“Dating?” Elsie barged into Cade’s room like a raging bull. “How dare you put a label on our ill-fated relationship?”
Cade raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry. But I did that to make our mission smooth sailing.”
“Care to explain, Robertson?” She called his name like a curse.
“Firstly, we can stick together with no issues. Secondly, did you see Stan’s reaction? He was pissed. It means he’s not in favor of us. That should make you happy. Lastly, I can make it an excuse to keep you here in case someone finds out.”
“Brilliant,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “I’m not happy at all because you hurt the feelings of my friend.”
“Who?”
“Lily. She adores you.”
“She… adores me? Why?”
“Clearly, she has a nasty taste in boys.”
Cade reminisced about the memories he had with Lily. She was clumsy but bubbly. Her stupidity exceeded his expectations, but she was authentic and nonchalant. He could not forget what she said at the fountain. “Your wish has already been granted, Curt. Someone out there accepts who you are. Even the parts of you that are unlikeable. That person is here all along. You just kept your eyes shut.”
A little smile formed on his lips. “She’s cute.”
“What is that behavior? Don’t tell me you are fond of her. Oh, please. Not my Lily.”
Cade untied his necktie. “Take it easy. She’s not the person I like. Geez.”
“What are you doing?”
“Changing my clothes.”
“Stop! Can’t you see I’m here? Show some respect.”
“Oh. I didn’t see you as a woman. My bad.” He grinned. “It’s my room. Where else should I do this?”
“Ugh!” Elsie locked herself in the bathroom and cussed through the air.
‘She sees me as a man, then?’ Cade thought.
“The hall director is coming!” Cade stiffened when someone yelled outside. He immediately panicked. “The hall director? Why so sudden?”
“What’s going on?” he asked Theo.
“There’s an inspection.”
Every Friday, the hall director would inspect their rooms to check if the boys were following the rules. The old man was a disciplinarian and keen on their misbehavior.
“Inspection? But it’s Tuesday.” Cade was anxious.
“Maybe someone caught his attention. You know he takes immediate action when someone seems suspicious.”
Cade moved at the speed of light and locked the door of his room.
“What are you doing?” Elsie grunted when Cade dragged her inside his closet.
“Shh. Do not move. Stay here. Don’t make a sound. The hall director is coming. If he finds you here, we’re dead.” He covered her with his clothes and arranged his coats to hide her body.
“Curtis Fleming.” Cade froze when the hall director entered without a knock. He slowly showed himself. “Mr. Walker.”
Mr. Walker was a 6 feet, bald old man with a white mustache. He was a retired 5-star General in the military. The boys trembled every time he did his rounds of inspection. His senses were extra sharp and nothing could break free from them.
Mr. Walker sniffed the air, darted his eyes on the lines of the tiles, dabbed his hands on the window, and flipped the bed. The boys peered by the door like watching a crime scene. There was suspense when Mr. Walker observed his closet. Cade felt a quiver of fear when Mr. Walker began sliding his clothes to the side. His eyes got bigger when he sighted Elsie’s undergarments on the floor.
“Mr. Walker… I’m sorry. I haven’t folded my clothes properly. It’s a mess. You shouldn’t have seen my room in this condition,” Cade said and picked up the clothes.
Mr. Walker narrowed his eyes, calculating his next move.
“Get out of my way, boy,” he said in a soft, threatening tone. Cade got a hiccup because of it.
“Mr. Walker! Jake and Spencer are running away!”
Mr. Walker instantly tended to the urgent matter and followed the boys who had been punished for the same reason they were escaping: illegal drugs.
Cade slumped to the floor and was able to breathe. “That was close.”
“Are we safe now?” Elsie whispered.
“There’s no guarantee. I can’t handle him. I might get flogged.”
Stan just arrived from school when he was called to Mr. Walker’s office. He lost the game they played in the SSC office, so it was his turn to report to Mr. Walker about the happenings in the dorm.
The hall director’s office was cramped and dark. Shelves surrounded the walls with books about world war, laws, order, and martial arts. Only one lamp on his desk lit the room, a faint glow of orange. A warm, earthy smell enveloped the place like a cloud of smoke from frankincense.
“Good afternoon, sir,” Stan said.
Mr. Walker sat at his desk with his glasses on. His muscles tensed when he lay his elbows on the table and intertwined his fingers.
“Tell me about Jake and Spencer,” he said. His voice sent an eerie feeling, like a prisoner starved to death.
“W-we caught them and confiscated the goods they kept in their room, sir.”
“What punishment shall I give them? Considering that they’ve done this sin twice.”
Stan bowed his head. The old man was too scary to stare at. Stan caught sight of the book he was reading on his desk.
“You read ancient ways of torture… sir?”
“Now that you mentioned it, shall we try this on them? They might finally learn their lesson the hard way.”
“Pardon?”
Mr. Walker laughed like a howling wolf.
“That’s too extreme for them, sir. They cannot endure it.”
“Then I’ll whip their asses 60 times before kicking them out.”
“I understand, sir.”
“What about the others?”
“They were obedient to the rules, sir.”
Mr. Walker lit a piece of tobacco between his fingers. “Tell me the rules in the dormitory.”
“No student shall remain inside until 7 am. There will be no students outside after 9 pm. No smoking, drinking, or use of illegal drugs inside the dorm. Electricity is down from 9 pm to 5 am.”
“And the golden rule?”
“No girls allowed, sir.”
“I’ll send you to room 404. Inspect that room tonight.”
“Curtis Fleming? You already inspected his room earlier, sir.”
“Yes, and I found it suspicious. I smelled a feminine scent and saw a long strand of red hair. I often hear a girl sing. Now go and confirm it.”
There was only one girl in Stan’s mind. One red hair.
Stan invaded Cade’s room without permission. When he found no one, he was comforted.
“Gosh. I wonder where that jerk—” Elsie had a heart attack when Stan covered her mouth as the door closed behind her.
“Stan?” Her heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her, holding her shoulders.
“What are you doing here, Elsie?” He sounded disappointed.
“I can explain.”
“Didn’t you know the rules in the dorm?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“Once the hall director sees you here, your boyfriend will get flogged 50 times. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
A scorching pain crawled in her chest when Stan called him her boyfriend. She stepped back and avoided physical touch.
“Is that so? He didn’t tell me. I think he wants to be with me despite that. Love is indeed a risk.” She faked a smile.
“If you’re having fun sneaking in, do it right. Stupid,” he said and gently pricked her forehead.
“What was that for?”
“Be grateful it’s me. I will let this slide and turn a blind eye.”
“I guess that’s what you’re good at. Pretending not to see and feel anything,” she remarked.
“And what do you mean by that?”
“Or you’re too dense to feel. Anyway, thanks for your concern.”
Cade arrived in time and witnessed the two exchanging intense gazes.
“Stan.”
“Elsie, go to my room. Curt and I will talk,” Stan commanded.
“No. Let her stay and listen,” Cade debated.
“Trust me, you wouldn’t want her to hear what I’m about to say.” Cade understood his warning and gestured for Elsie to go out.
“What are you planning, Robertson?”
“Nothing.” Cade played it cool. “Inviting my girlfriend to my place?”
“Technically, it’s not your place. We have rules to follow. You can be all sweet somewhere else.”
Cade displayed a cunning smile. “Don’t make me think you’re jealous, Stan. I’ve known you for years.”
“What if I am?”
Cade suddenly punched him in the face. “What if I break your bones? You have no right to get jealous, you coward.”
Stan grabbed his sleeves and pinned him to the wall. His eyes thirsted for violence.
“Do not challenge my patience, Robertson.”
“Do it, Stan. Let loose.” He stared mockingly at him.
Stan didn’t repress his rage and threw him to the floor. He punched his face repeatedly until Cade spat some blood. Stan stopped when Cade smiled broadly. It made him confused.
“I’m glad I saw you in this state, Stan. I know you’ve been dying to torture me after everything I’ve done. But did you know the best decision I ever made?” Cade looked at him with watery eyes. It was filled with bliss. “Being honest with myself. Denying your feelings will lead you to regret. When regrets grow in your heart, it will quietly burn you alive and the pain is excruciating. More than you could imagine.”
Cade shifted his sight to the ceiling as his memories stormed into his mind. “That’s what I felt when everything was crumbling in front of me. When my so-called friends manipulated and betrayed me. When the entire school detested me. And when you abandoned me.”
Cade looked back at him. There was sorrow amidst the solace. “Regret is the best torture method, Stan. I was wrong. I was a terrible person. I haven’t forgiven myself for it. And I do not deserve your forgiveness. That is my punishment.”
Stan slapped his face, trying to wake himself from what seemed to be a dream. He could not absorb his words. Cade Robertson would not say such things.
Their heads turned to the door where Theo emerged, panting. “Lily…” Theo coughed while catching his breath. “Lily is gone.”
“What do you mean gone?” Cade asked.
“She’s dead.”