A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your reviews, you guys just too kind~~~
#once again mentally bowing to you.
Well, since the result is (Eve:2 /Ib:1), so I'm gonna stick with Eve until next chapter.
As always, I do not own Ib.
Chapter 2: Memories
'No..It can't be…' Eve murmured with her eyes still locked on the new teacher. Although it had been 7 years, there's no way she forgot of how Garry looked like, especially with his unusual violet-colored hair.
"Hee, isn't the new teacher hot?" Lily commented casually. She wasn't as star-strucked as her classmates. "Don't you think so?...Eve!" She gasped when she turned her head and saw Eve' eyes all watered. Luckily, no one heard her, she didn't want to make unnecessary ruckus.
"Oh my god, what happened, Eve?" Lily patted Eve' back in worry while the class busily whispering over the new teacher.
Eve rubbed her eyes and spoke shakily "That's…Garry…"
"Wait...what? 'That Garry'? He's the one you always talked about?" utterly surprised, Lily gawked at the purplette teacher in bewilderment.
Eve once told her best friend about a violet-haired young man who once saved her 'from getting lost'. -Of course she didn't tell her that she was lost in Guertena nightmare gallery, or she'll think her crazy-. He was kind, gentle and strong (yeah, he pushed countless of headless mannequin that day) and his feminine way of talk…He gave her a lemon candy, thus making it her favorite 'till now…He told her of macaroons and….promised her to meet again someday.
And now he's here…
Lily gazed back at her friend "So, uh…Do you think he still remember you?"
Eve snapped. Yeah, just because she remembered him, that doesn't mean he would remember her, no matter how terrifying the experience they shared at the gallery.
"Well…." The elder teacher suddenly cleared his throat. "I hope all of you can have fun with Mr. Lancer here." After giving his speech, he walked out from the classroom, leaving Garry in charge.
"So…"Garry clapped his hand "Where do you guys gonna start?"
A girl raised her hand and said excitedly, "Mister, since this is your first day, why don't we have a game?" And all the girls squealed.
'Oh boy, the girl's at it again' a boy not far from where Eve sat whispered the word to his friend, and was replied by 'yeah'.
"All right…."He thought for a moment "Then let's have chemistry pop quiz! If you can answer it right, I'll give you this." He dug his bag and showed a bag of macaroons.
It hit her. Harder than any punch could do to her. This is Garry…This is the real Garry.
When the girls was like 'oh yeah, bring the question on!' and find themselves surprisingly excited over the chemistry pop quiz -which they hate the most before-, the guys was like 'oh man, seriously? Then what's the different with the usual lesson' and find themselves grunting and tried their best 'not' to pay attention to the class. Well, the boys wouldn't get excited over the new hot MALE teacher.
'This is it! I'll get the question right!' Eve resolved her heart 'I gotta make him remember!'
Eve suddenly found herself grinning. She was one of the smartest in the class, and chemistry was one of her specialty. Sorry, you got no chance girls…
"Okay, first question! What is hydrocolloid?"
Oh, crap! Did he just ask about colloids? She doesn't know a single thing about colloids! Eve didn't study at all during her absence. She suddenly regretted her absence…
A haughty looking blonde raised her hand, answered the question proudly "Hydrocolloids defined as a colloid system wherein the colloid particles are hydrophilic polymers dispersed in water."
"Good answer!" Garry exclaimed. "Here!" He asked the blonde girl to the front of the class and gave her the macaroon.
"Next, can anyone tell me how many interaction does colloid particle has?"
Oh no! Not another colloid question! Eve screamed in her head.
The rest of class continued with Garry throwing question about colloid which Eve can't answer at all, until he ran out of macaroons. In the end, only the girls got the macaroons. Understand what its mean? Yeah, only the girls that actually answered his question.
The second bell rang, signing that chemistry period is over. "Well, that's it for today, class. We'll start the real lesson next week." And with that, he left the class.
After a few minute, another teacher emerged and said to the class, "Today all of you had to study alone. I had some business to take care of." And left the class within second. Wow, talk about lucky…
Like hell the student would actually study. Instead, they idly chatted around, although some overly diligent student stuffed themselves with the material in the corner of the class. Eve and Lily however, obviously wasn't part of those students.
The chatter was spread through the class.
'Isn't he cute? Aww…'
'How lucky of us~~'
'Does he have GF?'
'Beats me. But if he is, let's rip her off, ahahahah~~'
The girls got possessed by a demon everytime they saw someone handsome. Creepy…
When Lily turned her head to Eve, the brunette still had her face planted on the table.
"You're not fine…" Lily said to her friend.
"I am not…Urgh" Eve clenched her fist in frustration, and lift her head from the desk. "Why did he throw those colloids questions! Why can't he just ask about atomic structure, acid and bases, stoichiometry, or anything that I can answer but these girls can't?" she said, almost shrieking.
"Now, calm down…" the red head sighed. "It's not like you had to make him remember NOW."
"But still…urgh!" Now Eve grasped her head in desperation. This time, she's starting to hate her own classmates.
"No need to be violent now…" Lily commented of how desperate the brunette had become. "It takes time…You can't just go into the him and said 'Garry, its me, Eve! Don't you remember me~~' without catching someone's attention…"
"Especially after he became such celebrity in Westhill…You got a point…" This time, the brunette sighed heavily, releasing her hand from her head, and appeared to be slightly relaxed. "I wonder if I should just give up…"
"Whoa, don't be emo here..."The red head said to Eve. It amazed her how Eve' changed within second. "What I wanted to say is, take it easy…" she said again with smile.
Eve shrugged, but smiling nonetheless. Lily has been her best friend, for like, real best friend. Eve knew that she always had problem with making friend, since she is so quiet. If it wasn't because of Lily, she would probably have no friend in high school. She was grateful to have a friend like her.
xXx
The last bell of the day rang. Again, the class was busily putting the books on their desk back to their bag, and all of them looked equally eager to leave the school. Common thing that happened on every high school. Not that this day was a boring day though…
Eve too, was stuffing her books to her bag when suddenly her cell phone rang. Is it mom or dad? She thought, since no one really call for her except for those two. And true, it was mom. She clicked the answer button.
"Hello, mom?"
"Hello, Eve. Your school is over, right?"
"Er, yes…So what's up?"
"I can't go home today, busy schedule, and your dad had to operate someone. He too, won't make it." (oh gee mom, you sounded like dad is trying to make someone dead or something)
"Um, so? I can just go straight home…" Eve answered, slightly puzzled. Mom and dad won't come home, and that's completely natural, knowing how busy they are with their work. Why her mom had to call her just to say this?
"Can you wait for Matt to pick you up? I gave him the key..."
"You what?"
"I just know this morning that his apartment is under renovation, so he would be staying with us for a week. He's should be out from his class too, and I already call him to pick you up."
"Eeh? But…"
"Please no but, dear, I-(someone called Eve' mother from the phone), yes, I'm coming! Oh dear, I have to go. See you." She hung the phone.
"Wait! Ah-" It was too late. She can't object anymore. Guess she didn't have any other choice but to wait…
"Someone' gonna pick you up? Okay then, I'm going first. See you later." After Eve explained to her friend her situation, Lily waved her hand to Eve before she disappeared behind the class door. The class was starting to get empty too, only a couple of overly diligent student left and they were cleaning the class. Eve didn't want to join them of course, and decided to go to the cafeteria.
The cafeteria too wasn't crowded like usual. The bunch of student who used to stay in cafeteria overtime was nowhere to be seen. The empty seat every here and there made the cafeteria felt so much big and wide, unlike in recess, where the students were squeezed between each other and desperately work their way inside the crazy crowd just to get a plastic of bread and milk. She sighed, there's nothing to do here…
She was aimlessly walking around her school when suddenly she found herself in front of the chemistry lab, and heard a clanking sound inside it. She was curious and peeked from nearby window, but darn it! The curtain was closed shut! But that didn't stop her from her curiosity, so instead, she placed her ears on the door, and suddenly…
BAM!
The door was suddenly opened hard, literally hitting Eve' head and comically sent her falling to the floor. She shrieked of course, and startled the one that opened the door.
"Oh god, I'm sorry! You're okay?" the damned figure who hurt Eve babbled, and reached his arm to help her stand. She was still yelping from the floor, closing her eyes shut and covering her ears. And when she opened her eyes, she couldn't believe who she saw…
Garry…
Eve found herself blushing so much, and her eyes started to welling up, -partially because of the pain-. Garry on the other hand, thought that he was hitting the girl too hard and hurt her to tears. "Oh geez. I'm really sorry…"
The brunette took his arm and stand awkwardly. Garry was like, right in front of her, and she found herself to be completely dumbfounded. She wanted to cry (well, she already was) and hugged this man in front of her. How she missed him…
And Garry, completely mistaken Eve' tears as those of the hurt one, dug his pocket and gave her a handkerchief "I'm sorry…really…" He tried his best to be a good man.
Eve took the handkerchief, and instead of using it to rub her welling eyes, she squeezed it with her hand and started to sob "Garry…."
"What?" he asked in confusion. And when he looked at the floor, a yellow sweet was lying, apparently fall from the girl' pocket. A lemon candy. He took it from the floor and stared at the crying Eve in surprised.
"Could it be…? Eve?" He gaped.
Eve couldn't help but smiling. Happiness flowed in her heart when she heard Garry say her name. She nodded happily.
"Wow…you're really…Eve?" he can't believe his eyes. Eve was right in front of him? The real Eve…
Eve involuntarily wrapped her arms to Garry, and crimson now flooded his face. But, nonetheless, he hugged her back, and a relieved smile formed on his face. After a couple of second, they broke the hug, both blushing like crazy, but still smiling.
"It's good to see you again, Garry…" she said as she rubbed her eyes from tears. "Or, Mr. Lancer…?"
He chuckled when he heard her calling him with mister. "Oh please, Eve. Just Garry...Outside the class that is…" His eyes scanned the girl, she had surely…changed. She wasn't little girl anymore...If he remember correctly, the last time she hugged him, after saving her from Mary, her face hit him in stomach, hard. But just now, he could feel her silky hair right under his chin.
Aside from growing taller, her face was also changed into a mature one, but still keeping her sweetness on her feature. Like a fragile doll.
"You sure…changed…" he smiled as he patted the girl' head. And as expected from Eve, she blushed.
"You too…" she replied. "You don't sound like a lady anymore…"
For a second, his smile disappeared and his gaze was turned to the floor. "Ah yes…" but his smile reappeared, and he let out a soft chuckle "It would be difficult to stay talk that way…"
Eve noticed his sudden change of expression. She wondered, did she just say something wrong?
"By the way, where are you all this time? I thought you lived near the gallery…" Eve asked. She had held this question for 7 years by now.
"Well, I-"
"EVEEE!" someone was calling, no, yelling her name from afar.
Wait…what? Who the heck ruined this moment? Oh it's him.
Matt was half-running toward the two. By the time he arrived, he was completely out of breath. "I've been running in this place like crazy, you know…" he caught his breath while leaning his hand on the wall. "And there you are…"
Garry' eyes once again saw in surprise upon seeing the new guy and said, "Starke?"
The blonde lifted his face to whoever was calling him, and replied Garry' stare with a shocked one, "Wait…Garry? What're you doing here?"
Eve however, interrupted. "You guys know each other?"
"Sort of…" Garry sighed. "Still trying to hurt someone's eyes I see…." He sarcastically commented of how bright the blonde' clothes are.
"Like you're the one to talk, Mr. Madame…" Matt retorted.
"Wait a second!" Eve broke their conversation –it that was a conversation- "I don't understand! Someone, please explain!" she demanded.
"He's my DUMB classmate at high school…" They said in unison, in perfectly identical tone and intonation, and both of their fingers pointed at each other. Annoyance was clearly written in their faces. "That's my line!" they said in unison, for the second time.
Eve couldn't help but laugh at this scene. Laughing so hard that she might fall.
"This…is…not…funny, Eve…." Matt scoffed.
"St-stop laughing, Eve…I know it's weird…" Garry facepalmed in embarrassment.
"Ahahah- Sorry…" the girl finally died her laugh down and erased a droplet of tears that came out from her eyes. "It's just wow….I just realized how small our world is…To think that someone I know 'know' somebody else that I know" (Okay, Eve…now that's confusing…)
The two guys stared at each other, and burst into laugh few second after. "Aw man…You're totally right, Eve…" Garry said as he held his stomach. "How long has it been since graduation? Six?"
"Dunno, maybe?" the blonde replied with his back leaning against the wall. "Getting old, aren't we?"
"Well you guys didn't look that old…" Eve said in cheery tone, and was followed by another laugh of the three. The laugh however, was echoing loudly through the hallway, revealing how quiet the school had become.
"Well, it's getting late…" Garry looked at his watch, and suddenly, a growl from someone's stomach struck the empty hallway loudly. And the girl blushed in embarrassment.
"It looks like the princess is hungry…" Matt grinned.
"Oh, shut up…" Eve grunted.
The violet-haired man chuckled softly "Why don't we have dinner at nearby cafe? My treat…"
"Whoa, Mr. Madame wants to treat someone? Is it sign of apocalypse?"
"Oh, shut up…"
xXx
"…and do you remember when Mrs. Skywalker slipped hilariously on the hallway and her high heel got stuck on the ceiling? That was totally priceless…"
"Oh yeah! Her heel stuck for an entire week, and the student called it 'The Skywalker Memorial'!"
"And her Skywalker surname didn't sound like a joke anymore…"
While sipping her vanilla milkshake, Eve intently heard the animated conversation made by the two long-lost-friend in front of her. For the past 30 minutes, they've been talking about their hilarious –if not embarrassing- experiences they had on high school. (Err, no…they were actually talking about 'other people' embarrassing experiences). Eve herself enjoyed it though.
True to his word, Garry really treated them all. Matt was pleased of course, while Eve felt slightly uncomfortable. Garry is now her teacher after all. They went to a small but cozy café named Starluck which was located nearby the school. Every Westhill student knew the place, Eve was the one suggested it.
From earlier conversation, Eve finally learned that they were only friend for a year. Apparently, Garry moved to Easthill High, their almamater, on his third grade. Now that explained when she didn't see him for the past seven years. Easthill High is not from her hometown.
"So, what brings you here?" the blonde guy asked as his hand snatched a french fries from his plate.
"Well, I was offered a job by Mr. Jefferson, her homeroom teacher…" he pointed to Eve. "So, I'm teaching now in Westhill…Chemistry…" Garry answered calmly with playing with his spaghetti fork. "Your favorite subject…" he grinned mischievously.
"Good one, Garry…I'll never forget Mr. Anderson 'Hellish Lab Punishment'…." Matt shivered. "But…chemistry huh? I though you would go for art…Your drawing's great…"
"Things happen…" Garry said again and turned his gaze on Eve. Eve smiled, knowing what he meant…
"Huh…" the blonde however, noticed his change of gaze. "How'd you guys know each other anyway?"
"It's a long story." Garry and Eve said in unison.
"Then long story short. Tell me, or I'll have to judge you as her stalker." Once again, Garry facepalmed after hearing the statement.
Eve spoke first "Well, we sort of met…in…who was it again? Gertela? Gutella? Nutella? Or whoever it was 's art gallery…" she knocked her head, trying her best to remember, although it was futile.
"It's Guertena's , Eve…And what's with the Nutella?" Garry corrected.
"Oh…yes." She nodded. "7 years ago…"
"Holy sh-…I mean, wow…7 years for real?" Matt gaped.
"True story…" Garry said again as he sipped his coffee.
"Then that'll be before you moved to Easthill, right?"
"Yeah…"
"And you're still 9 then?" Matt turned to Eve.
"Yes…" Eve nodded again.
"Wow…" After his countless questions, the blonde rested his back on the chair, still amazed by this sudden turn of event. "Damn, you knew Eve longer than I am…"
"World is sure small…." The purplette laughed.
"True…." Eve agreed.
Beep Beep
"Sorry, that was mine…" Matt dug his jeans and pulled out his cell phone. "Oh, Liz. Wait a sec everyone, gotta answer this…" he rose from his chair and made his way outside the cafe.
"The neon guy finally disappeared…"Garry sighed deeply and adjusted his black-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose. Apparently, his friend's striking-colored clothes really bother him.
"Ahahah, right…" Eve laughed nonetheless. She gotta remember to call Matt 'Neon Guy' from now on.
The older man rested his chin on his hand, and stared at Eve. "Something wrong, Garry?" she asked.
"Nothing really, I just remembered something…" he said. "I…promised you something right?"
"Promised? Well, you promised that we will meet again, and…here you are…" she replied with a smile.
"Yes, but there's something else…" Garry scratched the back of his head. "The macaroons shop…I promised to take you there…"
Eve was surprised, how could she forget about that?
"Oh yeah, silly me…"She giggled.
"Tomorrow's weekend, so…Wanna come?"
Wait….Did he just asked her to…
"Eh?" Eve asked again in surprised.
"Err wait, wait, don't get it wrong! It's not like it's a date or anything!" Garry started to stutter.
Date…with Garry?
Date….WITH GARRY?
"If you can't, then that's fine-"
"No, no! I…I'm just kidding. Of course!" the brunette cut him from finishing his sentence. "I'll be happy to!" She nodded. Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
The violet-haired man sighed in relieve, and gently smiled to the girl "So…Tomorrow then?" and Eve replied him with another nod. Pink tinted both of their faces, but of course, Eve's is much pinker.
Several minute later, Matt returned from his call, and their dinner continued with their various chatters, until Garry looked at his watch.
"Whoa, 8 PM…It's already this late?" he murmured.
"Tomorrow weekend so…why?" Eve pondered while her hand idly playing with her milkshake' straw.
Matt gave her an un-approving look, "Can't do that Miss. Gotta take you home now, or else, your mom's gonna kill me!" he gestured his finger slashing his neck.
"Agreed…" Garry nodded.
"Oh yeah…" Eve was slightly disappointed, but she had to agree.
xXx
The two arrived at Eve' house several minutes after they say their farewell to Garry, whose apartment was on the opposite way. The night air was surprisingly cold, and she had to go through the chilling air onboard a motorcycle in crazy speed with crazy driver, without any jacket, to be exact, and only a helmet covering her head, saving her only from a bad-hair-day.
"It's freezing…" Eve shivered as she got off from the bike. "And thanks for not lending me any jacket…" she said in sarcasm as she stared at the guy with double-jacket (his orange jacket and a jet black leather jacket for driving).
"Since when did you become so good at sarcasm?" Matt asked her in awe. "Sorry, anyway…I completely forgot…" he grinned, seemingly not guilty at all.
"Yeah. I'm just kidding…" She giggled afterward, but still shivering.
Matt gave her the key house. "Sorry, Eve, I gotta meet Liz for a sec, I'll be back, quickly." And put his helmet back on.
Liz? Oh yeah, his girlfriend…
"Sure." She took the key. And the neon guy disappeared behind the fork in front of her house within second.
She used the key to unlock the door, and opened it slowly. The house was dark and empty, of course. She lit the light up and walked to the kitchen, and had a glass of water. Afterward, she made her way upstairs, to her room.
She quickly changed her uniform to her pajama. She usually wear nightgown, but since the neon guy going to stay overnight, she had reconsider the thought. I wouldn't be appropriate to walked around the house wearing nightgown with a guy around and no parent's home.
When she dug her skirt' pocket, she found a cloth in there. It was Garry's hankie. "Oh my, I forgot to give it back to him…" she forgot that she stuffed the handkerchief to her pocket when they go to the café.
But, smile suddenly appeared on her face, "Well, there's tomorrow…" and she squeezed the hankie to her chest. Tomorrow…the word continued to spin on her head. She was happy, really happy, just as happy as when you managed to take down a Tank in Left 4 Dead. I'm so glad Garry didn't change at all, still as kind as ever…she thought happily as she rested her head on her pillow.
xXx
Garry dropped himself to his sofa as soon as he got back on his apartment. His room was still messy and full of box. He actually intented to go home early today, to finish unpacking, but certain event didn't let him to do that.
The violet-haired man took his glasses off and stared emptily at the ceiling. Eve…he thought over and over again. He was already given up on meeting the little girl. After that fateful day on Guertena' gallery, he suddenly had to move outside the city because of his mother's job, thus closing his hope on seeing Eve again.
And it was miracle to know that she's his student now…
His choice to accept the job offer was a good choice after all. As much as he hated to go back to this town, this place was also the one that gave him one pleasant memory, of a cute little girl –although she's not so little now- named Eve.
He dug his coat pocket and stared at the yellow sweet on his hand. It was the same lemon candy he gave to pacify her that day. He forgot to return it to her, and inserted the candy to his pocket instead.
He found himself smiling as he fixed his gaze on the candy. Images from that day on the gallery surged from his mind.
"Eve, would you take a look in the pocket of that coat?"
"Eh?" the little girl then inserted her hand and pulled out a yellow-covered sweet from the pocket.
"You can have that. Fell free to eat it." He smiled.
The girl stared back at him, looking slightly relieved and said "Thank you, Garry!" wholeheartedly.
Realizing something, he stood up from his seat and walked toward the seemingly countless of boxes and reached his hand on the one with 'IMPORTANT' written on it. His hand pulled out a small box made from wood and opened it. Inside, a pure-white handkerchief with laces on its edge was lying. It was folded neatly in square, and embroidery shaped 'Eve' was visible from the corner of the handkerchief.
He brought the box to the table not far from his sofa, and placed the lemon candy -that he held on his hand this whole time- on the top of the hankie.
I have to return it tomorrow… he thought to himself.
xXx
Sorry readers, I know this chapter is not serious and awfully long too XP
And I promise to make the chapters ahead to be more serious
So…you know what to do next. Yes, review please ^^
Have a nice weekend, everyone~~