Chapter Two

His name is Axel Donovan Ramos.

That’s what I know based on what’s written in the bulletin board of DL’s of College of Medicine. A great intelligent student; smart and hardworking—from what I’ve heard. There are also people that admires him; innocent¥ features; slanted monolid eyes, perfect size of pointed nose to his face and cupid-shaped lips—his milk and as if porcelain skin further recognized his angel-like appearance. His tall and lean muscular physique added his appeal. Plus, he is also a varsity player of the famous and home of champions’ school basketball team.

Everything of it was based on Tatiana. Maybe, she’s bored and decided to tell the guy’s basic information to me. I wasn’t interested, though; I said.

One week had passed after that weird encounter with him. The cold of Ber months are slowing sneaking through the weather and fleeting its way on our body, making us feel the breeze colder than usual. I wore a large size hoodie on my body with cartoon kitten prints under my uniform. And because our midterms just recently ended, we were somehow chill. However, our output for our finals was already given. That’s why right now; we’re currently practicing for our theater play.

I pat the tiny drops of my sweat on my upper forehead. The practice started and I have a minor extra role; a child playing in the beginning. I didn’t have any line; I was just on the stage acting the role of a child having fun—not really that important. Besides, I don’t really specialize in performing arts, I was in the visual.

Ada, our director, suddenly shouted and I’m sure everyone heard it. I immediately went back to my assigned place and listened carefully. I wasn’t feeling good but I endured, because my role isn’t that tiring in the first place. It’s too much of me to request a solo break. And it wasn’t that long of preparation and we started our serious practice.

I executed my actions with effort and base on Ada's directions. A child having fun outside amidst the heavy rain; she played with the flood as she wore plastic boots. I tried to smile to ease up the weight that I currently feel in my senses. But, the longer I act, the heavier the pain I feel. My head spun around and I stopped to breathe.

I closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened it, I was welcomed by an unfamiliar white ceiling. It was my first time seeing it, but I felt a hint of deja vu when I remember the similar ceiling I had in my hospital room before.

My eyes remained staring on the ceiling, forcing myself to remember what happened before I fell unconscious. From what I know, I was in the practice room with my classmates and we were practicing. But my head suddenly spun and it ached while I was executing the actions of my role. Besides those, I don’t remember anything anymore.

A sudden footsteps noise from the other side of the room was heard. I glanced on the door, waiting for what's to come. It opened and it revealed someone I least expected.

Axel was on the other side, slowly walking his way nearer to me. He held a tray and on it is a glass of water. He was surprised when he saw me and immediately treads his way closer. When he was already near me, I noticed the familiar sachet of medicine. I shifted my attention to him. He's wearing his all-white uniform and he also wore a surgical mask that was hanged on his jaw, I noticed how sharp it was.

I slowly moved to sit on the bed. He hurriedly placed the tray on the side table and assisted me. I slightly shivered on the light contact of his palm on my back. He immediately retrieved the touch when I was successful to sit properly.

“Nurse Ann isn’t available today. And the school doctor, Dr. Mendez has work.” He said when he probably noticed my curious questioning gaze. “And it’s by chance that I happened to be here that’s why…”

I nodded. “Y-You don’t have any class today?”

“I have. I mean, no—I don’t. It’s my vacant. I’m just here when it’s free time.” He answered immediately.

We were embraced with another of our becoming usual type of silence. And it seems like I am also starting to get comfortable of his presence and the silence that it entails.

Axel suddenly handed me a glass of water. “Here,” He mumbled and I accept it. I drank the water and it went half-empty. He took it from me afterwards then asked. “What happened?”

My attention turned to him and I noticed that he held a clipboard. I saw that a piece of paper that looked like a record paper was clipped. I was long familiar with those.

“Uh, I had my usual headache.” I answered. “And I don’t know what happened next.”

He nodded and wrote something. I watched how his thick slender fingers embraced the thin pen. I noticed them flick and slide. Later on, he gave me the familiar sachet of a medicine from a famous trademark.

“Here, pain reliever."

Alazne Chelo Ojeda.

My eyes widened when I saw my name on the record. He knows my full name!

Axel noticed my look on the paper. He immediately took it and hid it away from me. I looked up to him and saw indifference on his eyes again, and when I glanced on the paper after, it was nowhere to be found.

He coughed in a fake manner. "What were you doing when you felt the ache?” He asked to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Practice…of our play." I said, short but direct.

Axel nodded. "Oh? For what?"

"Finals. Theater play." For clarity.

Embraced with another round of peculiar quiet atmosphere, I remained staring at him. He looked away though and concentrated on the things above the side bed table, even when it wasn’t messy because the only thing that was there was the piece of glass.

I took that opportunity to stare on him longer. He had this clean faded haircut, thick eyebrows, narrow pointed nose, and sharp jaw. It seems like the word handsome is not enough for him—not the right word to describe him. He’s pretty—too sweet and appealing with his appearance. He looked like a walking angel because of his milk-white skin and soft gentle features, plus his all-white uniform—he really looked like an angel that fell from the heaven. And his glassy twinkling eyes are deep and drowning, it felt like I was being pulled down into the unknown.

He caught my lingering stares on him. His lips protruded to hide the ghost smile on his lips. It made me think that…maybe, I look funny right now.

“What year are you in?” He asked that surprised me. I thought he knew—I mean, not that I’m assuming…but I really thought he knew because…nothing…never mind.

Still, I answered. “I’m in 11th grade right now in the Arts & Design track.”

He nodded and his lips protruded again. It made me look on his lips and realized that it was rose-colored. And that while I’m having a hard time to look for lip tints that’ll look natural on me, here is a man with natural rose-colored lips. My eyes found its way back to him and noticed how his gaze moved from my eyes and to my lips. I suddenly sat properly at didn’t noticed that I subtly slid my tongue to saturate my lips.

Axel was clearly surprised with what I did and I just want to badly hide and be gone in this world. Ashamed is an understatement of what I feel right now.

“Y-You?” I asked when my senses were back. “I mean, what year are you in?”

I noticed the way his Adam apples moved. “4th year. Medtech.”

It grew curiosity in me when I heard what he said. I'm sure my eyes glinted with bewilderment. "Right. What are you guys doing right now?”

"Internship." He answered shortly.

I scanned the surroundings. "Oh? Then, why are you here?"

My question sounded rude and just when I was about to explain. He answered, "My duty is on the afternoon. I’m just here to borrow a book in the library.”

I nodded, wasn’t able to think of further questions anymore. But, he added something once again. “I’m also here in the clinic, every now and then, just to kill time.”

I smiled. “Do you have a crush on Nurse Ann?”

"Oh, no. No, really." He laughed. “You’re too young to know things like that.”

What? Why do older people force that point in any pep talks or arguments?

I rolled my eyes. "I'm already 16!" I said. "Why? How old are you? 25?”

"Hey, that hurts!” He laughed more. "I'm only 24."

“Oh, Axel. How is that different?”

“You added a year, Chelo.”

I didn't realize that we were having a good time and were comfortable with each other until our laughs faded. Our smiles slowly faded and once again, the silence reigned.

"Is it done? I feel okay now." I said.

He nodded then he stood up from his chair. “Yup, you sure you can walk?"

I nodded "Of course. It’s not like I’m wounded.”

I slowly stood up from my sitting position. And he was there on the side of the opened door, waiting for me. I settled myself; my thoughts, clothes and disposition before I walked my way nearer to him. I didn’t bother to give him a look even when I can feel his stares. I suddenly felt nervous and my voice went missing. I left the room without a word, without even looking back on his menacing stare. I didn’t do anything even though I felt my body being pulled back to him.

When I left the room, I wasn’t able to see him again on that month. And I just also realized now, that I wasn’t able to thank him properly and sincerely…again.

The day of our theater play came. Everyone was nervous, except for me, I guess…besides, I don’t have a major role in the presentation and I’m quite okay with a large crowd watching me. I scanned the backstage and saw how busy my some of them were with the preparation. I took a peek outside, where the audience was and realized that they were numerous of people waiting for the play to start. There were parents, teachers and students from our department.

And…there aren’t anyone from the college department—wait—I immediately withdraw my attention from the crowd as I repeatedly shook my head to stop the stupid thoughts I had earlier. Why do I have to point that out, anyway? It wasn’t like that I was waiting for him or even expecting him to watch this. But, if ever, then I’d like to grab this chance to properly mutter my gratitude on him. It wasn’t my nature to ignore and take advantage of situations.

Our play started and when I acted in front of the stage, I saw a familiar figure of him—and I almost forgot my actions until the cue of the lead role’s entrance boomed the auditorium. I immediately left the stage after I was finished with my executions. Yet, the burning of my skin and the loud heavy tug of beats of my heart lingered.

I went down backstage and walked the distance on the corner side inside the auditorium to watch the play in the area of the technical and sound directors. I also noticed that some of the props men were there. I flashed a small smile when they saw me.

Trying so hard to be subtle, I sneaked a look on the audience. And I was right earlier, I saw Axel along in the crowd, he’s with a familiar beautiful girl that’s also in our unit. She’s in 12th grade and famous for her talents in singing and dancing. We’re also in the same strand. It was somehow hard for my part to look away from them, because they really look good together and they had this similar air of soulful beauty.

I decided to finally focus on our play.

However, minutes after I’ve focused my attention on our play, I realized that I was trying too hard. I am easily distracted with little things—and this is one of those. I couldn’t enjoy watching our performance because of the disturbing budging thoughts that I forcefully ignore. I didn’t even want to acknowledge the thoughts; they were influential and shameless as they dance around my mind—completely and absolutely disturbing and distracting.

I wasn’t affected, I’m sure of it. But I still need a fresh air to breathe. I might have another attack of headache and go unconscious. So, I went outside auditorium and marched my way to the largest fountain in school It wasn’t that far to the entrance, and I decided to relax and calm myself for a while there.

Staring on the weird looking yet satisfying statue of an angel on the center of the school’s fountain, I calmed myself down. My stares lingered on the details of the statue, from the minor fine points until the blatant noticeable ones. Looking at the majestic art in front of me eyes made me consider painting this on my own style and understanding. I was in deep thoughts of it when I heard a rustle noise on my side. I turned to find the noise and saw him.

He smiled. I gawked at him, surprised.

“Hi.” He greeted.

I gulp the weighing lump on my throat. “H-Hello,”

Silence surrounded us again. I shunned my gaze and kept it on the statue. I saw how he shifted his position from my peripheral vision. I also noticed the way he slightly danced and shook his legs in an awkward manner.

“Your play was nice. I like the story and the moral lesson.” He started. “And, your acting was great, too.”

Chuckling, I answered. “I was just an extra, though.”

“Still, it was great.” He insisted.

I bit on my lips. “Thank you,”

I turned my attention; from the statue on the fountain, I shifted it to the cement road of our campus. I noticed how harsh and rough it looks, it wasn’t smooth-looking. There are also scattered stones and leftover pieces of cement. This area might still be under-construction, huh.

We were embraced with an awkward silence, again, and just when I was about to decide to mutter my gratitude—the girl that he was with earlier suddenly came to our side. I stopped, and so did the girl while she looked at me and Axel repeatedly with an expression I could not name. Axel slowly stood up and approached the girl.

I couldn’t help but to also mimic his movement. I stood up, feeling awkward with the atmosphere. I guess I’ll leave, then?

“—Wait!” Shouted by a soft and tender voice. I looked behind and realized that it was from the girl. She smiled, “Chelo, right? I’m Aimee.”

I nodded. “Hello, uh, I’ll go ahead.”

I did not wait for their answers—not that I need it, anyway—and immediately ran away from the place. When I was finally hidden by their sight, I didn’t realize that I stumbled across the scattered rocks on the rough ground. I fell down and instantly felt the pain in my knee.

I scanned my surroundings and realized I was in the far side of the school’s auditorium. The rows of long trees and the group of thick bushes crowded the area I fell; no one would notice me on the ground. I didn’t bother to stand up. I stretched both of my knees and I felt the twinge on my right knee. Ah, stupid me. Why did I even use the shortcut where there were more scattered rocks?

My current pathetic disposition made me laugh. I tried to remember how I came here and why I am in this situation. But, when I looked back and reflected the reasons why everything ended up like this—I stopped my thoughts; the delirium and madness. Immediately, I stood up even when the twinge on my wounded knee attacked my senses. I ignored it, like how I neglected the pouring blood on it. Not wasting another second, I ran and went back to the fountain.

And I saw the both of the, Axel and Aimee, leaving. I was going to catch up but then I tripped on my knees again. I bit my lips when I realized how horrible I felt and how much of a loser I am right now. All I want to do is to say thanks, really.

I lifted my head to stare at their figures walking away from me. I kept on staring on their backs that slowly wrote a growing distance to me. I stood up slowly, and instantly felt the sting of the fresh wound. I immediately left the place even when my fresh wound ached so much.

I also ignored the strange aching pain and weighing burden of emotions that I feel on my chest.