"How can you forget your phone just like that?" Nesha asked as they were walking towards the cafeteria to grab something to eat. They already called her phone number earlier but no one answered so she assumed that her phone is still there and nobody saw it yet.
Their class ended with Eleonna just thinking about her phone. She wanted to go again there right now but she couldn't go out because of her class.
"I panicked. I was already late and those guys saw me eavesdropping on them." Eleonna pouted as she sat in one of the empty chairs. Nesha sat in front of her.
"Don't worry, I'll come with you later to find it."
"It's okay, I'll just get it myself. I don't want to get you involve with this."
"Are you sure? What if they come back and see you? They might hurt you, you know?"
"That's exactly why you can't come with me. I don't want you to get hurt. I can handle myself if anything happens." Eleonna reasoned which made the girl understand.
When Eleonna and Eleanor were 8, their father taught them how to fight to defend themselves. It was like their bonding. After their class, they would always go straight into their little backyard to master their skills.
Between the two, Eleanor is the only one interested in combat. Her twin even asked their father to teach her some tricks using a weapon.
Way back then, young Eleonna couldn't understand the purpose of what their father had taught to them, but as time goes by she slowly realized that the world they live in is too dangerous to keep your guard low. Especially when it comes to women that people tend to believe are the easy prey.
"But are you familiar with those guys? I haven't heard about a fight happening in our neighbourhood for a long time."
Eleonna took a bite from her sandwich before she answered.
"No, I don't think they're from here either, but the fact that they are fighting here is concerning me."
It's true. What if they were some bullies looking for a victim? For the past years, their neighbourhood is known as the most peaceful place you'll ever visit. The number of crimes happening there can be counted by fingers. Though you can't call it safe.
She remembered the guy that they were beating. Did the authorities come before it's too late? The fact that she has a suspension that that guy is a student in their school just made her more worried. She doesn't want any of her friends to experience that.
"Wait, where is Eleanor? I haven't seen her yet since this morning." Nesha asked while looking around.
Eleonna looked at her not knowing how to explain the whole thing. She scratched her head as she struggles to gather up the courage to talk about her situation.
"Eleanor...she left,"
Nesha looked at her, unable to process what she meant by the word 'left'.
"Sorry?"
The girl took a deep breath as she explained everything.
Nesha was left dumbfounded. Still processing what Eleonna said. I mean her sister leaving her like that? That's not very like them. Eleonna and Eleanor are very close to each other that you wouldn't even think it is possible for them to separate.
"Do you think she'll...come back?" Eleonna asked almost to herself.
"Of course she will, Eleanor is true to her words, but what made you think that she won't?" the girl responded even though she isn't sure herself.
"My dad has been gone for months, you know? He told us that he would come back but... I mean can't they just tell me what's going on so that I can help them? We're family for a reason. It also pains me to witness our family falling apart."
The girl has a point, but there are just some things that are better off not telling anyone so it won't complicate anything. Nesha felt sympathy for her friend. She doesn't know what her family is facing right now so all she could do is just listen and be there for her like a good friend would.
~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~.
As soon as the bell rang, both of them went back to their room. The conversation they had earlier made Eleonna overthink everything. Seems like she's losing the people she loves the most. Her whole life, she lived like the most unproblematic person you could ever see. Even if a problem come across, no matter how big or heavy it was, she was able to get through it with the help of her family. Now that they're gone, who's gonna help her out?
Just as they were about to enter the door of their class, a girl approached Eleonna.
"Excuse me, are you Eleonna?" she asked.
Both of them stopped in their tracks and faced the girl.
"Yes, why?"
"I just wanna give this back to you, I saw this fell from your pocket earlier." she said as she handed her a silver necklace with a small bar code pendant.
Eleonna looked at the girl confused.
"But I don't own a necklace like this, maybe you're mistaking me for someone else."
"Huh? But I'm sure it was you! I asked one of my classmates about your name. I clearly saw your face so I'm certain it's you."
Both of them looked at each other confused. Eleonna was sure she doesn't have a necklace in this design while the girl is sure about her identity.
"You were wearing a black hoddie when that fell though, but my friend and I saw your face."
As soon as those words left the girl's mouth, a suspicion formed in her head. She may not want to admit it but whatever is happening right now, she's not liking it.
"Where did you saw... me drop this?" Eleonna asked as her heart skipped a beat.
"You were peeking at the window of your room."
Nesha's eyes widen and looked at Eleonna froze. Her suspicion was right! It was Eleanor! As soon as she got back to her senses she asked the girl where she went after they saw her. The girl was confused about her asking where she went but she answered that she saw her went downstairs.
Eleonna turned her back and ran as fast as she could to get downstairs.
So she went here without talking to me?!
She bumped with a lot of people while running but she couldn't stop and apologise. The determination of catching up to her was unstoppable.
As soon as she got to the quadrangle, she couldn't see anyone with a black hoddie as she looked everywhere, but she didn't stop looking for her. Running left and right still hoping to get a sight of a familiar person, but to her disappointment, she saw no one. She couldn't help it but to feel annoyed. Why is she suddenly acting like a criminal in a wanted list?
Panting, she looked at the necklace that she was holding all this time. She didn't know Eleanor owned a necklace in this design so she must've bought it recently. She sigh as she walked back again to her classroom. She may not saw her but an idea formed in her head.
She will come and look for them.
She can't just sit still and wait for them to finish whatever they were doing. It's about time for her to do something to avoid feeling this useless again. This time, she's willing to do everything to help her family and to give justice to her mother's death. It's about time for her to stand up by herself and face her own battles.
~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~.
As planned, after her class, Eleonna went back to the place where she dropped her phone. She couldn't stop looking left and right to make sure that those guys earlier wasn't waiting for her. She was walking towards the trash bin nervously.
When she got there, she saw nothing but a different kinds of trash. She closed her eyes in disappointment to maintain her cool. Ofcourse it would get stolen. Who on earth would ignore a phone laying in the street when you can get it and make a money out of it?
She looked at the bystanders hopelessly, thinking of asking them about her phone.
"Looking for this?"
She flinched as she heard someone talk from behind. She looked back but saw no one.
"Up here,"
She looked above the truck that was parked in front of the trash bin to see a familiar guy sitting above, all patched up and looking more decent than earlier who looked like a punching bag. He waved her phone that made her sigh in relief.
However, when she saw her phone fell from the guy's hand to the ground, she panicked.
"Why the hell did you let it fall?!" she furiously yelled as she took a big steps towards it.
She was relief when she saw that it didn't crack, but still furious at the man above her. She looked up to him again only to see his reaction as he was starring at her. She raised her brows at him, weirded out by his reaction. He was starring at her like they were long friends that met again today. Saying that the guy was shocked in an understatement.
"...Eleanor?" was all he could say.
Both of them was enveloped with awkward silence after that. The boy was first to come back to his senses and forced his body to come down. Eleonna just looked at him puzzled and unsure if she heard him call her 'Eleanor'.As soon as the boy got down, the smell of medicines invaded her senses as he carelessly grasp both of the girl's shoulder tightly."Where the heck have you been?!" the boy said distraughtly as he faced her.Eleonna watched his eyes filled with mixed emotions."Why did you do that? Do you know how mad Audella is at you right now?!" her eyes widened as soon as those words came out from his mouth.She chose to ignore what the guy said and removed his hands to move backwards and create a more comfortable distance between them."Did you call me Eleanor?" she muttered that made his forehead crease in confusion a
"Oh god, how are you going to eat that much food?" Melissa said as she watched Eleonna scoop a large amount of rice, worriedly.In this particular morning, the girl has been acting strange since she woke up. She was spacing out the whole time and rushing whatever she's doing at the same time. How is that even possible?Melissa gasp again as she added another spoonful of rice into the lunchbox which was almost full already. Melissa had enough and snatched the spoon from her hand."Auntie, I'm not done using it yet.""Finally, you're paying attention to me," Melissa exclaimed and pointed the lunchbox the girl is holding "Don't you think you added too much rice in there? Dear, I know you have a big appetite, but you can't finish that amount of rice!"Eleonna looked down at the lunchbox and smiled at her."Auntie, I'm not gonna
Eleonna knew it was a bad decision to follow Yuan, and now it is about to get worse.The blue-haired girl walked towards her as the red-haired male made his way towards Yuan gripping him as he resist and tried to talk to them.Eleonna came back to her senses as soon as she felt a fist hit her abdomen. Before she could even endure its pain, another punch was thrown on her face. The blue-haired girl crouched to her level and grasp her hair to get a better view of her face."Wow, you only disappeared for one week and now you're as weak as shit," she slapped her, earning a gasp from those who are watching them, "That's what you get for deciding to oppose me.""Audella! You've got the wrong person!" Yuan screamed on top of his lungs while trying to escape from the red-haired male's grasp. The gray-haired boy looked at Yuan and the girl Audella's currently fighting in wonder.
"Here, put this on your cut."Eleonna looked up to Nesha and accepted the band aid on her hands. She immediately peel its cover and put it on her cheeks. It wasn't that bad actually, but the cut's edges had redden and became itchy that she couldn't help but to scratch it.Nesha sat in front of her desk with a frown on her face."Where did you get that long ass cut, anyway?" she curiously asked as she examined her features, searching for another posible cut."I was cutting carrots yesterday but I got distracted so my hands slipped its way to my cheeks." she lazily answered as she was scratching it again under the band aid.Nesha slapped her hands to shoo it away."Stop scratching it! and oh my god Eleonna, you could've seriously injured yourself!" she scolded her.Not only is Eleonna a careless person, but is also a clumsy one and Nesha kn
"Let me go, Jacob! I told you to stop following me, didn't I?! Why are you so obsessed with me?!" the girl exclaimed as she tried to free her hand from the boy's grip. Her statement only made the boy tighten his grip as he heard his cronies behind him laugh. He chuckled in annoyance and slammed the girl on the wall beside them. The girl groaned at the impact. "Tsk tsk, that's not how you talk to a girl." Their attention was diverted to where the voice came from only to see another girl eating her bread innocently. She eyed every single one of them, trying to guess if she can fight all four of them just in case a talk wouldn't work for them. The three cronies watched Eleonna in interest as they whisper to one another. This made her feel cringe, they really had the audacity to check her out while letting their 'friend' harass someone. "Who the fuck are y
Eleonna stared at the paper deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice Mace and Fumiya's arrival. The two scanned them in confusion, seeing as they have a serious face."Ah, you're here, Eleonna," Mace said.The girl turned around and finally saw them. Fumiya nodded at her and continued his way into the their wine cellar that was filled with different kinds of liquors. Eleonna heard Audella groan beside her.She greeted Mace as soon as he sat across them. Mace raised his brows at Audella when he noticed her being grumpy towards him."What are you acting like that for?" he asked.Audella didn't answer him and just poured another liquor on her glass. He noticed the envelope that was displayed on the table and looked at her, he finally understood what was going on. "Seriously?"Audella rolled her eyes at
Staying up late indeed is a bad idea.Sitting on her chair with heavy eyes, Eleonna slapped her own cheeks to contain herself from dozing off. No matter how she force her eyes to open wide, the feeling of wanting to sleep is still dominant.Poor girl stayed up late thinking about how exactly Eleanor got into that team that she's currently in.'With strong determination on her eyes.'Why is she determined? And of what? From what she remembered, Eleanor had given up from everything.The morning class finally ended. Eleonna immediately closed her eyes and laid on her chair."Aren't you gonna eat? Let's go to the cafeteria." she heard Nesha said as the girl stood beside her chair. She didn't bother to open her eyes."I want to sleep all day."Nesha sat in front of her and looked at the girl suspiciously.
"You seemed extra energetic today." Nesha commented as she watched Eleonna do their PE exercises so fast. She couldn't believe how her behavior yesterday contradicts today. "Ah, I had a good sleep last night, that's why." Eleonna giggled as she reached out for her water container. "Huh? You done already? Wait for me!" Eleonna grinned and ran away from her. She could hear her call her name which made the teachers look her way. Oh how she loves teasing her dear friend. Yesterday's brawling session was a good warm up for her. It seemed like it awakened her sleeping skill, improved even. She was glad that Celeste didn't take her defeat personal, though. Mace called them for a meeting yesterday to discuss how to get Eleonna a pass card. Turned out, the necklace that she got from Eleanor was not just a fashion necklace, its barcode pendant was a tool to let her enter the unde