Chapter 109: Araya & Zeron 1

A long sigh came out from Darya’s lips upon reminiscing that she could not even see Kael’s face before her death. She wonders what would be his reaction knowing that Sally died before he knew it? Imagining the expression he would make, she could feel the pressing of her chest as her breath slowed down. Darya touched her chest and looked down to the ground. Tears are falling from her eyes.

She is tired.

She is tired of this constant pain in every single life.

This is why she is afraid of getting attached to a person again. It started with Esteban, the man she loved with all her soul. Second is Renald, that man who made her feel special. Third is Kael, that boy who made her feel loved and cared. Just why won't this pain stop?

Splash! A cold water was poured on Darya’s head as she woke up from her daydream. Her school uniform had gotten wet, along with her shoes. She then heard laughter from that group of friends who were the bullies of the original owner of the body she took a few days ago.

“Look at this poor girl, looking like a loser!” The one leading the group mocked her and laughed out loud because of her miserable state.

Darya bit her lips hard. She is so tired about life that she could not even feel anger towards her opponents. It started from putting a gum on her hair which made her cut her long hair short. Then it was followed by ruining her locker room by putting garbage on it. It was then followed by ruining her PE uniform, then purposely bumping on her lunch tray. Her bullies had come so far as to push her to the side road so she would be run over by a car. She was lucky at that time because the driver abruptly pushed the brake and saved her life.

Just like how she ignored how she was treated, Darya started walking away and chose to just let them be but this time, she was stopped by their following statements.

“I wonder when Zeron is coming back? You must have missed him so badly because he could not defend you anymore.”

Since she had transmigrated to this new body, she would often hear her bullies mention this boy named “Zeron”. But she is so tired of life that she doesn't even want to look into the memories of this new body. Looks like this “Zeron” is somewhat close to the original owner or whatever relationship that she had. All she knows is that the one leading her bullies has feelings with Zeron. And this person is the reason why the original owner of this body suffered in her life.

Darya ignored everything she heard and just walked to the hallway, took her bag from her seat and immediately walked home without paying attention to anyone. To help herself be relieved from numbness, she would sometimes slap her face to get a grip of reality. When she arrived home, it was empty as usual. A home that does not feel like home. A home where the wind is her company.

Darya took days off the school to recollect her mind. She would either sleep, watch documentaries, read books, or eat less food. In that amount of days, she looked underweight because of stress and insomnia.

Finally, she had a grip of reality. She decided to go back to school like nothing happened in the past few days. Everyone was gossiping about her but her mind was so occupied with nothingness that she could not comprehend what they were saying.

When the class started, she was asked by her homeroom teacher to go with her in the teacher’s office. She was then interrogated as to why she was absent in two weeks. And what she said? The truth.

Yes, Darya told everything about her bullies and told them how they neglect their duty as teachers. She confronted all the teachers and pointed out all their weak points and all their disadvantages. She used the law and the ethics of their professions against them when they retaliated. She even confronted the school principal and what happened? She was back to her seat like nothing had happened. Since that time, some of these teachers would make all efforts to avoid her.

Darya snickered upon hearing that the current teacher was not present due to stomach ache.

What a lame excuse.

It is because that was the teacher who once sexually harassed the original owner of the body. During the two weeks of recollection, Darya had come to a conclusion to just look for a way to die early without killing herself. It would be too pathetic if her bullies just found out that she took her life because of them.

“Hey!”

Darya’s desk was suddenly banged as she was surrounded by that group of unscrupulous beings. Yuna, the lead, grabbed her hair so she could look into her eyes.

“How dare you ignore me while I call your name?!”

Darya’s eyes remained emotionless. In response, she stood and grabbed Yuna’s hair on the sensitive part in the back of her head, making the girl whine and gasp. When Yuna unconsciously let go of her hair, Darya pushed her to the ground. So then, she stepped on her abdomen without any guilt in her eyes.

This made Yuna shudder in her place while looking at Darya’s cold eyes, making her pathetically ask for help. “Attack her!”

But before the others could even attack, Darya was already grabbing Yuna’s neck while she's sitting on her abdomen, making the others stop from their course. “Do you still want them to attack or I will just have to make you stop your stinking breath here?”

Yuna was struggling in her breath because of the tight grip of Darya on her neck. She stomped and stomped her feet and hands to signal that she was dying. And when she was about to lose life, Darya finally let go of her neck as she stood up, and left the room like she never strangled a student.

“Araya…”

On her way out of the room, she did not even notice Zeron whom she just passed like a wind. Zeron was left speechless as he watched Araya walking away. As soon as he heard that Yuna’s group went to Araya’s room, he immediately sprinted all the way to check on her but what the hell did he see?

Araya is strangling Yuna and her eyes do not even speak remorse. What happened to the month he was away? Why.. Why does it feel like… he had done something terrible?

“Araya!”

Zeron ran to the corridors to look for Araya. He needs to talk to her. He needs to solve whatever misunderstanding they had before it is too late. He hated it when he was being misunderstood by Araya every time. And he could never feel easy when Araya does not look well. Whatever problem is this, this should not take any longer.

To his shock, he could not believe what he was seeing upon finding out Araya’s location. She was being surrounded by three male students and she was lighting a cigarette!

“Araya!” He called for her name, making her stop and turn her head towards him.

Zeron immediately made his way towards Araya, took the ignited cigarette, chucked it to the ground, and stepped on it.

“What are you doing?” He was so shocked to see the only person he would never expect to touch a cigarette.

Araya was confused as to who this man who suddenly threw her cigarette. “Smoking?” She answered nonchalantly, thinking about trying to smoke again.

“Hey, dude. We’re having fun here with her. You don’t need to mingle with our business.” One of the students spoke but not doing anything.

Zeron glared at that student before grabbing Araya’s hand to take her away. Araya was confused, she looked at the students whom she was leaving. “I will go back here next time. Let’s smoke!” She bid her goodbye and waved while the male students laughed and approved of her.

Zeron was mad upon hearing that. He took Araya to the backyard where no one could hear them. “What the hell is wrong with you, Araya?” Zeron grabbed her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.

Araya was still confused. “I am doing nothing. What is wrong?”

“Then why would you start smoking? Who asked you to smoke?” This time, Zeron’s voice was firm. He is losing his patience.

Araya was so confused as to why this stranger acts like they know each other for a long time. She pushed him and walked backwards to make a distance.

“What the hell is wrong with you as well? And who are you to act so close to me?”

Zeron stood there petrified. “What?” He was so shocked that Araya’s expression looked so true as if she had not really known him.

“I…” Zeron’s eyes became blurry. “It just took a month for you to completely forget my existence?” Tears started pouring down his eyes, feeling extremely hurt by this treatment, the first thing they talked about after being away from each other for a month.

Araya was still confused. “Have we had a relationship before? I don’t think I have ever been in a relationship with someone before. If there is, then it ends here. It was a teen-ager’s love. It is something to not to be serious about.”

This even pricked Zeron’s heart with a thousand blades. He was out of breath. Since Zeron was silent, Araya felt like it was no longer necessary to talk with him but before she walked away, he spoke.

“It’s me, Zeron.”

Araya was taken aback and she did not expect that this attractive young man is actually Zeron. She did not recognize him because he dyed his blonde hair black. Now she feels guilty about telling him those words. What if he has a special relationship with the original owner?

Seeing her stop her tracks upon hearing his name, he felt hope. “Do you remember now?” He walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her. “I am sorry if I took longer than expected. I am sorry that I was not able to even say goodbye.”

Araya did not speak as she could feel his heartbeat on his chest. Zeron’s hands are even shaking as if he was so scared just now.

“I thought you really forgot about me.” He sobbed behind her. “I am sorry. I will make it up to you so don’t be mad. I will change. I will do anything you want so please, just don’t do me like that.”

Araya remained silent, feeling sad about what she could not tell him now.