DISCLAIMER: Any final fantasy X or X-2 character, places, creatures, or
themes that are in this fanfic belong to Squaresoft, which is now currently
Squarenix, I give my props to them for making such great games.
AN: Wow. This had to be the longest chapter that I have done yet. Sorry for it being a day late, but I just didn't have it finished on Friday, so here it is. I hope you like! Oh, and to everyone that gave me tips on beating Shinra thank you: RenaLanford65, Jezzi. Thank you so much! Also thanks to everyone who has reviewed: Wolf of Light, sarah, Koko Kung, FinalFantasys- Child, DarkAngelB, Chaos, General-Beatrix666, fluffernutter, ButterflyIce, and KawaiiAlBhed!!! Thank you all, your reviews count!!!!!! Oh yea, this is a good Al Bhed Translator, believe me, this chapter you are going to need it: (if the link wont show, go to my profile. ~~~~~****~~~~~
I woke up on the morning before leaving to Bikanel with an exceptional amount of sleep in my eyes, sitting up on the edge of the bed and raising my hands to wipe it away, yawning at the same time. I shook my head, looking around and standing up, stumbling forward a few feet as I recovered from the other night.
I haven't seen Nooj ever since the incident, and nobody has spoken of him. And the little but of talk that I get out Baralai wasn't worth that much, and was mostly a waste of time as every time that I met him in the hallway he was always going to his next class or something priestly.
Then there was that new girl Paine, and I saw her about just as much as I saw Nooj. She would always be sitting on a bench with her legs crossed and her arms outstretched over the back of the bench, her eyes closed, as if she never got any sleep in her bunks. But every time that I would turn my head I would feel eyes on me from her direction. So I just avoided walking by her altogether, kind of scared to talk to her or ask her questions, a little afraid of the answer.
So I basically was a hermit, we all were, we never really talked during that whole day.
I was in my bunk at the time, having just been showered and dressed, tying and fastening my boots when I got the message.
The door slid open as a Hypello entered, it's mellow voice seeming to echo off of the metal walls of my room. I instantly looked up from my boots and up at the Hypello my lips parting in a nervous smile as I saw that it was only a Hypello and not a Maester. The Hypello had a tannish letter folded in it's slimy right hand, its yellow eyes with black slanted pupils staring down at me as it stood in the doorway, causing the doorway to not recluse itself, as the door was motion sensitive when put on the correct mode. Heh, another thing that I hacked into and changed for benefits and to keep myself from dyeing of boredom.
"I hash a letter for Gippal in room number two-shixty-sheven. That'shoo yesh?"
I nodded, a strand of golden blond hair falling to my face. The Hypello walked slowly towards me, its letter hand extended for me to take the letter. I reached for it, but the Hypello pulled it back quickly, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Mighty Hashty, yesh?"
I shook my head, grabbing the letter out of the Hypello's hand and quickly opening it, a tattered and old looking piece of parchment falling down onto the floor. I examined the envelope, front to back and around the inside, making sure I didn't miss anything else, then placed the envelope on the bed, leaning forward to pick up the paper that fell to the floor. I noticed that the Hypello still hadn't left the room, and I raised a brow, picking up the parchment and looking up at him.
"Yes?"
"Yooo Havent payed your feeee."
I closed my eye and issued a silent groan, forgetting about the fee that you were supposed to pay to the Hypello deliverer. I didn't even bother to check if I had any money.
"I don't have any Gill."
The Hypello blinked as if annoyed and turned away, walking to the door.
"Yoo pay later then, yesh? I will remember yoo Gippal. I tell you too My Shoopuff. Shoopuff never forget. Shoopuff.."
The door slammed shut behind him and I didn't hear any more of his rambling, but I knew the Hypello was still going on about the lack of Gill.
I shrugged, tilting my head down and unfolding the parchment, reading fine handwriting on I t in black ink:
Du Vencdelre Eyfygerle Gippal,
Yh esbundyhd ubanydeuh femm dya bmyla eh dra jyneypma desa uv 1 du 2 suhdrc. Dra ubanydeuh so pa y vydym uha, yht syho mejac syo pa cylnevelat yd drec canjela du Yevon, un funca, du Maister Seymore. Ymm fru yna vyedrvim du Yevon femm pa cbynnat, eh aedran meva un taydr, drao femm pa nafyntat eh Yevon's aoac. Bmayca, Gippal, luhjand vun ouin ufh cyvado, vun dra uhac dryd oui muja... Luhjand, un kad uid... un funca dryh dra crysa uv tnubbehk uid uv yh ameda vunla mega dra C.S., tea.
~Y vammuf Al Bhed.
I narrowed my eyes, reading the letter over and over again to make sure that I didnt misread anything, and to find some sort of clue to as to who wrote this letter, but there were none.
I blinked; folding the letter carefully and sticking it back into the envelope from which it came, getting off of the bed to put the envelope in my black bag, safely hiding it.
I wondered if anyone else got a letter. But I was doubtful. This was directly to me.
~~~~~****~~~~~
I walked down the halls to where The Dojo and shooting range were, opening the door that leads into that long hallway. I was going to go to the shooting range, determined to not let the incident that happened between Nooj and I about a week ago stop me from going anywhere. I was over it. Or so I hoped.
I stopped at the door of the range, leaning forward just a little to peek in and see if anyone was there, and though I didn't want to admit it, I was really just checking to see if that person was there. I didn't see anyone, nor did I hear any gunshots, the only thing that I heard was the churning of the generators. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I took a step back and turned around, reconsidering my decision to the go to the range. I looked around, trying to find something to do when my eyes stopped at the two doors at the end of the hallway. I had never been in those doors, and I started to walk towards them. I stopped about a foot away from the doors, looking at each one and deciphering the letters trying my bed to read them. I couldn't read the door to the left, but I know that the one at the right made out the letters 'O', 'K', 'E', ' R'. 'R' 'O' 'O''M'.
I pushed open the door and took a step inside, my curiosity getting the best of me as I took another step forward, my eye darting from side to side.
It was a huge bathroom like place with baby blue tiled walls and Teal tiled floors. The roof was white and the whole room was lit up with bright light. He passed by column after column of dark blue lockers and wooden benches until he got to the middle of the area, a spot filled with sinks and marble counters, long vanity mirrors on the walls, the area was strangely clean and the air smelled damp though no showers were running.
I stopped walking and just looked around the place, a little confused at this whole thing. Ok Ok. Give me a break. I had never seen or been in a locker room.
I spotted a little area with urinals aligning the wall to the right side, and I walked to them, the sudden feeling of not having gone to the bathroom in 2 days coming over me..
I zipped my pants up and turned around, feeling a lot more comfortable now. I walked to one of the sinks and put my hands under it, the warm water washing my hands. As soon as I took my hands out from under it the water instantly ceased and I dried off my hands on my shorts. I stopped though as I heard familiar voices to the left of me where the lockers were, deep in conversation.
"Where have you been Nooj?"
I looked up to the area where the lockers are. It was Baralai.
"You know where I have been. Don't ask questions to which you already know the answers to."
There was a long pause.
"How was the procedure?" Came the voice of Baralai..
"It went well. I was under the whole time." "How does it feel?"
How does what feel?
"I cant control myself sometimes. I have muscle spasms. Bad ones Baralai."
"Leblanc cant hel.."
"I'm not going to tell Leblanc and neither are you! You understand?"
I blinked as Nooj's voice echoed throughout the locker room.
"I understand. But she will want to know."
"Well she wont. I cant let her know. For her sake."
"Nooj."
"No more said. No more questions. It hurts."
I took a silent step back as I wondered what he meant by 'It hurts'. Almost feeling the pain that was in his voice, though I could not see him. What the hell were they talking about? I blinked again as the feeling of not belonging consumed me again.
It's best that I don't ask. I know that I shouldn't be here.
I looked around, not knowing where to go as the only way out that I saw was the door in the front from where I came in from and in order for me to go through that door I had to walk past them... I waited for awhile, or at least it felt to me that way, as still as a stone, hardly breathing as I waited for them to speak again. I strained my ears, trying to pick up the sound of their breathing. But found that I could not hear anything of them and the bathroom was eerily silent. I blinked, now taking a step forward, my echoing footsteps seeming about 100x louder than they really were.. Until I reached the areas with the lockers, and passed each row of lockers with care, expecting them to jump out at me any minute. But when I passed the last set of lockers I had seen nothing. nobody. My mouth dropped open as I tried to recollect myself. I could have sworn that I heard their voices. As clearly as if they were standing beside me. Where the hell did they go? I didn't hear any doors close. And for that matter I didn't hear any doors open. Was I hearing things?
I shook my head and just stood there, my hands hanging limply at my side as I slowly closed my mouth. I blinked again, then finally took a step forward and pushed open the door walking through it, it slamming behind me.
I walked down the hallway walking as fast as I can from the locker room door, planning to never go in there again. Hearing voices of my comrades with their bodies not attached. Good thing I was leaving to tomorrow.
"Your Gippal, right?"
I turned my head as I got addressed, the thoughts that I had instantly fading away and staying in the locker room. My mind went directly to the voice that I had never head before, stopping my fast walk to turn around.
My eyes fell apon a hefty man bearing only a towel around his waist, his huge gut dropping over the front of the towel, but before the gut were many rolls on the sketch of his rip line, and two breast like things where his manly chest was supposed to be. Though he had no hair on his gut, chest or bald head he had more than enough to make up for it on his arms, legs and back, as they were covered in thick brown hair. It was not a pretty sight. Something that I could surely do without. The mans face was a kind one through and seemed young, but it was his eyes that really gave away how old he was. His many years reflected in the tiny black orbs like a mirror.
"Yes. uh, and you are?"
His happy expression looked taken back for a moment as I asked the question, as if the thought that not everyone in Spira didn't know who he was. Then he finally spoke again, his voice merry.
"Maester Kinoc. But just call me Kinoc."
Before I could say anything he took a step forward and embraced me in a huge bear hug. His grip in my arms tighter than I would have thought, it almost squeezing the life out of me. As he hugged me he whispered something into my ear, frantically. His voice no longer happy and joyous, but trembling as he spoke:
"Saad sa eh dra Tehehk ynay yd 2:00 ys..."
I took a step back, my eye narrowed as more questions flooded my mind. One after another. As if never stopping.
With that Kinoc took a step back and nodded, then turned around and entered the sauna room.. Leaving me behind to sort out this madness. To try to find out where it all ends..
~~~~~****~~~~~
I returned to my room almost soon after the occurrence with Kinoc, my head still spinning..
Why did a Maester know the Language Al Bhed? Yevon has too many secrets.
I was now in my room, sitting on the edge of my bed, my black bag beside me as I folded and packed most of my belongings, folding up a pair of underwear hear and there or maybe some socks, not really focusing on what I was doing. Then I stumbled apon a picture and turned it over to see what it was of, my head tilting to the side as I looked at the old memory.
It was of a woman with blond shoulder length hair and dazzling blue eyes, seeming to have an odd swirl in them that other eyes didn't have. She was a pure Al Bhed. She wore a type of red corset thing that forced up her breast, outlined by the black thread that held it together. Two black buckles came down at the end of the corset and hooked at her red boy shirts, keeping them up with silver clasps. She was laying down on the hot sands of Bikanel, her elbows behind her supporting her weight as one hand was outlining the corset strings, playing with them. A smirk was on her face as she looked up at the camera, and in the lower left corner of the picture in silver ink read: 'caa oui cuuh'.
I looked at the picture for awhile, my face blank, but my thoughts cut off by the sound of the door opening. I looked up and saw Nooj, him staring back at me. Even though his body didn't show how tired he was, his eyes did.
He eyed the picture in my hand with interest as he turned to the right and stopped at the wall, raising his hands up to the two latches that were sticking out of it, and pulling the bed down from out of the wall with a loud clank. Still his eyes never left the picture. Finally I got tired of him staring.
"My mother." I said sarcastically, letting the picture drop down into my bag, and then returning to packing up my other things.
"Doesn't look like your mother." He mumbles, taking off the black backpack that was on his shoulders, unzipping it while watching me.
My head jerked up and I looked at him as he began to shuffle through his things, as if searching for something.
"How would you know?"
He smirked, taking out a few items from his bag, though I wasn't taking much attention to them, my eye narrowing.
"Unless your mother is a two cent."
That was it.
"Hey, Nhadala is not."
Shit. said too much.
I looked at the ground and began to pack faster, not looking up at Nooj as he raised an eyebrow.
"Nhadala huh? Who is she, your girlfriend?"
I blinked and didn't answer him for awhile, pressing down the many cloths that I had packed in my bag. I took in a deep breath then looked up at him.
"My ex."
"Really how long for?"
I cleared my throat. Not really wanting to answer the question. I looked back down at my bag, knowing that Nooj was enjoying this.
"We. never really broke up."
He smirked again then stood up, zipping his bag and putting it back on his back. I stood up to and stretched my arms, yawning a little. I took a step forward and playfully hit his shoulder, trying to brighten my mood a little.
"So. Have you met Paine."
He didn't say anything, so I took that As a yes. "She's pretty hot. Don't you think?"
I looked up at him, shifting my weight to my left leg and putting my hands behind my head, expecting him to agree with me.
Nooj took one disapproving look at me then walked towards the door, it automatically opening as he stands in the doorway. He tilts his head so that he can see me over his shoulder.
"I think that you should get your head out of the clouds and focus on what's real, break up with the girl that you are with. And if you are trying to get your hands down Paine's shorts I suggest that you think again."
With that he walked through the door and out of the room, the door shutting directly behind him.
I shook my head, looking down at the ground for a moment, lowering my right hand and rubbing the back of my head with my left..
Was that a lesson in love or a warning from Nooj. Its always hard to tell from him. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up high for a good answer.
"Wait. How would you know?" I mumbled, looking up at the closed door.
AN: Wow. This had to be the longest chapter that I have done yet. Sorry for it being a day late, but I just didn't have it finished on Friday, so here it is. I hope you like! Oh, and to everyone that gave me tips on beating Shinra thank you: RenaLanford65, Jezzi. Thank you so much! Also thanks to everyone who has reviewed: Wolf of Light, sarah, Koko Kung, FinalFantasys- Child, DarkAngelB, Chaos, General-Beatrix666, fluffernutter, ButterflyIce, and KawaiiAlBhed!!! Thank you all, your reviews count!!!!!! Oh yea, this is a good Al Bhed Translator, believe me, this chapter you are going to need it: (if the link wont show, go to my profile. ~~~~~****~~~~~
I woke up on the morning before leaving to Bikanel with an exceptional amount of sleep in my eyes, sitting up on the edge of the bed and raising my hands to wipe it away, yawning at the same time. I shook my head, looking around and standing up, stumbling forward a few feet as I recovered from the other night.
I haven't seen Nooj ever since the incident, and nobody has spoken of him. And the little but of talk that I get out Baralai wasn't worth that much, and was mostly a waste of time as every time that I met him in the hallway he was always going to his next class or something priestly.
Then there was that new girl Paine, and I saw her about just as much as I saw Nooj. She would always be sitting on a bench with her legs crossed and her arms outstretched over the back of the bench, her eyes closed, as if she never got any sleep in her bunks. But every time that I would turn my head I would feel eyes on me from her direction. So I just avoided walking by her altogether, kind of scared to talk to her or ask her questions, a little afraid of the answer.
So I basically was a hermit, we all were, we never really talked during that whole day.
I was in my bunk at the time, having just been showered and dressed, tying and fastening my boots when I got the message.
The door slid open as a Hypello entered, it's mellow voice seeming to echo off of the metal walls of my room. I instantly looked up from my boots and up at the Hypello my lips parting in a nervous smile as I saw that it was only a Hypello and not a Maester. The Hypello had a tannish letter folded in it's slimy right hand, its yellow eyes with black slanted pupils staring down at me as it stood in the doorway, causing the doorway to not recluse itself, as the door was motion sensitive when put on the correct mode. Heh, another thing that I hacked into and changed for benefits and to keep myself from dyeing of boredom.
"I hash a letter for Gippal in room number two-shixty-sheven. That'shoo yesh?"
I nodded, a strand of golden blond hair falling to my face. The Hypello walked slowly towards me, its letter hand extended for me to take the letter. I reached for it, but the Hypello pulled it back quickly, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Mighty Hashty, yesh?"
I shook my head, grabbing the letter out of the Hypello's hand and quickly opening it, a tattered and old looking piece of parchment falling down onto the floor. I examined the envelope, front to back and around the inside, making sure I didn't miss anything else, then placed the envelope on the bed, leaning forward to pick up the paper that fell to the floor. I noticed that the Hypello still hadn't left the room, and I raised a brow, picking up the parchment and looking up at him.
"Yes?"
"Yooo Havent payed your feeee."
I closed my eye and issued a silent groan, forgetting about the fee that you were supposed to pay to the Hypello deliverer. I didn't even bother to check if I had any money.
"I don't have any Gill."
The Hypello blinked as if annoyed and turned away, walking to the door.
"Yoo pay later then, yesh? I will remember yoo Gippal. I tell you too My Shoopuff. Shoopuff never forget. Shoopuff.."
The door slammed shut behind him and I didn't hear any more of his rambling, but I knew the Hypello was still going on about the lack of Gill.
I shrugged, tilting my head down and unfolding the parchment, reading fine handwriting on I t in black ink:
Du Vencdelre Eyfygerle Gippal,
Yh esbundyhd ubanydeuh femm dya bmyla eh dra jyneypma desa uv 1 du 2 suhdrc. Dra ubanydeuh so pa y vydym uha, yht syho mejac syo pa cylnevelat yd drec canjela du Yevon, un funca, du Maister Seymore. Ymm fru yna vyedrvim du Yevon femm pa cbynnat, eh aedran meva un taydr, drao femm pa nafyntat eh Yevon's aoac. Bmayca, Gippal, luhjand vun ouin ufh cyvado, vun dra uhac dryd oui muja... Luhjand, un kad uid... un funca dryh dra crysa uv tnubbehk uid uv yh ameda vunla mega dra C.S., tea.
~Y vammuf Al Bhed.
I narrowed my eyes, reading the letter over and over again to make sure that I didnt misread anything, and to find some sort of clue to as to who wrote this letter, but there were none.
I blinked; folding the letter carefully and sticking it back into the envelope from which it came, getting off of the bed to put the envelope in my black bag, safely hiding it.
I wondered if anyone else got a letter. But I was doubtful. This was directly to me.
~~~~~****~~~~~
I walked down the halls to where The Dojo and shooting range were, opening the door that leads into that long hallway. I was going to go to the shooting range, determined to not let the incident that happened between Nooj and I about a week ago stop me from going anywhere. I was over it. Or so I hoped.
I stopped at the door of the range, leaning forward just a little to peek in and see if anyone was there, and though I didn't want to admit it, I was really just checking to see if that person was there. I didn't see anyone, nor did I hear any gunshots, the only thing that I heard was the churning of the generators. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I took a step back and turned around, reconsidering my decision to the go to the range. I looked around, trying to find something to do when my eyes stopped at the two doors at the end of the hallway. I had never been in those doors, and I started to walk towards them. I stopped about a foot away from the doors, looking at each one and deciphering the letters trying my bed to read them. I couldn't read the door to the left, but I know that the one at the right made out the letters 'O', 'K', 'E', ' R'. 'R' 'O' 'O''M'.
I pushed open the door and took a step inside, my curiosity getting the best of me as I took another step forward, my eye darting from side to side.
It was a huge bathroom like place with baby blue tiled walls and Teal tiled floors. The roof was white and the whole room was lit up with bright light. He passed by column after column of dark blue lockers and wooden benches until he got to the middle of the area, a spot filled with sinks and marble counters, long vanity mirrors on the walls, the area was strangely clean and the air smelled damp though no showers were running.
I stopped walking and just looked around the place, a little confused at this whole thing. Ok Ok. Give me a break. I had never seen or been in a locker room.
I spotted a little area with urinals aligning the wall to the right side, and I walked to them, the sudden feeling of not having gone to the bathroom in 2 days coming over me..
I zipped my pants up and turned around, feeling a lot more comfortable now. I walked to one of the sinks and put my hands under it, the warm water washing my hands. As soon as I took my hands out from under it the water instantly ceased and I dried off my hands on my shorts. I stopped though as I heard familiar voices to the left of me where the lockers were, deep in conversation.
"Where have you been Nooj?"
I looked up to the area where the lockers are. It was Baralai.
"You know where I have been. Don't ask questions to which you already know the answers to."
There was a long pause.
"How was the procedure?" Came the voice of Baralai..
"It went well. I was under the whole time." "How does it feel?"
How does what feel?
"I cant control myself sometimes. I have muscle spasms. Bad ones Baralai."
"Leblanc cant hel.."
"I'm not going to tell Leblanc and neither are you! You understand?"
I blinked as Nooj's voice echoed throughout the locker room.
"I understand. But she will want to know."
"Well she wont. I cant let her know. For her sake."
"Nooj."
"No more said. No more questions. It hurts."
I took a silent step back as I wondered what he meant by 'It hurts'. Almost feeling the pain that was in his voice, though I could not see him. What the hell were they talking about? I blinked again as the feeling of not belonging consumed me again.
It's best that I don't ask. I know that I shouldn't be here.
I looked around, not knowing where to go as the only way out that I saw was the door in the front from where I came in from and in order for me to go through that door I had to walk past them... I waited for awhile, or at least it felt to me that way, as still as a stone, hardly breathing as I waited for them to speak again. I strained my ears, trying to pick up the sound of their breathing. But found that I could not hear anything of them and the bathroom was eerily silent. I blinked, now taking a step forward, my echoing footsteps seeming about 100x louder than they really were.. Until I reached the areas with the lockers, and passed each row of lockers with care, expecting them to jump out at me any minute. But when I passed the last set of lockers I had seen nothing. nobody. My mouth dropped open as I tried to recollect myself. I could have sworn that I heard their voices. As clearly as if they were standing beside me. Where the hell did they go? I didn't hear any doors close. And for that matter I didn't hear any doors open. Was I hearing things?
I shook my head and just stood there, my hands hanging limply at my side as I slowly closed my mouth. I blinked again, then finally took a step forward and pushed open the door walking through it, it slamming behind me.
I walked down the hallway walking as fast as I can from the locker room door, planning to never go in there again. Hearing voices of my comrades with their bodies not attached. Good thing I was leaving to tomorrow.
"Your Gippal, right?"
I turned my head as I got addressed, the thoughts that I had instantly fading away and staying in the locker room. My mind went directly to the voice that I had never head before, stopping my fast walk to turn around.
My eyes fell apon a hefty man bearing only a towel around his waist, his huge gut dropping over the front of the towel, but before the gut were many rolls on the sketch of his rip line, and two breast like things where his manly chest was supposed to be. Though he had no hair on his gut, chest or bald head he had more than enough to make up for it on his arms, legs and back, as they were covered in thick brown hair. It was not a pretty sight. Something that I could surely do without. The mans face was a kind one through and seemed young, but it was his eyes that really gave away how old he was. His many years reflected in the tiny black orbs like a mirror.
"Yes. uh, and you are?"
His happy expression looked taken back for a moment as I asked the question, as if the thought that not everyone in Spira didn't know who he was. Then he finally spoke again, his voice merry.
"Maester Kinoc. But just call me Kinoc."
Before I could say anything he took a step forward and embraced me in a huge bear hug. His grip in my arms tighter than I would have thought, it almost squeezing the life out of me. As he hugged me he whispered something into my ear, frantically. His voice no longer happy and joyous, but trembling as he spoke:
"Saad sa eh dra Tehehk ynay yd 2:00 ys..."
I took a step back, my eye narrowed as more questions flooded my mind. One after another. As if never stopping.
With that Kinoc took a step back and nodded, then turned around and entered the sauna room.. Leaving me behind to sort out this madness. To try to find out where it all ends..
~~~~~****~~~~~
I returned to my room almost soon after the occurrence with Kinoc, my head still spinning..
Why did a Maester know the Language Al Bhed? Yevon has too many secrets.
I was now in my room, sitting on the edge of my bed, my black bag beside me as I folded and packed most of my belongings, folding up a pair of underwear hear and there or maybe some socks, not really focusing on what I was doing. Then I stumbled apon a picture and turned it over to see what it was of, my head tilting to the side as I looked at the old memory.
It was of a woman with blond shoulder length hair and dazzling blue eyes, seeming to have an odd swirl in them that other eyes didn't have. She was a pure Al Bhed. She wore a type of red corset thing that forced up her breast, outlined by the black thread that held it together. Two black buckles came down at the end of the corset and hooked at her red boy shirts, keeping them up with silver clasps. She was laying down on the hot sands of Bikanel, her elbows behind her supporting her weight as one hand was outlining the corset strings, playing with them. A smirk was on her face as she looked up at the camera, and in the lower left corner of the picture in silver ink read: 'caa oui cuuh'.
I looked at the picture for awhile, my face blank, but my thoughts cut off by the sound of the door opening. I looked up and saw Nooj, him staring back at me. Even though his body didn't show how tired he was, his eyes did.
He eyed the picture in my hand with interest as he turned to the right and stopped at the wall, raising his hands up to the two latches that were sticking out of it, and pulling the bed down from out of the wall with a loud clank. Still his eyes never left the picture. Finally I got tired of him staring.
"My mother." I said sarcastically, letting the picture drop down into my bag, and then returning to packing up my other things.
"Doesn't look like your mother." He mumbles, taking off the black backpack that was on his shoulders, unzipping it while watching me.
My head jerked up and I looked at him as he began to shuffle through his things, as if searching for something.
"How would you know?"
He smirked, taking out a few items from his bag, though I wasn't taking much attention to them, my eye narrowing.
"Unless your mother is a two cent."
That was it.
"Hey, Nhadala is not."
Shit. said too much.
I looked at the ground and began to pack faster, not looking up at Nooj as he raised an eyebrow.
"Nhadala huh? Who is she, your girlfriend?"
I blinked and didn't answer him for awhile, pressing down the many cloths that I had packed in my bag. I took in a deep breath then looked up at him.
"My ex."
"Really how long for?"
I cleared my throat. Not really wanting to answer the question. I looked back down at my bag, knowing that Nooj was enjoying this.
"We. never really broke up."
He smirked again then stood up, zipping his bag and putting it back on his back. I stood up to and stretched my arms, yawning a little. I took a step forward and playfully hit his shoulder, trying to brighten my mood a little.
"So. Have you met Paine."
He didn't say anything, so I took that As a yes. "She's pretty hot. Don't you think?"
I looked up at him, shifting my weight to my left leg and putting my hands behind my head, expecting him to agree with me.
Nooj took one disapproving look at me then walked towards the door, it automatically opening as he stands in the doorway. He tilts his head so that he can see me over his shoulder.
"I think that you should get your head out of the clouds and focus on what's real, break up with the girl that you are with. And if you are trying to get your hands down Paine's shorts I suggest that you think again."
With that he walked through the door and out of the room, the door shutting directly behind him.
I shook my head, looking down at the ground for a moment, lowering my right hand and rubbing the back of my head with my left..
Was that a lesson in love or a warning from Nooj. Its always hard to tell from him. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up high for a good answer.
"Wait. How would you know?" I mumbled, looking up at the closed door.
