‡† The Unseen †‡

27 † The Unmasking †

"Huh?"

"Yes, like.. you know how glass usually gives different illusions? Due to refraction and reflection and deflection and all that?"

"I.. don't follow."

Raven's back hit the wall as he slid to the ground slowly. He squeezed his eyes shut, palms digging into his eyelids.

Well, shit.

This conversation was making him have less and less faith on all of humanity, not just Kaya.

He heard Devon sigh. "Nevermind."

Then, Kaya's voice came through again, sounding like she was panicking. "But, fuck, please don't tell him. It will add to his stress. God knows he sometimes looks like death warmed over already."

Devon sighed again. "Kaya.."

"Please, please don't tell him. I feel like a bitch for judging him already."

"Yeah, but that was ages ago-"

"Still-"

Raven stood up again, deciding he didn't want to hear more. He'd heard enough.

The enough was almost too much though.

How they saw him. Like.. some arrogant facade. A perfect golden boy performance.

It was.. annoying. And it hurt.

All this time, he'd been ping-ponging with his feelings and thoughts and values. Some times he'd wish someone saw him. Other times, he was so afraid that he was kinda glad he could hind behind his smile. That smile that hurt so much to smack on his face and yet he kept doing it to at least give everyone else a semblance of normalcy.

Only to realize they all thought he was some arrogant, self righteous do-gooder that was so perfect he looked down at everyone else.

God, it made him angry. And hurt. And.. depressed.

An idea came to his head. And before he could chicken out of the obviously dumb idea, he went ahead to carry it out, searching for the coaches, and the principal, while he was at it.

---------

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a canvas of stars above the beach. A gentle breeze carried the scent of salt and the distant laughter of students winding down from the day's activities.

Yet, as Raven stood ankle-deep in the cool ocean water, his gaze fixed on the horizon, all he could feel was anxiety.

Behind him, the murmurs of assembled students grew louder, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected gathering.

Unexpected indeed. This was probably a stupid idea, and he felt like a god-damned hypocrite. Almost like was acting just like they expected him to, craving attention the same way they thought he craved perfection.

He snorted. That was as far fetched as saying darkness wanted to be the light.

Still, he just wanted.. he thought if maybe.. he could straighten their thoughts about him a little bit.. he didn't want to tell them the truth about himself either-god, no. Just-something in the middle? Not quite like the golden boy, but not like the broken sorry case that he was either? Just.. chill?

God, I'm not making sense again, am I?

Raven could hear people whispering. Amidst them were Devon's and Kaya's voices.

"What's going on?" Kaya had whispered.

Devon's voice came off as nonchalant, yet curious, "No idea."

Raven watched with a nervous smile as one of the coaches, standing nearby, simply pointed towards Raven with a subtle smile when another student asked what exactly they were doing there.