Kaivan was indeed the epitome of cool and detached. Even amidst the incessant questions and complaints about unwanted gifts that I barraged him with, his responses were minimal, curt even. His demeanor only fueled my frustration.
"So, what now?" I inquired.
Kaivan glanced over, querying, "What now?"
"Ugh, how do I stop seeing them? You must know what to do, Kai. Isn't that why we're meeting – to address this issue?"
"Yes, but I have no clue how to close your third eye. I'm neither a psychic nor a deity."
A pout formed on my lips, which seemed to effectively capture Kaivan's attention.
"Just go with it for now; perhaps it's your destiny to possess this gift," Kaivan offered.
I fell silent at his counsel. Given a choice, I would have preferred a different gift – intelligence or beauty perhaps. Something that could be exploited to make money or attain fame. This current "gift" I had made me feel borderline insane.
Sigh.
"Yura!"
Turning, I saw Nana waving at me. She looked puzzled to see Kaivan by my side.
"Your friend's here; I’ll leave. Remember what I told you," Kaivan called out, parting with advice that elicited from me a nod and a smile.
Nana took a seat beside me, eyes following Kaivan's departure, then tapped my arm.
"Since when?" she probed.
"Since when, what?"
"Don't play dumb, you and Kaivan, Kaivan! How come he's here, chatting with you?" Nana pushed for details.
"It wasn't a planned thing. He asked if I had class tomorrow, I said yes, and he unexpectedly joined me here from the library."
"What did you guys talk about?"
Nana was clearly itching to know the sequence of events with Kaivan. Yet nothing substantial had occurred besides Kaivan's assistance in the library, a fact I wasn't ready to divulge due to the implications of revealing my ability to see apparitions.
Revealing the truth now might draw ridicule or even concern for my sanity. So, for the time being, the nature of my gift remained a secret.
"Let's head to class. I don't want to arrive late, especially since I came in so early," I sidestepped the question, changing the subject.
"Hold on, you're saying you came early just to meet with Kai?" Nana inquired as we moved together towards our impending lecture.
"I came early, but not for him."
"I swear this is suspicious, I'm convinced you're hiding something," Nana remarked.
*Indeed\, I am hiding something – something I'm not ready to share with you or anyone else\, for that matter*.
The lecture proceeded smoothly, sans any demonic – or was it ghostly? - disruptions. Nana kept prying about Kaivan, and Mail was absent, grieving a deceased relative. I ended up in the cafeteria, Nana by my side as usual.
Technically, today's schedule had wrapped up and evening was inching closer. For some reason, I dragged my heels on going home, still unsettled by my parents' comments that morning.
"Unusual for you to dine here when you could just head home."
"I just fancy eating here, then it's straight to bed once home," I replied, enjoying my chicken soto, rice, and sweet iced tea. Nana's observations were spot-on; my current behavior was atypical.
Amid the meal, Refan appeared, predictably flanked by his lackeys. I wondered what on Earth kept them so loyal to follow him around.
"Look who's here, little sister Yura," Refan called out, sitting down. I offered a strained smile, and food.
"May I?" he asked, then added, "Feed me?"
Nana's irritation was visible at Refan's antics. I kicked her leg gently to signal her attention.
"If you want something, just order; I'm not into feeding games."
"There's a first time for everything. Perhaps I'm the first guy you'll feed, or maybe... the only special one," Refan flirted.
Disgusted by Refan's advances, I quickly finished my meal, as did Nana, both of us anticipating our early exit strategy.
"Oops, gotta run," I chimed in, avoiding Refan's gaze, busying myself with my bag and phone.
"In such a hurry, just when I ordered a meal for you to feed me."
"Heh, maybe someone else would like the honor. Or how about your two handsome sidekicks there," I retorted reflexively, to Nana's amusement.
Refan seemed irked by my taunt, which drew laughter at his expense. As I got up, my heart stopped for a moment at the sight beside Refan – that familiar, unsettling being, its hand reaching out towards me with such sorrowful eyes. Terrifying for me, nonetheless.
"Yuraa, help me."
Shaking my head, I refused the ghost's plea. The fear was all-consuming, the kind that leaves you petrified at the mere thought of being asked to "accompany it to hell."
"Hey, daydreaming? Changed your mind?" Refan interjected. "Playing hard to get, but deep down you want to," he joked crudely, supported by his cronies' laughter.
"Not funny," I snapped, the prior fear dissipating with Refan's insult. The specter still stood by him. Nana urged me to hurry out of the cafeteria, fearing my growing anger would only worsen the situation.
"Let's go," she suggested.
"Wait, why so hostile? You know you want to..."
"You're the one," my retort was muffled as Nana clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me away quickly, finally leaving the cafeteria.
"Are you insane, provoking Refan?"
"He just called me a bitch!"
"I've told you, ignore him," Nana advised.
I wasn't interested in arguing. I hadn't entertained Refan, only reciprocated minimally so he wouldn't persist with his cheesy lines. Far as vanity goes, I’m not, but Refan's interest in me was well documented – any girl he pursued at our university was instantly categorized as attractive.
It was an open secret that Refan was a player, and the mural of gossip (however that bird chirps) suggested many hearts bruised and battered in his wake.
"How are you getting home? You rarely drive, right?"
"Yeah, not feeling like driving lately. Taking a bike ride, though I need the restroom first," I said.
Nana checked her watch, likely having plans of her own.
"You okay to go ahead? My escape is imminent, just nature's call," I reassured her.
"Mind if I leave?"
Respecting her time constraints, I flashed a thumbs-up and made for the bathroom near us. Post-visit, I washed up, staring into the mirror when –
"Astaghfirullah," I gasped, ducking my head and cutting off the faucet.
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