Thirteen

***Adonis***

She must have thought I drugged her.

It wouldn't surprise me if she wakes up and starts screaming about it. But then, it's not my fault she lacked so much sleep that my very reliable sleep inducer could not help but knock her out so fast.

Settling on the little space left on the bed, I took a second to study her now relaxed face. After what I heard in the corridors of the school so far, I could easily tell why she was so pale. And I couldn't help but wonder who it was that she had offended that he or she would think it necessary to release such provocating images.

I sighed hard as my right hand attempted to reach out for the large mass of her shiny, nice scented, black hair she had scattered all over her face. I shouldn't be getting attached to her. I shouldn't be trying to befriend her. But I needed to move closer to her in order to protect her.

It would be silly of me to reprimand myself for wanting to start a new life by getting a job as a teacher. It would also be stupid to blame the girl who was deep into her slumber for showing up at the exact moment I was trying to get rid of my crazy past once and for all.

But did she really have to look on like she knew me? I could still recall the way she scrutinized me gently like she was trying to tell a lot about me without asking. And that expression on her face that day is the very reason I have to get close to her.

Because of her presence beside the school building that day, they think she is affiliated with me and they sounded like they would do a good job of getting back at me through her. And I wouldn't want that. I could run away, but I knew them, they would still want to hurt her.

So, I have to stay as close as possible to her. Even if I don't know her.

But then, there was this side of me that keeps jumping anytime I catch a glimpse of her small face. Some wired craziness in me made me follow her into the library the other day and it made me blurt out the first thing that came to my mind when my eyes met hers beside the school building.

Within a second, I had studied how she looked and of all things my mind could think of, it kept replaying the image of her full lips which had an arc on the upper one that begged to be treated nicely.

Adjusting, I took my eyes off the ceiling and looked at Ruby Powers again. She was interesting no doubt. Especially when she suspects me of being someone who threads the path of psychopathy. As my lips wore a smile again, a small voice reminded me again, my partial unwillingness to be tangled romantically with her.

It happened in the past and it didn't end well both on the girl's side and mine.

So, it became clear as crystal what I was supposed to do. Protect. And that was all I would do until they don't bother me anymore.

My legs crossing each other with my hands clasping over my knee to give support, I took another second to study her face again. It was a simple face yet pretty in an very unforgettable way. As I tried not to make my eyes fall onto her lips, I wondered what she would look like smiling.

My head liked the image it created.

Then, like running water which had met a diversion, my mind changed course and asked more questions that only the asleep girl could answer. That is if she doesn't try to stab my eye with a needle first. Releasing my knotted legs as I heard my phone's calender notification, I took my phone out of my bag which was packed in preparation for a situation where I would have to flee again.

I don't still see myself fleeing soon though. But it never hurts to be ready.

It occurred to me as my eyes scanned through the digital schedule, that I had a class. So, I got up. As my hand reached to draw the curtain close, a feminine voice entered the room, calling for Ruby. When I turned my head, my eyes fell on the girl who had intruded my class last Friday, saying that she was looking for Ruby.

"Oh, Mr. Klaus." Her eyes transformed from fiery to mellow within a second and I almost winced. That was a move that still makes me uncomfortable even though I have experienced it every good damn place I go to. Actually it is worse now. Ever since I resumed work in the school, I keep on getting weird gifts and notes from the female staffs. The worse part is when I have to listen to tales that are far from interesting with a small smile on my face which I can tell would one day change into a scowl and chase them all away.
But since I was working on being a better version of myself, I'll keep the repelling part of me at bay for a while.

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"she sounded and looked gentle. " Did you get hurt somewhere?" Her legs fast approached me with concern all over her face. When she saw there was no sign of injury on my body whatsoever, her eyes fell towards Ruby. "Did you come to see her?"
The look on her eyes cornered me for a second. But when she wore a smile after, I became less confused. "You were worried about her, right? I am too." Her shoulders relaxed and my building thoughts about her fell apart.

"Is she going to be fine?" I asked one of the questions that tugged my mind earlier and her friend gave a small nod.

"I am hoping that she would be. Ruby doesn't like to talk much about her problems and that's why she is this way. I just wish she would do more of sharing than bottling up."

My hands formed into loose fists and my mind asked more questions which still didn't get to be voiced. It would be hurried anyway, if I decide to ask them all in one stance. Somethings are best gotten after going through a pace slower than a snail. But in order to confirm a thing or two, I asked the tall girl in front of me, "Does she know who did it?"

"You have seen it too?" Her eyes looked so sad as the topic came up. Hugging herself, she looked to the side and answered my question. "Yes, she does."
I gave a curt nod. "Won't you ask who it is?"
It made me smile inwardly that she was disguisedly extending towards me, a part in their circle of friendship.

But the keyword; *protect* kept ringing in my head. So I just smiled, gave her shoulder a little pat and walked away.