In this chapter italic indicates flashback.
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DY GRIMONY'S POV
"I just noticed, Miss V.P..."
"What is it, Lila?"
"You keep glancing at President Ish... Hmm... do you like him?"
"You want a sunbur—?"
"You know, you guys look good together~"
I gave her a displeased look, but it didn't faze her at all. Is she really this clueless?
The others had already left and I was about to go too when Lila blocked my path. This bird-shifter really must have a death wish. Maybe, she wants to become fried chicken?
"What did you eat to make you think that ridicu—?"
"Fried chicken?"
Wow. She seriously thought about what she ate?
I rolled my eye balls as I spoke again. "What you're saying is impossible. I don't like him—" but she cut me off again.
"What's that stage of love called again?"
"Stage of what?"
"I forgot! Wait! Lemme remember. Hmm... Dial stage? Nah. Dialing stage? No. What was it again? Aha! Denial Stage! That's it! You're so smart, Lila!" she said to herself while dancing.
Denial stage?
Wait—side note, what dance is that? Is that the new trend these days?
"Whatever! I'm leaving—"
Before I could leave, she blocked the gate.
"And where are you going?"
"A place called 'none of your business'."
"Why not? Don't tell me... you're going to see the President of your heart?"
President of my what?!
"Huh? You crazy? That's so cringe!"
"Ayieeee~ getting flustered? Someone's catching feelings," she nudged me gently in the ribs. "Your long blonde hair's really showing, girl! And your future boyfie is seriously handsome!"
Is it me who's flustered, or her?
I just ignored her. I left her with her theories and imagination.
"Aw... ignoring me now?"
I was walking out of the gate when the wind suddenly blew hard. Fallen leaves were swept up into the air. I followed their path with my eyes.
They danced, carried by the wind, toward the pond.
"Wait—is that Ish?" Lila pointed at a figure sitting under a tree with black leaves. "It is Ish!"
Ish was facing away from me—uh, us. Based on the tilt of his head, he wasn't looking at the pond but out at the sea. The view of the ocean is beautiful from this high area of our school.
I wonder what Ish is thinking right now? He must have something on his mind. I mean... he didn't even bother to remove the leaf that landed on his head. Jeez.
ISH MOTRANGA'S POV
Aphrody.
That should have been Dy's name? Then what about mine?
"This afternoon, write an essay about the origin of your name. Write it in your notebooks."
Wait—Seriously? I'm having a flashback?; For real?
"Mr. Motranga, why haven't you started?"
Why would I even ask about my name's origin? I don't even know the names of my biological parents!
The name "Ish" was given to me by Mama Vic and Papa Ekong when they saw it embroidered on the clothes I was wearing.
The kid they found couldn't talk, so it wasn't easy for them to help. That kid... was me.
I don't remember much about that day. What I do remember is the first time my exskill appeared—Personification.
Because of that exskill, I ended up with Mama Vic and Papa Ekong. That cursed power showed up when I wasn't ready!
I accidentally mimicked the appearance of a street kid... maybe that's why my parents didn't recognize me and my personification took too long to wear off.
It came out weird too—usually extraordinary skills or exskills, manifest when a kid is in kindergarten. Mine came out way earlier.
Mama Vic and Papa Ekong brought me to an orphanage. They visited often and eventually decided to adopt me.
The only thing I had was that name—though I don't even know if "Ish" was really mine.
"Who am I, really?" I asked my bracelet.
This bracelet—I've worn it since I was a kid. I never took it off, hoping that if my real parents ever saw it, they'd recognize me.
I've worn it for 16 years. I also found out it's fireproof, because as a kid I'd often catch fire.
"Your parents left you because they didn't love you!"
"Oh, yeah? You wanna go?"
"Ouch! Why'd you punch me?! I'm telling Mama and Papa!"
Because I'd often ignite, the clothes I was wearing when Mama and Papa found me got burned. That shirt could've held clues to my identity but still I'm thankful that at least the bracelet didn't burn. Turns out it's a rare item. Most people don't own something like this—it's expensive too.
"Why do you have powers when your Mama Vic and Papa Ekong doesn't have any?"
"You weren't told? Ish is adopted."
"What? Adopted? HAHAHAHA!"
"Poor Mama Vic and Papa Ekong. No exskills, outcasts of society. Hahaha!"
"Ligimut Oyak! Otsug oyn bayilgam?!" (Shut up. You want to burn.)
"See?! He's a son of criminals! His real parents are criminals!"
"Let's stay away from him!"
I'm 16 now, I keep telling myself I'm over it that I don't care... but deep down... there's still a part of me longing to know my real parents.
There's always... something... missing...
Where did I come from? Who am I? Which of my parents did I inherit the flame-throwing and personification from? Who do I look like? Do I have siblings?
I have so many questions.
"Why're you out here alone?" I was startled when Dy suddenly appeared beside me.
She's been here this whole time?!
"I don't have to explain," I tried to sound stoic.
Keyword: tried.
I mentally scolded myself for sounding so aloof. This emo phase is annoying!
"Really?" She tilted her head and sat down on the grass. "Tearing up?"
Tearing up?
I was surprised by her question and immediately wiped my eyes.
Damn it! I didn't even realize I had teared up a bit? The drama! So embarrassing! She actually saw that?
"I—it's just sand in my eyes. I-it's nothing..." I lied.
"That excuse is so cliche," She shook her head and smiled. "Got something bothering you? If you need someone to talk to, I'm here."
What?
"We're friends, right?"
Am I hearing things?
Do I have earwax?
Or maybe a bug flew into my ear?
Dy? Called me a friend?
I blinked several times.
"Are you sick?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're being... nice."
She was surprised. "We're not friends?"
"I don't know? Feels like... we're not?"
She went quiet as I picked up a small stone tossing it into the pond. The koi fish swam up to the white stone thinking it was food.
Sorry koi, I didn't bring bread. Like you, I'm also hungry but good thing there are fruit trees in campus. At least there's something to eat.
I don't want to do this, but I have to. I need to follow Rin's advice.
"So your name was supposed to be Aphrody, but Aunt Liz shortened it to 'Dy'."
"Huh?"
I'm pathetic! But... I need this. I need someone to talk to... even if it's Dy.
"Ish, to ease the pain... you have to let it out... don't bottle it up... it's like a fart... it'll give you a stomachache if you hold it in..."—Rin
Damn! Why did I remember that?! Gross!
"Your name is beautiful."
After a while, she seemed to understand what I was going through.
"Thanks. You know... 'Ish' is a beautiful name too. I'm sure your real mother gave you that name."
I turned to her, surprised by what she said. This girl—being kind for once? She complimented my name? Is this for real?
I shrugged. "My adoptive parents gave me that name." I took an apple from my pocket and took a bite. "Want one?"
She nodded. I took another apple and gave it to her.
"Thanks. Anyways, I'm sure your mother gave you that name. It was on your shirt, right?"
"How did you know?"
She smiled and lightly punched my arm. It didn't hurt, but it stung a little.
"You forgot already?"
"My name was given to me by my real parents! Look at my shirt! It says 'Ish', right?"
Oh right... I used to brag about that shirt to the bullies, but...
"You believed me? But... I was just a kid back then..."
"I believed you because I had a strong feeling you were telling the truth."
"Thanks. That really helped. I misjudged you. Sorry, I thought you were really mean, but I guess... you have a kind side too."
Now I feel guilty for how I saw Dy. She actually has a heart? I really like this side of her. The kind, not-so-mean side. I wish she could always be like this.
"Do you think... my real parents are looking for me? Do you think they want to find me?"
That question... always haunts me.
"I can't answer that but what I can do... is give you a hug."
I was a bit shocked when Dy suddenly hugged me.
Her embrace... it was so calming... so... familiar...
To be continued...