Kissing The Wind

I stared at him – bewildered by what he was doing. Then he looked at me with tear-stained eyes. “You…” He laughed again before he continued. “Why is it easy for you to forget things about me, and yet, I did not forget the things that you have asked from me earlier when I wanted to apologize to you?”

Things I asked from him?

I went silent for a few seconds and thought hard. I tried to recall the things that we had talked about inside the art room, and my eyes squinted at Rogie who was grinning at me. “It was just a joke,” I said. “I thought that I’ll not be here tomorrow so forget those foolish things that I had asked from you. I’m just kidding earlier.”

It was true. I just said those things to play with him and I never expected that I will still be a student in that academy. If I had known…

“Sydnee, I gave you my word and Camero never take back his word.”

Before I could protest, Rogie pulled a card from his coat’s inner pocket and put it on the table. He looked at the principal. “Give it to her. It’s mine and nothing to do with my family.” He glanced at me before he stood and walked towards the door. One second later, I heard the door close with a thud.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

My mind went blank as I stared at his credit card lying on the wooden table.

I had accepted Rogie’s credit card but I did not use it. The convincing plea of the principal had gotten hold of my conscience. She just wanted the best of me. It would made me an ungrateful girl if I could not give her what she needed when she gave me a chance to stay in the academy.

A long sigh escaped from my lips as I looked ahead. I did not tell mother what happened in school. We’re not that close though. Another day had risen and I was standing again in the school ground.

The students nearby no longer do gossip about me nor talk behind my back, although weird gazes still follow me around. They knew that the Camero paid my tuition for the rest of my school days and they did not want to offend someone who had the most powerful family in the city behind her back. I knew it. And I was not comfortable with it. But I need to continue my school life or else no one will.

With a deep breathe, I started to walk ahead. Some of the scholars nearby were watching my every step and I recognize the emotion dancing through their eyes — envy. I was taken aback but I tried to shoo that weird feeling away. It’s not my fault and I was not happy for the result of Rogie’s foolishness. I did not beg Rogie to do it. My conscience was clear. I sighed again.

“Sydnee?” someone asked behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face the one who called my name. It was my seatmate. She smiled at me but I did not know what to reply so my face grimaced. “Yes?” I said in a low voice.

“Can I join you?”

My eyes blinked for a few seconds before I nod my head. I turned around and walked ahead, then I saw her in the corner of my eye, walking beside me.

There was a long silence hovered above us but she cleared her throat after a few minutes and asked, “Are you free tonight? Er… Claire is celebrating her debut this evening. She had invited all of our classmates to attend the party.”

“Including me?” I asked.

“Yes, including you.”

“Oh.”

Another silence.

We passed by a group of freshmen giggling while holding a romance book in their hands. They were loud but no one hushed them to silence.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I can’t go, though I’m thankful for the invitation.”

“Why?” She cleared her throat again. “I mean, you can go if you want to.”

“Exactly. I can’t go because I will not go.”

“You have missed a lot of parties with us. At least join this one to celebrate one of our classmates birthday.”

“No. I still don’t want to go.”

“But —”

“I don’t have anything to wear nor gift I could give. Plus, I’m not the class favorite so there’s no need for me to attend her debut.”

“Our classmates… they will be disappointed if you don’t show up.”

A chuckle escaped from my lips. I saw in my peripheral vision how she tilted her head to look at me with a confused expression.

I shook my head. “Nah. No one can change my mind. I don’t want to attend if I will be a laughing stock tonight.” Then I walked inside the classroom, leaving her outside wondering what I meant with my words.

And I don’t care if she got my point or not. They just seemed nice to me because they were curious why Rogie took care of a commoner. Hah. After years of humiliation, I did not want to be that naive and timid girl again. Gone were the days that someone enjoyed bullying me.

“She declined the invitation,” someone whispered, but their voice were enough for me to hear. “I don’t know if she’s stupid or not. Claire’s family is known for having connection with the duke. Sydnee must be out of mind.”

Someone snorted. “Just let her be. She’s kind of pathetic to cling onto Camero. She knows Rogie will never take fancy of her.”

I sneered at their remarks. Gossip did have wings, but I don’t mind it at all.

My eyes wandered around the classroom but I did not see Rogie. Where’s that boy? I haven’t seen him around this morning and that’s weird. He’s not the tardiest in class.

Then, the math teacher Anthony entered the classroom with a small smile on his lips. His smile widen when our eyes had met but I looked away. He might received the news of my new status in school.

“Good morning,” he greeted the class.

It took him almost three hours inside the classroom dicussing the lesson for that day and giving us quizzes. His brow raised when he had a glimpse of my score, and the corner of his lips curved upward. My classmates did not notice it but my eyes never lied to me.

I felt my cheek burned hot in embarrassment so I looked outside the window, although I could sense how teacher Anthony’s stare lingered in me for seconds.

“Let’s give Sydnee a round of applause for having the highest score in class today.”

Most of my classmates did a hesitant clap while some did not bother to clap at all. It did not matter. I was too embarrassed to even look at Teacher Anthony again.

I used the trick he taught me once at the library and I knew that he noticed it. We’re not in good terms yet so I felt awkward. I just did not expect him to inspect each of our answer sheets after the quiz. If only he didn’t do it…

“That’s all for today, class.” He bit his goodbye.

We stood up to bit our goodbye also, but his eyes found mine and we stared at each other for a few seconds before he left. Only my seatmate noticed the looks I shared with the teacher but she didn’t ask about it. I heaved a sigh of relief.

Rogie entered the classroom minutes after the math teacher exited. I was taken aback when he stood in front of me. I looked up at him but he just snorted and held my hand. He tried to tugged me out of my chair but I held my other hand on the armrest to prevent myself from standing.

“L-Let go!” I whispered a groan.

His face sunk at my repulsion and let my hand go. I still felt the tingle when I looked up at him again. “What’s the matter with you?” I breathed.

But he held my shoulders and brought his lips on mine. My eyes shot up and tried my best to push him away but his hands moved down at my back and pulled me closer to him.