The past hunting me

Next is my friend before. He became friends with me the first time I step on the grass of Hamilton University. Well, literally. He was lying on the grass when I saw him. I thought he’s being bullied, turns out that he’s just sleeping on the grass. I felt embarrassed when I woke him up. He saw me panicked that’s when he stood up and explain that he passes out after over practicing for his soccer competition. We started sharing stories to each other the first month. I wasn’t so lonely the first month during lunch, thanks to Next and Jack’s company. Jack says that he’s so jealous of him. He just wants me for him and him only but he didn’t get rid of Next. Jack’s very open to those kinds of things. We become the triple threat of Hamilton University. The hottie, athlete and class clown together, we’re unstoppable. We had a lot of accomplishment in school. In my first year, midterms at Hamilton, I’m awarded with highest honors, Jack was awarded with high honors and lastly, Next was also awarded with honors. After the awarding ceremony, we overheard Next’s Parents yelling at him, asking him why is it that he’s only awarded “with honors” and we also heard something like why can’t he be like me who does great and be awarded with “highest honor.” He saw us eavesdropping and pushed both of us. We followed him at the soccer field.

“Are you okay?” I asked him

“Why couldn’t I be as good as you? Let’s not be friends from now on, Kite Hamilton!” He exclaimed.

“And you too, Jack Clinton. This is sick!”

He left us on the field. I want to make it up to him and make him realize that his Parents just want to challenge him, to be better. I was about to follow him but Jack stopped me.

“Don’t worry. He’ll need some space. He’ll make up with us tomorrow.” Jack said to me.

One thing had happened that we didn’t expect after that. Jack thought wrong. Next didn’t make up with us. We understand that he needs space but it took too long until finals and over-all awarding ceremony. Next was awarded with high honors while Jack was awarded with honors and me, still with highest honors. Next began talking to Jack, telling him that it’s okay to step down. We thought that our friendship will get back to the way it was before but we’re so wrong. Next spread a gossip that Jack was just a peasant, living alone with a broken family befriending me to help him with his studies. He also spread a gossip that I was so bad at Taekwondo that’s why, I was being bullied before. He’s so prepared that it’s nerve wrecking. He posted videos of me, getting bullied by those eight guys when I was still studying at Harvard. Jack and I weren’t ready. I had to prove that I’m good at Taekwondo at that time. I had no choice so; I joined the Taekwondo team and when they told us that only one of all of us would be the representative for Hamilton, Next fought me. To make the long story, short, I won. I undergo private training with Professor Tim and Jack. I suffered in training because of the darn thing but it was worth it because I bought the bacon. I fought an all vampire school and I was lucky to be alive. I had forgotten the University because I had a bad memory there. I blocked it in my memory. I regained my popularity in Hamilton and from then, no one dares to bully. I became a part-time student teacher and taught the students that bullying will not save them from their Parents’ expectations. Instead, become better and focus on developing their Achilles heel.

I lost a friend but I was still determined to win him back. I don’t care how long will it take. A true friend will not disappear in the darkest times but joins in the dark until they both help each other to go face the light.

I won’t let his demon whisper to him again and deceive him to destroy me again. I will defeat his demon, with the help of my God. Watch me.

It’s biology class now.

“Kite. You’re excused. A valuable visitor came to see you.” Professor Tim signaled me to go. Now.

I hadn’t gotten any valuable visitor in my two years of stay here at Hamilton. It can’t be?

“I heard the news already. I came here to talk to you.”

It’s Sir Lim, Kate’s father. Although I expected someone else, why does he want to see me?

I bowed to him

“We’re sorry for our abrupt decisions. I should’ve asked you first, Sir” I bowed to him again.

“Sit” He said and passed his phone to me.

I watched the video wherein my classmates were asking me what happened last night with Kate. I was toasted. I took a glimpse of him and knew that he’s plotting to dig me my own grave.

“Is it true?” He sips a cup of coffee.

I had to be keen on my words here.

“What answer do you want me to say?”

“I thought that my daughter wasn’t interested on having a family but if it’s you, I don’t have issues.”

He walks towards me and patted my shoulder, nodding. He faced backwards.

“But knowing my daughter, I know that she won’t just go with a guy the first time she met him. You must be unique.”

“I understand you, being an overprotective father to Kate. I will prove to you that we were worthy of your trust”

 “I like the sound of that. I expect from the both of you that you will not make this relationship only for publicity.”

“Yes, Sir. Don’t you worry.”

“I already asked your Dad. You’re excused for the day. You must come with me. I must know my daughter’s future husband”

I have no choice but to go with him. This is a test for me and Kate. What the teachers told us is true. Strict Parents makes sneaky child. Unfortunately, we were that child. This relationship was only for a contractual period. I lied. I have to pass this test to avoid disappointment. I have to earn his father’s trust.

Sir Lim was one of the most powerful vampires in Brooklyn. I can’t tell if he’s on par with my father but he definitely has a soft spot for his daughter, Kate.

“I research about your life.”

Just like that, he caught my attention. I’m in his car, with his driver. Only the three of us.

“My life was pretty boring. I have to know what you research about me. I’ll be the one to tell you if it’s true or just by saying”

“Well, I know that you’re an only child. You’re popular in Hamilton for your wits you’re number one in Taekwondo.”

“That’s what they told about me? They missed some of the most important parts.”

“Tell me more about you.”

This interview was harder than I thought.

“Well, that’s true but I wouldn’t be this person that I’m now if it weren’t of my past.”

“I was a nerd before, bullied when I was a human.”

“What happened? How did you face the challenge?”

“It took me long enough to gain confidence. I realize that they were also a victim like me. If I don’t man up, they will do it again that’s until I fought them back.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Well, they killed me. Almost. I didn’t know that one of them had a gun. I was shot five times.”

“Five times? Haha How did you survive?”

He offered me blood in a wine glass and drank.

“I had my friend with me that time. He’s the vampire who bit me and that saved my life.”

“Interesting. We’re here.”

As I open the car door, I saw a huge mansion. This must be where she lives. He welcomed me inside. I saw the test that I have to face. At the center of the mansion, there’s a ring.

“Taekwondo”

He patted my head.

“Yes”

I saw a huge man enter the ring. He’s huge for a vampire. I didn’t hesitate and enter the ring.

“I have to test how strong you are. If you could protect my daughter”

I attack first, swinging my left leg. The huge man defend himself both of his arms. He flinched… He tried to trip me but I flipped and swing my right leg, before I met his right leg, I jump to switch leg and that hit his head.

“One down. Next”

A skinny but muscular vampire entered the ring.

I can’t move a muscle.

“What’s this? I thought that it’s just Taekwondo. Don’t use your skill.”

“I ordered him to use his skill. What if you fought a vampire that has a skill? What will you do to protect Kate?”

This skill was made to cheat on sports. It only took 5 seconds until I can move again. Knowing this, I had a plan. He used his skill again. It only took three seconds. I have two seconds left to attack. I grab the chance and kicked his shoulders and he fell.

“Enough”

I helped the skinny man stand up.

“Did you know that those two were the best fighter in this mansion?”

“Now you have three.” I said

“Don’t be cocky yet. You still have to pass this test to please me.”

We’re in front of a room. He opened the door and I saw what’s in the room.

It was Kate.

“This is a test to know how well you get to know each other for just a day.”

This is trouble. We only knew one thing about each other and that’s to fake this relationship. I expect that his father would test me. Traditions. But I didn’t expect that he will bring Kate here. I was getting nervous with her being clumsy.

“You have to answer my question. There’s no right or wrong answer”

Of course there is. This is a test.

“Kite, what is Kate’s favorite color?”

“Baby pink”

“Kite, what is Kate’s fear?”

“Heights”

“Kite, what are the things Kate hates?”

“That’s difficult. Hmm… She hates untidy place and she also hates to watch horror films.”

Good thing when we're inside the car with Mr. Lim, I research about Kate. She's pretty famous on social media. That's how I passed all his questions. 

“Kate, tell me what Kite likes”

We're dead meat.

“Uhm, he likes…”

This is trouble. She didn’t research about me. I had to make some distraction.

I coughed.

I signaled her, slightly kicking my feet.

“Taekwondo”

I sighed of relief.

“Actually, you missed one thing. Read this out loud, Kite”

He again hand me his phone.

My eyes widened when I saw what’s written in the internet.

“Layla Hilton” I said, almost whispering

That bitch was the one who did this two years ago. She asked me what I liked; said she will post it on my bio on social media. I told her to do what she wants. This is the first time I saw what’s written on my bio. She’s the one who manage my account on social media. It says there “Kite likes Taekwondo but he likes Layla Hilton more” but we’re so done and now, that thing flashes back again. Feelings.

“Who’s Layla?” Kate asked

“She’s my first and now, my ex. I wasn’t able to update our reletionship on social media. Wait a second, I will fix this.”

I updated my social media. Now, her name was written on it instead but I made it super grandiose. “Kite loves Kate Lim more than Taekwondo” This should end Sir Lim’s prejudice.

“She didn’t know about your ex, huh? Why didn’t you tell her?”

“She’s my ex, she doesn’t matter to me anymore, now that I had Kate. So, why tell her?”

What a liar. You still love her.

“I love your daughter, Kate. For the first time I saw her, I thought that she’s different. I promise that I will protect her.”

That’s the magic word every Parents wants to hear. I know pretty well how to earn trust. Sir Lim shake my hands. I made him believe a lie. I hope that he won’t know the truth fast. We need to hide that her daughter’s still a human. He will be mad if he knew our lies. As long as the secret is safe, we’re going to be fine. There’s something more interesting about Kate’s story. I can’t believe what she told me last night.

“Actually, I need to be human for the rest of my College year or else a family of vampire will wreak havoc Hamilton University”

“Why is that?”

She shrugged.

“Someone threatened me.”

“Who threatened you?”

“It’s confidential. He said they’ll attack Hamilton if I told you.”

I have to find out who threatened her.

“Do you like to be a vampire so that you will not hide from your Parents anymore?”

She shrugged again.

“Yes…”

Yet with that, we can’t do anything. If they try to sabotage Hamilton, they will have to face the best students of Hamilton. If they try to bully us, we’ll show them what we’ve got.

“It can’t be” I murmured. We’re in front of the chauffer now.

“What is it, Kite?” Kate asked.

“Could it be? That the one who threatened you is a vampire from another University?”

She’s expressionless. She makes me want to dig deeper about her past. She’s indeed very mysterious. She knows me being nosy and probably wants to fix all these things by herself. She doesn’t want to bring someone in this mess and end up being hurt. I’m in her mess now. This is becoming more and more exciting.

“I will hunt that guy who told you and he will be begging on your knees for your mercy.”

“Don’t try to be cool” She said to me.

“About Layla Hilton, she’s very good looking.”

“Oh, you’re jealous now? Is that why you didn’t want me to know about him? The guy? He isn’t some guy you have relationship with or your ex, was he?

I’m trying reverse psychology on her. She’ll tell it once she had enough. The chauffer was just smiling the whole time, thinking we really like each other so bad.