Nine

Nine
– Daniel King’s POV –
I was leaning my back against my locker as I was waiting for someone to pass by. I already made an excuse to Hannah so she went to our classroom ahead of me. I am so bothered about the report cards that I saw in Hannah’s Science textbook, including the old photo. Well, about that photo, I stole it from her and I had it in my pocket. I let my instincts get the best of me so I ended up in this. I just have this anxious feeling that I need to know this. Though it makes me uncomfortable, something from the back of my mind tells me to do this.
Finally, I saw him approaching with his company. They were hardly laughing for something that their voices echoed in the entire hallway. When he saw me looking at him, he surpassed his laughter but still wearing his mocking smile.
“Hey genius, did you just saw a hunk actor?” Sanchez mocked as he smirked and his company chuckled.
I faked a smile, “I need my report card, Sanchez. I need to return it to Mrs. Onevic as possible.”
He laughed and his company joined him. Well, I was expecting for that.
“This bone-headed punk doesn’t understand a thing.” Domero, who was behind Sanchez, said between his laugh.
Sanchez took a deep breath and surpassed himself from laughing, “I already told you. I threw it in the trash bin.”
“Where? Where trash bin?” I desperately asked.
“Next to De Vera’s locker.” He replied as he pointed the trash bin that he was talking.
I followed his finger that was pointing at the trash bin next to Hannah’s locker. For a minute, I was stunned when a possibility crossed my mind that sounded so impossible. My heart race as I thought of going there but another part of me is trying to stop me.
“But I’m pretty sure you can’t find it there anymore since the janitors threw the trashes after school.” I heard Sanchez laughed as he gripped my shoulder.
“But men, I remember seeing Brickson and De Vera gathered there after you threw the card.” Domero added, trying to stifle a chuckle.
Automatically, my head turned to stare at Domero and Sanchez also met his eyes. He was smiling but I can say he wasn’t lying.
“Right before Guillermo came to pull your collar and smack you.” Domero continued with a wide grin while he was talking to Sanchez.
Sanchez chuckled in a mocking tone and turned his gaze at me, “You better asked your rumored girlfriend, De Vera if she knew something about your lost report card.”
And they burst out laughing. Their mocking laugh makes me pissed off. Like I wanted to break their necks but I just can’t because I’m simply not that type of person. I wanted to graduate without getting in any trouble as possible.
I didn’t noticed that they were leaving until I no longer hear their voices. I was deeply drained. I can’t keep my mind think straight after hearing from them that Hannah might possibly knew something about my card. Or it could be the other one that I saw in her Science textbook… was mine? Your kidding me. Why would she had it?
I heard loud footsteps that echoed in the quiet hallway that interrupted my thoughts. I turned my head to see Brickson rushing and she’s heading on my way. It seems she didn’t noticed me but I can still catch her.
“Hey, Brickson.” I called out.
Luckily, her head swivel and her eyes landed at my gaze.
“Carnillo? Why are you still out here? I believe that the class has already started.” She informed.
“I won’t fail if I skip class for once.” I joked and she smiled, “Well, actually… I would like to talk to you if you spare me some of your time.”
Her brows lifted as her lips were parted, “To me? Are you sure?”
“Yeah? Won’t that be a bother?”
“I guess not.”
– Hannah Mae’s POV –
Finally, the bell rang to end our afternoon class and for our class dismissal. All of my classmates raced to the door. Too excited to be dismissed. While my eyes were too busy looking for certain people. King and Clarisse.
I started to worry why the two of them skip the afternoon class, especially King. Well, he did excused himself when we arrived at the gate and I entered the campus alone, but he promised me to catch up. It’s so unusual for him to skip classes, it’s not him. Also Clarisse. I wonder what brought her to skip classes?
I was tidying my notebooks in my bag while my mind is wondering. Vanessa is out of eyeshot because her dad excuse her and take her with him for some business meeting. So it will only be my shadow that will walked with me.
The hallway was so crowded. Filled with students chatting and laughing. It makes me feel awkward walking alone. Maybe because I get used of Clarisse’s and Vanessa’s company.
I was making my way through the crowd when someone pulled my arm. My eyes widen as my heart raced. Suddenly, I felt chills around me. I was out of the crowd when I swivel my head to looked whoever pulled my arm.
“You’re in great trouble, Hannah Mae De Vera.” A known face surprised me that made me quiver a little with her unexpected appearance.
I sighed as I narrowed my eyes at her, “Where have you been, Clarisse?”
She peered straight to my eyes, “You’re so dead, Hannah. I’m telling you.” Her voice was low and controlled.
I was fuming in curiosity but I felt my heart pounding, “What are you talking about?”
She moved her eyes around us, like she’s making sure that no one was looking at us or eavesdropping. She pulled me closer to her before she covered her mouth with her hand, “Carnillo seems to know about the report card.”
I can’t hide the fact that my heart was pounding like it will explode in any minute now. My palms were cold and sweating as my eyes widen and my mouth slightly opened.
I frowned as I looked at her halfway, “It’s not a good joke, Clarisse.” I gritted my teeth.
Her jaw clenched as she tighten her grip on my arm, “I’m serious. We just talked earlier and he keeps on asking me about his report card. And he won’t let me go if I won’t say anything about it.”
Oh no! Why would he thought of asking Clarisse? Did Vanessa spoiled the beans? I will surely kill her if she does.
My lips were twitching, “Did you told him? Did you say anything to him?” My voice deepen as my eyes started to get wet.
She deeply sighed and she moved inches from me as she put down her hand, “Normally, I won’t tolerate you because I’m strongly against of the idea. Yet, I care about what you feel for him. So I lied.”
Like I wanted to jump and scream at the top of my lungs after hearing her respond. My eyes rapidly blinked as I sniffed. I still managed to give her a gratifying smile even though my lips were shivering, “I’m so grateful, Clarisse. I owe you for this.”
“Of course, Hannah.” Her voice was so sweet as ever, “But be sure to tell him before he finds out. It will be more better if he heard it from you and not from others.”
I smiled as my head continuously nodded. I pulled her in for a hug and she hug me even tighter.
I was relief but I still have this chills in my nerves. My palms were still cold and sweating. My heart was beating so fast and I can’t even breath. My eyes were wet as it keeps on blinking and my lips were trembling. I buried my face on her shoulder as I hug her tighter.
I never thought about this even once, nor it crossed in my mind. But if? Just what if he finds out?
– Daniel King’s POV –
“What’s with the grumpy face, King?” I heard my mom approached me the moment I entered the house. I really don’t want to be notice but I guess I’m not a good ninja.
“Nothing, mom.” My voice was so low like it was almost a whisper.
I heard her footsteps moving toward me but I keep my face down. Avoiding her worried face.
“Are you sure?” Her soothing voice was so comforting. She lower her head to peek at me but I stoop lower.
“I’m just tired, mom.” I muttered.
“Okay. But if want to talk about it, you can count on me.” She assured me. She gently brushed my hair and kiss me on the forehead.
I wanted to lift my head to see her warm smile but I also don’t want her to see me so down. So I keep my head down as I made my way to my room.
‘Yes, we saw a card in the trash bin but we didn’t mind it. We didn’t even know who owns it.’
Brickson’s statement echoed in my head as I entered my room. I locked the door before removing my backpack and put it beside the bed. I let my body dropped on the bed as I shut my eyes and breathed out.
So may things happened in this day and to sum it up, I was absent in the entire class. I just don’t feel like going after I had this anxious feeling that I got from Hannah’s place. A lot of things running in my mind that made my thoughts upside-down. And my heartbeat won’t even calm down that sends shivers to my nerves. What’s wrong with me? And what is this uneasy feeling that bothers me?
I immediately open my eyes when the girl from the photo that I stole appeared in my mind. It made my palms sweat. This feeling again. This kind of weird feeling that made me difficult to breath and my heart raced like it was about to come out of my chest.
I sit up and pull the photo out of my pocket.
“Why are you giving me this weird feeling?” I mumbled as I examined the photo.
This girl and the photo itself seems familiar, like I already saw this somewhere but I can’t recall it. Or I saw similar of this one. Her eyes is kind of similar to… Grandpa? I frown as I slowly close my eyes.
Random memories flashed in my mind that doesn’t make any sense to me, with familiar faces that I don’t know. Some of them were vague while others were crystal clear to me. I let myself drown in my thoughts and get the best of me. I allow all memories flash randomly, even I don’t recognize some of it. Until grandpa’s image came up, as it gets younger and younger until it ended up in his pupil appearance.
The eyes…
The figure of grandpa’s eyes caught my attention. My eyes automatically open when I finally recall where I probably saw this photo.
I sprinted to the door and hurriedly went to my mom’s room, next to mine. Of course, I was careful in taking steps so they wouldn’t notice me. I quietly entered the room and carefully walked to the closet. I’m so eager to know if my thoughts are right and at the same time my heart is beating so fast.
My hands are sweating as I open the closet. I searched at the folded clothes at the bottom of the hang ones. My heart beats faster and faster as I continue to search until I found an old black and white photo album. I breathe out as I take it on my lap and started browsing the pages. My hands are trembling as I proceed to the next pages.
Inside of it was Grandpa’s photos with my mom when she was still baby. And also I saw photos of grandma when she was alive, while caring my mom. I smiled, seeing how happy family they were. But my smile suddenly faded when I saw a thorn photo of my grandpa. I swallowed as my cold hands take it out of the photo album.
I can’t bring myself to do this but my instincts take over the best of me. Now that I’m so near to the truth, I suddenly don’t want to know it. Like something is about to be thorn apart when I continue this.
But I gather all the courage that I have to take out the photo that I have and put it together with the photo that I take out from the photo album.
My eyes widen as a sweat broke from my forehead. I can barely breath when my heart skips a beat. My hands are trembling and sweating up a storm, and at the same time, my lips are also twitching. My eyes started to get blurry as it gets wet.
I still have few questions in my mind but I finally understand the main thing when the two thorn photo that I put together, perfectly matched to each other.