Chapter Sixteen

< Nina >

“I’ve never heard of the Caulfield family from one of my father’s connections but tell me, what does your father do?” Curious stares are looking in my direction as one of my female classmates approaches me after the teacher leaves.

“That’s a sexist question, Hannah. What if her mother is the corporate heiress instead?” Another girl, probably “Hannah’s” friend, butts in.

“Hey, what’s with that eyepatch?”

“Maybe she’s an exchange student. But her looks don't show any prestige at all.”

Hey, you don’t need to say that right in front of my face.

Yu had already told me the other day that Dawn Peak Academy has a different system from the typical American high school. We attend the same subjects with the same schedule and we don’t go room to room except for electives and PE. And that’s because there are fewer students here than the likes of public schools.

If anything, this reminds me of Asian schools.

So when I arrived on my first day of school, I was aware that their eyes had already set on me. But I regret coming here unprepared with their questions.

Thinking back, I’ve never been approached like this before. So it’s completely new to me.

“Hello? Nina Caulfield? You can’t be that deaf, right?”

What should I say? Should I tell them that the one who enrolled me is Rodrigo Gomez? W-won’t that add more unnecessary attention? Will that bring more press to the de Milano family? To Rodrigo? T-to my mom?

“Hey, you can see that she’s not comfortable with you bombarding her with those questions.”

Another figure comes into my view as he is standing in front of my desk, looking at me. Long dark-haired that reaches on his nape, fierce blue-green eyes, and his skin is tanned. He doesn’t even follow the school policy, seeing that he isn’t wearing a vest but rather, his dress shirt that has been tucked out from his dark slacks.

“Oh, hi Clarence! You’re late again!” Based on the girls’ giggles, I am safe to assume that he’s also one of those blessed with good looks.

Seriously, why are all the people I’ve met in Dawn City good-looking?!

My thoughts are interrupted as the guy, Clarence, sits right behind me. So that is his assigned seat. For the moment there, I thought that seat was always unoccupied.

He stares at me for a moment then smiles. “Hey, cool eye pad. I’m Clarence, Clarence Benz.”

Without hesitation, I answer, “Thanks, I am Nina.”

The girls from earlier look at me in disgust as one of them whispers, loud enough for me to hear.

“Can’t believe that she can only talk to Clarence so easily.”

And with that I pale instantly, realizing that I must have offended them that I didn’t say anything when they were nice enough to approach me, right? I am so used to talking to guys like Gene and Yu that I ruined my chance of making girl friends!

I abruptly stand up to which the girls look oddly at me and I start, “T-the one who enrolled me to this school is my...stepfather.”

There, I said it. This is how to make friends. Be honest to them and—hey, why are they looking at me like that?

Disappointment. Disgust. Disapproval.

These are the things that come to my mind when I read their faces.

“I...I see,” the girl Hannah says and with that, the girls leave me alone.

I look at their retreating forms with disbelief and I slowly slump to my seat. Her parting words clearly show that they didn’t like my answer but what seems to be the problem then?

“Your stepfather, huh?” I almost forgot that he’s still behind me.

“Is something wrong with what I’ve said?” I scoot a bit to give myself an access view to my classmate who was leaning a bit closer to me.

Oddly enough, the moment when we are nearing proximity, I feel uncomfortable. I move inches away from him.

“Well, for starters, it’s rare for transfer students in this school unless you're from a foreign country. Second, is that you don’t look like you’re one of us. For them, connections are important, especially now this year is a critical time to get acquainted," he says, nonchalantly. He has no signs of being offended toward my actions.

“Oh, I should have known that.” I look down and I feel a pang on my chest. There goes my chance of making friends. Well, that’s expected. Once they get to know me more as the reputable No-good Nina in Freedomville, they will just leave me.

“No worries, I can be your friend,” he says while smirking at me.

“Why?” I ask then I regret asking. I don't want to sound rude, after all. “I mean, I appreciate it if you do but you won’t get anything in return. I mean, I’m just adopted to his family.”

“Which is why a person without any affluent background is fine with me. You know, I studied in Dawn Academy since preschool. So befriending a newcomer is a breath of fresh air for me."

I look at him doubtfully and I slowly nod. “O-okay, thanks. Nice meeting with you, Clarence.”

“Glad I made you talk, Nina.” He says with a melodic tune in his voice while he touches my cheek closer to my patched eye. I instinctively back away a bit, completely caught off guard when his hand reaches there.

“Oops, sorry,” he chuckles. “It’s a bad habit of mine.”

I just give him a forced laugh in response, unsure of his apology.

“What happened to that if you don’t mind me asking?” He asks, changing the topic. Apparently, Clarence knows how to make a conversation.

That’s reassuring...I guess?

Like usual, I answer. “Dodgeball incident in my previous school. It was just an accident.”

“Dodgeball, huh?” His eyes didn’t leave the sight of my eye pad and I sank on my seat. “Sounds like you had some enemies before, Nina.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask, nervously.

He tilts his head, fingers pressing lightly on his chin as he begins to ponder. “Good question.” Then his smirk returns to his devilish look. "Anyone can tell that a dodgeball strike directly to the eye is obviously intentional. There's a slim chance that it was an accident, Nina. That person really hates you then."

"I...see," I mutter nervously and before I can say anything, I can hear whispers surrounding the room and I later realized that my conversation with Clarence has been the center of gossip the whole time.

Heads turn back away from me the moment when I glance at every side. Moments ago, the class was bustling with gossip and chitchats. Even if the girls who approached me earlier were lively. But now, when Clarence came, they only glanced every now and then while I was having a conversation with him.

What’s going on?

“Is it just me or are they all...looking at us?” It’s just a gut feeling but it’s screaming to me that I shouldn't have asked.

“Nope, all eyes are on you, Nina,” he says as he shows a mischievous side of himself as he says that. "As I said, it's not normal to have a new student in this school."

“I...I see.” If I have a clear doubtful look on my face, Clarence didn't comment on it.

Thankfully, the History teacher shows up before I have another word with Clarence. It is the first time I actually feel glad that the class starts. And I am glad that this teacher didn't bother to introduce me earlier like what had happened this morning.

When she starts talking about the introduction of Ancient Civilization, the tension of the room slowly drifts and somehow the students are well-prepared with the questions as they give the most rational questions I don't often hear in Liberty High.

The topic itself seems interesting but I still can't concentrate. It's not because I couldn't understand or feel bored with the overwhelming information...well, actually the former was partly the truth.

But I couldn’t help thinking about my gut feeling earlier.

And even though, there shouldn't be anything awkward with the flow of our conversation, let alone he was the first to befriend me.

I couldn't help but feel Clarence's gaze behind me.

Like a hawk observing his prey’s every move.