They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

I got really uncomfortable in my feet while I navigated the corridors. My leg is clearly not in the mood to drag my body around. When I get back on my seat, Meira is already there, having serious conversation with the two burly twins in front of us.

"Hey," I greeted when I came up near them. Instantly, the twins draw back and have one sour look at me before facing front. I lean closer to Meira and whispered.

"They clearly hated me huh. She giggled and whispered back.

"No they don't. They're just worried." 

"About what?"

"Whether you're a good guy to hang out with." She winked at me and took something from her pink strapped bag, a pencil and a sketchpad. The next subject will be Art. The old dude with a Santa white barnacle beard remind us to bring a art materials for today's activity. 

I took out mine. These burly twins… I think I know why they hate me. They liked Meira. And Meira constantly hang out with me. I don't know if we're going out but…we have a date later so, that should say she's my girlfriend…right?

I caught the two peering at me behind their shoulders. I raised my brows. They made a guttural sound under their throat and crouched behind their desks. Their sharp nails are digging right into their palms. Their feet are thumping the floor, I can feel the slight vibration even from here. I frown. It's not that they're scared or annoyed at me..

It's more like they're anticipating something. Are they planning to beat me up later? Uh-oh that's not good. I have a date with Meira tonight.

For the whole afternoon, my mind is not actually on to the lectures drone by our teachers. I keep glancing at the burly twins. And each time I did, I either caught one or two glaring at me. I instinctively searched for Meira's hand at my side and clasp hers against mine.

"What's wrong?" 

"Nothing…just umm… I just want to hold your hand. I don't how long I can hold this hand again." Her hunched figure loomed beside me. I can't see her face from her auburn hair she let down on her shoulders.

"You're right." 

"Did you say something?" She shakes her hand and squeezed. 

"Nothing,"

When the class is over, I'm anxious to put distance from the burly twins as much as possible. I pulled Meira out of the classroom and stormed out of the hallway and burst into the vast school yard. Where carefully trimmed bushes, school fountain and statues stood on all four directions of the school. 

There's the monument for the founder at the middle. I never get to admire the bronze guy with the book yesterday, nor I would today either. Hand in hand, I marched down the cobble steps and into the strong metal gate. 

Careful to look over my shoulder for the signs of the twins. So far, nothing. My confidence raised an inch. It wasn't until we get out and purged inside a boutique store at the mall that I calmed down. I waited for fifteen minutes. 

No burly twins showed up. 

"Oh, thank God." I can finally breathe out. 

"What's wrong?" Meira asked. I didn't notice our hands are still interlocking. Shocks, sometimes my grip can be unpredictably strong especially when I'm anxious. When I looked at her palm it's bright red.

"Meira.. I'm so sorry. Does it hurt?" I massaged her soft no calloused hand. She giggled.

"No, it's okay. I'm fine." She looked around. 

"So what are we doing here in the.." she looked around. "Clothes store?" 

"I uhh.." I can't answer. I'm not supposed to tell her about the twins planning to gang up on us. I'm okay if it was me alone. But Meira will never be safe. And I don't think I can hold up, fighting the two with one of them possibly using her vulnerability to threaten me.

"Should we buy some clothes? What about paired shirt?" she asked. Her eyes looking up at me hopefully. My heart crunched. I can feel my face getting hot.

"Umm yeah, of course. Let's buy." She pulled closer and wrap her hands around my arm. Breathing my scent. I froze. 

"What's wrong?" 

"I don't think I smelled that good. I tend to sweat a lot." I said. She beamed. 

"Really? I smell nothing except plump juicy scent from you though." And she nuzzle her forehead at my arm. The contact of our skin suddenly makes my arm growing itch. 

I ignored it. Didn't want to disturb her sweet cuddle because it feels good. Together we wander the aisle of the boutique store. Once or twice she pulls out a cute headband and put it on my head. Sometimes a cap and make me wear it then another one for hers.

Black and pink. 

"Cute combination." She said. "How about we buy this?" 

"Sure," I padded my pants for my wallet while peeking at the price tag. $10 dollars each. I blink. I only have $100 dollars in me right now. 

This is my one week worth allowance. No, I shouldn't hesitate. She wants this matching caps. And a guy should never let a girl pay for their date. So, bye bye pizza and hello abstinence. I dread at the thought.

She pulled me towards the rack of couple shirts. There's a lot of cute design. Too girly. Like 'I'm his girlfriend' I'm his boyfriend' with an cupid arrow style. There's the 'He's mine' 'She's mine' too. None of which I find ideal to wear in public.

Meira kept ransacking the hangers. Letting me hold the shirts she doesn't like. I'm pretty strong so I'm okay. Now I know what other guys feel when their girlfriends go shopping. All pinky plush stuffs and shirts are cute for all women taste, while it's horrible to men's sight.

Of course, I can't say that out loud. We're on a date. I can't offend her. Meira pulled me to a life size mirror and shoved me the pink 'She's my life' shirt. The cotton is thin. It will take one slash for the Beast's talon to destroy this cloth.

I pulled up the shirt under my collarbone just like she ordered me to do. 

"Looked at the mirror," she said. And I did.

I almost let the shirt go from my trembling hands when I see her face in the mirror. She…she's not the young pretty auburn haired Meira…She's an ugly withered green old lady with a crooked nasty teeth and protruding eyeballs.

I stifled a scream.