INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

She saw the light flicker in the small lamppost a few feet in front of her as the familiar lawn came into view. The bed of colourful flowers was already swallowed by the darkness when they left the tall tress behind them. Their footsteps echoed in the forest and the fireflies lighted their path. An owl hid in a tree when they passed but continued to stare them. A group of bunnies cowered behind a bush. She started to play with the straps of her bag and hummed a tune to hide her uneasiness.

But no matter what Lei did and where she looked, she was really uncomfortable.

Skhy Wright strolled behind her while she trudged and shambled. She walked in an awkward stride but she was too tired to think about what he thought of her. Since Ashley left and he followed her home, Lei could feel his eyes on her back like something was stuck on it. Is it a stare or a glare?

Earlier, they exchanged names and he asked where her aunt was. Surprise was evident on his face when he found out that she was Eliot and Celeste Thorneridge’s daughter but remained silent throughout their walk.

Their house was surrounded with a large garden that she grew with her aunt. But Lei’s favourite consisted of the flower bed on the left side of the lawn. Lilacs outnumbered the rest but tonight, only the light from the lamppost illuminated on them. Her aunt usually drinks her tea and spent her leisure on the round wooden table with three chairs located in the centre of the vegetables garden. Behind the house, a small wooden storage of seeds and gardening tools stood beside the garden of herbs.

Lights shone from the yellow two-story wooden house and she could hear a faint melody as Lei and Skhy approached her home. They neared the front door when it suddenly opened, revealing her aunt in a peach long sleeved dress that fell just below the knees and a blue apron. Her expression was a mixture of shock and sadness that turned into joy and relief in a blink of an eye.

“Mrs. Emmy”, Skhy whispered behind her. Her aunt raised her arms on her side and smiled while her tears fell down on her now pink cheeks. Skhy dropped his back pack and ran towards her. Their embrace lasted for about quarter of an hour without any word.

She could not see Skhy’s expression so Lei stared on her aunt’s face. She must have been relieved to see a friend. Lei was also glad to see her aunt happy but another feeling followed. She pictured herself entering the Academy without knowing anyone and it made her melancholic. She knew her aunt longed to be home but what about her? Could she consider the Academy as her home? There’s only one way to find out.

Her aunt’s eyes opened and gasped as she saw Lei quietly observing them.

“Oh my, I’m sorry dear,” her aunt exclaimed and released Skhy from her embrace. Lei smiled at her aunt to let her know that everything was fine.

“You met my beautiful niece.” Her aunt smiled at Lei with eyes filled of adoration while Skhy just stared at her.

“Yes, Mrs. Emmy. We fought together earlier,” Skhy blurted. She glared at him.

“Oh heavens. That’s why you were late,” her aunt cried with her hand on her chest. Lei continued to glare at Skhy who just shrugged at her and turned to look at her aunt. He could have opened the topic without startling her aunt.

“I’m sorry, but Lei was fine.” She saw Skhy smiled for the first time today. A dimple appeared on his left cheek. She observed his interaction with her aunt. He started off as a cold uncanny guy towards Lei to a cheerful but composed lad in front of her aunt.

Of course, you’re a stranger to him.

“Exactly,” she muttered.

“Come now, dear.” She blinked several times and noticed that she was the only one outside. Her aunt held the door open for her while Skhy was out of sight.

“Dinner is ready,” her aunt chirped. Lei smiled at this and made her way inside.

She saw Skhy place the plates and utensils on the table. Under the light, Lei noticed his messy but majestic straight chestnut hair. His bright baby blue eyes twinkled. Hers were more green than blue. His muscles flexed beneath his white shirt and black pants. But she told herself that they should not be the object of her attention right now.

“Skhy, you don’t have to do that. You are our guest.” She cleared her head as her aunt said this. Her aunt placed the food on the table and pushed Skhy out of the kitchen.

Lei placed her bag on the couch and entered the kitchen.

“I’ll help Aunty,” she said without looking at him. He was the definition of a popular college guy though she was not sure about his personality.

Earlier, as they walked, he stared at her back which made her uncomfortable. Now, his indifference towards Lei annoyed her. He made her feel like she did not exist at all.

I told you, you are a stranger to him.

Still exasperated, she silently placed the side dishes on the bowls and set them on the table. After serving water, her aunt sat on the end of the table while Lei faced Sky.

“Let’s eat,” her aunt exclaimed after she blessed the food.

“How are you Mrs. Emmy?” Skhy inquired while he sliced his steak. Lei blocked their conversation and sliced her steak then put it in her mouth. She loved her aunt’s cooking. The sweet barbeque sauce complemented the freshly grilled meat. She tasted the flower-shaped carrot followed by the cucumber.

“Lei? Are you listening, dear?” She immediately turned to her aunt and felt her cheeks warmed.

“I’m sorry Aunty. I wasn’t listening,” she confessed, not looking at Skhy.

“I asked Skhy if you two had a talk,” her aunt explained. This made her glance at him only to see a disinterested person eating his streak. Great.

“You should talk to him, he knows the Academy too.” Her aunt smiled then continued to eat.

How am I supposed to talk to a guy who only stare, shrug and act like I don’t exist?

But she refrained from talking back and only nodded.

Dinner ended at eight and Lei washed the dishes alone. She could hear her aunt laugh in the receiving room. For her aunt, she convinced herself to approach Skhy later. Judging a person without trying to know him first prevents a relationship from forming. He must have been a great guy because her aunt was fond of him.

Her aunt sometimes recounted her life in the Academy but she did not hear anything about Skhy Wright. If she asked her aunt about him, would she tell her? Lei wondered if she was not important enough to know the significant persons in her aunt’s life. But her aunt told her about her husband and family.

Who are you, Skhy Wright?

“Lei will show you the room later,” she heard her aunt say after she finished drying the last plate. She wiped her wet hands with the dish towel when her aunt entered the kitchen.

“You never told me about him before,” Lei declared before her aunt could say anything. Her aunt only smiled. There was no trace of doubt or hesitance in her face.

“I wanted you to know him yourself.” Her aunt held Lei’s left hand and gave it a light squeeze. Confused, she opened her mouth to say something but her aunt turned and left the kitchen. Her aunt’s words left her uncertain of her next action. Should I wait for Skhy to talk to me Or I should go to him?

Before she could arrive to an answer, a knock took her by surprise. She jumped a little but immediately restored her composure when she saw Skhy leaning on the door frame. He stared at her. She stared back.

“You’re not trying to win a staring contest, are you?” Her deep voice made her blinked several times. So now we’re talking? She mentally scoffed.

“Can you show me the room?” he asked when she did not respond to his first statement. Lei cleared her head and focused on being a good host. This was the person who helped her earlier. She should be thankful even though she did not ask to be rescued.

“Follow me.” She walked ahead of him and retrieved her bag on the couch. She heard her aunt’s footstep above. She was getting ready to sleep. Skhy followed her as she climbed the stairs. In front of her aunt’s room was her own.

She turned the knob and walked in. Placing the bag to her chair, she looked around if she needed to clean her room. Covered in thick cream blanket, there were two yellow pillows in her bed. On her desk, there were a few books, a lamp and her small laptop. A human size mirror stood beside her dresser. On the dresser, her aunt placed a few cosmetics even though she was not fond of using them.

Lei looked back at her door and saw Skhy stare at her with his hands on each pocket of his jeans. How long had he been staring? The thought made her cheeks warm.

“You can enter,” she instructed, looking at the floor. I’m not blushing.

She heard his footsteps stopped just beside her.

“I saw a tree house earlier.” She looked up. Skhy nodded towards the white door beside her desk. “I could stay there.” It was her turn to stare at him.

“I was offering my room,” she reminded him, who looked back at her.

“I know, but I prefer to stay there.” His suggestion was not bad but letting a guest sleep outside is not good manner.

“Don’t worry, I asked Mrs. Emmy,” he answered as if he could read her mind.

“You’re lucky. Recently, we renovated the tree house.” Four months ago, two carpenters who also lived in the woods offered to fix the leaking roof of the tree house in exchange for vegetables and fruits. Her aunt also offered seeds for them to start their own farm. She cooked for them whenever they pass by the house and let them bring home some goods for their families. In the end, the carpenters renovated the whole playhouse according to her liking.

“There’s a bed, a couch and a bathroom.” Skhy raised his right eyebrow. “The place is warm.”

“Thank you,” he expressed. He walked towards the white door. He turned the knob, and before he pushed the door, he looked back at her. Pale blue orbs studied her face. Her gaze on him did not falter. She should not be intimidated by him. He must have found what he was looking for because he nodded once.

“Bring a warm drink, we’ll talk then.” He opened the door and walked out. Lei stared at the close door for a few minutes. She released the breath she was holding earlier and started to change her clothes.

It was going to be a long night, she thought.