The Day We Met Again

Everybody started whispering to each other after they saw us. Well, I expected that this will be their reaction.

Why would a famous woman in our university talks to a loner like me? This is what they're thinking right now, I'm sure of that.

"Oh, thank you." I said casually. I don't want to embarrass myself if I stutter in front of this crowd.

"Uhm... I have a question for y-"

"Sorry. I have to go." I said in a monotonous voice. I quickly went inside the classroom to escape from the commotion outside. This is why I don't want getting involved to anybody.

The first period ended quickly. Our professor for the next class is not around so I decided to go to the vacant building no longer used by our university. That's my favorite place to be precise. I found it when I was just in 1st year in college.

"I must avoid that woman." I said to myself as I sit on the floor of the hallway in 2nd floor. I sighed heavily after sitting.

It's very relaxing here that's why I like this place. Away from the people, away from their pitiful lives. Just like what happened earlier in the hallway, they don't know how to mind other people's businesses.

They will talk trash behind your back, spread bad rumors about you when they feel like it. It's vexatious. They would even do that to their friends just to keep their dignity and to stay at the top of the triangle. How shameful.

That's how our cruel world works. The people who keeps on living at the bottom will always have it worse. Privileges are the things that keeps the distance of the people.

The more privileges you have, the more power you will get and vice versa if not. But as long as it will not affect my life, it's fine.

"Oh, what are you doing here?" I looked beside me and I saw Claire standing while looking at me. She's the one who asked. I sighed and looked away from her.

"Nothing. Just chilling." I said in a dull way. She sat down beside me so I moved a little away from her. If someone sees me with her, it's the end for me.

"I noticed that you're always alone, don't you have any friends?" She asked after a long moment of silence between us. I shook my head as an answer. As much as possible, I won't talk to her.

"Oh, I see. I bet you like reading books and novels," she said with a smile on her face.

"Yeah. They are way better than people." I said casually. I didn't explain why, even though I want to express my opinion. Her face looked shocked after i said yes.

"What genre do you like? Romance?" She asked excitedly. I sighed.

"Fantasy and romance." I responded. She looked so happy after hearing those words.

"I like romance, too! I always wanted to experience the feeling of the characters of a romance novel." She said with her twinkling eyes. I didn't say anything after that, then the silence came back again.

"For you, what is love?" She asked in a serious way. She's staring in front of her. I should have left earlier.

"Love is an absurd thing when it comes to reality. It's the reason why we're risking everything for something we're not sure of. A kind of deep affection that will never stay for so long. Someday, it will fade, it will leave you numb, and will only bring pain and suffering." I said in a solemn way.

She looked so amazed of what I said. She might be thinking that I'm a weird person. Well, I don't care if she thinks of me like that, that's my belief and I won't change that just to please other people. I don't want to be like them. They are all blind.

"Yeah. But the feeling of being in love is great, right?" She asked, convincing me. I sighed heavily before answering her question.

"There's no great in the feeling of being in love. It will just lead to something tragic. Always. Everything you feel in the beginning will surely fade, maybe not now, but soon. The feeling of enjoyment and excitement whenever you meet this certain person will change over time. It's inevitable."

"Haven't you fallen in love even once? Or is it because of experience?" She asked curiously. I froze because of her second question. I remembered the past, my past.

"No one knows what's the real falling in love is. Everyone has their own explanation and perspective about falling in love. Some are irrational and some are logical. There is no one who can say what falling in love is, neither do I." I explained. I avoided her question.

"Then, why are you still reading romance novels?" She confusedly asked to me. I glanced at her before I answered. I knew she would ask this question to me.

"Novels are different from the real world. In novels, you can create your own world using your own imagination which includes all the preferences that you like. It's a portal to a world most of us wanted. In reality, you have no choice but to accept the fact that you can't change nor choose anything unlike in novels. Everything is unexpected. Like the sea, the only role of a fish is to swim before it gets eaten."

"Oh, is that so? That's sad. I need to go now," she said before leaving me. She didn't even look at me. She just left in a hurry.

I'm sure she's thinking I'm a crazy person after our conversation. I think she freaked out because of all that I said to her.

I just said the truth but she couldn't accept it because she's fond of love. She likes romance so much to the point that she's been blinded.

"Ugh. I'm hungry." I told to myself before standing up to go to cafeteria. When I got there, at the cafeteria I was greeted by one of my professor.

"You're Sarmiento, am I right?" Professor Smith, the head of the Science Department, asked me formally. I nodded as an answer to her question.

"I need you at the Science Department Office after school. We need to talk about something," she said before walking away. My body stopped because of what she said. What are we going to talk about? This is a pain.

Like what professor Smith said, I went to the office after all my classes have ended. When I got in front of the door of the office, professor Smith opened the door from inside. She got shocked after seeing me. That's not the kind of reaction I'm expecting.

She laughed a little because of what happened. "You startled me. I really thought you're not going. Come inside," she said, gesturing the office.

After I went in, I was amazed because of the room's arrangement. The walls are painted white while the ceiling is painted light gray.

Paintings of solar system and other science related stuffs are hanging on the walls. The desks and the bookshelves are neat and properly arranged.

The other science professors are already gone so we are the only ones left inside the office. Maybe they went home earlier before class. I looked at professor Smith

and she's doing something in his laptop. Is this the reason? She wants me to watch her do her works?

"Don't just stand there. Take a seat," she ordered. I nodded and sat silently.

"What are we going to talk about?" I asked in a dull tone. She looked at me. No. She stared at me.

"Are you always like this? You're like a zombie!" She said in a disgusted way. That hurts a little. I thought she's a serious person.

"It's not my fault that everything around me is annoying." I replied to her in a bored way. She laughed at it so I looked at her with my face frowning.

"You're really something! I like you!" She said, still laughing. I looked away from her. This is a drag. I should have not came here.

"By the way, I told you to come here becau-"

"Professor! I already did! Where is h-" Claire said before looking at me in shocked. I stared at her with confusion. What's the meaning of this? I need to leave.

"I'm sorry, professor. I need to leav-" I stopped talking because I couldn't open the door. The door is locked. She locked it.

"Oh, my bad! I locked it accidentally!" She said while smirking at me. Claire is now standing beside her. Ugh, I should have just went home.

I sat down because I had no other choice. I can't do anything to escape, I'll just exhaust myself. I sighed heavily as I looked at them working on something.

When I took a little peek to what they're doing, I saw the computer screen was full of numbers. Are they doing mathematics? She's a science professor, didn't she?

"Where is the president?" Claire asked out of the blue. Oh by the way, I haven't seen the president yet. Is she a girl or a guy?

"Oh, you mean Faye?" Claire then nodded as answer.

"She already left before Sarmiento came here. It's unfortunate they didn't had a chance to met." Professor answered before focusing again on the computer. Is Faye a name for a girl?

"Thank you for coming here, Raver." Claire said with a smile written on her face. I thought she already thinks that I'm crazy. I guess, I'm wrong.

"It's as if I have other choice. Tss." I said in a monotonous voice. She became silent and she just laughed awkwardly.

"That's enough. Anyway, there is a certain reason why I called you here." She said seriously. I sighed again. She took a paper and she lent it to me. What is this?

"We want you to join the club. Claire told me about you, and I thought you're perfect for the club," she said, proud of herself. I looked at the paper with my eyebrows frowned. Community Service Club?! No way.

"This is ridiculous. I can't accept this invite." I bravely said, handing the paper back to professor. She sighed while Claire looked so worried.

"Why not try? This could change you to be a normal person," she said in a concerned tone. Normal? I'm a normal person. She's mocking me.

"If being normal is being similar to the people around me, it's even better to be called weird and Frankenstein." I said in an irritated way. Claire is really worried right now. Maybe she's worrying that we will fight.

"I refuse your refusal. We chose you because you're special," she insisted. I looked at her with a smirk.

"Special? Are you making fun of me? How could a person like me be special for a club like this?" I said with a slight annoyance in my voice. They're just mocking me. I stood up to grab my things to go home.

"Raver! Wait! Let's just calm dow-" Professor Smith interrupted what she's going to say.

"Let him be. Let's just try to convince him tomorrow. We also need to go home because it's getting dark already." That's what I heard before leaving them alone. I left the office with an irritated face.

Special? Don't give me that crap. They're just making fun of me as a person. I know when people are lying because I have experienced it many times.

Their dedication to do anything just to get what they really desire. Even if it means doing some things that are not appropriate. I will not fall for that. Never.

"Help me! Someone hel—Stop touching me! Help!" I heard a woman's voice screaming for help in an alley near where I am standing.

I decided to look what's happening. After a few seconds of walking towards the place, I saw a woman being harassed by a guy.

I can only see his back because he's facing forward. I slowly walks to them, creating not a single sound.

"Oh, come on! I know you want it! Just one time!" The guy said and followed it with an evil laugh. Based on his voice, he's drunk.

When the girl saw me, I immediately told her to stay quiet and not to say any single word. I will attack from behind his back.

When I got into the right spot, I did the headlock to him. He started shouting because of what I did.

"Are you okay?" I asked the woman. She's crying when she looked at me and nodded.

"Be careful! He has a knife!" After she said those words, the guy stabbed my arm with the use of his knife. And that's the reason he escaped from the headlock. Ugh! That hurts!

"You damn brat! I will kill you!" He immediately ran with his knife pointing at me. I prepared my body to prepared myself.

When he was about to stabbed me with the knife with his full force, I dodged it so I was able to kick his stomach.

He screamed because of pain. I then kicked his chin with my full force which caused him to faint. I'm breathing heavily because of what happened.

"T-Thank you for helping me. What's your name?" She asked concernedly. Now that I have a good look on her face, I knew why this man harassed her.

"It's rude to ask someone's name without giving them yours." I said while wiping the dirt on my shirt. She smiled because of what I said and in that moment, I thought I reached the heaven.

"I'm Coulyne Faye Natividad," she said while giggling. I looked at her and sighed.

"Raver. Raver Xyle Sarmiento." I said to her in a tired tone before walking away to go home.