#ha:maya

[rebelcase-blog]

diagnosed.

@miss-clem

It hasn’t even been that long since she left, but it was clear to Neil-- and most people around him-- that the disappearance of a certain little piggy made him more of everything. 

His mood rises and falls at random. 

On bad days, he’s more strict and definitely more harsh when it comes to punishments. Miss a beat or go out of line, and you'll get a one-way ticket to Neil’s shit list. It’s note even detention anymore: you’ll be stuck in band until you nail everything down to the last note, or you’ll have to be on cleaning duty not just for the instruments, but the classroom itself.

If his students didn’t hate him then, they probably would have now.

On good days, he’s just... odd. He’s more forgiving in class and in campus. Bump him accidentally (or hit him with a soccer ball) and he’ll apologize, shrug it off, walk away. Make a mistake in class and he’ll patiently instruct you to do better. Possessed would be the right term for it, but in reality he was just--

“... love sick.” He read a loud the letters popped up from his phone. During break, he googled his symptoms, convinced there was something wrong with him. Reading the stupid article now, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to believe in this bullshit just to get it over with, or cause he actually thought it was true.

Odd. But not bad.

Good, but concerning...

He was still in the middle of figuring out which side to accept as a truth when she does return, back from wherever the hell it is she escaped to.

It was selfish of him to be “upset” over her leaving when for her, it was probably an enjoyable time of her life. You’re acting like she left for a year, his more logical self told him. But seeing her now, as she sits at her spot at the teacher’s lounge, it somehow felt like that. God, when did he get so invested on someone’s presence?

Like a drug he absolutely must take, he’s drawn to her once more. He dragged his chair along, letting it’s wheels take him to her. When he does reach her, he doesn’t face her and instead leans back on his chair to its maximum potential. He leans to Maya, too, his head now rested on her left shoulder while he crossed his arms and looked away. This was hurting his neck but sometimes, people do stupid things when they’re sick.

“What took you so long?” He said in his usual grumpy tone. His eyes were focused elsewhere while he continued to lean back on her, mouth mouthing the next few lines in a low whisper, “...welcome back.”

[ha-sims]

Maya Clementine (Young Adult) @miss-clem Master Chef | Clumsy & Cheerful & Foodie

[queenvitch-blog]

gals being pals

@miss-clem

Understanding each others woes was one of th many perks of living with someone who had the same profession as you. Both Vivi and Maya were new at Harvest Academy this year, but through this newness, they found friendship. And it just so happens they got along splendidly ♥

When she went out for the day to get groceries, she made sure to grab a few extra things that weren’t part of her list. Some jellybeans... chocolate... popcorn... and whatever snack she could find and she felt her braided cutie of a roommate would enjoy. After all that shopping was over and done with, she heads back to their apartment on the first floor of the compartment, spirits higher than Mt. Everest itself!

“Maaaayaaaaa! Oh, Maya dear~♫” Vivi waltzes in Maya’s room, not a single care in the world if she could have been doing something. She came in with agrocery bag full of snacks and she will not put it to waste! “I come with food~ ���”

[1dlessthan3-blog]

Taste Test [Ivan & Maya (ft. a baby)]

@miss-clem​

“Alright, sweetheart.” Ivan adjusted his arms holding his infant daughter, Annalise, making sure the both of them would be comfortable on their way to the cooking classroom. “Let’s be on our way, hm? Miss Clementine is really looking forward to seeing you, I’ve heard.”

Ivan had agreed to taste test some of the cooking teacher’s latest dishes, and was invited to bring Annie along. He was a little concerned about Annie eating anything potentially... toxic, but surely Maya did not expect the little one to eat anything un-tested, right?

“Miss Clementine?” Ivan poked in the classroom, gently helping Annie wave to the fellow teacher. “We’re here!”

[lambofrod-blog]

↪ another one bites the crust

@miss-clem

     Once used to the flow of school life, not as a student but as a bonafide teacher, Rod stopped his routine of spending most of his time in Biology classroom ( the right one, this time ) and stayed at the teacher’s lounge. He used to fear coming here as a student. You were either the class representative that got asked to do favors for teachers a lot, a troublemaker that needed a good scolding, or a not-so-smart student who required extra attention due to failing grades. Rod, diligent he may be, could not escape failing or falling behind a few subjects.

     Now, the tides have turned. Rod is here not because he was having troubles with his grades but because he became the one giving the grades. He leveled up in the academic food chain, that’s for sure.

     As always, he had a snack wit him. He gets so hungry every now and then, just made sure there’s always something to eat in his bag.

     He flipped through his notes for his next class while munching on a banana ( good old healthy bananas! ) and spends his free time like a good teacher. He’s already accepted he’s not very smart, but his diligence is what kept him from totally failing before, and it’s that same trait that will get him through his teaching career!

     While scanning his notes, he sniffed a familiar scent. Not something bad or awful, but something good and delicious. Someone just brought in food and it was close. His attention shifts at once from his notes to his surroundings, eyes and nose working together to find the source.

[rebelcase-blog]

just a feeling.

Neil can count in one hand the amount of times he took a day off from work. As much as he hated the kids at academy, he was diligent with work. He only ever took leaves when he’s too sick to even more, or when he’s in a mood.

The grumpy band teacher informed his classes beforehand that he’d be gone on Friday for an important long weekend. His so called important long weekend is him shutting everything out and just staying in his apartment.

He had everything he needed to keep himself locked up inside without the need to head out. He did the groceries, downloaded a bunch of movies, and informed possible annoyances that might drop by that he’ll be out. Locke up at the small attic space in his apartment that acted like his secret spot, he had his laptop on and some movies queued. He cooked enough food that required minimal heating and right now, he was content with just eating bacon strips and a ton of popcorn. 

Not the healthiest of choices but at least it was good. 

The movies he planned to watch did not have a specific genre. He just finished some old horror movie that was full of bad acting and an even worse plot. Right now, he was contemplating between a chick flick and an angst fest romance. While deciding, his mind drifted off and started wondering what would she like? “...heh, she’d cry if we watch this.” He went with the tear-jerker romance before he realized he was doing it again.

The whole point of this escape was to get back in the zone, rid his mind of her, and just... stop. Stop whatever it is before it turned into something uncontrollable. Something he can’t just shrug away or dismiss with a hateful comment.

Heh, and even if he did all that, she’d probably annoy the heck out of him, find a way to knock down his walls and invade his territory to paint it all pink. It didn’t even need a reason, she just would.

Then she’d probably take control over what food they should have bought, spill it all over the floor, burn a bacon or two... heh.

And it was because of those assumptions and idle thinking that lead Neil to believe he was already seated in a roller coaster he can’t get out off.

“...damn it.” He paused the movie right as it started and stared at the empty space beside him. Strawberries weren’t part of his grocery list but he swore he could detect the faintest scent of it nearby. It was most likely just his head playing with him, but it was enough to get him to pause everything. 

A hand reaching for his right cheek, he started admitting something he never thought he’d say or even think.

But that’s okay, no one’s here. No one’s around to see him lean back on the walls of the small attic space, eyes shut, and one hand covering his entire face. A familiar shade of red creeps it way to his features just by thinking about it, and even if it was just for this one moment, he lets himself admit it out loud: “I miss you.”

It was just a feeling, but it stuck.

[rebelcase-blog]

flower festival: pink-dyed

@miss-clem

Neil had a perfect plan in his head for the flower festival: get a pink flower, leave it on the pig’s desk, walk away. Technically, he has no obligation whatsoever to give her anything. If it wasn’t for that one red rose he saw on her desk, he wouldn’t have done anything. 

Who the fuck in their right mind would give that easy-going pig something romantic?! It doesn’t make sense in Neil’s head. Probably some equally stupid student who thought her easygoing and accepting nature was cute. Or charming. Or hard to not notice...

...or be drawn to...

“...” He finally headed to the booths that were giving out flowers. It was lunch time so he thought there wouldn’t be any one there, but of course there were. Luckily, intimidation was one of his key skills and it took a little less than a few minutes before he found himself in front of the flower booth to pick some stupid flowers. 

Just get something pink, he told himself. But the closest thing he can find were those flowers who’s name he didn’t even know that meant friendship. Yuck. 

None of those pink trash looked anything like something he’d want to give her... but he wasn’t going to be defeated just yet. He got himself a dozen white roses and started googling how to turn them pink. He saw it somewhere in his newsfeed before so if some Nancy Drew can do it, so can he. He got himself some dye, a shit ton of glasses, and soon, the white roses were dipped in the dye. Now all that’s left to do is wait.

Two fucking long hours later, and Neil ran out of patience. The color barely changed and if anything, it was just a white rose with hints of pink. Neil sat on the floor of his locked classroom and stared at the dozen barely-pink roses in frustration, bird’s nest of a hair now even messier than ever as he ruffled it up. “You could have liked red, but noooo, it just had to be pink.” He blamed her color preference even if it suited her the best. 

Pink is sweet, nice, playful, cute, feminine, charming and tender.

And Maya is... the same, if not more.

After moments of hesitation, Neil gives in to the mush in his head and took all of the barely dyed roses, wrapping them up in light pink paper. If she was pink, he was red. So he tied it all up in a thin red ribbon, the color matching the way his cheeks flustered non-stop as he exists his band room to head to the lounge. 

If he’s lucky, she’s not there. 

If he’s luckier, she is.

And she is-- there in her desk, surrounded by gifts some Jane and John gave her. He walks straight ahead, not looking at anyone else. He doesn’t give himself the chance to back down (and he probably will if he hesitated for even a second). He stopped right at her desk and placed the bouquet of barely pink-dyed white roses on her lap. He crossed his arms at once and leaned on the neighboring desk.

“Not. A. Word.” He warned her, voice clear and stern but it threatened to stammer if he said anything more. He kept the flowers in one hand as he looked away-- somewhere to the right, to a wall with nothing interesting in it. He just needed to look away otherwise he won’t be able to control the growing red that crept all the way to his ears.

Not like this meant anything, no. He just doesn’t want to get outplayed by a stupid red rose.

[rebelcase-blog]

Here piggy, piggy...

@miss-clem

Monday morning comes and Neil is bright and early at the academy. He’s not being responsible or anything, he just doesn’t want anyone to be around when he drops off a gift at Maya’s desk at the lounge-- scratch that, not a gift-gift, but a gag-gift. Why the fuck would he give her a gift?!

He can already hear Lanna and her teasing voice at the back of his head, ugh. Not that it was true but...

Neil shrugged and shoved all those thoughts away as he placed a white helmet on Maya’s desk. It was meant for a scooter or a motorcycle, but the important detail was the pig design and the stupid looking cheek swirls. He was looking for a new helmet for himself but he left the store with that monstrosity instead, heh. 

He took a sticky note and wrote something on it before letting it sit on top of the helmet. As always, his handwriting made him seem like he’s always in a rush, but it was readable enough to comprehend. At first he wrote “Saw this and thought of you. LOL.” But it seemed off. Like it was a friendly gesture. Fuck that. Next he tried, “So you won’t complain next time.” But then it seemed like he was inviting her to ride. Fuck that, too. 

So he goes for the next big thing. He just doodled a circle with girly eyes, short fly-away hair with stupid looking braids on both sides and pig ears to top it all off. Then he writes just below it:

“Oink. - Saint Nick”

He retreated back to his desk before anyone can spot him. Since it was still a little early, he decides to nap at his spot before the school day  actually starts. 

[rebelcase-blog]

@miss-clem

Saw a little piggy outside thinking she’s cute. She’s not. LOL.

- Neil 2017

[rebelcase-blog]

@miss-clem

When you suck at words, you can always start off with emojis. A ton of em.

[rebelcase-blog]

@miss-clem

Lanna catches Neil eyeing Maya and misunderstands the whole situation. Before he can convince her, he’s walking up to her after promising Lanna he’d ask Maya to dance. Just once.

They don’t.