Her voice was uncharacteristically soft. Not in the same manner she talked to me, but this time, she seemed.... Vulnerable... I wonder why...
I normally wasn't the type to connect with others, not when all that mattered to be back then was to satisfy other people's expectations.
I knew this wasn't like me at all-and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afr
aid of what this might change.
But.... for some reason, I didn't mind not knowing.