Chapter 4: The Devil
“Yeah, were classmates.” Zeke finally had a courage to speak,
“Oh my! That’s good! Isn’t it Aki? Zeke could look for Math in school. My son is such a caring boy! Even when his father left us, he always looks and manage our shop. Maybe, because we can’t even pay the bills that much— ugh every time I remember Patrick, I just wanted to punch someone you know. He’s such a worthless father.” Ana said, feeling irritated.
Hmmm. So, his parents are divorced I see the angsty there. But I was shocked for the fact that he’s being a good son to his mother. Didn’t expected that.
“Yeah, I TOLD YOU. We were in college! He’s a womanizer who doesn’t know anything!” mom said,
“I know, I know— but atleast he gave me Zeke. And that’s quite enough.” Ana said while smiling at patting Zeke’s back,
Zeke was obviously uncomfortable with the subject, I can feel that he is getting angry with the whole situation that I am here listening to one of his life dramas.
“Zeke? Can you do me a favor and look for Math? You see, she’s a bit of anxious over everything. She has these panic attacks that me and her father can’t even manage.” mom said wearing that worried look again,
Mom, he was the THREAT. He was the reason i am acting like this! For gods sake! I don’t even want him near me!
“Yeah, just now she was crying outside the bookshop— poor child. Zeke, help Math will you? I mean, you guys could be good friends like me and Aki.” Ana said while intently looking at Zeke, whose face just looks down at the table.
“ Yeah sure, whatever.” Zeke said and shrugged off, he looked at me and for the first time he wasn’t wearing those devilish smile or smirking, he was just looking at me. Is he worried about me or something? But that was just seconds after he looked away.
Maybe because he knows that he’s the reason why I cried and had a panic attack in the first place. Maybe he’s just guilty. But I don’t care really.
I looked away, and managed to say, “I’m gonna go to the restroom.” I said, and left them there. This was too much for me. I don’t care if he’s a good son to his mother, but he’s a jerk to me. That’s all I know.
I stayed in the bathroom for 20 minutes and waited for my dad to arrive, I saw Zeke still sitting with my mom and Ana. He’s so obedient for a jerk. He kept glancing at me with that weird worried look and then look away again,
Ana and mom bid their goodbyes, I didnt even look Zeke in the eyes and went inside our car. “Math, say goodbye to Ana. That’s just rude of you.” Dad said in the car, I rolled my eyes,
I rolled down the window shield, and waved at Ana. Ana waved back at me smiling. Zeke was still not looking at me and went ahead in their shop. My mom went inside the car,
“Math, what do you think of Zeke?” mom asked me, while putting on the seatbelt.
“He’s okay.” I lied, he’s not even near the word okay and put the earbuds on. I don’t want to listen to my mom’s questions again. All I want to do is take a bath and isolate myself in my room for the whole weekend.
Awkward classes with Zeke after the bookshop event
After the event, I didnt enjoy the rest of the weekend-- I was dreadful for Monday. Sometimes, I experience panic attacks when my phone buzzes or when something falls on the ground. And I realize my anxiety has gotten worse.
“MATH!! WAKE UP! Your alarm has being ringing since forever! You’re gonna be late you know..” actually, I’m already wide awake 3 hrs ago but I can’t bear to stand up and go to school. I wanted to use that ‘I’m sick card’ but I cant since we always use that card on special moments so, no— I have this hunch that things will get worser from then on. Little did I know, that I was right.
When I arrived at school, the bell rang— just in time for me. When I arrived in the classroom, everyone was looking at me like I killed somebody or someone. I don’t know why, but the mean girls on the back rolls their eyes more often at me this time ( you know the mean girls aka the pretty girls that looks like college because of their 20x layer of make up even if their still in highschool, yeah that girls) but it wasn’t them that I am fully scared about, it’s the boy sitting beside me in the front row. I’d like to change seats but there was no other empty seats in the back and sitting at the back is also hard for me, despite wearing glasses.
I sat down, and I slowly looked at Zeke who was surprisingly ignoring my existence. Lucky me! I thought he was gonna kill me or something today because I just heard an episode of Zeke’s family drama last week.
And then there he is, for a second, I caught him in a glimpse looking at me. But we can’t look each other in the eyes, gosh this is so awkward. I can’t quite understand the events that are slowly unfolding between my eyes. This makes me even more feel stressed and anxious, this was not I expected.
It was lunch time, and I made my way out in the cafeteria. I was thinking if I should eat my bento box (Japanese traditional lunch box) in the cafeteria or not, I told my mom that she should not make one but she said, she’ll be making once in a week for me because she’s doing these cooking techniques and stuff. I don’t wanna refuse her, plus it’s not like this is everyday— though a bento box might be lame for others, I don’t mind.
While I walk past these hallways thinking of a good drink to pair with my bento box, someone surprisingly pulled me into a small staff room and cornered me. At first, I can’t see the face of this kidnapper because of how clouded my eye glasses are (well, I was breathing heavily so my glasses were pretty clouded) and then even if the figure is so blurred, I can still figure out who is this.
Yes, I know you already figured who it is. It’s no other than Zeke. He was flushed and embarrassed too, he cornering me into a wall. This scene might be pretty cliche to some romance drama but trust me, a weird looking nerd girl with glasses being “walled” by a cute guy, but in a room full of mops, unwashed shirt and heavy smell of chlorine is actually a pretty bad scenario. This is closer on a thriller type of movie, like my body would end up lying on this room.
“Don’t fuck with me!” Zeke said, his face is getting serious now and I can see that he is mad. Oh boy.
“What? I didn’t do anything...” you see, as you observed I am quite the person who can’t defend herself. Even if I am mad, the only thing that I can let out is one word. If someone were really gonna kill me, I’ll just be crying instead of calling for help— I’m that lame. But what could I do anyways? I’m just a weak nerd whose in distress.
“DID YOU TELL ANYONE ABOUT ME!? KUROSAWA!!” and now he’s shouting, his face are getting more red, and my eyes are closed now. I’m just too afraid to look him in the eyes.
“N-no, Zeke.. I didn’t tell...I-I don’t have anyone t-to talk to... o-okay.” I was closing my eyes, and it was the first time I said his name. I was so scared that I can’t even form sentences properly.
“THEN HOW THE HELL ONE OF THE GIRLS KNOWS THAT WE SAT TOGETHER IN THE CAFE NEAR THE BOOKSHOP!!!” he said, and now punching the wall behind me. I was so shocked, flustered, that my heart began beating faster. That loud noise, that big thud— it scared me so much that my hands started to tremble. This was too much for me, I think I’m having a nervous breakdown any second—
“I- I DONT KNOW!!! I DONT KNOW!! LET ME GO PLEASE!” I was literally crying now, “let me go, Zeke please— I don’t know anyone. I just don’t know.” I was crying hard and fell down on my knees, and I just cried.