Chapter 08: Secrets Unveiled
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David and Kiara shared a computer.

There were lots of students (not from Kadic Academy because there’s already 2 computer labs with a hundred computers. Renovations for the third computer lab start today). Mainly, the students were from Cross Academy, a rival school just blocks away. Unlike Kadic Academy, Cross Academy is still an old-school. It doesn’t have ‘specialized toilets’ or 3 huge computer labs like Kadic Academy. It doesn’t have much of modern technology inside it which Kadic Academy has. Though it is an older school, Cross Academy is not intending to renovate or modernize its buildings or equipments.

“God. Even the cheerleaders are nerds!” Kiara whispered loud enough for David to hear.

They had quite a hard time finding for at least one computer. Kiara had earlier complained to Jason (when they were walking to the public library) about doing the ‘searching job’ in the school’s very own library and computer labs which is many times bigger but NO! Why? Because someone doesn’t want to be seen in a library. And that someone is called Jason Kingston.

“A jock in a library? C’mon. People will think that the world has turned upside down because of this strange phenomenon which is me being in a library,” Jason pointed out.

“But you like reading?” Tiadora asked.

Jason hesitated for a moment, took a quick glance at Kiara and David, and winked at Tiadora. That wink reminded her of Sir Lancelot. He had taught her on communicating silently and one of them was to wink, so she understood him. It amazed her that people of the 21st Century still uses it.

Since there were no extra chairs, Kiara and David shared a seat. Kiara didn’t like the feeling of being high and mighty with David by taking the whole chair to her and David felt the same way. The internet wasn’t helping at first because when David typed in the Yahoo search engine, ‘Anastasia’, there were many links for the Disney cartoon movie called Anastasia.

“Being stuck at one computer won’t help! Why must there be so many Cross Academy students?!” Kiara complained again.

“I blame the school,” David answered her.

Kiara sighed. Even with Kiara, David never talked much. If he did, it’ll be only a few words or something about the secrets of the dark which Kiara doesn’t like to hear as it gives her the creeps. She always tried to make conversation like about fashion or gossips but just like Kiara, David doesn’t wish to hear about it either. It was a disappointment that both felt guilty of because they were once best friends, close comrades, childhood playmates.

“David, I’m planning to join the squad,” Kiara finally said it.

David’s eyes were still glued to the computer, expressionless, clicking on every possible link. Kiara could tell that he wasn’t please. David always had a thing for cheerleaders. When he was just 4th grade, he accidentally spilled a jug full of mango juice on the cheerleading captain’s suit, minutes before the Cheer Regional. The girl was drenched from head to toe because David was on a stool selling mango juice for his class. The captain never got a chance to participate in the finals which was her very last competition. She was so pissed that the following cheers that the squad did, ended with a jeering cheer for David.

The cheerleaders made bad comments about David through their cheers which everyone in the school would hear. Being a laughing stock, David was often bullied by the cheerleaders and their jock boyfriends. Kiara always tried to make the effort to fight back with comebacks but she was only in 4th grade too. However, instead of being bullied with David, the cheerleaders soon grew to admire Kiara’s ability to do magnificent stuns during her gymnastics classes. They recommended her to join the squad but Kiara never did because she didn’t want to be like them.

Unluckily for David, it wasn’t a good thing. The cheerleaders always had a way of making him feel miserable till today. So ever since that day, he tried hiding in the shadows, lonely and isolated from the world, thinking how cruel it is to be cursed with miserable experiences. That was when he met Hector, a guy who lured him into believing things about the dark side and being silent, separated from the world. Believing that it will help him, he joined the Goth club and became a Goth, something Kiara would resent on.

Though it has been years ago, juniors of the squad has since been pestering him, especially since he’s Goth now. He was a loner, someone without someone. Kiara tried hard to talk to him but he shields her out of his way. It was like this until the ‘Athlete Twins’ came, Jason and Cornelia Kingston.

“Congrats,” David said it with no expression.

“C’mon. At least look at me like you mean it..” Kiara pleaded.

“I don’t mean it,” David snapped back.

Kiara looked down, sad. She always wanted to be in the squad but not like this. Maybe things will be different since now he’s friends with Jason. Jason? Does David treat him as a friend in the first place?

“I don’t understand you. Why are you distancing from me ever since you became Goth? Did I do anything wrong?” Kiara asked him loud enough for him to hear but soft enough for the silence.

“There’s a link about a Sapphire crystal..” David said instead while Kiara interrupted.

“Don’t change the subject! Just because some cheerleader gave you some attitude a long time ago, that doesn’t mean that you can treat me like a total stranger!”

David read from the screen, “The Sapphire, which was found in the caves of Southern Iceland, was known for..”

“God! Are you even listening to me?”

“..it’s magnificent purpose in the past, which was as early as the 16th Century..”

“Stop looking at the screen and tell me why you are like this to me?!” she twisted her body so that her head was covering the screen.

David still had the same expression as just now. Kiara couldn’t sense any anger or sadness in him at all. It was getting difficult for her.

“In case you weren’t listening to me, there is something about the 16th Century that might be helpful to Tiadora. Can you help me call them please?” David said after a long moment of silence.

“Despicable!” Kiara seethed before heading towards the History section to find Jason and Tiadora.

After Kiara was out of sight, David lowered his head down and banged it against the monitor gently, whispering what he felt inside.

“I’m sorry”