Rumie didn't know if she should cry or not.
She had just entered her room a few minutes ago and had not had time to rest when she received a call. Ivan.
He flashed her a smile like he knew she would be looking out the window and beckoned that she came down with his hand.
She could have ignored him and not go for the so-called 'reading study' but their home teacher had made it compulsory. In her words 'this would help you be more studious'.
Rumie laughed. 'Studious?' She didn't want to be studious, no, all she wanted was an admission letter from Emy's Art College.
Besides, it was not like she needed to study to pass exams. She could do that with her eyes closed.
She sighed again as she skimp through the flips of stairs. She would attend for her mom. If the lecturer ever reported her to her mom, she was sure that she would skin alive.
Ivan stood at the bottom, with his hands in his pocket.
Rumie groanned on seeing his half hearted grin. What was the lecturer thinking when she made him the group leader?
"Why am I the first member you are calling?" She asked bored, not bothering with some pleasantories.
"First? All the others are there and you were the only one missing. The plan was to meet shortly after the day's class but you just…disappeared." Well that was because she didn't want the meet up. Any sane person would know this but him.
"How did you even get my number? I can't remember giving you." She narrowed her eyes on him.
"I got it from Amy, she said she was your roommate."
"She did?" She thought they were not on speaking terms, especially as she ignored her earlier.
"Yeah, now hurry up. And you will need to apologise for making others wait on you," he said, leading the way.
Rumie rolled her eyes.
Soon, they arrived in the classroom. About seven others were seated. She said some greetings to them and sat on one of the empty seats, just beside Ivan.
"Em Em." She turned to see Ivan stare hard at her. She knew what he wanted. The apology.
She rolled her eyes. It wasn't going to happen. Not when she was forced here against her will. Besides, it was not like she told them to wait on her.
But Ivan was not one to let go easily.
"I'm Rumie Jones. Thank you for waiting for me," She said.
She knew Ivan's eyes were still on her, but she acted indifferent. He could do his worst if he wished.
He brought out a list and began reading it out. It was the names of members in the group.
"I thought Tommy was here?"
"His dad called so he left to answer it."
"Then we will wait for him."
"He just texted me. He is going to skip today."
"Alright. Let's begin. Yes Miss Jones, any contribution."
"Can I skip today too? I'm feeling a bit down and..." She began
"No you can't. Now let's begin if you have nothing further to say," he replied, shooting her a glare.
Rumie returned the favour. She didn't get why Tommy or Thomas got to skip but she couldn't.
Throughout the meeting, Rumie tapped her feet against the floor to keep herself from thinking of causing chaos in the meeting.
Her anger constantly brewed each time Ivan would call on her for a contribution. If she didn't know better, she would think he was obsessed with pissing her off.
"Are you even here?" He whispered to her.
"I told you that I was not feeling well." She whispered back.
He turned to face the others. "Alright, we'll end today's meeting here. Any reasonable questions, contributions or suggestions for our next meeting?"
Rumie quirked her brows when he shot her a glare when saying 'reasonable'.
He wasn't implying that she was unreasonable was he?
No one offered a response. The meeting was dismissed and one by one they stood up exiting, leaving Amy, Andrew and herself.
"Well the meeting is over, you can now go and rest like you wanted." But she just sat there lazing, running her fingers through her book.
"I'm no longer interested."
"Seriously?" He stood up, walked a step and then turned to her.
"Anyways, see you in class tomorrow. Also prepare for our next meeting. I do not want to come call you again," he said walking out. Leaving her to glare at his back.
Amy stood up as well, running after him.
Next meeting. Ha. She could barely sit through this one without fighting herself for control. And he expects her to come for the next?
Her fingers resumed drumming over her note as she thought hard. She needed to stop them from holding anymore meetings. Her eyes brightened as an Idea came into her mind. It was the perfect plan.
Just then, she heard footsteps. A girl walked in, wassing her way through. She asked the group of other students about someone. It seemed no one provided her the answer she sought. She fished out her phone from pocket, putting a call through.
"That boy is a coward." She said, after no one picked from the other end. Her eyes landed on Rumie, widening slightly. Then, hurried away, as if chased by a ghost.
Rumie looked over her shoulders. There was no one behind her so why had she reacted the way she did? Or could there be some monsters in the walls?
There it was again. She facepalm herself. She really needed to get over her paranoia.
Just then her phone rang. She stepped out to take the call. It was her home Art tutor. Her finger hovered over the screen as she contemplated whether to answer or not.
"Rumy???" The voice of the middle-aged woman came through.
"Good day ma," she said quietly.
"Oh dear. I heard you never got the admission letter. How are you holding up?" She asked.
Rumie's voice choked as memories came into her mind. Finally, someone actually cared to ask about how she was feeling. She was not okay.
"I'm feeling bad, ma'am. I failed you even after the private lessons."
"Come on, don't say that. I saw your work myself. You have a talent far greater than me," Rumie swallowed.
She has heard this before, has been told, several times, the exact same line and she used to believe until now. If it was true, she wouldn't be here.
She looked around her surroundings, the place she was now trapped in.
"You are still good at your flatters, I'm grinning now." She said, wiping the single tears which escaped.
"Nonsense. I don't do flatters. I mean it Rum. You are that good."
"Then why didn't I get in?"
She heard her pause, as if contemplating what her next words should be.
"I don't need you to lie any further. And I don't need any more pity. I have gotten enough of those. My parents made sure,"
She closed her eyes as images of her parents' pitying gaze flash through her mind. The way they had been around her after learning that she had failed to get in still hunted her. Treating her like some delicate doll.
"I understand. I didn't call for that dear. I have a friend who works as an administrator in Art Lovers Esteemed School, So I mentioned you to her and she asked to see your work. I want you to prepare your best work." Rumie felt the world quieten
"You mean it?"
"Yeah."
"Wait, you are serious?" Her voice shook with excitement. Mrs laughed at her question.
"I won't be pulling your legs, silly."
"I will get back to you by next week."
"Alright. Take your time dear."
As the call ended Rumie practically jumped in excitement.
If Emy Art College was a council member then Art Lovers Esteemed School was the king with the crown. Admission was strictly by recommendation and 100 percent talent.
In her joy, she didn't notice someone coming towards her until she bumped into them. His hands hurried over, helping her regain her balance.
"Sorry," she apologised.
Rumie looked up to see the guy from earlier, the same one she saw in her dream. He maintained eye contact and then looked away.
The girl beside him tugged on his hand pulling him away before she could say another word. It was the same girl from earlier.
"You really can't help yourself and have to embarrass me?" She heard the girl scold.
Her face reddened. Her finger grazed over the place where he touched her. There was something about the way he had looked at her that got her heart racing.
And he was a human. She felt it in the air, when she bumped into him. So why had she dreamed about him?
"Hey Rumie, going somewhere?" She turned to see Gia. She was still in her uniform.
"Group study. I didn't get the chance to go change up," She explained when she noticed Rumie's eyes on them.
"Oh, okay. I was about to leave for the hostel, you?"
"Same. Let's go together." She nodded and they set off.
"So, how was it?" Rumie said, trying to start a conversation.
"What?"
"Your group study."
"Oh, it was interesting. I feel that I have been paired with the brainies. Like they all know everything but me. I hope to learn from them along the way. What about you? I saw you with your group earlier?"
"Yeah, they are okay. At least manageable for now." She shrugged.
"Really?"
"Yeah"
Just as they reached for their hostel gate, they heard commotions.
A blonde hair caught her eye, one she could tell from anywhere Ivan.