Chapter 2

ANVI

My footsteps echoed through the silent hallway as I made my way towards my classroom. It's already nine in the morning and I'm obviously late for the current subject and too early for the next one. For sure, I'll be scolded again. Nevertheless, I took my time and enjoyed the warm rays of sunlight hitting my skin.

I stopped midway when I saw familiar figures walking to my direction. Oh, right. A perfect way to ruin my day. The distance between us is enough for us to see each other's faces. Don't tell me...they're skipping classes?

Kryzel stopped as she eyed me from head to toe. I mentally rolled my eyes at her gesture. This girl is really getting into my nerves. My brows arched as we made an eye contact.

"Oh my gosh! Babe! Do you see what I see?" She snaked her arms to Jof's which made me get more irritated. She's too irksome just like their endearment! Really! 

Jof chuckled at her statement. That moment, it's as if the time slowed down while I stared at him. It's like a lullaby that can simply send me to sleep. That laugh. His laugh can make me happy in just a snap so tell me, how can I let him go? I can feel two different things at the same time with one person. I love him and hate him. I want to let him go and move one but I also want to work things out between us and stay.

"What is it, Babe? What do you see?" he answered.

"A panda wearing a school uniform!" She acted as if she's really shocked and looked at me.

Even if I want to ignore her, I just can't. The curve on my lips formed into a smirk as I tilted my head. "Oh really? Please don't describe yourself, dear. Don't let your boyfriend witness how dumb you are."

I was about to walk pass through them when Kryzel responded. "Dumb? I think between us, you're the dumb one, Anvi. Still can't move on, eh? How pitiful."

She laughed and that's when they left me on the hallway, dumbfounded. My heart stopped beating as a tear ran down from my left eye. That line alone can make me break down for a second. Moments later, that's when I noticed that I'm already crying at the hallway. I'm trying to move on! What's does Kryzel have that I don't? Because she's pretty? Rich? Influential? Where did I go wrong?

I shouldn't have answered back! I should have took another way just to avoid being the weak one! I should let them do what they want since we're...already over.

"Why are you crying?" A pair of shoes showed up in front of me.I looked up and saw the face of someone I least want to see.

"Go away." I immediately wiped my tears and avoided his gaze before walking.

"Why are you crying?" he asked again, still following me.

This guy is another reason for making my mood bad. Is there something worse?

"What do you care? Go away!"

"Hey." He grabbed my arms gently, causing me to look at him. "I actually know why."

I glared at him. "Are you mocking me?"

His audacity! I shouldn't have entertained this douche. What a wrong move.

"No, but I remember someone who stalked his ex-boyfriend, watched a horror movie even though she's a scaredy-cat, and hugged someone unknowingly. Do you know who I am talking about?" His flashes his grin that made me wanna punch him on the face!

"Shut up!" My steps became bigger but he easily cope up with my pace.

"Chill. I'm just asking." He chuckled with a low voice. Goodness! Can't I go to my class and have peace? I want to get out of this situation. 

"Dernate, go away." I don't want to be with him. Not now. Not in this state. Not now that I'm broken. I stared at him tiredly.

"Why?" he replied back.

I sighed before walking away but he shouted before I vanished from his sight.

"I won't! Remember that!" he shouted while looking at me.

Good thing Dernate didn't follow me. I entered the room and that made them stop from what they're doing and looked at me as if I did something absurd. What? I just skipped two subjects but it doesn't matter because I'm already here, right?

The sharp glare that our professor was giving should have scared the hell out of me but now, I just can't think of anything but the event that happened earlier. I just stood at the doorway, not saying anything.

"Oh, Miss Anvi. It's a great news that you still planned to attend my class. I thought you will skip again and mourn for the relationship you once had." The whole class laughed at her remark.

Here we go again. Jof is a popular student since he's the main pitcher of the baseball team of this university. Since we broke up, people in school made me a laughing stock. Everytime I pass at some students, they'll whisper to each other—well in fact, I can hear them clearly—and laugh like what they talked about was a funny stuff.

I'm used to it and I understand. We just lasted for six months and that alone is laughable. I understand that they belittle me because I just became one of his exes. I understand because I just showed how easy to get I am. And I understand that they find me funny as I just proved to them how dumb I am. Maybe Kryzel was right. I am really dumb. That's why he left me because I am dumb! I am!

"And because of that, give me at least one theory why a multiverse is possible."

"Uhm...Theory of infinite universes stating that the shape of space-time is unknown but the p-popular theory is that, it is flat and goes on forever. This would present the possibility of many universes being out there. It may be possible that this universe isn't the only universe that exists. But with that topic in mind, it's possible that universes can start repeating themselves." I went to a vacant seat near the window. 

They fell silent for a moment but then, they continued the class afterwards. I didn't listen to the discussion since I won't remember it anyways so I just stared outside and think of something random. The bright sun dominated the whole sky and the places below it. The green and well-trimmed grass covered the whole field. Some students are walking to and fro at the pathway while some are already practicing for the incoming sports fest.

I squinted my eyes when I saw someone familiar turned his gaze to my direction. Dernate smiled and waved his hand. I don't know if he's waving at me or what but I found it irritating. He's holding a badminton racket that's why I recalled that he's one of the badminton player of this school. 

The class dismissed and so, I went to the cafeteria to have some lunch. I roamed my eyes around, checking of there's still a vacant table where I can eat my lunch alone as I don't have someone to accompany me. There's only a vacant table remaining so I went towards it but someone pushed me away that made me lose my posture. Fortunately, I didn't flop to the floor.

I looked at the person who did it and my expression darken. It's Kryzel with Jof again. Can they even be separated? Before they could utter another nonsense speech, I diverted my gaze from them. I don't know where to sit since that sit was the last vacant one.

A hand rose among the cafeteria full of students and when I checked it, it was Dernate's.

"Anvi!" he called. Some students even turned their heads including the two douches at my side and as much as I wanted to refuse, I have no choice but to go to his table. I sat silently.

"What do you want to order?"

"I'm not eating," I lied.

"Got it. I'll just order your usuals."

My brows furrowed. Why is he doing this? I sighed and got some money from my wallet. I'm about to hand it to him but he's already out of sight. My eyes shifted to where Jof and Kryzel sat. They are laughing and sometimes whisper to each other. They seemed too happy. I never seen him that happy when I was with him. I just think that maybe I was the chain that prevented him for being happy. Maybe I was the poison that intoxicated his life. Maybe that was the reason.

I saw a tray with a glass of orange juice and a pancake being put on the table and Dernate sat across me. Right, just the usuals. I disregarded him and continued to look at them. I even saw Kryzel winked mockingly at me. I sighed.

"What?" I asked when I noticed Dernate staring at me.

He's being weird! What's with him?

"I just wonder if you were also like this when our rainbow met its end," he replied with a slight smile on his face.

"What are you talking about?" 

He didn't answer instead, he bit from the sandwich that he bought. I know what he meant. It's just that, I'm the one who don't want to open it up again. Not now. It's too out of place in this situation and I don't want to make the atmosphere more awkward like it is right now.

"Sometimes, being hurt is a good thing," he uttered randomly and it made me scoff.

"What a masochist. Who would want to be hurt?" I replied and sipped from the glass of orange juice. It's nice knowing that I'm getting comfortable with this conversation.

"No one but being hurt will make us feel...alive." Another smile formed from his lips.

"How could you say so?" I eyed him.

"Because I tried it myself."

He looked into my eyes and I just can't utter any word. Why is it that no matter how I divert the topic, we always end up talking about 'it'.

"I need to go. Thanks for the lunch. I'll just pay you some other time." I stood up from my seat and returned to my classroom to wait for my next subject. That talk drained some of my energy. I was just too fed up and talking to him will make it worse.

The rest of the day went good until the dismissal. I opened the gate and noticed that it wasn't locked. When I entered the house, no pitchy-voiced Zilla showed up. Where is she?

I switched the lights on and roamed my eyes—

"Goodness!" I was surprised with what I saw. 

"Zilla! What in the world is this?!" I immediately picked up the black lingerie on the floor. I glared at her and the guy beside her. Guess what? They're both topless! Good thing Zilla still wore a brassiere. It's not right to bring her flings or even boyfriends and make out here!

"I'll explain! Just—"

"Of course you should!" I cut off. "Wait after I'll change my clothes! You should change, also, including that who-knows-who guy beside you and after that, you have to explain and tell me your reason."

I dashed to my room and got ready. She better prepare a good excuse.