Chapter 3: The Girl in Black
That's her.
I stared at the girl as she walked by the hall alone. Her long red wavy hair flowing down her back like fire was glowing thanks to her snow white skin – her skin with visible black ink. Her black leather jacket and her overall style in general made me wonder if she was the type who would come to school in a motorcycle. I don't know why I imagined people in leather to be riding motorcycles. I guess I just assumes people with leather jackets are cool enough to ride motorcycles. She was almost walking like a heroin or a villain straight up from an action movie.
"That girl." I turned to Haechan at the sudden mention of her. "Is a no-no."
"What do you mean no-no?" I asked, keeping my eyes on her as she walked through the heavy crowd.
"She attends her classes but sleeps during the entire time. She hates people but talks to people. She's a heavy drinker and a party animal. She gets into fights and drugs. She stands by the name as the daughter of Lucifer. How can she not be a no-no?" Daughter of Lucifer? "She's that bad."
"No one can be that bad." I stared at Haechan in disbelief. "You talk like you've actually met her but no one ever really dares to know her and you people make her look bad just because of your first judgements."
"Bottom line is…" He gave me deadly glare. "You can't like her,"
I froze unsure how that came out of nowhere from his mouth. Was I being too obvious of my sudden interest in her? I don't think so. Or maybe that's just how I automatically react when I get too invested by someone.
"—is what I'm trying to say Mark since the day you started talking about that—" I furrowed my brows waiting for what he's about to say more. "—that demon of a woman."
I continued staring at her back as she slowly fades into the hallway. I sighed before turning back to Haechan with an unimpressed look. "Why?" I mumbled. "What do you mean I can't like her? What's so wrong about liking a demon?" I rolled my eyes. I hate myself for calling her that but for the sake of sarcasm, I did. I'm terrible.
"Are your eyes closed or something?! Did you get hit by a truck or what?!" He exclaimed. He squeezed his head frantically. "Did you see that freaking smudged black stuff all over her eyes?!"
"It's eyeliner." I corrected shrugging in distraught. "It's makeup. It's her fashion statement."
He creased his brows deeper. "WHAT?!" I was sure he couldn't believe that I was trying to defend her right now which I really was. "She's a complete psycho! Fashion statement my ass! It's not even a good eye makeup and you're not one to judge considering that you're no makeup professional!"
I chuckled. The girl getting Haechan to talk like a crazy man is hilarious. I should make this a hobby – for the sole purpose of self-entertainment.
"And she even wears the same leather jacket every single day!" He added exclaiming even harder than the last time. "She could have not washed it since the day she stole it for God knows when!"
I crossed my arms and tilted my head to stare at Haechan with a questioning look. This roasting moment he's having towards the poor girl is getting out of hand. "Then she would have smelled if that happened. You're just overthinking everything about—"
"She's gothic, psycho, dirty, evil and unlikeable. She's every definition of a no-no so go get your eyes checked because you might have really lost your sight this time."
I rolled my eyes at him with a disapproving stare. "And you just had to call her with every worse possible name there is. That's very rude of you, Haechan." I smirked and he just lets out a small snort.
"Only crazies would fall for a crazy like her."
"I don't see her that way. I think," I paused and smiled. "She's an angel." At that, I hear the sound of a harp playing in my head, a bright light hitting her face as she walks, and the face of an angel lights up like some sort of magic. "She's—"
"You're clearly out of your head!" He deliberately commented as I smiled sheepishly at her direction. "She's a gangster, Mark! Look at her! Who comes to school with that hair? With tattoos all over her body and she doesn't even care if people sees it?! She's probably hiding more under that jacket! And she has more than ten piercings on every part of her body?! Tell me I'm not describing a high gothic gangster?"
I couldn't stop myself from smiling. "She only has a few in her ears and only her dragon tattoo is visible." I looked at Haechan correcting his claims. "She might have more tattoos hidden but she also might not have."
"It's the same thing!"
But it doesn't make her less of an angel in my eyes. From a far, she even looked more beautiful. I sighed when she was out of my sight. I can see her in the cafeteria again later, maybe. "Her name," I mumbled ignoring Haechan's disapproving glares. "Do you know?"
"Probably Lucy,"
I frowned and turned to him. "Funny what you did there."
"What for are they calling her the daughter of Lucifer if her name isn't somehow related to demons? It could be Hitlerry Duff or something."
I laughed and gave my friend a tap on the shoulder. "I'll see you after school then." I'm going to find out who she is and after that, I'll talk to her myself. I need to know this girl. If not, I might go crazy trying to get rid of her in my mind when I know I can't. Besides, it's the girl who took the drink for me.
The next day, during my Chemistry class, I was surprised when she suddenly showed up by the door, knocking with her usual dark aura then showing our teacher a paper slip that looked like it could have been from the office. My heart was getting excited. I knew those slips too well and if I'm not mistaken—
"Class, may I have your attention."
She is going to…
"This is Ms. Forest Young."
Forest Young.
"She will be taking your Chemistry class for the rest of the semester." …be in this class, yes. She was transferred to take up our Chemistry class. Are the odds actually giving me the chance to be with her? I'm sure they are because this is not coincidence. This almost feel like destiny. Thank heavens for loving me this much. I don't have to do much because you're bringing me closer to her than I prayed for. "Introduce yourself."
The way she crossed her arms made her look like she was a superior student in the school – a rebel who didn't care about the rules and it's kind of cool, to be honest. She glared at our teacher and said, "Why did you tell them my name if you wanted me to introduce myself in the first place?"
Mr. Oliver wasn't able to respond at that. Everyone looked so surprised and shocked by this immoral and disrespectful attitude she was fearlessly showing in public but I was amused. You don't get to see a student this uptight. I couldn't help but smile as I stare at her. Her red hair compliments well with her fair skin complexion. It looks really good on her. "Very well. Go take your seat."
She didn't even bother to bow or show any sign of respect. Instead, she just walked towards the back and took the last empty seat at the corner of the room. I smiled and watched her settle herself in her chair. The moment she brings her bag down, she leans her head against the arm chair and – well, sleeps I guess.
"So how can glass be a liquid if it's so hard?"
I raised my hand to answer but Mr. Oliver's attention was on Forest who was still sleeping. I waved my hands so I could answer for her but he called out to her and repeated the same question. I turned to where Forest was in worry. She hasn't been paying attention, nor was she listening at all. I'm just worried now that she might get dropped from our class when it's only our first day together in the same class.
"Ms. Young?"
Oh no.
I turned to look at her but she doesn't bulge.
"Ms. Young!" Mr. Oliver repeated and this time, everyone heard her groan in frustration.
She suddenly rose, brushing her hair to the back, effortlessly cool, and eyes our teacher droopily. She wasn't even scared of showing this lazy side of her in front of our teacher. She's really something else. "Glass is not fucking liquid in the strictest sense of the word but it is also not solid." She… "The chemistry of glass is complex and research is ongoing, but the current consensus is that glass is a phase of matter all its own, known as an amorphous solid. Scientists refer to any amorphous solid as a glass. Glass transitions are highly complex and cannot be treated in the same way as traditional phase transitions, according to the textbook Glasses and the Glass Transition by Ivan Gutzow." She answered it. She actually answered it way better than anyone else would have – way better than I would have done.
By the time she finished talking, the room was utterly silent like what just happened thirty minutes ago. I smiled wider. I never knew a person could affect me like this before and I'm not even calling this a bad thing because this girl – I really like.
"Right. According to Ivan S. Gutzow, glass—"
After that, I wasn't able to focus on the class. I couldn't keep my eyes off her. The way she answered made me more interested and it's funny how heart fluttering it was to hear her answer with so much confidence.
****
"She's really special, Haechan. She's so," I paused and realized I don't know how to describe her. I felt like I knew how to describe her but now that I was saying it out loud, I can't say it. "Different." I tell him. "She even answered a Chemistry question while sleeping during the lecture. She's— I bet you wouldn't have been able to answer it yourself despite being awake during class."
"You don't know that."
I sighed with a smile as I recalled that moment. It gets to me every time – the way she answered. I feel like I'm falling down a deep well. "You should have seen it! It was like her senses are all awake even if she was sleeping."
"Or maybe she was just acting like she was sleeping but she was really listening so when she gets called, everyone would think she's genius which worked obviously!" His eyes widened as he stated. "Surprise, surprise."
I looked away in frustration and excitement. "Even if she did, that completely contradicts your claims of her being all the negative things you say about her."
He rolled his eyes. "Okay. I'll respect that you're crazy for this girl but Mark, aren't you, at the slightest bit, afraid of her? Who knows what she might do to you?! What if she kills you and no one will even know that she killed you?"
I shook my head in dismay. I doubt that she's THAT kind. "That's an overstatement. Your head's clearly filled with delusional fantasies." I complained pointing my fore finger at his direction. "She doesn't even look like a killer."
"Look at her! Even those who we think are her friends aren't eating with her because she's nothing like normal." I turned and stared at her. She was eating alone, pitifully alone but that doesn't make her seem bad or anything like that. "Can't you just like someone who's just as normal as we are?"
"Maybe she just didn't want to eat with anyone." I shrugged and took a bite off my bread.
"You're always defending that demon. Nothing she does wrong is ever wrong to your eyes."
I chuckled. My attention diverted back to Forest whose eyes were furrowing with full of anger. I was curious of what's going on inside that head of hers. She was more than just a mystery – she was every mystery any detective would want to pursue.
She suddenly stopped eating and her creases got inner. She stood up with her tray and started walking towards a table. My heart jumped a little in fright for her sudden bold move. Is she finally eating with her friends? But she looked mad. There's no way anyone would approach someone this mad if they aren't— I was surprised when she suddenly turns her tray upside down right at Gavin Heartlock's head.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Gavin stood up and saw her standing behind him.
My heart raced.
She just stood against him fearless like Gavin wasn't taller than her - like she wasn't afraid of the consequences of her action. Gavin stood in front of her with a fuming glare as if he's about to bite off her head. He's not going to hit her right? He's still a guy and she's still a girl. You can't hit a girl… right?
"Did you just fucking throw your baby food at me?"
Forest picked up the fallen food she had dropped over his head and threw it at his chest which Gavin did not take expect. "That is throwing. See the difference? Which method do you want me to use next time?" She asked before giving Gavin one last glare and walked out of the cafeteria leaving the place in silence and in disbelief.
Gavin cursed out loud frightening the whole cafeteria but I kept my stare at the last place she was seen while Gavin still roared in anger. He ran out of the cafeteria probably to shower and get changed. The pasta looked utterly disgusting the moment it landed on his shirt.
My heart was still uncontrollably beating fast because of what happened. I'm just thankful right now that Gavin was man enough to not run after her and beat her until she dies but if he did, I might get myself involve and I'm no fighter even.
"See what I mean? Now tell me that's not something a psychopath would do."
I still think not.
****
"What's going on? Why are they whispering so much?" I heard my seatmate, Yeji, ask the girl that just passed by our row. I wasn't the listening-to-other-people's-conversations type of guy but this one, I couldn't help – partly because it had something to do with the woman that's been bugging my head for days now.
"Forest Young from the FA Department's fighting with Jihyun." Hyori replied to Yeji. It seems that it was supposed to be a whisper but I clearly have good ears when it comes to matters like these.
"Forest as in daughter-of-Lucifer-Forest?"
Daughter of Lucifer.
"Jihyun's so done for good once Forest lays a finger on her filthy skin."
"How so?"
"Haven't you heard? She has, like, some kind of connection with hell! I mean, Jihyun's quite stingy too but come on," Hyori stated in an are-you-serious type of tone. "Stingy versus Evil? You can imagine how that goes with your eyes closed!"
"I guess you're right."
I wonder if they're purposely talking and gossiping this loud for others to hear.
"I bet you Forest couldn't stand her personality as much as we do. She's honestly doing all of us a favor. That bitch deserves a karma slap in the freaking face. Forest is the only one who can kick her ass."
"As expected, Forest's really cool."
It is her. I mean, the moment they said Lucifer, it must be her and I couldn't stop myself from going for it. "Excuse me, can I ask something?" I asked and the two girls turned to me by surprise. I normally wouldn't dare talk to anyone in my class but I just had to right now.
"M-Mark, yeah. What is it?" The girls looked completely surprised by my sudden appearance in their conversation but I can't turn my back now.
"This girl you're talking about," I paused.
"You mean, Forest?"
I nodded frantically. "Can you tell me about this girl?" Now I didn't want to appear like a creep who's suddenly interested with her and I'm not sure I delivered that role quite likely because they both looked at me like I was a weirdo which one would maybe say.
"W-Well we don't know much about her but—"
"If you ask about a person, shouldn't you be asking someone who's actually hanging out with her?"
I froze. I almost felt my heart drop dead down the floor at how terrifying that voice just sounded. I was hesitant to turn to my back to see who spoke but I was in my desperate moment where I really needed to find out who she was.
When I turned, I saw a girl sitting behind me with both her feet lying on top her arm rest. Her arms were crossed in a way a guy would so I was confused if I was talking to a man or a woman considering the fact that her – or his – hair was short-short, partly shaved and she has a chest – she is a woman. "What the fuck do you want from Four, kid?" She suddenly asked making my knees feel wobbly.
"I just—"
She suddenly smirked. "Damn that bitch got another man under her spell."
I blinked. If they were friends, I was surprised that she was calling her friend like this. I mean, I wouldn't call Haechan something like that. He's my friend after all. Maybe they're portraying a different kind of friendship. Something only they would understand. "I just want to know more about her."
"Four doesn't tell shit about herself."
Oh. And I'm supposed to think that they're friends now right?
"We just know her by name and it could be a lie too for fuck's sake. If you want to actually know about her, there's no one who can tell you but Four herself."
I gulped. Talking to someone she, maybe, hangs out with was terrifying. I didn't know why she was making my knees tremble. I felt embarrassed? But I brought myself into this so there's no turning back, I guess. I can only assume now that this person I was talking to right now will be speaking to Forest about this.
"You're not the first who got interested, kid." She wheezed.
So she has always been the mysterious type of girl.
"Believe me, a lot have tried to win her but it just never happened." She cluck her tongue, shaking her head like she was mocking me which I was trying to deny. "They all gave up and crawled back to other hoes they can reach, crying like a fucking baby."
"T-That's quite—"
The girl suddenly pulled me by my collar and grabbed it close to her face. "Take my advice and just don't." I gulped. "It's a death wish to even think about talking to her. That woman's a real constipation to diarrhea in the ass."
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