Most of my cla.s.smates were already in the rush to go out. I have to inform Yuno that I can't take her home because of a prior commitment. 

I headed outside to go to Yuno's cla.s.sroom, and to my surprise, I b.u.mped to someone. The person I b.u.mped to was shorter than me. Her eyes were almost covered by her thick fringe of bangs while her short hair hugging her small face. 

It was Rina Cruz - my cla.s.smate. Though I never had the chance to talk to her, plus she spent the entire time distancing herself from the rest of us. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," I apologized. Rina tilted her head to get a look at me and bowed her head. I'm a.s.suming that she accepted my apology. 

"S-see you tomorrow?" I told her tentatively. She nodded at me again and quickly walked away from me. Weird girl. 

Shaking my head, I went to the direction of Yuno's cla.s.sroom. I could see that there were already students lounging around the area. Some were fooling around while others were too busy typing on their cellphones. 

I checked the area to see a familiar head, but I couldn't find my stepsister. I moved to their cla.s.sroom, but I was only greeted with unoccupied sets of table desk. Pulling out my cellphone, I hit Yuno's number and tried calling her. After a few rings, she answered my call and greeted me. 

"Hey, where are you?"

"Oh, I'm in the comfort room right now. Are we heading home now?"

Looking at the students milling around the hallway, I modulated my voice to be in an apologetic tone. "Here's the thing. I forgot to mention earlier that I have fencing commitment, and I might get home late. Can you go home by yourself? You can - " I was interrupted when Yuno quickly answered me back. 

"Don't worry, it's cool! I'm a big girl anyway. Plus as you've mentioned, it's just a twenty-minute walk. I probably need a little bit of exercise." She said cheerfully. 

"Do you need direction? I can text it to you."

"No need. I kinda memorize the place already if I'm going to follow the path we've taken earlier."

Sounding impressed, I bid my goodbye to her and end the call. 

*****

Alone inside the men's locker room, I suited up my white jacket and underarm protector. While I craned my body to put on my knickers then knee-high socks, followed by gloves for the protection of my hands. Lastly, I hid my face under the epee mask, since I will be focusing on epee fencing which was my least favorite discipline of fencing.

Just to give a quick brief about fencing, there are at least three different styles of discipline for fencing - Foil (the basic - targeting only the torso), epee (the entire body is the valid target), and lastly sabre (the entire part of the body but only above the waist). 

I must say I'm already an expert on foil while Intermediate at sabre, and basic on epee. And I almost forgot, per discipline, you have to use different fencing sword.

Stepping inside the fencing area, some of my teammates were already parrying at each other, while Coach Manuel was browsing something on his tablet. Before going to coach, I grabbed my sword from the weapon locker, then went straight to my remaining teammates who were standing by. 

Dennis - my fellow teammate, nodded at me when I approached him. It was hard to recognize the faces of my teammates since it was covered by a mask, but due to our familiarity over a year already, we could recognize each other from the way a certain someone stands or move.

Placing his tablet on the table beside him, Coach Manuel looked at the remaining players, probably a.s.sessing us who will pair up for a duel.

"Dennis! Rayven! Both of you are up." He announced.

We nodded at our coach and stepped on the rubber piste before us. Piste is the playing area for fencing. It's a fourteen meters long strip made of (for our case) rubber. 

Dennis and I faced each other. Both of our right hands gripping at the sword pointing above while our left hands were placed behind our backs.I took a deep breath while I wait for the command of our coach.

Then - "En Garde!" he shouted.

Taking that as a cue, I took the proper stance where I bent my legs and pointed my front foot straight forward while my back foot was at a ninety-degree angle to it. My sword arm was raised at a forty-five degree, readying myself to attack. 

But Dennis quickly lunged at me which I deflected by parrying his sword. I tried to riposte him, but Dennis didn't give me the chance to successfully execute it. He was aggressive on parrying at my attacks. While we repeatedly deflect each other's attacks, I saw a moment where Dennis lowered his defense (probably from exhaustion). 

I took that chance going outside his blade aiming to hit his shoulder, but from my peripheral vision, I thought I saw someone familiar figure standing behind the window of the fencing room. This made me hesitate to attack which Dennis grabbed the chance and hit my chest instead.

Coach Manuel blew his whistle ending our match. We bowed at each other and stepped outside the piste. Another pair stepped up and faced each other. I removed my mask, and my face was heavy with sweat already. Then someone nudged me and found Dennis. He also removed his mask, revealing his wet trim cut hair from sweat.

"Hey, what was that? You almost had me." He asked curiously at me. 

"I just got distracted. I thought I saw someone peeking at the window of our practice room." We both turned our gazes at the window, but no one was there. 

Dennis looked at me differently for a moment and simply shrugged it and went to his friend. But truth to be told, I thought I saw the figure of the weird guy earlier this morning. 

Caden. 

*****

It was already past six in the evening when I left the school ground and went to the parking area to take my car. I hopped inside my car and wheeled myself out of the academy. Then I remember that I have to check at the video game store if my pre-order game is already available.

I took a different path and went straight to the commercial center. Upon arriving in the area, the street was already flocked by students, corporate workers, and other civilians walking along the ever-busy commercial area. This was our closest version of a mall in this small town.I found a vacant s.p.a.ce and parked my car. 

Walking along on this crowded street reminded me of the time when my mom was still alive, she used to bring me here whenever I'm feeling down. She said that looking at the vibrant stalls, colorful stores, and crowded people can be therapeutic too. 

I bought some street foods to sate my growling stomach and went straight to the video store. Entering the establishment, I was welcomed by the blaring music of a J-Pop song. I a.s.sumed it's an OST from a certain video game. 

The sales clerk recognized me and shook his hands upfront- meaning that the game I pre-ordered hasn't arrived yet. Looking disappointed, I showed my pouted lips which just made him chuckled. 

I pulled the door to exit the store when someone b.u.mped at me again. This was the second time that this happened. Can't they see I'm a six-footer?

I was about to apologize again when I recognized the person who b.u.mped to me. The weird guy. Caden. 

He flashed his smile at me which I didn't return. I explicitly showed how uncomfortable I was. Caden was about to talk but I stopped him with my hand.

"Are you stalking me?"

"Heaven knows. I'm not." He calmly replied. "I didn't know you're here until I saw you."

"Really? Then tell me what were you doing peeking at fencing practice room earlier? Are you some sort of pervert?"

He was shaking his head at me, pretending (probably) that I was imagining things.

"You know what Rayven? I think I will go to the game store tomorrow instead. Goodbye!" He turned his back at me and walked to a certain food stall where three high school looking guys were waiting for him. One of them was wearing a La Orden unform also.