Cid In The City

[Takken]

Cid In The City

Chapter Two


Both of the boys stared at each other for what seem like eternity. Neither of their gazes flinched from each other's. It seemed as though they were having some type of internal fight and both were struggling to come out on top. Suddenly, the invigilator barked "Are you two lovers!? Get in here!". Both were startled and finally dropped their gazes but the pressure was definitely there. Even the invigilator felt it and became wary of the two in case there was a fight.

Cid took a seat in the middle of the class and sat down. The necessary stationery such as pencil etc. were stationed at their desks. Cid being bored, started to play aroung with them. At that moment, the boy passed Cid. It was like a spark ignited and Cid jumped from his seat.

"Excuse me! This ridiculous behaviour between you two is unacceptable!" the invigilator angrily said "One more outburst like that and you will not take be taking this exam!!"

Cid snapped back to focus. He was surprised when he found himself standing up and was even more surprised when he saw the boy right in his face.

"Didn't you just hear what I said?" the invigilator snapped "Sit down!"

Cid, not hearing what the invigilator said before sat down, knowing if he did not take this exam, his parents would string him up on a tree and go KKK on him. The boy decided to take his seat at the back of room, in the same row as Cid. Cid could've felt his cold, relentless stare at the back of his head but ignored it. "Come on Cid, this is shit. You doing an entrance exam for heaven's sake. Settle." Cid said to himself in order to calm hiself down. The invigilator then explained the rules of the examination.

"This is the college entrance exam into the facility of Unlimited Talent of Arts, which has recently opened in New York City. You five students, each chosen from different schools by your senior teachers, and by paying a fee will be taking this exam. If score over 75% in this exam, you shall be entered into the college, if you do not, you will not be entered. Simple as that. To the exam now. The exam will be three and a half hours long. It shall have four sections, in which all questions in the first three sections are compulsory. The fourth section contains optional questions in which you can choose what you want to answer. The sections are as follows: English Language, Mathematics, English Literature. The fourth section is: Computer analysis; Art; Basic Mechanical Engineering. When the papers are handed out to you, you'll ten extra minutes to review the questions. During that time you may start the paper. I wish you the best of luck."

The papers were handed out and when Cid received his, he face turned into a irksome smirk. "These questions will provide no threat to me. I can do this!!". Wanting know what his 'nemesis' perceived of it, he decided to chance a look behind at him. He couldn't see his face because he had already started the paper. His face was almost touching the paper, he was that focused. "Damn." Cid thought to himself "He really wants that scholarship. He may be not that bad. I'll try to make up with him later". With that said, Cid started working on the paper.

Three and a half hours later. Put all pencils, pens and stationery on the desk. The exam is over. Everyone had pretty much finished an hour before and had either gone to sleep or gazing in deep thought. Either way, they didn't pay the lady much attention. After everyone got outside the room, they began to chat animatedly about the paper. Everyone was confident that they did well. Cid was no different. He looked through the window and saw outside that his father was waiting for him. He turned around and saw the boy, again, looking at him intensely. Determined to finish this, Cid walked up to him.

"Hello there mate. What's yer name?" Cid asked

The boy simply stared at Cid as though he was an Eighth wonder. Cid could not hide his irritation but he gritted his teeth and asked again.

"Hey mate. I asked your name." Cid said as politely as he could.

The boy finally replied "Drew". And with that he sauntered off towards the exit without looking back. When he passed through the doors, a gale of wind passed by, making the other students say it's cold and deciding to wait for their lifts in the Lounge but Cid stood there in wonder. When he got outside, Drew was nowhere in sight...

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"Hey Dad. I met a bloke today." Cid said to his father. He and his Dad were going for a little drive through the forest area near the family farm. His father was at the wheel.

"Oh really. What about him?" Dad asked.

"Nothing much. A weird one he is."

"Weird? Did you even get a name?"

"Yeah. It's Drew. Anti-social he is." Cid said bitterly.

"Well, a scholarship was up for grabs. The tension does get to people you know son." Dad said smoothly.

"Nah. It's different." Cid maintained his ground "While everyone else was chattin' their mouths off, he comes in panting like a seaman who've seen the Loch Ness." Cid fixed his seat belt. "Nearly got kicked out of the examination too."

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!!!!!! The car came to a sudden halt. Cid's father pressed his foot on the brakes so hard, it seemed as though the mechanism itself were about to break. Cid's father face was screwed with anger and his jaw was set. Cid uncertainly looked around at his father. He gulped at the terrifying figure before him.

"What did you say?" Cid's father spoke in a barely audible whisper.

"Umm, dad -" Cid was very nervous. "It was a - a joke. Just a joke father..." He ended off lamely.

"... A joke. You call that a joke?" Cid's father suddenly moved to his side and slapped Cid around his head. His hands were heavy "Don't ever, ever joke around me with something as important as that. I'm clear?"

"Yes sir."

Throughout the rest of the drive, Cid said nothing at all. His father was a man who meant well and cared for his family deeply, but when it came with money, ignoring the fact he couldn't count, he never risked anything, even if his wife was who dealt with it, he always made her double check everything. He was very unwilling to pay for the exam to begin with. He only managed to be convinced by Cid's school principal, Cid's constant nagging and finally, his wife's intervention. His wife's word he trusted. No one else's. His faith in her was resolute. Cid, who at the time was still startled by his father. "Good thing I lied. Had he known I really came close with being disembarred, he probably would've killed me there and then and hide my body deep in the forest." Cid though so very frightenly and decided it would be best to choose his words carefully from then until the results came back. The drive home was very forlorn, at least in Cid's opinion.


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"Back at home already?" Cid's mother greeted them "I thought you were planning to drive around longer? I haven't even finshed dinner yet." Cid kissed his mother and sat down in a couch in the living room; he heaved a loud sigh. His father, who had just kissed his mother came inside and found Cid breezing. He looked at him incredously.

"Boy you. Get yer ass upstairs!" He thundered "Wash yer hands,come back down and help yer mum with dinner."

"Yes sir!" Cid was scared to get his father angry again and scurried upstairs as fast as he could.

"Dear, something wrong?" Cid's mum inquisited. Cid's dad grunted "No". He then said he going by the 'brook' to cool off, noting it was mighty hot. It was fall in Scotland and he's hot...


The sound of something hitting a board was all you could hear in the Jule's home. It was awfully silent and Cid meant for it to be that way. He didn't feel like talking at it all. Earlier that morning, he imagined the home to be filled with animated talks about the exam but after what happened in the afternoon, Cid felt as though he messed it up. His mother who was boiling rice watched his son every now and then. She looked at the way he chopped the vegetables, and would then look at his face. Deciding the silence must end, she spoke.

"Alrighty then. Let me have it?" She asked.

"Have what? The knife?" Cid honestly had no clue and held out the knife to his mother.

"Boy, don't let me scorch you with this boiling pot," She picked up the pot threatingly. (Writer's note - Seems as though a temper issue runs through the family xD) "What happened today?"

Cid sighed and fully explained what happened today. Both the exam and car incidents. When he was finished, he looked at his mother uncertainly. She didn't seemed impressed at all but she didn't look angry either. She sighed, walked foward to Cid and ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Cid, Cid." She said "I can't believe you did what you nor what you told your father. I can't say I'm not dissapointed."

Cid felt ashamed and bowed his to the ground. "Sorry Mum."

She tilted Cid's head up and winked at him "But I would've done the same thing and lied to him. Your father can be a wild beast when he wants to. His friends gave him the nickname Baby Loch Ness." She chuckled.

"He ever roared at you before?" Cid asked.

"Heck no." She replied, pretending to be affronted "He knows better that I would stab and throw his body in the lake. He would never risk it!" She chuckled again.

Cid felt alot more happier than he felt all day. His mother, while having a bit of a temper just like his Dad, she always cheered him up when he was down. The woman was Cid's heart and he Cid loved her unconditionally. "Well, what you're looking at" She said suddenly "Continue chopping the carrots,". "Right. Sorry.". Cid apologised and began chopping the carrots but his mother interrupted him again.

"Oh yes! By the way, Nina came by today, but you had already gone."

"Shit!" Cid exclaimed. He cut his finger when he heard the name Nina. HIs mother exasperated and told him to wash his cut, that she'll deal with the vegetables. Cid went to the bathroom and turned the faucet on. He let water go over his cut finger but he never turned off the faucet. All he could think about was Nina.

References

KKK - Ku Klux Klan. I am not racist, I'm simply using their actions as a metaphor in my story.

Sorry for the super duper long wait. I totally forgot this XD Chapter 2. I'll post chapter 3 later on in the week. This reminds me though, I can get tips from Adam.