Chapter 9 : Linus

| Linus | DAYS, COME and go, but this feeling within me, keeps ongoing and growing. I just want to ignore this. I want to consider this as a normal feeling, but I know that it's not. How can this feeling stop, when I always see his deep and mysterious eyes? I know it's crazy but I'm just being honest to myself, that I never felt this before. Come on, Becca, you're just getting curious, I mumbled to myself. "Before we have our first test on this subject, I want you to work on a reaction paper about the Sonnets of Shakespeare," said, Mrs. Ether. I'm not into poetry, but I know Shakespeare. "And it will be by partner," she added. Nena, beside me, poked and smiled at me, "hope we'll gonna be partners," she said. I'm about to reply when our prof says my name. "Rebecca and Linus." "Linus?" I know this sounds ridiculous, but I don't know the names of my classmate, well except for Nena, Trix, and Evette. How will I know it when on our first day, we didn't introduce ourselves? I'm not that friendly too. I don't approach someone first. "Linus, will you stand up," Mrs. Ether seems to read my thoughts. I don't know how unfortunate I am, but the person whom I want to ignore is my partner. He's Linus? The light atmosphere became leaden as he stood up. Our eyes met, and that bizarre feeling started to arouse. The rest of the time became swift and blurry that I just find myself standing in front of him. I hemmed as I compose myself. With courage, I speak, "when do we start our reaction paper?" "Library. 4 pm," plain, unemotional, he frugally answered. I gave an unease smile and replied, "okay" and leave the room. As I stepped outside, I lean against the wall, my knees weaken, and my heart thumps even faster. For a bit, I close my eyes as I compose myself. I shake my head. "This can't be." AFTER CLASS, I went to the café and tell Mrs. Dory that I have things to do, and get back after an hour. I'm in the hallway towards the library when I realize that I don't know where I should find him inside this colossal library. The library has three floors, huge shelves, a pile of glossy books in different colors, wooden desks, and chairs, and that shiny tiled floors. I guessed I need to try my luck. Wishin', I can find him. I started to search for him on the first floor. I cursed under my breath, I didn't expect that this is wide that I need to spend a minute to find him. What do I expect, this school was meant for elite people who grew in a gold spoon family, where they need everything they wanted to be in a pile of this enormous place. But, on the contrary, rich people seem lazy to take the class and have a high grade, some of them, specifically. I know some who just want to spend their riches for their own happy time, like shopping, going into a bar, etc. While wandering around, my stomach growled. Geez, I'm hungry. I'm about to climb upstairs when someone grabs my hand from behind and dragged me. "Hey." He didn't answer. Yeah, how will he answer the ‘hey'? Still, the hand grasps on mine, he drags me towards the table right in the corner. Then he let go of my hand and walk to the other side, pulled the wooden chair, and sat down. I remained, standing, mouth gaping, being deafened by m heartbeat. "Sh*t" "Are you cursing at me?" brow raised, crossed arms, deep eyes met mine, he asked. "N-No. Sorry. Hmm… shall we start?" I sat down and placed my bag on the table. On my peripheral vision, I saw him touch the books and slide down in front at the center. Whoa, perhaps, he's been here like a minute earlier than me. "I'm… I'm not into poetry, but I know Shakespeare, and—" "What sonnets do you prefer?" he cut in and asked me a question that I don't know the answer to. I graduated with excellence but I'm sucked in poetry. I read books but I don't read about poetry that much. Though I find it romantic. It's deeper meaning that you can't even tell what's implying. Well, I watched Romeo and Juliet but I didn't understand what it really meant not until I searched the internet. Poetry—not interest me. "Can you please—" "You don't know about the Sonnets, I guessed," he said and started to open the book. "In that case, you're not beneficial to this activity. You may go and leave this to me." "Excuse me?" Why do I find it like it's an insult? "We are partners, and we should work together." "If you know nothing about it, what's the essence of this meeting?" cruel it seems, but he sounds that way. I laughed, sarcastically. I moved forward and rest my two hands on the top of the table. "You're impossible. If I don't know about it, I can start to read it and learn from it. What's the use of those books, anyway?" I pointed to the three books. "No need. It will be a waste of time. I don't have all day to discuss Shakespeare Sonnets with you if I can do it right away. I will choose and make this reaction for us," he said and diverted his gaze back to the page of the book he's reading. I let a soft chuckle and unbelievably shake my head. What's with his attitude? "Have ever someone told how conceited you are?" He looks at me, deep and dazed, then he returns his attention to the book, and mumbled. "I want great work." "So, am I." My voice soars and it caught the attention of others. Who wouldn't like great work? "And you're not helpful," he added. I clenched my fist. "You're just joking, right?" He shook his head and didn't bother to shift his head on me. Before I can tell words that I might regret, I held myself, stand up. "Fine, and thank you." I hope will make it. "I'm, Becca," with irritation, I manage to introduce myself, and I don't know why I need to tell it, anyway. "I know." That's it! "Great." I harshly grabbed my bag and leave. I'm starting to hate that guy! Hate or like? Whispered the corners of my mind. Admit it to yourself, Becca. He got this strong aura that can even pull even the buried feeling of yours. I pulled my hair because of the thoughts. "HEY! What's with the grimace?" Kara asked as I stand beside her at the counter. "Oh, nothing," I replied, faking a smile. I won't let that guy ruin the rest of this day. Well, he's ruining it from the start. First, he's in my mind, then in my nerves. I hate him, and I wish to not see him for the rest of this semester. As the sun started to set, the café was full of students, who choose to chill after a tiring day, together with their colleagues. "Becca, needs you to take Bill's place tomorrow?" Mrs. Dory asked me. Bill, the waiter. "Why, Ma'am?" I asked, politely. "He needs to work for his projects," Mrs. Dory, replied. "Alright, Ma'am." BEFORE I called it a day, I went back to the library to borrow a book. I ate dinner with Reina and went to shower and afterward, I grab the book that I borrowed and started to flip its cover, and turned in the first page. Reina on the other side keeps on blabbering something that I can't almost understand and get along. It was all about her classes, anyway. My brows wrinkled when I heard again the word ‘Prince'. I stopped what I'm doing and looked at her. "What about this prince again?" I asked. She pouted her lips, flustering a dramatic face like she lost something. "Denmark published an article that the prince never sets his foot in Chanter University. The information that we've been fed up, was just a lie." I laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry for your lost." She throws a pillow at me. I laughed, again. "It's not funny. I think I lose a chance." "Oh, come on, Rey, even if the prince was here, he will not give you a damn." She throws a pillow again at me, but I catch it. "You're not helping!" Helping. Helpful. Not helpful. Those words replay and echo inside my bed. Damn that Linus! "Who's Linus?" Shocked, "Huh?" I muttered. "You mumbled, Linus. Who's this Linus?" her suspicious eyes darted on me. "I didn't say anything." Did I say his name aloud? "I'm not deaf. Tell me, who's Linus?" I put the book on the table, threw back her pillows, and shift my back away from her. "Goodnight, Reina," I uttered and fake a snore.