Hi guys! It's been a long time since i updated this. I think there might be a few people who're still interested to read this. Enjoy!
The chapter includes Kimmy, who's one of my mains. Freya's in as well.
Mobile Legends is property of Moonton.
Chapter 3: Dragon Dance
"Alucard! Get me a pizza and a coke," Zilong ordered, lounging on his sofa in front of the TV, with the remote in one hand. "Sausage, mushrooms, black olives, extra cheese."
"Yes, boss!"
"Alucard, help me clear out that pile of old kiddy books from the cupboard in my room!"
"Yes, boss!"
"And Alucard, don't forget my homewor—" Wait, no. That was a bad idea. Telling Alucard to do his homework was like getting a donkey to perform brain surgery; it was going to turn out a complete disaster. "Just get all the books out of my bag," he ordered instead.
A dreamy grin crept across Zilong's face as he imagined Alucard at his beck and call – the agreed consequence of losing the bet they had made. Slave for an entire year. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he relished the thought. And since Zilong was a born leader, it would be inevitable that Alucard would end up under his command. He was pretty sure that would be the outcome, as the blond had absolutely nothing to back up his ridiculous claims.
"What's with that shit-eating grin on your face? Fantasizing about Fanny again eh?" The voice and elbow of his buddy nudged him back to reality. They had reached the chemistry lab, and the students filed inside and took their places at their benches, where they were to work in pairs.
"Nope," Zilong muttered, slightly annoyed at the mention of the redhead. For the past six months, he had been trying unsuccessfully to talk to Fanny, but the hyperactive girl was always on the go, and he never got anything more than a 'hi' and bye' before she zipped off elsewhere. He was seriously considering giving up on her.
He shot a glance at the wall clock; five minutes to the start of the lesson. Turning to Alucard, he whispered. "Remember our bet? All that stuff you said about Madam Alice? I was thinking of what would happen if you lost."
The blond's jaw was set in determination. "I will not lose," he said. "I will prove that the creepy woman's been keeping her looks young by drinking human blood."
"Bold of you," Zilong remarked. He never ceased to marvel at how his friend did and said things that bordered on the insane. "Well then, it's time to stop talking and get things done. Let's give you a deadline."
"Sure," Alucard replied gamely, straightening his jacket.
"You have three months."
"Three months it shall be," Alucard said without missing a beat.
"Well then, prepare for a year of slavery," Zilong smirked.
"We'll see."
"Hey, look at what I've got!" There was a commotion behind them. Five students were crowding around a pink-haired girl proudly waving a shiny phone in a gold case encrusted with sparkling gems and crystals. Zilong leaned forward for a closer peek. The phone itself was the newest, most expensive brand in the market.
It surprised him, as the owner of the phone, Nana, wasn't known to be rich.
"You lucky girl! I wish my parents would buy me that!" her friends gushed.
The teens' attention was quickly diverted to someone else. Nana's partner, Harith was also showing off his phone. It wasn't new, but something inside was drawing envy from his classmates.
"Ten thousand diamonds!" Harley exclaimed.
"What?" Zilong frowned, confused for a moment before he realized those were virtual diamonds, used as game currency.
"Wow, how many new heroes can you buy with ten thousand diamonds?"
"Nearly twenty heroes!"
"Can you give me some, please?"
Zilong scoffed under his breath. "I don't get what's so fun about this game. Can't see why so many people are playing it."
For once, Alucard agreed with him. "What kind of stupid name is Mobile Stories Boom Boom, anyway?"
Zilong shrugged, eyes wandering to the teacher's bench looking at the apparatus that had been set up for a demonstration.
"Attention everyone!"
A loud, strident voice cut through the chatter, as the teacher, Miss Kimmy marched into the lab dressed in a denim jacket and camouflage pants, her face framed by cropped silver hair.
Zilong nudged Alucard and whispered. "Do you even know what class we're in?" He rarely saw the blond attending any class other than Biology, but it was likely that Miss Miya had said something to him that made him go for the other lessons. Even then, most of the time he had no idea what was going on.
"Chemistry?"
"Congrats, you're getting smarter," Zilong said sarcastically.
The tomboyish teacher strode down the center aisle between the students. Skipping the small talk, she launched straight into her lesson. "Guess what I have in my pocket?"
"Ooh, what is it?" Harith asked, jumping up and down excitedly. Miss Kimmy never quite followed the syllabus, and her lessons were unpredictable. The class gave her curious looks, but nobody came up with the right answer. She passed by Alucard's bench, and then went back up to the front of the room.
Alucard mumbled something in a low voice, so quietly that Zilong wasn't sure if he'd heard it correctly. It sounded something like, "Gummy Bears."
A few seconds later, Miss Kimmy pulled a transparent packet of red globs out of her camo pants pocket and held it up for everyone to see. "Gummy Bears," she announced.
Zilong quirked a brow at Alucard. "Lucky guess, huh?"
His lab partner shook his head. "Nope. I can smell them."
Zilong raised his brows. "From here? How's that possible?"
"I can smell things that normal people can't," Alucard replied. "Like monsters."
"Yeah… right."
"Let's see what happens when one of these Gummy Bears gets dunked in potassium chlorate," Miss Kimmy said. She went to her bench at the front of the lab and put on her safety glasses. Under the fume hood was an empty test tube clamped to a ring stand and she began heating it over a Bunsen burner. Next, she carefully placed a white tablet into the test tube. The students observed intently from a safe distance as the heated substance turned into boiling liquid.
"Now, watch, " Miss Kimmy said. With a pair of tongs she carefully placed one Gummy Bear into the test tube. At first, the piece of candy refused to slide in, as if resisting its doom. Miss Kimmy used a metal rod and pushed it down into the hot liquid.
A spectacular explosion resulted. Bright purple flames burst out and smoke rushed out of the tube with a high-pitched shrieking sound, as if the sugary bear was screaming bloody murder. Gasps of amazement rose from the onlookers.
"Class, what you have observed is a spontaneous exothermic reaction between a Gummy Bear, which is made up of sugar or sucrose, and molten potassium chlorate. The oxide from the decomposition of potassium chlorate reacted with the glucose molecule in sucrose," Miss Kimmy explained as she wrote the equation on the board.
"Can we do this at home?" Harley asked.
"No, definitely do not try this at home," Miss Kimmy answered sternly. "The chlorine gas released is poisonous, and so this should only be done in a fume cupboard in a lab."
Alucard let out a cough as he sat brooding at his bench, chin propped up with his hands. Miss Kimmy glanced at him and seemed to notice something was wrong. She went over to him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, tapping his arm lightly.
Alucard lifted his head. All the color had drained from his face and he looked very pale. "I think that gas is making me sick."
"Oh? It seems you have a sensitive nose," Miss Kimmy remarked. "I'll take you to the school nurse."
"Focus guys, focus!" Master Akai shouted to his team of students, who were practicing at the school field for a dragon dance performance for Chinese New Year. "Listen out for the drum beats! Coordinate yourselves and stop getting all tangled up! Teamwork, guys!" He barked, one hand on his hip and the other hand stuffing a piece of barbequed pork into his mouth. It was a wonder how the chubby martial arts coach ate till he was almost bursting at the seams, but could still spin like a ballerina when the occasion called for it.
The dragon costume was long and snakelike, propped up by ten performers holding poles. Zilong carried the dragon's head, while the rest of the body weaved and undulated in a wave pattern, sometimes twisting and turn on itself. The performers had to jump over or through the body's sections and this resulted in them colliding into one another at times. Master Akai made everyone train till they got the timing right.
Meanwhile, the drummer banged the drums as though she was going for war, and another guy clanged the cymbals noisily.
When practice was over, Zilong was so tired his legs could barely hold him up. It was nearly evening, his stomach was rumbling and he couldn't wait to get back home. Master Akai handed everyone bottled drinks. The colourful plastic dragon costume lay in a heap on the ground, and the coach reminded everyone to carry all the props and equipment back to the store room after they'd had their rest.
As Zilong went to get his drink, a deafening Crash! Sounded behind him. Someone had dropped the cymbals on the ground. Zilong spun around to look, and his shoe got caught in the dragon's tail. He stumbled forward, colliding with another student. Instinctively he grabbed the person for support, and amid the confusion he felt his face buried in something soft and cushiony. Jerking his head back, he realized what it was.
Someone's boobs.
"Oh shit," Zilong muttered, his face and ears burning as he let go of the girl and tried to right himself.
The girl was none other than the ferocious drummer. She quickly pushed him away, restoring the distance between them. She was tall, nearly the same height as him, with blue-streaked golden hair that was tied back. Her furrowed brows were a big hint to Zilong to apologize for banging into her chest.
"I'm sorry," he said, fingers raking through his hair. "It was an accident. I didn't mean to… um…"
Tight-lipped, the girl turned and walked off in a huff. She didn't look like she had accepted his apology. After standing like an idiot for a few moments, Zilong uprooted his feet and ran after her. Being a student councillor, he cared a lot about his reputation and didn't want people going around saying he was a creep. And besides, it was going to be awkward performing that dragon dance together if she remained angry with him.
"Hey, er….." As if things weren't embarrassing enough, he didn't even know her name. "Hey Drummer Girl, I'm really sorry about just now."
She spun around. "Don't call me Drummer Girl," she said, her intensely blue eyes flashing.
"What's your name then?"
"Freya."
"Okay, Freya, I'm really – "
"I know you're sorry," she said, waving a hand casually. "You're forgiven."
"Really? That's great." Zilong released the breath he was holding. And then he noticed she was struggling to carry the barrel-shaped wooden drum, which looked really heavy. "Can I help with that?" he offered.
She nodded, and together they lifted the drum and made their way towards the extra-curricular activities block that housed the store room. It was some distance away, and after they'd crossed the field, they spotted someone familiar approaching.
It was Madam Alice, strutting over in a figure-hugging wine dress. "Hello," she greeted the two pleasantly. "Working hard for your performance, I see."
"Hello, Madam Alice," Freya said, still lugging the drum together with Zilong, and slowing her footsteps a little.
The teacher walked alongside them. Her face looked smooth and wrinkle-free, with soft plump lips and elegant high cheekbones. She looked like someone in her twenties although she was supposed to be twice that age. Right now, her attention was on Freya, violet eyes gleaming as her gaze traveled up and down the girl's figure. Her short skirt made her long, toned legs seem endless. "Oh, Freya, would you like to join our cheerleading team? You look fit enough."
Freya's eyes lit up. "Oh yes, I would love to," she said.
"Good," Madam Alice nodded. "As you know, we take in only the best."
Freya beamed. "Thank you." It was the first time Zilong had seen her smile, and suddenly she didn't seem as fierce as before.
"Oh, and by the way," Madam Alice continued. "I'm having a party in a month's time. And you're invited."
"A party?" Freya's eyes widened. "What's the occasion?"
"Oh, this is not the first time I'm having one," Madam Alice explained, the rings on her fingers sparkling as she gestured. "I had one at the end of last year, and the guests were all specially selected. This one's going to be a Valentine's Day party." Her eyes slid slyly towards Zilong. "You can bring along your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," Freya quickly clarified. They had reached the outside of the school building and put down the drum to take a rest before entering.
"Oh, you have to bring along a date," Madam Alice insisted. "The more, the merrier."
"But I don't have a date."
Madam Alice nodded again at Zilong with a wink. "What's your name?"
"Zilong."
"Why don't you go with her, then, Zilong?"
"Err…" he hesitated. He wasn't really keen on parties, and strangely, although he was quite popular with girls, he had no idea what to do as someone's date. But then again, it would be rude to reject Madam Alice's invitation. He hazarded a glance at Freya. She wasn't protesting at the suggestion, but she wasn't bouncing with enthusiasm either. "Okay," he shrugged.
"Fantastic," Madam Alice flashed a dazzling smile baring pearly teeth framed by blood-red lips. "There will be contests, lucky draws and attractive prizes to be won."
"I see," Zilong said. He wondered who else was invited, and how many people were going to be there.
"But, do take note that this party is exclusive, so don't tell others about it," reminded Madam Alice. "Now, please let me have your phone numbers so I can text you my address."
Freya was the first to take out her phone, and the three exchanged numbers. Madam Alice left, and the two entered the storeroom and put away their equipment. They bid each other goodbye. Freya went off to get her bike, and Zilong made his way towards the school gate.
Everything had happened so quickly, it hadn't quite registered that he was going to a party with someone he barely knew. As Zilong walked, he wondered whether he was supposed to text Freya first, or wait. A hand tapped his shoulder, making him spring up like a rabbit. It was none other than his blond friend, who had the habit of hiding in the bushes and jumping out at people. Zilong never got used to it.
"Fuck, Alu, Don't scare me like that."
Alucard's eyes blazed like an inferno. "I saw her, and I heard what she'd said."
"What the heck?" Zilong said, and then it dawned on him that Alucard had been hiding somewhere and listening on his conversation with Freya and Madam Alice. "You've been stalking us? Seriously. You need help. Or did that chlorine gas make you bonkers?"
Alucard mused for a moment, and seemed to remember something. "By the way, just now when I was at the sick bay, guess who I saw?"
Zilong gave him a blank look.
"Nana and Harith."
"So what's up with them?"
"I don't know," Alucard said. "But now I'm starting to wonder how those two got their new toys."
"You mean, Nana's phone and the game diamonds?"
"Yeah, how did they get all that money?"
"I don't know…" Zilong mused. "Why, are you sore that you can't afford them?"
Alucard shook his head. "You're missing the point. Clearly, there's something wrong going on here."
"Are you coming up with your wild ideas again?" Zilong asked. Alucard, however, was used to people not believing him. Since he was little, he'd been insisting that the killers of his parents were demons. The police didn't believe him, of course.
"You know what? I'm going to that party of hers," Alucard clenched his fists.
"But you aren't invited."
"I'm going to crash it. Give me the address."
"Are you kidding me?"
"I am serious. Give me the address or I'll tell Freya you're going out with Fanny."
"No!" Zilong blurted out, and then wondered why he was so agitated. Brining his voice down to a normal volume, he said, "I mean, that's not even true."
"Ha ha, it's so obvious, you can't wait to get into her pants," Alucard smirked.
Turning beetroot red again, Zilong quickly shot back. "Miss Miya will probably be at the party and she's not going to be impressed by your antics."
"All the more reason to crash the party. I have to protect her from that creepy woman," Alucard said in a serious tone.
(End of Chapter 3)
Characters:
Zilong
Alucard
Kimmy
Nana
Harith
Harley
Akai
Freya
Alice