Before After

CHAPTER II

Chapter II

The Knight and the Damsel

RANDOM people were everywhere in the streets, walking fast as if their lives depended on it. Some were multi-tasking, drinking coffee or reading newspaper as they move their ways, while some were trying to fit themselves in already overly-capacitated public utility vehicles. Every day was a battle. With all the things people were doing, it was as if a daily chase of time that no one wasted some seconds to appreciate the way he was still breathing nor the radiance and heat the sun was providing.

    He saw the traffic light as it boasted its flickering colors. His heart hammered on his chest, the unfamiliar rhythm of nervousness beating on it. When he reached the position, he glanced at the watch wrapped on his left arm. He sure was early today. He has enough time to wait. He could be at school just before the bells rings.

    He clasped his hands together, paying more attention to his surroundings.

    He used to believe that time couldn’t be caught. It shouldn’t be chased. He had always believed that people should always move ahead of time. Because time moves on her own accord. She doesn’t care if she passes by too fast or too slow. But today, he felt different. He felt like there was a need to run—to hurry up and get to the place he needed to be in. He felt like he wanted time to get fast and slow all at the same time.

    He watched the streetlight and counted the seconds winding down. He saw how the yellow light flickered, signifying that drivers should make their vehicles ready to go. He glanced at his wrist watch again. 10 minutes before 8:00 in the morning. He stepped forward, readying himself.

    When he lifted his head back on to the road, his eyes caught a glimpse of a girl who was in a hurry to cross the street. The light changed from yellow to green, and the girl took a step at the very same time vehicles sped away. Instinctively, he reached for her. If it wasn’t for his fast long and strong arms that pulled her away just right in time, she could be dead that very moment!

    He embraced her protectively, burying her face onto his chest. He could hear the loud beating of her heart. Or was it his heart that was beating fast because of nervousness and fear? If he missed a single beat of time, he was sure this girl would’ve been crushed by the fast approaching cars. He could feel the tremble of her body against his and the tight clutch of her hands on his arms as if her life depended on it.

    “Are you okay?” He asked in a whisper, his arms still wrapped on the lady’s smaller frame. Instinctively, his hands moved to cup her face to scan if she was whole and alive. His heart was still pounding wildly inside his chest. He sure couldn’t bear to see a limping body falling on the ground.

    Slowly, the lady raised her head, her eyes meeting his. Her black orbs were reflection of the fear and confusion she was still feeling, but nonetheless, they were beautiful and sparkling. It took some seconds for the girl to regain her composure. She gently pulled herself from his hug, straightening the school uniform she was wearing.

    “T-Thanks,” she said in a mumbling pitch, her voice shaking as well.

    Finally, he sighed with relief. “Thank God you’re okay,” he whispered softly as he continued to examine her. He stared at her beautiful and innocent face that was blotched with fear. “You’re pallid,” he said as he had noted how her natural color seemed to have left her face.

    “Here.” He handed her a bottle of water which he effortlessly pulled from his bag. “To calm your nerves.”

    She reached for the bottle and took big gulps of water. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

    He continued staring at her. She looked really pale and scared. Her uniform was a mess. Her breathing was thick and heavy.           She looked so fragile. Lost.

    “Ahm…” The girl looked down and fidgeted with her fingers when she had noticed how heavy he was observing her.

    “Ahm… ahhh…” After some seconds, the girl opened her mouth, trying to mouth a decent word but nothing was coming out of her mouth. Before he realized it, the side of his mouth raised. It was amusing to look at this coy lady in front of him.

    “Were you saying something?” he asked, trying to help the girl mouth her concern. The girl cleared her throat and managed to smile at him awkwardly.

    “Uh, thank you,” the girl managed to say, apparently not the word she wanted to say. Because of that, he couldn’t help but to let out a boyish grin.

    She bit her lower lip, staring at him awkwardly. “I mean, thank you is not enough. What can I do to repay your kindness, mister?”

    He glanced at the street light when the red light flickered again. Then, he looked down to see his wrist watch.

    “You would repay me?” he asked, still amused. The girl nodded without hesitation.

     “Yes, anything.”

    An amused grin curved his lips. “Anything, huh?” And again, he raised his eye to glance at the red light. He gazed back down at the girl’s face and he saw the anticipation on her face.

    “I’ll ask for my p*****t when I see you again. Be careful next time, okay?” And with that, he walked effortlessly, leaving the girl puzzled and surprised with his actions. He knew very well that they would see each other again.

 --

HE was lazily tapping his table with his pen, his other hand supporting his chin. He eyed the wall clock at the center of their classroom, and found out that there was still five minutes to wait until the bell finally rings. There were few of his classmates who were already occupying seats, early just like him. And as seconds passed, students continued to fill up the empty seats.

    There were five rows of chair found in that spacious room. And he settled himself at the fourth row, on the seat near the window. From that place, he could vividly see the whole classroom, his classmates and what they were doing. Aside from that, he also had a perfect view of the outside.

    It was a typical first day of class. Now a senior student at Crawfordsville High, he had long been accustomed and familiar with the every corner of that institution—from the buildings, to the quadrangle, to the teachers, and the students. He had known everyone because they had been classmates since first year, and everyone knew him really well, too. Everything was normal, and yet, unlike the previous years, he was feeling a little bit enthusiastic this year.

    After exactly five minutes of idling, he straightened himself at his seat when the bell finally rang. The students settled themselves on their seat, putting a pause from the catching up sessions they were making with the others. In a matter of seconds, the door revealed a petite lady who seemed to be about her mid-twenties. She looked really young and vibrant, but those eyeglasses were telling them that she was honed with knowledge and wisdom amid young age. She was carrying with her some folders and a class record, and a smile was plastered on her lips like she was really excited to start the class properly.

    All the students of that section stayed quiet but intrigued at the same time. They were curious about the new teacher that was now in front of them.

    “Good morning class. I am Fate Birner, your class adviser for this whole school year. And I will also be your Science teacher,” she introduced herself with a warm smile which calmed and caught everyone’s attention. Miss Birner was no like the other teachers who intimidate students on the first day of classes. She seemed friendly and fresh; young just like them.

    “Well, I know you already know each other,” she continued, eyeing the whole class. “But because I am a new faculty member and this is my first time to meet all of you, I think it would be right to start with some introductions. Tell me your name and something interesting about yourself. Will that be okay?”

    The class answered yes in chorus.

    “Great!” Miss Birner clasped her hands in excitement. “But before we start with you guys, I’d like you all to meet someone new here as well,” she paused, looking at the door. Then, she motioned for someone to come in. In a matter of seconds, another lady emerged from the door, this time, wearing the very same uniform the girls of Crawfordsville High wears.

    “She,” Miss Birner said, putting a hand at the shoulder of the new girl in front. “…will start the introduction. Then, you guys feed the two of us with information about yourselves so we, newbies, will be more familiar with you.”

      The new student heaved a deep breath. She managed to smile, trying to make herself look friendlier though she was obviously still feeling shy.

    “Hello everyone! My name is Wendy Kirst. I am happy to meet all of you.”

    Again, the girl named Wendy breathed deep after her little introduction. She even bit her lower lip before fixing her eyes on the ground. Seeing this, his lips automatically twitched into a small grin.

    ‘Coy girl,’ he thought to himself.

    “Is that all, Miss Kirst?” asked Miss Birner. “I’m sure your new classmates want to know something interesting about you.”

    Wendy paused for a moment, staring at the teacher. Then, she shrugged her shoulders and offered an apologetic smile. “I don’t think I can humor everyone since I am not that interesting, ma’am.”

    ‘You are though,’ he argued on his mind.

    Miss Birner nodded in perfect understanding. “I think you are just still shy, Wendy. Anyway, you can now take your seat. On the third row. There’s an empty chair.”

    Wendy raised her head to look at the seat the teacher was pointing to her. But instead of finding the vacant chair, her black sparkling orbs landed on his eyes. As if her body clock stopped, Wendy froze a little, her eyes enlarging when she saw him. And he couldn’t really contain his amusement. He grinned at her.

    He knew that it would not be too long until they see each other again. What a coincidence that they belong on the same class.

    “Wendy?” The science teacher called her attention. And as if she was retrieved back from her reverie, Wendy gazed back at the teacher.

    “Sorry for that Miss,” she said with a little smile and moved toward the seat Miss Birner pointed to her. And that seat happened to be just in front of his seat.

    The introduction routine continued. And just as everyone was busy introducing themselves, pleasing the new teacher, he turned himself at the still stunned girl in front of him. Just by staring at her innocent face, he couldn’t help but grin.

    “So we meet again.”

    Wendy eyed him intently, like she was trying to figure out if he was an apparition or not.

    “It’s really you,” Wendy mumbled, more to herself than to him. Then, in a snap, her expression changed as she looked at him directly. With an inquiring look, she asked, “How come you knew we’ll see each other really soon?”

    A grin once again escaped his lips. He was not that fond of smiling or grinning, but he was unusually being amused today that he couldn’t help himself but to let out a boyish grin.

    “You’re not a stalker, are you?” Her eyes suddenly gave him an accusing glare.

    He c****d his head in disbelief and amusement. “That’s very nice of you to think that I am a stalker after the stint I made to save you a while ago, Wendy.”

    Wendy gasped, noting the sarcasm on his voice. Her expression suddenly softened. She now looked apologetic. “Sorry. It’s just so surprising that—“

    “The uniform,” he said in a cold tone. “I’ve noticed you are wearing my school’s uniform.”

    Wendy mouthed a mute ‘ahh’, her face flushing red.

    “Hey,” someone nudged him, catching his attention. He looked at his classmate, and that classmate motioned for him to look in front. He caught Miss Fate’s gaze.

    “Seems like you’re getting to know Wendy more ahead of everyone else, young man,” she commented with a wide smile. “It’s your turn now to introduce yourself.”

    He effortlessly stood up, not minding what the teacher had just said. And with a blank face, he said, “My name is Kaiser Aldeguer.”

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