Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Reno pressed the door handle. It did not move. I still could see his eyes helplessly looking at me in despair. I tried to switch the light on. Even the light did not function at this time. The room kept us in the dark. It was not a big deal for me since I was accustomed to living in the dark. Sometimes, my house was a blackout for we could not pay the electricity bill.

“Are you alright?” I just wanted to make sure that Reno had no problem with our situation. It was impossible to call anyone from this place. I bet the teacher would not know what was happening to us at the moment. But, who locked us here in this storeroom? Was it Kevin? He abhorred his stepbrother so much. So it made sense that he did it.

“I am fine,” Reno answered from the other side of the room.

“I am sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have come. It was for me you got ashamed of.” I said in a low voice as if my words could cause any pain to him.

“What happened last night had nothing to do with you. I just didn’t know how to behave in front of my dad’s guests. Don’t feel guilty. Everything is alright.” I did not see his gesture when saying that. He might comfort himself. He could perfectly put himself in any situation even though I was convinced that he was the one who would sneak out of the crowd and prefer a quiet place. I bet the party was an event he eagerly avoided. I was consumed by my thought for a while.

“You have a handphone, right? Why don’t you tell the teacher that we are being trapped here? Just tell them that the door did not work.” I urged.

“My handphone is not with me. it is in the bag that I put outside”

“Oh, God! We have to do something. Do you have any idea?” I asked him while resting my body on the wall.

“The only way to get out of here is by breaking the door. As the consequence, we have to pay for the damages. Don’t worry about that. I’ll do it. So, it is me, the one responsible for the damages.” Without listening to my agreement, he grabbed the iron stick near him and use that object to wreck the keyhole. He had attempted many times. However, he failed. That keyhole was too strong.

“You stop it now. It doesn’t seem working. Just wait for someone to find us here.” I suggested.

He threw the iron stick carelessly. That object almost hit my leg, yet I shrugged it off. Unfortunately, my feet slipped and my body almost fell. Reno caught me before my back crashed into the floor. My heart raced when our eyes locked. He was too close so I could even listen to his heartbeat and smell his sweet breath. I felt something throbbed inside me. I was clueless about what it was. His stare set on mine sent an inexplicable feeling to my heart. I pushed his body away as soon as I stood firmly.

“Thanks...”I spluttered. He sat back to where he was and said nothing. I could not figure out what was on his mind.

“So,” we both said almost together. “You’re first.” He let me speak first.

“It’s ok. You can say first.” I tried to relax.

“Lady, first”

“Who do you think locked us here?” The question seemed out of my lips.

“I have no idea about that.” He did not sound like he was lying.

“What is it you want to say?” I asked him back.

“It is about the man whom your father owes a debt. Is there any possibility that he will see you again?” His curiosity made me gasped. I immediately controlled myself.

“As long as my father doesn’t pay his debt, he will always disrupt our life.”

“Why don’t your parents call the police?”

“Then, what? They will bring the case to court. They will require my father to pay the fine. Otherwise, he will be put in jail. There is no good choice but escaping.” I desperately muttered the last sentence.

“I.....” He intended to say something. My next query stopped him.

“What time is it?” I swiftly changed the subject. I just did not want others to get involved in my family's matters. Besides, my life was of no concern to him.

“It’s almost ten.”

“I hope the teachers will find us here.”

“Sure, they will.”

“Do you think that probably it is Kevin who trapped us?” Out of my control, I abruptly shot him with a sensitive question. Reno looked bothered.

“I don’t think so. After all, he did not know that we are getting punished to clean the storeroom.”

“You’re right. The door just doesn’t function well. It should be repaired.” I babbled out while staring at the ceiling above us. I was still wondering when the teacher would notice us and rescue us from here. “Do you love your brother?” I blurted out. He turned his head to me in surprise. “Just forget it.”

“Sure.” His answer marked my face with wonder. I turned my head to him.

“Even after what he did to you at the party?”

“Yeah. He is my brother, anyway.”

“You are so kind.”

“You are too.”

“Trust me. I am not that kind.”

“For me....” The door swung open before Reno could finish his sentence. We shielded our eyes, protect them from the white light that irradiated our faces. It was the janitor who unlocked the door. He stood at the door in disbelief. He shot us with the feeling I could not interpret. We strode toward him.

“What are you two doing here?”

“We are....”

“Someone locked us here.” I cut Reno’s word. That grey-haired man seemed a bit doubtful.

“Why didn’t you call the teacher then?”

“I left my handphone outside,” Reno responded. I burst out as soon as the old man stepped aside. Reno followed behind me.

We both stood in shock. The students had been swarming outside. They clapped their hands and booed us. I was clueless about what they were laughing at. Then, the teachers came up with their red apple faces. They seem to hold their anger. I could not guess what it was which made them so angry. However, the way they looked at us showed that something terrible was waiting for us.