My eagerness to uncover the photographer of the mysterious photo which had now been perpetuated on my lens churned in my head. The only Dawson I'd ever heard of was my own father. Could it be him? But, who was the young woman in the picture? Was she her classmate or just a random girl from his past? Why did it feel like this woman was so familiar? The more I sank into it, the more frustrating all of this could be. My fingers unconsciously shuffled my hair in perplexity. To relax, I laid my weary body on the bed. I wasn't physically tired but mentally exhausted. I wished I could skip the hardest part of my life in this Academy or the graduation day would come tomorrow. Sleepiness didn't knock me down no matter how many times my mouth had gaped in yawn. Bunches of things still controlled my mind and forced my eyes to keep me awake. Unable to sleep, I yanked the camera and turned it on. The picture of a young woman lingered on it. Her uninterpreted smile taunted whoever dove
"No, they have passed away." Her confession in a cold tone left me with shock. She walked back to her seat. "I am sorry to hear that." My soft words might not get to her ears. If she heard of Shane Dawson, Lanzo might have more information about him. But, interacting with him often wouldn't be good. Besides, he would know that I was inspecting the photo in the art gallery. He never liked me to unravel the mystery of this academy. Before my head could think of someone who might help, the academic's footsteps messed up everything in my mind. That man in a shady tuxedo started the class. And I forced my focus on the lecture until Marin's touch on my elbow startled my gaze at her. "I am thinking of conveying my feelings for Lanzo." Her low voice sounded like a murmur. My brows arched. "It's time for him to know that I have a crush on him." The lecture kept going. The academic didn't pay his heed to us who were now in chats behind his back. "Since when have
Marin's quick steps brought her away in a short while. Her body had disappeared when I got downstairs. I felt regretful for having no chance to explain the truth that nothing happened between me and Lanzo. Her cry indicated that she misunderstood the situation. I kept wandering around the corridor to seek for her and ignored Lanzo's yell of my name. The parking lot could be her destination as the dusk almost came. Quickening my paces, I didn't let Lanzo's shout out intimidated me. Marin was stepping onto the bus when I set my feet on the bus stop. "Marin… " I huffed, sprinting toward the bus. Unfortunately, the door was swiping closed and the bus was taking its leave. No one in the bus heeded me, not even the driver. They should have noticed my existence through the side mirror. But, the bus continued. All the seats might have been occupied. Feeling fatigue all over my legs, I lounged on the bench with the concern of Marin's misunderstanding on me. I had to meet Marin to explain ev
Peering through the glass window, the view of Marin lying on the bed grabbed my sights. Her teary eyes gazed at the boy facing down at her; she implored that boy to stay."Please, don't go. I can't live without you." Her husky voice of pleading Lanzo's compassion pierced my ears. I couldn't even budge my mouth which restrained the sadness inside me. I swallowed the lump of guilt into my stomach."Marin, you need to rest. Besides, the doctor has alerted me to leave." Lanzo turned around but his step reached nowhere. Snatching Lanzo's wrist, Marin prevented him from moving. "If you dare to take one step away, you won't see me for the rest of your life." Marin's caution choked me with dismay. I abruptly squatted in my place, blocking them from noticing my presence. I didn't notice what was going on between them yet I could still hear their debate."Marin...please...don't do this!""I love you." Marin's hopeless words didn't seem to affect him. He stood his ground. "I don't deserve yo
Gawking at my face in the mirror of the bathroom, the sorrow emitted out of my eyes. Marin's disappearance hauled me back to the bitter memory of losing Yura. Experiencing this nightmare a second time nudged me into the sea of unbearable woes. This burden weighs me that I sank in my place, unable to endure the grief invading my heart and soul. My arms plopped down, I kneeled with the tears pouring out my cheek. "Marin, where are you? Did someone kidnap you?" Those questions echoed in my head again and again. "Dylanesa, are you in?" The knocks on the door removed Marin out of my thoughts. From his frightened voice, it was Lanzo who was outside. How could he storm inside the women's restroom?I dabbed my cry and stood on my feet. I had to see him and thank him for saving me from plummeting down the stairs. When I frantically ran in search of Marin, the accident nearly transmitted me to the hospital if only Lanzo didn't snag my body at the right time. I switched the door handle and
The plan changed, but the mission remained. Hunting Anyhony might open the door to the clue of where Marin was. The darkness dimmed my shadow, slinking into the building. I kept my distance from Anthony who had taken the right turning to the stairs. His act of evading the lift seemed weird. Urgency might steer him to climb up the stairs. His shoes which drummed the tiles created noises, yet it wouldn't attract anyone's vigilance as no one lingered inside this building, except me. Minding my steps, I held my breath to prevent him realizing my coming. Walking in slow motion, I counted the floor. My hands resisted the sound that barely leaped out of my lips when Anthony scanned around before his hand unlocked the door of the laboratory on the fourth floor. What was he going to do in the lab at night?Like a detective, I spied on him. Unfortunately, the door restricted me from getting any access to the inside. Feeling dissatisfied, I grumbled while spinning around. I never had a chance t
As his steps got closer to us, Lanzo's reddened face in rage appeared into view. Driven by my apprehension that Rein would be his next target of punch after Ron, I used my body as a shield to enlarge the space between them. Swallowing the saliva of my dread, I forced words out of my mouth to reconcile them."Lanzo… I beg your apology. I promise I'll go back to the infirmary. " I was glad that Rein left; he had another class to attend."That is what you should do, indeed." The red on his cheek perished. He cooled down. "By the way, I am here also to announce that Marin has been found safe and sound.""Are you serious?" I hoped my hearing did not go wrong. "I mean it." His assertion of Marin's safety filled my lungs with the oxygen of joy and relief that I could breathe without burden. "She is in the dorm now. So she locked herself in her bedroom and begged the maid not to tell anyone where she was.""Thank God," I whispered in relief. I intended to rest in the dorm but my vulnerable
I shrieked in panic; my body trembled in great fear. The sweat drenched me. Glancing up, I found Lanzo's hand clasped on mine. "Please, h-help me…" my hoarse voice raced with the breeze."Hold on… I got you." Lanzo's soothing words calmed me. He pulled my body up with all his might. My small body weighed less in his hand. In a minute, I'd already ebbed on the floor. A glass of water shifted to my palm but my shaking hand spilled some of it out. Lanzo patiently held my hand so that I could sip the water slowly. I stared at Lanzo with a locked mouth; yet my eyes were ample to express my gratefulness.. No matter how bad my prejudice toward him was, he was always there for me."Marin…." Looking around, I realized that Marin wasn't detected anywhere. "Where is she?" Lanzo did the same thing, trying to find Marin. "She may have got back to her room? How could you slip down from the balcony?" his forehead furrowed. That startled me. What should I say? It was impossible to tell him the t