Chapter 1: 01
The growth of mold or mildew inside the storage room brought a lingering musty smell into my nostrils. Cobwebs hung on every corner of the ceiling and dust gathered around the broom box, which was almost displayed like a coffin. Old props and used costumes clustered all over the floor like a scene after a typhoon.
I took a few steps towards the desk of the janitor, the cleanest thing in the room. My hand reached for the drawer and snatched the duplicate keys for the lockers. I sighed after closing the door and shifted my sight from left to right like a spy. I tapped her uniform to remove some traces of where she had been and walked towards the lockers of the 12th grade.
I stopped in front of the 16th locker with a surname written on it.
"Clyborne," I whispered, a smile formed from my lips.
I inserted the key and opened the locker. A pile of academic books and a clean jersey uniform greeted her. I grabbed a piece of KitKat in her pocket and pasted a pink sticky note on it before placing it inside.
Familiar footsteps made me move fast and hid at the corner of the locker. I gulped, my heart throbbed, and my skin turned pale. My eyes sneaked at the tall man who owns the locker. He picked up the chocolate and read the letter with it.
I bit my lower lip, waiting for a response. His face showed little surprise or curiosity. Instead, he crumpled the paper and threw it straight to the trash can.
"Hey, Dustin."
He turned his head to face his friend.
"What's up?" he said.
"Are you going to the laboratory?"
"I am."
"I'll tag along."
"By the way, are you hungry? I got an extra snack."
Dustin gave the chocolate to him and patted his shoulder. I grimaced and walked the other way, headed to the laboratory. I swung the keys around my finger until it slipped and flew through the bushes.
The strands of my short hair brushed against one another as the wind caressed my round face. My forehead glimmered as I tied my bangs up. I stopped in front of the laboratory and crouched down. After a moment, my eyes peek through the window.
"Maze! What are you doing?"
I gasped and turned my back against the wall when Shun appeared beside me.
"Shh..."
I pointed Dustin inside the science laboratory alone while doing some experiments. He displayed his elegant jawline while holding the tube with utmost care. The rays of the sun sneaked through the glass window and sprinkled some silver dust onto his white lab gown.
"Oh, so you were staring at him in silence the entire time? Gosh Maze, I almost investigated the whole campus to look for your little ass. Here you are. Not tired of admiring every inch of him."
Shun rolled her eyes.
"Shut up, Shun. Let me focus."
I pressed my face into the window and narrowed my eyes. Dustin's thick brows furrowed. He couldn't figure out what he lacked to make the experiment work.
"Wow. Is that some kind of meditation?" Shun blurted out.
It was like magic when he glanced at me. A gravitational pull was in favor of my fantasies. It was more than a magnetic force that made my heart flutter and my cheeks burn.
We cut our romantic gaze when Dustin's experiment exploded. It was a massive explosion, with smoke spreading inside the laboratory.
"Come on! Let's call for help!"
Shun dragged me towards the clinic and told every student that passed by to call for help. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I placed my hand on her chest and stared blankly at the floor.
"Am I that seductive?" I whispered.
The next day, I moved like a zombie. I had taken no vitamins because my happy pill was absent. Not even his shadow showed up. After class, I cooked dinner for him. I prepared lasagna and spicy fried chicken, which were his favorites.
I reached for the doorknob when my mother spoke.
"Honey, where are you going? It's late."
"Shun is sick, Mom. I have to give this to her because I promised."
"Since I'll be going to work, let me do it."
"No need, mom. I can handle it."
"Okay, but I'm worried. Let me drop you by."
"Fine."
My mother dropped me in front of Shun's house. When mom was already gone, I walked past it, since his house was a few blocks away.
"Sorry, Shun. I hope you're not sick. Sorry if I'm not that caring to cook you some food. You know my priorities," I said.
I wished to live next door, beside Dustin's place. It would be easier for me to monitor his routine and get the chance to befriend his parents. It was 8:00 pm when I arrived at his house. I pressed the doorbell, left the food in front of the gate, then ran away like a suspect escaping from a crime scene.
I entered my room and threw my jacket into the laundry basket. A huge sunflower and chocolates were on my study table. Every month, someone would place it there. My room was on the second floor. My stalker must be tough to climb up and meticulous enough not to be seen.
Who would have thought that a stalker has a stalker?
The next day, I was so glad because I saw him. He was walking down the hallway, and I was right behind him, adoring his broad shoulders.
I suddenly bumped into his back because he stopped walking. He faced me and looked me straight in the eye for 5 seconds. Yes, I counted the moment that I could stare at his almond eyes.
"Could you please look at where you're going?"
I blinked a few times. He turned his back and ambled. It shocked me, but I continued walking. He's more handsome when he talks. His cold baritone voice turns me on.
Again, I bumped into his back.
"And don't follow me. You're so annoying," he said in a bitter tone.
I froze for a moment. My cheeks turned red. Again, he walked away while I couldn't move my body. His words paralyzed me.
"Can you believe that? He complimented me! Gosh."
That was the longest line he said to me, and I couldn't explain what I was feeling. It overwhelmed me.
It's August and the basketball tournament will happen at our gymnasium the next day. I was always at the bleachers, silently cheering for him during their practices. I always leave a bottle of water and a handkerchief with his name on it. I'm entitled as his frustrated and supportive girlfriend who buys him brand new shoes. It's an expensive one I bought from my savings. I placed it on his table with a letter when no one was around.
The next day, I was extremely excited. Since I had to finish some assignments, I was almost late. I ran across the hallway, not minding the people I had bumped. Shun called to tell me that the game was about to start. Because of my clumsiness, I tripped into something that made me fall down.
Just then, a pair of shoes stopped in front of me. I raised my head. And I was not mistaken, it's him. He was wearing the shoes I bought for him. I knew it's him. I have memorized every inch of his features, even his presence.
It surprised me when he offered his delicate hands. Again, my heart went crazy. I can't stop staring at his hands. I couldn't believe it.
"What are you looking at? Make it fast. I'm late and everybody's watching."
His voice sounded irritated. But I would never be tired of listening to it.
Everyone was eyeing us like I was some kind of frog with a prince. It's as if we were being cursed. I was slowly reaching for his hand like in some Korean movies when someone called him.
"Dustin! Why are you here? You should be in court right now. Your teammates are looking for you!"
Dustin teleported to where he was supposed to be, and I was left dumbfounded. I lost the opportunity to touch his hands. Still, I was happy that he's wearing the shoes I gave him. It's a symbol for me that wherever he goes, I'll be there.
It was more of a threat, rather than protection.