Chapter 2

CIANA

Today is supposed to be my first day at school. It ends up I’m in a hospital when I woke up. I wasn’t dreaming. I have a fresh wound, and the trauma is still inhabiting my body and soul.

“Hey! Are you listening?” I am dragged back to reality and turn my head to look at Jethro. I roll my eyes on him.

“This is not that serious. I can go to school tomorrow. I am perfectly fine,” I spoke, and show my perfect set of teeth. “Why did you skip your first day?” I ask while trying to touch the bandage surrounding my wound. 

He has his backpack with him but it seems like he went to the wrong place.

“Who cares. You are more valuable than my first day there.”

He gives me a genuine smile and lean on my bed to get closer to me. I use my two fingers to push his forehead. He laughs a little. He is a happy guy and is the only person left to care for me. 

“Shut up. That’s enough I might puke,” I said and acts as if I wanna puke for real.

He gives me a sad face and pouts like a baby. I laugh on his face and throw him one of my pillows.

Jethro sent me home in his car. I could tell that cops are still on my place by just the lights reflected on Jethro’s car from the outside.

“Can’t you stay at my house? It’s safer.” I immediately open the car door before he could think about kidnapping me. I slam the door close and walk away, trying to create a distance.

“I can handle myself.”

“If you change your mind. Call me.”

I give a glance at his red car and wave my hand.

My place’s security has fast upgrades, I could see CCTV cameras installed, and our doors equips triple locks now. I am also answering an interview, but I never speak about the text that I have received. I didn’t check on it again since the last time I hid it. 

The smell of my room is the same. Nothing is touched. There are no more traces of blood left on the floor. Everything seems back on its peaceful atmosphere. I drop my body on the bed and stare at the ceiling for a while.

My wound is not deep, but it hurts a little. The things that happened to me are still replaying on my head. This wound will keep on reminding me.

Could it be that the thief who took something here is the one who sent me that message?

I stand up and open the drawer, where I leave the phone. No new message is received. I could still open it as simple as the last time. I take my other phone and try calling the number, but it isn’t available. I also try sending a message, but it only fails all the time. 

The phone can receive messages but can’t send one. There is no available storage card, and everything in it is blank. There are no photos and everything. It is a useless phone in general.

My alarm woke me up the next morning. My excitement to go to school has expired. It’s not the first day anymore, and it’s disappointing. The alarm was off, and I do my daily routine. Everything is ready. I am ready. I take my bag from the bed, and noticed the phone again. The screen is on. I don’t want to read any of the messages there, so I turned my back walking to the door. 

I close it and sigh. But then I open it again and take the phone to read what's the message. Curiosity is killing me.

August 16

02

I took this day average, but I realized now that it isn’t. I had a classmate named Airo Sebastian. I wish I talked to him right away the time I saw him in the library. It was this day. I could still remember. I wish I could turn back the clock and make some more memories with him.

I lock the door and take the phone with me. If I have a classmate named Airo Sebastian, I will believe that these texts are kind of useful. Whoever might the person be sending it? 

I stick the earphones on my ears again and play some random music. The sun touching my skin is reminding me that I am one of it’s kind. My adoptive mom is always telling me that I am the sun, bright and warm. She said I should shine bright and should find my moon. I ask her how will I know if he is the one.

“He is your moon when he lets you shine the way you let him too,” I remember myself in the front of the mirror while she is combing my hair.

“The sun and moon are too different. They can’t meet.” 

“ It is as amazing as nature that even the day and night are originally different, they can still meet at a certain point in time. Also, you can imagine an estuary where the salt and freshwater merge into one,” This is how I memorize her words, just as how I remember it.

I stand straight and smile at every person I pass. These strangers are sending me little clues about their attitude. This place is new, but I could identify some approachable and friendly people.

Finally, I reach the school grounds. I wonder what environment is waiting for me here, inside those four walls. I continue walking and go to my first subject room. I pull my earphones from my ears and approach a classmate.

“Hi. I’m Ciana.” She looks at me, so I show her my friendly face, but I think it didn’t work. Her lips curve a little to smile back. My hair bounces a bit when I sit beside her, placing my bag on my lap. Then, I offer her a handshake.

“Hi, uhh--Sarah,” she replies and takes my hand. She is not that friendly, I think, or maybe I am inviting weird impressions by approaching her all friendly in all sudden.

“So--”

“He’s here!” I am intrigued and surprised when she suddenly acts excited for someone’s presence, I guess.

“Who?” I query while following her gaze.

Right in front of the door, an intimidating presence lured me to focus. An attractive guy with his cold aura is making his entrance, and all eyes nails on him.

“Who is he?” I query once more.

“Airo Sebastian.”