ALBINO

IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE EDUARD COOLEN WAS ABSENT IN SCHOOL. The teachers told the class that according to Dr. Carlyle Coolen his brother was sick. (Probably of diarrhea). Yet somehow Bella felt guilty. She didn't think like to think it was because she smelled bad. It was maybe because Eduard Coolen was just too upset to have a lab partner. That must be.

Bella was surprised to see Eduard Coolen sleeping on his desk. The class were back to life—girls giggling, boys grumping and the teacher enthusiastic. The class hated it when Eduard Coolen was MIA because the professor got all moody and had a habit of giving pop quiz. And now he's back, boys hated him more for the girls only notice him.

"What's so great about him?" Bella heard a guy complaining as she carefully sat next to the Coolen. "He's white as an albino."

The boys snickered.

"Albinos don't have dark hair," the girl who was the guy's seatmate spat as if she was defending Eduard Coolen who probably couldn't care less.

"He dyed it," the guy answered her like they were having an argument as serious as the world economy. Then followed another roar of laugheter. "Freak", he grumbled, eyeing the sleeping Eduard Coolen with all disgust.

Bella did the experiment all by herself. She was too afraid to wake up her lab partner even though she badly needed his help. When the teacher came to check up on it, Bella panicked for she was far from wrapping up her work. So hesitantly Bella touched Eduard's shoulder as the teacher watched her. "E-Eduard," she mumbled. And slowly Eduard raised his head, his unruly hair covering his pale-white face. Like he knew what he's gotta do he slowly grabbed the experiment to his side and stared at it. Then his long pale fingers moved gracefully on the experiment like they have a mind on their own. When he was done, he pushed it for the teacher to see. The teacher smiled at him before he examined the work.

"Impressive Mr. Coolen," the teacher exclaimed happily as he was checking on the experiment. "Once again you—"The teacher looked around and saw only Bella looking like an idiot alone on the desk. "Oh! Not Again!"

And the class burst into laughter.

"SILENCE!" the teacher's voice echoed in the room. "You only have five minutes left."

The class groaned.

"Thanks a lot, albino," the guy muttered in contempt.