"Haunted By The Past"


Chapter Two: Until he met her

By: Nadir and Blue Wings


The bell for recess has rung and the students 4-A started going out. All of them were eager to go to the canteen and eat with their friends, share stories and relax after two hours of nerve-racking.

"Aww man, I can't wait to eat hotdogs!" A chubby boy said to a cafeteria lady,

"Sorry kid, fresh out," was the cafeteria lady's reply.

"Wah!"

But even with all this excitement, a lone figure was seen sitting in the corner of a classroom when everyone was at the canteen...

"Hi! I'm Angel and I just transferred here, you are...?" the girl taps the boy's shoulder and flashes him a wide smile.

"Huh?" He was so shocked he almost jumped from his seat. Then he stared at her for a long time.

"Did I say something wrong...?" Angel was surprised at Squall's reaction.

"R-Ren," he said meekly.

"Why are you all alone?" Angel curiously said.

"Everybody here hates me," Squall managed not to stutter but he turned his head away from her and buried it again in his arms, all the while avoiding eye contact.

"I don't," Angel got his head from his arms and looked at it. Squall didn't seem like a guy to be hated.

'Then why does everyone dislike him so much?'

"Thanks... you're nice..." Squall took her hand away and tried to look away so she wouldn't see him blushing.

"Com'on, let's eat!" she said as she pulled his hand and began dragging him to the canteen.

"Don't! I-I..." was all Squall managed to say.

Everyone was so surprised to see Squall at the canteen today. Usually, they thought that he ate in the classroom although the truth is Squall barely eats because he was so frustrated about everything in school. They were surprised to see him here; just like a normal person and not like the "freak" he is in the classroom.

"Angel, I-I..." Squall tried hard to say that he doesn't want to eat here but someone stopped him.

"Hey, what are you doing here...?" the blonde boy roared, cutting from the crowds.

"Why, isn't this the canteen?" Angel defended Squall.

'Hyne, this is sick. A girl is defending me! I've got to do something,' Squall thought.

"Yeah, so?" the blonde boy chuckled to his delight that Squall was being humiliated, as in terribly humiliated, by that girl. And that was in public.

"Angel, I-I can do this," Squall said as he stood up from his seat and stared at the blonde boy, "It's recess."

The students didn't know what to do, whether it was to laugh out loud or just keep quiet. Squall's reply "It's recess" did seem pretty stupid. I mean, duh, would they be here if it weren't? But still, it was like a witty answer, one that completely clogged up the blonde boy that he didn't know what else to say. But the boy pretty much thinks like the others and takes offense...

"I know that," the blonde boy said through gritted teeth, "You must think I'm stupid!"

"No I don't," Squall said, feeling a little braver this time, "You said 'Yeah, so?' so I just told you why. It's recess. We're going to eat."

"Why you little...!" the blonde boy's face grew red when he realized that Squall must be mocking him and embarrassing him in front of everybody, then he lunges at Squall with his fists and was about to make contact when suddenly...

...Squall blocked it. "What did you try to punch me for?"

The students were even more shocked at this. Squall was able to block his punch? That rude, blonde boy wasn't class bully for nothing; he was class bully because he makes everyone tremble in fear whenever he walks by. Fearing that he might punch them or bully them or what, that's what makes the students forever afraid of him. And because of such power, his head soon grew. He began to dislike and bring down everyone whom he thought was higher in rank than him. Smarter, cuter, better, that's why he hated Squall so much. And with him being the apple's eye of everyone in school, why wouldn't he be jealous?

They thought Squall was a weakling, afraid just like the rest of them. That's why he'd just sit quietly in a corner and not let bother him whenever that boy makes fun of him. But no, he must just be plain nice or uncaring because anyone who could stand up to that blonde boy WILL stand up. And Squall looks like he can really beat him at his own game.

Everyone's mouth was now ajar, what would happen next?

"Aargh!" the blonde boy grew more furious and was about to punch him again when suddenly; a tall figure came between them and took Squall to one side.

"What are you two doing?" the teacher asked sternly looking at each boy's composure. Squall wasn't the least afraid, I mean, why would he be? He knows he hasn't done anything wrong. The blonde boy, on the other hand was quivering because of the who-knows-what punishment that the teacher will give him.

"It was all his fault!" the blonde boy blurted out.

"Who, Ren?" the teacher was surprised that the blonde boy would point at Squall. As you know, Squall was "too perfect" for this and the teacher seemed to think that way too, "He's a quiet little boy, and so he couldn't have started this."

"Maybe it was something wrong I said," Squall said. "He asked Angel why I was here and I told him because it was recess then he got angry," he sighed as he finished, "Sorry for cutting in your conversation."

"He mocked me, ma'am!" the blonde boy protested, "He humiliated me in front of the whole class!"

"Now, now, you were just thinking that," the teacher said, "You just misunderstood what Ren said, he was just trying to answer your question..."

"No, no!" the blonde boy became furious, "Someday Leonhart, someday I'll get you for this!"

The canteen became quiet again as the teacher dragged the raging boy with her back to the classroom, "I think I'll have a word with you, there's something about you and Ren I don't understand."

"No, no!" he screamed, "I will not take all this humiliation, this was all his fault, he must be the one who's humiliated!"

"Mr. Almasy," she said sternly, "Keep quiet or I'll have to call your father."

Later, when they were finally alone, Squall and Angel looked for a table so they can eat. And they found one on the left side of the canteen. Just as they were about to eat though, Angel's curiosity got the better of her and she asked Squall something that has been bothering her...

"Why does he hate you so much?" Angel asked from nowhere.

"I don't know," Squall, said quietly, "I really don't know."

"Oh well," the girl sighed, "Maybe he's just jealous."

"Maybe," Squall said, not really caring much. He was still thinking of what happened.

He himself didn't know how he could have blocked that punch. It's not like he knows martial arts or anything, and he's certainly not trying to imitate those lame kung-fu movies they air during late Sunday nights... It was something inside him, a reflex. It was sudden. He didn't even know what he was doing. He just knows that he didn't want to get punched and then his hand shot up like it has a mind of its own.

Interesting.

"You don't have any friends, right?" Angel said a while later, after Squall had finished his sandwich quietly, "I mean, you said everybody here hates you."

"Well, I've got Sefie but she's not studying here. She attends Trabia Garden," Squall said, finally making eye contact with Angel, "I'm sorry, it's just that, you're the first one ever to talk to me here and I-I'm..."

"Aww, don't be shy!" Angel patted his back and laughed a little to make him feel better, "I'm just glad to know someone on my first day here."

"Thanks," Squall smiled a little, "Too bad I only knew you now... Now that I have to leave for Esthar in about five months..." He said and appeared downcast again.

"What are you being so glum about?" the girl was optimistic, "At least we'll be together for that long and when you leave, I'll never forget you, ever."