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{Chris' PoV:}

Finally, today is the first day of school. I'm in Grade 9 now and I know it is kind of hard. But scratch that, I'm more excited in seeing my friends again. We've went to so many family vacations that we didn't even have time to spend some time together.

I'm currently on our school's waiting shed, waiting for them. Minutes passed and I heard some people- or rather students arguing nearby.

"Oi! How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that!" Shouted a very shrill voice. And I know exactly who were they.

"Why do you care, huh? It's my own business so shut it. Eating is a wonderful thing, you know?" Jincarl said, irritatingly.

"The more you eat, the more you'll get fat, you nitwit!" Ian shouted back at him as if he wanted to strangle Jincarl to the very end of his bones. Fortunately, Maxeene was able to cut them off.

"Oi, you two. We're still not in school, yet you're fighting already?" Maxeene said while laughing, as she put an arm across the two's shoulder. In response, the two boys glared at each other and stopped talking. Maxeene was always the fight breaker between the two. She'll always get in the way when these two get heated with anger. Honestly, I don't know why Ian and Jincarl are still friends despite them always arguing. I guess it's because of love...?

Anyway. I smiled as I saw the three figure approaching before me. I waved at them, signaling that I am there.

"Dudes! Over here!" I called out to them. When they heard me, they blinked twice and came running to me like a kid who got lost and found his mother afterwards.

"Chriiiiiiiis!" The three cried and hugged me tight. Tighter than I expected.

"H-Hey... I-I can't breathe..." I said between breaths. But they kept their position still.

"Ahh. I've missed you so much!" Max said with a sigh of relief.

"Us too!" Jincarl and Ian said in unison.

"Y-yeah... I know... Me too... But can you please let go of me! I can barely breathe!" I barely shouted at them. Eventually, they let go, sweatdropping. I tried to catch my breath from what it is before giving them a playful glare.

"Haha, sorry Chris. We couldn't control ourselves." Ian said, embarrassed.

"Pfft. It's fine! You know I'll do the same thing to you guys later, right?" And with that, a wide smirk plastered on my face making them gulp.

Not long after, our other friends came. Bryan, Ran, Toby and Kida. We headed inside our school, going to our designated classrooms. And it seemed like luck is on our side. We are all in the same section! There's nothing more better than that!

{Time Skip}

It's finally lunch time. Our first and second subjects are not that bad for Monday. We have a new teacher and it seems like our adviser during our Grade 8 days is still the same.

"I wonder if things will be the same too." I thought to myself while eating my packed lunch on my desk. My friends are busy buying foods on our cafeteria. And our cafeteria is on the first floor and we're on the third floor so I'm too lazy to descend the stairs without company.

My mind are still bothered with so many hypothesis and conclusions starting from the first ring of the bell. There are so many strange things that happened. We have a new teacher but he can't keep a smile on his face. More like, he's an emotionless type of guy.  And when I look into his eyes, it's filled with a straight bloodlust aura. Although I'm the only who has been noticing it lately. Second, there are new subjects added that is peculiar to an  innocent human mind. For example, we have a textbook that is filled with stories. At first, I thought it was our literature subject but no, it is filled with stories of murder and crimes. I don't why but I'm starting to feel strange.  And not just that, we have a transfer student who is all gloomy and quiet. He haven't spoken a single word once, ever since the classes started. His figure is rather tall and a bit frail, to boot. He has the perfect skin tone; not too tanned and not too white. The typical boy that girls would immediately fall in love with. Though, I knew that there is something odd about him. Or maybe it's just me being judgemental...?

These thoughts. These undying thoughts still rang through my head even though my friends would distract me from it. I thought it stopped but I was wrong. I guess I can't hide the fact that they're still there. And I guess I'll still suffer the same thing I suffered before. But I won't mind. I am already used to it anyway.

~*~

Classes ended and we're back to our usual routine: To hang-out under our Mystery Tree. We have claimed this tall, big tree as ours when we became friends. This tree holds a lot of memories and we can't just leave it behind. This where we shared our sorrow, happiness, craziness and even the slightest things that happened to us in a day. That's how we are open to each other. Except for me, I am in fact always hiding something from them. There's just things that I can't bring myself to tell them. Like for example, the things that I have observed this day, I just can't tell them that. And I know I will keep them to myself, for now.

But I know, it is rather too early for conclusions.  It is too early to think what is going to happen in the near future. I don't want to happen the same thing before. And all this, it's just another pile of drafts and outlines that are waiting to be arranged and be finished.

Besides, we can still enjoy this. The moments of us together before the time comes.

And also, I hate being conclusive.

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Yo! So how was it? Is it too confusing? If it is, it is a good thing! Why? Well, you'll find out soon enough. This story involves drama, gore, and major plot twists, to spoil you.

Please stay updated tuned and read it more so you will know the beginning of the beginning.

Please comment below what you think before proceeding to the next chap. Thank you! Buh-bye~