The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Twenty Two - Help

Crystal Raine Meadows

I didn’t reach that rope yesterday no matter how hard I tried, my legs were sore and my back felt like it was about to bend, but I won’t give up even if tiredness would kill me.

When I got home, my body hurt a lot that I thought I might cry, but I didn’t think about it and just focused on how to make myself be better at the things I lack.

Ate Kathy was surprised because she didn’t even see me limping because of my tiredness, she always asked Kuya Draven to carry me up into my room before because I couldn’t walk properly.

I lack everything in the physical department, but one thing is for sure, I can be better at everything as long as I won’t give up and believe in myself.

Calyx made me realize that the treatment of my classmates was starting to burden my shoulders, I just don’t want to mind it because I have other things to focus on.

It’s affecting me on the inside and I don’t want anybody to see it, so I kept keeping it inside of me.

And he’s right, I won’t fight with them on their levels, I just have to be better and it’ll be alright because it’ll be the greatest revenge I could give from all the things they have done to make me look down on myself.

“Crystal? Hey,” I flinched when I felt someone tapped my shoulders, I glanced at the side and saw Liam looking at me worriedly.

“Y-Yes? Sorry I didn’t hear you, did you say something important?” I shyly asked, I didn’t notice that the second bell rang already.

“Are you alright? Your head is always up in the clouds lately,” he looked worried about me, so I raised my hands before shaking it right in front of him.

“N-No, I’m fine, I-I’m just thinking of the routines where I should focus on,” I didn’t lie, I’m also thinking about that.

“I see, so um, are you finally free later?” he curiously asked, so I suddenly remembered that we have to go later to the big library. I felt guilty for a moment because I can't go. I’ve already planned things today.

I exhaled a lungful of air, “S-Sorry Liam, I don’t think I can later too, you see, my training is just getting significant, I really want to get stronger,” I guiltily mumbled, so he looked at me for a moment before smiling.

“It’s the first time I see you get so fired up aside from recitations,” he placed his hands at the top of my head before messing with my lustrous jet-black hair, “I’m happy that you're finally enjoying it, we can plan it soon, good luck on your training,” he beamed.

I smiled and thanked him because he’s so very understanding, we both grunted when someone pushed the table from the back.

My eyes peered at the back and noticed that it was Calyx doing it on purpose using his feet, or I don’t know, it’s hard to read this guy.

“Hey, do you mind? Your table is being pushed by your feet,” I complained, so those red eyes looked at me intently as he averted his gaze. 

Why do I find those eyes so attractive? It feels like it’s staring right in front of my soul. I just shook my head, it’s been a mess lately. 

I keep on thinking things that are weird that I don’t even know why I’m thinking about it. Am I that stressed out?

“Calyx man, come on, don’t do it,” he was ordered to stop by his friends, he looked a bit pissed but he followed them.

“Yeah, don’t add more detention lists on your name, your sister is going to kill you,” Peter Hughes claimed, so his friends laughed. 

He suddenly looked bothered for a moment as he scratched the back of his head. Did he get an earful this morning?

“Don’t mind him, he’s just jealous of what he’s seeing right in front of him, I mean who wouldn’t?” David Ronin stated, so he received a smack from Calyx.

“Shut up Ronin, if you still want to live, you better shut the hell up,” Calyx fumed, his words are so rude.

I almost forgot that the student council was sitting behind our backs because of him, “Your detention is already worse plus you need to clean toilets later,” Razer Black reminded him, so he just glared at them.

That’s right, he’s going to be in detention because of what he did yesterday. I suddenly felt bad for a moment. I really have this feeling that he did that for me.

I know it’s absurd, but that’s what I really feel. though my gut is always right, so I don't know for sure if this is either.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, that guy deserves what he got,” Calyx coldly stated and it felt like a blizzard had hit our room.

“Yeah and that also means, you deserve to clean the toilets,” David Ronin sighed like he’s ready to give up taking care of this guy.

I almost flinched when David looked at me apologetically, “Sorry about our friend, he’s being a handful sometimes,” he claimed, so I just shook my head.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m starting to get used to it,” I smiled and those gentlemen behind my back looked awestruck because of something. U-Uh? Did I do something?

I gasped when someone threw a jacket right in front of my face, “Hey! Why did you throw this at me?” I exclaimed, but Calyx remained in his cold expression.

“Your face is annoying,” Calyx sounded furious, but his red glinting eyes told me otherwise. What the hell is wrong with this guy?! Now he has a problem with my face?

I was about to confront him when I felt someone hug me from behind, “Crys! Let’s eat lunch?” Jenny invited me, so I immediately nodded at her as he dragged me out of the room.

She didn’t even call for the boys that were left inside of the room. I noticed that a lot of people were staring at me from the hallways, but I didn’t mind it.

They must’ve heard what happened yesterday inside of my room, they’re probably going to blame me that I troubled Calyx.

I heard from our room a while ago that this was the case. Jenny even informed me earlier this morning that a lot of girls were looking for me because they thought Calyx saved me yesterday.

Calyx was that famous, I think he even has a fan group lurking around the hallways that wants to attack me because of what happened.

“So what’s going on between you and that blizzard guy?” Jenny suddenly asked while we’re pacing in the hallways.

“Blizzard guy? You mean, Calyx?” I tilted my head at her, so she just nodded at me as I laughed to my heart's content.

The Blizzard guy title sounds nice, I wonder if Mr. Snowman suits him either, "Wow, you even laugh so much at a joke about him," she scrunched her face.

“W-What? Nothing, what are you trying to get Jenny?” I persuaded, so she just pouted before pinching my cheeks.

“I can see it, you two feel like you were close, I’m your friend, so I know something about it,” she claimed before sighing.

“Plus, you never smile like that unless you were genuinely happy with something, don’t you remember your famous smile? It can attract almost half of the population of the Dragon Realm,” she claimed, so I scoffed.

“You’re exaggerating Jenny, my smile doesn't do that, plus it’s just normal for people to smile, what’s so new about that?” I confusingly asked so she shook her head at me.

“You just can’t see it, but your smile is really unique,” she messed with my hair, so I complained, “Someday, someone might explain it to you,” she added, so I just pouted while shaking my head.

“So, are you doing well on your training?” she asked, so I started narrating to her about the things I would like to do. She just listened to me and she looks pleased with what she’s hearing.

After we ate lunch together with the boys that caught up on us, we decided to separate ways and proceeded to our own training.

I immediately sprinted towards the special training room that was provided for us and noticed that he wasn’t there.

Wait a minute, why would I expect that he’s here? Shaking my head, I changed into my training clothes before warming up.

He’s taking longer than usual, plus I heard we’re going to train at the forest today, he told me yesterday.

“I said, I don’t want to!” I heard someone yell, so I flinched when the doors were opened harshly.

It revealed to me the student council while trying to catch Calyx who’s walking away from them, “Calyx man, you really have to clean or you’ll be punished by your own sister!” Peter Hughes yelled.

“She’s already punishing me!” Calyx fumed, he looks like he’s ready to summon his element. What the hell is going on?!

“Oh, hey Crystal! You’re here!” Peter cheered when he noticed me on the side, “Please help us convince him to clean,” he pleaded.

“W-Why? What’s going on?” I confusedly asked and noticed that they looked worried about something.

“You know her sister right? She ordered us to do this, if we fail she’ll punish us with him! She’s much scarier when she’s mad!” Peter pointed at Calyx who’s already dressed and fixing the things that he’ll probably bring to the enchanted forest later on.

“H-He has to clean the toilets right?” I claimed, so all of them nodded at me, so I just sighed while scratching the back of my head.

We’re wasting too much time and Calyx is just being more stubborn than usual, he should be sorry for troubling his friends. I wonder why they’re friends with this guy?

How did he manage to befriend them? I’m starting to get more curious about him, jeez, “Let me do it,” I stated, so all of them looked surprised at what I said.

“I also feel like it was partly my fault that Henry irritated Calyx because he was too loud,” I mumbled, so I flinched when Calyx threw something that created a disturbing noise.

“What the hell did you say? Are you saying that you’re doing this for me?” he sounded like he’s ready to hurt me, but I just averted my gaze at him.

“I’m not doing this to help you if that’s what you’re thinking, like I said, what happened yesterday was also my fault,” I claimed.

“How was that your freaking fault, you stupid woman?!” he raised his voice, he sounded so mad right now and it’s terrifying as hell.

David Ronin reached out to my hands, “You were never at fault there, milady, you don’t have to do this,” he sounded like he’s reassuring me, so I just smiled.

“I know and it’s alright, I really want him to finish his duties and punishments, or else we won’t be training together soon,” I replied, we’re both astounded when Calyx appeared on our front, slashing our hands away from each other before leaving.

I was about to complain to that rude guy when I noticed that David was laughing because of what he did, “U-Um, is something funny?” I curiously asked, but he just shook his head at me.

“N-No, I’m sorry for my rudeness, shall I take you to the toilets? I hope someone might get guilty and help this poor woman clean a ‘mens’ bathroom,” David Ronin raised his voice emphasizing the word men.

“Y-Yes, wait for me before we start training,” I informed Calyx, but he didn’t reply as he kept on fixing his things.

David Ronin escorted me to the toilets, luckily, it’s just near our special training room, “This is it, don’t worry, this is off-limits, no one would enter here,” he claimed, so I just nodded.

“Thank you, I’ll be quick,” I informed them before leaving the special training room. I didn't waste any more time because I want to proceed with training.

After grabbing some tools hidden on the lockers of the toilet room, I tied my hair in a ponytail before starting to clean the toilets.

It wasn't a while until I heard two men laughing outside of the toilet room. I was confident that they wouldn't enter because David told me it was off-limits.

But I was wrong, they both entered this bathroom with me still inside cleaning it, it’s our freaking classmates either.

“S-Sorry, but this area is off-limits,” I nervously said, but they just looked at me intently before laughing.

“Who said that? There was no sign on the outside,” one of the boys smirked at me and if I’m not mistaken, they’re friends with Henry.

“The student council asked me to clean this place,” I firmly stated, but they just shook their heads as they decided to approach me.

“They’re stupid enough to let you clean a men’s bathroom, we always wanted to get back to that Paraiso because of what he did to our dear friend,” he sighed before looking at me.

“Well then I guess you would be enough as a payback,” after he said those words, the other gripped my hands and cornered me on the walls.

My eyes were widened as my heart we’re pounding so rapidly like it wanted to get out of my chest when I saw the look on their eyes, someone please help me!

To be continued...