[ Five Days After 31 December 2017]
—
–DAVID CHWE
"Your father must have explained the consequences of repeating your silly mistakes, I reckon?"
A voice that waved with clamour left a question hanging in the air, leaving echoes of peril to linger across the limo.
It was dark inside— the luxurious car was bombarded by smoke from the cigar that was exhaled by an individual who sat in the darkest corner. His deep, life-threatening voice sent immediate shivers that carried electricity, throughout the system of David who flinched at the vibrations of his voice.
There— David sat ten seconds away from the unknown individual, where the one bulb was illuminating fear as it caressed his veins. He was visibly shaking like a leaf, his whole body was covered in sweat. The unknown man behind the shadows made a four with his legs shortly after throwing out peals of guffaws that further influenced aghast to envelope itself on David's figure.
DAVID— the only thing he'd do was to nod whenever thrown a question. Words were scattering around in his head, discouraging him from speaking. Beads of sweat were trailing on his bruised face.
"It…it won't happen again…I promise!" David spoke in a stuttering whisper and tiredly tried to fish more words that he thought would appease the one behind the shadows.
"50,000$— take it and get the hell out! Your face disgusts me!" The man urged in a displeased, indignant tone, and grunted briefly after he threw a big, black leather back at David's face.
Nodding without uttering a word, David hastily got out of the car, breathing heavily with relief. The car roared away leaving him behind as he tried to catch up with his breath.
"Who called the police?!"
—
[15 January 2018]
Days passed— Travis was not yet used to his new neighbour, David. To him, David was like a parasite that was going to feed on him sooner, than he least expected it— hence it was important for him to keep his eyes peeled whenever David was around him, even during lessons.
He had to stealthily lock his eyes on his movements, be they tiny or silly movements— it did not matter as long as his eyes were on him. It was just his luck that he was still not caught on his mission, but today the unexpected occurred— changing everything.
"He has a face structured non-distinguishedly to a koala." Travis secretly complimented whilst his eyes carefully glided over David's face, failing to pay attention to what the teacher was saying.
"His dark brown eyes shamelessly remind me of the sweetest chocolate I ate last night— so dark and mysterious, they haunt my heart every time I look into them and yet at the same time, they shower me with warmth!" Continuing, Travis silently said to himself while a light flickered across his face.
"Maybe I should…!"
"TRAVIS! TRAVIS! TRAVIS PARK!"
Mrs Tanaka, their English teacher, called out to Travis. Her tiny, high-pitched voice reverberated across the classroom, capturing Travis's attention who hastily rose from the chair, completely startled. His dilated eyes with fear looked at Mrs Tanaka whilst, at the same time, everyone turned their eyes at him.
There was a soft murmur that washed the whole class that made Travis realise that all eyes were on him, including those of his neighbour, with that he embarrassingly lowered his eyes, rubbing his suddenly sore neck.
"Recite lines 13 and 14 of Sonnet 18!"
Mrs Tanaka spoke in an indignant tone that instantly sent fear to caress Travis's system. His heart instantly skipped a beat when he realised that he did not remember the poem— he had no slightest idea what she was talking about.
He could hear his own heart throbbing crazily right in the depths of his ears.
"I…!"
As he was about to air out something, his lowered eyes caught David stealthily pushing his book in his direction— steadily and carefully, the book reached Travis.
It was fortunate that they sat at the back and Mrs Tanaka could not notice when David pushed the book for Travis to see.
"Well?" Mrs Tanaka spoke again, her patience visibly running out.
"So…so long men can breathe, or eyes can see…so long lives this and this gives life to…thee!" Travis replied in a voice that was audibly shaking with emotions and immediately pressed his lips together soon after he spoke.
"Sit down! I won't let it slide next time!" Mrs Tanaka sighed and warned before looking back into the book that was in her hand. An embarrassed Travis nodded and slowly sat down as he exhaled deeply.
"I got caught!" He thought to himself while he adjusted himself to his cold chair, trying to shift his focus on his books. The rest of the lessons began and went by, and soon it was lunchtime.
"Should I? I think…I should!" Having a silent squabble with his heart and head, Travis's eyes stalked David who was already packing his books, readying himself to go out.
"Uh…hey!" Shortly after David had risen from his chair, Travis blurted, gulping as he forced a smile to come out. "Yeah?" Turning his features at Travis, David aired.
"He's…beautiful!" Instead of speaking, Travis screamed mentally as soon as his eyes landed on David's bright features.
"You…!"
"Are you ready!?" Jiyeon exclaimed from behind, her words jumping into Travis's mouth, discouraging him to untangle words from his lips. In a jiffy, Travis packed his books and stormed out with his hand curled around Jiyeon's arm, leaving behind David who frowned at his manoeuvre.
"So handsome!" David said briefly after throwing out a soft chuckle as he shuffled out of the classroom.
"Oh…no practice today?" Jiyeon questioned immediately when saw Kevin rush to them, breathless and sweating.
"Mrs Kim suddenly fell sick, that means tea time for me!" Kevin replied cheerfully, fixing his spectacles as he stuffed strawberry juice in his mouth. At this point, everyone had worn glowing faces with delight because the truth was that, Kevin rarely found the chance to dine with them— the last time was on 25th December 2017.
His father had always been urging him to be excellent in music— one would say that his father is strict and oppressive but no one brings that topic to life.
The group was more lively than the other days, everyone was throwing guffaws left and right, except for Travis who yearned his eyes every now and then to look for David, unfortunately, he was nowhere around.
"DAVID!?"
Kevin exclaimed after sighting David walking inside the cafeteria. Upon hearing David's name, Travis jumped, looking behind him with eyes that were widened with sudden fear. He felt his heart skip a beat as he gulped, whilst his eyes looked into David's eyes.
"Hey!" Cheerful and welcoming as always, Jiyeon invited David to join them. Slowly, David walked over not realising that Travis had his eyes gliding on every part of his features.
"You always arrive late. Got in trouble again?" Jaden teased, briefly after he had gotten him a vacant seat
"A little!" Forcing a smile, David answered, hiding his eyes away from Kevin who had already worn a frown at his presence.
"Enemies?"
Witnessing the sudden uneasiness between Kevin and David, Travis said silently to himself, sipping his juice. David and Kevin hardly said anything to each other, in fact, they did everything in their power to avoid each other, encouraging Travis to grow curious.
"Oh, I forgot to share! Someone got scolded today!" Without warning, Jiyeon blurted words that instantly influenced adrenaline to rush throughout Travis's system.
For an obscure reason, David's cheeks were slowly turning red.
"JIYEON!" Travis growled mentally promptly after the group began investigating him— it was not the first time Travis was scolded.
"Seriously…what did you do now?" Kevin nudged Travis, as he threw guffaws left and right. "NOTHING!" In a loud, deep voice, almost high-pitched, Travis answered swiftly after the question was thrown at his face.
On his left was David who was smiling alone. "There it is! The twinkle in his eyes!" He said to himself as he watched Travis try anything by all means to change the subject. As if hearing his wish to get away as soon as possible, the bell rang, rescuing Travis from all the laughter and he dashed away when he got the chance.
——
[Five Minutes Before Going To The Cafeteria]
"I can't breathe!" David hissed with the brightest smile on his face, whilst his shuddering hands clenched his chest, trying to slow down his palpitating heart.
"He was looking at me with the very same look he gave me the first time we met." David giggled as he placed his hands on the basin for standing support.
As he was enjoying his moment, remembering the way Travis was looking at him, a phone rang loudly, intruding into his head.
"Hello. I've been meaning to call you. I need your help!" As soon as he answered, David spat in a breathy voice.
"I know…but it has to be done!"
•••
But I Saw Him!—–TRAVIS PARK"I'm…I know that it may be early, but since you asked, you failed your first mathematical test and this brings down your percentage points!" The tiny, sensitive organ began to pound strongly and steadily, against Travis's chest. Words scattered across his head, influencing a headache to take over instead. His eyes widened— he felt like everything was floating as if he were on a ship that was carried away by a strong current. Hair on every part of his body stood up, gearing up to run away, if possible. His dilated eyes with fear, mixed with confusion, only darted around from one place to another, as if searching for something. That was it. That was how he remembered yesterday when Mrs Lee broke the news to him— news that carried evilness that paralyzed his soul. Those dreadful words hid in the core of his wonderland, preventing him from entering inside. They played again in his head for the millionth time now, discouraging him from thinking of anythin
["I Am Haunted, Can Anyone Hear Me?"]"Shh! Everything is going to be fine. Just...breathe!" A shuddering Travis spoke in a quivering whisper. His dry lips were trembling as words stuffed themselves under his tongue while some scattered throughout his head. His tear-filled eyes were watching the sun through the window as it bathed the school buildings with its warmth. He silently watched a group of learners as they were leisurely walking with gleaming smiles pasted on their faces. A piece of his heart that was wildly throbbing against his chest, broke as soon as his ears caught the soft giggles exhaled by the learners. He was not aware of a waterfall of tears that was flooding the floor of his reddened cheeks. The urge to swallow a pill that he has been clasping in his shuddering hand only grew strong. "Will I ever…?" Travis spoke in a breaking murmur. He was breathing heavily with regret immediately after he had thrown the pill in his dry mouth. He closed his eyes tight and bega
"A smile so shamelessly radiant— it cages my heart with its warmth. I must be going crazy, I think!" A jubilant David shouted quietly to himself. His dark, brown eyes were shimmering with sparkles of merriment. At this point, he could not help but dwell once again, in the memory that was created yesterday— for it to be kept in the chambers of his heart. A shy yet colourful smile published itself on his scarlet, tiny, heart-shaped lips whilst he recalled a bright, enchanting twinkle in Travis's eyes that were intensely staring into his eyes. —"I…!" Travis aired while he unconsciously bit his lower lip, shortly after lowering his eyes. He closed them as he fished his head for "right" words and took a shy step towards David whose heart was vehemently beating against the wall of his chest— steadily and carefully as if afraid it'll burst. A lump rose to dance shamelessly in the core of his throat, making breathing hard for him. "I…I am sorry about…earlier! I am really…sorry!" In an a
["Mightily Broken!"] A cold night; The wind was moaning, kissing the skin of David who was plodding along a dark lane in the depths of the decay zone of the city. His boots sadly crunched on the gravel that was decorated by dead leaves that laid on the ground, only they knew for how long. His hands were carefully thrown in the rooms of his trousers pockets. Engines were heard throbbing from distances. The night sky was aglow with lucent city lights and huge families of stars that looked like a large hand that had tossed diamonds into the sky. Above David's shuddering figure was the crescent moon that shone like a silvery claw that was the only brightest light source for David. He; who was beflooded by happiness and the bitterness of guilt, loomed in the impenetrable blackness of the night with a mind inundated with poisonous thoughts that were adequately sweet to wander unto. "Someone like him…! Will I ever get him?" David asked himself in a brittle, shaking voice. The wind conti
"He should have arrived by now!" Travis said thoughtfully as he fiddled with the sleeves of his school jacket. His eyes nervously pasted themselves on the classroom door, hoping for David to walk in any time now. His heart was abnormally hammering against his chest whilst his eyes were darting from one place to another. Normally, David would be in class right now, studying Travis's face when he thought that Travis was not looking— ensuring that he caught the tiniest details on Travis's face.He would be right next to Travis reciting poems just to get Travis's attention, not just his attention, but prompt him to join as he played with English words. It was already 8:40 am and fortunately, the teachers were said to be caught up in a rendezvous. "Should I have accompanied him home…?!" Travis whispered a query under his breath. As frightening and exciting as it was, he began drumming his fingers on the table, his armpits sweating profusely due to agitation. "Damn it! I don't even have
["Tears That Flow Silently!"]"We are suddenly afraid to look at each other. Is it because of what had taken place back in the infirmary? Could it be?" Travis said silently to himself while he awkwardly opened his book and he stealthily watched David as he pretended to be writing. The air was intensely cold around them and they would engage in small talks that starved for life. "That kiss meant nothing! Was it really a kiss?" Travis thought as he pleaded in his head to make up words that he'd use to speak with David. Nothing seemed to make sense in Travis's head— as far as he knew, that was an accidental kiss and even though it was, why would David suddenly distance his words from his ears? "Not because of that! Is it? I'm not jealous, now am I? What am I thinking!?" David spoke silently with his inner self as he dwelled in his world that drove him far away from reality. He leaned his head on his cheek and without knowing it, he filled his book with Travis's name. "David?" Travi
David Chwe's Pov: "What's he thinking about? He is hardly breathing!" Words floated in my head, caging my thoughts with poison that was hidden in their flames. Some words chose to hide themselves in the chambers of my throat— so spiky and noxious, I was disadvantaged from voicing my concerns out. His eyes once gleaming with happiness were now pale; no emotion was colouring itself on his features. For some obscure reason, I found the importance to ask myself if I had done something he did not find friendly. He suddenly wore a face that I feared— a face that was dreadfully cold for my heart to accept. It made utters scatter away in my head, leaving my lips with nothing to puff. I tried to make noises just to catch his attention, but alas! I failed immensely. Somehow, I didn't want to stand the coldness in his gaze because it encouraged my veins to be enslaved by shivers that extinguished the life of all the confidence I had mastered just to use in his presence. I quietly watched as
[My Heart Shakes]—"David? David, are you okay?" An anxious Travis, whose hands were trembling, whispered a query that nervously flew out of his dry lips. His voice was cracking up with emotions while his tear-filled eyes witnessed David's body convulse on his lap. His heart was palpitating in the bedchambers of his throat, urging him to release it from his system. Heavy with despair— his heart yearned him to release a quivering, silent cry that pierced into David's ears— hustling him from his tragic world. "Hold on, I'm going to get help!" Instantly when David had stopped shaking, Travis informed him, hurriedly getting up from the floor. "N-n-o!" David suddenly spoke in a breaking voice, his trembling fingers clasping onto Travis's leg. His eyes were still shut and he was breathing heavily."Don't…I'm…fine!" David fished out the rest of the words, this time helping himself up. Travis instantly crouched down to be on the same level as he was and carefully helped him stand up. Da