World After Worlds

"You can't do this Kraig, stop treating me so well," a small voice of a girl sounded in a lull dallied on Tiana's ear. Tiana was talking to one of her friends. It was the beginning of the second semester, some were glad that they were classmates, some were sad that they had been separated from their friends. One of them was Yanarym who seemed to rush in here to talk with Kraig. Tiana could not take her eyes off of the two. Last semester, it was always them who were together, this time the transfer student was separated from Yanarym. "Make some pals here, stop hanging around me already," Yanarym said in a silent protest but her tone was without a doubt betraying her words.

"Why are you being negative?" He laughed softly and smiled at her with a reassuring pat on the head, "You are my friend, and you were there when I needed someone the most. How can you say it like I would forget you exist?" Yanarym raised her head and stared at Kraig's confident and charming smile.

"You won't forget?" Her eyes fluttered in happiness but her lips remained stern, after realizing her short burst of true emotion, she hid her expression to jade. "Stop saying blank fibs, it's troublesome if I believe you."

"In what way?" Kraig widened the curl of his lips and gently stroked his palm over her shiny hair. As if he was appeasing a moody pet. "I like trouble, Rym. You won't be a problem at all." Her countenance softened and let him pat her casually. "Let's eat lunch together, what do you say?"

She paused; Tiana thought Yanarym would say no. Because Lyndon was in the same class as her, they had an early break. Lyndon complained about it to her because they can't have lunch together for a while. Meaning if Yanarym agreed, she had to wait for hours for Kraig. Tiana stared at Kraig and wondered if he was not aware of Yanarym's schedule and eventually shrugged the idea off. It was not like Kraig was intentionally making Yanarym wait for him, right?

"I don't know," Yanarym answered reluctantly, just as Tiana presumed, Yanarym liked reading books at the library, and waiting for hours at the cafeteria where many people were all around was unlike her.

"It would be good if we remain the same although we no longer have the same subjects, don't you think so?" Kraig probed innocently.

"A-alright," seeing his amused expression, Yanarym could not repudiate and agree without much thought of it. "I'll wait."

"Great, I've got something to give you too, you will like it." His lips stretched happily and seemed to be pleased how Yanarym acted so enthralled.

"Um," Yanarym nodded and stayed quiet for a while. "I… think I should return to my class or I'll be late."

"Sure. See you later." He said to her and she glanced at him quickly before running to the left hall. Tiana casually shifted her eyes to her friend who was telling stories regarding her summer vacation out of town. This 'friend' of hers knew Tiana was announced as an azkin, she could not leave the town. Hearing her tone, Tiana could discern that she was trying to make her envious. What a good friend she had.

"Hi," Tiana approached Kraig who was alone at his seat. She knew he was a lonely transfer student; he was associating with the gloomy daughter of the terror professor. He had not conversed with anyone other than Yanarym, which made him look interesting. "You dropped this," she extended her arm and handed him the pendant that jumped from his pocket when he walked to her location. His eyes fell on her; Tiana smiled widely, receiving his amicable stares. How did Yanarym manage to be friends with such a gorgeous and friendly man? Tiana wondered. Was Kraig being fooled by Yanarym's disastrous beauty? People from the outside of the town were mostly clueless about how unfortunate they would become if they related themselves with the likes of Yanarym.

As a good citizen, Tiana thought she should give Kraig a warning to set distance to Yanarym; it was not smart to hang around a woman like that. Also, she thought it would be a waste if a man— Kraig who had radiant righteousness, be with a dark flower like Yanarym. That girl was vile and secretive. She knew that because Lyndon was almost similar to Yanarym's temperament, they do not like people interfering with their life. They were hard to please and always saw themselves above anybody else. They treat themselves as if they were deities of this land—unworthy of anyone else.

Tiana showered Lyndon with her company because she pities him for being alone. In addition, she may not utter it in an apparent way but she liked the privilege she had upon getting close to him. At some point, she knew she liked Lyndon more than a friend but the thought did not last long because before she could even cultivate her feelings for him. Kraig came and overshadowed Lyndon's dreary self. She was curious at first; Tiana accidentally wandered her eyes and saw Yanarym smiling happily with Kraig's accompaniment. Then, she found herself being drawn to Kraig's gentleness, unconsciously wanting to be near his captivating air. A few more days observing, she concluded that Yanarym was not worthy enough to take for granted that young man's life. Tiana wanted to get close to Kraig. She was looking for a way to talk to him, even just a small conversation. She wanted to be in his life and maybe, replace Yanarym's place.

The other semester just began, Lyndon and Yanarym were not part of the class, and students were evasive of Kraig because he was friends with Yanarym, but Tiana paid close attention to him. It did not take weeks, just two days; she found a way to talk to him. He just finished talking to Yanarym at the front door, and she brought him some books for the next class. When he was striding in her direction, he was putting a thing in his back pocket when he pulled out his hands. It fell off; no one saw that except for her. Tiana took the opportunity given to her to start a conversation with him, her first step to getting close to him. She was nervous at first. She thought he would coldly snub her because they were not friends, they never talk. So, she thought, Yanarym would not want Kraig to anybody other than her. After all, Tiana had the impression that Yanarym was a selfish person, and very greedy. Tiana did not like her but because everyone thought she was a good girl, she had to live up to the people's expectations. She can't be greedy or at least show people she was greedy, she had to act proper and prim. Smile at anything life or people throws at her whether it was bad or good, she had to submissively accept it. When she thought of it, the more bitter she felt for Yanarym who could have and do anything she wanted in life, while her, Tiana had no choice but to live to please everyone who surrounded her.

"Thanks," Kraig took the pendant in her hand.

She was about to say another word but saw Lyndon in the corner of her eyes, glaring in their direction. She instinctively stepped back from Kraig, she did not make it obvious, and casually smiled at him before running in Lyndon's direction. She was a people pleaser, although she hated that characteristic of her, it was hard to just forget or ignore what she was. She was terrified by the thought that if she became true to herself, no one would remain at her side. It was frustrating, scary and even though she was surrounded by people, she always felt alone.

"I warned you to not get close to that person," Lyndon with a dominating voice said, his expression was ugly and not delighted on what had greeted him after coming a long way to see her. "He's dangerous, Tiana."

Tiana smiled as a response, Lyndon would not listen to a word she would say anyway, why bother explaining things to him?  "What brings you here?" She asked enthusiastically, Lyndon stared at her with a heavy gaze and nonchalantly handed her a paper bag. "What's this?" He did not answer her; instead, he turned around and left her on the door. Tiana retrained her timid expression upon receiving Lyndon's blatantly ignoring; she was used to it but recalled how Kraig treated Yanarym earlier. She felt it was unfair, why can't Lyndon treat her better if he liked her? She had been bullied long enough by him, why can't he just open up to her?

She turned around to go back to her seat and accidentally met Kraig's eyes, he was not looking away. Although he had a sympathetic expression on his face and complacent smile, the darkness of his eyes' glints of playfulness caused a tide in her. Was it bad to think that the grass is greener on the other side?