"I'm sorry but Anya won't be able to join you today. "

Yor's voice echoed in the living room of the Forger residence as she spoke on the phone.

"Yes Becky. She is actually very excited about it. But we noticed that she still doesn't play a lot and gets tired easily. She needs one more day of rest." Yor replied in a kind voice.

"Don't worry. We think she'll be able to attend classes tomorrow. Yes, thank you, we'll tell her." She gently placed the phone back.

Yor went to Anya's room where she saw Loid sitting beside his sleeping daughter.

"Are you sure about this, Loid? Anya will surely be upset. You saw how she took her medicines and stayed in bed in order to get well fast for the Planetarium visit." Yor inquired.

Loid nodded. "It is better this way, Yor. She shouldn't move around too much. Anya's been lying on her bed for days. She must gradually return to her usual activities." Loid pointed out.

"Okay. Let's just think of the best way to tell her. I hope Anya understands."

"Mmmm." Loid agreed while scratching his cheek, a tinge of worry can be seen in his face.

~~~~~

It was as Loid feared. Unlike the usual peaceful start of the week, whining and stomping can be heard at the Forger residence that Monday morning.

"Anya wants to go to the Planetarium. WAAAAAAAA—!"

Anya whined and sniveled at her parents. Loid and Yor were struggling to comfort their upset daughter.

"Anya, it's okay..." Loid said.

"It's not okay! WAAAAAAA—!" Anya cried.

"I know! Do you want to watch Bondman? Come—"

"I don't want! WAAAAAA—-!" Anya protested.

Loid let out a deep sigh and started to become annoyed. Yor approached her husband.

"Loid, maybe we should just let her be upset for now," Yor suggested.

"Okay," Loid replied. He took a deep breath.

Once again, Loid spoke to Anya. "Anya, I know you are upset with Papa. I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry, Anya. We know you are upset, but Mama and Papa needs to take care of you for another day," Yor told the girl.

"Anya is feeling better today. Anya wants to see the planets with Becky, mama," Anya said to her mother tearfully.

"I see, you want to go with Becky," Loid affirmed. Anya nodded.

Loid hugged his daughter. They stayed this way for a minute, Anya still crying in his arms.

"Do you want to keep studying with Becky?" asked Loid.

"Huh? Yes." Anya replied with a sob.

"Okay. Do you want to be there for the classes and excursions next time?"

Anya nodded.

"You know, Papa and Mama wants that too, Anya." Loid acknowledged. "That's why we don't want your fever back anymore."

Loid sat Anya beside him. "Right now, your body is still fighting the fever just a little bit more. That's why we have to help your body fight it by resting. It's so that when the fever is finally gone, it won't go back anytime soon— and Anya can be present in her classes and excursions all the time again."

Anya looked her father in the eyes. "A-Anya doesn't want to be absent anymore, Papa."

Loid patted her daughter's head.

Anya finally calmed down.

She touched her cheek with her index finger. "If Anya rests today, will I be going to school tomorrow?"

Her parents nodded.

"But I want to see the Planetarium," she said sadly.

"I see." Loid thought. "How about an excursion to the Planetarium with Mama and Papa? So you can still see everything your classmates saw." Loid took a small notebook out. It's his tiny planner.

Yor noticed this and quickly pointed it out to Anya. "See that Anya? Papa is already putting the Planetarium Visit in his schedule," Yor smiled at the girl sweetly.

Anya wiped the remaining tears in her eyes. "Okay, Papa, Mama. I will go back to bed. I want to be in school tomorrow!" Anya walked to her room. Yor smiled at Loid before she followed her daughter inside. Loid smiled back at her, albeit forced.

As soon as Yor left, Loid sighed and frantically stared at his open planner.

'I'm. too. overworked.'

His shoulders dropped.

"Papa? I want peanut cake, please!" Anya spoke as loud as she can to be heard from her room.

"Okay, Papa will buy you a cake." Loid sighed again as he closed his planner. "Well, it's for Operation Strix. I'd better get this done." He took his wallet and keys from the drawer and left the house for the peanut cake store at Maines street.

As soon as they heard the door close, Anya reached for her mother's clothes.

"Mama..." Yor looked at her.

"I want to call the school dormitory."

"The school dormitory? Why?" Yor asked.

Anya explained her dilemma.

"I see. Okay, let's do it." Yor gladly obliged.

Anya was pleased that her mother agreed. They went to the phone and dialed the contact number of the dormitories that they found at the Eden Academy Handbook. Anya held the handset on her ear as she waited for the dormitory caretaker to answer.

Finally, someone picked up.

"Eden Academy Dormitories. Please let me know who is on the line."

"Uhm, hi! This is Anya Forger of Class 3."

"Ah! Good morning, Ms. Forger. Who would you like to reach?"

~~~~~

"Bossman, are you okay?" Ewen asked Damian whom he found staring outside the window, his chin resting on one hand.

"Mmm, mmm." Damian responded curtly.

For the first time in his life, Damian looked forward to Monday. But now he'll just be tagging along with Ewen and Becky because Anya was not cleared by her parents to join the Planetarium visit.

"Well, Anya's been weak and resting in bed for several days. Her parents probably do not want her to push herself on her first school activity since her illness," Ewen told his friend.

"I know." Damian replied.

The two boys ate and chatted in Damian's room when the phone suddenly rang.

'A phone call this early in the morning?' Damian thought. Not in the mood to talk, he decided to ignore it.

'If that's a call from father's butler, it will stop in five rings.' Damian closed his eyes as he counted. Third... fourth... fifth... sixth... seventh.. eighth.. ninth?!...

"Bossman, are you sure you're not picking up? The caller's pretty persistent." Ewen asked.

"Tsk." Damian is starting to get pissed.

Ewen sighed. "The ringing's quite irritating. I'll just answer it and tell the caller you're away." Ewen stood up and answered the phone.

"Hello, this is Damian Desmond's line. I'm sorry, he's not here at the moment." Ewen said.

"I-I see. I'm sorry to call this early. Please tell Sy-on bo— Sorry, Mr. Desmond—"

"A-Anya?" Ewen asked.

'ANYA?!' Damian's body moved in a flash. He took the phone from an astonished Ewen, who gave way as he chuckled at his friend.

"Yes, this is Anya." Damian heard Anya confirm as he held the phone to his right ear.

"Er, please tell him that my mama and papa said—"

"— you still have to rest, right, Shrimp?" Damian interrupted. He noticed that Anya sniffed and her voice quivered as she spoke. 'Did she cry?' He thought.

"Sy-on boy?!" Anya said in a surprised voice.

"Speaking, Shrimp," Damian said. "Are you okay? Did you cry?" he asked.

"Er... Anya... was upset earlier when Papa told me I can't go to the Planetarium, so, yes," Anya replied, scratching her right cheek.

"You know you need to be sure you're okay before you go back to school, right? That's why I told you it's okay if you still need to rest today. If you insist on coming and your fever comes back, you will miss more classes and that's worse, you know." Damian explained. He sat himself at the couch.

"Yeah, Anya understands now. That's what papa told me earlier. That's why Anya is fine with it now," Anya replied.

"Good. So don't cry anymore," said Damian.

"Mmm... Sorry I can't come today. Anya really wants to go to the Planetarium with Sy-on boy." Anya said sadly.

'Wha—! How could she say these things to me like this? She's... so sweet.' Damian's face was bright red.

"I-It's okay. You should get better first." Damian coughed lightly. "But you better make up for it!" He quickly added with a pout.

"Okay! Anya will go to the Planetarium with Mama and Papa. Papa will work on his schedule." Anya told him in her usual, determined voice.

"I see," Damian felt a little jealous. 'The Forgers — what a great family'. Sadly, his family doesn't care to see to him even on weekends... for months now.

"Yes! So after that, Anya will still be able to help Sy-on boy with the output. Anya will surely have great ideas, so be sure to have good ones too, Sy-on boy! You should enjoy the visit today!" Anya said encouragingly.

"Uhm, but I don't think we'll have to work together on the output anymore though," he said.

"Are you sure? Anya will talk to the teacher. Anya wants to work with Sy-on boy!" Anya said.

Damian giggled as quietly as he could. His heart is beating fast. He likes it when Anya is this direct at him.

The school bell rang which Anya heard on the phone.

"Oh, you need to go now. Thank you for taking Anya's call, Sy-on boy!" Anya said cheerfully.

"Yup. You're lucky I took it." Damian said. 'Dammit I need to thank Ewen for this...'

Anya chuckled. "Bye Sy-on boy! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye..." Damian placed the phone back on the table. He gently tapped his face twice before turning around and seeing a giggling Ewen on the dining table.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go." Damian said, smiling. He patted Ewen in the shoulder to gesture his thanks.

"Aye, aye, bossman." Ewen replied with a grin. The two left.

~~~~~

The bus assigned to Class 3 entered the parking lot to a dome-like establishment. Teachers gave instructions to their students before they were instructed to alight and pair up with their respective buddies.

As soon as the bus doors opened, a cheerful announcement was heard.

"Welcome to the Ostania National Planetarium, students of Eden Academy!" said a merry voice.

Everyone was thrilled upon hearing the warm welcome. Several consecutive popping sounds were heard after the last student went out of the bus. Right after this, bits of glittering confetti fell and floated over the students' head. Everyone was delighted!

Even Damian who still felt a bit off about not being with Anya in the Planetarium visit watched the glimmering ceiling with a gasp. 'I wish Anya could see this.' He thought.

The teachers instructed all student buddies to fall in line. A few reminders were given before heading inside.

"Remember that each pair must write a reflection about the things you learned here in the Planetarium. Grading will be the same between buddies, so I expect you to work together." The teacher turned. "Alright, let's head inside."

The students walked after their teacher in a line. Following Becky and Ewen at the very end was Damian.

The dome was actually a big auditorium inside. The children sat in the theater seats, and watched spectacular projections and presentations about the solar system, stars, galaxies and many different celestial bodies.

Damian watched intensely to find interesting things to write on his and Anya's paper. He didn't notice himself getting carried away. The stunning image of a dark, starry night and the northern lights played like a broken record in his mind.

He suddenly whispered, "Imagine if we can walk under this together when we grow up, Anya—"

He stopped.

Damian immediately glanced at Ewen to check if he heard anything. He was relieved to see his friend intensely focused on the ceiling. (In his right is the aisle. He doesn't want to sit beside just anyone.)

Damian lightly shook his head repeatedly as if trying to wake himself. He then covered his reddened face in embarrassment.

~~~~~

Next Chapter: Papa and Mama

~~~~~