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My head was spinning.
My eyes were deceiving me.
My whole body was numb.
'WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?'
A day earlier...
The loud sound from the room next door bothered me so much that I felt like barfing.
'Who listens to porn in the middle of the night?' I spring out of the bed and storm out of my room to locate where that rotten sound was coming from and it lead me to the room Julia was in. Without a single care in the world, I banged on the door and wait.
No response.
I banged on it again.
No response.
"Julia! Open this door or else..." I shout banging on the door again.
"Emma!" the door opened and the imp jumped out to hug me. "I am so glad you are awake! I'd thought you never wake up!"
I push her off me and look at her. She was sweating underneath the huge bathrobe she was wearing but her eyes told a different story. They looked glassy and the smell coming from her and her room was anything but incense.
Covering my nose, I take a step back. "Are you drunk?"
She giggled. "Yep! I am as drunk! I'm drinking champaign do you want some?"
I shake my head.
"Aww come on! You used to love it when I fed it to you."
"Yeah! When you and your friends tied me up at the back of the school and force it down my throat."
"Yep! It was fun!" then she leaned closer. "I could feed you through my mouth if you want. It's going to be so good."
I shudder at the memory and felt something churning in my stomach. From the noise coming from her room to the pink light shining in her bedroom and ending with the way she was dressed, I take a quick guess to what she was doing.
Julia seemed to notice how uncomfortable I was and gave a sly but seductive grin. "I got something for you."
Then she reached out to undo the ropes which held her bathrobe in place but I stop her.
"No."
She looks at me with giddy eyes and tries again.
"No!" I say holding her hands.
"Why not? You used to like it," she said struggling to free her hands but I refused to let go. This cumulated into a struggle which ended with me holding her skinny hands above her head.
"No Julia and that's final." I firmly say.
She took on look at me and started to cry, wailing so loud that I bet the rest of the neighbors heard it.
"Why? Why don't you love me, Emma! Aren't I good enough for you? Why?" she wept. I let go of her and she beats my chest over and over again with her puny hands. "You said you liked girls so why are you rejecting me? Why?"
This continued until she started sobbing on my boobs and I put up with this with an annoyed look on my face. Her wailing slowly turned into sobbing and I could feel her fondling my boobs.
'It looks like she sobered up.' with that in mind, I violently shove her into her room and slam the door ignoring her wailing. Walking back into my room, I change out of my pajamas, took a quick shower, and tried sleeping in my underwear.
Which would have been possible if Julia wasn't banging on me and yelling names at me.
"Emma! You heartbreaker! You *()^&%. How dare you leave me like that! You were supposed to console me you b&tch! You heartbreaker! You shattered my heart to a million pieces you jerk!"
I groan and try to get some sleep.
In the morning...
"Gosh, Emma you look awful!" Brianna observed.
I give her a rueful look. "I feel awful."
Brutes huffed. "A good student should always sleep and wake up early to maintain a sharp mind." He pushed up his glasses and looked me in the eye. "What were you doing all night?"
"Probably reading manga all night."
I look back at the familiar voice and grit my teeth. "Why good morning to you Agatha."
Agatha smiled which was odd because she had a habit of pouting. "Good morning everyone and Emma, I hope you haven't been reading Manga all night. Remember, the exams are just around the corner."
'Okay, that's it.' I grab her by the collar and bring her closer to me. "What-are-you-doing?"
"Uh...keeping an eye out for you?" She replied still grinning like an idiot. "But from the way you look, I think you should go home."
"Not a chance." I felt someone grab my hand and see the culprit was no other than Brutes. "As you said, The exams are just around the corner so no time for nonsense."
Then he dragged me away from the scene and straight to the classroom where we sat waiting for the teacher to arrive. I would have admitted classes went smoothly if I wasn't nodding off every three seconds and got scolded by my teacher.
"Dang Julia and her nonsense," I mutter walking like a zombie towards the changing rooms. As I take off my shirt, I hear some girls whispering but ignore them. My phone rings with a message from an unknown number.
'I waited for you that night but you didn't show up.'
'Where were you?'
I frown. 'Take a hike weirdo.'
I finish my business and step out of the changing room and freeze in my tracks.
Presently...
The signature grin on his face turned to that of concern as he reached out to tilt my chin upwards.
"Beloved, you look awful? Did something happen last night?"
My head was still trying to process what was going on. 'Jake! How the hell did he get out of the labyrinth?'
'Did you think that place could hold him?' asked my inner voice.
He was saying something but all could see was the movement of his lips which turned into a sly grin and came closer to me. Snapping out of it, I push him off.
"Why is calling her that?"
"Didn't they break up?"
"What? They did?"
"Impossible."
"Why? They made such a great couple?"
"Well, it looks like he is available now."
Heart in my throat, I study his face for any sign of insanity but he looked normal, still wearing that signature grin of his. Shoving his hands into his pockets and letting the wind do its magic on his hair he closed his eyes.
I seize the opportunity to run past him but he grabbed my arm.
"Just so you know, our romance isn't over Beloved. It's stronger than before."
Despite the fact I could feel his eyes bore into my soul, through the back of my head, I muster the courage and shrug my arm off his grip.
"Keep dreaming." I start walking. "You are dead to me."
I only managed to turn around the corner when shock finally crippled my legs. My heart was beating like a jackhammer and my eyes were watery.
The cocktail called 'Fear' was taking its full effect. 'How the heck did he get out?'
'But I do admit, you were bold enough to say that.' said my inner voice. 'Ready for the next round of your fight for freedom?'
'To tell you the truth, I hadn't thought of that.'
'Really? After what the Labyrinth Keeper told you?'
I immediately recalled what that woman said. 'She said, anyone, can get out of the labyrinth if they trade a living soul of someone inside it. The boy traded his mother's soul, his dad traded one of the members of the Yakuza gang and was reborn in his body.'
'You traded Togo Atatsuma's soul with hopes that Jake would wander in the labyrinth until he becomes one of the lost souls.'
'But you told me not to trade his soul!' I yell.
It went quiet. Rising to my feet, I go to the gym where Agatha wearing a sports bra instead of the school's P.E shirt was doing squats with Ralph on her shoulders.
“Looks like he ain’t a sporty on eh boys?” she asked giving her admires a wink.
“Oh my gosh!”
“She is so packed!”
“Look at those buns!”
“Yep! They are buns of steel!”
“Amazing!”
Ralph on the other hand was flaring about. “Hey! Put me down!”
“Seriously?” Andrew asked rolling his eyes.
“Now that you mentioned it, Ralph is lighter than he looks.” Brutes observed.
Brianna on the other hand cheered for her. “Whoo-hoo! Keep using my brother as weights Agatha! Maybe that will teach him to eat more! Hahaha!”
Ralph grunted. “I will get you for this Brianna!”
They all laughed while I shook my head at the scene. ‘Looks like Brianna didn’t listen to my warning.’
Suddenly, she dropped Ralph to the floor. “I need some fresh weights. Who wants to be next?”
Her fans crowded her causing chaos in the hall and Ralph got out of there before he was trampled on.
“So how did it feel big brother?” Brianna asked laughing at his pathetic state. “This will teach you to put more meat on your bones.”
“Then say goodbye to mom’s chocolate cake you brat!” he snapped.
This made her wail. “Aww, you are so mean big brother!”
Aubrey turned her nose in the air and huffed. “Who does she think she is? Coming here and displaying her ‘talents’ for every boy to see.”
“Actually…” Brutes began but she interrupted him.
“When will everyone learn that culinary arts define a woman? Not athletics or beauty! It is the art of cooking! She may be lucky to get someone to marry her but how is she going to cook for him?”
"She doesn't have to worry about that because she's gay," I say.
Aubrey gasped. "Really?"
I nod. "So she doesn't have to worry about cooking for someone because all she needs to do is to marry a nice girl who knows how to cook and the problem is solved."
"That's even worse than not knowing how to cook!" she yelled.
Brutes gave an exasperated sigh. "You are passionate about cooking aren't you?"
"Yep!" She puffed up her chest in pride. “If I didn’t have the passion for it, I won't be picked as the Leader of the Cooking Club.”
“Too bad it is extinct.” Brianna joked.
This made Aubrey give her a death glare and she started hurling basketballs at her forcing Brianna to run around the gym with her arms in the air.
“YOU IMBECILE! DON'T YOU DARE INSULT THE COOKING CLUB!” Aubrey screamed.
“What? It is true!” Brianna yelled.
I laughed. “Now this is entertaining!”
Suddenly I was carried in the air and placed on someone’s shoulders.
“This looks heavy enough.” Agatha said getting a ‘Wow’ from the crowd.
“Put me down!” yell but she ignored me and started doing squats.
“How are you holding up?” she asked moving up and down. "Gosh, you are light! Have you been eating well?"
Pissed, I grab her by the chin and flip her to the ground face down pinning her right hand behind her back.
"Does this answer your question?" I asked as she grunted under me. A few seconds later, I let her go and she staggered to her feet in pain.
“Oww! It hurts.” she cried rubbing her temple. “Gee Emma, couldn’t you take a joke? I was only playing with you.”
"You did it without my consent." I snapped back. "And the drop the act about you being injured because if I wanted to harm you, I would."
This caused a stir among the crowd while I folded my arms. The words 'mean, seriously, just a joke' was heard but I refused to back down.
“What is going on here?” the teacher asked.
"Emma pinned Agatha to the ground for no reason." piped a voice and Valarie forced her way out of the crowd.
"I saw the whole thing! Agatha was just carrying Emma but she suddenly pinned her down as a cruel joke at Agatha's expense."
The crowd whispered again and the teacher looked straight at me. "Is this true?"
I nod. "All of it except the joke thing because I was carried without my consent."
"But that gives you no reason to do that Emma." Agatha wept, playing into Valarie's words and wiping the tears from her eyes. "Just because we were dating before doesn't mean you should do this to me. Besides you were the one who dumped me in the first place."
My blood was boiling with rage as the whispering erupted once more. Agatha gave me a quick look and winked.
'Shoot! This was her plan along!' I thought. 'I bet she thought I was going to admit my guilt and get in trouble but I proved her wrong. Now everyone knows we were in a relationship and thinks I did this on purpose.'
"Oh! So she's your ex Beloved?"
The room fell silent.
"Who knew you had terrible taste Beloved. I am glad you dumped her."
The footsteps echoing through the hall came closer and closer. Soon Jake came into view.
"I mean...look at her," he said gesturing towards Agatha. "This is who you picked? A tall so-called amazon with a huge ego and an awful taste in color? Gosh! I knew you swung both ways but...come on! You could have done better than this."
He ended it with a chuckle while the rest of the students started muttering amongst themselves.
Agatha on the other hand was pissed. "And who are you to insult me?"
"Me?" Jake smiled and wrapped his arms around me. "I am her boyfriend."
The crowd whispered.
"We broke up," I say prying off his hands.
They gasped.
"I didn't agree to it. So you are still my girlfriend," he growled wrapping his arms around me again and planting a kiss on my head.
Agatha scoffed and folded her arms. "Even you objected to her decision, she is not yours. Therefore, you have no right to pursue her."
"Too bad that's the same thing you are doing you purple-haired, air-headed bitch. Advertising your trunks like a thirsty prostitute and spraying a fake tan deceiving everyone that it's a sun tan and those abs?" he smirked. "They are so disgusting not even a stripper would like them."
Another gasp came from the crowd and Agatha turned beet red for she no one dared to insult her style. No one.
"Unlike you, I am the real deal physically, mentally, and sexually. I don't go around humiliating myself to gather sympathy points to get what I want. I walk up and get it by nook or cranny."
The crowd gasped.
"So don't believe a word she tells you. Emma is still my girlfriend and I won't have anyone take her from me. Not even the likes of fake girls like you." He dragged me closer to him. "So take a hike b!tch."
Everyone started talking at once while my heart leaped to my throat, still beating like a jackhammer.
"And you think she is going to pick you over me?" Agatha asked with a smirk for she seemed to recover from the shock he gave her.
"Why not? I am the real deal."
"Have you slept with her?"
The room went quiet and Jake tightened his grip on me. "No."
She laughed. "That's a bummer because we did it twice during our relationship and everyone knows both of you are not an ideal couple unless you did the deed and we did that so she's mine."
She put a hand on her chest smugly looking at us and from the way Jake tightened his grip on me, I knew he was pissed.
'So help me, if her words make this boy sexually assault you...' growled my inner voice.
'At least he isn't the only one who is pissed.' I thought. "Okay, Agatha. You're right."
The room went silent.
"We did have sex."
It was still quiet.
'Are you insane?'
I ignore it. "But can you job my memory on the date, time, and place we did it because...I forgot."
By now, my fingers were going numb.
Agatha laughed. "How could you forget Milkshake? We did it October 15th in the girl's changing room at our former school."
"You mean the day I caught you with Janet behind the school building?"
The baffled look on Agatha's face was priceless.
"I confronted you a day after that and you said it was a one-time thing add she meant nothing so I forgave you," I add.
Now the muttering increased and all eyes were on Agatha who had not expected me to reveal this secrete. "Well... we... did on November 17th..."
"That's the day I caught you making out with Natasha near the school's radiator in the Home Economic's lab. When I asked you about it, you said I was hallucinating and gave me pills."
She blinked twice. "Well...we..."
"December 12th you were fondling Henriatta's boobs on the school's roof, November 3rd you were making out with Li Anna in one of the stalls while I was looking for you during the festival and December 15th you were doing the deed with Alexia in the nurses' room when you lied to me about being ill and she was the school's nurse! SO TELL ME! WHY SHOULD I TAKE YOU BACK? WHY?"
I blink and realize the tears in my eyes.
'OMG! Did I just raise my voice?'
'Does the silence in the room prove it?'
Yep, the room was silent. Shaking myself off Jake's grip, I wipe the tears from my eyes and coughed.
"So Agatha, when did we have sex?" I ask.
She gave me silence as her response.
"It's hilarious to think that I remember these dates as the times you cheated on me while you recall them as the time we did the deed but it's okay. I was an idiot for forgiving you because I thought our lack of intimacy was the reason why you cheated but not this time. So go look for another 'virgin' to bang and as for you," I turn to Jake. "We aren't getting back together."
He blinked twice in shock and I walk out of the school hall with shaky legs.
'I can't believe I just said that.'
'I believe it.'
'Do you think he is going to kill me?'
'The probability is high but...'
'But what.'
'I don't think he isn't going to do it.'
I stop by the girl's changing room and take off my shirt. 'What makes you think that?'
'Remember your little suicide attempt?'
I stop midway while taking off my shorts and recall the fight in the labyrinth.
'I think he is going to try something else but who knows what he would do.'
I sigh.
'I wish I was as brave as you when...'
I shut my locker door. 'When what?'
'Oh. It's nothing but I am proud of you for standing up for yourself. This shows how much you have matured.'
This made me giggle. 'I guess this supernatural adventure is changing me for the better.'
'Just don't die in the end.'
With a grin on my face and my hair flapping in the wind, I walk out of the school's gates.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
