When Dream and Reality Collide [Chapter 1.2]

“Hey guys. I’m Theo from London, Britain. My family and I moved here because of my father’s work and it had been a week since I lived here. I didn’t go out much so you guys probably didn’t see me anywhere. Anyway, I like Malaysia and its foods, and I hope all of you can guide me around here. I also hope we can be friends,” the new student said, offering a smile to all of us. His gaze drifted to each of us until it met mine.

I totally didn’t want to look like I was checking him out or something but I couldn’t tear my gaze to him. He was just a unique human specimen with his golden eyes and silver hair. He looked like being made by majestic substances. His gaze went away from me, and I didn’t realize Teacher Aminah had told him to sit behind me until he moved with a confident stride towards the seat at my back.

Oh god. This guy would observe every movement I would make from his position. How could I act freely and comfortably like this, knowing his eyes would be on me. He would probably make me his laughing stock. I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly. I was being delusional. I didn’t know for sure I was interesting enough for him to inspect my every action.

Throughout the class, Arman was quiet. Besides the silence, he didn’t act unusually. He kept jotting down things in his little notebook, scratching his head a few times. He barely paid attention to what Teacher Aminah said which was usual for him. He just didn’t talk with me when usually he was the talkative one between the two of us. I didn’t know why he was like this but I didn’t ask.

During the gap before the next class, he went out of the class without telling me anything. I didn’t know where he went. Probably the toilet. Being one that did not worry easily - or too lazy to do that, I didn’t think much about it. I had schoolwork to do. It wasn’t like I wanted to do it, it was just that if I didn’t finish it by today, Teacher Aminah would scold me. And her scolding involved humiliating me in front of others.

When I was busy finishing it, I felt someone tug my shoulder. I looked behind and saw Theo smiling at me. He was leaning forward to me, our faces a few inches apart. My heart beat rapidly, and I cursed myself for letting his handsomeness influenced me this easily. I was speechless.

“I haven’t gotten myself a tour around this school,” he said, his eyes fixed on me. “I wonder if you can show it to me?”

I was almost sure I could feel his breath touching my face. I hoped my face didn’t turn red at that time. That would be embarrassing. I nodded slowly. “Sure. I can do that. After school, maybe? I don’t want to sacrifice my recess time.” I gulped. Sometimes my ability to speak comfortably with strangers surprised me.

“Cool. I meet you in front of the class by then.” His hand that was still grabbing my shoulder released it, and the feeling of being held ceased.

I turned to my table, facing the open test pad with words written on it. This... was weird. I grabbed the pen and started tapping it on the paper. He could just ask the person beside him to show him around. Why me? His face flashed to my mind, and I was reminded by his features’ striking similarities with the tiger’s. What if it was not a coincidence?

Arman appeared and went to his seat. I just looked at him. “Hey, how’s the planning going?” I said, hoping to catch his attention and managing to make him speak. I couldn’t bear his silence any longer - it was the effect of being used to his talkativeness.

He looked at me and shrugged. “Everything was going well,” he said, his eyebrows knitted into a frown, his lips pushed to one side. I knew I got him. “I’m thinking who are going to be the guests. You don’t socialize much, aren’t good at that -” I punched his shoulder lightly, causing him to smile, “- which is good, since I can narrow down the numbers. I already know the place and design of the party.” He nodded, satisfied.

“And where would it be?” I said. I didn’t mind much about the decorations Arman would put on the party since he did have a good taste which I agreed most of the time.

“Your house, of course,” he said, the slightly high note in the beginning of his sentence showing surprised.

I groaned. “My house? I don’t like people coming to my house.”

“But I came to your house all the time and you was okay with it.” He squinted his eyes as if suspicious at me.

I gave him a narrow glare. “I don’t mind if it’s you. If it’s two or three people, I also don’t mind. But we’re talking about a party. At least ten people would crowded my place. I don’t like the noisiness and loudness that would certainly happen.” I shook my head. “Nah, I won’t let you hold it there.”

“Where else, then?”

I looked at my paper and continued finishing the English report. Urgh, I hated report. I preferred writing short stories since they wouldn’t restrict my style of writing. I pretended like I was doing something casual and hopefully made my words casually spoken too. “Your house.”

Arman’s eyes widened. “My house? Th-that embarassing! You know I don’t like showing my house to everyone. I just know what they would think after seeing it.”

I looked at him and grabbed his shoulder. I hoped my persuasion worked. “But that’s the thing, Arman! Your house is huge like a mansion. It’s perfect for a party. A grand location for that. No one would forget the tall shiny gate you have in front of your house. Or the modern decoration inside it.”

He looked at me, saying nothing. It seemed like he was considering it. Finally, he sighed defeat. “Alright, alright. But you have to be there, okay? I won’t forgive you if you somehow get sick or something, which would be a made-up excuse, of course.”

I nodded repeatedly, having a smile on my face. “You’re the best!”

“Sure, sure.” He rolled his eyes.

We continued what we were doing, and I was satisfied I had finished the report writing before the next teacher came. It was the worst of the worst, but at least I’d finished it. I stared at the teacher with my mind barely giving her any attention. And suddenly I realized that this was the last period. The last class before school was over. Then, I would be with Theo... alone.

I mentally banged my head. Why did I choose after school to show him around? That would be the time when no one was in the school - which was understandable since everyone couldn’t wait to go away from it. I should just do that before the school started. At least at that time there would still be students lingering. I crashed my face on the table before holding it up, not wanting the teacher to see it.