The Wheel of Fortune

~

The first thing Zen did when she stepped into the bus was keep her line of vision straight. Her legs moved on their own, as if controlled by an external force, like a character in a video game, manipulated by someone beyond the screen. Her target was an empty double seat in the fifth row, right side of the bus. Zen smoothly navigated to her chosen seat and settled into it.

She wished there was a button to skip the less interesting parts, similar to how players might skip story segments, except of course this wasn't a game but real life and what is real life if not a bunch of stories woven together to create this one hundred years long series-or less than a fifty if your luck runs out-not to mention, it also included a special package which would allow you to unlock several adventures based on your choices but no map/guide to assure which path led to the right one. And unfortunately, little naive Zen had a habit of making very poor decisions in her life.

One was when she decided to help Raine-the bigoted homophobe who was sitting on the second row, left side of the bus.

She knew a big bomb had been planted the moment she was told their department was organising a joint trip between the architecture and civil students, but now that she saw Raine there, the bomb had most likely exploded. To tackle this big issue, the least she'd hoped the university would do for this pre-planned interaction was provide two buses for transportation to separate the two departments, but no. They'd provided just one claiming the other buses were reserved for other departments whose trips coincided on the same day.

Three trips had been scheduled for that particular industrial visit to make sure no students were left out, and Zen just happened to be on the first batch. The other batches had their visits scheduled for later dates. But to have Raine on the first batch too? What are the odds? That wasn't what she prayed for. Was anyone up there even listening to her prayers? Perhaps the smoke from the incense sticks she burnt day and night the past few days failed to reach the realm of the Gods.

Zen gazed out the window, taking note of the gloomy weather. She half-wished for a storm, hurricane combined. Maybe the trip would be cancelled then, she wished, her mood dampening even more. And with no Lin to keep her company either, she was all alone.

Why did Lin get to be on the second batch? Why not me? Zen quietly stole a glance at the homophobe who appeared to be chattering with a couple of who she assumed were his friends, his lips curling into a smile every now and then. Oh how the devil can cite scriptures for his purpose, she mused, remembering that Shakespearean line. If only his friends knew what he was truly like underneath. After she felt his eyes boring through her soul like he had a thousand poisoned daggers aimed at her back when she climbed on the bus, he sure as hell was doing a great job at pretending she didn't exist at the moment.

-~-

"Hey, Raine. Any idea who that girl is? Seems to be from the department of architecture," Sean said, putting an arm up to lean against the seat as he sat reversed on the bus, facing Raine who was a seat behind him.

"Who're you talking about?" Raine questioned, taking a sip of liquid from his bottle. He noticed Sean lifting his chin forward in a split-second movement as if directing him to the object of his attention. He'd almost choked on his half-swallowed water when he turned to catch a view of the said individual. Of all people, why Zen?

"Her?" he questioned Sean, almost disbelieving.

"Yes, her."

"Her?" Raine emphasized. "Of course, her," he concluded sarcastically.

"Yes. I mean she looks like a model. That hair looks good on her, man," Sean said. "Do you know her?"

"Look, she's not who you think she is." She's a man. Raine restrained himself from saying the last few words out loud.

"So, she a friend of yours?" Sean asked, his hand diving into his seatmate's bag to swipe a pair of headphones without even asking for permission.

"No," Raine answered, his voice holding a tinge of indifference. "No. Just someone I met at a store a while back."

"The same day you came back all banged up, claiming you lost my cigarettes because you fell in the dark?"

"Yes, that day. She's the cashier."

"Oh. Did you ask for her number?"

"Whatever for?"

"To talk. Maybe if you talked to a girl, you wouldn't act so stuck up."

A chuckle escaped the person seated next to Raine before a sharp glare silenced him. "Nevermind," he mumbled, turning his attention to the outside landscape, an incoherent hum escaping his lips.

"I'm not interested," Raine retorted.

Sean persisted, "Why not? She's good-looking."

"I... don't like her."

"You're saying it like that, but there's more than meets the eye. You both even match, same-colored shirts."

"Just a coincidence," Raine spat.

"It's hard to believe nothing is going on considering you've met her before," Sean said, his eyes erratically staring at Zen as he spoke. "Not a single glance this way," he said as if expecting Zen to realise that they were checking her out. "Wait, she's putting a jacket on. Why? Covering up 'cause you guys are wearing the same colour? You say you don't like her, but why do I feel like it's the other way around? There's something you're not telling me."

"What?" Raine cocked his head to the side, catching Zen in the act as she pulled on a blue jacket over her white shirt. Does he really despise wearing the same colour as me? For some unknown reason, an insatiable urge to rip that jacket off of Zen consumed his being. Somehow, he couldn't stomach the thought of her hating him. Raine brought his attention back to Sean who was still ogling Zen and hollered, "Sean, if you're not going to use those headphones, then why'd you even take them?"

"Chill, man. I'm gonna use it to block off the noise when the bus runs. I have motion sickness, you know, and noise worsens my anxiety."

With an eye roll and a slump, Raine settled back in his seat. "Just face forward and quit talking," he muttered to Sean.

"Sure thing, jerk." Sean stuck out his tongue before reverting his attention to the road ahead. "Just five more minutes. Kai's late," he muttered to himself.

-~-

"Sorry, is this seat taken?"

Zen didn't catch the voice the first time. She was too busy looking out the window and zoning out to notice who'd invaded her private space. She'd almost jumped in alarm when the person slightly grazed her shoulders to get her attention. "Huh?" she gasped in surprise, and shut up immediately when she saw who it was.

Kai? Zen had been too busy conjuring up unlikely scenarios sure to ruin the trip in her head that she failed to notice Kai approaching her. Her eyes quickly toured the bus for any sign of unoccupied seats and found her seat was the only one that had room for one more passenger. "I came late. Do you mind if I sit with you?" Kai asked, his breath slightly laboured. Had he sprinted here?

"Yeah, sure," Zen answered without even knowing she'd answered. Good thing her brain had auto-pilot mode for this kind of situation. Swiftly, she retrieved her backpack from the seat next to her, placing it on her lap to make space. Shuffling closer to the window, she silently arranged herself to accommodate Kai.

The next thing she knew, Kai plopped down right next to her. He squirmed a little to adjust to his seat and that was when Zen caught it-a whiff of his cologne. The scent carried an earthy note, evoking images of a lush green rainforest, drenched by an autumnal shower. It was as if the fragrance captured the essence of ripe fruits tumbling to the forest floor, and mingling with the damp soil.

Zen would be lying if she said she wasn't enchanted by his scent. But that was not all she found attractive about him. She also liked the way his black trousers clung to his frame. The fit was impeccable, not overly snug but enough to reveal the graceful curve of his limbs, showcasing his long legs.

"Thanks," she heard him say. "You're Zenjee, right? From my class?" he questioned, and Zen found herself nodding even before her mind could register her action. "I'm Kai." He went on before she had the chance to respond. "Do you have water on you? I'm really thirsty."

Without a word, Zen took out a water bottle from her bag and handed it to Kai. She willed her mind to look away, but her eyes stubbornly slid to the side and observed the rare specimen in utmost fascination. The way his fingers casually gathered his voluminous hair and wiped the sweat from his brow using the back of his hand before bringing the bottle to his lips like he was doing an ad for a soft drink company left nothing to the imagination. If in fact, he was shooting for a commercial, he'd have no need for makeup to hide his flaws, no requirement for eyeliner to make his eyes look more defined for the camera, and no post-production editing to sculpt his features into perfection.

Her mouth was dry as her eyes travelled in slow motion from the veins running up his hand to his knuckles clutching the bottle to his lips as he closed his eyes and gulped the fine liquid down his throat-the rhythmic movement conveyed by his prominent Adam's apple. Not a detail escaped Zen's notice, not even the stray droplets that slipped past his lips, trickling beneath the collar of his deep blue shirt.

Zen had to admit Kai was God-looking beyond words. To share a seat with someone like him-she felt so invisible in his presence.

Zen quietly observed as Kai wiped his mouth and sealed the bottle. She hastily redirected her attention elsewhere. The bus had started moving a while ago and all she tried to do was focus her eyes on the road, the buildings, hell even the squirrel taking a dump under the tree that they just passed by - anything but Kai.

"Here." Kai offered, extending the bottle toward her. Zen looked his way as she retrieved the bottle from him with a dubious expression, deciding against answering him or starting any random conversation. Knowing her poor communication skills, she was sure to slip in some unnecessary words to make Kai feel uncomfortable, thereby successfully making a fool out of herself, and that was the last thing she needed.

"Thanks, again," Kai said to her, but this time with a smile. Something in her stomach stirred. In response, a smile tugged at her own lips. The weight in her chest seemed to ease. At least someone was appreciative. Maybe the trip won't be so bad after all.

~-~

Sean's gaze shifted back from the pair lost in their own world. "They're getting cosy," he observed, his tone laced with curiosity. "She must know Kai. Look at those smiles they're exchanging. How come Kai never brought her up?" he asked Raine, reaching his hand out to pull at his shirt when the latter ignored him.

"Doesn't concern me," Raine muttered, resting his head back on his seat, eyes slipping shut. "Let me sleep."

"Something is going on. And I will find out, Raine."