CRIMSON DONOVAN

The Pine Woods High School was a majestic three-story building, standing tall and proud with the lush greenery of its sports ground behind it, basking in the warm embrace of the sun's rays. A magnificent fountain centred by vibrant blooms that blossomed in perfect symmetry welcomed all who crossed the threshold, its crystalline waters cascading down mesmerizingly. It was a sight that could only be described as magical, a true testament to the beauty and grandeur of the school where I will spend my Junior and Senior years.

The warmth of the sun embraces my skin as I look around, taking in my surroundings with a deep breath. My eyes light up in awe at the sweet-smelling flower gardens decorating the ground and palm trees that were lightly swaying against the mid-January cold breeze. It was hard to imagine that anyone could remain gloomy in the presence of such natural splendour. 

A spark of happiness shot through my heart at the sight of the beautiful school where I would study. The question was if the inside was as good as the outside.

Taking slow and curious steps, I go into the building, trying to find the office. I struggle to get hold of some of the people buzzing around me but in no vain. The student crowd was of varying quantity; flashily prosperous girls laughing and giggling or others noisily yelling out profanities playfully at each other or a ball being kicked and passed between a group of hollering boys.

Giving up on getting hold of someone for directions, I take my time observing and walking through the hallways, which were filling up with students every second. The chatter of voices and laughter was getting louder, almost like a crowd waiting to board the subway. My feet are trampled on the way and a book is slammed on my face. What chaos! I slide my body through the students hoping to avoid knocking on somebody.

However, my hopes were shattered as I am harshly collided with someone, my face getting slammed for the second time in less than a minute. My eyes squeeze shut as I wait for the impact of my body hitting the floor. But when I feel nothing, I hesitantly open my eyes only to see the sight of the said body sprawled on the floor like a starfish.

"Omo!" the Korean expression comes out of my mouth in exclamation. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" I cry and kneel before the student, patting his cheeks repeatedly to get a reaction. Was- was he dead?! Why was he unresponsive?

The boy groans -a thankful sign of life- and slowly raises himself on his elbows with a wince.

"Who the hell-" he starts as his green eyes look around before stopping at me. He stares at me for a while, his blonde hair almost covering his eyes.

I awkwardly stand up and extend my hand toward him. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," I say with an apologetic smile, hoping it is sincere enough to diminish any chance for a conflict that may arise from the incident.

The blonde boy's eyes flicker from my face to my outstretched hand, and back again to my face. Then, much to my surprise (because I was sure that I was about to get chewed out by this tall and short-tempered-looking boy), his lips stretch into a dashing smile. My eyes widen in surprise as his face transforms from a scowling, disgruntled expression to one that exudes attractiveness and cheerfulness. It's almost as if a switch has been flipped, and I can't help but stare in wonderment at the stark contrast before me.

He accepts my hand and I pull him up with a heave. God, is he heavy! How in the world did he fall?

"Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" I repeat my question.

"No, I'm completely fine. You didn't hurt yourself, right? I should have paid attention to where I was going. My bad." He dusts himself off and grabs his fallen bag from the floor before turning towards me with sparkling green eyes.

"I'm Kash," he smiles and holds out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Crimson," I introduce myself and shake his hand, internally relieved that I wasn't chewed out on the first day of school.

He cocks his head to the side and asks, "I haven't seen you before, are you new?"

"Yes, I am. I was looking for the office."

"I see. I can lead you the way if you don't mind?" he offers, skipping a little to the side when a group of loud boys ran past him.

"Really? Thank you," I beam at him, glad that someone had finally offered to help me at last.

After getting my locker number and timetable from the office that was unfairly hidden in a corner next to the quiet library, I walk back toward the lockers with Kash's guidance.

"I've got Math first. What have you got?" he asks while trying to peek into my papers.

I look at my timetable hurriedly and say, "I've got English...Room 12?"

"Oh, we don't have the same class then," he says with a frown before pointing toward a staircase. "Well, your classroom is on the second floor; the second one to the left."

"Thank you so much, Kash, I would've been so lost if I hadn't met you," I thank him profusely, repeatedly bowing a couple of times. Kash looks at me weirdly; his scrunched eyebrows and the confused tilt in his head making me realize that he probably didn't understand my actions of bowing.

I could almost feel the ghosting of my Grandfather's worn-out stick near my back with the gruff accompaniment of his words, "You may be American, my child," he would say in Korean, "But you have my Korean blood flowing in you, and you live in Korea now, not The States. Don't dare turn back on our culture! You bow when you thank somebody! And you bow when you apologize!"

He had told me these words when I was just six- I was a newborn to everything that time; culture and country, and refused to show my gratitude to the neighbouring Aunty who wouldn't stop pinching my cheeks. She had brought sweets for us every day (I have to agree that they were actually a treat) but owing to my red and swollen cheeks, I had rudely grabbed the sweets from her and marched into the kitchen without thanking her. And unfortunately for me, it didn't go unnoticed by my Grandfather.

Now, his words were permanently embedded in my brain even as a teenager as if he was watching me from somewhere and would magically appear in front of me with his stick or pop up from behind Kash to assert me further. Just the thought sent involuntary shivers through me.

"If you hadn't 'crashed' onto me," Kash was saying now with a wink that made me come back to the present. I guiltily give out a failed attempt of a laugh to show him that I had been listening to him instead of drowning in the memories of my dear Grandfather.

"Well Crimson, it was a pleasure to meet you. You can come to me if you have any problems. You've got the map of the school, yeah? I hope you find your way to your other classes," he says with a charming smile.

"Okay Kash, thank you again," I say lowering my head in gratitude once more.

"You're welcome. We'll meet once again, I hope," he says with a grin showcasing perfect rows of teeth and then he vanishes into the crowd with a wave.

Hmm, that went well; better than I thought it would. Have I already made my first friend here?

I follow his instructions and climb up the stairs with high spirits and make my way toward Room 12, my heart beating fast with nerves. When I find the classroom, I take a deep breath before opening it slowly and hesitantly. The door opens noiselessly and I cautiously peek in.

Huh? Why was it so dark? Was this the right room?

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion as I slowly step into the room. All the curtains were drawn together, blocking the sunlight from entering the room, except for the ones at a window in the back corner, drawing my attention.

My eyes widen like saucers at the sight I am faced with.

A girl was seated at a desk, her thighs caging the legs of a tall boy. The rays of sunlight from the only opened window highlighted the couple from behind as if creating a painting that was begging to be drawn.

The girl looks fondly at the boy and cups his cheek with her hand, "You know I love you, right?" she asks, her voice a gentle whisper in the still silence.

The boy takes hold of her hand and kisses her wrist before looking into her eyes, "I know my sweet. I am always yours, Ayla."

Heol!(What!/OMG!) My heart thuds hard as my breath catches in my throat, and I instinctively retreat a step back. What the hell have I walked into? Am I in the correct class?

"Drexel," the girl says in distress like they were spending the last seconds together on Earth. "You'll never leave me again, will you?"

"Never again, Ayla," the boy, apparently named Drexel, replies with a tender smile.

I should hide under the closest desk. Will they hear me? Maybe I should try my luck under the faraway, but the much bigger teacher's desk? Or I could silently leave the room?

My feet refused to budge as if they had been fused to the spot. The slightest movement would give away my presence, so I stood there, rooted to the spot, praying that I would remain unnoticed. How did they not notice me come in? They will not notice me again if I leave the same way then, will they?

What am I going to do?!

Ayla's blonde hair descended down her shoulders in loose waves, framing her porcelain complexion. Her full, ruby-red lips curved into a small coy smile, adding a hint of playfulness to her beauty. As she rested comfortably in the boy's embrace, her curvaceous figure fit perfectly against his sturdy frame, creating an intimate scene that captured the attention of any onlooker. It takes a few seconds for me to realize that;

1. I was the onlooker

2. I was the ONLY onlooker

3. I would be labelled as a pervert if I stayed any longer.

The boy, who was called Drexel, needs no words for description. Even though he was too far for me to assess his features, his presence alone commanded attention, and it was easy to see why. With dark, tousled hair and a tall, lean build, easily hovering over the girl, he was terribly gorgeous.

I internally sigh, my mind going through the handsome boys I saw today morning, even Kash and this Drexel guy. There were gorgeous people everywhere, it was unfair.

Well, let's hope the personalities of the students in this school are equally 'gorgeous'.

The tall boy bends his face towards the crook of the seated girl's neck and takes a deep breath.

Ottoke?! (What should I do!?) I held my breath as I will my feet to slowly inch back toward the door.

"You smell divine, my goddess, your soft skin and lovely voice are enough to make me go crazy," he huskily says in a low voice as he circles his thumb on her shoulder.

I shiver in repulsion as if it were my shoulder that was being caressed by this boy. I grimace with a bitter expression, shaking my head to get rid of any illicit thoughts. My face was reddening as I kept on holding my breath and I could even feel my stomach churning with the contents of my morning breakfast.

Barf.

But it doesn't stop there.

"Your fragrance is heavenly, you know? You smell like strawberries. Juicy." 

I visibly shudder. Yuck yuck yuck! Times like this make me want to jump repeatedly in disgust, flapping my hands like a little girl who saw liquid dog poop for the first time (my 7-year-old self had almost stepped on it if not for the boy behind me who pulled my ponytail and made me fall onto his body instead. Oh, my beautiful neighbour next door, I wonder what you are up to these days!).

Well, this was not what I expected on my first day of school. I try to picture what I remember of my timetable. I have not come into a Sex Ed class by mistake, have I?

"...like sandalwood, cinnamon.." the boy continues.

Excuse me, but where can I find this erotic perfume that smells like both strawberries and spices?

Seemingly, the dude is hooked up to the girl's scent as he goes on and on, spouting nonsense about nature being second to her divine aroma. I make a face. How weird can this possibly get? Drexel brings his face up from Ayla's neck and presses their noses together, their eyes closed as they... savour their feelings...I guess?

Oh, I can feel that breakfast-

I need to get out of here! Soon!

Why am I being tortured like this on the first day of school? My innocent eyes!

Judging by their distance, I could already tell what was going to happen next.

"You smell like..." I hear Drexel say and he bends his head and takes another deep breath from the crook of her neck again, "...like...like -"

He sneezes.

"...too much perfume," he finishes and rubs his reddening nose.

My eyes enlarge at that and I fail to keep in the snort that escaped from me. The girl looks offended, but the boy remains oblivious and continues his speech.

"You smell like-"

"CUT!!"

Hello! Let me know what you think of this one! What has Crimson got into?😂

What do you think about the encounter with Kash? Was he the one you think he is, especially after reading his race with Drexel?

And don't forget to comment and vote!