EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(Mind Reader at School)
Episode 15 & 16
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Written by author Nath
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Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but can feel it; and when you feel it, you think about it. Raina totally lost concentration in school, thinking about what she feels for Crucifix. Ignorantly, she didn’t know that a day thinking about what could happen, should happen, or what might have been is a day missed. She could be seen in a classroom, tapping her foot and rotating a pen beside her lips. She could hear a teacher explaining and solving quadratic equation but didn’t see any of that even though she was at the front seat. What was she thinking? Why was she restless? First, Margret’s drama at her house the previous day. Secondly, Crucifix’ cell phone had been off since then. The third reason is what she couldn’t pinpoint but it was related to jealousy and love for Crucifix.
“Miss Nelson!” Evan, the math teacher called her memory back to the classroom. “What is the value of x at which ax2 + bc + c = 0?” the man asked pointing at the equation on a white board.
Raina stopped tapping the foot. The rotation of the pen gradually dwindled. Only then she realize that she was not only in school but also in a classroom.. She swallowed hard while the whole class waited for her. Obviously, she didn’t know how to go about the question. Luckily, the school bell ended the lesson and school generally. Students picked their bags and headed out of the classroom simultaneously.
She walked briskly on a long passage with her school bag behind her. Suddenly, she heard her name from behind too. So she turned to see her friend, Grace.
“Raina, you’ve been absent-minded since morning. What’s the problem?” Grace asked as both were heading outside the building.
“You won’t understand, Grace.” Raina replied without looking at her.
“Is it about the boy you told me about? Crucifix?”
“Yes, I think…” Raina slowed down then totally stopped. She looked into her friend’s eyes as she continued emotionally. “Grace, I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into. Obviously I love him…’
“But I thought you said…” Grace interrupted her, also interrupted by Raina at the same time.
“Yes, I know I told you about the girl he’s dying for. I thought it wasn’t working out for both of them until the girl accidentally appeared in my room yesterday!”
Grace gasped.
“You should have seen the look on her face when she saw Crucifix’ painting. I think she’s beginning to reciprocate the love and i can’t help but to feel jealous. The funny thing is that i kissed him the other day but he didn’t say anything and his line has been off till now. I’m emotionally confused. I really need to see him.”
Grace exhaled. “You have to take it easy, babe.” she said.
Just then, Raina’s driver arrived. She bid her friend a good bye and hurried away…
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The steps of an old man should not be mistaken for weakness, it’s for caution and presumption. Geb walked into his house, presuming the absence of Crucifix and his properties. The old man placed his staff beside a table, took off his cap before picking up the note left by Crucifix. Already, he had received a call from Kenny High about his grandson’s expulsion, so he didn’t really seem surprise by the abnormality of things in the sanctum. Nevertheless, he read the note thus: “I’m sorry, papa. I’ve failed you again and I’ve messed up my life once again. I guess I need to amend it. I need to start from the root…”
He exhaled after reading the note. Just then, he heard a voice outside. Quickly, he grabbed his staff and cap then headed out to see Raina smiling and nervously rubbing her two palms.
“Good afternoon, Papa. Is Crucifix back from school?” she asked still rubbing her palms.
“Yes and I’m afraid you may not see him again.” Geb replied.
Raina’s smiling face changed. “What do you mean?” she asked.
Geb walked to a bench outside where he sat down silently. He needn’t offer Raina a seat. The girl knew exactly what she had to do; she sat down beside the old man like a child preparing to listen to a fairy tale.
“My dear, Crucifix has been expelled from school and left this note for me.” Geb handed the paper to the young girl and continued. “Crucifix is not like every other kids. He’s special, a descendant of Obra, the mind reader. When it comes to love and emotions, the mind readers suffer greatly because most of their actions come with consequences and conditions. They tend to keep the gift secret so that society will not see them as spy and freak to their private lives. That actually sabotages anything they try to do.”
Stunned, Raina remained mute. She understood why it had always been like Crucifix was always in her head. How he knew about her sickness even before she told him. Everything became really clear to her. Nonetheless, she swallowed hard and said, “Papa, what does it mean for a mind reader to send seven gifts to a girl before opening up to her or approaching her?”
Geb looked at her with a smile. “I overheard you and Crucifix talking about it the other day. We call it Lovcilia. It’s more like a tradition. We must perform it to the very woman we know is ready enough for marriage as we are too so that we would end up together otherwise face some consequences.”
“Like what?”
“Like the impossible or tragic death.” The old man looked into her eyes and read her mind. “The last time I checked, you’re not Margret whom my boy foolishly waisted a lovcilia for. Yet, you love him, don’t you?”
Raina looked up at the man. “Did you just read my mind?”
“Even if I didn’t, a blind man could tell from your voice that you have feelings for my grandsons.”
Raina ignored him, looking at the paper once more. “He said he wants to start from the root to amend his life.” she looked up at Geb for the second time. “You can’t tell me you don’t know where he is. So where is he?”
“The words ‘far away’ is the best answer to your question.”
“What’s the name of this ‘far away’?”
Geb turned to the girl to see her gazing anticipatedly. The old man simply liked Raina and wouldn’t want to lie to her. Therefore he exhaled, staring at her…..
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Briskly, Raina entered her room, emptied her school bag and put a few cloth and personal belongings in it. She grabbed a pen and paper, wrote a note and dropped on her table. d@mn! What was she trying to do? Obviously, she wanted to go after Crucifix wherever he was. Oh, my God! That’s ridiculous! What would the parents do or say if they find out that Crucifix is behind their daughter’s disappearance? Oh, poor Raina, she thought she might be doing the right thing but she never knew she might also be putting Crucifix on a bigger danger.
Nevertheless, she hung her bag and snuck out of the house…
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