"Here's an individual project for your first assessment test this term. Prepare a presentation about your family. This is not a nursery class so be creative. You've been art students for three years not, represent the idea of what your family is artistically. Then there'll be a live presentation here by third week." Teacher Nam said after her long and breathe taking lecture about the roman art and how it originated. So boring. "You have enough time. There will be no excuse that I will accept. Good day class." She walked out like a programmed semi human robot.
It's barely a week in a new term and she's already giving project. I could not take my eyes off the class President thorought the class. He was way too normal like nothing ever happened. Or maybe he really didn't care. That broke my heart. I felt alone. I made a lame deal with Liam, that wretch.
"Fairy baby!"His hand was on my head. I cursed beneath my breath. This school, why would so much calamity befall me on a second day. It means it had no good luck. I should have known."What you want, Liam?""Master, that's what you call me!" He pointed out.Holy mother of... Master?!"got it!"I nodded."Say it!"He commanded, grabbing a handful of my hair."Let go. I hate guys touching my hair."Surprisingly, he obeyed. "Say it!"I pursed my lips. "M...master.""Good." He said." Get my bag and follow me. Let's go make trouble a bit."I hesitated but he yanked me off my seat. He really did make trouble. I had the day of my life. I did things I've never been allowed to do. All my life, I've always been locked behind a door. At school, I stayed in class or a library under the watch of Jude's spies. In Mcade high, Jude was only my uncle, no spy. I felt a bit of freedom. Though mentally, I still felt caged. I guess Liam was sent into my life to sort that out. l spent the rest of the day watching him play basketball. Damien was there also -- guys with long legs. He introduced me as his new pet. They all laughed me, said words that didn't make sense while damien avoided eye contacts throughout the match. He must be mad but I couldn't care less. I'm paying for my walking imbalance already. A fight broke out yowards the end of the match. I was marvelled at how the class President single handedly ended it. That was more prove that he was the only fit for that post.We spent the whole of the prep time outside, even missed the rest of the days lecture. He assured me we wouldn't get caught. I met his girlfriends. He hactwo in Junior High, the sassy one and the cool one. Two girls in the science department and some other in Human Resource department. No one from our class. He proudly analysed their characters and how many times he had changes them. Though, I was dumb the whole time, I was learning fast. He looked like a lost souk among his peers, though huge and more confident. I took time to study him when he was quiet. His short brown hair fell over his forehead, there was a black scar on it. That's explainable cUse he fights a lot but his aura, so dark. I was convinced that behind those dark eyes, he had a dark secret. His mights are all faked, I could see it because I can relate. Though, I hated him for the trouble he's causing for me but a part of me had that "no one really knows our deep secrets" mindset.I wasn't happy but I had little hope that I would be. I had something seemingly reasonable to do in school now, babysit a bully. It's wottg the while in some way."There's a party et kings hall tonight. You should be there."School had closed and I had his cross bag hung around my shoulder. It was light though. It only had a skating shoe he seized from a junior, his filthy black socks, Whot cards and a short steel pipe."I can't" I spat. A girl, with straight brown hair and a pair of stunning blue eyes nudged him from behind."Liam, I bought two tickets. You'll go out with me right?"She smiled."Of course."He smiled back. "I have my ticket though. Give that to someone else okay?""Fine."She sent me stabbing stares. "Who is she? A new puppet ?""A fresh puppet."He sneered.She left."What was that?""What?""I'm not your puppet. Shit! I've have had enough of you today."I cried."Fairy baby, you must be at kings hall tonight. You go wherever I go understood?""No." I snorted. "That would be only at school.""Be there or...""I don't go out!"I cried. "My dad won't let me. " I stopped realizing I just said "dad""My uncle. I mean."Then a black SUV drove into the lot."You see, his driver is here. I gotta go."I tried to give him his hag but he left it hanging in the air."Come on. We have to depart here. Don't be an headache!""I'm an headache huh?"He grinned. I hissed."Are you quitting now?""Take your bag. I'm going home. That's all I'm saying."He cackled stupidly. I had a feeling that he liked it when I'm frustrated."You like making a big deal out of nothing.""You wouldn't understand. You can't."I bit my lip. That was the truth though. I'm still scared my dad has spies and that driver... I do not trust anyone related to my dad. If he knows I'm moving around with a guy I'll be toast, for real."Well, I see you still have a little pride left in you. " he took his bag. "Go on puppet. Don't forget to change that ugly specs okay?"I had turned away immediately he took his bag and I must have said aloud: "Fuck you!"*When I got home, Jude Kam was on the line."Baby, how was school today?"My first impulse was to wlam the receiver against the wall. His voice... reminds me of how much a failure I am."Good.""Do you like the school? I know it's different. You need to stay off public eye for a while. ""It's okay, Mister Kam."I hissed.He laughed on the other end. "You sound pissed. " Then his voice turned unexpectedly serious. "Be careful with your movements with low rangers. I warned you, didn't I? Will you ever obey me huh? Paige? It's barely a day in the school and you already have guys all around you. What..."I was awed. He knows! "That Liam boy...""Dad!"I shrieked. "Are you not in China?!"Jude Kam travelled to China for a business conference. He must be a spirit.I'm not free! Never free!"I'll be back home tomorrow. I should not have left you on your own."Worst nightmare!My life went back to normal when my dad returned. I became cold and retractive as I've always been. I was back to my own darkness, all I could do was embrace it. No one, not even Liam's troubles could take me away from it. The first two days I spent in Mcade was just a manifestation of my fantasies and to my sacred memory, it's like it never happened. The life I live with my dad is enough to rub off any memory.It was third week already and I only remember I had an assignment from the semi robot teacher when I stepped into the class. There was artworks everywhere, like the whole world remembered except me. Even Liam, he had his. I was taunted by own self, oppressed by the wonderful sight of unimaginable artistic representations of the damn word "family" The title alone was enough discouragement for me. What "family" do I have?I watched everyone talk about their art and how it related to their family structure or whatever. There were paintings, pen art, embroidery, carved imag
I sat at the large window, the best spot in my room, in solemn silence. I sat there hoping I could watch Damien like I used to. He strolls around the estate with an elderly man, his dad possibly, every evening. I've seen him once with a boy on a wheel chair, maybe his brother. I believed he hasn't noticed that I lived opposite his house. He wasn't out today and I felt more empty as minutes passed.A light flicked from the window opposite the street. With the help of the streetlights I could see clearly who it was -- Damien. My heart melted , though I wondered how long he had known, how long he'd also watched me. Gosh, I am imagining things.He waved at me and I waved back. He had a blue polo on and his hair was packed up in a dough."How are you doing now?"He wrote on his window. I just nodded. He smiled and wiped it off."Where did you go?"I did not return to class and I know he must have searched the whole school for me. I wonder if that's really the work of a class mo
I hide beneath a stair case. It was very low so I was not noticeable. The whole school was in chaos and I could hear threats from students who were searching for me. I also heard Liam had been transferred to the hospital. I felt like I needed to die. I deserved it this time. I could not cry, could not think. I just focused on the darkness that enveloped me beneath the stair case. Darkness-- that's where I belong.After some time, I saw a figure join me in the darkness where I sat. I was shocked that I've been found and I froze in place. To my surprise, the person only couched beside me. I could tell from his smell who it was. Damien."Enough of the hide and seek Miss Kam. Your uncle is at Principal Dane's office."Ideas or rather questions rushed through my head. I wished I could see his face. He would hate me forever for what I have just done. That was heartbreaking enough.I was also curious that he found me. Was he watching me? Oh my… I'm a mess. I felt like plu
"Master Kam, The new robot has caused problems in the Macrigo branch." Jude's manager said. He had taken the first flight to Albany to report the strange incidents in the company's branch that he headed. Jude came up with an invention that could change the workd forever. A robot that sends electromagnetic waves as nervous response to the human brain. It has the ability to control anything. (Anything it's programmed to control). Jude had kept it in his youngest branch to hide it from prospective creativity hackers and also to test run it. Since the robot was installed in that branch, it had brought more customers and more sales for them (he programmed "attraction of clients and dealers in it"). It has worked for three months, boosting his sales five times the usual each month, until reports of insanity came in." Currently, five of our employees have gone nuts. They behave out of this world, some even cut themselves for no peculiar reason. The Secretary now has schizoprenia.
"What was that about huh?" Miss Roona questioned when she finally had the chance to. "What was that story about?" "Anything, Miss Roona."Riley giggled. "Teach', it was just a game, you won't punish us for that." "Of course I won't. It better not be what I'm thinking..." A guy with a bottle jumped into the circle. "Woohoo! It's time for the bottle game!"Everyone jeered. I saw miss Roona stand up to leave. "I'll leave you guys to do that." "C'mon teach', you should stay."Damien countered. "I'm not a teenager. I'll go join the other guy teachers. You guys have fun!" She left. The noise died down and soon the bottle was spinning. At first it started with truths being revealed. I was glad it didn't get to me. A girl confessed her crush on her class president. Another confessed that he still peed in his bed sometimes. It as hilarious but no so hot until the dares started. Truth and dare games always go this way and sinc
"I don't have a good feeling bout this Paige. But..."Jude kam said as he parked his white SUV at the lot. I tried all I could to convince him to let me. I even threatened him tgat Id kill myself. I surprised myself though, because I wasn't the type that would want to live outside my home but the school project, though seemingly hopeless to achieve, I wanted to attempt no matter what. It's one of my resolutions anyway. Though I had no idea how to make our team work."Dad, I thought we have settled that already.""Remember my rules. Do not make silly associations, don't try to make your own show of "living", don't...""I know them all kam!" I shrieked.I walked out of the car, fetch my box from the boot and drove into the school. The others were already at the bus, as soon I joined in, it took off. I took a last glance at my dad's car, I would be away from him for five weeks. My biggest dream coming true. Maybe this school isn't bad afterall. I felt like i'd be hap
After our usual morning Class, each group set out to work on their project. Liam and Damien were no where in sight. I had the fifty bucks given to our group by Mister Donald but there was nothing I could do with it. I felt sick.They really do hate me.I searched every corner of the school. Damien was at the roof, alone. He looked a little sad, he had some pebbles in his hands he was tickling. I knew how much he should not want to see me. I ruined his image in school, to make matters worse, I almost kill liam because of those pictures. I wished I understood how bad he felt. I heard he used to be good friends with Liam before i joined the school. I ruined everything. I can't apologise to them when all they do is avoid me like a plague. I didn't find Liam, I didn't wish to either. A part of me still blames him for posting that picture in the first place. He's mad at me, I am also! I really felt guilty when he fell down those steps. I spent two weeks of my life in guilts that
After so much argument with Andra, I finally had the guts to go talk to Damien. He sat on a concrete pavement on the roof. The cold breeze made my face numb. I have Andra's voice in my head, screaming "just give it a try"I stood at his back for minutes before I finally had the guts to speak."D...Damien."I stopped as he turned, his cold stare made me heart shudder."I... We..."I bit my lip."What you want?""Our team. Ain't we doing anything?"I saw him smile. That was heart-warming enough."We don't have a team unfortunately. You know I wonder why all these is happening at this crucial time of our lives."He paused. "It's just few months until we are out of this school." He paused."You did the wrong thing Paige.""I know. I swear I.." I swallowed. "I didn't mean to. I...""You don't need to explain anything. At least, not to me."He was walking away. I had to stop him."Wait!"He turned, arched a br