Author's Notes: (25/07/18), chapter 6 until chapter 16 has been reworked, if you see this same message on any chapter, it means that that chapter is affected by the rework and its advisable for you to go back and read chapter 6 until chapter 9 because EVERYTHING in those chapters has been reworked. Continuing on without going back will only lead you to a path of ruin and confusion! So do it now!
It's true that chapter 10 to 16 are reworked too, but they changed less compared to chapter 6-9 and have little effect on the story overall so its optional to reread them.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
I just realized something earlier this morning. Yesterday in the thick of the moment, I fail to notice one very important thing.
Amanda forgot to return the bracelet I lent her for the race.
It's a trivial problem, of course. But now that I think about it, I haven't got any idea on how to open up a conversation with her, not after what happened yesterday.
I know she's cool about it all, but I still feel uncomfortable to just walk up to her and act the way she wants me to act like nothing happened yesterday.
Whatever I'll decide to do, it'll have to be decided later. For now class is what's on my mind. On my way to said class however, I found a familiar face standing by the class door, about to open it but stopping as she notices my arrival.
"oh, hey". Akko greets me, her voice lost her usual cheerful tone.
"hi". I greet her back, bereft of any tone with the awkward situation.
"hey, I'm really sorry for what happened yesterday". she apologizes.
"oh, you knew about that?". Well then, does that mean they know about me now?
"Yeah, Diana told me about you helping Amanda's team". she pauses as her eyes begins to search the ground. "I feel like I'm…".
"Don't say it, you did nothing wrong".
She looks up to me. "but".
"we're both losers, what are you apologizing for?". I joke, trying to lift her spirits up. A not cheerful Akko is very disheartening.
She smiles a bit hearing it, her worries beginning to fade.
"yeah, we are".
It's weird, I'm supposed to be the one needing to be cheered up but here I am cheering up someone else so far. Guess it's the price of being the only male in an all girls school. Before I can further cheer her up however, the door to the classroom opens, revealing Lotte and Sucy.
"Akko, what are you- oh, hey". Lotte was the first to notice me.
"hi Lotte, Sucy". I greet them.
Lotte looks to me, concern clouds her eyes.
"hey, about yesterday-".
"nope! No no, don't make me say it twice!". I quickly respond.
Akko seems to giggle at my reaction, her past worries beginning to go away with it.
"besides, it's literally our own fault we lose". I finish.
Lotte wears a sad smile, but she's smiling, at least. "Fine, if you say so".
I smile seeing how nice this girls are, all except for only one maybe.
"what about you Sucy? Are you not going to apologize to me?". I jokingly ask.
Instead of throwing a sharp snark or even a halfhearted apology, she just stays silent. Sucy just turn away and walk back into the classroom.
"Gosh that girl". Akko sighs quietly. She then turns to look at me with a smile. "come on, you'll sit with us right?". she asks, excitement back in her voice.
I was a bit taken aback by her quick recovery.
"wha? Yeah, I… think".
"great! It's been awhile!". Akko skips into the classroom.
"my, she's too excited too quickly". Lotte remarks, I notice hints of relief in her voice.
"that's good isn't it?". I mention, truly admitting it.
"I guess you can see it like that". Lotte smiles, before stepping into the classroom ahead of me. "come on, let's seat together, Aldia".
"sure- what". I pause and stop as Lotte continues to walk ahead of me, oblivious to my shock.
I hear the sound of footsteps behind me and soon find Hannah and Barbara walking past me. "You're lucky Diana didn't tell them". Batma- Barbara begins.
"But you're still not allowed to hang with us anymore". Hannah finishes.
I pause at the news I had just received. I hear another set of footsteps behind me, as I turn around I found Diana right in front of me.
"Technically you won, so I only told them about your involvement with Amanda's team, the rest is up to you". She says with a bright smile that lingers still as she walks past me, a real, genuine smile.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, did my ears deceive me? This news is godsend, this girl is godsend. Why is she so nice? This level of niceness is unprecedented!
I have to take a moment to breathe to take this all in.
By the time I entered at the classroom students has already filled the room. All of them has picked their tables, it looks like I'm the last one to arrive.
"if you don't mind, Mr. Franklin". a voice calls out behind me, it sends chill down my spine.
"ah! Miss Finnelan!". I visibly jump at her presence. I didn't realize I was blocking the door just now.
She looks at me with her signature stern and soul piercing gaze. I smile awkwardly, hoping if I stand still she will just walk away, like a T-Rex stand off this is.
To my relief, she says nothing else and walks past me. Heading to her desk on the front of the room. That worked wow.
I look to the crowd of students, wondering which table to pick.
I notice a hand waving at the far back. It's Akko, doing exactly what she said she would and picked the back most table.
Seeing I have no other choice, I walk to her table. Sure I can just join Diana's table and be a nuisance to Hannah and Barbara, but I feel like I have some catching up to do with Akko's group, it's been awhile after all.
The class starts not long after, ooh boy alchemy class. It's great, the alchemy I mean, the teacher not so much. It's not like miss Finellan is a bad teacher, she just has this special ability to make any person in a 5 meter radius around her feel intimidated. It's like she's using some kind of dark magic to do this.
Anyway, it looks like we're learning to brew a bunch of potions as usual. Good thing Akko picked the back table, out of sight and out of miss Finnelan's mind thankfully. We're free to brew the instructed potions as an exercise, so the class isn't so strict right now as students are free to walk around grabbing needed equipments and ingredients.
The conversation within our group pretty much consist of just Lotte guiding Akko brewing potions, as I just absent mindedly do whatever I'm asked to do, following instructions automatically as if I'm in autopilot mode. Passing bottles and ingredients every now and then as I'm lost in thought. I'm wondering if miss Finnelan will teach us how to brew hair growth potion. Why am I wondering this? For research purposes of course, but I guess she won't teach us that to be honest. Eh, I can just ask Michelle to just brew me another one, but she's going to have this smug look if I ask her that, maybe I can find the recipe in a book or something, craft it from scratch.
I hear a sizzling sound, reeling me from my train of thought. I quickly stop what I'm doing. Apparently I've peen stirring this potion with a spoon while I'm zoned out, I've been doing this for awhile now I realize. I study the potion I had been stirring, it looks… evil. What in the world am I brewing? I slowly pull out the spoon, and to my surprise, it's only half a spoon, the rest has been dissolved by the potion.
I was alarmed as the potion suddenly begins to bubble. I quickly grab a lid and seal the potion, securing it and putting it far from the table's end. The glass containing the potion begins to shake, I see some smoke coming out of the lid, and I'm starting to freak out as I feel the glass heating up on my hands. I immediately search around for a bigger and stronger container, settling with an old looking thick jar. I quickly put the glass inside of it and seal it. Luckily, the shaking soon ceases and so does my rapid heartbeat.
It's fine, I'm fine.
I quickly look around, the three didn't notice what happened, good. Just need to dispose of this hell spawn once we're out of here.
I stop and notice what Sucy's doing, she's quiet as usual. Doing her own business, which is brewing potions right now. The same look as always, eyes lazily fixed on her work as she grinds an ingredient in a mortar with a pestle.
"aah! I put in too much!". Akko exclaims, catching my and other student's attention.
The cauldron in the middle of our table begins to shake, as a thick smoke followed by a foul odour begins to spread from it. I cover my nose as the smoke nears me, the smell is sharp and unbearable. I notice Sucy pulling out a gas mask and easily putting it on, looks like she's used to this situation.
"quick! Put this in!". Lotte shoves a bunch of ingredients on to Akko's arms. "if you're too slow the mixture's going to blow up!".
"oh no!". Akko immediately does as she's told, putting the ingredients into the mixture and quickly stirring it. The effects begins to set in as the shaking soon ceases and the smoke and it's foul odour clears away. We were saved.
"good grief". I breath in, grasping for fresh air.
"hah, that was a close one". Akko breaths a sigh of relief.
"it's all right, you could've done worse for a beginner". Lotte says, cleaning her glasses from the vapour. "you stopped it from blowing up in the end, that's good".
"I guess". Akko rests on the table, tired from all the vigorous stirring.
I would say one or two witty things, but considering what I just accomplished moments ago, I suppose the wise choice is not to. I look to Sucy instead. She should have something to say, funny or painful, or both. To my complete surprise, she continues her work as if nothing happened, not even bothering to look up from her work as she continues brewing her potion in silence. That's… odd.
My attention was pulled away as I heard another sizzling sound, it's from the thick jar I'm holding down. I quickly open it's lid, fearing the worst. As I finish opening the lid, I find that the jar is empty. Not just that, a sizeable hole is now at the jar's bottom, and through that hole I can see another hole, and through that second hole I can see a third hole.
I close the lid, trying my hardest to stay calm and look like everything is fine. Apparently,the potion seems to have burnt through the jar, the table, and the floor.
I crouch and look under the table. Indeed, a hole is left on the table and the wooden floor. Hints of smoke still lingers from the recent burn. I hope no one's below there.
It's fine, it's fine, you're fine.
I rise from below the table, no one seems to notice, good. I try to pretend as if nothing happened, pretending to work as I grind an empty mortar and pour empty vials. Doing whatever to look normal. I'm starting to think zoning out in the middle of an alchemy class is not a great idea.
I take a glance at Akko and Lotte, they're busy brewing potions as Lotte guides Akko through. I shift my gaze to Sucy, who's still brewing her potion, which looks thick and dark, and… evil. I'm starting to think she's not doing as instructed and is just brewing to her heart's desires.
I move slowly towards Sucy, settling beside her now.
"Sucy". I quaver quietly, not intending to do so. "Sucy I'm not doing fine".
"hm". she answers. Not looking away from her work.
"Sucy!". I call out to her a bit louder, voice still quavering.
"hmm". she answers, a bit louder this time.
"sorry for bothering you, I'm really really not doing well right now". I whisper to her, trying not to catch the attention of Akko and Lotte.
Sucy sighs. "what do you want?". she asks, her voice plain and monotone.
"can I just hang with you and pretend I'm helping you? Just seeing what you're doing maybe?". I ask, practically begging to her.
"fine". she answers, not a single hint of emotion in her voice.
"really? Thanks!". I thank her, receiving no welcome or anything, as expected.
I continue to observe her work. She's currently invested in her work, focused and unaffected by my presence at all. Grinding brittle ingredients into soft powders and boiling raw ingredients to soft, cooked ingredients. Cutting and crushing herbs and extracting it's valuable parts, putting the useful and useless bits into neatly separate and organized piles. Her work station is very neat and organized, every ingredient sorted together for what I can only guess it's use. Jars of powder, liquids and raw ingredients neatly organized according to their colours, setting an impressive display of efficiency and beauty on the table. The complete contrast of what every other member of the team, me included, has achieved.
She's very observant and sharp with her potions, it's like a work of art. Every drop and ounce of her ingredients is sharply accurate and proportionate, every drop she makes and every ingredient she added is all calculated with such precision. She works with such grace and fluidity, watching her crafting her work is oddly captivating. It never ceases to surprise me even after knowing how good she is with potions.
She pours the contents of the cauldron into a glass vial, securing it with a seal. She holds the vial up, shaking it and observing the results of her brew. The liquid inside is a beautiful colour of deep purple, sunlight gleaming off it's glass surface. She smiles at her work, indicating that her work is complete and that it is, indeed, a success.
"wow". I marvel at the glass vial she's holding.
She continues to put the vial inside her pocket, away from the sight of others.
"eh, Sucy". I call to her.
"hm?". she looks to me.
"what is that?". I ask, deeply curious with her work.
"nothing". she answers, looking back on her work station.
"I'm almost absolutely certain that wasn't nothing". I say worriedly, not even bothering to ask any further. It's Sucy after all.
I look to my other team mate, Akko pouring the contents of her cauldron into a glass vial while Lotte stays behind coaching her diligently. They're working surprisingly well, , they finally managed to brew the potion as Akko holds the glass vial up triumphantly, Lotte giving her a quite round applause. Even though they, well, Akko, made lots of mistakes, she didn't give up but instead keeps trying to brew the potion correctly. Lotte too never stops helping her friend, guiding her and giving helpful advices but doesn't try to interfere too much, intending to not hold her hand too much. In spite of the various mistakes and difficulties, they finally did it in the end.
That also means, I'm the least productive member of the team, for today.
"you should use a teaspoon of crushed bone instead of three". Sucy suddenly speaks, pulling my attention away from the two.
"sorry?". I ask her.
"your potion, you put in three teaspoon instead of one, that's why it happened".
"oh, t-thanks". I stammer, just realizing what she's meaning.
I look away from Sucy towards the thick jar that hides the hole in the table. I feel my face turning quite red as I realize she saw everything. Well at least she's not the type to tell others about this, or is she?
I didn't get the chance to feel more embarrassed as miss Finnelan tells the students to gather and return the ingredients and tools to their respective cabinets and shelves around the class, signalling the class's end.
I breath a sigh of relief, finally, an end to this mess. I see that Akko and Lotte are gathering their ingredients and tools together, hands full but they got all of them. Sucy too returns her tools and ingredients with them. While me, I'm left with a holed and broken glass jar, an old thick jar that is equally broken and a spoon that is melted beyond all recognition.
I very slowly put them under the table, pushing it further with my leg so no one won't notice it. I look around the class as I do this. No one seems to notice, good.
I notice Sucy returning to the table, apparently she needs to go back and forth with the tools and ingredients since she has taken so much.
"ah, Sucy, do you need help?". I offer.
She doesn't respond at all, but I help her nonetheless. Despite her silence, she doesn't seem to reject my help. I begin picking up the various jars of ingredients, piling them up on my hands. She picked so many ingredients, and they all look very peculiar. Dried fingers, petrified creatures, pickled… things, crushed butterfly wings and a…
"ah!". I quickly throw a jar of ingredient to the air in panic.
I close my eyes as the glass jar nears the floor, expecting to hear it break any time soon. But the sound never came, and as I open my eyes, I realize that Sucy just caught the glass jar, saving it from the fall.
"ahahah". I laugh nervously, I must look like an idiot.
She looks back and forth between me and the jar she's holding, a bee is inside it. A bee.
After a brief moment of just staring at me, she finally walks past me and puts the jar of bee inside the cabinet, closing it as she's finished.
I breath a deep sigh of relief as she finishes disposing the hell spawn, good god.
"thanks Sucy-".
She doesn't wait to hear my thank you as she continues to leave the classroom. leaving me all by myself with hands full of jars of ingredients and other tools. I look around the classroom, Akko and Lotte aren't here, maybe they're already outside.
I quickly put the ingredients and tools into the cabinets and shelves, putting them neatly and quickly, as I don't want to make my friends wait. The class is almost empty when I finish putting the ingredients and tools back, since I spent a not so short time organizing them neatly according to their colours and sizes. Can't help myself.
With a feeling of accomplishment and pride, I walk outside the classroom, hoping I didn't make my friends wait too long.
As soon as I exit the class however, I only find Sucy out here waiting, no sign of Akko nor Lotte anywhere.
"Sucy, where's the others?". I ask her.
"Akko needed to wash her hands". Sucy answers shortly. Not even bothering to look at me as she looks towards the window and what's outside. I suppose she's not in the mood to talk. Wait that's normal.
I lean myself on the wall, nothing else to do, as I wait for Akko and Lotte's return. All the students had already left moments ago, eager to end the day and do whatever they do after school. Which reminds me, I still have unfinished business with Amanda and her friends, I wonder what are they doing now.
I stop my thoughts and look towards Sucy, who remains silent and still keeps staring out the window. That must be one mighty interesting window.
"hey Sucy". I call to her, receiving not a single response from her.
"Sucy…". I call again, this time a bit louder.
"hmm". she answers.
"how are you so good at potion making?". I ask her.
"I don't know". Her answer is short again, dismissing my question and the conversation quickly.
"hehh, mean". I mumble. She's really not in the mood for talking today, not just talking, she didn't spoke a single comment nor snark the entire day. She must be out of lines.
I look away, realizing our conversation won't go anywhere. I should feel awkward if I'm in this situation with any other person, but this feels more like… why? Why is this girl like this? Why?
Like a lifeline, Akko and Lotte finally arrives, catching our attention.
"finally you're back". I breath a sigh of relief.
"sorry to keep you waiting". Lotte says.
"yeah, ran into some situation back there". Akko says, smiling nervously as she scratches her head.
"did you wait too long?". Lotte asks.
"no no, we're alright, all fun. It's not a long wait but it does feel a long, since Sucy isn't talkative at all today". I joke.
"ah, she's like that sometimes". Lotte tells me.
I stop and notice Sucy walking away from us.
"ah, Sucy?". Akko calls out to her friend.
"I'm going back to our room". Sucy answers, not even bothering to look back or stopping. She keeps walking away towards the direction of the dormitories.
"ah, wait up!". Akko calls to her again as she begins to follow her, stopping and turning to me halfway. "I'll see you tomorrow Aldia!".
"ah, yeah". I wave my hand to her.
She waves her hand in reply, before turning around and catch up with her pale friend.
"my, they're really eager to leave". Lotte says, about to catch up with her two friends, but she stops and turns to me first. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow too?".
"yeah". I smile to her. "see you tomorrow".
With a sweet smile as her reply, she turns around and walks away from me, catching up with her friends.
How endearing they are.
I look outside the window, the sun is going to set soon, and school activities has stopped. It's time for the students and teachers to enjoy their free time.
Now, before I head back to my room, I have one last place, or people to visit. I wonder where they hang out after dark.
/-/
I walk through the long corridors of Luna Nova, the sound of creaking wood the only thing accompanying me and my footsteps. My destination is the garage first, since it's the closest. I need to at least have a talk with Amanda and her friends, just hanging out with them is enough even. Also I need to ask her my bracelet back, I keep forgetting that .
I haven't met a single person on my way there, leaving me alone with my own thoughts. It's actually quite relaxing, just walking like this. The long corridors with many windows overlooking the vast green forest beyond the school, the moon above casting it's moonlight on the now dark forest and the long and empty corridors. It's a great feeling, being alone with your thoughts with such a great view. There's something special with going into empty places during the night that are usually crowded during the day, it's an odd feeling I can't explain.
I see a light coming far on an intersection on the end of the corridor, if my memory serves, that left turn leads to the garage.
Once I reach the intersection I follow the light, and sure enough, below me is the garage. I'm on a platform overlooking it. But down there there's no sign of Amanda, Constanze nor Jasminka anywhere.
"Amanda? Constanze? Jasminka are you there?". I call out. Silence was my only reply.
I was about to turn around when the sound of something falling catches my attention, it's from the garage below.
"hello?". I call out again. There's still nobody down there, weird.
"umm… no….". a small, high pitched voice suddenly replies. "nobody here~".
Judging from it's voice, it must be a gnome. That explains why it's nowhere insight.
"oh, a gnome". I mumble to myself. "say sir gnome, have you seen a red haired girl, a short one with a ribbon and a pink haired one anywhere around here?". I ask the gnome.
"I said I'm not here!". the gnome replies angrily, though no one wouldn't be able to take it seriously with that voice.
"come on sir gnome, I just need a simple yes or no answer".
"never!". the gnome answers stubbornly.
I sigh hearing his reply, how am I going to do this?
"should I call HR? I'll tell them you're being rude to a student". I tell the gnome, trying to sound as threatening as possible.
"I am a gnome!". the gnome quickly protests.
"oh, right. I meant GR, I'll report you to the GR how's that?". I correct myself.
I can hear a loud whimper down there. "no no! Not the Gnome Resources! Please no!". the gnome begs.
"I won't call them unless you would stop being so rude to students and answer my question". I push him further.
"I will! I won't be rude and I will answer your question!". the gnome quickly replies, his voice quivering with fear.
"I don't know! Truly sir I don't know!" the gnome hastily answers.
Well, he does sound genuine. I doubt I'll get any more answers from this gnome.
"They're going to get me, they're going to get all of us! oh no! the horror!". the gnome continues to loudly whimper in fear, but I couldn't hear the rest of it since I immediately leave for the garage.
I was about to change my mind and head back until I catch a glimpse of a familiar inanimate animate object walking down the corridor. It seems to be carrying a carton of milk up above its head.
I follow the little fellow, thinking that it will lead me straight to the three.
As it notices my presence, the little robot stops to a halt, turns around and looks up to me. It stays like this for a moment before it looks away again and continues it's march.
Though already having a good guess of my question, I try my luck and make small talk with the robot. "Where are you going?".
"Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger". It answers without pause.
"I-I see. May I follow?"
Still walking, the robot's head turns around to look at me briefly. "No! Area classified!".
"Well that doesn't matter because I'm going to follow you anyway". I tell it.
"No!". The robot skids to a halt and looks to me. "Classified! You can't come! Shoo!".
I try to follow him anyway once he resumes his walk, but every time I get too close it turns around and shoos me away over and over again.
The pattern begins to go clear, apparently if I stay far enough or just simply out of sight I'm not considered as trying to follow it. So I decided to keep my distance and hide from it's sight when it turns around, hiding through one corner to another as I follow him through the corridors and up the stairs. After a moment of doing this, I realize it's marching up the direction of the cafeteria, what is Constanze doing in there?
The robot soon reaches the tall double doors leading into the cafeteria. It tries to reach for the doorknob, but unfortunately its height stops it from reaching it.
I feel bad for the little thing, I was about to go and help it, but it continues to put the milk on the ground and uses it as a stepladder, enabling it to reach and turn the doorknob and finally conquering the wooden menace.
I silently applaud him from the pillar I'm hiding in.
The robot marches into the cafeteria, milk on it's head and pride on it's metal heart as it nears it's mission's end.
Sure enough, on the other end of the room I spot Amanda, Constanze and Jasminka. All huddled up on the floor.
The stairs creak as I make my way down, catching Constanze's attention first, but naturally it was Amanda who speaks first among the three. "Gosh, I thought you were a teacher".
She clearly thought so, judging from the brief terror on her face mere seconds ago.
She's drinking a box of milk, realizing I don't have any, she throws one at.
"Well it's not easy to discover it". I say as I try to catch the milk, it fumbles and I nearly dropped it to the floor- it fell.
I pick it up and dust it off, they all saw that.
"Jasminka". I nod to the girl, trying to pretend that didn't happen. A muffled 'hi' was her response. While a nod to Constanze gains me a nod in return.
"what are you guys doing by the way?". I ask, taking a seat at one of the chairs scattered across the room.
"well, you may not know this, but tonight is movie night!". Amanda declares.
"movie night?".I look to Constanze, she's sitting on the floor, beside her sits an odd machine which I can only guess Constanze made and that it is a film projector of some kind.
"but I thought the school doesn't have a movie night?". I ask.
"no you silly, it's our movie night. Not the school's". Amanda explains. "you're free to join by the way, feel free to grab some snacks, and drinks. Make yourself comfortable". Amanda tells me, pushing her chair back to reveal piles of snacks of all shapes and colours on the long table behind her. Supplied by none other than Jasminka.
"neato". I remark. "but what happens when someone walks in? Are you going to run away and leave me to be a scapegoat?". I ask them.
Amanda chuckles at this. "no, no. We have the lookout team standing by, just need Constanze to finish them first". Amanda looks to Constanze. She's currently tweaking her robot, installing a radar of some sort on the top of its head.
Constanze puts the robot down as she finishes tweaking it. The robot gives the girl a salute in which she replies with her own salute. After they finish saluting each other, the robot quickly runs to the exit of the cafeteria.
"it'll tell us if anyone comes, so don't worry". Amanda explains.
I doubt he'll be so effective
"Anyway, what's the movie about?"
"ah, it's something I've watched when I was a kid, a cowboy film, a serial not a movie. It's my favourite back home". Amanda tells me. "Constanze and Jasminka never watches it, so I'm showing them".
"Well, where is it?"
"We ran into some problems with the projector, well, by we I mean Constanze". Amanda tells me, pointing to Constanze with her thumb. Constanze is currently focused on her second work, dismantling what seems to be the movie projector. Jasminka helping her by her side.
"one mechanical problem to another". I comment. "Well good thing I brought this thing. It's a magical jigsaw puzzle I bought back then in the magic items café".
"I don't know man, puzzles aren't really my thing". Amanda says, no sign of interest at all.
"Magical, jigsaw puzzle", I reiterate. "It really isn't my thing either but, get this, the pictures can change to anything the user wishes it to be! Exciting and wholesome fun for the whole family, ages +12. All trademarks of the…"
Amanda arches her brows. "Are you seriously reading the description?"
Instead of telling I decide to show, I slide the puzzle towards Amanda and try imagining an image in my head.
The previously blank jigsaw puzzle begins to stir and now an image of Napoleon crossing the Alps appears, complete with the beautiful landscape of the Alpine mountain ranges behind him.
"Oh wow it actually worked", I mumble.
"Woah". Amanda marvels, taking the puzzle from my hand. She says nothing for a moment, she just closes her eyes and wait. Moments later, my image fades and a new image appears on the puzzle. A black and white cartoon image of a Cowboy riding on a white horse now appears on the jigsaw.
Seeing this, Amanda smiles widely.
"Oh good grief how American". I chuckle, trying to stifle a condescending laugh.
"This is amazing! I like it!". Amanda exclaims, eyes still fixed on the puzzle.
"Told you". I tell her with pride. "who's that anyway?". I ask.
"It's the protagonist from the show we're about to watch". Amanda explains, studying the jigsaw and the picture on it. "I like him when I was little".
"He's like Lucky Luke then?"
"I don't know who that is".
The projector suddenly lights up and the show begins to roll, pulling our attention away from the puzzle. The movie begins with those old styled countdowns, counting down the start of the movie.
Jasminka turns off the lights, transforming the cafeteria into a temporary movie theatre. She grabs a bucket of popcorn and takes the front seat nearest to the screen, sharing the popcorn with Constanze beside her.
"This looks old". I remark.
"It's super old". Amanda says. "Go ahead and watch it while I finish this puzzle". she tells me.
"oh, so you're finally interested?". I ask.
"I can't say I'm not". Amanda says as she breaks the puzzles away, ready to reassemble it.
We're back here while Constanze and Jasminka sits in front of us, eagerly waiting for the film to begin.
I watch as the countdown ends, and the show finally begins. It's a very old cartoon, I can tell from how the film needs to cut to another scene to show what someone is saying in texts, it's a silent cartoon apparently. The scene starts with the great scenery of the great American plains. Blue mountains stretches far on the edge of the horizon and great green plains stretches as far as the eyes can see. A river runs through the plains, stretching far on the landscape. The camera follows the river, moving the scene to a rocky ridge, the river beneath it.
"it's a great show". Amanda remarks quietly, catching my attention.
She's picking pieces of the puzzle, studying each pieces carefully.
"what's so special about this person anyway?". I ask her.
"well…". Amanda smiles. "he's like a childhood hero for me alright?". she says, a very faint hint of embarrassment in her voice. That's a first.
"your childhood hero?".
"I know, it's silly! There I said it!".
She pauses for a bit, pausing her work as she stops to think. "Did you know he's based on a real person?".
"He is?".
"Yeah, he's based from a popular folklore character". She puts a piece in it's place, slowly forming the white horse.
"Always seen with his signature hat, riding his trusty white stallion across the vast plains and deep forests. Outwitting his enemies and saving the innocents". she continues, smiling all the while. "That plays out at the beginning of the show, I used to watch old shows like this all the time when I was a kid".
She stops on her words to resume her work. I take it she doesn't want to bother me and ruin my movie experience.
I look back to the film, the scene still shows the river from before, but now an unconscious young man floats on the water. He was soon pulled away from the stream by an old man.
By the time the young man woke up, he finds himself on an unfamiliar bed inside an unfamiliar room. The old man seems to have brought him to his saloon, lending him a spare room for him to rest.
"Damn, this one doesn't fit". Amanda mumbles, catching my attention.
She's struggling with an empty spot on the puzzle, trying to find the correct piece.
"It does say ages 12 and above". I joke.
"Screw you man".
A loud gunshot surprises me. The young man from the movie nearly shot himself with a revolver, alarming the patrons of the saloon and me included.
"god that was loud, what an idiot". I say to myself.
"he's not an idiot, he's just clumsy". Amanda tells me.
"I thought you said he's a hero or something?". I ask her.
"well he is, but that doesn't mean he has to be those tough and unwavering super humans. He's not perfect, and that's what makes him perfect. Him being clumsy and full of mistakes is what makes him feel like a real person". Amanda explains.
"It's hard to relate with an all perfect hero, because they're simply too perfect, they have little similarities with us common folk. But a character with flaws like him, makes you feel like you have a chance to be a hero just like him".
I'm both surprised and amazed by her explanation, it's a side I didn't expect from Amanda.
"That's pretty deep". I remark.
"yeah, that was out of character wasn't it?". she chuckles. "Besides, isn't his clumsiness a bit endearing?".
"Endearing?".
Just as she says that, the young man falls from a horse he tried to ride, dirtying his clothes and catching some laughter from the onlookers.
"Gee, how endearing". Clumsiness isn't endearing, how absurd. "What was his name again?".
She doesn't reply to me, she just pauses and looks straight to me face.
"What?". I ask worriedly. "Is there- is there something on my face?".
"Sunny, Sunny Side Jr.". Amanda finally speaks, in perfect sync with the movie. Apparently she timed her answer perfectly with the character's introduction in the movie.
"What a terrible name, wow". I say, trying to stifle a laugh. "Oh that's too good though, how long did you wait for that opportunity?".
"Its better you don't know". Amanda answers. "And no, it's not a stupid name, it's silly, not stupid".
"Ah, beg pardon". I chuckle.
Amanda stops assembling the puzzle and watches the film with me.
"when I was young I would sneak out to a friend's house just to watch the show".
She loses herself on her memories, watching the show with a warm smile and a nostalgic look in her bright green eyes.
I wouldn't want to break her trip to memory lane, but there is just one important thing I realized. "Wait so… is that the start of your rebellious career? Because of a cartoon?".
She immediately breaks away from her nostalgic trip and turns to me. "No of course not I- wait you're right, it is! When I was little dad always told me the TV is a bad influence, I guess he's right after all!"
"We've cracked the mystery, your dad is right TV is bad after all". I joke, both of us chuckling quietly.
Right now Sunny is lost in the middle of a forest, giant trees reaches far above, covering the sky and providing a canopy to the forest below. Right now Sunny is with his horse, a white and skinny horse that is, nothing charming about it at all. The horse looks much more like a burden to Sunny to me, making Sunny fall over and over and always doing what Sunny told him not to, and right now Sunny is struggling to pull the horse towards their destination, the complete opposite of what horses are supposed to do.
"That is one insufferable horse". I say.
"Mhm. The horse's name is Depona by the way". She says, returning to her work, putting a puzzle piece in it's place.
Sunny confidently steps into a dark cave while Depona stays outside. In there Sunny traverses the treacherous cave, filled with traps, traps, and more traps. Soon enough Sunny realizes this cave isn't completely natural, it's walls are lined with various decorations and paintings. Rusted and crumbled weapons and armours litter the stone floors. Oh and also traps, more traps litter the floor. What a surprise.
"What's going on here?". I ask.
"Don't ask just watch". Amanda says still focused on her puzzle.
After more traps, Sunny finally finds himself in front of a massive stone door. Curious and intricate paintings and carvings line the massive stone door, foreign words painted on the walls around it. It's a puzzle, apparently, as Sunny continues to pace around the room, trying to think of how to open the door.
After a not so short moment of thinking, Sunny suddenly looks up from his thinking as he finally comes up with something. looks like he figured it out. He runs to the stone door, ready to solve the puzzle. He touches the stone door, but to his and our surprise, the door simply pushes opens. It's not locked in the first place….
"Is he- is he an idiot?".
"No, no he's not".
The wide stone chamber beyond the stone door has a small stone pedestal in the middle of the room, Sunny looks around frantically as he sees this. looks like whatever he was searching for is supposed to be on that pedestal.
"Oh no, how unlucky". I say, sarcasm thick in my voice.
"Man, you're so negative".
"What? Me? Negative? Pssh!".
One thing leads to another, Sunny is now chasing some treasure hunters, looks like they stole an idol of some sort, maybe it's the thing Sunny was searching in that cave. Sunny is riding Depona as they try to chase a steam train. As Depona nears the train, Sunny jumps towards the speeding train. Nearly missing his grip. He continues to climb up, successfully infiltrating the train.
The scene continues with a fight scene, Sunny against the treasure hunters, battling it out on top of the train. It's a pretty impressive scene even by today's standards. Finally the final confrontation comes, Sunny against the treasure hunters' leader, General Bob Rowe, or Browe, as he calls himself. A man with a peculiar bushy moustache and a mean pair of eyebrows.
"What a terrible name". I mumble.
"Shh, just keep watching".
Browe currently holds Sunny on gunpoint on top of the train. Sunny is at his mercy now, since he just lost his gun and is now defenceless. As Browe explains his whole plan just like a good old fashioned villain would, Sunny crafts, and I quote, his magnificent plan.
Far ahead is a tunnel, so Sunny pretends to be interested in Browe's story to keep him occupied, and he falls for that, telling his 'master plan' fully to Sunny. Sunny couldn't hide his smile as the train comes closer and closer towards the tunnel. As Browe notices this, it's already too late. The train enters the tunnel and Browe.…
…Is completely fine. The tunnel is tall enough so that neither Browe nor Sunny were harmed.
"What". I blurt out.
Amanda says nothing as she tries to stifle a laughter.
Both Browe and Sunny completely fine. As the train exits the dark tunnel, they're both still frozen in place, completely and equally shocked by this.
"That was amazing". I chuckle, genuinely impressed by the show.
"I know". Amanda says, trying to hold her laughter still.
I continue watching the show, now curious of how it will end. The longer I watch it, the more I start to understand why Amanda loved the show as a kid. It may be rough around the edges and could be predictable at times but it has its charms. The same can be said about Sunny, despite his many un-heroic traits.
I came here wanting to talk about what happened yesterday. But seeing these girls having fun right now, how Jasminka laughs at all the jokes, how Constanze couldn't take her eyes off the gun slinging action, and how Amanda has a constant smile every time Sunny comes on screen, I'm beginning to grow more and more afraid that bringing the race up again will just ruin the moment.
The sound of small metallic footsteps echoes from the doorway, I turn and found Constanze's robot skidding to a halt near the door frame. "Danger danger!". The tiny robot shouts as loud as it could.
Amanda quickly stands up from her seat and whispers loudly. "Code red! Code red!"
Everything that happened after that felt like a blur, as if everyone moved in fast forward.
Constanze and Jasminka immediately turns off the projector and pushes it under the table to hide it alongside many of their snacks. They then spread out a long white tablecloth and cover the table with it. Its length reaches to the floor, providing good cover for anyone that hides under the table. Meanwhile Amanda quickly grabs the jigsaw puzzle and hides under the table, Constanze and Jasminka too follows suit, hiding in a different table.
They act so fast and so calculatedly as if they've already trained for this moment for years.
I could only look around, stunned by how fast everyone are. "guys what about the rob- ah!".
Amanda quickly and quietly grabs my hand and pulls me down to hide under the table. She puts her finger on her lips, telling me to stay quiet. I mimic her as a gesture of acknowledgement.
I catch a glimpse of Constanze's robot running up to it's owner's table. I see Constanze's arm reaching out from under the cover and quickly pulling the robot under the table.
I begin to hear footsteps approaching the room, and soon enough, the door to the cafeteria opens. I lower my head, trying to take a peek from below the tablecloth. The cold surface of the floor touching against the side of my head. I can see a pair of slender legs from down here. Judging from the slender legs, I can deduce that the owner of those legs, are indeed, a girl. Well that and the fact that this is an all girls school.
From down here I can't see anything but her legs as she begins to walk towards our direction. I'm starting to feel my heart beat faster as she comes closer and closer to our table.
I feel Amanda pulling on my sleeves, as I look to her, she's frantically pointing down to her jigsaw puzzle, then up towards the table.
Are you kidding me?
Amanda lifts the tablecloth slightly up and looks past me towards Jasminka and Constanze, who lifts theirs up too. Amanda continues to make a few hand signals, soon Jasminka and Constanze nods in acknowledgement.
Constanze picks up a piece of candy and hands it to Jasminka. Jasminka grabs hold of the candy and patiently waits for her opportunity. After a short minute of waiting, she throws the candy across the room, it creates a faint clacking noise as it lands.
The unwelcomed visitor looks away from our direction, she then continues to walk towards direction of the sound the candy made. As she turns her attention away, Amanda quickly reaches her hand out from under the table, reaching for the puzzle piece left on top of the table. She picks up the piece in a flash and brings it under the table, successfully securing it.
But in the process her hand slightly bumps the table, slightly moving it and making a faint but audible noise.
I can hear the unknown person turns to our direction as she hears that. Her quick steps synchronizing with my fast heartbeat as she walks towards our direction once again. Stopping very very near our table.
I look towards Amanda, she too is looking at me with an equally tense look. She continues to cover her mouth with her hand, I do the same, trying to calm myself down.
It's fine, we're fine.
The situation stays like this, too long for comfort. I feel my heartbeat growing ever faster with each passing second. Right now I can't see where the unknown person, but I'm sure she's very close and is standing still.
After what feels like an eternity, the unknown person finally resumes her walking as I hear her footsteps once again. But still it's really hard to tell whether she's walking away or walking around us, it's driving me mad. Hell, I bet you she's just standing in place, just stomping her feet.
Seconds after I hear the footsteps, but not long after it stops once again. This goes on over and over again. Is she gone? Or is she just standing still? I don't know! She's probably staring right at us a metre away across the bloody room. Hell she's probably on top of our bloody table for all I know.
I look towards Amanda, she too looks to me. Despite the situation, she's grinning. She even starts to giggle, I quickly shush her down in response.
Thankfully, I hear the door open once again, and after a few footsteps it closes once again. There's really no telling whether the unwelcomed visitor really left or she has faked her exit and is now messing with us. She could be tip toeing towards us at this exact moment for all I know. Nonetheless we're all royally screwed.
Even after minutes pass none of us makes a move. I find that if we're to find out whether she's gone or not, there's only one way. I breath deeply, it's do or die, it's likely going to be die though.
Taking the first move, I lift the tablecloth slightly and take a peak. No sign of any legs, good. Amanda lifts the tablecloth on her side and does the same, turning to me after and nods. I breath a long sigh of relief, that was ridiculously tense.
Amanda and I exit from my cover quietly. Relieved to find there's no sign of our unwelcomed visitor. Soon Jasminka and Constanze follows, her robot tucked safely on her tiny hands.
I say nothing for a moment, none of us says a thing, we're all still recovering from the recent horror experience. I find it impossible to believe anyone can stay-
A repressed laugh breaks the silence. I immediately look behind me, it's Amanda.
"why… why are you laughing?".
She keeps giggling as she struggles to hold her laugh still.
"That wasn't nice at all! Nothing funny about happened". I half-shout half-whisper to her, trying to hush her down.
She doesn't stop, to my complete horror, her giggles breaks into a full laughter, echoing throughout the empty room.
"Ah that was amazing!". Amanda wipes a tear from her eye and points at me. "you should have seen the look on your face!".
"What?!".
"Your face!". Amanda turns to Constanze and Jasminka. "You should have seen his face! his face was so funny!".
"O'Neill please stop laughing someone might listen!".
Amanda ignores my plea. Her smile grows even wider knowing full well it's just a ploy to distract her. "You're as pale as a ghost back then, you were scared weren't you?".
"N- no! I wasn't scared!". I start to feel my face going red with embarrassment.
My response and my obvious embarrassment just makes Amanda's grin grow wider and wider. "You're scared! You were scared!"
"Amanda be quiet! Who knows she's still out there?!".
"you were scared". Amanda cuts me off.
"no I- no I was not and am not scared!".
"you were scared".
"no I'm-I'm not! Okay?".
Amanda starts to laugh with no sign of stopping any time soon. I try to silence her with my hands but she easily blocks every attempt I make with little effort.
"Shut up, shut up!". I continue throwing my hands at her, my face now completely red.
"Aw you're red now!". Amanda laughs, casually blocking my attempts to silence her. She looks past me to her two friends. "Look he's so red!".
"Shut up Amanda!". I shout, growing even redder by the minute.
"You're so red, oh my god why are you so embarrassed dude?".
"It's not funny shut up!".
My attempt to shut her up delights her even more, making her laugh harder and harder.
My feeble attacks are finally stopped when Jasminka took hold of me by my arms, holding me in a lock. "There, there". She says like a mother to a child.
"Oh dear". Amanda finally stops her laughing fit and wipes a tear from her eye. "Okay that's enough, that's enough".
She giggles for a bit more before finally regaining her composure and offers her hand to me. "Truce?".
I just turn my head away, rejecting her offer.
"You're breaking my heart".
"Just- just shut up, Amanda".
The entire time we were having our little act, Constanze and her robot had been busy packing the movie projector. "Well I guess that's the end of the movie night". Amanda remarks. "Hey Constanze, let me help".
I notice Jasminka is still here with me, she's always the one who's first to help when it comes to these stuffs.
"What? What's the matter?". I turn to the pink haired girl. "Is there- is there really something on my face now?"
Jasminka smiles. "No, it's nothing".
She goes on to help her friends clean up after that, leaving me puzzled with that last words from her. Puzzled and slightly worried that there's actually something on my face.
/-/
"thanks for helping us carry our stuffs, and for letting me borrow this". Amanda says, jigsaw puzzle in hand and holding the door to her room open with her one free hand while Jasminka and Constanze walks under her arm and through the open door.
"whatever, just shut up". I grumble and turn my head away as I hand her the snack bags.
My grumbling only makes Amanda smile, though I can't make out whether it's a mischievous or a genuine one. The light from the room behind her casting a back light behind her and at the same time setting a stream of its light across the now dark dormitory corridors.
I wait here for a moment, still looking away, expecting more teasing words from Amanda. I'm surprised to find that she doesn't have any.
"Goodnight man". Amanda says. Just as I turn to her do I notice it was a normal smile after all, a warm one even.
"Night Jerry". Jasminka chimes in from inside the room, her head visible behind Amanda.
Constanze says her farewell in her own way, waving her hand towards me. Her robot mimicking her gesture, bidding it's own farewell to me.
"You guys too". I reply.
As the door is about to close, I catch a glimpse of Amanda flashing a teasing smile at me again through the narrow gap of the barely closed door. I throw my face away as I'm beginning to feel my face going red again.
With that last parting gift of embarrassment and a final mischievous chuckle, Amanda finally closes the door shut.
I sigh heavily.
That girl I swear to god.
I turn around and walk to the direction of my room, while occasionally glancing back at their room without really knowing why.
How can Amanda so easily make me feel embarrassed and flustered? How does she do it? It's like some sort of magic!
I try my best to shake off this unpleasant feeling, it only became worse the harder I try. It became even worse when I realize something just now.
You know that odd, sharp feeling on your chest when you realize or remember something you've been missing this whole time? That tangle that keeps on tangling on your chest that makes you think something's wrong with it even though you know full well it's all in your head.
I feel that right now, out of all the times I spent with her tonight.
My steps come to a halt and I turn to look back down the corridor that leads to Amanda's room.
Just now I realized the real reason I wanted to visit her tonight, but there were too many things running in my head when I was with her that I forgot about it.
It was my bracelet. I forgot to ask Amanda my bracelet back.
Pringles.