Chapter 76
I glanced at my phone, and a jolt of panic shot through me like a spark of electricity. 8:50 PM. the thought of being caught out of my room after curfew sent a shiver down my spine. "I need to go," I said abruptly, my voice barely above a whisper, as I turned to make a hasty exit.
Hyun Min's eyes crinkled at the corners as he stood up, his voice low and smooth. "I'll walk you to your room."
I shook my head, a sense of desperation creeping into my voice. "No, no need. I don't want people to...talk." The words hung in the air like a whispered secret, and Hyun Min's gaze seemed to understand the unspoken meaning behind them. He nodded and sat back down, his eyes watching me with a quiet intensity.
Without another word, I turned and fled, my feet pounding the stairs in a frantic rhythm. The elevators were locked down for the night, their doors sealed shut like impassable barriers, and I had no choice but to sprint down the stairs, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
The hallway was dimly lit, the shadows cast by the flickering fluorescent lights like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch me. I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat. A teacher was already herding the lingering students towards their rooms, their voices murmuring softly as they reluctantly obeyed. I didn't hesitate, using the opportunity to dash towards my room without drawing attention to myself.
Finally, I burst through the door, slamming it shut behind me with a soft thud. The sound seemed to echo through the room, a stark reminder that I was safe, hidden away from prying eyes. I leaned against the door, my chest heaving with exertion, and felt a wave of relief wash over me like a soothing balm. I was safe, at least for now.
*
*
*
The warm water enveloped me like a gentle caress, soothing the frayed edges of my nerves,this was the second time I was having a bath this evening. As I emerged, the cool air danced across my skin, leaving a trail of tranquility in its wake.
I wrapped myself in a plush towel, the soft fabric a comforting balm against my skin. Later, I indulged in some soothing snacks, the sweetness a gentle solace for my frazzled emotions.I took the painkillers kicked in, slowly lifting the weight that had settled in my chest.
As I lay in bed, my thoughts drifted back to Hyun Min, the memory of his words lingering in my mind like a whispered secret. A pang of sorrow echoed through me, a deep sense of empathy that seemed to resonate with every beat of my heart. The room was a haven of peace, the soft darkness cradling me in its gentle grasp. My eyelids grew heavy, and I felt myself drifting off to sleep, the world outside receding into a soft, indistinct hum. The last thing I remembered was the feeling of my body relaxing, letting go of the tension and stress of the day, before I succumbed to the gentle darkness.
------ ------
***Monday morning***
The monotone drone of the Further Maths teacher's voice echoed through the classroom, a relentless cadence that seemed to match the racing of my own mind. "And that will be all for today," he announced, his words a welcome reprieve from the mental gymnastics that had consumed us for the past hour.
As he packed up his books and materials, the class erupted into a cacophony of sound, students chattering and laughing as they gathered their belongings. But I sat frozen, my mind reeling from the complexities of Further Maths. The formulas and equations swirled together in a maddening dance, taunting me with their secrets.
"Oh my God, I feel like my brain is going to explode," I muttered to myself, the words lost in the din of the classroom. I struggled to wrap my head around the concepts, to grasp the elusive threads of logic that seemed to slip through my fingers like sand.
Further Maths was a beast of a subject, one that seemed to defy comprehension. It was as if the more I learned, the more I realized how little I truly understood. And yet, I was expected to master it, to wield its complex formulas and equations like a sword.
As I gathered my belongings, shoving my books and notes into my bag with a sense of relief.
I breathed deeply, feeling the tension ebb from my shoulders as I walked away from the Further Maths classroom, leaving its complexities and challenges behind.
**************
The Monday morning light filtered through the school's interior as I made my way to a popular study spot in the middle of the school. Rows of tables and chairs were scattered about, providing a quiet refuge for students seeking solace in their books. I claimed a spot, dropping my bags to the floor with a soft thud. My further maths,or should i say my advanced maths text book and note book,lay open before me, its pages filled with the cryptic language of formulas and equations that seemed to dance on the page.
As I pored over the notes, a girl plopped down in the chair beside me, her bright smile a stark contrast to my solemn mood. "Hi," she said, her voice like a ray of sunshine.
I looked up, my expression a mask of indifference. "Hi," I replied, my tone polite but uninviting. I wasn't in the mood for small talk, not when maths loomed over me like a specter.
"I'm Racy Lion," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
I felt a snort of amusement rising in my throat, and I struggled to suppress it. Racy Lion? The name was unusual, to say the least. The uniqueness of it caught me off guard. I almost laughed at the name, my lips twitching with mirth, but I managed to keep my composure, my face a picture of serene politeness.
My gaze locked onto hers, incredulity etched on my face. "Racy Lion?" I echoed, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a question. The name hung in the air, a peculiar amalgamation of sounds that refused to settle into familiarity. Who, indeed, would bestow such a name upon a child? The dissonance of it all struck a chord within me, and laughter bubbled up, irrepressible.
"Sorry, did you say your name is...?" I trailed off, feigning ignorance, my eyes never leaving hers. A hint of amusement danced in her gaze, a spark of knowing that she had anticipated this reaction.
"Fine, everybody says my name is absurd," she said, her voice laced with a quiet confidence, "but I'm proud of it. I'm racy Lion." The words were a declaration, a statement of ownership and defiance.
The laughter burst forth, uncontainable, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Racy Lion!" I gasped, my words dissolving into chuckles.
I chuckled once more, the sound dying on my lips as my expression turned serious. "I'm sorry, Racy Lion, your name is one in a million," I said, a fleeting smile still playing on my lips. But my tone shifted, becoming more somber. "So, what do you want?" I asked, my voice a stark contrast to the amusement that had preceded it.
Racy Lion's smile faltered, her eyes clouding over for a moment before she replied, "Well, I just resumed today, and I don't know anybody. I thought the first person I laid eyes on would be my friend." Her words were laced with a vulnerability that caught me off guard.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her candor. "So, I happened to be the first person you laid eyes on," I said dryly, the words slipping out before I could temper them.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and she nodded, her smile returning. "Exactly."
I shook my head, a hint of wariness creeping into my voice. "Sorry, I'm not interested in having any friends," I said, the words tumbling out in a rush.
Racy Lion's curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "Why?" Her eyes locked onto mine, searching for answers I wasn't willing to give.
I hesitated, the memories of my past friendship flooding back. "Because the last friend I had did something drastic to me," I said finally, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Racy Lion's laughter caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her reaction. "I am not like that friend!" she said, still chuckling, her eyes glinting with mirth.
I looked at her skeptically, my doubts plain on my face. "I never said you were like her. Probably you could do worse than her.. RACY LION!.." I said, emphasizing her name. "Racy Lion." My laughter resumed, the name was damn funny.
As she sat there, looking at me, I shoved my textbook and notes into my bag, the movement abrupt. "Excuse me, Racy Lion," I said, shouldering my bag, the weight of it a tangible reminder of my need to escape.
I walked away, my feet carrying me towards the library, the promise of a good novel beckoning like a refuge. I needed to lose myself in the pages of a book, to distract myself from the complexities of human interactions and the unexpected presence of Racy Lion.