Chapter 4 - Dismissal
(Friend's PoV)
I checked the clock, quite a bit of time passed to my surprise. And my energy drink got warm already. Oh well, I poured it into a cup of ice and drank it. When it was about 30 minutes before the time my friend describes as "noon", I got a text from them.
"We never decided on a place to meet up yet. There's this cafe I was thinking of, if you don't mind. I figured it's a good place for talking."
I texted back: "Sure, that kinda new one right? I probably know how to get there." With that, I packed the game and my 3ds into my bag and got out the door.
They replied "Alright, the cafe it is. And are you okay? You seem to be kinda off."
I was already walking out so I stopped under the shade of a tree to text back with: "Yeah I'm just tired, but I had an energy drink. I'm on my way there now."
Usually I walked to most short-distance places, I enjoyed just going out to walk in general. But because I knew a quick route to the cafe, I took the bus anyways.
I put my phone in my pocket and after waiting a bit, I boarded the bus that'd take me to the cafe. When I sat down in an open seat, we continued to just text each other until we were both there. But I did not say anything about playing the Kid Icarus game, lucky for me they didn't ask. I guess I'd have to confess when we physically met up.
(Narration switches back to protagonist's PoV.)
I got off the bus and walked down to where the cafe was. It was a tiny place but in a good location, nowhere near any bustling streets or commotion. Any other place could be too distracting. Waiting outside at the corner of the building, I just watched for my friend and they arrived shortly after I did.
"Ooh, this place looks better when you see it in person! Shall we?" My friend said gesturing to the door as we walked inside.
This cafe was not a traditional cafe with teacups and table service or anything like that. It was a modern one, with plastic cups that you can carry out, like how most places are. A fancy cafe would certainly be nice every once in a while, but it was beyond my price range.
The two of us waited in the line to place our orders. Luckily it wasn't busy but the line had quite a few people in it.
"Hmm, I might get that iced coffee. How bout you?" I asked them casually. I'd only start to talk about the game once we've sat down. Meanwhile, right now, I wanted to enjoy spending time together.
My friend didn't respond for a while, but seemed to snap out of it after I tapped their shoulder. "Uh, I'll get whatever you're getting." They said.
"But you just had an energy drink, right? Wouldn't that be too much caffeine for you?" I replied.
"O-oh yeah. I'll get decaf." Said my friend.
From the time we texted in the morning I could tell something was off with them, and I think I was right. They usually don't act like this, they're always quicker than me to decide anything.
Something was clearly bothering them, I just hope it isn't what I think it is. I'd rather not have this nice day disrupted with the thought of anything involving that cursed game. I've been stressed enough already and I just wanted to have fun and forget about it.
Sooner than I had realized, we were already at the front of the line. We ordered our drinks individually and sat down at a table with our receipts, waiting for our numbers to be called to pick up at the end of the counter. We had some small talk, but I had to get to the main point eventually, that was the reason why we met up in the first place. Our drinks were ready and after picking them up, we sat down again then I decided to speak.
"So uh, yesterday… The Kid Icarus game I sold back and you bought… You didn't actually play it, right?" I asked with a blank tone, I did not want to sound like the question was a threat. But if they did play it, that game could cast it's misfortune upon both our lives for who knows how long.
They sighed and put their hand over their mouth before speaking. "I'm sorry… I have played it. Honestly I found it hard to believe this was a "cursed" game when you said it."
I was slightly upset just knowing that my friend, my best friend for that matter, actually did that. Though I am also guilty of ignoring multiple warnings myself, I shouldn't be mad for that reason alone.
I said in response "... I really thought you meant it when you said you wouldn't play it. At least I thought you'd have believed me… I just gotta ask, why?"
They took a sip of their decaffeinated iced coffee before responding in an unpleasant tone. "Before I answer that... Why didn't you keep your promise to Pit if you're so upset that I played it?"
I could tell that my friend was getting irritated. My nerves were also getting to me. Maybe it was the caffeine from the coffee that I had only taken a few sips of, but I felt unusually angry right now. As if an unreasonable amount of rage I didn't even have towards my friend was building within me.
"Does it even matter? You agreed to not playing it, yet you did behind my back! And if that's not enough, why do you think I returned it in the first place?!" I still tried my best to keep my voice as low as possible because we were in public.
The people around us even the cafe workers directed their attention to our table. Though I was so frustrated I didn't care about that as much as I did getting my point across.
My friend yelled "WELL WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY IT OVER THE PHONE? THINK I DON'T TRUST YOU OR SOMETHING?"
This got me furious, impulsively I barked back "SOMETIMES I'D PREFER NOT TO! YOU ACT LIKE AN IDIOT AND I TOLERATE EVERYTHING! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
They were very hurt by this, but their expression instantly changed back to anger and disgust. "Fine then... If this is what you think of me, I'll think the same of you." Taking their cup with them, they got up from the table and briskly walked out the door.
Everyone was staring the whole time and whispering among each other. This did not go as I planned at all, more importantly they still have that game with them. I picked up my drink and left that place, heading the opposite direction that my friend walked off to. I just needed to be alone right now.