The glance

"Okay then, we'll just have to go to a restaurant or find some store that sells organic foods. C'mon, it's Maryvale, I doubt that there aren't store selling like that."

"Tim? Since you're the one who spends a year here do you know any place?" Mick inquired to Tim.

Tim was transferred here last year and finally going to college next year. Van, on the other hand, is still in his fourth year.

"I don't know." Tim utterly said. "I never actually roam in the city."

"So, much for asking." Mick sighed as he turns, not clearly but he caught finally a glimpse of the buildings in the Maryvale.

Crossing the path, they could see a poster of "Welcome to Maryvale"

"Finally." Tim finally cheered up.

Van's first noticed the tall buildings, "I thought it was a small city."

"I'm also actually surprised. Well, it was seventeen years ago since last I visited this place, but I promised you will like it here.”

“I promised you, this is the worst place on earth,” Tim whispers to Van.

"Uh-huh, you don't say." He muttered as he witnessed a gang vandalizing the wall at the alleyway. He quickly altered his gaze as one of them noticed him.

"Dad, can we stop by and eat something?" Tim said and as of by now his tummy is grumbling.

"Alright, after this I'm dropping you off."

The three of them enters a café; they sat at the corner near the window. The waitress quickly serves them a black coffee and gave them the menu.

Tim and Van notice the alluring dress of the waitress that was caught the attention of Mick. "Boys, stop staring, you're both embarrassing."

It was too late to listen to their father as one her co-worker whispers to her and slowly glance at them. They flinch and began to mutter, stuttering as they read the menu.

The blonde in the maid suit sits down at the empty table, conveniently right in front of him; Van is somehow attracted to her like there's a magnet pulling his attention to her. The short dress above her knees tempting his eyes as he is about to peek but snapped by Tim.

"Dude, have you check out the new video game...? Oh, shoot. I'm so sorry." Tim apologizes because he accidentally drops the spoon.

Van voluntarily picks it up and when he's about to look up, it was timing that the blonde's skirt flew made by the wind and flashes her white panty. Van accidentally bumps onto the table and when he looks back to the woman, she blankly stares at him which he shyly avoided, ashamed.

After that, they set out in their apartment. They were greeted by Dally outside the building. Her doleful dark eyes carefully landed on them; her gaze is judging as she looks to Mick.

"Hey, Dally. It's good to see you." Mick said as he hugs Dally. "How's the amazon doing?"

"Same old Dally. I never thought I would see you again. How's Melissa?" she asked.

"Well, she's always busy, she even barely home in a month, and she would only show up if there's an occasion."

"Hardworking never dies... Van?" She said with her eyes widen "Is that you? I can't believe you turn out to be such a handsome boy."

"We all know that's not true." Tim intercepted, but she just ignored it.

"Where are you going by the way?" Mick questioned.

"There's a seminar of the teachers back at school, so I would probably go home late, you know, we teachers have a drill to take care of. I'm sorry if I couldn't accommodate you guys.”

"It's alright, just glad to see you."

"Ciao" She farewell.

"Goodbye Aunt Dally." Van and Tim said in sync.

Van's judging eyes scan the place that is not so cleanly neat base on his standards, he knows that Tim is a lazy person and already anticipated that this would greet him but his expectation exceeded by the actual situation of this apartment.

The trash bag is full and didn't throw it the last minute he left here, a rat came out of it running to the nearest open window. When he looks at the back of the couch, he saw a t-shirt lying off the ground with the wrapper of junk foods in it.

"This is our apartment?" Van asked, discomfited.

"Yep, this is our apartment," Tim said as he throws his baggage on the sofa.

"This place is a disaster."

Mick also concurred, "We need to do something about this place."

The three of them started to clean the apartment, it took them the whole day to finish it, not even the jet lag could stop Mick and Van from cleaning except Tim who is easily knock out. It was early in the morning when Mick finally leaves the two of them. There are still three more days before the class starts and Van could only do is to sleep all day in boredom.

***

Frequent buzzing vibrated in the white cushion of the bed as Van who is still half-baked sleep aimlessly tried to reach out to the phone. His eyes wearily open, narrowing at the screen bleeping the five in the morning.

He decides that it is time to stand up and do the old' routine. He opens the closed curtains and what he saw is the light rain slowly pouring the land.

In a flash of lightning, his thoughts began to float, just standing - staring pointlessly at the rain. What comes next is the flashes of the memories of his childhood days, the day the accident happened, wherein his dad died, and his mother went missing and his life begins to change.

It was the usual morning, her mom preparing the foods for the grilling and his dad outside of the house loading the grill stand. It was perfect weather when they went travel to the place that his dad longed wanted to visit, and then it went all wrong. They thought that it was a perfect sunny day, but a heavy rain comes and that's it. No matter how hard he tries, some of the images of his memories are still blurred.

When they passed the bridge, it was so alarming for even the young boy is easily rattled when the rumble of thunders reaching into his ears. His mom is arguing with his dad, but all their words became nothing as their car crashed into the woods, he's the only one who survives that day, or so they say.

He flinches and shuddered as another thunderous roar from the thunderclap then followed by a fearful strike of lightning, snapping back to the reality. Van sighs as he glanced down at the road, he could see a woman running at the bus shelter, which seems that she was about to go home after jogging, he couldn't see her face as she wears a yellow hoodie. He observes at her for a minute, watching the woman makes a phone call.

It was cold and the air is filled with wandering breeze when she glances right and left looking if there's any ride she could hitch. For another time, a roar of lightning takes over the – lapping sounds of rain and she shook, looking down with her eyes flinching and embraced herself.

The thunderclap took his breath and for another one, time slowed down as if though inside of his head the droplets of rain became steady, a momentarily feeling of peace. In a second, his eyes met her dazzling gaze. She had blonde hair and glossy skin and a mesmerizing deep blue eye. Her lips were thin and pale, her chin well-toned and she has as well curve nose.

Their eyes attract at each other as if though there's some magnet pulling the two of them. He pulls him closer to the window, touching it. She stares deeply onto his darkened eyes. She mouthed something but he couldn't hear it. In response, he was supposed to say something but interrupted by a loud honk of a car speeding at the girl's location. A middle-aged lady shouted at her too, "Get in!" She flinches from another roar of lightning serving as a bucket of cold water to wake her when she looks on top again, she couldn't find any trace of the man.

He instinctively goes out from his room, there is something he can't explain when he looks at her eyes; he didn't feel any malice from it but a nostalgic feeling. Yet, he chose to leave. A feeling that cannot be explained is not good for his psyche. He could feel his throat is dry; therefore, he proceeded at the kitchen pouring the glass of water from the water dispenser.

"Hey." An unfamiliar voice recedes at his back.

Van quickly posed a self-defense stance, "Who are you?" He questioned.

"Calm down. I'm one of Tim's friends. We kinda wasted last night so we crashed here at your house." The stranger said.

"Oh, okay. Where's Tim by the way?" Van expunged the weighing air.

"Probably in his room. My name is Lester by the way."

"Van."

"Glad that you two of you finally meet," Tim said as he grabs a glass of water.

"Where the others by the way?" Lester, who’s eyes wandering right now turn into a concern one.

"Nah, they bailed, we have class remember?"

"Oh shit. It's nice meeting you Van. See you at school." Lester said as he rushed outside.

As Van finally finished packing, he went outside and look for Tim, he was supposed to be his escort on the school yet neither a clue of his whereabouts or presence could be found.

"I guess, I'm on my own now."