1 0-0: Prologue

Gimmick.

That is something I don't have. When people talk about gimmick, it has to be something grand like how can you attract audiences' attention to you, and you alone. When you're able to get the solid spotlight, depending on your gimmick, it may well make your further life much favourable and fun. To make your gimmick impactful, it has be done full with experience. Novices probably will always fail to make a good start.

An example has to be is when someone casually approaches you as if he/she has already known you beforehand. To do this, it takes a lot of courage and being numb to shame and if it succeeds, tada! You make a friend. Well, what I'm trying to explain is the gimmick for high school life.

If you do it horribly, God knows how bad your life will be.

Sounds hocus pocus.

And it doesn't concern me.

Because.

I have no need to do such thing. Thanks to my cool-looking naturally born face, people seem to come to me without even trying to care about my non-existent gimmick. I remember when that girl… A? Let's call it girl A then B then C then… well you know the rest of the alphabet. Memorizing each of their name is such a hassle.

During the first day of my second year high school, Girl A spoke to me so casually that I was confused. I thought she was my sister. That slender body of her meant business and not to mention, she always invited me out afterschool or even sometimes on weekend. Though, deep inside me, I always wondered if I actually knew this girl.

"You got plans after school?" she asked, sitting leisurely on my table while browsing her smartphone using her feminine forefinger.

To be honest, her behaviour was kind of disrespectful. Not to mention, she was doing it in the classroom and there was like few more minutes before the first period start. Though, having her thighs this close to me was never a bad thing. It had been weeks after the entrance ceremony she started doing this 'bitchy' thing.

Thanks to that, other alphabetical girls couldn't manage to approach me as often as they wanted.

What's with this girl? Just because she's Girl A so she has to be bold? It's not even Girl B.

As a modern high school boy, of course I too would be playing with my smartphone. Really, I can't stress how much of a useful gadget a smartphone is. It lets you do a lot of things in just matter of time. Not just that I'm handsome, I'm also born silver spooned. I have this latest i-thing 12 at my disposal. Though, it's all about the look and fame. Honestly speaking, I don't find this particular phone any special.

"Nah, not really. I plan to have a rest straight at home after school. Also, could you stop sitting on my desk?"

She immediately made a soft smile and hopped off the desk as she was told. Her blue short hair and bang wiggled before she made a direct eye contact with me.

"Just perfect, Ms. Claire asked us to meet her in the office."

Ms. Claire, our classroom teacher who was really doting of her students, especially the ones who always cause trouble. For some reasons, she started to pay too much attention to me and Girl A.

It's too much.

Too much that we could be often mistaken as having a parents-children relationship with her.

Wait, I'm not a problematic kid, aren't It?

"I've been keeping low profile lately. I don't think her call is any important."

"Ehh…" she placed both her palms on the table. "Let's just go! I don't want to anger the teacher!" she said in persuasively worried voice.

"You, despite acting delinquent and bold, aren't you being too obedient?" I lifted my hands and waved nonchalantly, "I'm telling you, ignoring some of her orders is not a bad thing."

She was like a delinquent, a beauty but her manners were always harsh. Her skirt always appeared short and she always loosened the ribbon tie so that her upper clavicle was exposed, sometimes she didn't even bother to wear a tie. Not to mention, she seemingly paid no heed about others when she decided to do skinship. Skinship? Yes to me.

Her eyebrows frowned.

"It's a bad thing! We have to fully respect our teachers! Therefore…" she paused, "…we have to obediently follow their orders?" as she tilted her head.

Why the question tone? You're not even sure!

"Are you a loyal dog of some sorts? You never know how she will abuse her power. I bet she won't hesitate to make us do her daily errands."

"Your view on Ms. Claire is too dark!"

Dark? Where do you find that blondie teacher being other than dark? Truth to be told, she's darker than black! One time I made an incident, she lectured for hours. I thought I remember her calling my parents, but fortunately both my parents were busy to be bothered with me. Hence the hell of a lengthy lecture as a replacement. Just because she wouldn't be able to humiliate me in front of my parents, she decided to exasperate me by wasting my precious time.

Being lectured by an older woman was sure uncomfortable. My mother herself never lectured me. The feeling of getting lectured was very unfamiliar to me, or maybe if I can put it in other word,

Annoying.

What's with "Oh you're such an excellent student, but your attitude is like a rotten frog. I'm worried about your future." Are you my mom?

Well, it doesn't sound like my mom either.

My future had already been decided the moment I was born in this family. There was almost nothing can change that from happening. It's fate. My linear unchanging fate.

I made a quick hum, then averted my eyes away from her and rested my chin on my palm.

"Let's go!" she insisted.

I remained silent with my eyes rolled to the side to peek on her.

She then lifted a forefinger. "Oh right! Tonight, let's chill and watch movie at your house. I've bought this new movie from Google. It's highly recommended by the reviewers!"

"Why my house? If we want to go for a movie, better go to a cinema."

"Because your house is huge! I mean, humongous! Plus… we're living together, right?"

What is she talking about? As far as I had been aware, there was no one in that mansion except me, and me only. Every day was lonely, no one welcomed me at home. That uselessly huge mansion, even decorated with lovely mini gardens of flowers, over 10 meters veranda, enormous concrete pools, it felt nothing but emptiness.

My residence probably cost over 30 million dollars, not that I know the exact figure. In fact, it was personally designed by my father.

What does she mean by living together?

No.

Is she even telling the truth?

Her offer was very alluring. You know I'm also a boy, I couldn't ask more than being invited by a girl to stay overnight. When the vanilla fragrant tingled my nose as her face got closer, I made up my mind.

"So to say, if only I decide to meet Ms. Claire, right?"

"Yes… you really know what I mean!" she answered confidently.

How foxy!

And Underhanded!

Women are no joke. But they also tend to lie. While they're no joke, it doesn't mean you can just trust them. Of course, that was such a sexism comment. To put it in the right place, you shouldn't even trust anyone but yourself.

Annoyed by the situation, I unconsciously clicked my tongue.

"I guess I'll just go."