New Moon

“Where are you studying? I heard that you’re enrolled in a University?” I asked Jack

Someone knocked on the door.

“Delivery” The delivery man shouts.

“Oh, that’s mine” Jack stood to get it and sign the waiver.

“What’s that?” I was about to touch the box but Jack flicked my hands. That hurts.

I lay on his bed, holding my hand where it hurts.

“How did you learn that?” I asked unaware of the pain anymore. I was getting used to the pain since I was bullied.

“Oh, sorry. Did I go to far?” I shook my face. “Someone taught me. You’re very curious about me. Let’s talk about you instead. Where are you studying now?”

“Harvard” He opened his mouth widely

“I thought you’re studying at Hamilton’s?” He’s now getting dressed “I’ll drop you to Harvard then I will go to V.U”

“What’s V.U?” I’m getting ready too

“Don’t ask a lot of questions, we will talk after school. It’s on me. We’re late”

He’s wearing casual jeans topped with a leather jacket. I was wearing slacks with suspensers and a polo shirt.

He drove me to Harvard and we bid good bye.

I saw those eight guys who beat me, sitting at the back of the room

“Class dismissed” The Professor was finished discussing while I was just taking my sit. That’s just so not cool. I don’t have anything with me. Good thing I have my other things inside my locker. I put my pen at the side of my desk but it fell. I look down and get it.

When I look at my desk, I saw a lot of garbage. I didn’t ask who did it. I just feel like everyone’s laughing at me. No, this isn’t right. This is bullying.

Half day of the class, I’m not myself. I can’t believe that vampires are real. Hamilton’s a University for vampires. I closed my eyes and spank myself a couple of times. I feel like I’m going to go crazy.

Finally! Class dismissed for real. I kept all my things in my locker and head to the comfort room.

I overheard my classmates talking

“Kite’s weird, he’s hurting himself during class” wait he’s someone I know

“Haha, well, he got beaten yesterday. Maybe he wants round two?” this guy too?

“Let’s see him later, I like to punch someone. I’m not in the mood. My Dad punch me in the face because I got C minus in calculus” What have I done to him?

“Let’s go? The four of us?” asked another one

They all agree to beat me later. For sure I will be dead but who knows? I don’t want to bail. I need to show them that I’m tough enough. What I did wrong is that I always let them beat me even if I didn’t do anything wrong. They will do it over and over again if I let them. I had to man up. I learned taekwondo since I was little. I must teach them.

It was new moon, pass six in the evening. I was waiting for them at the front gate. Jack told me that he’ll fetch me pass six. I would have beaten them up by then.

At last, they show themselves. There are four of them.

“Hey Kite, nice suspenders you got there” One of them try to touch my suspenders

“Don’t touch me” I said, firmly

“Oh, why are you being arrogant? You got company?” he laughed and tries to land his fist on me but he failed. I caught him and beat him on the ground. The others attack but I dodge them.

Someone held a baseball bat and swing it towards me. I was hurt but I caught the bat with him and he ate dirt.

“He’s a black belter. They were right!” One of them shouted. I kicked him in the head and he bled. He’s the one who wants to beat me because he got C minus in Calculus.

“I got sick of you guys beating me up.  It’s not right to beat me up because your father’s beating you. It’s your fault why you failed calculus in the first place.”

I got a long wood and break it in half.

“Now that I’m living alone, I will do what I want”

I swing the wood to finish them

“Stop”

I know that voice

“Kite, stop!” Jack removed the woods from both of my hands

“Hey! You want to bully them too? Wake up! You don’t want to be like them, do you?” He was in front of me

“What did I tell you? Your fight, is my fight, right?”

It’s New Moon. I remember I came here alone. But then Jack shows up until I heard a gun’s noise. There’s blood everywhere.

It was dark… so dark… until someone removes the blinds.

“I’m still sleeping, Jack Clinton”

“It’s Dad”

“Dad? What happened? Where is Jack? Where am I”

“You’re home. Didn’t you remember what happened last night?”

I tried to remember what happened last night. Yes, I heard a gunshot, but before that, Jack was in front of me. He removed the woods from my hand… Then I saw one of the bullies pointed a gun behind Jack. I pulled him forward, forcing me to replace his position…

“I was the one shot” I checked my body but there’s no bullet struck on my heart, or any part of my body

“I’m sure, I was shot by at least four or five bullets. I should have been dead?!”

“Hey! You’re awake! Kite!” Kite enters the room.

Jack hugged me. I felt his cold body

“Why are you so cold?”

“I’m worried sick, man! Thank God it was a success!”

“What’s a success?”

“Yes, you were shot like, five times. You could have died last night. I’m telling you it’s going to be alright. When you were shot, I was debating if I should drive you to the nearest hospital but judging by the amount of blood that comes out from your body, I thought of the one and only way…”

“Kite, hold on! Don’t give up, breathe”

“I can---t hold on… Mu---much longer…”

“I thought it’s too late”

“Okay, answer this question. Who is your best friend? What’s my full name?”

“So… L---lame…” coughs “Jack”

“Jack what? Kite? Hey Kite?!”

No response

“I had no choice. I hope this works”

“You didn’t respond. I was so terrified at that time. That’s when I decided to bite you in the neck even if I don’t want to. You’re now a new born shiki.”

“You? Wait…what?” I---

“I’M A VAMPIRE NOW?”

“I was shocked when I opened my eyes wide. I get rid of my glasses.”

I was not used to vampire eyes at that time. Everything was zooming in even if I don’t want to. I also could hear anything. Even the little ants walking. I can’t take it; I closed my eyes and concentrate until it comes back to normal-my sight and my hearing.

That’s the reason why I got forcefully enrolled in Hamilton University. Two years later, I became a part time student teacher at Hamilton. It’s annoying that I have to tell this kind of story. It’s Professor Tim’s. fault- our biology teacher.

I was standing in front of my classmates, my left hand holding a pen, my right resting on the desk.

“How did I become a vampire? It’s a mystery. Actually, I could say that it’s one of the coolest stories ever told. Listen”

“I never want to be a zombie. But, because of an accident, I become one”

It’s a long story by the way and I don’t want such a drag so, might as well make something up.

“I was so handsome that vampires can’t resist me…”

“I saw a vampire; she’s a girl and I couldn’t move a muscle.” I put my hand on my head to make it more convincing.

“She bite me on my neck, savoring the taste of my blood” I look at them one by one.

“You won’t believe what happened next.”

“What happened? She kissed me on my cheek as I slowly turn into a vampire”

All of my classmates are making some noises. Teasing me.

“Okay!” I clapped my hand.

“That’s how I became a full pledge vampire. I will give you an assignment to be submitted tomorrow. That is to report in class how you become a vampire. Class dismissed.”

“Sir, can we kiss you on your cheek once we pass our assignment on time” One of my classmates asked.

“Sure. If you could report it without grammar error”

The crowd goes wild as I wink at the girl

Jack’s already waiting at the front door