Second chapter coming up!
Enjoy. :)
We called him Traunt.
Traunt for the way que wandered through the hallways of school with no worry whatsoever and like if the world were one big ball of total boredom. Rarely he came to class and we suspected that sometimes he bribed teachers in order to pass the courses for it was as clear as a diamond that his absence marks sky rocketed most of the time. But, even with his well-known and impeccable absence streak, his grades were excellent and in partials week he was always the last one to arrive and the first one to leave. It looked as if he were a robot that just accomplished with just the necessary and left to never return after two or three days. The teachers barely endured having him in class, for he paid as much attention in them as he did in his everyday life. He spent the entire lecture gazing out the window with a lost look and a pair of headphones in his ears. When the professors called his attention, he glanced their way with an indifferent gaze, he trailed his one visible blue pupil along their frame and what was written on the blackboard and returned to his contemplative state. If he was required to step before class and answer the problem; he would stand up slowly, as if time hung from his shoulders, and with a laziness that made me even yawn take the piece of chalk and did the unthinkable of answering the complicated question (designed specifically for him by the teacher in order to ridicule him before the entire class). He would looked boringly at the teacher, nod, leave the chalk and then return to his seat with the same sluggishness from before; leaving the teacher dumbfounded and looking really incompetent. Traunt was normally alone. We never knew any of his friends inside school. During free periods he would always be seen alone, siting on a bench or in the base of a tree, eating junk food and looking at nothing in particular. Nobody got close to him. It was said that he was a fool and that he wasn't worth talking to. Others said that he suffered from derangement and he had killed his only friend; that he was crazy and spoke to himself. I never saw nor heard him talking. Never did I heard him whisper a single phrase to the wind, nor hum a song. Yet, others claimed that he did speak and that it was in an unknown dialect; that he was actually a wizard who spoke with ghosts and specters. There was even this classmate who claimed that he knew him since early childhood and assured that he once saw him laughing alone, with a lollypop and a notebook. He swore that when Traunt turned to see him, his one visible eye turned red and that he bewitched him in that strange dialect. He claims also that he wasn't alone, but that beside him there was this black smoky shadow that made his bones and soul freeze when it looked him with those empty, obscure sockets it had for eyes. Although there are many things that Traunt has been charged of, I for starters can't believe them. I hardly doubt Traunt is a wizard. Ghosts and magic aren't exactly things I believe in, even less the black shadows that suck souls. These are the kind of things people that have no topic to talk about say. Any juicy rumor, especially those that involve Traunt, is very appreciated by us and tend to spread like ants in a picnic. If something happens, even really early in the morning, before midday it's the most loved topic for girls and an interesting news for boys. Even the most quiet professors will know about it. What can I say? We are a society of broken telephones and talking parrots.
Anyway, it was around 12 in the afternoon, just reviewing the last topic of our history class about the invasion of the Turks to the empire, when the door opened slowly. The teacher turned to look disdainfully at the incredibly rude person who dared to interrupt her class. Her fine eyebrows almost met in a thin line and her perfectly smooth forehead wrinkled. And who could be the master of such an act, but none other than Traunt. With his mien so calm and tranquil, that lost look of his and his carefree way of walking, he crossed the classroom and sat on his stool. "Well. But look who it is that finally shows to class." The teacher said, crossing her arms and with the pose of an enraged lioness. Traut just looked at her for a moment and returned to his dreamland. I scowled at him for a moment and looked at the teacher. I have probably not told you about the relationship I held with Traunt and I guess I should, for why would I pay attention to such a guy. And just to let you know it wasn't a romantical attention but one that was born out of spite. I guess it is the perfect moment to mention to you that I couldn't stand the guy. The man totally grossed me out. I couldn't tolerate him. It was frustrating to see how someone, who did nothing out of life and spent his days looking out the window and imagining an enchanted forest, happened to get everything. For someone as hardworking as I am, it was simply intolerable to see how a complete loser reached all his goals without even breaking a single drop of sweat. I hated his lack of punctuality, his almost inexistent effort in things, his way of walking, his spellbound gaze, his lack of respect for authority, his mere presence made me want to puke. Sometimes...I just simply wished to punch the hell out of him. Just beat the crap to see him react to something. I didn't know why. But he was the type of people that for a strange and unknown reason, you just can't seem to like. You just can't stand his presence. Yes. He is the type of person you just hate for simply existing. And even more so, when that person just doesn't get the hint that you hate his guts. Worst, when he doesn't even try to decrease the negative emotions you hold for him, but makes them grow deeper and take root in your heart. Just increases the hate, repudiation and frustration. But with time, even with what I mentioned to you, I would see my anger, my total aberration towards Traunt, completely and with a quiet breath, disappear.
The bell rang and soon the entire classroom was a collection of bags hitting tables, notebooks getting closed up and the typical murmur of questions regarding the weekend, the next hour or the day. I put my things away and walked nonchalantly towards my best friend Zack, a few girls saying good-bye to me. I was quite popular among the female population and the best of it was that the male population didn't see me as a threat but as someone worth having as a friend or acquaintance. I was quite agreeable and friendly to be disliked by my peers. Unlike some other people who didn't seem to mind if they were liked or not. Anyway, I stood before my friend who was packing the infinite amount of objects he took out for class. Seriously, he never understood that a pencil, pen and notebook were enough. "Hey Zack!"
"Hey Spiky!" He returned and hung his schoolbag on one of his shoulders. "Ready for today?" He asked and chuckled evilly.
"More than ever." I answered and crossed my arms in an cheeky manner. "I'll kick your ass like the last three times."
"We should see. Your lucky streak ends today." He threatened and laughed once more as we walked towards the exit of the classroom. I shook my head, but allowed a playful smirk to graze my lips. "I swear my dear friend that all those times that you managed to push me off the stadium were thanks to silly mistakes from my part. Yesterday I practiced until my poor fingers were bleeding. I shall see the fruits of my training, Cloud-san." I chuckled slightly.
"Hey there!" A sweet voice called our way and I turned to see my green-eyed angel running our way, followed by an equally gorgeous black haired girl.
"Hey Aerith." I smiled handsomely.
"Konnichiwa, Aerith-san." Zack bowed respectfully. An enchanting giggle left Aerith's petal soft lips.
"My, Zack." She said and giggled some more, her delicate hand covering a bit of her mouth, never loosing that feminine demeanor of hers that drives me crazy. "You always make me laugh." She combed a loose hair behind her pale white ear. "So, what are you doing today?" She asked fanning her brunette and fine lashes. She was the end of me.
"Today, my fair lady, it is the day I will finally defeat my eternal rival. REVENGE! I CLAIM REVENGE!" Zack said, and ran towards the end of the hallway disappearing behind the glass main doors of the school. He was a real goof.
"I guess, you are busy then?" Aerith said, her green eyes looking confused beyond comprehension towards Zack's antics.
"Why do you had anything planned for today?" I asked with hope embedded in my voice. It wasn't everyday that I got to go out with Aerith. Although I wasn't lacking on my confidence with women, with Aerith it came differently. I became a stuttering mess and a trembling pillar. She was the only one that could make me feel so vulnerable and yet feel so good and light-hearted.
"Well, " She began with that melodious voice of hers. "Tifa and I..." She said pointing to the black haired beauty beside her, who I had completely forgotten was there thanks to Aerith's charms. "Planned to go and have dinner at Luigi's. I was wondering if Zack and you wanted to come." She asked smiling wonderfully, tilting her head sideways so that the beautiful cascade of brown locks made her glow.
"Sure, why not?" I said trying not to sound that out of breath due to her angelic presence. "At what hour?"
"At eight." She answered. "So we see you there then?"
"Sure." I nodded and gave her my most magnificent smile. She seemed thrilled with my answer, if the shining emeralds in her face said anything.
"Perfect." She slightly jumped and giggled taking Tifa's hand. "See you there then." And saying so, she and her friend disappeared down the hall and by the glass doors. As soon as she left, the whole school lost that aura it once held. I sighed. "If only she could understand what she does to me." I had to say that out loud for the sickening feeling of depression was overwhelming. "If only..." My cellphone rang taking me out of my musing. I thanked God that Zack always got so excited about the weekend and that he tended to call me thrice a day even when he had nothing to talk about. He usually lifted up my spirits. If there was a feeling a hated having was that of overbearing sadness, the fatality that it came with and the soul shattering claws it held. Zack most of the times managed to push it away. "Hey Zack." I said trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
"WHERE ARE YOU!?" He yelled making me flinch. Forget what I said about him...he's a real pain in the ass. "I'VE BEEN WAITING HERE FOR AN HOUR OR SO!"
"I'm on my way." I said and walked quickly down the hallway. "And besides it's just been five minutes." I smiled as he huffed and muttered something along the lines of "fucking bastard...always late..." Sometimes...he was a real pain in the ass. But just sometimes.