Chapter 16 — Every breath you take

When Cali followed Clark towards the kitchen all by themselves, Andrea couldn’t force herself to be enthusiastic anymore. She basically forced Cali to help them out but she gets to spend the day with Clark.

“Andrea, are you okay?” Gavin asked less concernedly and more in a teasing way.

“Of course, I am!” Andrea exclaimed, forcing a chuckle.

“Clark is smart and reserved as a soldier but could also be as dumb and naive as a child.” Harry disappointedly said with a grim expression on his face.

“I thought you guys are dating.” Jessie said, shooting Andrea a doubtful look.

“What?! W-What makes you think that?” Andrea uneasily squealed.

“No, Jessie, they're not dating but they secretly like each other.” Gavin said with a smirk on her face.

“W-What?” Andrea nervously said as she felt the butterflies on her stomach go rampage.

“Oh, come on Andrea don’t tell me you haven’t noticed it yet! Clark is so totally in to you!” Jessie teasingly said while snickering.

“He is?” Andrea said, feeling hopeful and jubilant.

“Yes! He’s just too scared to make a move!” Gavin said after a dramatic groan as if telling Andrea that she’s lacking commonsense.

“You should definitely make the first move!” Jessie insisted while playfully punching her in the arm. “Right, Harry?”

“W-What? What?” Harry said looking oblivious as he placed a hand over the rotary dial telephone’s receiver and turned to Jessie. Harry had taken the liberty to talk to the musicians and he’d been on the phone with them ever since Clark had told them their duties.

He didn’t even notice Clark and Cali leave.

“I said Andrea should make the first move on Clark.” Jessie reluctantly repeated.

“Oh, most definitely, my dove!” He said in his sassy yet cheery voice.

“Hello? Yes, I’m here. Can you repeat what you said, please?” Harry politely said going back to his phone call but before he did, he gave the girls an apologetic look.

“But I think Clark is a player, balancing you and Cali in his muscular arms.” Gavin jokingly added earning roars of laughter from everyone in the room except Andrea and Felix.

“If there’s a real player in this school, it’s Cali, she’s jumping from man to man. Starting from Professor Alexander to Clark and then now to our boy here, Felix.” The guy named Will arrogantly said, who was busy assembling one of the Christmas trees.

“Cali’s not a player!” Felix bellowed as he hit the table with his palms. The room went silent and everyone had their eyes on Felix.

This was the first time the shy timid boy spoke up like that, which made Andrea feel slightly nervous. Felix may have been a new additional person in their friend group because of Cali but she doesn’t know anything about the guy which scares her.

“Calm down, Felix, Will is just messing around.” Gavin nervously said trying to take control of the situation.

“Don’t bother, Gavin, he probably finally got that bitch Cali to bed last night, explains why he’s being such a jerk.” Will said with a shrug of his shoulder.

Nobody saw it coming, that's why nobody could’ve prevented it. Felix ran towards Will and punched him in the nose so hard he fell on the floor. Harry turned around to see who had caused the loud noise and he dropped the telephone when he saw Felix standing over bloody Will with a clenched fist.

“You jerk!” Will angrily yelled as he stood up and threw a punch on Felix, he collapsed over the boxes of Christmas balls. Felix was about to hit him back when Harry rushed to his side to stop him. The other guy named Ron held Will back from beating up Felix.

“What’s going on here?” The piercing cold voice of Clark said by the door with Cali behind him who had the same surprised expression as everyone else in the room.

“Felix, what are you doing?” When Felix heard Cali’s voice, his furious expression changed to an embarrassed one.

“He punched me out of nowhere, Clark. That guy has gone insane!” Will reasoned out with trembling fingers, knowing how frightening Clark is when he’s angry.

“Don’t make this about me!” Felix angrily said and was about to attack him again but Harry’s firm grip prevented him from doing so.

“That’s enough!” Clark bellowed loud enough for the entire school to hear, even Cali behind him was shocked by this.

“If you are not willing to help organize this fucking ball then get the hell out of here!” He added with so much anger and authority in his voice he actually sounded like a military officer.

Nobody made a move. That was the first time they’ve heard Clark to cuss like that, even for Andrea.

Felix and Will stared at each other as if waiting for the other to person to leave. Almost a minute passed and nobody was still making a move nor was anyone saying something.

“Felix, come on let’s get you cleaned up, you look like a mess.” Cali calmly said as she nodded her head at Felix.

Felix simply obeyed and followed her with his head hanging in his neck, like a kid who was told by his parents that he’s grounded.

“Now, go back to your duties.” Clark ordered as soon as Cali and Felix were out of the room.

Gavin offered to patch up Will and Harry hastily picked up the phone from the floor and dialed the number of the musician again. Jessie and Ron cleaned the mess Will and Felix made with their faces still in shock for what happened.

While everyone was still caught up with how things unfolded between Felix and Will, something else was bothering Andrea. It was what Gavin said that Clark is waiting for her to make a move. With her heart fluttering and her stomach filled with butterflies, he gazed longingly at Clark.

It was as if at that moment she could finally have him, she only needs to reach out her arm at him and tell him how she really feels, after that everything will fall into place

She decided on the Christmas Eve ball, Andrea will confess her feelings for him, it is the perfect set up. She will wear the most magnificent dress for the party and arrive late so that everyone would see her walk slowly like Cinderella on her first ball.

“Andrea!” Jessie called out to her with a pout, holding an LED Christmas light. “You still with us? I need your help with decorating this tree.”

“Yup, I’m here, sorry. What do you need?” Andrea hastily replied as she got up from her seat and headed to the tree.

“Well, there’s going to be five Christmas trees in general. Four small ones, which will be placed on each corner of the hall and one massive tree on the stage.”

“Hmm...okay, is the big tree here?” Andrea asked half-heartedly.

“Not yet. It will be arriving tomorrow morning. What we need is a theme for the four small trees.” Jessie said, heaving out a problematic sigh.

“Why not just follow the theme of the whole party? White and gold.”

“That would be for the massive tree on the stage. It wouldn’t make any sense if the small trees are identical to it.”

“Well, what if you make the small trees identical to the big one but add a different color to each, like a touch of red or blue.” Andrea suggested with a shrug. “For variety.”

“You know what, that’s actually not a bad idea.” Jessie excitedly said, her eyes lighting up like the LED Christmas lights on her hands.

“Thanks, shall we get started with it, then?”

“Yes, yes! We should!” Jessie answered, getting more and more excited. Andrea joined her by feigning her excitement for decorating Christmas trees. What she was really exhilarated about is the Christmas Eve party where everything would finally fall into place.

…

“You never told me you were a badass.” I mockingly said to Felix as I cleaned his busted lip with a cotton swab. We didn’t go to the infirmary, instead I took a first aid kit from one of the empty classrooms and we sat on one of the window ledges in the hallway.

“Shut up.” He said with a chuckle. “Remind me again, why are we here in the hallway and not in the infirmary?”

“I sort of promised Dr. Collins that I will never show my face there again, he said I’m the only student who’s been there like a dozen of times within a month.”

“A dozen? That’s overdoing it, he’s just messing around with you.” He said shaking his head in disbelief.

“Hold still!” I said with an irritated groan as I finished cleaning his lip.

“Besides, I thought you hate promises.”

“Yes, I do hate promises, that’s why whenever I make one, I always do whatever it takes to fulfill it.” I answered as I carefully placed a band-aid over his wound.

“Why do you hate promises so much?” He asked, a cloud of worry covering his face.

“That’s none of your business.” I snapped back. “Why did you get into a fight with Will, anyway?”

Felix didn’t seem pleased with how I quickly changed the subject but after a short contemplation he let it go.

“Will called you the b-word.” He answered in a low voice.

“The what word?”

“The b-word.” He unwillingly repeated.

“Will called me a bee and you punched him?” I said, feigning my innocence.

“No!” He said after a frustrated groan. “He called you a bi— a bi— I can’t say it!”

“A bitch.” I bluntly said. “He called me a bitch and you punched him?”

He slowly nodded a reply.

“Felix it’s fine, it’s just a word.”

“No, it’s not fine. He has no right to call you like that.”

“I can fight my own battles. You don’t have to fight them for me.” I cynically said with an exasperated sigh.

“Maybe that’s just it, Cali.” He said, raising his voice in frustration. “Maybe that’s why every time I see you all I see is a girl in pain. You’ve been fighting your battles on your own.”

“You said it yourself Felix, they’re my battles, who do you suppose should fight them other than myself?”

He looked at me dumbfoundedly, as I stood up and looked down on him.

“I’ll go now.” I simply said before walking out of there without hearing another word from him.

….

For the next few days, I went into my classes and helped with the decorations for the Christmas Eve party in a daze. It was like I have left my body to work on its own like a robot while I ponder my mind on ways to execute my mission as soon as possible. I kept on getting this foreboding feeling that Irene will be a huge problem and she’s closing in.

I snapped out of my trance in the morning of the Christmas Eve and Andrea and Harry started handing me the clothes that they chose for me to wear for the ball tonight. It was a green maxi off-shoulder dress that reaches just below my knees, it had long sleeves which covered my scars. Its cloth was silk which made me look like wearing the actual living color of red every time I move around.

I had my hair done in a bun with loose strands of hair on my temples. Harry did my make up but this time I forced him to not overdo it. I stared myself in the mirror and thought to myself how far I have come.

I was still experiencing withdrawal symptoms but it’s very mild and I no longer find myself craving for the pills, especially when Professor Alexander would pass by my room at night and command my mind to fall asleep. Speaking of him, I realized I haven’t spoken to him for quite some time. He’s been very busy with the holidays and students leaving the school like that.

But on a much deeper level, I am not doing well. I think I am starting to believe that I am Calanthe, a traumatized girl from Russia with telekinetic abilities, so much so that there are times that I would find myself in situations like this where I would completely forget about my mission.

I pondered on this as we walked towards the dining hall. Felix was saying something but I couldn’t make out what it is. I know I have to finish the mission before this year ends, before Irene comes back and reveals my identity. But it’s moments like this where I just want to be Cali, a Russian girl with telekinesis not some assassin who will—

I can’t even bring myself to think about it. I squeezed my arm tightly, expecting excruciating pain to coarse through my body but I only felt a tiny bit of jolt from it. This made me realize that it’s been a while since I punished myself.

What the hell is going on with me? Am I lost in the dream? I need to wake up.

But as the doors flew open in the dining hall and I saw the beautifully decorated trees all over the place, I said to myself, “Just one more night.”

….

“Greetings students of Deviant Heritage Academy!” Corvort said in an elated manner over the microphone. “Welcome to the annual Christmas Eve gala!”

The room exploded with applauses and cheers.

“Gala?” I snorted, looking at Felix sideways. We are now seated on one of the round tables near the stage. The long tables were replaced with round ones that have a white table cloth and a gold table runner. It actually feels like we’re in a fancy hotel.

“You know how he always wants to keep things formal.”

“More like vintage.” I sarcastically said that made Felix chuckle.

While Corvort was introducing the first band for tonight I looked around the hall and regarded the fascinating aesthetic decorations that we have worked hard on. The four flawlessly adorned Christmas trees on each corner of the hall. The dangling Christmas lights on the ceilings with glittering streamers and hanging mistletoes equally distributed throughout the entire area.

And the elegant enormous Christmas tree decorated with colors of white and gold nestled in the middle of the stage. The entire hall was radiating with beauty and hope of a better tomorrow.

Unconsciously, I surveyed the crowd for Professor Alexander. I saw him on one of the professors’ table upfront near the stage, having an abnormally close-range conversation with Professor Michelle Myers.

It wouldn’t have bothered me if the professor was an old woman who wasn’t intentionally leaning closer to him to expose her sagging bosoms in that white sleeveless dress of hers. But she wasn’t! She’s actually around the same age as him! What a slutty little bitch!

Focusing on the full glass of red wine in front of her I sent it toppling over her perfectly white dress. She shrieked and immediately stood up with the red wine running down her dress, ruining it completely.

I tried to control my laughter as I looked away.

“What’s so funny?” Felix asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Nothing. He said something funny.” I pointed at the lead singer of the first band who was introducing themselves to the crowd.

“No, he didn’t.”

“He did, you weren’t listening.”

“He just said the name of their band, how is that funny?”

“Well—“ I was cut off when someone cleared their throat behind us and I was surprised to see who it was.

“Good evening, Professor Alexander.” Felix politely greeted and so did Harry, Andrea and the rest of the people we were sharing a table with.

“Good evening, I hope you are all enjoying the night so far. May I borrow Miss Calanthe for a moment?” He said to everyone without looking at me. They all exchanged looks of uneasiness before slowly nodding their head.

Borrow? Do I look like a pencil?

I shot him a glare as I followed Professor Alexander outside of the hall. I could feel the eyes of everyone from our table boring into my back.

….

When Cali left with Professor Alexander, the entire table started gossiping about the two of them but Andrea didn’t join them. She was too nervous and preoccupied. She planned this night perfectly but she’s still jittery.

She kept her eyes on Clark who was running around the side of the stage along with the other student body officers to make sure that the program is ongoing. Clark wore a simple black suit that fit perfectly with his body, for Andrea he’s the handsomest man in the room.

The band started playing a slow song and the students headed to the dance floors with their partners. Andrea stood up, fixed her dress and walked towards Clark.

After four years, this is it. She merrily thought.

“Hey” she casually greeted to Clark.

“A-Andrea...wow...you l-look nice.” He blushingly said, before looking away.

“Thanks. Clark, do you want to—“

“Clark, we have a problem!” Gavin exclaimed with an awestricken face as she ran towards them.

“What is it?”

“Just come with me!” She said dragging Clark away from Andrea.

“Sorry, Andrea! I’ll come back later!” Clark called out to her in an apologetic tone.

And like a nice heroine in a movie, Andrea waited. However, she couldn’t seem to get Clark alone after that. There was always some problem he had to attend to every time she sees an opportunity to be alone with him.

When Cali came back twenty minutes after Professor Alexander did, she was moving from one table to another having small casual conversations with everyone and Andrea was still waiting for Clark.

After dinner was served, there were a few party games while everyone waited for the Christmas Eve, this made Clark even busier and more impossible to talk to. Still, Andrea waited patiently.

It was already ten minutes before midnight and the last band is playing the slow version of The Police’s Every Breath You Take.

Perfect. Andrea thought as she scanned the crowd for Clark. When she found him standing alone by the stage, she ran towards him.

“Clark! Let’s dance!” She exclaimed as she dragged him towards the dance floor without hearing his response.

Andrea found a way to place them directly below a mistletoe. She placed her hands around his neck and he placed his around her waist. The light reflected by the disco ball hid their red colored faces as they danced around.

Every breath you take and every move you make...

“Clark, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” Andrea nervously said.

“What is it?”

Every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you...

“We’ve been best friends for four years and you’ve always been there for me through thick and thin.” She said, feeling her heart beat so fast she thinks even the singers on stage can hear it.

“Even on my darkest days, you were there for me, Clark.” She said forcing herself to look him in the eye. She tried reading his expression but she couldn’t.

Oh can’t you see, you belong to me…

How my poor heart aches with every step you take “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” Still, Clark remained silent.

“I’ve been hiding this thing for years and you have no idea how difficult and painful it is to see you with someone else. It breaks my heart every time I see you having fun with some other girl.”

Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you…

“You have no idea how much I suffered when you asked the new girl out for a date on her first week here.”

Every breath you take, every move you make…

“I like you, Clark Miller. I like you more than just a best friend.”

I’ll be watching you…

Clark’s eyes grew wide in shock and despite his best efforts, he still couldn’t utter a word. It was as if the time stopped around them and they’re the only ones who can move or say a word.

Andrea longingly waited for Clark’s response while the time continued to stand still around them as if it was also waiting for his response.

This is it. He’s going to say he likes me too and under this mistletoe we will kiss at the stroke of midnight. Andrea excitedly thought.

“Andrea, I-I’m sorry...I-I only like you as a best friend.” He uneasily said.

“5! 4! 3!” The crowd chanted around them. “2! 1! Merry Christmas!”

The band immediately played a Christmas song and the crowd started dancing like crazy.

Amidst the chaos, Andrea was dumbfounded as she stared at Clark.

I only like you as a best friend. His words repeatedly echoed through Andrea’s mind until it sunk in to her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she finally realized what had happened. She didn’t get her happily ever after. Everything is ruined.

“No! No! No!” She screamed as tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t stop herself anymore.

“This was supposed to be the perfect night! I was supposed to get my happily ever after tonight! You were supposed to kiss me on the stroke of midnight! No! No! This is not right!”

“Andrea, I’m so sorry…” he said, taking a step toward her to comfort her but she stepped back.

“Leave me alone.” She said in a sobbing voice before running away from the man she loves but only sees her nothing more than a friend.

As Clark watch the girl he’s been in love with since day one, he thought to himself.

I’m really sorry Andrea, but this is for your own good. This is the only way I could protect you from the truth about my family.