ADAMANTINE MYERS Chapter 4

QUATRO

The Other Side

I was shivering when we reached the other side. I stood up straight and looked at Ryan, “You ok?”, he responded with a very delicate stare while clenching my shirt as he was getting himself out of the large ice box. Ryan, as strong and bold as he appeared, was staring at me, like he was about to cry…I saw no traces of his trade mark killer smile at that moment, he moved closer to me, I stepped my one foot back, startled of what he was about to do…he caught my arms and hugged me like a little kid missing his Dad. I was surprised, but didn’t think of objecting his deed, I was shivering and cold, and he was warm and soft, Ryan always had that effect on me, his presence, even without him saying a single word, comforts me… until I woke up to reality…

“Ryan! You’ve got some serious issues man…” I pushed his body away from me and retrieved my dry shirt. And we moved on to find the chapel. It wasn’t hard to find it at all, as candlelight flicker its surroundings; it was in the middle of the woods, not far from the river bank.

“dominiiiiiiiii….. patri….benedictum………” we heard the monks singing gibberish hymns and praises, then I realized that the camp masters weren’t joking at all, we’re really in for some supernatural circumstances that night, and I was with an almost useless giant. But I guess I shouldn’t be afraid, they were monks, what’s to fear? And there really was a wake…”remember, we shouldn’t get caught, let’s go around the chapel” Ryan said. He took my cold hands, blew it with his warm breath first, and dragged me. I couldn’t say a word, I was just staring at him entirely until we arrived at the backdoor of the chapel. “Wait, look at that” he said, “It’s a whole monastery at the back…”Go figure, where do you think the monks would sleep at night?” I sarcastically responded.  He smiled. We sneaked ourselves in the candle lit corridors of a small yet brick-old chapel. Religious statues and artefacts filled the entire chapel, which really freaked the both of us. But what could go wrong, we’re Catholics.

“Hey Ry, maybe I should be the one to get the rosary from the dead monk…I’m smaller”

“Alright, but isn’t it bad luck to take something from a dead person?”

“Maybe, but it is our first task…”

“Alright, I’ll watch out for you, be careful.”

It wasn’t really challenging to enter the altar, I assumed the monks were praying with closed eyes so I was able to crouch towards the back of the coffin. I slowly stood up to see the rosary in his chest, when I turned back and saw Ryan signalling…”eh” I didn’t quite understood him, so I looked at the corpse again with my body almost upright. When I looked up, I saw two big eyes in front of me, so I startled and stumbled on my buttocks.

“Another camper I guess” the bearded man approached me, Ryan came running to help me stand up. “What are you up to now? Don’t you know the other side of the river is forbidden?”

“We are sorry sir, ummmmm father, but we were tasked to do something” I clarified.

“Give me that boy” He noticed Ryan holding the map, grasped it and started reading it. “Hmmmm…brave souls are you…the abandoned school, there are entities there we are trying to avoid boys” he said. “Come with me”…he lead us at the back of the altar. “Did you know that this forest was once the town centre? Everyone used to come here…until…” he paused…”yes father?” I asked…”Until the rebels invaded…they killed anyone they come across with, and even attacked the school killing hundreds innocent children…it forced all of the remaining town folks to move down the valley, leaving us monks isolated in this now dark forest.” “I see, tragic” I nodded pitifully.

“I also see that you’re here for Father Mercius’ rosary…”

“Yes father, we need to give it to the school librarian” I told him.

“Hahahahahahaha, the school librarian eh?” He laughed.

“Boy, you’re going to see things you haven’t seen before once you enter that ruins, and you’re right, you badly need a dead monks’ rosary”

“What’s the reason behind that?” Ryan asked.

“ You see, father Mercius used to run that school, and after that tragedy he usually tried to go back there, but he couldn’t…none of us could, the gates wouldn’t open…and our noses and ears would bleed, that is, unfortunately, what happened to Father Mercius.” The monk explained tearfully.

“Why is that father?” I asked.

“Some souls hated us for leaving them behind, we were praying when that happened, we are deeply sorry, we didn’t do anything”

“But the possibility of you going in is huge…because they do not recognize you…they might just let you in. But please bring his rosary, blessed and used by him, it might enable holiness and forgiveness to enter their dark realm, and finally showing them the light.”

“But would it be ok to you father” I asked him.

“Please, do it…”

                So the monk told us to wait for him outside the chapel, and he’ll be the one to get the rosary from Father Mercius’ chest.

                We did what the monk has said…we were relieved by the unexpected and eerie events that happened. Outside, the wind became thick and frosty, and the night creatures became louder. We were crossing our hands around our chests, we were trying to warm ourselves when the monk arrived at the entrance aisle, he called us, and we approached him. “Please, give this to her, and tell her Father Mercius treasured this dearly” the monk said and gave us a comforting smile and blessing before he turned around.

“Wait father, we forgot to ask your name!” I called him back…

“It’s Mercius”

                GOOSEBUMPS! . “What a night” Ryan said, “Oooooh, I think it’s just beginning, look!” I pointed at an old grey cat approaching us, if anything could get any weirder.  I noticed it has different colours on each eye, the left eye’s yellow, the right was blue. Peculiar.

                The cat passed right through us to the darker side of the woods. “The instruction is to follow him…should we?” Ryan asked, I nodded and agreed to follow the cat. So we walked again towards our next task, to give the rosary to the librarian. Ryan was always silent, I know it was quite normal, since we weren’t really that close, but I always feel awkward walking with him, specially alone in the dark, just like the times we walked together after a session with Mrs. Strum along the unlit paths toward the school’s exit gate…

”Another awkward moment” I whispered.

“What was that?” He responded.

“Nothing, I was just saying…”

“Hey Ryan…can I ask you something?”

“Yeah what is it?”

“Do you feel awkward whenever the two of us walk in the dark…alone?”

I tactlessly asked him, since I thought it was about time to “bond” with my “classmate” and camp partner, and besides, we’ve known each other for some time already, and we never had this kind of talk.

He just replied with another one of his chilling grin and giggled a bit. “What’s wrong with this child” I thought.  Both my hands were locked in my jacket’s pocket, so was Ryan. Somehow I felt secure and needed at the same time. With his well-built body, I know I’ll be safe, with his reserved attitude, I know he needs me.

We were already walking along a muddy path, when…

 I slipped.

“Careful” Ryan was fast enough to grab me, and again he drew me close to his caressing chest. Then suddenly…the winds grew heavier and turned colder, as Ryan helped me get up, flashes of  dark figures passed by the sinister sky. “What was that?” I asked…”crows?” Ryan said…I remembered the task, it said “don’t show any fear, they can smell it, however I couldn’t help but to stumble with fear, after all it was an eerie ambiance to be in the middle of the abandoned woods, and the slip made me more nervous. We stood there for awhile, until I could get my balance, but he didn’t let go, I was safe…in his arms…under the moonlight.

It was about a half an hour walk when we reached the massive gates covered in thick vines of the abandoned school. The grey cat stopped walking.

“We’re here” Ryan said…

“Should we go inside?” I whispered.

I followed him to call out for someone. We were expecting for the caretaker.

“I wasn’t going anywhere, but rather I was pushing myself back to you.

If it was a dream, then I don’t want to see the sun rise, because I know I’m going to wake up alone”

-Excerpt from the Emo Book

Adamantine Myers Chapter 3

       TRES

The Camp

I found myself in the most unexpected place…though I lost myself in the battle of my academics; I won the hearts of those who looked up to me, and for the first time in my life, I felt special…just imagine how you’d feel when charming boys volunteer to carry your bags and treat you like a helpless damsel, although I wasn’t completely helpless. Oh yes…we just called ourselves “the soda clan”, the idea came out during that afternoon at the field, we were drinking soda drinks, and decided to name our new found brotherhood.

Days passed…we spent more solemn moments together under that dead tree, it was too far away from all the hustle and bustles of the school, and sometimes, we’d lay on each others’ laps, as if we were sweet boyfriends. I made sure I had time for them despite my predetermined schedule with Mrs. Strum…we’d even spend some extra time together after swimming practice…it was almost I had given them half of my senior life already. But I’ve completely paid no attention to Ryan Allaster…maybe it was because I was too preoccupied with having such nonsense feelings towards another boy, or maybe because he had always been too distant, too quiet, so I didn’t bother him, “he’s nothing”.

December…

It was already cold, I had my jacket on layered on top of my uniform when the principal announced during the morning assembly that there will be a three day camp for any interested students at the mountains for the Christmas break, my classmates thought it was odd, “why would they hold a camp at the middle of this freezing season?”…”why can’t they?” I smothered…I asked them if they wanted to go, they answered, “we’d be preparing for the qualifying exams on January”…Boring…so I thought, it was our last year in high school, and they’d lock themselves in for Christmas break…

So I asked my brothers if they wanted to go, turned out, they were already planning on asking me. Of course I was excited, three days away from school? With them? I started packing that night.

I arrived early at the rendezvous, the buses were already there, and I noticed Ryan getting in with his classmates, I presumed JB, Joey, Skandar and David already got in. I was startled by the riot I thought I created when I climbed the bus, my boys were yelling “Adam! Seat here!” “here Adam! Seat with me”…I passed by Ryan, he was again smiling eerily at me, so I gave him a sweet smile back, “This is going to be an interesting ride”…David was more enthusiastic when he called for me, so I sat beside him. He caught my attention.

It took about an hour ‘till we were able to reach the campsite. It was in the middle of a forest, wet grounds, cold climate and all, then I noticed the extravagant preparations the organizers had mad, colourful flags welcomed us, and there were guides who directed us towards our tents, I was a senior I had to sleep where the seniors are, though I felt disappointed as I expected to be with my clan.

It was a good thing though that I still got to sleep with two of my co-swimmers so I didn’t worry about introducing myself. We were asked to proceed at the activity hall for the program proper. We were given a card that carried our name, and at the back, was a chart of the fifteen tasks we have to accomplish before the end of the camp.

I had lunch with my brothers, including some of their classmates, and Ryan, but I paid more attention with my extended family, and thanks to them, I got acquainted with more students, thanks to their zealousness. Afterwards, we began doing the tasks together, again I became their coach, and it seemed like their entire class followed too.

My brothers and I talked about me moving to their quarters, I was convinced no one would notice, and besides, there were no camp rules that determined a specific quarters to sleep in, so technically, I wasn’t violating any rules. Then I transferred my things to their quarters, I saw Ryan resting, next to him was another one of his classmates, they were about a few distance away from their classmates.

I decided to go out of their room as it seemed like I was barging in to what was I assumed an “intimate moment”.

The day ended, and we were about to have dinner around the bonfire. I spent the whole day with my “clan” and we’ve already accomplished 5 tasks together. Ryan and his special friend, Clyde were still distant from all of us. They seemed to enjoy their own world.

Barbecue for dinner, under the stars, around a bonfire, and with my boys, nothing could’ve been more perfect. We sang and stomped our feet to the beat of the drums around the fire. It was already ten PM, and we were asked to accomplish two tasks before bedtime. And we have to do it by pair, and to find a partner, we’d have to be blindfolded and find the first person who’d catch us first, and shout “HO HEY!!!”

And so the camp leaders blindfolded us, and we waited for the camp master’s signal. “Alright campers, listen, before starting your tasks, I want you to know, that your partner for tonight we’ll be the same partner you’ll have for the tasks tonight until tomorrow evening, they will also serve as your guardian, so if anything happens to you, your partner will be held accountable for. So whoever you may fall into, watch their backs, ‘coz you’ll be dealing with dark forces and grave consequences the entire camp. And please remember, teamwork encompasses any obstacle, but the love for your teammate overcomes any failure. First team to finish first gets free chocolates!! On three! Turn around then find your partner!!! ONE…TWO…THREE!!!

I could only see the light coming from the bonfire, but everything was dark…I could hear their feet, stomping the rocky grounds. My hands were stretched, so I could easily find my partner. It took a while for me to find one, until…I felt hands, smooth and cold fingers were reaching for mine, I touched the arms and realized it was a boy, he did the same, but it seemed as if he was caressing my arms, till he touched my shoulders, my neck, then he fondled over my face, and sensed my lips. Suddenly he pulled me towards his chest.

“Okay, hold your partners and take off your blindfolds!” the camp master ordered. I moved away from the boy’s warm caress, and took my blindfold off, “YOU???” we both said with great surprise. It was Ryan…the reincarnation of Adonis, the demi god.

“Well you look disappointed…were you vying for someone else? A girl maybe?” I said, though I had a feeling he was looking out for his Buddy Clyde, who’s now with JB. “No” he said with an intense expression of denial on his face.

“Ok, you only need to finish two tasks tonight, each task is different from the other groups, so don’t expect to be seeing your friends tonight, it’s only you and your partner. Now get your maps from your leaders and run as fast as you can!! I hurriedly reached out for a map, but I was caught up on a stampede. Ryan didn’t even help me. When I finally got close to the camp leader, everyone was already running away, so I got the last map that I found on the ground, it was partially torn and withered. “Hope you could read this one” , I gave it to Ryan, he seemed relaxed, while I was panting.

“To accomplish the first task, you need to cross the river to find a chapel, in the chapel, there will be a wake watched over by mourning monks. At the altar, there will be a Dead friar holding a rosary on his chest. Get that rosary without being caught by the mourning monks.” “WhaaaAAAt??? A dead monk’s wake and stealing a rosary? Are they insane?? “ I exclaimed, “That’s what’s written here, look” Ryan replied…

That’s the first task. “NOTE: In the event of being caught, please blow whistle to call out for a camp marshal, if not, proceed to the next task.” “The next task is to go to an abandoned school and look for the librarian, give her the rosary so she would stamp your task chart to validate your accomplishment. An old grey cat will lead you to the abandoned school. Note: Don’t show your fear, they can smell it” “They? Who are they?? What is this? A horror movie?” I cried. Ryan continued reading…”At the school’s gate, give the cat a treat to show your gratitude. Do not call out for anybody except the school’s caretaker, he may be sleeping at the guard’s house beside the gate. Ask him where to find the librarian. NOTE: NO I.D, NO ENTRY, and KEEP QUIET, CLASSES ARE GOING ON. Follow the moonlight to get back to camp.”

“These tasks are unbelievable”

But then I remembered the camp master warning us that we’d be facing dark forces and grave consequences for tonight’s tasks. Yeah right…suddenly, the wind blew cold, that’s when I started to have a bad feeling.

“A solemn cry, deep inside my heart,

The greatest fear you could ever have imagined,

Lingered in me for a while…”

Excerpt from the Emo Book

It was about half past nine, it was already cold, and the trees looked as if they were thin giants swaying with the winter wind. We ran fast ‘till we reached the river bank. The river was wide and calm, and I always knew that calm waters run deep. We only had two problems…there were no boats; and Ryan couldn’t swim. There was only one empty ice box tied on a rope that some campers may have left, and that gave me a silly but effective idea: Let Ryan ride on the box, and me pulling it with the rope.

At first Ryan hesitated, he knows he’s a lot heavier, but among the two of us, I was the varsity swimmer, he had no choice. He still doesn’t like the idea, he didn’t seem to trust how good a swimmer I was. So I took my shirt, plunged the box in the water, and said “C’mon, if something happens to you, I’d be the one to blame, besides, we might be behind the others…I’ll get you through  this time.” So he agreed. He looked kind of funny as he was struggling to fit his long legs bent in the ice box, but I thought he could manage.”

The river was not at all that deep as expected, the deepest part was only shoulder level, although a non -swimmer could have already drowned by slipping. I glanced at Ryan, I saw fear in his eyes, he looked at me and asked “are you ok there?” “Yeah, are you?” I asked him back, we looked at each other for some time as I dragged the box across the middle of the river, then…”Adam!!!” Ryan yelled, I scared the brains out of him by pretending to be drowned, He was worried sick which gave me a little sense of importance.

“Don’t you ever do that again Adam, I didn’t like that at all”, he was really pissed off by my humour and I didn’t expect he was that scared. I swam across that cold murky river, trying to pull the my heavy baggage and fighting the heavy flow of water.

“The moonlight in shadows, like what my heart feels without feelings,

Asking why all tears shed, at the time you said we’re through, how I wish I was dead,

I know that’s what you wanted too…”

-          Excerpt from the Emo Book.

Adamantine Myers: Chapter One

Uno

Killer Smile

            “Have you ever tried dipping your fingertips on ice cold water? That freezing sensation that runs from your fingers, to your shoulders, then suddenly your whole body starts shivering?”

 “I have…”

 “Only at this very moment, my whole body’s plunged in freezing water. I could hardly feel my hands nor flutter my feet to go up. But then I thought this might be a good thing,

 Because I was deeply aching inside,

 But still I was in fact, frozen numb, nearly…adamantine”

 It was just a dream… but I could hardly feel my toes as I tucked myself tighter in the blanket,  I could already smell the dawn of sunrise and the blossoming of morning dews…the memories of  my junior year flashed back as I rolled myself on the comfort of my bed…

 Six A.M…that’s when I usually wake up for school; it was a usual lazy morning, but I’ve got no choice, It was the first day to the last year of my High School life, and eventually, became the end of me. From my bed, I knew that year would be different, that I have to do things right, and that I have to make the most of my remaining time as a kid. I wanted to have fun, and I wanted to experience love.

 I walked out daydreaming, took a bath, changed to my uniform, had a little chat with my parents while having breakfast, and waited for Liam Voight, my friend next door who went to the same school with me, we basically grew up together. In school, I’m mostly outspoken, awkward, and usually misunderstood. It was only in college that I’ve accepted my individuality, who I really was. But I found it hard to fit in ‘coz I was different in so many ways.

 I went to a private High School in a small town called Crown Valley, the middle part of the island of Mindanao, it was surrounded by dark forests and misty mountains, we were, so to speak, almost isolated from the world, and although we don’t have much connections from outside the valley, we were economically stable and independent as most of the rich clans all around the Mindanao Archipelago chose to reside there, there were also speculations of wealthy criminals who prefer to hide at the quiet town in peace. The rich clans though discrete, remained very influential in the valley. Santi Sergio e Bacco Academy was the name of my school, (the name literally translates to Saints Sergius and Bacchus Academy) ran by conservative missionaries, we were raised to abide the traditional conducts of the catholic religion.

It was the first day of school, everyone was excited, some were just too overwhelmed with showing their new school supplies off, I preferred recycled stuff (I was an advocate of saving the World from human squandering) some acted as if they have never seen their friends for the longest time, I found it exaggerated…we were greeted by the lavish classic Greek inspired architecture and vast area of green field, “someone’s been cleaning” Liam said. We then parted and went to each others’ classes, I belonged to a special kind of class where the “nerds” were, little did we know were were regarded as “the geeks” in school, we really didn’t mind.

  I have been to that same school  since kindergarten, I only got in ‘coz my mother worked at the Town University as a trustworthy employee, no big deal for me, actually it was more of an advantage ‘coz my teachers knew her, and I get noticed, though I wasn’t the teachers’ pet. The disadvantage is, I have to act appropriately, one mistake could put my family’s name to shame, it was a small town after all, and everyone knew my family. It was hard to remain private; it was a struggle for me.

 More than half of my class belonged to the well known clans in our town, I supposed most of the kids at our school see them as the “geniuses”, but actually, they’re just some typical high school kids who love to joke around and make fun of themselves. All the while I thought I couldn’t ask for more, I loved literature and history, loathed Physics, became very active in school activities, and tried my best to get good grades, but still I felt out of place. I could see myself at the corner of the room listening to my own out of this world thoughts while the others are loud and laughing.

 The day started with the Principal, a missionary brother giving the freshmen and the rest of the school members his welcome message. The rest of the school year went by for me…went to class early, occasionally studied hard, attended swimming practices, went to the library to read fiction, talked to my friends (the geeks) then went to Mrs. Abigail Strum.

“There’s a secret part of me that only you knew,

You felt the pain inside of me, and in this moment of my life, I know that I miss you.

You left me without any reason,

You started ignoring this lonely person,

You were my only friend, my salvation…

Maybe you got tired of my exaggerated confessions”

–Excerpts from the Emo Book

 Every afternoon, when I have no swimming practice, I carry my heavy backpack to the University where my tutor, Mrs. Abigail Strum meets me and about five other students and sometimes on weekends if she thinks there’s a need to. Mrs. Strum, a friend of my mother, is probably the smartest person I’ve ever met, aside from being a Physics Professor, she teaches us Trigonometry, Chemistry and English, she also knows the latest gossip, and the most controversial issues in show business. She also probably knows most of the people in town, well, maybe at her old age, she knows a lot. She’s also the strictest mentor I’ve ever had, and also the most fun, there’s not a boring moment with her around ‘coz she’ll definitely stick a toothpick in your eyes to stop you from feeling drowsy. She did help me a lot.

It was through her how I met Ryan Allaster, a sophomore then, and a competitive martial artist. Actually, we’ve been schoolmates ever since, I just don’t talk to other kids at school that much, I’m just too contented with the kids I’ve been with my whole life. Well, what can I say, the first meeting was awkward, it was supposed to be a one on one session with me and Mrs. Strum.

 It was a warm Monday afternoon in August when I came to see her at her room on the sixth floor of the university’s science building, I laid down my books, we talked for awhile, and she gave me some instructions regarding my homework. Suddenly… he came in with heavy steps, and a heavy bag. It was already around Six in the evening, and sessions starts at Four Thirty, we were at the sixth floor so I could hear him catching his breath when he approached. “ Seat Down and lay your books and notes at the Desk” said Mrs. Strum, I noticed his presence but I was busy answering my Physics homework, plus I was little bit annoyed with his pounding steps and exaggerated breathing that I prefer to ignore him. I was a little introvert that I intend to be a snob than socialize. It was a safe choice to act like I didn’t care.

 I couldn’t help but to raise my head and look at Mrs. Strum while babbling at her new student, she was just too loud, so I rolled my eyes and looked at the boy laying his things on the desk and eventually sat next to me. He was smiling, no, it was an eerie smile, it was a grin, he was grinning while Mrs. Strum continues to babble. I looked at him, he looked at me, I studied his face as he wipes it with a white handkerchief, he looked a little bit mature for his age, I would describe it as edgy, not because it was rough, actually it was smooth despite the shaved traces of facial hair, but he had this strong impression on me, one that you could never forget, A lightning volt struck me, and flowed through him. I got connected, electrocuted.

Then I rolled my eyes and went back to my homework. I was a little intimidated. Too bad I was almost done; he on the other hand was still reading his notes to Mrs. Strum. She noticed I have started packing my things, “Finished Mr. Myers?” she said, “yes Madam”, I replied, “just wait for awhile and we’ll go over your homework later, check it twice if you may, I don’t want to be the one answering your homework” she smothered.

 While waiting, I decided to buy a snack downstairs at the cafeteria, the University was big, one could easily get lost, but I’m exceptionally familiar with the place, since my mum works there. Some Lights had already been turned off, it was already around seven so the halls looked scary, fortunately I arrived at the cafeteria and they were just starting to clean the place up. I bought three of my favourite vanilla filled chocolate cookies, one for me, one for Mrs. Strum, and one for the boy. Mrs. Strum forgot to introduce us, maybe she assumed we already know each other, so I thought I’d introduce myself by giving him a cookie.

 I returned to the sixth floor, handed Mrs. Strum the cookie, she said “Thank you” and smiled graciously as she always does when I Give her something, and handed the cookie to the boy...”Oh Adam, this is Ryan, you two know each other?” she asked, “No” I simply said…the boy said thanks with a slight movement of his mouth. It was close to a smile. It may have seemed too awkward for him that he didn’t even look at me, or maybe because like me, he was intimidated, or shy…maybe he was just shy, I assumed.

 “Alright, let’s see your work” Mrs. Strum reminded, I forgot to check my answers, so I hoped that she wouldn’t scream at me. “WhaAAAt is this???” and she did, “This isn’t the correct equation, go over that again, how am I supposed to check that, you didn’t listen to your teacher again didn’t you?” her voice could probably be overheard downstairs, to think we’re on the sixth floor…”That’s why I have a tutor so I won’t be worried if I didn’t listen” I whispered, Ryan giggled softly, he must’ve heard my silent whim.

It was already Eight Forty Five, I glanced at my watch…there was silence in the room, Ryan was still answering when… “So you’ve finished your homework”, Mrs. Strum took my paper, and skimmed my solutions, “that’s correct, now we may go” she said, “Huh?” Ryan raised his head with a slight confusion on his face…”finish that at home and don’t be late next time” Mrs. Strum told him. So I packed my heavy thick books, so did Mrs. Strum and Ryan, Turned the lights off, and closed the classroom door. We only saw a few lighted rooms that night, but we could hardly see the steps on the stairs, but as I always did, I assisted the old woman down. Mrs. Strum kept asking about how Ryan’s mother and his other relatives our doing, that’s typical of her to pry, Ryan spoke in a soft brisk voice, and he smiled at every remark…

 I could not help but to look at him again, he must have at least an American blood, his hair was clean cut and dark, but kind of curly, his eyes are Asian, sharp at both ends, and he had a fair skin, while I looked more Asian, my mother’s Chinese, and my father has Spanish blood…that’s typical in the Philippines, to have both Spanish and Asian traces on our appearance… 

He was about a few inches taller than me, 5’8 maybe, you could tell he was serious about martial arts through his bulked body…anyway, he seemed to notice me staring, so I looked away, I must admit I was a little bit intimidated or fascinated, I was the total opposite of him, fair skinned, a little bit shorter than him, but I liked my body, I usually spent half of the week swimming so I thought I  was fit, but normally I looked pale and sickly, well I was allergic to a lot of things, even the sudden change of temperature could trigger my allergic reactions, that’s why I chose swimming, ‘coz it’s the only sport where I did’t have to worry about rapid  temperature changes. My body prefers the constant cold from the water.

As we approached the gates, I noticed him glance and smile…of course I smiled back, I thought if we were going to have the same schedule with Mrs. Strum, I might as well be friendly. After all, he seemed harmless.

   Outside we saw Mr. Strum in his old car, he was waiting for our tutor, so Ryan and I bid Mrs. Strum goodbye, she looked at us and said “Go home safe and be there on Wednesday” (We had an M-W-F and Saturday night schedule). Ryan and I were already alone. I asked him first, since I was the senior, “so where do you live?”, “at St. Michael’s” he answered, “oh, that’s the opposite direction to mine, I live in the suburbs, so you go ahead” I told him commandingly. As we parted, he waved and said “alright, thank you and take care, bye” with another sweet smile and beaming eyes…he doesn’t talk much…but when he does, I felt the sincerity and seriousness of his soul. I was almost attached to him…I waved back and bid him goodbye.

The night turned cold and darker, then I realized I was walking along the pavements alone again, another one of those melancholic moments I usually have. I was thinking of the things I could have had, and that as I was close to the end of my teenage life, I still haven’t found myself yet, where I belong…and I was still longing for someone to be with me. Shallow desires. Unfortunately I went home alive.

 I jumped in to my bed and hoped to fall asleep. I thought of him for a while, his killer smile just flashed back into my mind, I couldn’t seem to figure out what was in him that interested me, but there was definitely something…

ADAMANTINE MYERS: Introduction

OST to Adamantine myers...by Death Cab for Cutie 

Adamantine Myers

Introduction

‘There isn’t any single rational reason, beyond the vagueness of reality, to wake up in the morning, and having the drive to be all so well, most of all, going to school, and pretending to be alive. Confusing, but true.”

-          Excerpt from the Emo Book.

“Have you ever tried dipping your fingertips in ice cold water? That paralyzing sensation that runs from your fingers, to your shoulders, then suddenly your whole body starts shivering?”

“I have…”

“Only at this very moment, my whole body’s plunged in freezing water. I could hardly feel my hands nor flutter my feet to rise up. But then I thought this might be a good thing,

Because I was deeply aching inside,

But still I was in fact, frozen numb, my heart, nearly…adamantine.”

Call me Adamantine Myers, not my real name, status - single, alone and unhappy. Just imagine how you look like on a usual lazy Sunday; you woke up late, grabbed a cup of coffee, you walked straight to the couch and watched an epic episode of adventure time on cartoon network and paid no attention on any decent practice of personal hygiene, well I mostly look like that, only, I look like that every day, not just on Sundays.

I have a proper excuse for looking fidgety, I’m in college.

Now you might think I’m the most miserable guy on earth based on my description…I just simply thought of the things that could best describe me, so I came up with such fed-up words. Despite me being explicitly wretched, I try not to suck out the fun from everyone. I also see myself quite wild, and I believe I have quite a gratifying humour. Yeah, I know what you think, I’m just one of the “Unpredictable types”.

“Having fun is far different from being happy.”

Honestly speaking…I might sound overtly shallow, but I haven’t been truly happy for three years now, I counted. Ever since I broke up with my first ever “special someone” three years ago, I’ve never experienced another daydreaming because of late night hi’s and early hello’s.

For other people, happiness is being with their families, being rich and wealthy, being successful, or just being fully contented with what they have. You might think I’m too shallow, but happiness for me is being with people or with that “special someone” who loves and cares for me as I do to them.

Whatever right? No one cares. If you’ve been wondering how my life became this fed-up, well it all started at the most awkward years for most of us, HIGH SCHOOL…

I’ve rehearsed a thousand times

To amend this broken heart of mine,

I kept thinking what’s on your mind,

I just can’t hear the words you say behind.

This sacrifice I give to you,

Will light the path in your journey out of the blue,

Whatever happens I’d still love you.

Though I know I’ll get nothing from you,

I’m still hoping for a love that’s true.

-Excerpts from the Emo book

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