(3rd person narration)
March 1st, Thursday
Taekwando's club activity had just ended.
After getting changed and packed up, Minnie left the practice hall and meet up with Akiko.
Usually, when Minnie has club activities, Akiko will go back first by car, but today, both of them decided to walk home together, because Akiko wanted to stay overnight at Minnie's place.
After leaving the school ground, upon reaching a junction, just before they could cross the road, a motorcycle passed by them in high speed, causing a strong wind blowing towards them.
Because their skirt were almost being revealed due to the wind, Minnie got very angry.
She shouted and scolded the motorcyclist, but due to his speed, he was already far away and most probably couldn't hear what she said.
As Akiko tried to calm Minnie down, a voice approaches them from the other end.
"Hey girls, why so angry over some trivia like that?"
There were another 2 motorcyclist, one of them got down from his bike and approaches Akiko.
"You won't lose anything from showing us your panties right?"
"Like hell we won't!"
Before Akiko got to say anything, Minnie automatically stands in front of Akiko and tried to protect her.
"Why would you lose anything when you're just a kid. To begin with, it's uninteresting to look at a kid's panties"
"Hahaha. Damn right. We're more interested in that lady behind you."
Due to Akiko's height and style, Minnie is often treated as a kid when standing near Akiko, but what angers her more is the fact that Akiko is being harassed.
"Stay away from us!"
Shouting so while swinging her bag at the man closest to her.
Maybe because her bag is quite heavy, or maybe it was because her brute strength, the man was hit quite hard.
But of course, it was nothing that will injure an adult. Even more so when his quite muscular.
"Ouch.... damn you kid, you'll pay for this!"
The man launched a punch at Minnie, which was blocked by her bag.
Minnie fell back a few steps because she couldn't withstand all the impact, and before she could regain her stance, the man launched another punch at Minnie.
Even though the attack hits her bag, the impact is all he need to make Minnie fell down.
With frequent practice with Yan, Minnie is supposed to be able to stand up quickly after falling down, but due to her terror towards adult man, she response slower than she could, and was captured by the man.
The man grip both her small hands and held her high at midair.
Minnie tried to fight back by kicking. It's either her attack cannot reach, or it was simply repelled by the man.
"Ahaha, this is what you got for picking a fight with an adult."
"Minnie!"
Akiko tried to help but she was quickly held back by another man.
"You need to be punished..... let's see.... I'll start from here."
Saying so, the man get grab the end of Minnie's skirt, and started to pull it up slowly.
"Pure white? Ahahaha! At least it doesn't have cartoon printed on it! Hahaha"
"Noooooooo"
The man enjoy seeing Minnie struggling in misery, as he was thinking what kind of 'torture' next,
he was kicked hard and flew away.
As Minnie was being release and expecting herself to fall on the hard cold ground, she was being held by someone.
The way she was held, reminded her of how her deceased father princess-carried her.
When she finally came to her sense, she realized the one who held her was actually Yan.
As he appeared, the other motorcyclist who caught Akiko earlier shouted "Who the hell are you? Don't come any closer or else she'll-" and was hit by a bamboo blade before he could finished.
After being released, Akiko turned around to see that she was saved by Yu Zhe.
"Are you alright?" Yan asked as he slowly put Minnie down.
Before she could reply, Akiko pull her away as she was told by Yu Zhe to get to a safe place.
The 2 men who was hit earlier already get back on their feet.
"Shit, being done in by 2 kids."
"I'll not be careless next time"
The 2 men approach Yan and Yu Zhe.
"Looks like a fight is inevitable." Yu Zhe said.
"Idiot, don't state something so obvious." Yan retorted.
Before they are about to start, a loud motor noise was heard.
"What the hell are you doing here, I was waiting you know"
It was the motorcyclist who passed by the girls in high speed earlier.
"Shut up, get your weapon. Someone just challenged The Porcupine."
one of the men said.
"Porcupine?" Yan asked
"I heard they're a gangster group that appears in Kammzet a year ago, but this is my first time to actually encounter one."
"Hm... looks like Kammzet isn't that safe after all."
"But this group is more like an urban legend since there're hardly any witness. I'll tell you the details later after we had settle this."
"Right. But 3 vs 2 huh..... that reminds me of something very unpleasant"
"Haha... but at least we have a much better reason this time."
All 3 men are armed now, each with a metal bat or something similar.
Yan get on his usual Taekwando stance, while Yu Zhe in his kendo stance.
One of the motorcyclist launched the 1st attack on Yu Zhe. Yu Zhe's bamboo blade reached the metal bat and redirect its vector by hitting it lightly from the side.
Because of a change of vector, the man was wide open for attack which allows Yu Zhe to strike 2 quick attacks. 1 on his right hand that was holding the bat, another on his head.
In an instant, the man was disarm and fell on the ground on pain.
The other 2 men attack Yan simultaneously, from left and right.
Yan dashed in between the 2 men while laying as low as almost touching the ground, then did a quick hand stand, take a spin and attacked the 2 men with both his legs.
It wasn't a powerful kick but his attack hit the 2 men's jaw, causing them to lose their balance and stopping their movement.
After that, Yan just stand still and waited for them to fight back.
By the time the 2 men recovered, Yu Zhe had already taken care of the other man, and they didn't notice Yu Zhe's incoming attacks because they were focusing Yan. Which resulted in 2 perfectly clean hit on the back of their heads.
In Akiko's eyes, who are not skilled in martial arts, the whole fighting process ended almost instantly.
She was amazed by how well both Yan and Yu Zhe could fight, and also how well both of them cooperated. Because all the while she had only seen Minnie running amok, for the 1st time, Akiko thought fighting could be something gracious and elegant.
"Aaaah. Fuck.... My head hurts..... "
Due to a hit on the back of head and a hit on the jaw, the 2 men could hardly stand properly.
The other one who was less injured realize how absurdly strong Yan and Yu Zhe, so he decided to forcefully pull his unsatisfied partners away.
"Damn. You just made an enemy of The Porcupine."
and left while looking lame.
"He made Porcupine sound very scary"
"I only heard rumors like how ruthless and cruel they could be"
"I'll check on the local forum when I'm home"
"Ok. Then I'll ask people around for more info."
Because of their experience, they know gangster and such won't stop coming at them until the whole group is defeated or disband through some method.
Even though they haven't met for more than 4 years, their ability to react with this kind of situation didn't change at all.
If anything, they had improved in counter-measuring this kind of situation.
After their short conversation, Yan turned back to check on the girls.
Akiko seems alright, but for some reason, Minnie seems to space out.
"Hey Minnie, are you alri-"
As Yu Zhe just about approach her, Yan stopped him.
"Minnie always snapped on us because she couldn't deal with men. My hunch tells me she's more of afraid than hating men."
That's why Yu Zhe shouldn't approach Minnie now, or else she might crumble.
What Yan said isn't wrong, but to Akiko, that is not the cause of Minnie being like this
Since she couldn't thought of any other possible reason, so she just agreed with Yan and asked Yu Zhe to stay away.
"I'll call my butler to drive us back, so I think it's better for you 2 to go home first."
Yan looked at Akiko for a few seconds, then replied.
"While it is good for us to stay away from Minnie, but both of you aren't really safe yet."
"So we'll stay here until your butler comes and pick you up."
"I see. Thank you very much. We appreciate it."
"Don't sweat it, it is more natural for us to stay here to protect you ladies."
Says Yan while smiling gently.
Those words are something Yu Zhe didn't expect Yan to say. At least, the old him wouldn't.
----------------------------------------
The night time of the same day.
After his dinner and bath, Yan started up his computer and went online search for rumors of The Porcupine.
The earliest forum thread founded was 1 year old, as just Yu Zhe mentioned, they existed for 1 year already.
Some forum post mentioned they're a large group with few thousands members.
Some forum post claimed they're more of a criminal group than mere gangsters.
Among the few hundred posts Yan read, there were 2 that were a bit bothering.
One mentioning how a large scale fight broke out between The Porcupine and The Hedgehog, another gangster group from the nearby city.
Yan can remembered vaguely that his elder brother used to mention something about The Hedgehog, but he couldn't recall the content
The other post mentioned how The Porcupine had once broke a few ATM machines of a bank managed by the Katsuragi Group.
Katsuragi Group is the main competitor of The Cauldron Corp that his elder brother work in.
Knowing his elder brother, this couldn't be mere coincidence, but what link could these 2 incident have other than the fact his elder brother is involved?
After thinking for a while, Yan decided to give up for the moment and went to sleep.
A few weeks after that, Yan and Yu Zhe would encounter The Porcupine's attack from time to time. But all attacks were well handled because they had expected this and stay on guard all the time.
While on their way back home as usual,
"Oh man..... I know this is for our safety, but we had been sticking to each other almost everyday since then. We couldn't get much chance to hang out with Ying as well."
"If it was the past, we don't have to worry about Ying since those delinquents are too innocent to hurt a girl, but it's all different now. Our opponents are mostly adults."
"And above all, from what I had gathered, they really did serious crime like trading drugs"
"So does that mean we're facing a criminal group than normal gangsters......? Maybe not, a criminal group won't be defeated by just the 2 of us. Their greatest raid were only 9 men all armed only with metal bat. I haven't seen anything like guns. Trading drugs isn't too possible without guns so...."
"AAAAAAAAAAAA"
All of the sudden, a scream break their conversation.
They quickly rush to the source and found 2 students were held hostage by The Porcupines.
"11 people.... plus 2 hostages. This might be tough...."
"Focus on saving the 2 hostages, after that run wild."
As Yu Zhe heard the word "wild", he smirked.
A few minutes later, they managed to chase those gangster away and save the 2 students.
"Wow, you 2 are just as what the rumors describe!"
One of the student say happily.
"Rumors?"
again? Yan thought.
"Yes. The 2 guys who are unbeatable when they're in pair."
"That sounds kind of gay."
"It's even more so when it comes from you" Yan retorted.
"Ahaha....."
"Thank you very much."
"Be careful on your way back."
After saying goodbyes, the 2 students left while saying things like "Wow, we met the Orthrus!"
"Did they said Orthrus?"
"I think so"
"That's a nostalgic name."
"Back then we thought its a cool name."
"But I feel that it's more of a curse now."
"Why?"
"It feels like the name will force us into an endless fight."
As Yan said that, a certain philosopher's word came into his mind
"Life is an endless fight for yourself"
Upon thinking that, Yan sighed deeply.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Chapter 1 - I don't like standing out
More than 1 month had passed after I was back to Kammzet.
"Yea, Feng, I will be alright. Living alone is nothing tough when compare to working under you."
I am currently having a phone talk with my elder brother who is still in Silver Peck city.
"Hah, be grateful, if you were not trained by me like that, you couldn't be who you are today."
I don't quite understand what he mean, but I know it's useless to ask so I just let it slide.
"Well then, I'm going to hung up. If you found yourself in any problem...... just solve it yourself. Don't find me. Don't ask for help from mother as well."
"I won't, I don't want to make her worried anyway. Further more, I won't hurt my pride to ask for your help."
"Haha, right. Well, see you then."
There goes the short conversation I have with my elder brother.
-----------
About Minnie's challenge.
Well, to sum it up, she was defeated by me. It wasn't an easy victory because I had to hold back, though it wasn't the hardest thing I had achieved either.
After she was defeated, as expected, she was crying in dissatisfaction. 'Crying' not as in tears came flowing out, but something like screaming. She caused quite a ruckus afterwards, and Akiko had to comfort her and calm her down. As I thought she was too frustrated from losing. Ying also commented that, "Aside from losing, I think the fact that you're couching her bothers her the most. Simply because she doesn't want to obey a guy."
I heard that Minnie often fights with her father as well, I guess me couching her might really be a problem.
After I won, chatters were everywhere. I felt like the audience, who came to watch our fight (which is mainly Taekwando members), were criticizing on how rude I treated a girl. I didn't really heard their conversations, but from their facial expressions, it definitely were not a pleasant one.
I dislike this atmosphere. It is just like when I was in a middle school in Silver Peck city.
----------
February 19th. Monday
More than a week had passed after Minnie's challenge.
In the morning while I was walking on the path to the school.
I felt that after the match with Minnie, there are gazes everywhere.
No....... that's not quite correct.
There were already gazes everywhere even before that match, just that it gets stronger now.
After I reached the class and greet both of my bad friends, I asked them if they heard any rumors about me.
"Rumors? Why?"
"Because I felt like I was watched by someone. No, I mean I felt that a lot of people are giving me weird look."
"Weird look? Really? I don't think so."
"Haha, that's typical of you, Yan. I agreed with Ying, those aren't really weird look. Well, they may as well really be weird, but definitely not the way you take it."
"Which means?"
"You're thinking that something bad about you is going around right? Then you don't have to worry. They are mostly good news, or good rumors."
Good....... rumors? I had never heard of something like this is possible, I thought rumors only refer to bad things.
Before I got to ask in detail, the first period started, so I had to hold my question back until lunch break instead as the short breaks in between lessons are too short for me to discuss this.
-------------
Lunch break, in cafeteria.
After we had bought our lunch and found ourselves a place to sit, I started to ask about those 'rumors'.
By the way, Akiko and Minnie are not here yet, for some reason they always come to cafeteria later than us.
"So back to the topic from this morning, tell me more about those 'rumors'."
Yu Zhe think for a few seconds then answered.
"First of all, your skill in Taekwando. Do you know you got yourselves some admirers? Though they are basically your juniors in the Taekwando club plus some of their friends."
Hm? Is that why some of the juniors always stick with me in the training?
"More like, how do you get to know about that? Do you know my juniors or something?"
"After your match with Minnie, when someone was criticizing how you treated a girl, someone stood out and defend you, saying stuff like how skilled you are and how good you are when helping juniors, that you are also holding back with your best while fighting Minnie, etc etc."
".........."
I am plainly speechless.
Actually, there are a lot I want to say.
For example, 'defending me like that is just going to cause more trouble for me and himself',
or 'I'm not that great'.
But no point saying those to Yu Zhe. Those words are more for my junior.
Then again, my junior was helping me, so I shouldn't say those words to him as well, I should be appreciating instead.
Therefore, I'm left with nothing to say.
"So because of that, it is later revealed that they admire you as 'someone takes good care of his junior'."
"Honestly, I don't see that as a good rumor."
"Why not? Someone just openly declares you're a good guy."
"That is just what he thought. Don't forget there are still people who criticized me, wouldn't they fight back as my junior tried to defend me?"
"Nope, I didn't heard anything of that sort."
"You didn't hear doesn't mean they are not planning to fight back. There's a chance they are planning to fight back secretly, perhaps using some underhand method. People who fights back with underhand method are not to be taken lightly."
After hearing me say that, both Yu Zhe and Ying were staring at me like I said something ridiculous.
The atmosphere around became kind of tense.
"Eer... Yan, there aren't that many people who're like that."
From Yu Zhe's reply, I started to understand.
Maybe I had meet with too many people of that kind back in Silver Peck, so it had already become a habit for me to be very wary.
As Yu Zhe mentioned, Kammzet is a more peaceful place than Silver Peck, so there should be much less people of that kind.
"Ok.... I'm just trying not to be overly-optimistic."
From my words, Yu Zhe understood my feeling and kept quiet. Even though he never live in Silver Peck before, but from the past experience of us stirring troubles and fighting with other kids, he could understand to a certain extend.
"I really don't think you have to worry."
Said Ying, and broke the tension.
"Akiko is saying good things about you as well."
"Huh? what kind?"
"She said something about you leading the club activity for Arts Club in place of the vice president when she had something to attend and no around. Being trusted by the vice president even though you just joined the club not long ago has earn you some respect as well. Moreover, you did well leading the club activity despite you're a new member."
Though it sounds like a good thing, I didn't feel so. Rather, I thought it was strange that people came to respect me instead of jealous or envy. Are the people in Silver Peck really that bad? or rather the people in Kammzet are too kind? Or maybe there are some conspiracy going behind those compliments?
I don't know, but I know for sure, being wary won't hurt.
"Dude, you really shouldn't worry that much."
Perhaps I was making a serious face, Yu Zhe looked at me with a sad expression, which caused Ying to look sad as well. The uncomfortable tension is back again.
They are probably imagining my life in Silver Peck, figured something bad happened that caused me like this. 'If only that incident never happen' is probably what Yu Zhe is thinking. He had blame himself too much on things that aren't his fault, like his mother's death, like the incident that makes me move away Kammzet.
"Sorry, my bad. I will try to be happy for that. So let's stop this tense atmosphere and enjoy our lunch"
'try to be happy', though I was the one who said it, it sounded ridiculous to me, because there are probably no one in this world who have trouble being happy on good things, except me.
Afterwards, as Minnie and Akiko join up with us, the tension was broke for real and everything is back to usual.
Aoba Alexander and Miley didn't eat with us today. According to Akiko, they have something personal to handle.
-------------
After school, I'm staying in the art room because of art club's activity.
Art club itself has around 40 members, but the art room is never full of people every time in the club activity.
According to Annett, the vice president of art club, aside from members who didn't take the club activity seriously, the rest are students who happened to have other club activity fall on the same day as art club's, so most of them decided to join the activity bi-weekly.
Today, there are less than 10 people included me, and it didn't take long for everyone to leave and left me alone in the art room.
The school closes for student at 7.00pm, which there are an hour left for me to stay in the art room.
I'm not so good with drawing. Though I had learn a bit of drawing back when I was still primary school, that is far from enough if I wanted to draw something decent.
Vice prez Annett did comment that I did well despite being a complete beginner, but I won't feel satisfied from that. After all, all the paints around me are very good, especially Llyr's. With all those good paints around, my painting looks like a kid's drawing, and it hurts my motto of 'if cannot the best, then at least be above average'.
As I was focusing in drawing, my fighting instinct broke my concentration and told me someone is standing behind me.
As I tensed up my muscle in prepare to defend myself, a sudden flashback of the conversation I had with Yu Zhe and Ying in lunch came to my mind, so I decided to do nothing but observing the situation.
I continued in drawing, pretending I didn't know someone is behind me. Though I can't see, but I can tell that person's distance is drawing closer to me by listening to the small noise of footsteps.
After a few seconds, the person is standing directly behind me. Having someone I don't know standing behind me while I'm not in a self-defend stance made me nervous, but I didn't show it on my face, nor I slow down my drawing speed.
"Excuse me."
I felt relief immediately, from his tone, the person most likely won't harm me. Unless he's as vicious as someone I met in Silver Peck
I stand up and turn around to look at that person. A guy who's around 10 cm shorter than me, brown in skin color, he is actually one of my junior in the art club. Guess I really was too wary against everything.
"Yes?"
"Sorry for the interruption, can I have a talk with you?"
"Of course. What's wrong?"
"Ah, before that, my name is Ahmad Muhiddin Bin Abdullah. You can call me Ahmad"
A Malay, or an Arabian I guess.
"I would like to thank you in place of my friend, who was save by you a few days ago."
"A few days ago?"
"To be exact, it was last Thursday. In the Taekwando training."
"I don't recall I save anybody"
He looked a bit surprised as I said that, then he chuckled a little.
"You are just as I heard. You may not realize, but you really did save Mohan."
Oh no..... I can't tell him that I don't actually remember any of my junior's name.
"Ah, his full name is Madan Mohan Kapoor."
That name is familiar but I'm not sure who that is......
Wait, last Taekwando training..... someone I had help.....
"Could he be the one that I helped him by buying him some food??"
"Yes. That's him."
"But why? It is true that I bought him some food but saying that I 'saved' him is exaggerate wasn't it?"
Ahmad chuckled again.
"Well, I supposed it is natural for you to not realize. Mohan is a kind but timid guy, so he couldn't refuse when someone ask him to do something. That day, some other Taekwando members ask him to buy some foods and drinks for them, but he was already exhausted from training so he didn't really want to. Due to his timid nature, he just can't decline them so he had to walk to the cafeteria while feeling tired. Then you came in and help him."
"....... even so, 'saving' him is still exaggerating."
"No, you did save him. Back then, you said something like 'you seem tired, let me run the errand instead'. After looking at you helping him, the other Taekwando members felt that they did something wrong for always asking Mohan to run all their errands. So they apologized to Mohan later. Perhaps due to what you did, some are more considerate towards Mohan now. Therefore Mohan feel indebted by you."
My.....my..... What a 'chain reaction'.
I wanted to say 'but I really didn't do much' but I guess I should just accept the gratitude.
"Well, I guess I should say 'you're welcome'....."
"I'm sorry to bring this up to you all of the sudden. Mohan is.... in a way, shy as well, he can't seems to thank you properly in person so here I am, thanking you in his place. Normally he could thank people properly but maybe because you're now like an idol for everyone, and savior for him, so he find it hard to talk to you."
"Wait. what!? Idol? Savior?? That is over-exaggerated."
"Ahahaha"
Ahmad burst in laughter.
"You really didn't know? You had quite some name among the juniors, especially those who associated with Taekwando and art club."
I don't feel comfortable being popular, but of course, I didn't say that out.
"Well, that's all I wanted to say. I have something to do so I won't join the club activity with you for today. So, goodbye."
"Aaa...... goodbye"
Man....... what a shocking truth.
Though Yu Zhe had already mentioned it, I still find it hard to believe.
Even though I am being famous in a good way, I still hope that I don't get any more famous than I already am.
I dislike standing out.
Because it is very uncomfortable when there are gazes from everywhere.
"Yea, Feng, I will be alright. Living alone is nothing tough when compare to working under you."
I am currently having a phone talk with my elder brother who is still in Silver Peck city.
"Hah, be grateful, if you were not trained by me like that, you couldn't be who you are today."
I don't quite understand what he mean, but I know it's useless to ask so I just let it slide.
"Well then, I'm going to hung up. If you found yourself in any problem...... just solve it yourself. Don't find me. Don't ask for help from mother as well."
"I won't, I don't want to make her worried anyway. Further more, I won't hurt my pride to ask for your help."
"Haha, right. Well, see you then."
There goes the short conversation I have with my elder brother.
-----------
About Minnie's challenge.
Well, to sum it up, she was defeated by me. It wasn't an easy victory because I had to hold back, though it wasn't the hardest thing I had achieved either.
After she was defeated, as expected, she was crying in dissatisfaction. 'Crying' not as in tears came flowing out, but something like screaming. She caused quite a ruckus afterwards, and Akiko had to comfort her and calm her down. As I thought she was too frustrated from losing. Ying also commented that, "Aside from losing, I think the fact that you're couching her bothers her the most. Simply because she doesn't want to obey a guy."
I heard that Minnie often fights with her father as well, I guess me couching her might really be a problem.
After I won, chatters were everywhere. I felt like the audience, who came to watch our fight (which is mainly Taekwando members), were criticizing on how rude I treated a girl. I didn't really heard their conversations, but from their facial expressions, it definitely were not a pleasant one.
I dislike this atmosphere. It is just like when I was in a middle school in Silver Peck city.
----------
February 19th. Monday
More than a week had passed after Minnie's challenge.
In the morning while I was walking on the path to the school.
I felt that after the match with Minnie, there are gazes everywhere.
No....... that's not quite correct.
There were already gazes everywhere even before that match, just that it gets stronger now.
After I reached the class and greet both of my bad friends, I asked them if they heard any rumors about me.
"Rumors? Why?"
"Because I felt like I was watched by someone. No, I mean I felt that a lot of people are giving me weird look."
"Weird look? Really? I don't think so."
"Haha, that's typical of you, Yan. I agreed with Ying, those aren't really weird look. Well, they may as well really be weird, but definitely not the way you take it."
"Which means?"
"You're thinking that something bad about you is going around right? Then you don't have to worry. They are mostly good news, or good rumors."
Good....... rumors? I had never heard of something like this is possible, I thought rumors only refer to bad things.
Before I got to ask in detail, the first period started, so I had to hold my question back until lunch break instead as the short breaks in between lessons are too short for me to discuss this.
-------------
Lunch break, in cafeteria.
After we had bought our lunch and found ourselves a place to sit, I started to ask about those 'rumors'.
By the way, Akiko and Minnie are not here yet, for some reason they always come to cafeteria later than us.
"So back to the topic from this morning, tell me more about those 'rumors'."
Yu Zhe think for a few seconds then answered.
"First of all, your skill in Taekwando. Do you know you got yourselves some admirers? Though they are basically your juniors in the Taekwando club plus some of their friends."
Hm? Is that why some of the juniors always stick with me in the training?
"More like, how do you get to know about that? Do you know my juniors or something?"
"After your match with Minnie, when someone was criticizing how you treated a girl, someone stood out and defend you, saying stuff like how skilled you are and how good you are when helping juniors, that you are also holding back with your best while fighting Minnie, etc etc."
".........."
I am plainly speechless.
Actually, there are a lot I want to say.
For example, 'defending me like that is just going to cause more trouble for me and himself',
or 'I'm not that great'.
But no point saying those to Yu Zhe. Those words are more for my junior.
Then again, my junior was helping me, so I shouldn't say those words to him as well, I should be appreciating instead.
Therefore, I'm left with nothing to say.
"So because of that, it is later revealed that they admire you as 'someone takes good care of his junior'."
"Honestly, I don't see that as a good rumor."
"Why not? Someone just openly declares you're a good guy."
"That is just what he thought. Don't forget there are still people who criticized me, wouldn't they fight back as my junior tried to defend me?"
"Nope, I didn't heard anything of that sort."
"You didn't hear doesn't mean they are not planning to fight back. There's a chance they are planning to fight back secretly, perhaps using some underhand method. People who fights back with underhand method are not to be taken lightly."
After hearing me say that, both Yu Zhe and Ying were staring at me like I said something ridiculous.
The atmosphere around became kind of tense.
"Eer... Yan, there aren't that many people who're like that."
From Yu Zhe's reply, I started to understand.
Maybe I had meet with too many people of that kind back in Silver Peck, so it had already become a habit for me to be very wary.
As Yu Zhe mentioned, Kammzet is a more peaceful place than Silver Peck, so there should be much less people of that kind.
"Ok.... I'm just trying not to be overly-optimistic."
From my words, Yu Zhe understood my feeling and kept quiet. Even though he never live in Silver Peck before, but from the past experience of us stirring troubles and fighting with other kids, he could understand to a certain extend.
"I really don't think you have to worry."
Said Ying, and broke the tension.
"Akiko is saying good things about you as well."
"Huh? what kind?"
"She said something about you leading the club activity for Arts Club in place of the vice president when she had something to attend and no around. Being trusted by the vice president even though you just joined the club not long ago has earn you some respect as well. Moreover, you did well leading the club activity despite you're a new member."
Though it sounds like a good thing, I didn't feel so. Rather, I thought it was strange that people came to respect me instead of jealous or envy. Are the people in Silver Peck really that bad? or rather the people in Kammzet are too kind? Or maybe there are some conspiracy going behind those compliments?
I don't know, but I know for sure, being wary won't hurt.
"Dude, you really shouldn't worry that much."
Perhaps I was making a serious face, Yu Zhe looked at me with a sad expression, which caused Ying to look sad as well. The uncomfortable tension is back again.
They are probably imagining my life in Silver Peck, figured something bad happened that caused me like this. 'If only that incident never happen' is probably what Yu Zhe is thinking. He had blame himself too much on things that aren't his fault, like his mother's death, like the incident that makes me move away Kammzet.
"Sorry, my bad. I will try to be happy for that. So let's stop this tense atmosphere and enjoy our lunch"
'try to be happy', though I was the one who said it, it sounded ridiculous to me, because there are probably no one in this world who have trouble being happy on good things, except me.
Afterwards, as Minnie and Akiko join up with us, the tension was broke for real and everything is back to usual.
Aoba Alexander and Miley didn't eat with us today. According to Akiko, they have something personal to handle.
-------------
After school, I'm staying in the art room because of art club's activity.
Art club itself has around 40 members, but the art room is never full of people every time in the club activity.
According to Annett, the vice president of art club, aside from members who didn't take the club activity seriously, the rest are students who happened to have other club activity fall on the same day as art club's, so most of them decided to join the activity bi-weekly.
Today, there are less than 10 people included me, and it didn't take long for everyone to leave and left me alone in the art room.
The school closes for student at 7.00pm, which there are an hour left for me to stay in the art room.
I'm not so good with drawing. Though I had learn a bit of drawing back when I was still primary school, that is far from enough if I wanted to draw something decent.
Vice prez Annett did comment that I did well despite being a complete beginner, but I won't feel satisfied from that. After all, all the paints around me are very good, especially Llyr's. With all those good paints around, my painting looks like a kid's drawing, and it hurts my motto of 'if cannot the best, then at least be above average'.
As I was focusing in drawing, my fighting instinct broke my concentration and told me someone is standing behind me.
As I tensed up my muscle in prepare to defend myself, a sudden flashback of the conversation I had with Yu Zhe and Ying in lunch came to my mind, so I decided to do nothing but observing the situation.
I continued in drawing, pretending I didn't know someone is behind me. Though I can't see, but I can tell that person's distance is drawing closer to me by listening to the small noise of footsteps.
After a few seconds, the person is standing directly behind me. Having someone I don't know standing behind me while I'm not in a self-defend stance made me nervous, but I didn't show it on my face, nor I slow down my drawing speed.
"Excuse me."
I felt relief immediately, from his tone, the person most likely won't harm me. Unless he's as vicious as someone I met in Silver Peck
I stand up and turn around to look at that person. A guy who's around 10 cm shorter than me, brown in skin color, he is actually one of my junior in the art club. Guess I really was too wary against everything.
"Yes?"
"Sorry for the interruption, can I have a talk with you?"
"Of course. What's wrong?"
"Ah, before that, my name is Ahmad Muhiddin Bin Abdullah. You can call me Ahmad"
A Malay, or an Arabian I guess.
"I would like to thank you in place of my friend, who was save by you a few days ago."
"A few days ago?"
"To be exact, it was last Thursday. In the Taekwando training."
"I don't recall I save anybody"
He looked a bit surprised as I said that, then he chuckled a little.
"You are just as I heard. You may not realize, but you really did save Mohan."
Oh no..... I can't tell him that I don't actually remember any of my junior's name.
"Ah, his full name is Madan Mohan Kapoor."
That name is familiar but I'm not sure who that is......
Wait, last Taekwando training..... someone I had help.....
"Could he be the one that I helped him by buying him some food??"
"Yes. That's him."
"But why? It is true that I bought him some food but saying that I 'saved' him is exaggerate wasn't it?"
Ahmad chuckled again.
"Well, I supposed it is natural for you to not realize. Mohan is a kind but timid guy, so he couldn't refuse when someone ask him to do something. That day, some other Taekwando members ask him to buy some foods and drinks for them, but he was already exhausted from training so he didn't really want to. Due to his timid nature, he just can't decline them so he had to walk to the cafeteria while feeling tired. Then you came in and help him."
"....... even so, 'saving' him is still exaggerating."
"No, you did save him. Back then, you said something like 'you seem tired, let me run the errand instead'. After looking at you helping him, the other Taekwando members felt that they did something wrong for always asking Mohan to run all their errands. So they apologized to Mohan later. Perhaps due to what you did, some are more considerate towards Mohan now. Therefore Mohan feel indebted by you."
My.....my..... What a 'chain reaction'.
I wanted to say 'but I really didn't do much' but I guess I should just accept the gratitude.
"Well, I guess I should say 'you're welcome'....."
"I'm sorry to bring this up to you all of the sudden. Mohan is.... in a way, shy as well, he can't seems to thank you properly in person so here I am, thanking you in his place. Normally he could thank people properly but maybe because you're now like an idol for everyone, and savior for him, so he find it hard to talk to you."
"Wait. what!? Idol? Savior?? That is over-exaggerated."
"Ahahaha"
Ahmad burst in laughter.
"You really didn't know? You had quite some name among the juniors, especially those who associated with Taekwando and art club."
I don't feel comfortable being popular, but of course, I didn't say that out.
"Well, that's all I wanted to say. I have something to do so I won't join the club activity with you for today. So, goodbye."
"Aaa...... goodbye"
Man....... what a shocking truth.
Though Yu Zhe had already mentioned it, I still find it hard to believe.
Even though I am being famous in a good way, I still hope that I don't get any more famous than I already am.
I dislike standing out.
Because it is very uncomfortable when there are gazes from everywhere.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Interlude 1
In a big room that looks like a conference room, there is a table and a chair centered near the windows, which is where an old man is seated.
The room looks very empty because there are nothing but a table, chair and the old man.
As he is waiting, someone knocks the door.
"I'm coming in."
A serious-looking woman, that appears to be the old man's personal assistant, come into the room.
"I had already talk to her. Though she looked worry but she should be able to do as I asked."
"Well, because that is a suggestion we made to help her brother. So she will not refuse to do it."
"Are you sure about this? Does that new guy deserves so much?"
"Didn't I told you? He is Feng's younger brother. The very Feng who is now an important person of the Cauldron corp."
"I know, and above all, he is actually Zha's grandson. But that only means he might held the great talent in him and doesn't necessary mean he will make full use of his talent."
"I know what you are trying to say, but my hunch tells me he is by far the most suitable person to be the candidates."
"If that is what you had decided."
"Well, don't worry so much, the plan can't start without the candidates passing the exam, so if he can't pass, he will just simply be removed as one of the candidates, and nothing bad will affect us."
"I am worried about his safety more than our situation. It is partially our fault that the previous candidates died."
"A life-and-death situation is a must for the exam. Or else there is no future to let people who can't survive that to rule over Kammzet."
"If only you could live longer."
"Don't say that, every life must age and come to meet death. I'm already very lucky to be able to live up for 3 generations.... Oh, wrong. It is 4 generations now with your newly born daughter."
"You shouldn't talk about your death so lightly. You know I won't feel good when you say so."
"Haha, you should just get used to my attitude already. To begin with, you should not be bothered that much if you're my granddaughter."
"Being your granddaughter doesn't mean I will feel nothing towards death."
"....... maybe you are right. Looks like I've already became not bothered by something that has occured to me too frequent....."
The room looks very empty because there are nothing but a table, chair and the old man.
As he is waiting, someone knocks the door.
"I'm coming in."
A serious-looking woman, that appears to be the old man's personal assistant, come into the room.
"I had already talk to her. Though she looked worry but she should be able to do as I asked."
"Well, because that is a suggestion we made to help her brother. So she will not refuse to do it."
"Are you sure about this? Does that new guy deserves so much?"
"Didn't I told you? He is Feng's younger brother. The very Feng who is now an important person of the Cauldron corp."
"I know, and above all, he is actually Zha's grandson. But that only means he might held the great talent in him and doesn't necessary mean he will make full use of his talent."
"I know what you are trying to say, but my hunch tells me he is by far the most suitable person to be the candidates."
"If that is what you had decided."
"Well, don't worry so much, the plan can't start without the candidates passing the exam, so if he can't pass, he will just simply be removed as one of the candidates, and nothing bad will affect us."
"I am worried about his safety more than our situation. It is partially our fault that the previous candidates died."
"A life-and-death situation is a must for the exam. Or else there is no future to let people who can't survive that to rule over Kammzet."
"If only you could live longer."
"Don't say that, every life must age and come to meet death. I'm already very lucky to be able to live up for 3 generations.... Oh, wrong. It is 4 generations now with your newly born daughter."
"You shouldn't talk about your death so lightly. You know I won't feel good when you say so."
"Haha, you should just get used to my attitude already. To begin with, you should not be bothered that much if you're my granddaughter."
"Being your granddaughter doesn't mean I will feel nothing towards death."
"....... maybe you are right. Looks like I've already became not bothered by something that has occured to me too frequent....."
Chapter 7 - all are assembled
February 5th, Monday. 2 weeks after meeting with the Aoba siblings. Lunch break in school.
As always, the 3 of us are taking our lunch together.
Additionally,
with 2 new members that joined us recently....
Things are a bit awkward with Minnie and Akiko sitting together with us even though the 5 of us ate lunch together for a few time already.
I mean, it is awkward for me and Yu Zhe.
Ying is talking with them perfectly fine.
For these few days, Ying is the one talking with them for most of the time.
There were some conversations between Yu Zhe and Akiko, but the conversation was pretty much one-sided.
Today, I'm going through this awkward moment in lunch again......
I was planning to not talk with any of these 2 for the whole time, but looks like I can't today.
Well, it is still acceptable for Akiko to talk to me....
But it is something I totally didn't anticipate,
Minnie is the one who initial the conversation.
For the past few days, I still talked a little with Akiko, though our total conversation didn't sum up to more than 3 (at least it is a much proper chatting compare with Yu Zhe's), but for Minnie to initial the talk, I have a bad feeling about it.
"Wang Xia Yan."
For your information, addressing someone in full name appears to be unfriendly in the local Chinese culture.
"May I help you?"
Though my words were polite, to everyone around me it was quite obvious that my tone wasn't.
"I am challenging you for a fight!"
Everyone around us was very surprised.
I don't, because the fact that she is the one who started the conversation is a much surprising fact to me.
Not just me, Akiko doesn't seem to be surprised as well, perhaps Minnie told her about this already.
"Why should I accept your challenge?"
"You don't have a choice, you have to accept."
"Prez Johann won't allow us to do this, for the sake of a Taekwando's moral and other reasons."
"That is why I am challenging you as a fellow Taekwando fighter!"
"Something like that will need at least Johann's permission."
"He already agree, so you don't have a choice!"
My.... my..... Johann, what were you thinking?
No wait.....
He probably give up from stopping Minnie after she kept on pestering him.
I should pity him instead.
Well then, Johann, I will take care of her for you if you really are having trouble dealing with her.
"Fine fine.... whatever.... do it later in club activity."
"What the heck is this, Yan!?"
Yu Zhe shouted in disbelief. Figures, a sudden declaration from Minnie about challenging me, of course no one except Johann and us will understand.
"Aah.... troublesome. You"
Being very unmotivated to explain, I pointed at Minnie.
"Explain to this guy."
"Why should I. Hmph!"
Akiko made a bitter laugh, and explained to Yu Zhe in Minnie's place.
"Because Yan was assigned to train Minnie in place of other male Taekwando seniors, so Minnie had to face him every time in training, which Minnie strongly oppose to this idea and wanted the club president, Johann, to take over Yan's place. As Minnie suggested that, Johann said Minnie if she could defeat Yan, then that would mean she is too strong to be couched by Yan, thus they will have no choice but to let Johann train her personally."
"Wait. Yan couches Minnie!?"
Ying was surprised.
"Yes... Apparently, because of Yan's achievement in his previous school's Taekwando club, the president Johann recognized him and make him as a senior club member. While Minnie is considered as a junior member and needed to be guided by a senior, there wasn't much female senior, so they have to assign a male senior to guide her, but most of them was wildly attacked by Minnie. They couldn't do much because they have to hold back towards a girl, so Yan is the only one left other than Johann can control her while holding back. He will be in charge of training Minnie for at least half a year."
"Wow man, as expected of Yan, you're probably the only guy who can handle Minnie without going all out."
Yu Zhe grinned as he said so, which made me feel that it was not a compliment. Man... I can't really feel happy about that at all.
After that, I could hear someone shouting Minnie and Akiko's name.
The 2 girls look at the source of that voice, I did so too.
I saw 2 familiar faces afar....
Wait... Deja Vu?
Not quite, the 2 familiar faces are a boy and a girl, rather than 2 girls that emitted aura I dislike.
After waving back, Minnie shouted and ask them to come here.
So here they are, right in front of the table we were seated.
Aoba Alexander and Miley.
"Hi hi~ Minnie and Akiko~"
"Hiiiiii Mileeeey"
"Good Afternoon, Miley, Alexander"
"Oh, so that is your brother that you had mentioned to us a lot?"
"Yeap. Hey Alex, at least greet them."
Just like when I last met them, there are always delay before Alexander wanted to say something.
"Nice... to meet you."
After greeting the girls, Alexander shift his stare to me. As if she was his duplicate, Miley look at me the similar way Alexander did.
"Hi, Yan. We meet again~"
She greeted me after staring for a short moment.
Man, the short moment she stare at me was so much like her brother, which creeps me more than her brother did.
In any case, I greet her back and said it is fine if Alexander doesn't greet me.
Then Akiko told us Miley was in the same class as Minnie and herself. They became friends 1 or 2 weeks after school started. How Minnie and Akiko started to join us in lunch was also mentioned to them, so that's when Miley ask if she could bring her brother and join us at lunch.
So here they are now. With Miley and Alexander appearing, plus showing the fact that I know them, Ying and Yu Zhe were a bit shocked, and there goes them throwing questions at me.
"You were just back to Kammzet for around 1 month, how could you know so many people that even I don't!!"
Yu Zhe complained.
I'm not sure why he said 'so many people', the only people who I had met before Yu Zhe are Akiko, Miley and Alexander (I'm sure he had met Minnie before me), so there are only 3 persons. Which is not that 'many' to me.
After Alexander and Miley sat down together with us, the story about how I met the siblings were told.
From the way Miley and Minnie greeted each other, they should be quite close, and therefore I kind of expected Minnie to snap when she knows I misunderstood her new friend's elder brother, Alexander, and attacked him.
But she didn't.
"Minnie, you sure are calm even after you heard about this."
Even Akiko, who knows her way too well, think it was a bit strange for her to be so calm.
"Heh, I'm going to have a match with him later so all anger I built up can be released by then. Thinking that, I can pretty much endure anything now."
Hearing that, I can only take it as she likes hitting me, so much that she seems to be delighted as she finally get a chance to fight (attack) with me.
"Good luck, Yan."
Yu Zhe grinned while putting his left hand on my shoulder and show me a thumbs up with his right hand.
He sure is having fun on this.
I look at Ying as I was wondering how will she react to this.
.......She was eating her food like nothing happen.
Man, these 2 bad friends of mine really didn't change much.
Not like I'm a masochist, but I actually feel happy about that. About the feel of gathering together with my best friends.
Though, this feel is slightly different than it used to. Perhaps due to the another 4 new members added in the group. But it wasn't as bad as I first thought.
As always, the 3 of us are taking our lunch together.
Additionally,
with 2 new members that joined us recently....
Things are a bit awkward with Minnie and Akiko sitting together with us even though the 5 of us ate lunch together for a few time already.
I mean, it is awkward for me and Yu Zhe.
Ying is talking with them perfectly fine.
For these few days, Ying is the one talking with them for most of the time.
There were some conversations between Yu Zhe and Akiko, but the conversation was pretty much one-sided.
Today, I'm going through this awkward moment in lunch again......
I was planning to not talk with any of these 2 for the whole time, but looks like I can't today.
Well, it is still acceptable for Akiko to talk to me....
But it is something I totally didn't anticipate,
Minnie is the one who initial the conversation.
For the past few days, I still talked a little with Akiko, though our total conversation didn't sum up to more than 3 (at least it is a much proper chatting compare with Yu Zhe's), but for Minnie to initial the talk, I have a bad feeling about it.
"Wang Xia Yan."
For your information, addressing someone in full name appears to be unfriendly in the local Chinese culture.
"May I help you?"
Though my words were polite, to everyone around me it was quite obvious that my tone wasn't.
"I am challenging you for a fight!"
Everyone around us was very surprised.
I don't, because the fact that she is the one who started the conversation is a much surprising fact to me.
Not just me, Akiko doesn't seem to be surprised as well, perhaps Minnie told her about this already.
"Why should I accept your challenge?"
"You don't have a choice, you have to accept."
"Prez Johann won't allow us to do this, for the sake of a Taekwando's moral and other reasons."
"That is why I am challenging you as a fellow Taekwando fighter!"
"Something like that will need at least Johann's permission."
"He already agree, so you don't have a choice!"
My.... my..... Johann, what were you thinking?
No wait.....
He probably give up from stopping Minnie after she kept on pestering him.
I should pity him instead.
Well then, Johann, I will take care of her for you if you really are having trouble dealing with her.
"Fine fine.... whatever.... do it later in club activity."
"What the heck is this, Yan!?"
Yu Zhe shouted in disbelief. Figures, a sudden declaration from Minnie about challenging me, of course no one except Johann and us will understand.
"Aah.... troublesome. You"
Being very unmotivated to explain, I pointed at Minnie.
"Explain to this guy."
"Why should I. Hmph!"
Akiko made a bitter laugh, and explained to Yu Zhe in Minnie's place.
"Because Yan was assigned to train Minnie in place of other male Taekwando seniors, so Minnie had to face him every time in training, which Minnie strongly oppose to this idea and wanted the club president, Johann, to take over Yan's place. As Minnie suggested that, Johann said Minnie if she could defeat Yan, then that would mean she is too strong to be couched by Yan, thus they will have no choice but to let Johann train her personally."
"Wait. Yan couches Minnie!?"
Ying was surprised.
"Yes... Apparently, because of Yan's achievement in his previous school's Taekwando club, the president Johann recognized him and make him as a senior club member. While Minnie is considered as a junior member and needed to be guided by a senior, there wasn't much female senior, so they have to assign a male senior to guide her, but most of them was wildly attacked by Minnie. They couldn't do much because they have to hold back towards a girl, so Yan is the only one left other than Johann can control her while holding back. He will be in charge of training Minnie for at least half a year."
"Wow man, as expected of Yan, you're probably the only guy who can handle Minnie without going all out."
Yu Zhe grinned as he said so, which made me feel that it was not a compliment. Man... I can't really feel happy about that at all.
After that, I could hear someone shouting Minnie and Akiko's name.
The 2 girls look at the source of that voice, I did so too.
I saw 2 familiar faces afar....
Wait... Deja Vu?
Not quite, the 2 familiar faces are a boy and a girl, rather than 2 girls that emitted aura I dislike.
After waving back, Minnie shouted and ask them to come here.
So here they are, right in front of the table we were seated.
Aoba Alexander and Miley.
"Hi hi~ Minnie and Akiko~"
"Hiiiiii Mileeeey"
"Good Afternoon, Miley, Alexander"
"Oh, so that is your brother that you had mentioned to us a lot?"
"Yeap. Hey Alex, at least greet them."
Just like when I last met them, there are always delay before Alexander wanted to say something.
"Nice... to meet you."
After greeting the girls, Alexander shift his stare to me. As if she was his duplicate, Miley look at me the similar way Alexander did.
"Hi, Yan. We meet again~"
She greeted me after staring for a short moment.
Man, the short moment she stare at me was so much like her brother, which creeps me more than her brother did.
In any case, I greet her back and said it is fine if Alexander doesn't greet me.
Then Akiko told us Miley was in the same class as Minnie and herself. They became friends 1 or 2 weeks after school started. How Minnie and Akiko started to join us in lunch was also mentioned to them, so that's when Miley ask if she could bring her brother and join us at lunch.
So here they are now. With Miley and Alexander appearing, plus showing the fact that I know them, Ying and Yu Zhe were a bit shocked, and there goes them throwing questions at me.
"You were just back to Kammzet for around 1 month, how could you know so many people that even I don't!!"
Yu Zhe complained.
I'm not sure why he said 'so many people', the only people who I had met before Yu Zhe are Akiko, Miley and Alexander (I'm sure he had met Minnie before me), so there are only 3 persons. Which is not that 'many' to me.
After Alexander and Miley sat down together with us, the story about how I met the siblings were told.
From the way Miley and Minnie greeted each other, they should be quite close, and therefore I kind of expected Minnie to snap when she knows I misunderstood her new friend's elder brother, Alexander, and attacked him.
But she didn't.
"Minnie, you sure are calm even after you heard about this."
Even Akiko, who knows her way too well, think it was a bit strange for her to be so calm.
"Heh, I'm going to have a match with him later so all anger I built up can be released by then. Thinking that, I can pretty much endure anything now."
Hearing that, I can only take it as she likes hitting me, so much that she seems to be delighted as she finally get a chance to fight (attack) with me.
"Good luck, Yan."
Yu Zhe grinned while putting his left hand on my shoulder and show me a thumbs up with his right hand.
He sure is having fun on this.
I look at Ying as I was wondering how will she react to this.
.......She was eating her food like nothing happen.
Man, these 2 bad friends of mine really didn't change much.
Not like I'm a masochist, but I actually feel happy about that. About the feel of gathering together with my best friends.
Though, this feel is slightly different than it used to. Perhaps due to the another 4 new members added in the group. But it wasn't as bad as I first thought.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Chapter 6 - The suspicious shadow in the back alley
January 27, Saturday. 5.10pm evening.
I'm running out of cooking ingredient again.
So I went to the market I often visit and quickly bought all the ingredients I needed.
Not long after I left the supermarket, at the back alley where that incident took place in, I saw a human's shadow, that reminded me of the similar shadow I saw last week.
It seems like it wasn't my imagination back then when I thought I saw a suspicious shadow.
So I entered the alley and try to seek for the shadow's owner.
While tracking, I saw the shadow's owner (albeit only a short glimpse of his back) a few times.
From afar, I was sure that the shadow's owner is a guy, around my size if not slightly taller, or bigger than me. What makes me confirm he was suspicious was the briefcase he carries at his back. It's a black briefcase with its length probably half of his height. As the briefcase knocks a street pole accidentally while he walks, the sound of the impact was quite strong, that makes me firmly believe that briefcase was heavy.
Walking in the back alley with a suspicious looking briefcase that is heavy, though I feel like playing too much game has made me think too much but I can't help to think there is weapon inside the briefcase.
After tracking for a few minutes, I heard a girl shout shortly after the guy make a turn at a corner.
I sprint towards that corner and make a turn. I saw the guy with his back facing me and a girl who I can't see clearly due to the guy blocking my sight. He was grabbing the girl's shoulder, then let go of his hands and start to take his briefcase.
From that little action, I deduced that he was going to take something from the briefcase.
I quickly charge towards him and attack him at his stomach, but my attack was blocked by his briefcase.
From my fist that came in contact with the briefcase, I could tell the briefcase is very hard, almost like a wall or a steel. So what I thought might not be wrong.
Before I could make my second move, the guy tried to smash me with his heavy briefcase. Even though I didn't really think much about it, I dodged it reflexively instead of blocking his attack. Perhaps my body recognize the sensation my fist felt earlier so it automatically thinks any direct hit by the briefcase will hurts a lot.
After dodging a few attacks, I started to get used to his movement. Because of the briefcase's weight, there are always delay after every attack, so I make use of that delay and attempted to hit his jaw.
As I thought the weight of the briefcase should causes him to lose a bit of balance after each attack, he dodged my attack perfectly by slightly turning his head to the side. In other word, he dodged my attack without moving his body at all.
Though I was surprised, I didn't waver at all and quickly launch another attack.
Previously, my hand missed his jaw, so it was positioned at the left, so instead of pulling my hand back and wasted some time, I grab his shoulder with my right hand, and pull him closer to me. Because the weight of the briefcase threw him off balance a little earlier, so it is obvious that he lost all his balance when I pull him.
This is it! I thought, and hit his stomach hard with my left fist.
After the attack, I can feel his weight from my right hand. He seems to be losing his strength and starting to fall down.
When I thought I had take care of him and started to relax, he headbutt me followed by an attack from his briefcase.
Though I took a full hit from his headbutt, I managed to block his briefcase attack.
As expected, it is a very powerful strike. From my rough guesstimate, the weight of the briefcase should be more than 20kg.
I fell back by quite a distance after taking the last attack.
As the girl is further from the guy than earlier, I believe it should be safe for her to run now, so I shouted to the girl and ask her to run away.
"Huh?"
The girl made a questioned face.
"What do you mean?"
She asked.
Now it is my turn to make a questioned face.
"What do you mean what?? He harassed you earlier and was able to hurt you earlier so of course you should run!"
"Huh? No, he wasn't. He is my elder brother."
"........Eh!?"
------------------------------
The girl introduced the guy and herself to me, then I introduced myself in return.
The guy who I thought was dangerous, is named Aoba Alexander, and the girl is named Aoba Miley. Now that I'm facing both of them and talk in calm, I could tell clearly that this guy is both taller and bigger than me. His height is probably 180cm or more, and he probably weighted around 90kg. The girl on the other hand, is so much smaller while she stood next to Alexander. Though she is at least taller than that mini dinosaur.
Okaaay........ so, I was making a huge mistake and embarrassed myself greatly.
The girl shouted earlier because her brother was approaching her from the back and shocked her. So it is a shout of surprised than shout of fear.
"If you just accidentally surprised her, then why would you take your briefcase down after that?"
Because normally one would just try to calm her down, it makes no sense to take the briefcase down.
The guy stay silent for a while, and said that because he thought I was trying to hurt Miley.
Means the moment I made a turn at the corner and saw them, he already notice my presence and thought I was going to attack them from the back, that's why he let go of his hand from her shoulder and start to grab his briefcase in prepare to defend my assault.
What a silly misunderstanding. I facepalmed myself when I came to realize all that.
"I apologize for my stupid mistake."
"Ahaha... don't worry about it. From your point of view, it is normal to mistaken it."
Oh yea, one of the thing that makes me misunderstood, other than Alexander looked like harassing Miley, is his abnormally heavy briefcase. As I had thought of this, I asked Alexander about it.
For some reason, it seems like he spaced off and didn't reply me. Miley made a bitter laugh and explained to me.
"For some reason, my brother had always been attacked by others when he is alone. More so when he is with me, as he will ended up fighting someone that tried to hit on me. So for that he learned a bit of self defense and fight every now and then. But you see, both of us are from a family with musical background, and my brother happened to plays violin so his violin always broke after fighting. So with some connections my father has, my parents make a sturdy violin case for my brother. The weight is the result of the sturdiness."
That is.... quite something.....
Always been in fight, I guess that's why Miley didn't even try to stop us in the slightest bit earlier. She must have thought I am one of those who attack Alexander.
"What is the briefcase's weight?"
"I'm not too sure. It should be heavier than normal violin case, yet not too heavy that makes traveling with it difficult"
"Can I try to lift it?"
I asked Alexander. Once again, he didn't reply me. Is he daydreaming or he dislike talking?
"I think my brother won't mind it."
While saying so, Miley made a bitter smile.
I lift the briefcase up for a few seconds, then put it down.
It is heavy..... but not as much as I thought.
It probably weights around 10kg, or even less.
Does that mean the powerful impact I felt earlier was more because of Alexander's strength than because of the briefcase's weight?
I shouldn't be surprised actually, from his body build, he must be quite strong. If I am strong in fighting because of my reflex, then he is strong because of his brute strength.
"Say...."
"Hm?"
"Is your brother always like this? I mean.... dislike talking?"
"Hah.... he is the quiet type actually. But despite that, a lot of things run through his mind when he is not talking."
"Hoh.... so you could tell what he is thinking?"
"Yes, to a certain extend. Because his thought process could be very fast sometimes so rather than I don't understand what he is thinking, it is more like I can't keep up with his thinking process."
"........I see."
Putting aside the fact that you don't deny you can read his mind, can't keep up with his thinking process sounds way too unbelievable.
But well, nothing is impossible in this century, more so in the Kammzet City.
I am convinced though, about the fact that Alexander's thought process are very fast.
Unlike me whose body acts reflexively, he probably moves after he had thought of about the move properly.
Like when I tried to hit his jaw earlier, he probably already anticipated my movement, that's why he could dodged my attack with just moving his head slightly.
He should also anticipated me grabbing his shoulder and pull him off balance, but he couldn't prevent it because he can't move his body easily due to the momentum brought by swinging his briefcase hard.
Instead, he probably tensed up his muscle around his stomach area so he can withstand my attack, and could easily tricked me into thinking I had defeated him by faking he lose his strength, and headbutt me when I had let my guard down, resulting in taking his headbutt in full force.
I may be thinking too much, but if what I thought is true, I should really avoid fighting someone like him. in the future.
"Thanks for explaining and sorry for the trouble cause. It is almost night time so I must take my leave now"
"No, it is our fault for not realizing it. Do you live around here?"
"Hm? Ah, yea. Around 15 minutes from here"
"Then I guess we might meet again in the future. Oh yea, next time when you saw someone at the back alley, please check if it is my brother first, because he has the habit of taking a stroll in the back alley"
"Ah.... I.... see..."
That's...... no, I shouldn't comment on people's habit or hobby. I don't quite have the right to do so anyway.
"Well, so.... see you again, somewhere in this town."
"Yes. Good bye."
As I was taking my leave, it seems like Alexander was staring at me. Though he might just be spacing off again, but I just felt like it is not in this case. Could it be he is thinking something about me? Like I could be dangerous? I might be paranoid but I did attack him earlier so it is not strange for him to think so.
The mystery of the shadow in the back alley is now solved. Meh.... Just saying it for fun. It's not like there was any real mystery to begin with.
I'm running out of cooking ingredient again.
So I went to the market I often visit and quickly bought all the ingredients I needed.
Not long after I left the supermarket, at the back alley where that incident took place in, I saw a human's shadow, that reminded me of the similar shadow I saw last week.
It seems like it wasn't my imagination back then when I thought I saw a suspicious shadow.
So I entered the alley and try to seek for the shadow's owner.
While tracking, I saw the shadow's owner (albeit only a short glimpse of his back) a few times.
From afar, I was sure that the shadow's owner is a guy, around my size if not slightly taller, or bigger than me. What makes me confirm he was suspicious was the briefcase he carries at his back. It's a black briefcase with its length probably half of his height. As the briefcase knocks a street pole accidentally while he walks, the sound of the impact was quite strong, that makes me firmly believe that briefcase was heavy.
Walking in the back alley with a suspicious looking briefcase that is heavy, though I feel like playing too much game has made me think too much but I can't help to think there is weapon inside the briefcase.
After tracking for a few minutes, I heard a girl shout shortly after the guy make a turn at a corner.
I sprint towards that corner and make a turn. I saw the guy with his back facing me and a girl who I can't see clearly due to the guy blocking my sight. He was grabbing the girl's shoulder, then let go of his hands and start to take his briefcase.
From that little action, I deduced that he was going to take something from the briefcase.
I quickly charge towards him and attack him at his stomach, but my attack was blocked by his briefcase.
From my fist that came in contact with the briefcase, I could tell the briefcase is very hard, almost like a wall or a steel. So what I thought might not be wrong.
Before I could make my second move, the guy tried to smash me with his heavy briefcase. Even though I didn't really think much about it, I dodged it reflexively instead of blocking his attack. Perhaps my body recognize the sensation my fist felt earlier so it automatically thinks any direct hit by the briefcase will hurts a lot.
After dodging a few attacks, I started to get used to his movement. Because of the briefcase's weight, there are always delay after every attack, so I make use of that delay and attempted to hit his jaw.
As I thought the weight of the briefcase should causes him to lose a bit of balance after each attack, he dodged my attack perfectly by slightly turning his head to the side. In other word, he dodged my attack without moving his body at all.
Though I was surprised, I didn't waver at all and quickly launch another attack.
Previously, my hand missed his jaw, so it was positioned at the left, so instead of pulling my hand back and wasted some time, I grab his shoulder with my right hand, and pull him closer to me. Because the weight of the briefcase threw him off balance a little earlier, so it is obvious that he lost all his balance when I pull him.
This is it! I thought, and hit his stomach hard with my left fist.
After the attack, I can feel his weight from my right hand. He seems to be losing his strength and starting to fall down.
When I thought I had take care of him and started to relax, he headbutt me followed by an attack from his briefcase.
Though I took a full hit from his headbutt, I managed to block his briefcase attack.
As expected, it is a very powerful strike. From my rough guesstimate, the weight of the briefcase should be more than 20kg.
I fell back by quite a distance after taking the last attack.
As the girl is further from the guy than earlier, I believe it should be safe for her to run now, so I shouted to the girl and ask her to run away.
"Huh?"
The girl made a questioned face.
"What do you mean?"
She asked.
Now it is my turn to make a questioned face.
"What do you mean what?? He harassed you earlier and was able to hurt you earlier so of course you should run!"
"Huh? No, he wasn't. He is my elder brother."
"........Eh!?"
------------------------------
The girl introduced the guy and herself to me, then I introduced myself in return.
The guy who I thought was dangerous, is named Aoba Alexander, and the girl is named Aoba Miley. Now that I'm facing both of them and talk in calm, I could tell clearly that this guy is both taller and bigger than me. His height is probably 180cm or more, and he probably weighted around 90kg. The girl on the other hand, is so much smaller while she stood next to Alexander. Though she is at least taller than that mini dinosaur.
Okaaay........ so, I was making a huge mistake and embarrassed myself greatly.
The girl shouted earlier because her brother was approaching her from the back and shocked her. So it is a shout of surprised than shout of fear.
"If you just accidentally surprised her, then why would you take your briefcase down after that?"
Because normally one would just try to calm her down, it makes no sense to take the briefcase down.
The guy stay silent for a while, and said that because he thought I was trying to hurt Miley.
Means the moment I made a turn at the corner and saw them, he already notice my presence and thought I was going to attack them from the back, that's why he let go of his hand from her shoulder and start to grab his briefcase in prepare to defend my assault.
What a silly misunderstanding. I facepalmed myself when I came to realize all that.
"I apologize for my stupid mistake."
"Ahaha... don't worry about it. From your point of view, it is normal to mistaken it."
Oh yea, one of the thing that makes me misunderstood, other than Alexander looked like harassing Miley, is his abnormally heavy briefcase. As I had thought of this, I asked Alexander about it.
For some reason, it seems like he spaced off and didn't reply me. Miley made a bitter laugh and explained to me.
"For some reason, my brother had always been attacked by others when he is alone. More so when he is with me, as he will ended up fighting someone that tried to hit on me. So for that he learned a bit of self defense and fight every now and then. But you see, both of us are from a family with musical background, and my brother happened to plays violin so his violin always broke after fighting. So with some connections my father has, my parents make a sturdy violin case for my brother. The weight is the result of the sturdiness."
That is.... quite something.....
Always been in fight, I guess that's why Miley didn't even try to stop us in the slightest bit earlier. She must have thought I am one of those who attack Alexander.
"What is the briefcase's weight?"
"I'm not too sure. It should be heavier than normal violin case, yet not too heavy that makes traveling with it difficult"
"Can I try to lift it?"
I asked Alexander. Once again, he didn't reply me. Is he daydreaming or he dislike talking?
"I think my brother won't mind it."
While saying so, Miley made a bitter smile.
I lift the briefcase up for a few seconds, then put it down.
It is heavy..... but not as much as I thought.
It probably weights around 10kg, or even less.
Does that mean the powerful impact I felt earlier was more because of Alexander's strength than because of the briefcase's weight?
I shouldn't be surprised actually, from his body build, he must be quite strong. If I am strong in fighting because of my reflex, then he is strong because of his brute strength.
"Say...."
"Hm?"
"Is your brother always like this? I mean.... dislike talking?"
"Hah.... he is the quiet type actually. But despite that, a lot of things run through his mind when he is not talking."
"Hoh.... so you could tell what he is thinking?"
"Yes, to a certain extend. Because his thought process could be very fast sometimes so rather than I don't understand what he is thinking, it is more like I can't keep up with his thinking process."
"........I see."
Putting aside the fact that you don't deny you can read his mind, can't keep up with his thinking process sounds way too unbelievable.
But well, nothing is impossible in this century, more so in the Kammzet City.
I am convinced though, about the fact that Alexander's thought process are very fast.
Unlike me whose body acts reflexively, he probably moves after he had thought of about the move properly.
Like when I tried to hit his jaw earlier, he probably already anticipated my movement, that's why he could dodged my attack with just moving his head slightly.
He should also anticipated me grabbing his shoulder and pull him off balance, but he couldn't prevent it because he can't move his body easily due to the momentum brought by swinging his briefcase hard.
Instead, he probably tensed up his muscle around his stomach area so he can withstand my attack, and could easily tricked me into thinking I had defeated him by faking he lose his strength, and headbutt me when I had let my guard down, resulting in taking his headbutt in full force.
I may be thinking too much, but if what I thought is true, I should really avoid fighting someone like him. in the future.
"Thanks for explaining and sorry for the trouble cause. It is almost night time so I must take my leave now"
"No, it is our fault for not realizing it. Do you live around here?"
"Hm? Ah, yea. Around 15 minutes from here"
"Then I guess we might meet again in the future. Oh yea, next time when you saw someone at the back alley, please check if it is my brother first, because he has the habit of taking a stroll in the back alley"
"Ah.... I.... see..."
That's...... no, I shouldn't comment on people's habit or hobby. I don't quite have the right to do so anyway.
"Well, so.... see you again, somewhere in this town."
"Yes. Good bye."
As I was taking my leave, it seems like Alexander was staring at me. Though he might just be spacing off again, but I just felt like it is not in this case. Could it be he is thinking something about me? Like I could be dangerous? I might be paranoid but I did attack him earlier so it is not strange for him to think so.
The mystery of the shadow in the back alley is now solved. Meh.... Just saying it for fun. It's not like there was any real mystery to begin with.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Chapter 5 Meeting The Rose And Its Thorn
Friday, 11.30am, lunch break in school.
Ever since I had come back to Kammzet and attended KIS, having my lunch with Ying and Yu Zhe has become part of my routine.
Today, as usual, we're going to the cafeteria together.
Even though I wake up early everyday to make myself a breakfast, I don't actually always prepare my own lunch.
There isn't any special reason for not doing so. I just simply thought that the lunch break will be much more fun if I am to buy foods from the cafeteria along with others.
KIS' cafeteria is larger than any other typical school's canteen I had seen.
The size of the whole cafeteria is basically like a shopping complex's food court, or perhaps, larger than that.
Because of the multiple races and nationality, this place also has a very wide range of food available.
There're Italian, Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malay and etc.
It probably won't be wrong to say this cafeteria has all foods from all over the world.
Other than foods from different countries, there is one corner that has an original recipe that only Kammzet have (or so I heard).
That is the dessert corner, aka "sweet corner".
It is always packed by people in a long queue, usually with more female.
And today is a special 'release' day.
From what Yu Zhe told me, every time the main chef came out with a new menu, the dessert corner will be very very crowded.
What makes it worse, is that the new menu has limited stock, and customers (both students, teachers and other school personnel) are allow to 'compete' to see who's faster in snatching the new dessert.
In other words, everyone will not properly queue up for that day, and the dessert corner will become a "war zone".
I have sweet tooth myself, and since I had tried some of their original recipe before, so I came to like the dessert corner and am very interested in this new menu.
But I dislike taking a long queu- No, I hate crowded places. Sitting with Ying and Yu Zhe in the crowded cafeteria is still fine but forcing my way into the crowd in order to buy the new dessert is just something I will never do.
Besides, the new menu will only cause 'war zone' on the first day of its release, after that it will be scheduled to be available once a week and everyone will be back to queuing up, instead of 'fighting'. So I rather wait a bit longer for a more peaceful purchase.
After buying each of our own food, we find ourselves an empty table for the 3 of us.
Thanks to the special 'release' day of the dessert corner, many students had joined the 'war zone' and there're a lot of empty spaces around.
Though, according to Yu Zhe, the 'war zone' will cease after 10 minutes or so because the new menu sold out very easily. So when it is sold out, many will leave the dessert corner and back to their usual lunch break, taking away all the empty seats.
Around 5 minutes later, the new dessert is already sold out, and many students are coming back from the 'war zone'.
Within less than 10 minutes, the cafeteria is back to usual: packed with people and has very little empty seats available.
I could already see a few students being troubled of not able to find any seats.
"New comers always have that problem you know"
Sitting beside me, Yu Zhe commented while biting his folk.
"Because they don't know about the special 'release' day and came here 10 or 15 minutes late, so they ended up having no place to sit for lunch."
By the way, normally, there are a few students who would finished eating very quickly and leave the cafeteria in just 10 minutes after lunch break starts.
Those students usually bare responsibility, like being a class representative, club committee, or someone who had to run an errand for teachers.
So they were given special privilege to have their lunch break earlier and avoided the crowd, while in return they have to finished their meal quickly in order to have enough time to do their work for the whole lunch break.
Basically, if there isn't any special 'release' day, coming to the cafeteria 10 minutes late won't be much a problem as there are always some empty seats left by those students with various responsibility.
As I was chewing my food slowly while looking at a few new students (usually 1st year students) wander around looking for seats, I saw 2 familiar faces.
I quickly switch my glance away and back into looking at my bowl of chinese soup noodle.
A few seconds later, I raised my face up and wandered my eyes randomly, but only to end up seeing the familiar faces again.
'Is it just me or is she walking towards my direction?', I thought.
Expecting a trouble to come, I quickly eat all noodles in the bowl without caring the sound I made from eating.
After I had finish my food in a few minutes, there were 2 girls standing behind Ying (who sat the opposite of me) and one of them spoke.
"Sis"
Realizing someone called her, Ying turned around.
"Oh hey, Minnie"
Ying smiled while looking at that violent girl and the rich girl.
Yes, the "violent girl" who I met yesterday (Thursday), in the clubs building while I was going to sign up for Taekwando club, and the rich girl who I met at Wednesday in the Art's club.
"Erm... sis, actually....."
"You can't find any seats right? Come. Come sit with us"
"Yay!"
"Thank you very much."
The violent girl, with the name "Minnie" (that does not fit her at all), answered Ying energetically, followed by the rich girl, with the name "Akiko", expressed her gratitude in well manner to Ying.
She called her sis...... so that's Ying's younger sister that I had only met once when I was a kid?
Back in the past, I only visited Yu Zhe's house and rarely went to Ying's. Even if I did go to Ying's house, I didn't see her younger sister often. To be exact, I only managed to take a glimpse of her in her room crying when I attended Ying's real blood father's funeral.
"Oh..... that's.... your younger sister right?"
Yu Zhe widen his eyes and look at Minnie, and helped me confirm it.
"Um yea, she's Minnie, you remembered her right?"
"Uhhuh. How could I not remembered the girl who I first met... hit me... at my face....."
Seems like Yu Zhe didn't remember, or really didn't notice Minnie in her room when we were in that funeral.
Yu Zhe's tone dropped as he talked, seems like Yu Zhe had met this mini dinosaur the similar way I did.
"Ah...haha..... Well, you know.... She's not fond with man.... so she always misbehave when she's facing a guy older than her."
not fond with man huh..... but that doesn't explains her violence. Even if she had such problem, an average young girl won't be using her fist as a reaction of her "misbehaved".
The urge of asking questions about Minnie well up in my guts, but I held them back and did not ask any question as I'm pretty sure a punch or a kick will come before Ying could answer me.
"I apologize on behave of Minnie. Please forgive her as she has slight Androphobia issue."
The rich girl, Akiko, asked Yu Zhe to forgive Minnie in a well manner.
While I was expecting Yu Zhe to reply gentlemanly with a "Ah, it's ok, I'm not angry", he did not.
I looked at him out of curiosity, only to find him half-opened his mouth without making any sound at all.
For a short few seconds, he stayed solid without moving at all.
"Dude"
I shook him while calling him out until he finally came to his sense.
"Uh.... what's your name?"
Is that what you're gonna say??? Where did you usual gentleman's manner go?
"You can call me Akiko."
"Aah.... Akiko....... a Japanese huh..... splendid"
...... I think I heard Yu Zhe said "splendid". Is he serious?
Akiko was looking at Yu Zhe with a questioned face.
It seems that Yu Zhe won't be back to his usual self in a while, so I decided to say those 'gentleman's word' in place of him.
"Erm..... my friend here has a big heart so he won't mind such thing, even though he looked like that."
"That last part is unnecessary."
"Oh you're back to usual. What's wrong with y-"
Before I could finish, Yu Zhe grabbed my shoulder and talk to me a small voices after turned backwards.
"Dude, that's my line. How could you not feeling anything looking at that Japanese girl!"
"What do you mean by 'feeling anything'?"
"Are you still a guy?! She is CUTE!! On top of that she is very polite, and has nice style!"
I do agreed with Yu Zhe about the facts that she is cute, polite, and has nice body style, but I don't get what did he mean by 'feeling anything'.
"I don't understand how cute, polite, and nice style lead to "feeling anything". To begin with, what is that "anything"?"
"Are you serious? Dude, are you alright?"
Yu Zhe's reaction started to make less and less sense to me.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"
Ying's question made Yu Zhe stopped grabbing my shoulder, and both of us are back to facing the table.
"Nothing~"
Ying went with "hmmm" for a while then back to eating her food.
Meanwhile, the 2 girls who were still standing behind Ying told her they will be off to buy their lunch.
After they left, Yu Zhe asked Ying various questions about Akiko.
"Erm.... *chewing* well, she has been friend with Minnie since kindergarten. *chewing* So she's very close with Minnie. *chewing* I heard that they are also in the same class throughout the primary school. *chewing* Even now that they are in KIS, they still happened to be in the same class. Quite some coincidence isn't it."
Answered Ying, as she talks while eating.
"So Akiko-chan is from a rich Japanese family right???"
Yu Zhe asked in an exciting tone, which I don't really understand why.
"Rich..... yea, but no.... *chewing* She lived as a rich Chinese man's daughter. Apparently she is a half Chinese and Japanese, with her mother being the daughter of a Japanese company's CEO. *gulp*"
Ying ended her sentence with a sip of her drink, which the drink also indicates she had finally finished eating.
After listening to Ying, Yu Zhe kind of dozed off again. Ignoring him, I also take a sip of my isotonic drink.
As I put my cup away after drinking, the 2 girls are back from buying their lunch.
Both of them chose to sit together with Ying, which is the opposite of me and Yu Zhe.
Previously, Ying was the one who was at my direct opposite, but as she moved inwards to gives space for the 2 girls to sit, it ended up with that mini dinosaur facing me directly now, and Akiko sat beside her.
Both of Minnie's and my eyes met, and a violent spark came out instantly.
Ying didn't notice that but Akiko did, and she shakes Minnie a bit, signing her to stop.
"hmph!"
Because of her 'slight' Androphobia, her attitude towards guys and girls is way too different.
No....... wrong, she managed to behave herself when she talked to Johann, the Taekwando club president, who is a guy.
So let's put it this way: Her attitude changes when she's dealing with me and Yu Zhe.
Well, I don't know how she treats other guys, or young boys, but for sure she hold hostility towards me and Yu Zhe.
Yu Zhe stopped dozing off, and now trying his best to find topics in order to chat with Akiko.
I wanted to stop Yu Zhe from his futile effort as I could tell that Akiko is giving him response because of her polite manner, but not because she held any interest in what he said.
I could tell that easily by observing the way she reacts and the words she used in her response, even though I don't pay much attention to their conversation,
It is a skill that I learned when my elder brother had me join into his company temporarily as his personal assistant.
"You are to learn to deal with 'masked' people, and learn to tell which word is true and which word is not."
Those are my elder brother's words when I asked him why I have to work in his company.
Those 'masked' people he meant, are people who put on a fake smile while interacting with others.
All these 'masked' people's conversation are a form of battle.
A mental battle.
Which each words acts as a sword as well as a shield.
They attacked each other with indirect, but harmful words, while protecting themselves with words as well.
It was a very valuable experience to be able see, listen, and learn to handle such people and their 'fighting' conversation.
Though, that also makes me change my point of view of the world.
I started to be more wary with adults and people whose background are from rich families.
It was a good thing that not many teenagers wear mask. That allows me to take things easier.
Taking care of problematic people with fist, is simply easier than facing them off in a mental battle.
So my school life in the Silver Peck wasn't that difficult, though not too comfortable as well.
After coming back to Kammzet, I kind of expect a much better school life, and I really did managed to enjoy it all along.
Until now.
A mini dinosaur, and a 'masked' person are sitting in front of me.
2 different kind of personality that I dislike dealing with.
I decided to avoid any conversation with the 2 of them, and let Yu Zhe chats as he like because if I stopped him, then I will grab Akiko's attention, and it might not end up well for me.
As I thought so, Akiko initiate a talk with me.
"Hi, do you still remember me?"
Damn Yu Zhe, can't you do a better job in distracting her??
I took a look at him, and found him laying his body on the table soullessly.
Seems like he had ran out of topic to talk about even after 'squeezing all his soul' for more ideas.
I guess I can't run away from her huh.....
"Yes I did. It is a pleasure to meet you again."
I started to talk to her in polite manner, like how I talked to those rich adults and businessmen I met in my elder brother's workplace.
"You know each other??"
Darn......... the mini dinosaur joined the conversation.
This better end well.........
No.
God, please let it end well.
"Um. I met him when I was going join the Art club."
Apparently, Akiko change the way she talks when she is talking with Minnie.
Should I dropped my way-too-polite speech as well?
"Eeeehh........ Kikko, are you alright? Did he do anything to you?"
Huh? Excuse me, miss 'minnie' dinosaur, what are you mean by that?
"Hm? Not really. Is something happened to you?"
Minnie blushed a bit, then get closer to Akiko and whisper to her ear.
"Oh my......."
I had a reaaaaaaaaal bad feeling about this.
"Erm.... your name is Wang Xia Yan right?"
"Yea, just call me Yan"
"hoho, no more 'call me anyway you like'?"
Yu Zhe purposely reminded me of that and tried to tease me. But of course, the 2 girls don't get it.
Ignoring Yu Zhe, Akiko continued talking.
"So.... I'm sorry to ask this, but did you see it?"
I could guess what does she mean by 'see it'.
"No."
Akiko looked into my eyes for a few seconds, then tell Minnie "he's not lying".
That's quite an impressive skill there, to be able to tell lies, like how I could.
Though, her method is different than mine. Mine will work well on people who always wear 'mask' but may not work well with teens or friends who nonchalantly lied. But for her, she probably can determine whether the word is honest or not at ANY given situation.
After listened to Akiko, Minnie made a doubtful face. I can pretty much guessed why she made such face.
"Yan, what did you see?"
It seems like Yu Zhe is bothered by our conversation.
"Hm? Nothing, as I said earlier."
"No, more like, what happened when you met her?"
".............."
I don't think it is the right time to tell Yu Zhe about that. So I tried to avoid answer him
"Your filthy friend saw my underwear when I was walking at the staircase!"
Damn......
Yu Zhe looked at me with jealousy.
"No, as I said, I did not."
So stop making such stupid look.
"I believe that he is telling the truth."
Akiko defended me, which I found it to be a bit surprising.
After she said so, Yu Zhe changed his look from jealousy into anger.
"Dude.... what DO you want?"
His lip moved without any sound, I guess that he is saying something like "What did you do to make Akiko-chan so obedient to you!!?"
I facepalmed, then ignore Yu Zhe.
"Thank you for trusting me, Akiko."
"You're welcome."
"Can I ask you, why are you trusting me?"
"That's because you're a kind person."
Akiko smiled brightly as she said so.
I came across these kind of words a lot when I'm talking to those 'masked' people, so to me, these words are just a figure of speech, which what they say isn't what they think.
But for some reason, I couldn't treat her words like any other 'masked' people.
Why? I questioned myself for a moment.
The first thing I realize is, she was not talking in her usual way-too-polite tone.
Basically, if she's not acting like those 'masked' people, who never stop being 'fakely' polite, I could not tell whether her words are honest or not.
........
I think I should stop thinking about how truthful her words are for now.
"Thank you."
I thought of being very polite and say "Thank you very much" to her at first, but somehow my hunch just tell me I'm better off with a simple "thank you".
"I see that you guys, *munching*, are getting along very well~"
While I'm still not clear of how to handle the situation, Ying join the conversation as well...... while biting some cookies.
"Where do you get those cookies? I didn't see you left the seat to buy them earlier."
Yu Zhe asked, which was something that I wanted to ask as well but very soon, I found my answer before Ying reply.
There're times where Ying will have her second round of meal after her lunch.
To me, it is something like a dessert after main course, but according to her, it is an 'extra' in between main course and dessert.
So yes, after eating the cookies, she will most likely going to buy some dessert from the dessert corner.
"Hm? Hehe.... from my bag. These cookies were brought from my home. It's my handmade you know~"
"Heh.... as expected of Ying"
Ying talks as she continued munching her cookies, while Yu Zhe is still with his bad habit of biting his folk while talking.
"You! Stop biting the folk, it's bad table manner! And sis! No talking while there're still food in your mouth!"
The mini dinosaur talked about table manner..... how surprising..... though I'm far from considered being shocked.
As Minnie said so, Yu Zhe was a bit stunned and look at her, Ying didn't really take her words seriously and continue munching her cookies, and Akiko chuckled a bit.
Our lunch break ends without much trouble as I first thought.
Yu Zhe didn't pester me about the situation where I first met Minnie and Akiko.
The mini dinosaur didn't talk much throughout the whole lunch break.
The richman's daughter, Akiko wasn't as handful as I thought she will be.
As for Ying, she is just as usual.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Besides, the new menu will only cause 'war zone' on the first day of its release, after that it will be scheduled to be available once a week and everyone will be back to queuing up, instead of 'fighting'. So I rather wait a bit longer for a more peaceful purchase.
After buying each of our own food, we find ourselves an empty table for the 3 of us.
Thanks to the special 'release' day of the dessert corner, many students had joined the 'war zone' and there're a lot of empty spaces around.
Though, according to Yu Zhe, the 'war zone' will cease after 10 minutes or so because the new menu sold out very easily. So when it is sold out, many will leave the dessert corner and back to their usual lunch break, taking away all the empty seats.
Around 5 minutes later, the new dessert is already sold out, and many students are coming back from the 'war zone'.
Within less than 10 minutes, the cafeteria is back to usual: packed with people and has very little empty seats available.
I could already see a few students being troubled of not able to find any seats.
"New comers always have that problem you know"
Sitting beside me, Yu Zhe commented while biting his folk.
"Because they don't know about the special 'release' day and came here 10 or 15 minutes late, so they ended up having no place to sit for lunch."
By the way, normally, there are a few students who would finished eating very quickly and leave the cafeteria in just 10 minutes after lunch break starts.
Those students usually bare responsibility, like being a class representative, club committee, or someone who had to run an errand for teachers.
So they were given special privilege to have their lunch break earlier and avoided the crowd, while in return they have to finished their meal quickly in order to have enough time to do their work for the whole lunch break.
Basically, if there isn't any special 'release' day, coming to the cafeteria 10 minutes late won't be much a problem as there are always some empty seats left by those students with various responsibility.
As I was chewing my food slowly while looking at a few new students (usually 1st year students) wander around looking for seats, I saw 2 familiar faces.
I quickly switch my glance away and back into looking at my bowl of chinese soup noodle.
A few seconds later, I raised my face up and wandered my eyes randomly, but only to end up seeing the familiar faces again.
'Is it just me or is she walking towards my direction?', I thought.
Expecting a trouble to come, I quickly eat all noodles in the bowl without caring the sound I made from eating.
After I had finish my food in a few minutes, there were 2 girls standing behind Ying (who sat the opposite of me) and one of them spoke.
"Sis"
Realizing someone called her, Ying turned around.
"Oh hey, Minnie"
Ying smiled while looking at that violent girl and the rich girl.
Yes, the "violent girl" who I met yesterday (Thursday), in the clubs building while I was going to sign up for Taekwando club, and the rich girl who I met at Wednesday in the Art's club.
"Erm... sis, actually....."
"You can't find any seats right? Come. Come sit with us"
"Yay!"
"Thank you very much."
The violent girl, with the name "Minnie" (that does not fit her at all), answered Ying energetically, followed by the rich girl, with the name "Akiko", expressed her gratitude in well manner to Ying.
She called her sis...... so that's Ying's younger sister that I had only met once when I was a kid?
Back in the past, I only visited Yu Zhe's house and rarely went to Ying's. Even if I did go to Ying's house, I didn't see her younger sister often. To be exact, I only managed to take a glimpse of her in her room crying when I attended Ying's real blood father's funeral.
"Oh..... that's.... your younger sister right?"
Yu Zhe widen his eyes and look at Minnie, and helped me confirm it.
"Um yea, she's Minnie, you remembered her right?"
"Uhhuh. How could I not remembered the girl who I first met... hit me... at my face....."
Seems like Yu Zhe didn't remember, or really didn't notice Minnie in her room when we were in that funeral.
Yu Zhe's tone dropped as he talked, seems like Yu Zhe had met this mini dinosaur the similar way I did.
"Ah...haha..... Well, you know.... She's not fond with man.... so she always misbehave when she's facing a guy older than her."
not fond with man huh..... but that doesn't explains her violence. Even if she had such problem, an average young girl won't be using her fist as a reaction of her "misbehaved".
The urge of asking questions about Minnie well up in my guts, but I held them back and did not ask any question as I'm pretty sure a punch or a kick will come before Ying could answer me.
"I apologize on behave of Minnie. Please forgive her as she has slight Androphobia issue."
The rich girl, Akiko, asked Yu Zhe to forgive Minnie in a well manner.
While I was expecting Yu Zhe to reply gentlemanly with a "Ah, it's ok, I'm not angry", he did not.
I looked at him out of curiosity, only to find him half-opened his mouth without making any sound at all.
For a short few seconds, he stayed solid without moving at all.
"Dude"
I shook him while calling him out until he finally came to his sense.
"Uh.... what's your name?"
Is that what you're gonna say??? Where did you usual gentleman's manner go?
"You can call me Akiko."
"Aah.... Akiko....... a Japanese huh..... splendid"
...... I think I heard Yu Zhe said "splendid". Is he serious?
Akiko was looking at Yu Zhe with a questioned face.
It seems that Yu Zhe won't be back to his usual self in a while, so I decided to say those 'gentleman's word' in place of him.
"Erm..... my friend here has a big heart so he won't mind such thing, even though he looked like that."
"That last part is unnecessary."
"Oh you're back to usual. What's wrong with y-"
Before I could finish, Yu Zhe grabbed my shoulder and talk to me a small voices after turned backwards.
"Dude, that's my line. How could you not feeling anything looking at that Japanese girl!"
"What do you mean by 'feeling anything'?"
"Are you still a guy?! She is CUTE!! On top of that she is very polite, and has nice style!"
I do agreed with Yu Zhe about the facts that she is cute, polite, and has nice body style, but I don't get what did he mean by 'feeling anything'.
"I don't understand how cute, polite, and nice style lead to "feeling anything". To begin with, what is that "anything"?"
"Are you serious? Dude, are you alright?"
Yu Zhe's reaction started to make less and less sense to me.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"
Ying's question made Yu Zhe stopped grabbing my shoulder, and both of us are back to facing the table.
"Nothing~"
Ying went with "hmmm" for a while then back to eating her food.
Meanwhile, the 2 girls who were still standing behind Ying told her they will be off to buy their lunch.
After they left, Yu Zhe asked Ying various questions about Akiko.
"Erm.... *chewing* well, she has been friend with Minnie since kindergarten. *chewing* So she's very close with Minnie. *chewing* I heard that they are also in the same class throughout the primary school. *chewing* Even now that they are in KIS, they still happened to be in the same class. Quite some coincidence isn't it."
Answered Ying, as she talks while eating.
"So Akiko-chan is from a rich Japanese family right???"
Yu Zhe asked in an exciting tone, which I don't really understand why.
"Rich..... yea, but no.... *chewing* She lived as a rich Chinese man's daughter. Apparently she is a half Chinese and Japanese, with her mother being the daughter of a Japanese company's CEO. *gulp*"
Ying ended her sentence with a sip of her drink, which the drink also indicates she had finally finished eating.
After listening to Ying, Yu Zhe kind of dozed off again. Ignoring him, I also take a sip of my isotonic drink.
As I put my cup away after drinking, the 2 girls are back from buying their lunch.
Both of them chose to sit together with Ying, which is the opposite of me and Yu Zhe.
Previously, Ying was the one who was at my direct opposite, but as she moved inwards to gives space for the 2 girls to sit, it ended up with that mini dinosaur facing me directly now, and Akiko sat beside her.
Both of Minnie's and my eyes met, and a violent spark came out instantly.
Ying didn't notice that but Akiko did, and she shakes Minnie a bit, signing her to stop.
"hmph!"
Because of her 'slight' Androphobia, her attitude towards guys and girls is way too different.
No....... wrong, she managed to behave herself when she talked to Johann, the Taekwando club president, who is a guy.
So let's put it this way: Her attitude changes when she's dealing with me and Yu Zhe.
Well, I don't know how she treats other guys, or young boys, but for sure she hold hostility towards me and Yu Zhe.
Yu Zhe stopped dozing off, and now trying his best to find topics in order to chat with Akiko.
I wanted to stop Yu Zhe from his futile effort as I could tell that Akiko is giving him response because of her polite manner, but not because she held any interest in what he said.
I could tell that easily by observing the way she reacts and the words she used in her response, even though I don't pay much attention to their conversation,
It is a skill that I learned when my elder brother had me join into his company temporarily as his personal assistant.
"You are to learn to deal with 'masked' people, and learn to tell which word is true and which word is not."
Those are my elder brother's words when I asked him why I have to work in his company.
Those 'masked' people he meant, are people who put on a fake smile while interacting with others.
All these 'masked' people's conversation are a form of battle.
A mental battle.
Which each words acts as a sword as well as a shield.
They attacked each other with indirect, but harmful words, while protecting themselves with words as well.
It was a very valuable experience to be able see, listen, and learn to handle such people and their 'fighting' conversation.
Though, that also makes me change my point of view of the world.
I started to be more wary with adults and people whose background are from rich families.
It was a good thing that not many teenagers wear mask. That allows me to take things easier.
Taking care of problematic people with fist, is simply easier than facing them off in a mental battle.
So my school life in the Silver Peck wasn't that difficult, though not too comfortable as well.
After coming back to Kammzet, I kind of expect a much better school life, and I really did managed to enjoy it all along.
Until now.
A mini dinosaur, and a 'masked' person are sitting in front of me.
2 different kind of personality that I dislike dealing with.
I decided to avoid any conversation with the 2 of them, and let Yu Zhe chats as he like because if I stopped him, then I will grab Akiko's attention, and it might not end up well for me.
As I thought so, Akiko initiate a talk with me.
"Hi, do you still remember me?"
Damn Yu Zhe, can't you do a better job in distracting her??
I took a look at him, and found him laying his body on the table soullessly.
Seems like he had ran out of topic to talk about even after 'squeezing all his soul' for more ideas.
I guess I can't run away from her huh.....
"Yes I did. It is a pleasure to meet you again."
I started to talk to her in polite manner, like how I talked to those rich adults and businessmen I met in my elder brother's workplace.
"You know each other??"
Darn......... the mini dinosaur joined the conversation.
This better end well.........
No.
God, please let it end well.
"Um. I met him when I was going join the Art club."
Apparently, Akiko change the way she talks when she is talking with Minnie.
Should I dropped my way-too-polite speech as well?
"Eeeehh........ Kikko, are you alright? Did he do anything to you?"
Huh? Excuse me, miss 'minnie' dinosaur, what are you mean by that?
"Hm? Not really. Is something happened to you?"
Minnie blushed a bit, then get closer to Akiko and whisper to her ear.
"Oh my......."
I had a reaaaaaaaaal bad feeling about this.
"Erm.... your name is Wang Xia Yan right?"
"Yea, just call me Yan"
"hoho, no more 'call me anyway you like'?"
Yu Zhe purposely reminded me of that and tried to tease me. But of course, the 2 girls don't get it.
Ignoring Yu Zhe, Akiko continued talking.
"So.... I'm sorry to ask this, but did you see it?"
I could guess what does she mean by 'see it'.
"No."
Akiko looked into my eyes for a few seconds, then tell Minnie "he's not lying".
That's quite an impressive skill there, to be able to tell lies, like how I could.
Though, her method is different than mine. Mine will work well on people who always wear 'mask' but may not work well with teens or friends who nonchalantly lied. But for her, she probably can determine whether the word is honest or not at ANY given situation.
After listened to Akiko, Minnie made a doubtful face. I can pretty much guessed why she made such face.
"Yan, what did you see?"
It seems like Yu Zhe is bothered by our conversation.
"Hm? Nothing, as I said earlier."
"No, more like, what happened when you met her?"
".............."
I don't think it is the right time to tell Yu Zhe about that. So I tried to avoid answer him
"Your filthy friend saw my underwear when I was walking at the staircase!"
Damn......
Yu Zhe looked at me with jealousy.
"No, as I said, I did not."
So stop making such stupid look.
"I believe that he is telling the truth."
Akiko defended me, which I found it to be a bit surprising.
After she said so, Yu Zhe changed his look from jealousy into anger.
"Dude.... what DO you want?"
His lip moved without any sound, I guess that he is saying something like "What did you do to make Akiko-chan so obedient to you!!?"
I facepalmed, then ignore Yu Zhe.
"Thank you for trusting me, Akiko."
"You're welcome."
"Can I ask you, why are you trusting me?"
"That's because you're a kind person."
Akiko smiled brightly as she said so.
I came across these kind of words a lot when I'm talking to those 'masked' people, so to me, these words are just a figure of speech, which what they say isn't what they think.
But for some reason, I couldn't treat her words like any other 'masked' people.
Why? I questioned myself for a moment.
The first thing I realize is, she was not talking in her usual way-too-polite tone.
Basically, if she's not acting like those 'masked' people, who never stop being 'fakely' polite, I could not tell whether her words are honest or not.
........
I think I should stop thinking about how truthful her words are for now.
"Thank you."
I thought of being very polite and say "Thank you very much" to her at first, but somehow my hunch just tell me I'm better off with a simple "thank you".
"I see that you guys, *munching*, are getting along very well~"
While I'm still not clear of how to handle the situation, Ying join the conversation as well...... while biting some cookies.
"Where do you get those cookies? I didn't see you left the seat to buy them earlier."
Yu Zhe asked, which was something that I wanted to ask as well but very soon, I found my answer before Ying reply.
There're times where Ying will have her second round of meal after her lunch.
To me, it is something like a dessert after main course, but according to her, it is an 'extra' in between main course and dessert.
So yes, after eating the cookies, she will most likely going to buy some dessert from the dessert corner.
"Hm? Hehe.... from my bag. These cookies were brought from my home. It's my handmade you know~"
"Heh.... as expected of Ying"
Ying talks as she continued munching her cookies, while Yu Zhe is still with his bad habit of biting his folk while talking.
"You! Stop biting the folk, it's bad table manner! And sis! No talking while there're still food in your mouth!"
The mini dinosaur talked about table manner..... how surprising..... though I'm far from considered being shocked.
As Minnie said so, Yu Zhe was a bit stunned and look at her, Ying didn't really take her words seriously and continue munching her cookies, and Akiko chuckled a bit.
Our lunch break ends without much trouble as I first thought.
Yu Zhe didn't pester me about the situation where I first met Minnie and Akiko.
The mini dinosaur didn't talk much throughout the whole lunch break.
The richman's daughter, Akiko wasn't as handful as I thought she will be.
As for Ying, she is just as usual.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, April 30, 2012
Chapter 2 - A little gathering between Yan, Yuzhe, and Ying
After the school ended, Yu Zhe and Ying decided to come to my house to put on a simple welcoming party. They first went back to their home to get prepared, then come to my house at 7pm.
By the time they arrived in my house, I had already done preparing the dinner.
"Oooow...."
"Wow....."
Both of them were impressed after they looked at the foods on the dining table.
"Looks like your skill improved."
"..... by a lot."
"True. He had indeed improved a lot. It is far better than me and Ying."
"Thanks for the compliment. Now go wash your hand and get ready to eat."
"Ooh yea."
After both of them washed their hands, the 3 of us sit down and held each of our glasses.
"Cheers", the 3 of them shout together.
It had always been Yan's motto to not talk while eating, but since it is still a celebration, they chat a little while eating.
----------After eating----------
"Uuuwaaah! It was good"
"Um! It rivals my mom's"
"Glad that you like it."
After finished eating and cleaning the dishes, the 3 of them sit down together and start to have their first long talk after 4 years.
With a cup of juice on his hand, Yu Zhe starts the conversation.
"Dude, I had a hell lof of questions for you, but now here's the first question..."
Both Yan and Ying stay silent whilst waiting for Yu Zhe to open his mouth.
"How were your life over there? that.... err.... Silver...Peek city"
"It's Silver Peck, and that sure was a typical question."
"Well, I had been thinking a lot but in the end that is still the best question. That way, your answer will most likely allow us to create more question later."
"Well maybe."
"So how were you in Silver Peck? Though we located quite near to it, it is still a foreign country wasn't it?"
"Yea, first huge difference is that place is so much busier and crowded. It gives you a stressful feeling if you stay at the center of the city for too long, as there are too many people walking around and cars driving through."
"Hmm..... I had never been out of Kammzet so it is quite hard to imagine."
Ying looked down a little.
Due to different family circumstance, both Ying and Yu Zhe's family are now financially considered as low class. Only Yan's family is in middle class due to his brother becoming a senior manager, which only happened recently. But because Kammzet city had some sort of special rights, so the living standard here is quite low. Many financially low class families could live a decent life thanks to the mayor cutting cost on a lot of daily needs. So places outside of Kammzet often needed twice or more amount of living cost compare with Kammzet city, making Ying's family never had any plan to go outside. For Yu Zhe's case, his father is too busy to work so no one can bring him and his younger siblings to go out of Kammzet city.
"Well, thanks to our mayor, the life here is much easier than the outside. On the bad side, we might seems to be trapped in this city, but on the bright side, we're living a much better life than outside cities."
Yan tried to comfort Ying.
"Ahaha.... don't worry, I'm not depressed of not able to go out."
"Don't lie, it's all over your face."
"Oh really, it's true. I'm fine."
"That aside, Yan, carry on~"
"That's rude, don't you worry me?"
"Nah~ Our Ying is only down because Yan haven't be- Argh!"
Ying's punch stopped Yu Zhe continued on his word.
Looking at Yu Zhe, Yan smiled a little because it reminds him of the time the 3 of them spent in the past.
"Dude, please don't look at me like that, I might fall for you."
"I'm not homo, I'm not interested in guy."
"Ooooooh! NooOOooOoooo~~"
"Stop that gay noise."
"Haha..... hey, wait, we're out of topic again."
"Who did that! Making us out of topic. Oh well never mind, Yan, carry on please~"
"Who did.... Wasn't that you?"
"Oh well, let me continue then. If I don't then the dumb talk will never ends. So basically, because of the difference of environment, I had some hard time getting used to it, so at school I will often leave early because of feeling unwell."
'And for some reason, people started to think I was skipping class by using excuse like feeling unwell' - is what Yan thought in his mind, but he didn't say that out because that will lead to a topic that he didn't want to talk about, yet.
"Hmm~~ So after you get used to it, how was the school?"
"Oh, even before I get used to it, I had already make a few friends. After I get used to it, I started to join clubs and make name for myself. I was quite popular among the girls you know."
Saying so, Yan's expression didn't change much, if people don't know him well, they wouldn't have thought he was joking.
"..... and very soon I was confessed to, and above all, by a few different girls in a few days."
"REALLY!!??"
Yu Zhe was shocked.
"I even went out with them, but unfortunately I had broken up with them because I had to come back to Kammzet."
"What a waaaaaaaaste!!!"
"Oh yea, just so you know, I didn't make a grammar mistake earlier. I did said "them", so I was dating different girls simultaneously."
"Dude!!! How could you!!! That's basically every man's dream!!!"
Yu Zhe was in uproar, like a jobseeker who couldn't get any job after a few dozen of interviews.
Ying made a bored look, and sneer at Yu Zhe.
"Yu Zhe..... do you really think that was real?"
"Eh?"
"As expected of Ying, you know me so well."
"Whaaaaaaaat!!? You tricked me??"
"Well, it had been 4 years since I last seen you guys, so I had to at least see your stupid reaction after coming back."
"Daaamn!!!"
"More like, keep your voice low please, you had been shouting since a while ago."
"Ooooh nooo!!"
"Quit it! Shut up!"
*slap*
Ying grab Yu Zhe's hair, then pushes his head towards the table.
"$%^&*#$%^^$#"
Yu Zhe tried to said something while struggling for air.
After a few seconds of 'punishment', Ying let go of Yu Zhe's head.
"Uuwaa...... safe..... oh man, I never know oxygen is that delicious."
"Congratulation, now you know."
"With a price of getting your head pressed against the table."
"That is too much as a payment!"
"Lower your voice please."
"Oh.... ok...."
Then the dumb conversation continued for a while.
------------around 10pm-------------
"Wow, it's already such time."
Yu Zhe said in surprised, after looking at the clock hanging on the wall.
"Oh it is already so late...."
"I guess you guys should head back home, if there is anything else, we can talk about it tomorrow in school."
"Yea, of course."
Whilst talking, Yu Zhe already head to the door and tried to leave.
"Hey Yan, open the door."
"Just open it, it's not locked. But why such hurry?"
"Well, it is already past bed time story for Yun Hua, so I had to hurry."
"Oh... your sister huh.... hurry and go back then."
"Yea, see you."
Yu Zhe then left without any delay, leaving only Yan and Ying.
"erm... Yan...."
Looking at the change of her expression, Yan already managed to guess what she was going to ask.
"About the reason I left right?"
"Um..... Yu Zhe already told me about it."
"I see..... anything else?"
"..... ah...... erm..... no, nothing."
"Ok...."
The 2 stayed silent for a while.
Feeling a bit awkward, Yan suggested Ying to go back before it is too late.
"Yea sure. Well then... see you tomorrow."
"Yea, see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye."
"Bye."
Ying waved her hand and left Yan's house.
It's been a while since Yan had a long chat with his 2 bad friends.
He fell like something heavy on his back has been lift off.
With a soft smile, Yan went to his room and get ready to sleep.
By the time they arrived in my house, I had already done preparing the dinner.
"Oooow...."
"Wow....."
Both of them were impressed after they looked at the foods on the dining table.
"Looks like your skill improved."
"..... by a lot."
"True. He had indeed improved a lot. It is far better than me and Ying."
"Thanks for the compliment. Now go wash your hand and get ready to eat."
"Ooh yea."
After both of them washed their hands, the 3 of us sit down and held each of our glasses.
"Cheers", the 3 of them shout together.
It had always been Yan's motto to not talk while eating, but since it is still a celebration, they chat a little while eating.
----------After eating----------
"Uuuwaaah! It was good"
"Um! It rivals my mom's"
"Glad that you like it."
After finished eating and cleaning the dishes, the 3 of them sit down together and start to have their first long talk after 4 years.
With a cup of juice on his hand, Yu Zhe starts the conversation.
"Dude, I had a hell lof of questions for you, but now here's the first question..."
Both Yan and Ying stay silent whilst waiting for Yu Zhe to open his mouth.
"How were your life over there? that.... err.... Silver...Peek city"
"It's Silver Peck, and that sure was a typical question."
"Well, I had been thinking a lot but in the end that is still the best question. That way, your answer will most likely allow us to create more question later."
"Well maybe."
"So how were you in Silver Peck? Though we located quite near to it, it is still a foreign country wasn't it?"
"Yea, first huge difference is that place is so much busier and crowded. It gives you a stressful feeling if you stay at the center of the city for too long, as there are too many people walking around and cars driving through."
"Hmm..... I had never been out of Kammzet so it is quite hard to imagine."
Ying looked down a little.
Due to different family circumstance, both Ying and Yu Zhe's family are now financially considered as low class. Only Yan's family is in middle class due to his brother becoming a senior manager, which only happened recently. But because Kammzet city had some sort of special rights, so the living standard here is quite low. Many financially low class families could live a decent life thanks to the mayor cutting cost on a lot of daily needs. So places outside of Kammzet often needed twice or more amount of living cost compare with Kammzet city, making Ying's family never had any plan to go outside. For Yu Zhe's case, his father is too busy to work so no one can bring him and his younger siblings to go out of Kammzet city.
"Well, thanks to our mayor, the life here is much easier than the outside. On the bad side, we might seems to be trapped in this city, but on the bright side, we're living a much better life than outside cities."
Yan tried to comfort Ying.
"Ahaha.... don't worry, I'm not depressed of not able to go out."
"Don't lie, it's all over your face."
"Oh really, it's true. I'm fine."
"That aside, Yan, carry on~"
"That's rude, don't you worry me?"
"Nah~ Our Ying is only down because Yan haven't be- Argh!"
Ying's punch stopped Yu Zhe continued on his word.
Looking at Yu Zhe, Yan smiled a little because it reminds him of the time the 3 of them spent in the past.
"Dude, please don't look at me like that, I might fall for you."
"I'm not homo, I'm not interested in guy."
"Ooooooh! NooOOooOoooo~~"
"Stop that gay noise."
"Haha..... hey, wait, we're out of topic again."
"Who did that! Making us out of topic. Oh well never mind, Yan, carry on please~"
"Who did.... Wasn't that you?"
"Oh well, let me continue then. If I don't then the dumb talk will never ends. So basically, because of the difference of environment, I had some hard time getting used to it, so at school I will often leave early because of feeling unwell."
'And for some reason, people started to think I was skipping class by using excuse like feeling unwell' - is what Yan thought in his mind, but he didn't say that out because that will lead to a topic that he didn't want to talk about, yet.
"Hmm~~ So after you get used to it, how was the school?"
"Oh, even before I get used to it, I had already make a few friends. After I get used to it, I started to join clubs and make name for myself. I was quite popular among the girls you know."
Saying so, Yan's expression didn't change much, if people don't know him well, they wouldn't have thought he was joking.
"..... and very soon I was confessed to, and above all, by a few different girls in a few days."
"REALLY!!??"
Yu Zhe was shocked.
"I even went out with them, but unfortunately I had broken up with them because I had to come back to Kammzet."
"What a waaaaaaaaste!!!"
"Oh yea, just so you know, I didn't make a grammar mistake earlier. I did said "them", so I was dating different girls simultaneously."
"Dude!!! How could you!!! That's basically every man's dream!!!"
Yu Zhe was in uproar, like a jobseeker who couldn't get any job after a few dozen of interviews.
Ying made a bored look, and sneer at Yu Zhe.
"Yu Zhe..... do you really think that was real?"
"Eh?"
"As expected of Ying, you know me so well."
"Whaaaaaaaat!!? You tricked me??"
"Well, it had been 4 years since I last seen you guys, so I had to at least see your stupid reaction after coming back."
"Daaamn!!!"
"More like, keep your voice low please, you had been shouting since a while ago."
"Ooooh nooo!!"
"Quit it! Shut up!"
*slap*
Ying grab Yu Zhe's hair, then pushes his head towards the table.
"$%^&*#$%^^$#"
Yu Zhe tried to said something while struggling for air.
After a few seconds of 'punishment', Ying let go of Yu Zhe's head.
"Uuwaa...... safe..... oh man, I never know oxygen is that delicious."
"Congratulation, now you know."
"With a price of getting your head pressed against the table."
"That is too much as a payment!"
"Lower your voice please."
"Oh.... ok...."
Then the dumb conversation continued for a while.
------------around 10pm-------------
"Wow, it's already such time."
Yu Zhe said in surprised, after looking at the clock hanging on the wall.
"Oh it is already so late...."
"I guess you guys should head back home, if there is anything else, we can talk about it tomorrow in school."
"Yea, of course."
Whilst talking, Yu Zhe already head to the door and tried to leave.
"Hey Yan, open the door."
"Just open it, it's not locked. But why such hurry?"
"Well, it is already past bed time story for Yun Hua, so I had to hurry."
"Oh... your sister huh.... hurry and go back then."
"Yea, see you."
Yu Zhe then left without any delay, leaving only Yan and Ying.
"erm... Yan...."
Looking at the change of her expression, Yan already managed to guess what she was going to ask.
"About the reason I left right?"
"Um..... Yu Zhe already told me about it."
"I see..... anything else?"
"..... ah...... erm..... no, nothing."
"Ok...."
The 2 stayed silent for a while.
Feeling a bit awkward, Yan suggested Ying to go back before it is too late.
"Yea sure. Well then... see you tomorrow."
"Yea, see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye."
"Bye."
Ying waved her hand and left Yan's house.
It's been a while since Yan had a long chat with his 2 bad friends.
He fell like something heavy on his back has been lift off.
With a soft smile, Yan went to his room and get ready to sleep.
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