3: The Encounter (His Side)

"It stopped.." she just whispered. The light turned red. I could see her sweating.

I press the emergency button. No response. She was slipping on the floor and breaking into tears.

"Jane..hey.. just calm down.." I grab her fast. I knew this lady very well. Something that people don't know about her. She has claustrophobic.

Major claustrophobic.

***

My eyes caught her eyes. It was around spring. Flowers bloomed like a colorful carpet. And there she was, standing in front of the class, soaked in sweat. She got big round eyes. Her lips are red but she didn't smile.

"Please introduce yourself.." Mrs. Quinn smiled at her.

"Ehem.. hi. I'm Jane Klien," she looked sick. I was anxious. Is she gonna throw it out? My eyes caught a bunch of my girls' classmates, whispering among them. I could see them laughing. Poor girl! She just had a nervous breakdown.

"Okay.. you can have your seat. Is there any empty place? Miss Finn, is there an empty spot there?" asked Mrs. Quinn.

"Oops, sorry ma'am but we are house full," Julia winked at her friends. They were making faces. Mrs. Quinn ignored them.

There's an empty spot but they denied it. I knew they had already looked down on her. Those girls were the most popular on my campus. They are my friends too. To be honest, most of them are my teammates' girlfriends. So, technically we hang out together, but it doesn't mean that I liked them. They got such a bad attitude.

I wish I could stop them.

"Mrs. Quinn, there's an empty seat here," I stood up.

"Oh, is it true? You don't mind?"

"It's okay. She can sit here," I pointed to a chair, next to mine with Krissy behind me, and sat next to Luna and Frank at the front. My classmates were shocked. It's a rare thing I have ever done. Offering somebody to sit next to me, let alone asking a girl to sit with me. Those girls were shocked. But I don't care.

"Okay, Miss Klien. You may go now," she blinked her eyes. It's an awkward situation, but it's for the best. She walked with a heavy heart towards me. I smiled and welcomed her.

Suddenly, she got green. Without any warning, my shirt was soaked with vomit. The whole class started to scream. She stood there like a lamp post. Everyone was 'eeeyuh!' and making things so disgusting.

She was so damn nervous, just stood there with watery eyes.

"Well, it's nice to meet you too. Let me show you the washroom," I smiled and escorted her to the washroom outside. My clothes? Let it soak.

I brought her to the sick bay. Maybe she needed some rest there. She just kept silent. Nurse Camila tried to make a conversation. But the only thing that she has done was just nod and ignore it. Maybe she needs a lot of time to adjust. I left them together and went straight to my gym locker and changed my shirt with my training suit.

***

It was recess time. I walked to the table at the cafeteria where Frank sat silently, and sipped his juice. I sat down and smiled at him.

"Where is that ogre?" he asked.

"Who?"

"That vomit girl," Frank chuckled. Suddenly, I felt some anger sipping into my heart. But, I tried to ignore it. He must be only joking. Frank is a badmouth but he got a pure heart. That's how he communicates with others.

"She's at sickbay, but I guess she's supposed to be here now,"

"Why?"

"So that she can throw out at you.." I chuckled. Frank gave me a light punch. I was just laughing at him.

I could hear the sound of a stiletto coming from my back. My heart sank.

"Hi, Dave!" there she is. I smiled and turned my back.

"Hey.." I just smiled. Helen was standing right behind me. She is the most beautiful girl on our campus. She even holds the title 'Miss Oak High'. She's not just beautiful, but she's smart too. Winner of The International Mathematical Olympiad two years of a row. With a full package, who doesn't want to be her friend or her boyfriend? Everybody had that dream.

Even me.

"I heard there was some accident back at History class.." she spoke gently. I was just nodding and smiling. I don't know where the hell she got that story, but I guess the word had been spread. And, instantly I got the suspect. Or, suspects.

"It's not harmful. Nobody's getting hurt," I said politely.

"I bring you some clothes. You can't just simply wear that training suit, right?" I blinked my eyes. Helen and I were quite okay. We had the same circle of friends and casually hang out together. But, this is new!

Then, I realized. She is the Head Prefect. I can rationalize her now.

I reach for that shirt. She smiled, satisfied. It was a kinda honor but at the same time, it's weird too. But, I considered myself lucky to have someone concerned about me. Double the luck, that person is Helen.

"I guess I should get going now. See you on Saturday," she smiled and walked away. Frank gave me a light slap on my back and teased me.

***

"Jane... it's okay. Please wake up!" I touch her cheek. She's sweating like hell. I push the emergency button again. Still no response.

"Jane.."

"Please.. let me go... I know nothing about it! It's just an accident.. please..!" Jane hold my hand, tight. She's crying so bad. I don't know what to do, so I just grab her in my arms. It's like a deja vu, seeing her in this condition. I know how she feels right now. It's not easy to just forget the bad experience.

***

It's so quiet that evening. Since it's Friday, every class ended early. Lots of students went home before 2 p.m. I looked at my watch. It's already 3.30 p.m.

I went to sickbay first. Looking for her. She's supposed to join us for English class but she's not around. Maybe she was still not well and rest. To my surprise, Nurse Camilla told me that a bunch of her friends came and pick her up. They had permission to send her home. I just nodded my head. Maybe that's true. So, I continued my journey to the locker room.

Entering the locker room, it's so damn quiet. I opened my locker and put back my training suit. Suddenly, I heard a crying voice. Scared but at the same time very painful. I searched for the source. I look at the last section of the locker room. The voice began to hear clearly.

"What the...?!" I was shocked. Moving my leg faster toward the voice. It was Jane. Her eyes and mouth had been tied up. Quickly, I loosen the rope and clothes. She was crying until her eyes were red.

"Save me.. please... save me..." she had zero energy. I don't know what to do. She opened her eyes slowly. Her hand grabbed my shirt. There were bruised on her hand and cheek. She's been hit. But, by who?

"Jane... Jane.. please wake up!" suddenly, her eyes shut down. I hold her in my arms. Praying that she's still alive. Slowly, I picked her up and brought her out of the locker room, called security, and sent her home.

I don't know anything about the attack. She told nothing about it. All I know is that she began developing some symptoms of claustrophobia. And, only me who knows about that.

***

"Jane...Jane.." she opened her eyes.

"Dave.." and crying her heart out.