FELIX

Like every other early mornings, I arrive at the entrance of the school wearing an elated mask to augment the bright yellow and white striped t-shirt, skinny jeans and backpack hanging over my shoulder – simple and effective.

And the first person I bump into is Xian.

"Hey Felix," he greets happily.

"Hey Xian," I respond softly.

Not that he should expect much from me, but, he obviously senses something is wrong. I want to play it casual, not to signal as much as a clue, although I'm sure he has already appraised my behaviour right from the minute the caught me coming from the distance. For Xian, he deciphers every tiny detail and manages to expose me red-handed, every time.

"I'm certain you got home late yesterday. Your dad—" I press my palm firmly across his mouth before he truly exposes me.

"Shush it! What is your problem?!"

He jerks my hand away but I still face him – just in case. The seriousness in his eyes only means one thing; I can't lie no matter how desperately I actually want to.

"You know what, Felix, I honestly don't get you. Everyone in this dumb school thinks your life is so perfect, whereas, the truth is you have more problems than most, if not all of them."

"And we should keep it that way." He allows us walk ahead towards the class buildings. As we go, he looks at me unusually in attempts to say something. I return the look. He's merely a few inches short, but his knowledge and boundless insight makes him seem like a giant in my eyes. On that note, I save him the struggle of holding back his thoughts. "Just say what you want."

He sighs. "I'll admit, I sometimes do get jealous of you. I mean, you're like everyone's favourite person. You're this great guy people want to be friends with, but then, when I remember what you go through, I can't help but feel bad."

I force a smile. "And that is why you're my best friend, buddy. You know everything about me, even my dirtiest secrets."

"So, what did your father do to you this time?"

"Do you have to ask like you don't know him?"

"It's your fault by the way. I asked you to come home with me yesterday, but heck no! Your so- called band rehearsals was more important."

"You know we have an event ahead to perform in, right?"

"Yeah. But why will you have to be so stubborn for this one concert?"

"This is not just one of those gigs I usually play when I'm bored. This is a competition! And you know Felix King has never backed down or lost a competition."

He rolls his eyes so scornfully, the sensation of guilt I get whenever he does it never grows old. Even his nerd glasses doesn't reduce the effect.

"My dad will get tired of it soon, I assure you," I tell him, avoiding to see his reaction which I'm certain is as caustic.

Not too long after, a freshman hurries towards our direction immediately he sees us coming.

"Let me guess, football practice?"

He guessed right. The boy was one of the fresh students who joined the football club after try-out. He did so well he got an approbation from our coach.

"Felix, coach has been looking all over for you," the lad speaks upon his arrival. "He told me to come fetch you, and no matter what it is you're doing can be done later."

"Tell him that I'm busy with school work and it can't be done later... or, just tell him I'll join him soon."

He obeys and scurries out of my sight.

I already figured why coach is searching for me. He's been wanting to push responsibilities and training sessions down my throat, what I have avoided for the past three years of after-hours training. Somehow, I managed to escape being the team's captain, but coach still wants me to take up a leadership role for the team one way or another. This guy just wants to have nobody to bother about, is that too much to ask?

So many times, I've tried to tell him leadership isn't my thing. Sadly, he does not take no for an answer. I turn to Xian and I can swear that he's been ogling at me all along.

"You're into so many things. Don't you ever get tired?" He breaks his silence.

"That is why I'm so famous and everyone loves me," I reply smugly, flashing him my signature Mr. Cool smile.

"There he goes again with that annoying smirk of his," he whispers ferociously. He is damn too tired of seeing that smile on my face anytime I want to feel on top of the world.

After grumbling and mumbling words I believe are epithets of his exasperations, he leaves me behind, as he does whenever he decides to just overlook my narcissistic tendencies. Otherwise he'd have a savage retort up his sleeves.

I laugh, fast pacing to catch up. "Take a chill pill, my good friend. I was joking."

While he is busy snubbing me, I suddenly recall not-so-special occasions with someone; classic 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop'. I have no idea why but wistful thoughts of her flash in my mind. Instead of trying not to entertain them, I look around the hallways with hopes that I see her by chance.

"By the way, Xian, have you seen Joey?"

"Why are you asking me about her?"

"I haven't seen her in a while. Why? Is it so bad to ask after my ex?"

"Yeah! I thought you have broken up with her." He never presents any form of interest when it comes to Joey, or any of the girls I have casually dated ever since our sophomore year. Actually, he was over the moon when he heard the news of our break-up.

"Well, yes I have, but she's still kind of a friend. Also, she is pretty cool about our break-up, and that is something I admire."

"Do you plan to get back together? Felix! Don't tell me you still have something going on with her!" He attunes to his offense-mode.

"Xian, our official guide book says, rule number one 'never go back to someone you have dated before'. That's just crazy!"

He sighs out of frustration. "I pray you'll date a girl that will bury you alive if you dare break her heart."

"That's a real bad prayer, my friend."

We pause at the entrance to the classroom but we choose not to go in, since apparently, there is no teacher around. I glimpse inside and sight some girls cooing teasingly, and meaninglessly, I fall right into the temptation to flirt back as I flick my hair to the side with a smirk directed at them.

"Ugh! Flirting this early in the day?" I hear Xian say behind me.

"Excuse me. These are my fans – and a few, my exes. I need my moment."

Rex, my football teammate, also the notorious brawny fella in our class known for getting into all sorts of trouble with teachers and students, as well as my dysfunctional friend, notices and waves at me. I wave back half-heartedly to give him some relevance then retract myself to face Xian, who is still standing there making moody faces.

"What?" I ask him.

The virulent glare on his face warns me that he is about to say something very unkind. I almost ask him to cheer up before his cheeks drop, or say anything else that's sarcastic so he'll loosen up a bit, right until Rex suddenly shows up.

Ugh! The worst time of my life has begun!

"Hey guys," he hollers.

"What's up?" I ask, tolerably waiting for him to just say what he wants to say and leave.

To be perfectly frank, a chat with Rex can be so energy-demanding. He's either saying the right things at the wrong time or vice versa.

"Felix is looking for a new girlfriend," Xian says out of the blue.

Instantly, I stare him down with my entire face desperately telling him to shut up.

"Holy shit! Are you serious?" Rex exclaims with his impish mouth inviting me to stab his throat with my pencil. "Damn it, Felix! You are like the number one playboy in this school! ! I gotta give it to you, you mastermind genius!"

"Rex, perhaps, don't let the whole school know we are on the hallway."

He is way too excited to even care. "But did you really break up with Joey?"

"Yeah, I did." I go with the flow. As annoying as Rex can be, he is still a friend. Guess if you can't beat them, you simply join them.

"Felix, you are my hero, man. Seriously, how do you do it? Now since you're looking for another girlfriend, why don't you try the girl that always sticks with Yvonne?"

"Huh!" Xian and I react.

"What's her name again? Um—"

"You mean Agnes?!" Xian answers.

"Yes! She's a real eyeful if you ask me."

Until today, never have I ever been this thrown off balance while standing on my own two feet. For all I know, my brain begins devising ways to leave this conversation any means possible.

"Look, Rex, in our official guide book of dating, rule number two, 'don't ever go after a girl who hates boys," I say sternly. "I mean, really, could you not think of anybody else other than Agnes Carter?!"

"She's the only girl in class you never dated."

"And there is a good reason why she is the only girl in class I never dated."

He laughs. "Don't tell me you're scared!"

"I'm not scared, Rex. Obviously. I am petrified! She won't cast a glimpse my way twice." This is exactly what I was afraid of, Rex talking rubbish or challenging me to do something imprudent. Meanwhile, Xian stands by my side, sniggering and mocking me silently.

"Hold up! Are you really scared of Agnes?!" He makes it sound like it's a big deal.

He doesn't get it, does he? Heck! Even the little archer called Cupid can't make Agnes fancy any boy in our class, much less one like me.

Before I say the next words on my mind to shut his mouth and end this ridiculous conversation, our coach appears in front of us.

"Is this what you are busy with?" The physically fit and grouchy man roars in my face.

Aren't I the unluckiest guy in the world?

My mood automatically changes for the worst. I never planned to have an awful day today, but the forces of the universe endow me with it on a silver platter.

"You had better come with me right now!" He orders and waits for me to leave first.

There goes my day. It just went from the frying pan to fire.

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