CHAPTER XII (A): DURING AND AFTER
Jacky, Cindy and Amber continued fighting with the T-Rexaur, despite their two temporarily defenseless friends. Zack was laying on the floor, still in terrible pain, while Roger was slowly recovering from his shock.
"Cindy, slow it down!" Jacky ordered.
Upon hearing that, Cindy prepared her ring with a kiss before casting Slow at the monster. When her magic beam hit the monster, instantly Cindy prepared herself for another magic. Now that the T-Rexaur was slowed down, she could concentrate on her magic, in order to create more powerful magic.
"Eye of Ruby! Glare like the eyes of the Ruby Dragon and cast more magic!" she chanted as her ring started to glow even brighter.
Done with her chanting, Cindy cast another Blizzaga at the T-Rexaur. This time, the monster froze for a much longer period of time but only for a short time of almost a minute. Although it was a very short period of time, Jacky was still able to charge at the frozen creature and slashed at it. Being a sharp edge weapon, his blades only cut a few pieces of the monster's frozen meat off, leaving terribly large wounds. Being frozen, the T-Rexaur could not roar in pain. Amber shot a few bullets at the frozen creature but they only left bullet holes on the enormous creature's body.
The ice on the frozen monster started to shatter away, first from the head. Jacky ran back to Cindy and Amber as he prepared himself to fight again. However, just as the creature's large head was finally free from the ice, its whole body suddenly shattered into a million crystal-blue pieces. The three were surprised but soon realized the figure standing at where the T- Rexaur once stood, who had a long stick in his hands.
"Roger!"
Roger had hammered the T-Rexaur right on its body, which was still frozen, with his rod. However, in doing so, he had made himself extremely tired. He was breathing deeply as his body slowly calmed itself down. Jacky and Cindy ran towards Roger while Amber ran to check on Zack.
"Are you alright?" Cindy asked as she and Jacky stopped in front of Roger.
Still taking heavy breaths, Roger answered, "Hey, I told you earlier I was fine."
Just as he finished his sentence, Roger immediately collapsed into Jacky's arms. On the other hand, Amber was now beside Zack, who was still suffering the terrible pain caused by the T-Rexaur.
"Zack, are you alright?" Amber shouted, very concerned about him.
Still feeling the terrible pain, Zack did not even hear what Amber said. Just then, Cindy came to the two.
"Zack, are you alright?"
Still, Zack did not hear anything as tears continued rolling from his eyes. Just then, Jacky came along, carrying Roger with him.
"What's the matter?" Jacky asked.
"Zack is still not used to feeling so much pain!" Amber explained.
"Still inexperienced?" Roger asked weakly while looking at Zack's face, which showed that he was in terrible pain.
"Cure him, Cindy," Jacky said.
However, Cindy was already getting ready to cast something on Zack.
"Curaga!" Cindy shouted, pointing her ring at him.
*********
Zack finally opened his eyes. He was now laying on a bed in a small room. An opened window was just behind the bed he was laying on, making the room quite bright. Just then, he remembered. Cindy had helped to heal him a little with Curaga and then he was brought to the infirmary. Since then, he had been resting on the same bed. Zack sits up off his back and looks around. In front of the room that Zack was in was another room. The room had a large desk, which had plenty of files, stationeries and other stuffs on it. Behind the desk was a woman in a white overcoat.
"Dr. Kadowaki?" Zack thought, remembering the doctor that was constantly in the infirmary of the Garden in the game.
The woman, whose hair was tied into a ball at the back of her head, turned to look at him when she noticed that Zack was up.
"Oh, so you're finally up."
"Yeah."
"Do you know how long have you been resting on that bed?"
"How long?"
"Almost an hour."
"Really?"
"Yes, your friends were quite worried about you, especially that girl in the blue blouse."
"Amber," Zack thought.
"I've not seen anyone worry so much about their friend since Squall when Rinoa went into a coma."
"The time after Squall and the others had defeated Sorceress Edea in Galbadia Garden," thought Zack.
"Well, at least now you're fine. Next time, be more careful when you're fighting with a T-Rexaur. They're not such easy opponents to face with."
Just then, the both of them were surprised when the door to the infirmary slided open.
"You're right on time. Your friend has just woken up. He may leave the infirmary now," said Dr. Kadowaki to the person who had entered the infirmary.
"Thank you, Dr. Kadowaki," answered the person as the doctor went to sit down behind her desk.
Zack recognized the voice to be Roger's as he appeared in front of him.
"Are you fine now?" Roger asked Zack, surprising him a little.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Roger sighed in relief, "That's good to hear. Amber was really worried about you, did you know that?"
"Dr. Kadowaki told me about that."
"Good then. Come on, let's go and cheer her up. She's still quite worried about you."
"All right," Zack answered as he got off the bed.
Just as Zack stood on his two legs, he suddenly was attacked by a sudden dizziness. Luckily, Roger was quick enough to catch the weak boy before he fell to the floor.
"Thanks, Roger."
"No problem. Dr. Kadowaki, are you sure he's fine enough to leave the infirmary?"
"Yes, don't worry. He's still shaken from the pain he felt when he was struck by the T-Rexaur. He'll be fine. All he needs is a good rest."
"I see. Thank you again, Dr. Kadowaki," Roger said as he slowly carried Zack out the infirmary, "Come on, I'll carry you to the dormitory."
*********
Zack is now resting on his bed in his room in the dormitory. Roger has gone to tell the others that Zack was fine. It wasn't long before Roger came back with Amber, Jacky and Cindy.
"Are you alright, Zack?" Amber immediately asked when she entered the room.
"Yes, Amber, I'm alright. You didn't need to be so worried about me."
Amber smiled in relief when she heard that.
"Good then, we was quite troublesome for us to calm her down," Jacky said as he watched the two from behind the group.
Amber just laughed when she heard, still smiling in relief.
"All right, guys. Zack should be having his rest now. Doctor's order," Roger explained to the others.
"Then, we'll leaving you alone now, Zack," Cindy said as she walked over to Jacky, who was already at the door.
"Rest for the rest of the day, all right, Zack? Make sure that you're 100% ok before you get up. You don't want Amber to worry about you again, do you?" said Jacky as Cindy stood beside him.
Zack laughed a little when he heard Jacky, "All right, Jacky. I will."
"See you," Jacky said before leaving the room with Cindy.
"Have a good rest, Zack," Amber said before standing up and leaving the room.
Amber took another look at Zack before exiting the room. Roger, who had been at the door, slowly shut the door.
Before he shut the door completely, he said, "Rest well, Zack."
==========
CHAPTER XII (B): Next Move
As Zack was resting in his room, up in the Headmaster's office, Squall and his party were having a meeting with Headmaster Cid. Matron and Xu were also there.
"Sir, we will need assistance from Esthar. We need to borrow their Ragnarok," Rinoa said to the headmaster.
"Why would you need the Ragnarok?" Cid asked.
"As our report stated yesterday, the man and the sorceress that were in Deling City were Sephiroth and Sorceress Ultimecia. Both of them were extremely powerful beings from different worlds, Sorceress Ultimecia in our world and Sephiroth from another. We will need the Ragnarok to find the two," Squall answered.
"That is reasonable," Matron said, "But do you even know where the two might be?"
Squall was surprised by the question, as he stayed silent. He did not know what to say.
"They will appear somewhere. It's a sure thing!" Selphie exclaimed.
"And when they do, what do you plan to do? Go and try to defeat them?" Matron asked.
"That's of course the plan!" Zell answered.
"If that is your plan, I would have to decline," said Cid.
Surprising everyone, Rinoa asked, "Why?"
"It seems to me, what you are planning is based on your obsession against the sorceress. Am I correct?" Cid answered.
Squall was surprised by that.
"What do you mean 'obsession against the sorceress'?" Zell exclaimed, "The two surely plan to destroy or dominate this world, together with the other worlds!"
"Zell!" Xu snapped at Zell's sudden rudeness.
Realizing it, Zell calmed himself down, "Sorry, sir."
"I understand what you mean, sir. But like Zell said, the two will try to dominate or destroy our world and the other worlds. And so, we have to try and defeat them before they carry their plan even further," Squall said, calmly.
"I have already known that. It seems to be a common thing between powerful beings," Cid explained, "But."
"If you try to defeat the enemy based upon your emotions, you will not win," Matron continued after Cid.
"Even if you have won the battle, you will lose the war. That is something you have to keep in mind, at all times, whenever you are about to face an enemy," Cid continued again.
"We do keep that in mind, but we still have to face Sephiroth and Sorceress Ultimecia," Rinoa said.
Cid stayed silent for a while before he answered, "What you have just said is true. Our world and the others count on it. However, I will advise you once more. Be careful."
Squall's party smiled happily when Cid said that. Squall just went on to thank the headmaster seriously. As he did, Xu went to the tower and buzzed the bridge.
"Nida, set course for Fisherman Horizon."
Through the voice transmitter, Nida answered, "Roger that, Xu."
*********
It was now late in the evening. Zack was feeling better and had gotten up. He went to have a short shower. After his shower, he wore back his clothes; after all, he did not have any other clothing. Just then, there was a knocking on his door as Roger appeared from behind the door.
"So, you feeling better now?"
"Yeah."
"Good then, it's time for dinner. Amber and the others are already at the canteen. You should hurry it up."
"I'm already done."
"That's even better! Let's go."
Arriving at the canteen, Roger led Zack to where Amber and the others were sitting. They already took a tray of the prepared dinner each.
"Hey, you guys didn't wait for us!" Roger shouted.
"Yes, we did. We still have not yet ate our meals," Cindy answered.
"Ok, that's true, but you already picked your food, without waiting for us!" Roger replied.
"And what if we did?" Jacky asked.
"You could've at least taken a tray for us, too," Roger answered.
Jacky laughed, "Sorry that we're not that thoughtful, Roger. Amber was the only thoughtful one. She helped Zack picked his meal."
Zack and Roger were surprised when they heard that as Amber tried to hide her blushing face from them.
"I hope you like what I picked, Zack," Amber said timidly.
"Lucky you, Zack," Roger said before sighing tiresomely, "I guess I have to get my own meal. Wait for me, all right, you guys."
"Sorry, Roger, but we're starving," Jacky replied.
"Whatever! Enjoy your meals anyway," Roger said before running to the canteen counter.
As Roger left, Zack sat down next to Amber, "Thanks, Amber. The meal is just fine."
Amber had picked, for Zack, a plate of fried rice with a couple of fried chicken wings at the side and a large glass of fresh orange juice.
"So, any plans on what to do tonight?" Zack asked.
"None actually," Jacky answered, "Do you have anything in mind?"
"Nope, just wondering," Zack replied.
The four ate their meals quietly for a while, not knowing what to talk about. Just then, Roger appeared again, carrying a tray of the dishes he picked.
"Hey, you guys did it again! You didn't wait for me!"
"I told you that we were hungry, Roger. Didn't you hear me?" Jacky replied.
"I did, but you could've at least wait for a short while, while I get my meal!"
Zack laughed, "Sorry then, Roger."
"Oh, ok, it's really fine," Roger said before sitting down at one end of the small rectangle-shaped table, "So, anything to do tonight?"
"Nope," Cindy answered.
"But don't plan on going to the training center again, Roger," Jacky continued, "Don't forget what just happened this afternoon."
"Yeah, all right, I know that. I wasn't even thinking about," Roger explained, "Besides, I'm still tired from fighting with that T-Rexaur."
"We told you to take some rest, but you didn't listen," Cindy said.
"Hey, at that time, Zack was still in the infirmary and I was worried about him. I wasn't even thinking my fatigue."
"Well, although you say so, I'm sure that Amber was the most worried amongst us all," Jacky said, "Weren't you, Amber?"
Amber blushed in embarrassment when Jacky said that.
Jacky laughed when he noticed that, "You have a crush on Zack, don't you, Amber?"
Zack blushed in embarrassment, Amber even more so.
"That's the best to explain Amber's feelings towards Zack!" Jacky continued.
"Stop teasing them, Jacky. You, yourself, have a crush on somebody!" Roger exclaimed, "And that somebody is sitting right next to you!"
"Well, at least, all of us have a crush on somebody. What about you, Roger? Do you have a crush on somebody?"
Roger laughed a little, "All right, you got me there, Cindy, but I'm still young. I'll find somebody. You can bet on it."
"You're confident. I picture that you'll just end up a single for the rest of your life," Jacky joked.
All five of them, including Roger, laughed at Jacky's joke. Just then, their laughs were cut short when the Garden's PA system suddenly sounded.
"This is Xu speaking. Will Zack Nurvana, Amber Rouge, Roger Carlo, Jacky Cage and Cindy Levion please come up to the headmaster's office? I repeat. Will Zack Nurvana, Amber Rouge, Roger Carlo, Jacky Cage and Cindy Levion please come up to the headmaster's office? That is all."
"The headmaster's office? I wonder why," Roger said after the PA system sounded off.
"Only one way to find out, and that's to go there," Jacky replied.
"Then, let's finish our meals quickly before they turn impatient," Zack advised before putting a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
"Okay then! Last one to finish his or her food makes our excuse if we're late!" Roger exclaimed excitedly before chowing down on his meal.
Jacky, Cindy and Amber continued fighting with the T-Rexaur, despite their two temporarily defenseless friends. Zack was laying on the floor, still in terrible pain, while Roger was slowly recovering from his shock.
"Cindy, slow it down!" Jacky ordered.
Upon hearing that, Cindy prepared her ring with a kiss before casting Slow at the monster. When her magic beam hit the monster, instantly Cindy prepared herself for another magic. Now that the T-Rexaur was slowed down, she could concentrate on her magic, in order to create more powerful magic.
"Eye of Ruby! Glare like the eyes of the Ruby Dragon and cast more magic!" she chanted as her ring started to glow even brighter.
Done with her chanting, Cindy cast another Blizzaga at the T-Rexaur. This time, the monster froze for a much longer period of time but only for a short time of almost a minute. Although it was a very short period of time, Jacky was still able to charge at the frozen creature and slashed at it. Being a sharp edge weapon, his blades only cut a few pieces of the monster's frozen meat off, leaving terribly large wounds. Being frozen, the T-Rexaur could not roar in pain. Amber shot a few bullets at the frozen creature but they only left bullet holes on the enormous creature's body.
The ice on the frozen monster started to shatter away, first from the head. Jacky ran back to Cindy and Amber as he prepared himself to fight again. However, just as the creature's large head was finally free from the ice, its whole body suddenly shattered into a million crystal-blue pieces. The three were surprised but soon realized the figure standing at where the T- Rexaur once stood, who had a long stick in his hands.
"Roger!"
Roger had hammered the T-Rexaur right on its body, which was still frozen, with his rod. However, in doing so, he had made himself extremely tired. He was breathing deeply as his body slowly calmed itself down. Jacky and Cindy ran towards Roger while Amber ran to check on Zack.
"Are you alright?" Cindy asked as she and Jacky stopped in front of Roger.
Still taking heavy breaths, Roger answered, "Hey, I told you earlier I was fine."
Just as he finished his sentence, Roger immediately collapsed into Jacky's arms. On the other hand, Amber was now beside Zack, who was still suffering the terrible pain caused by the T-Rexaur.
"Zack, are you alright?" Amber shouted, very concerned about him.
Still feeling the terrible pain, Zack did not even hear what Amber said. Just then, Cindy came to the two.
"Zack, are you alright?"
Still, Zack did not hear anything as tears continued rolling from his eyes. Just then, Jacky came along, carrying Roger with him.
"What's the matter?" Jacky asked.
"Zack is still not used to feeling so much pain!" Amber explained.
"Still inexperienced?" Roger asked weakly while looking at Zack's face, which showed that he was in terrible pain.
"Cure him, Cindy," Jacky said.
However, Cindy was already getting ready to cast something on Zack.
"Curaga!" Cindy shouted, pointing her ring at him.
*********
Zack finally opened his eyes. He was now laying on a bed in a small room. An opened window was just behind the bed he was laying on, making the room quite bright. Just then, he remembered. Cindy had helped to heal him a little with Curaga and then he was brought to the infirmary. Since then, he had been resting on the same bed. Zack sits up off his back and looks around. In front of the room that Zack was in was another room. The room had a large desk, which had plenty of files, stationeries and other stuffs on it. Behind the desk was a woman in a white overcoat.
"Dr. Kadowaki?" Zack thought, remembering the doctor that was constantly in the infirmary of the Garden in the game.
The woman, whose hair was tied into a ball at the back of her head, turned to look at him when she noticed that Zack was up.
"Oh, so you're finally up."
"Yeah."
"Do you know how long have you been resting on that bed?"
"How long?"
"Almost an hour."
"Really?"
"Yes, your friends were quite worried about you, especially that girl in the blue blouse."
"Amber," Zack thought.
"I've not seen anyone worry so much about their friend since Squall when Rinoa went into a coma."
"The time after Squall and the others had defeated Sorceress Edea in Galbadia Garden," thought Zack.
"Well, at least now you're fine. Next time, be more careful when you're fighting with a T-Rexaur. They're not such easy opponents to face with."
Just then, the both of them were surprised when the door to the infirmary slided open.
"You're right on time. Your friend has just woken up. He may leave the infirmary now," said Dr. Kadowaki to the person who had entered the infirmary.
"Thank you, Dr. Kadowaki," answered the person as the doctor went to sit down behind her desk.
Zack recognized the voice to be Roger's as he appeared in front of him.
"Are you fine now?" Roger asked Zack, surprising him a little.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Roger sighed in relief, "That's good to hear. Amber was really worried about you, did you know that?"
"Dr. Kadowaki told me about that."
"Good then. Come on, let's go and cheer her up. She's still quite worried about you."
"All right," Zack answered as he got off the bed.
Just as Zack stood on his two legs, he suddenly was attacked by a sudden dizziness. Luckily, Roger was quick enough to catch the weak boy before he fell to the floor.
"Thanks, Roger."
"No problem. Dr. Kadowaki, are you sure he's fine enough to leave the infirmary?"
"Yes, don't worry. He's still shaken from the pain he felt when he was struck by the T-Rexaur. He'll be fine. All he needs is a good rest."
"I see. Thank you again, Dr. Kadowaki," Roger said as he slowly carried Zack out the infirmary, "Come on, I'll carry you to the dormitory."
*********
Zack is now resting on his bed in his room in the dormitory. Roger has gone to tell the others that Zack was fine. It wasn't long before Roger came back with Amber, Jacky and Cindy.
"Are you alright, Zack?" Amber immediately asked when she entered the room.
"Yes, Amber, I'm alright. You didn't need to be so worried about me."
Amber smiled in relief when she heard that.
"Good then, we was quite troublesome for us to calm her down," Jacky said as he watched the two from behind the group.
Amber just laughed when she heard, still smiling in relief.
"All right, guys. Zack should be having his rest now. Doctor's order," Roger explained to the others.
"Then, we'll leaving you alone now, Zack," Cindy said as she walked over to Jacky, who was already at the door.
"Rest for the rest of the day, all right, Zack? Make sure that you're 100% ok before you get up. You don't want Amber to worry about you again, do you?" said Jacky as Cindy stood beside him.
Zack laughed a little when he heard Jacky, "All right, Jacky. I will."
"See you," Jacky said before leaving the room with Cindy.
"Have a good rest, Zack," Amber said before standing up and leaving the room.
Amber took another look at Zack before exiting the room. Roger, who had been at the door, slowly shut the door.
Before he shut the door completely, he said, "Rest well, Zack."
==========
CHAPTER XII (B): Next Move
As Zack was resting in his room, up in the Headmaster's office, Squall and his party were having a meeting with Headmaster Cid. Matron and Xu were also there.
"Sir, we will need assistance from Esthar. We need to borrow their Ragnarok," Rinoa said to the headmaster.
"Why would you need the Ragnarok?" Cid asked.
"As our report stated yesterday, the man and the sorceress that were in Deling City were Sephiroth and Sorceress Ultimecia. Both of them were extremely powerful beings from different worlds, Sorceress Ultimecia in our world and Sephiroth from another. We will need the Ragnarok to find the two," Squall answered.
"That is reasonable," Matron said, "But do you even know where the two might be?"
Squall was surprised by the question, as he stayed silent. He did not know what to say.
"They will appear somewhere. It's a sure thing!" Selphie exclaimed.
"And when they do, what do you plan to do? Go and try to defeat them?" Matron asked.
"That's of course the plan!" Zell answered.
"If that is your plan, I would have to decline," said Cid.
Surprising everyone, Rinoa asked, "Why?"
"It seems to me, what you are planning is based on your obsession against the sorceress. Am I correct?" Cid answered.
Squall was surprised by that.
"What do you mean 'obsession against the sorceress'?" Zell exclaimed, "The two surely plan to destroy or dominate this world, together with the other worlds!"
"Zell!" Xu snapped at Zell's sudden rudeness.
Realizing it, Zell calmed himself down, "Sorry, sir."
"I understand what you mean, sir. But like Zell said, the two will try to dominate or destroy our world and the other worlds. And so, we have to try and defeat them before they carry their plan even further," Squall said, calmly.
"I have already known that. It seems to be a common thing between powerful beings," Cid explained, "But."
"If you try to defeat the enemy based upon your emotions, you will not win," Matron continued after Cid.
"Even if you have won the battle, you will lose the war. That is something you have to keep in mind, at all times, whenever you are about to face an enemy," Cid continued again.
"We do keep that in mind, but we still have to face Sephiroth and Sorceress Ultimecia," Rinoa said.
Cid stayed silent for a while before he answered, "What you have just said is true. Our world and the others count on it. However, I will advise you once more. Be careful."
Squall's party smiled happily when Cid said that. Squall just went on to thank the headmaster seriously. As he did, Xu went to the tower and buzzed the bridge.
"Nida, set course for Fisherman Horizon."
Through the voice transmitter, Nida answered, "Roger that, Xu."
*********
It was now late in the evening. Zack was feeling better and had gotten up. He went to have a short shower. After his shower, he wore back his clothes; after all, he did not have any other clothing. Just then, there was a knocking on his door as Roger appeared from behind the door.
"So, you feeling better now?"
"Yeah."
"Good then, it's time for dinner. Amber and the others are already at the canteen. You should hurry it up."
"I'm already done."
"That's even better! Let's go."
Arriving at the canteen, Roger led Zack to where Amber and the others were sitting. They already took a tray of the prepared dinner each.
"Hey, you guys didn't wait for us!" Roger shouted.
"Yes, we did. We still have not yet ate our meals," Cindy answered.
"Ok, that's true, but you already picked your food, without waiting for us!" Roger replied.
"And what if we did?" Jacky asked.
"You could've at least taken a tray for us, too," Roger answered.
Jacky laughed, "Sorry that we're not that thoughtful, Roger. Amber was the only thoughtful one. She helped Zack picked his meal."
Zack and Roger were surprised when they heard that as Amber tried to hide her blushing face from them.
"I hope you like what I picked, Zack," Amber said timidly.
"Lucky you, Zack," Roger said before sighing tiresomely, "I guess I have to get my own meal. Wait for me, all right, you guys."
"Sorry, Roger, but we're starving," Jacky replied.
"Whatever! Enjoy your meals anyway," Roger said before running to the canteen counter.
As Roger left, Zack sat down next to Amber, "Thanks, Amber. The meal is just fine."
Amber had picked, for Zack, a plate of fried rice with a couple of fried chicken wings at the side and a large glass of fresh orange juice.
"So, any plans on what to do tonight?" Zack asked.
"None actually," Jacky answered, "Do you have anything in mind?"
"Nope, just wondering," Zack replied.
The four ate their meals quietly for a while, not knowing what to talk about. Just then, Roger appeared again, carrying a tray of the dishes he picked.
"Hey, you guys did it again! You didn't wait for me!"
"I told you that we were hungry, Roger. Didn't you hear me?" Jacky replied.
"I did, but you could've at least wait for a short while, while I get my meal!"
Zack laughed, "Sorry then, Roger."
"Oh, ok, it's really fine," Roger said before sitting down at one end of the small rectangle-shaped table, "So, anything to do tonight?"
"Nope," Cindy answered.
"But don't plan on going to the training center again, Roger," Jacky continued, "Don't forget what just happened this afternoon."
"Yeah, all right, I know that. I wasn't even thinking about," Roger explained, "Besides, I'm still tired from fighting with that T-Rexaur."
"We told you to take some rest, but you didn't listen," Cindy said.
"Hey, at that time, Zack was still in the infirmary and I was worried about him. I wasn't even thinking my fatigue."
"Well, although you say so, I'm sure that Amber was the most worried amongst us all," Jacky said, "Weren't you, Amber?"
Amber blushed in embarrassment when Jacky said that.
Jacky laughed when he noticed that, "You have a crush on Zack, don't you, Amber?"
Zack blushed in embarrassment, Amber even more so.
"That's the best to explain Amber's feelings towards Zack!" Jacky continued.
"Stop teasing them, Jacky. You, yourself, have a crush on somebody!" Roger exclaimed, "And that somebody is sitting right next to you!"
"Well, at least, all of us have a crush on somebody. What about you, Roger? Do you have a crush on somebody?"
Roger laughed a little, "All right, you got me there, Cindy, but I'm still young. I'll find somebody. You can bet on it."
"You're confident. I picture that you'll just end up a single for the rest of your life," Jacky joked.
All five of them, including Roger, laughed at Jacky's joke. Just then, their laughs were cut short when the Garden's PA system suddenly sounded.
"This is Xu speaking. Will Zack Nurvana, Amber Rouge, Roger Carlo, Jacky Cage and Cindy Levion please come up to the headmaster's office? I repeat. Will Zack Nurvana, Amber Rouge, Roger Carlo, Jacky Cage and Cindy Levion please come up to the headmaster's office? That is all."
"The headmaster's office? I wonder why," Roger said after the PA system sounded off.
"Only one way to find out, and that's to go there," Jacky replied.
"Then, let's finish our meals quickly before they turn impatient," Zack advised before putting a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
"Okay then! Last one to finish his or her food makes our excuse if we're late!" Roger exclaimed excitedly before chowing down on his meal.