I SIGHED WHEN I saw the harmless old man. His clothes are dirty, he have long white hair and long white beard, and round glasses. He reminds me of the grand master in Harry Potter. He just suddenly come out in front of me while I'm nervous so I'm really startled.

He scared me! I thought it's another... those kind of people.

"Hi!" I greet him politely when I'm finally fine from the shock.

He smiled at me, thankfully it's not creepy. "Can I ask for your time for a while?" He just look like homeless old man.

I find him harmless but I have to go home now, but his face look like he is looking forward in talking to me. I can't decide if I'll stay here or just go, what if he is really bad and just trying to lure me? But maybe he's lonely and wanted to talk to somebody for a while? I'm not that far from the market so I can stay I think... but what if someone suddenly grab and pull me in the dark?

"I..."

I saw a woman come out from a house and sit on the bench just us and get to her phone to do something on it. I look back at the old man. There's another person so I'm safe, someone will call for help if something happened.

"A few minutes." I said with a smile to the old man.

He giggle excitedly. "Good girl... Can I ask for your palm?"

I frown but I give him my hand anyway. He hold it and look at my palm carefully. Is he some kind of fortune teller that a main character always meet and then at the end he will be revealed as a guardian fairy?

I think I read fairytale books too much.

Or maybe he's a creepy old man who will stalk me and then kill me because I remind him of his past?

I think I watch too many thriller series.

Or maybe-- Okay! Stop!

"Oh, your life is full of bad luck." He said mercilessly.

I look sideways like he just stab me using truth. Err, you don't have to tell me that because I already know that. "Can you tell me something I don't know?" I murmured.

And please don't be harsh on the truth.

He chuckled. "Right!" He grin at me and look at my palm again. "But it says you will have event in your life that will turn your fortune upside down."

I look back at the old man and to my palm. I smile. Really?

Although I know he could be just making it up, I'm at least happy at what he said. If only it will be true, I want to believe it because I'm tired of my bad lucks.

"If you will take the right step, you will be save. But if you took just one wrong step, it's your doom." He said seriously and then sighed and look at me straight in the eyes. "You have a lot of challenges ahead of you. Your soul is carrying too much burden that's making your life miserable... and..." His eyes soften and look at my palm with sadness. "...someone died because of you."

I pull away my hand from him but I'm rooted on my spot. I can't move to go even I want to run from him. My eyes dilated at what he said.

How...

He smiled at me, his eyes is full of sadness. "It's not your fault."

I'm so startled that I really can't move even inch. I look at him curiously and full of confusion. How did he... "Who are you?" I breathe.

"Just a street old man." He grin and hand me something. “Here, take this. It is called amor."

I look at it. It's a silver string of bracelets, with a silver round bell pendant and it has 2 tails that's made of silver of beads too.

"The 2 tails will make the bell ring." He explained.

I get it and sway the 2 tails to make the bell ring but there's no sound that comes from it. "It's not ringing." I said and look at the old man.

"It's ringing." He said confidently.

I frown and make it ring again but it's really not. "I can't hear it."

He smiled. "You can't for now, because you can only hear it once you learn how to hear his sound."

"Huh?"

He just smiled and didn't explain, instead he said something I don't understand again. "Wear it. That bracelet will help you find happiness. Ring it once you're near him and you will get his heart." He said and slowly walk away to the dark alley.

I... don't know.

I am sitting on my study table in front of my window. My chin is on the table, I am staring at the silver beads bracelet with bell pendant laying on my desk like it will do something miraculous.

"Should I sell it?" I check it thoroughly earlier and found out it is pure silver. "I will be really happy with the money."

But it's not right.

The homeless old man gave it to me on his own. I will feel bad if I just sell it. When I found out its real pure silver I tried to find the old man to give it back but he's nowhere near the place.

"Why did that old man gave me this valuable thing?" I ask myself. I sit properly and get the bracelet close to my face to examine it again. I sway the 2 bead tails again to try to hear the bell but it's not really ringing. "The bell is not working."

Maybe he gave it to me because it's broken.

'You can't for now, because you can only hear it once you learn how to hear his sound.'

He just made that up so that I will accept this. But why? He can sell it even it's broken.

Morning came and I didn't get enough sleep because of thinking about the weird old man and this strange silver bead bracelet.

"You look like a zombie Ainoa." Fei said while we are eating lunch at the Cafeteria. She doesn’t have to point that out, I know.

"Really?" I hold my cheeks and pouted. I laugh at it. "I'm just thinking about something."

"Mind telling me?"

I watch her face. Do I have to tell her about it? It's not a big deal so it's fine to not tell her. "It's nothing, I just reviewed some classic song last night."

"You're working so hard on your song." She stated.

"Yeah, I just dream to make the best one someday." That's true. I'm so dedicated to make a song but... I don't know how to really make it.

I can write lyrics of the song and play some instruments but I really don't know how to put them together and really make it. I wonder if I can finish a song. I took a big bite on the chicken leg. I want to learn music more. I reach for water but I realize that I didn't get a drink.

"I'll just go get water." I told Fei and stand up then turn to go at the counter but I bump into someone.

"Sht!"

"Ah!"

I stop and my mouth fall open when I saw his tray fall on the ground and his food goes on his shirt.

"Oh my God!" I look at the guy and in my shock, I put my hand on my mouth. It's Izar. "I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" I get my handkerchief on my pocket and tried to wipe the dirt on his shirt off.

"No! Wait--"

But I just mess it up more. I stop and gulp. Oh my God! Why am I so clumsy? I'm so embarrassed. And it's Izar! How many times I will lose my face in front of the guy I like?

"I'm... sorry." I said in a whisper. Completely beaten up by embarrassment.

All the student’s eyes are all on us, watching our commotion.

"Are you okay, Ainoa?" Fei stand up behind me.

"Yeah..." I said quietly and look up at Izar. "A-are you..."

He is looking at his shirt but when I talk to him he look at me and smile. "I'm fine, I have extra shirt on my locker. It's just that, I can't eat now because I have a class after, I need to go."

That added my guilt. I look down. I'm such a nuisance.

“No, don’t worry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ll be fine.” Izar said softly but I know he’s just trying to make it light for me.

"What a clumsy nuisance." It's Leal.

I immediately find him behind Izar and saw how he look at me, it's like I'm a disgusting sight. My eyes almost glare at him but I control myself. What he said is right but I'm annoyed because it comes from a more nuisance than me. Him!

"Leal shut up." Izar said authoritatively and look at me. "I'm really fine, Ainoa. Don't worry." He smiled. "Excuse me, I'll go change now."

I nodded and just followed him with my gaze as he go out of the cafeteria.

"You will really do everything to get my attention, huh?"

I froze at what Leal said. Why is he still here?

"I'm not--"

"You don't have to deny it, I understand girls like you." He said savagely but in not interested tone.

Girls like me?

"You will do everything to get the attention of the guy you like. But didn't you think it's too much now? You're being a nuisance and hurting innocent people just because you believe you like a person when in fact you really don't like them. It's just your illusion."

My hand form into fist.

What did he say? Doing this to get the attention of the guy I like?

The students near us who is hearing him say those things started to whisper at each other.

"I don't like you and no matter what you do I will never like you. Stop following me around like a sick woman."

"Leal, stop it now." Fei's seriousness is dripping.

"Why? I'm just trying to control her delusion." Leal answered Fei and look at me again. "Stay away from me, I hate seeing desperate girls."

I slap him.

Hard.

The loud sound of my slap in his face made everyone silent. Some gasp in shock at what happened while I just look at Leal with straight face but tears are pooling at the corner of my eyes and my throat is starting to hurt. I’ve had enough of his bullsht.

"She slap him."

"Is she crazy?"

"Who does she think she is?"

"Hurting a Santiestevan. She's insane." I heard those from some students but I don’t care. Who is he to judge people he doesn't even know.

"For your information I don't like you. Stop my delusion? It's all on y-your illusion." I stop to breathe because my voice is shaken. My hand is slightly trembling too. I gasp for air and continue. "Follow you around? I never followed you. I'm just so unfortunate to meet you coincidentally." After that I run away from there and go to the secret part of the garden where there's no people around.

I sit down on the corner of the Santan Bush and hug my legs then duck my head on my knees and let my tears fall. I hate this! Every time I'm feeling too much emotion I'm always crying. I’ve done it now… I totally mess up today. But it’s that jerk’s fault.

Stupid!

Delusion?

Girls like me?

You don't know me lazy bastard!

I hate you! I hate you so much! I'm cursing Leal Cano Santiestevan. I wish you rot under the freaking hell.

"I hate you Santiestevan." I whispered and sob.

I like Izar but I'm not desperate. Did he thought I intentionally bump into Izar to get his attention? It's really an accident.

But why am I being like this? It's nothing compared to his past humiliation to me. Maybe... I just really had enough this time and guilty too because I made a problem to Izar. Also tired of his nonsense accusations. I'm not that kind of girl. I feel so childish right now.

I really hate him.

My phone rang so I get it from my pocket and answered it when I saw Fei on the caller ID.

"Hello." My voice is still strained.

"Leal gone too far. Sorry about that." Fei said immediately.

I sighed and pull the grass beside me. "Yeah..."

"Where are you? You will not go to your class?" She ask.

"Mn." I just murmured. I'm not in the mood to talk.

"Izar didn't have time to have his lunch because of what happened."

I stop pulling the grass and listen to her.

"But I saw Leal gave his food to Izar instead." She said. "That's shocking because Leal really love food, as in he's obsess with food that he will never share to anyone."

I blink. That... brute? They are really so close huh?

"Are you listening?" She ask.

"Yeah." I answered. "He really treat Izar special then? Because he gave him his food."

"No. I told you, he treat his food so special so even its Izar he will never share it."

I frown. "Can you just go straight to the point?"

I heard her sigh. "He got angry at you because he thought that you bump into Izar purposely to get his attention and made harm to his best friend. Leal felt responsible for it that's why he gave him his food, because he thought you like him, so he should be the person to be punished."

I gasp in realization. No way! That brute will do that? Why? Because of the sense of responsibility?

"I don't believe you." I honestly said.

She chuckled. "I understand but it's true. I know Leal since we were a kid."

If it's true, it's none of my business. He's the one who misunderstand everything from the beginning. And he is such a brute and a jerk. He didn't know me but he spit all those insensitive words like a bullet.

"It's just an advice Ainoa. This misunderstanding is getting worse, you really need to clear it." Fei said over the phone before I said goodbye and end the call.

"I hate him." I said after bringing my phone down.

That's what I said.

But why am I here?

Ditching my class to stand under the big tree at this noon, holding the bag of random food that I buy on the cafeteria and watching the lazy brute sleep.

Leal is laying on the Bermuda grasses, using his two arms as pillow under his head. I can see his bicep clearly because his uniform blazer is removed, he is using it as mat on the ground and his white polo is tight on his muscles. The air here is blowing strong making his messy raven hair dance.

I get my hair and hold it on my left side because of the strong wind. I slowly go near him. I sit beside him and put the bag of food in between us.

I will not wake him up. There's no people around here because it's class hour so I will just wait for him. I'm not in the mood to deal with him yet.

I sighed for the nth time today.

I am here to follow Fei's advice. I will end this misunderstanding now.

I look up at the clear sky. It's so blue and there's no clouds. The sun is bright but the breeze is not hot, maybe because there's a lot of trees around this place and we are not so far the mountain. I close my eyes and feel the air blowing on my face.

"What are you doing here?"

Of course he will cut my peace. I froze and feel the urge to run away even though I'm positive to end our misunderstanding.

He slowly get up and look at me accusingly. "Don't tell me you will say that it's another unfortunate coincidence for you?"

I froze more.

Damn him!

I breathe in and out slowly then face him calmly. "I bought these for you." I pointed the bag of food beside me.

He look at the bag and I saw how his eyes sparkle literally as he gaze at the food like a kid given a lot of candies. I almost smile in amusement but he scowl so I wipe my smile off when he look at me.

"What do you want?" His tone is full of doubt.

I roll my eyes. "That's for being so stupid." I said.

I feel his shock at what I said because his sleepy eyes widen a bit. Really bit but noticeable. "What did you say?"

"I said you're a stupid bastard so just eat what I gave you."

He chuckled. "You will not win me over even you talk to me like that."

I grimace at what he said. I have no plan to win you over and how can a person win over someone else by being rude? I think only idiots will fall for people who is rude and a jerk.

He slowly get the bag and check what's inside. He first examine it and sniff it.

Sniff it? Is he a dog?

He grin widely and start with the burger. He immediately have a big bite and eat with a big grin on his lips.

A kid?

He look at me and I realize I'm watching him so I diverted my gaze and look in front and just listen to him eat. He's a big eater.

"So, you still like me?" He's about to finish all what I gave when he ask that.

He's a monkey. Even I gave him food he will still attack me.

I sighed and glance at him. He is looking at me so I look back in front of me. I don't want to meet his eyes as possible as I can because I hate it.

"No. I never like you." I said honestly and straightforward.

"Hah!" He mocked like he didn't believe me.

He must have a very big ego and unlimited confidence, for him to act like this. I chuckled. I should tell him the whole truth, huh?

"The person I like is Izar." I whispered. I'm not sure if he get it.

He stop eating and lean on me closer.

I'm startled at his sudden move so I tried to move away from him but because it's so sudden I lost balance and almost fell over but he got my back before I lay on the grass. I stared at his face with round eyes. I found my hands holding his arms tightly.

I felt my heart skip a beat because of that startling move.

Seeing his face up this close I notice that his sleepy eyes have longer eye lashes than a girl, and his eyebrows are naturally neat like it's fixed, and his eyes is deep and really dark while his nose is straight and pointed to his thin lips. His messy raven hair complemented his oval face and angled sharp jaw.

He is undeniably handsome.

My heart boomed when I realize how close we are. My chest is almost touching his and we are in extremely awkward position. His mouth open and his face slowly move closer to me.

Wait. What is he trying to do? He will kis--

I stop breathing and my hold on his arms tighten more. What should I do? My mind is not working but my insides is rumbling for some reason.

My eyes close on its own and I waited for something but in my disappointment—wait! Disappointment?!

I felt his breath on my neck instead.

"You smell nice." He whispered in low deep voice on my ear.

I stilled and I felt bolts of shiver on my spine travelling to my shoulders, to my neck, arms, to the tip of my fingers. I push him and back away from him.

"What are you doing?" I ask him and hold my neck where I felt his breath.

"Sniffing you?" He said and it sound like "duh"

The right corner of my lips rose up for a grimace. "What?" Can you repeat that again?

"I sniff you and you smell nice. What's your perfume?" He yawned and lay on the grass sideways, his back is on me.

I'm frozen and my jaw is on the ground. Did he just...

"You brute! That was harassment—"

"I believe you." He said, making me stop my rant. "Your letter before is for Izar... right? I realize just now... I'm sorry for the trouble so now we are quits." He said dismissively and with a consistent bored tone.

Wow...

How we are quits when all this time I'm embarrassed because of all his remarks about me liking him and he dump me in public so many times even I don't like him! And I never do something bad to him!

How is it quits?

"This lazy jerk." I whispered in myself angrily.

I hate arguments so I will just let it slide. I told him the truth anyway, we are done with each other.

I stand up. "You're welcome because I bought you food that you obviously enjoyed and you didn't even thank me." I turn around to go but before I can really walk away I heard him said quietly.

"Thanks."

My chest feel strange. It feels like something pinch it or what but it made me smile a little.

So he know how to say thank you.

Even a little.

THESE SIMPLE meetings and these simple emotions lead us to where we were now. Even a simple event on our day can turn our whole life upside down.

Why did we meet if we will not stay with each other anyway? Why does people come and go?

Why... am I with you if I will only destroy you? Why does... feelings can harm us?

At this point. I'm questioning all the things that I have in my life as I cry in pain. My chest is tightening so hard, I feel like I'm dying inside. I punch my chest many times to somehow remove the unbearable pain but no avail.

"Please... wake up... don't leave me alone! Wake up! I'm sorry!"

I can see the remnants of flames dancing around us. I don't care if the fire catch me and kill me too. Maybe... it's for the best.

I should die too... if you're gone.