Her Heart
Cath and I lay down on the floor and I could feel my body shivering due to the pressure inside the illusion. I felt the pain of the wounds I sustained in fighting Cath. I was unable to avoid her other counterattack. She’s strong and I didn’t have the chance to attack.
“Nice job!” Isaac applauded. Kurt ran to Cath and helped her to her feet. While Lydia helped me to stand up. I immediately took off the fighting gear and wiped away the sweat on my forehead.
“You did well, ‘Thea,” Lydia said. I frowned at what she called me. ” I’ll just call you ‘Thea. Is it okay?” she added when she saw my expression. I just smiled and turned my back on them. I walked away from the training room.
But when I got out, a warm hand pulled my arm. It was Isaac. He pulled me closer to him, and I lost my balance. I fell on him and my face hit his hard chest. Then it hits me, our faces are only about an inch away.
My heart feels like it’s going to explode. Shit. I immediately straightened up and pulled my arm away from his grip. “S-Sorry,” I said.
I can’t stand the way he looks at me, so I averted my eyes. His penetrating gaze makes me uncomfortable.
“I’m leaving,” I said but he pulled my arm again.
“You still have open wounds. You need to be healed first. Follow me, ” he said and turned his back on me. I did nothing but sigh and I found myself following him. This is dangerous. He is freaking dangerous for me.
“O-Ouch…” I flinched. He pressed the cotton too hard on my wound.
“This doesn’t hurt,” he said as if it was just nothing.
“It does,” I hissed. He just smiled and made me stop. He smiled and it made my heart go crazy. I averted my eyes; my heart was beating so fast again. I was nervous but I didn’t even know why.
He smiled and it was my first time seeing it. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He’s too attractive and his eyes are beautiful. I averted my gaze, what am I thinking?
He took me to the clinic. There was a nurse who offered to clean my wound, but Isaac said he’ll clean it himself. The nurse still has a lot to take care of and he said he can do it, that’s his excuse. So, I just let him, but I still can’t stand him being this close to me.
“There,” he said and threw the cotton in the trash bin. I can’t believe our leader cleaned my wounds. I thought it was over, but he took a clean bandage and covered some of my wounds.
His face was just serious as he put it, gently. “I-It’s okay, Isaac,” I said and pulled my arm, but he tightened his grip. “Ouch…”
“It’s not done yet, Althea. So, sit down.” He stared at me straight in the eye and I couldn’t even stare back. “Just
sit there and let me finish this. You choose, either you break it, or I’ll break you.”
I bit my lip. “Fine!” There is nothing I can do when he speaks. He quietly applied a band-aid to my other wound. It hurts, but I just didn’t speak anymore because I don’t want him to look at me again.
“Now, it’s done,” he said with a smile. I sighed and stood up. Lydia and the others didn’t come with us, they said they’ll eat first.
It was a tough fight especially
since Cath was good at fighting while I’m new to this and I was struggling with the power I have. And there’s one thing I’ve gained from that fight. The ability to use fire. At first, I had a hard time but when I got used to it, I was able to control it just by using my hand and mind. This training and this Tournament will help me a lot.
Isaac and I walked out of the clinic together. No one dares to speak. I can’t even start talking to any of them. Especially with Isaac.
But I was surprised when he broke the silence. “You act so bravely, yet I know you’re not.” I was shocked when he said that.
I clasped my hand. “I don’t know what you’re saying.”
He slightly chuckled. “Your façade is kind of deceiving that’s why I put you in the position of being a hoaxer. You make everyone believe that you are strong and capable, even if you are not. You’re weaker than we all thought. You’re fragile.” I was speechless when he said that. The way he speaks, he seems to know me very well. “Althea–” I cut him off and stopped walking.
I looked at him in the eye. It was my first time looking at him without hesitation. “You don’t know me. Stop talking like you know me more than I know myself,” when I said that he sighed.
A few students passed between us, so I averted my eyes. They bowed down when they saw Isaac. That’s how the students treat him. “I’ll take you to your dorm,” he changed the subject. But I immediately shook my head.
“You don’t have to–” he cut me off by laughing.
“I insist. And one more thing, I won’t go there for you, I want to see that dorm, you know,” he said and looked away as if he was worried.
I guess he loved the woman who used to live in that dorm. We headed down the hallway toward my dorm. I look away every time we bump into some students.
Some of them are whispering about why Isaac is with me. I just didn’t pay attention to that because I didn’t have time for them.
“D-Do you want to go inside?” | asked and turned to him when we reached my dorm. He smiled and shook his head.
“No, it’s fine.” He touched the wooden door down to the knob. “Take care of this room for me, alright? Rhian…” Rhian? Maybe that’s the name of the girl in the picture, Isaac’s ex-girlfriend.
I just nodded in response to what he said. A few minutes passed but he was still standing in front of me. I thought he was looking at the door but when I looked up, he was staring at me. My heart skipped a beat when our eyes met.
“I’m going in.” I was about to open the door when he held my arm. I flinched when he did that.
“Do you have any siblings?” I was surprised by his question. Ever since I was born and raised in an orphanage, I have been alone. So, I can’t have a sibling.
“I don’t think so, none I guess,” I answered. He’s still holding my arm which made my brow furrow. He looked at me, seriously.
“Is it your first time being here?” he asked. I bit my lip so hard, what is he trying to prove now? He seemed to want to ask me a lot of questions and looks like he wants to hear my answer so badly.
“Yes.” But he did not seem to believe my answer.
“Are you sure–” I removed his grip on my arm.
“I’m going in.” I immediately opened the door and entered. I didn’t even wait for him to leave and closed the door. What’s with all the questions, Isaac?
I grabbed my arm. I can still fill the heat of his hand. I lay down on the bed and just looked at the ceiling all night. Why am I affected by him?
My science teacher said back then, things that are affected by something else are somehow called attraction. I shook my head, No! I’m not attracted to him!
It was midnight when I came out of the dorm again. The hallway was dark and empty. I headed in the direction of the rooftop of the Academy.
Cath told me that if I walk straight to the right side of our dorm, there’s a staircase up to the rooftop. I’ve never been there, and I want to feel fresh air to calm myself for a moment.
I can’t sleep so this is the right time to go there. But when I got to the rooftop I was immediately stunned. Isaac was sitting on the edge of the rooftop. He may fall at any time, but that was not the only thing that surprised me, he was drinking alcohol. I run closer to him.
“Isaac, what the hell are you doing there?!” I hissed but he just stared at me.
“So, you’re here,” he said while laughing. I clenched my fist. Why is he acting this way?
“Isaac, stop acting like a kid!” I shouted. He just laughed and laughed as if what I said was hilarious, but there was something strange about his laughter. He wasn’t laughing because he was happy.
“Just leave me alone, will you?” he said and drank the wine again. I just got irritated because of his behavior, but I can’t leave him when he’s in this state.
“Get down there,” I commanded him. He’s already drunk yet he keeps on drinking. He immediately went down and walked closer to me. “Why are you drinking?!”
“You want to know why?!” His voice rose slightly.
“T-Tell me.” I don’t have any idea why he’s drinking right now. But I want to know. Apart from that, I want to know him more and I don’t know why and for what.
“Because I’m confused,” he said which made me confused as well. “Ever since you came here, every time I see you, I get hurt. And I don’t even know why! Damn it! I thought I’m already okay.” He held his head as if he was really confused.
But I’m more confused! No idea came to my mind as to why he was saying those things to me. Is he hurt because of me? But, why?
“I don’t know what you’re saying–” he cut me off.
“Yes, you don’t have any idea and that sucks.” I was surprised when he threw the bottle of wine, causing it to break and create a loud noise. I was surprised when he approached me, and our body touched.
“Isaac…” I uttered. I flinched when he held my chin and made me look at him. I should be panicking now, but all I did was stand in front of him.
My eyes widened as he came closer to me and our noses almost hit. I closed my eyes. A few minutes later, nothing happened.
I opened my eyes and I was surprised when he kissed my forehead. His warm lips made my heart skip its beat. At that time, I seemed to have run out of breath.
“Be safe, Althea.” He released his grip on my chin and walked away from the rooftop, leaving me there. I was still staring at the place where he had been standing before.
I was caught out of breath. My heart is beating so fast right now.
Shit! My heart couldn’t even calm down because of what he did. This is getting worst.
Alexandria Academy