M I A
I got out of the bathroom with a towel in my hand to dry off my wet hair. I already got dressed when I finished showering and it was only a matter of minutes for my hair to fully dry before I head off.
I woke up a bit early for a Saturday morning. But it actually didn't matter because, by the time I finished tidying my room, folding my laundry and taking a shower, it passed 11 o'clock.
As if it's not obvious, meals get delayed on weekends. But, I'm pretty sure breakfast had already started. Although, I wasn't in a rush because then again, the cafeteria is going to be open all day till 9 p.m.
Once my hand got tired from the motion, I walked over to my table and hanged the towel on one of the chairs—letting my hair dry on its own. Yet suddenly, my door started knocking.
My eyes shot up towards it with a frown, wondering who might it be. So, I quickly walked up to it and slid it open.
"Rise and shine!" Julia popped on my face with her bright energy. I raised my eyebrows as she gets inside and makes herself welcomed. "Great! You're dressed."
"Hey, Julia." I gave her a warm smile. "You look happy today."
"It's Saturday!" she protested excitedly making me laugh.
"C'mon, we don't need to waste time. We have a lot of things to do." she then walked behind me and started pushing me towards the door. But before we could both get out, I turned around and stopped her.
"Actually, Julia, I can't go out today," I said at which she frowned.
"What?! Why?" she exclaimed.
Because I have other plans which involve Sebastian...
"Um... Because I'm sick..." I ended up blurting when I could find a better lie.
She raised her eyebrows. "You are?"
I nodded, going with it. "It's my time of the month..."
"So what?" she asked unconvinced. "It's the only day we get to go outside this hell hole!"
"Technically, we're still insid-" before I could finish, she gave a cold glare at which I shut up.
"Look, I'm just in a lot of pain!" I remarked. "I have this big headache and this nausea, not to mention the cramps. I can't get out."
"How come you're dressed then?"
Right...
At that, I faked a scoff, which turned out to sound like a seal choking. "For breakfast, of course!" I tried not to cringe at myself.
"Oh! It's okay then. Let's go get breakfast at least." she offered before reaching out to start pushing me again. Only to make me stop her once more.
"I already had breakfast." I hissed making her frown again. "I'm sorry, it's just I woke up really early this morning and I was starving and craving food. You get it, right?"
She waved me off, nodding. "I get it. Don't worry about it," she mentioned understandably, making me feel bad for lying.
She's so nice! I hate myself.
"Guess I'll just hang out with you here today." she shrugged before she turned around and walked towards my bed.
My eyes widened with panic. "No!" I yelled, hence leading her to glance back at me with a weird look.
"I mean, you don't have to stay and deal with me. I tend to be a real bitch while on my period." I explained furthermore as she rolls her eyes.
"It's fine! Aren't we all?"
"Yeah, but as you should really just go have some fun!" I told her with encouragement. "Get out and enjoy nature. Don't worry about me I'll be fine!"
"Are you sure?" she asked as if she felt remorseful.
"Yeah! Just go!" I continued. "It's not like they open the gates all the time! Just go and enjoy the day!"
"Well, if you insist!" she finally gave in, trying to hide the fact that she was excited.
I walked with her towards the door with a fake full smile on my face. "I'll see you at dinner," I told her as she heads out.
"Okay. Bye!"
A second later, I closed the door.
Well, that was easy...
I sighed in relief before I headed back to my bathroom, where I stood in front of my mirror and tied my hair up in a bun. Though uncontrollably, I couldn't help but stare at myself for a few minutes.
It was true that I was incredibly skinny. I might have gained a bit few weight gradually from when I was still recovering, but my bone features were still strongly visible.
My face was slim, facial structure still looked firm. My eyes were less weary and my hair is starting to gain volume and get rich within its colour.
Meanwhile, my body got a little bit heavier. I could no longer see how bony my shoulder, elbows, knees or ankles are. Also, my breast got a bit bigger.
Instead of feeling pity for myself, I wore a small smile and viewed it as progress. Though it was small, it proved that I'm strong. As if I'm winning my old self again.
Maybe one day, I'll recover my memory too.
Once I was satisfied with the way my ponytail looked, I glanced one more time at my body before I left the bathroom.
Without wasting any more time, I grabbed my key and my ID card and went straight to the door. A few seconds later, I was walking down the halls.
Unsurprisingly, there was no soul on the floor. I figured everyone would be outside too.
Anyway, I kept on walking towards the elevator and thankfully I was by myself. So, when I finally reached it, I pressed the button to activate it and waited patiently.
It took a few seconds for it to ring, indicating it arrived. And when the doors opened, I was surprised to see the person I'm out for, in front of me.
There he was leaning on one of the steel walls with his hands in his pockets lazily, looking literally like a mess. His hair was messy, as always, and his clothes were wrinkled. I actually wondered how he really doesn't care about his appearance.
He looks homeless!
My eyebrows rose in surprise and instantly, I found myself calling his name. "Sebastian?"
His eyes looked up from the floor at me only to be surprised as well. "Mia! Hey," he greeted, straightening up and stepping quickly a few steps closer and putting his hand on the elevator's frame—so it wouldn't close.
I was actually lost with words. Even though I was planning to go down to check up on him, I didn't really think about what to say...
"Um... I was just going to see you," I ended up commenting.
"Really?" he asked hopefully, making me nod. He smiled and stared quietly at me for a moment. And I couldn't help but feel caught off guard and nervous.
When he noticed he was staring, he cleared his throat. "Yeah. They just let me out actually," he informed while dropping his smile as if trying to act cool.
I grinned. "I see. So, how are you?"
"Better," he simply said. "Thanks by the way. For helping me and..."
"You're welcome," I replied when he lost track of words.
He nodded, with a small smile before letting out a deep breath. "So, listen. Have you eaten yet?"
At that, I furrowed my eyebrows. "Um... No actually."
"Great. I'm starving," he said. "Would you care to join me maybe?"
Is he asking me out on a date? Because if so-
"Yes," I told him, truthfully. "I'd love to."
And just like that, I saw a full bright smile on Sebastian's face for the first time.
"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed when I saw him trying to rip off the milk carton with his teeth.
"What are you talking about?" he furrowed his eyebrows before taking a long gulp.
"You're supposed to open it from the top not rip it off like that!" I explained while he looks at me.
He shook his head and took another long gulp, finishing the small carton in the process, only to smash it and put it away. "Nah, I've been drinking from carton my whole life. This is how you open it correctly."
"Even juice?" I raised my eyebrows while he nods. "But they have small circles for you to poke on with a straw!"
I tried to reason but he just shrugged. "Not a fan of straws," he said with a smirk.
"Wow." I breathed out, wondering how strong a person should be to be able to rip a carton. "What did the cartons ever do to you?"
He scoffed at me. "C'mon! At least I don't open a soda can with my pinky. Now that's odd!"
My mouth opened while I laugh in disbelief. "Really? You look like a hobo!"
He gazed at me mischievously, "You look like a freak."
"You sound like batman,"
"You sound like a little girl."
"You suck at football,"
"I'm great at football."
"Okay, you walk funny!"
"And you snore when you sleep."
At that, I gasped in disbelief. "I do not snore!" I defended offensively.
He nodded his head. "You do. So loud, I could hear you from my dorm!"
My mouth opened wider. "That's not true!"
I knew that he was teasing me, but what if he's not...
"It is." he shrugged casually before looking at me with a smirk. I knew by then that he was joking.
I hope.
I scoffed. "You're such a moron."
All of a sudden, his smile slowly faded away and his face turned into a serious expression as if I just offended him or something. I instantly felt guilty when he looked away obviously upset.
My eyes widened as I internally hit myself in the gut. "Oh my god! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude."
There was this long pause before he took a deep breath. "No, it's not that. It's just-..."
I furrowed my eyebrows as I look at him with confusion. He was trying hard to search for a reply which made me even more regretful.
Unexpectedly, he loosened up and laughed suddenly. But I couldn't help but notice it was forced. "I am," he announced.
I offered a small smile before going back to my food, unsettled. I got myself some bacon and eggs with apple juice while Sebastian spoiled himself with some waffles.
I was almost done, unlike him. And luckily, we were the only students in the cafeteria, which was perfect because that way we wouldn't attract attention to ourselves. Most importantly, there won't be any rumours spreading around.
As I expected, everyone was outside. Funny thing is, each time we spoke, our voices echo in the empty lounge.
After our encounter by the elevator, Sebastian asked if he could take a quick shower and change first before we go down. Of course, I didn't tell him no. So, I just waited for him to finish in my dorm.
He didn't take long, about half an hour. The next thing happened, here we are.
To be honest, I'm actually getting comfortable with Sebastian. And he turned out to be the exact opposite person everyone describes. Maybe with me, but still.
It couldn't help but make me feel warmed up inside.
He turned out to be a really chill guy actually. I never imagined him with a smile, but now that I see him doing it, I feel unease when he's not.
I don't really have a clue of what's going on with or around me, but I know one thing for sure; I'm glad I gave in and became on good terms with him.
And let's be real, Sebastian is really good looking. Even though he has a messy and lazy taste in his appearance, it made him look even more hot and mysterious.
Yet again, it's probably my hormones just speaking, but I can't deny but feel attracted to him. And surely, I don't feel it's one-sided.
I'm not that dumb.
The real question is; why?
"You're a hard person to read," I noted shaking my head when I caught myself blushing on the thought of him emotionally.
He chuckled. "I would like to say the same but I'm not into lying."
I looked up at him again, amused. "Really?" I challenged as he nodded.
"I see you are a mystery," he began and I was instantly giving him my whole attention. "Even you fail to perceive it."
My eyebrows rose with curiosity at the sound of fancy words. "What do you mean?" I asked eagerly.
"You seem lost," he explained vaguely. "Because you don't belong here."
"Maybe," I shrugged. "But why do you think so?"
"You tell me, Mia?" he copied my reaction, only I couldn't help but feel my stomach tie a knot.
I tried to shake those feelings away. "What else do you got?" I asked intrigued, leaning on the table and folding my arms over it.
"Well, I can also tell that you're a difficult self. I bet you don't trust anyone." he hummed, pointing his fork at me.
I smiled. "Well, that's obvious. Nobody trusts anyone in this place."
"It's true." he looked down at his plate and played with the left-over waffle crumbles. "You also seem to be fighting something deep inside of you. You have a conflict with yourself and though you don't really understand why. Maybe there's a missing piece?"
"You got all that from what? My face?" I looked at him with a straight blank face.
He laughed and nodded his head. "Maybe."
"Or maybe I just see myself in you," he then mumbled when his laughter died, only to make heart start pounding.
I didn't know what to say, I sat back and slid a piece of hair behind my ear nervously. "Either way, I heard rumours about you too." he continued looking at me ever so seductively. Or maybe not, that's how I saw it.
Snap out of it!
"But you, especially, know rumours are just rumours." I tried to play just as perplexing as him.
"Right again." he chuckled. Yet little did I know, we fell in a moment of silence just gazing at each other. And during this moment, my mind and heart kept racing wildly.
I couldn't help but ask myself; why am I suddenly nervous around him?!
"Can I ask you something?" suddenly he said out of the blue, snapping me from my thoughts.
"Sure." I nodded.
"How'd you end up here?"
At that, I couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought you knew how to read people," I told him with sass.
He smiled, but didn't reply. So, I answered. "Stealing."
"What's the story?" he raised his eyebrows, interested.
He might not see it, but I was actually panicking inside and searcing for a reply. As if it's not obvious, I suck at lying.
"I-I just got caught shoplifting..." I blurted when I found myself taking way too long to answer.
He hummed suspiciously and doubtingly. At some point, I knew that he knew I was lying. So not wanting him to ask more things about me, I reversed the question. "Yeah, what about you?" I tried to turn the attention back to him.
"Life got dark," he simply said, looking down at the table and playing with his carton.
I frowned. "What happened?"
"One bad thing led to another and the next thing I know, I'm here." he shrugged. He seemed like he didn't want to talk about it, as if it really disturbed him. So, I nodded understanding. The last thing I want is to make him feel uncomfortable. However, there was still one thing bothering me.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked making him look up at me again. "You don't have to reply if you don't want to."
He nodded his head, telling me to go for it. So, I did. "Did you do drugs?"
At that, he let out a sigh. And there was another long pause where I regretted being curious and nosey. But before I can change the subject, he replied. "Yes."
"And yesterday...?" I dared to ask again only to pinch myself under the table.
"No, not drugs," he assured. "Before I came here, I spent a few weeks in rehabilitation, to set things straight with my health. And when I came here, I was still on medicines and I just kinda lose control sometimes."
"I know that sounds weird." he rolled his eyes with a mocking laugh.
Not thinking through, I reaches out and held his hand to comfort him. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone," I told him with honesty and support.
He was caught off guard and he was surprised with my touch, that he flinched. I gave him an assuring look, at which he frowned.
"I'm sorry too," he replied, but I shook my head.
"Don't be."
After a few seconds, I pulled my hand back only to realize what I have just done.
Where did that confidence come from?
"Anyway, I take you for a person who's into books." he changed the subject.
I looked at him with surprise. I was going to ask him how he knew, but I figured he throw another sentence with fancy words about figuring out people.
"I am," I confirmed.
"That's cool. I used to write too."
I raised my eyebrows unexpectedly. "Really? No wonder why you talk like this." I let out a soft chuckle. "But why'd you stop?"
He huffed, ruffling through his hair. I noticed it wasn't as messy as before—he fixed it. "I don't know."
"Well, you should start again." I encouraged. "Maybe I'd get to read your work."
"I'd love that!" an innocent wide and bright smile stretched on his face, making me forget all the bad things and warnings about him.
Before we knew it, we heard a loud voice echoing through the empty lounge. I got startled. "There he is!"
"My God, Sebastian!" another voice yelled afterwards with the same volume. "We should really put a bell on you."
Quickly, I turned around only to see Luke and Joshua marching towards us. And when they saw me, they looked back surprised as well.
"Oh, crap! Are we interrupting something?" Luke stopped just a few feet away while looking at both of us with curiosity, so was Joshua.
"No, you didn't." I tried to act nice, though I was tempted to send them both ice-cold glares.
I still haven't forgotten the way they confronted me two weeks ago.
Joshua gave me a nod while pursing his lips. "As much as I want to leave you two alone, we have practice and as team captain, you signed up to be there."
At that moment, I felt suspicious by his words. It felt as if he already knew about us. Whatever we are...
Instantly, I turned to Sebastian and looked at him with concern. "But you're sick! Shouldn't you rest?" I frowned.
He bit his lower lip, leading me to stare at it for a second. "I don't know, I feel fine, I guess." he shrugged.
I didn't want to hold him back and act annoying. So, I just sighed and smiled at him. "You should go then."
He looked at me apologetic but I just waved him off. And not less than a moment, he got up and gave me one last smile—at which I returned—before going with his friends.
"See you later," was the last thing that left his mouth before he left.
And as I listen to their voices echo in the lounge, I sat straight and looked down at my unfinished, cold food. And when I can no longer hear them, I grabbed my juice box and opened it with a sigh.
I think I like Sebastian...
But what about Amy?!
I'm so sorry for the late update, my account had some technical difficulties and I just had them fixed yesterday.
So, here's a long chapter y'all asked for.