Chapter 2 – The literature association
I had just finished giving a lecture on human rights to a class of starry eyed first year college students who, by the end of my lecture, seemed more bored than interested. I can't say I'm surprised. I was never one for engaging in lectures and yet, strangely, here I am completing a PhD. My phone caught me of guard as it began to vibrate in my pocket. It was from Sari, telling me to come to her lecture room. With no motivation whatsoever, I packed my laptop and walked the short distance to her lecture room. As I approached the lecture room I heard people speaking to one another. Before I stepped in, I peeked around the corner and saw three girls sat at a table. I did recognise one girl. It was, of course, my roommate Sari. The other two girls must have been members of the association. Working up the courage to enter the room, I walked through the archway.
"You came! You actually came!" Sari said, standing up to hug me as I approached their table.
"Well, I did I say I would." I was yet again taken aback by her outburst of affection, my arms pinned to their sides by the iron-grip of a girl half my size.
"Pfft! You invited a guy to this? Way to ruin the atmospherics, Sari! What ever happened to girl power!?" A small girl of about 5 ft 1 with pink hair said, as she continued to read her book. It looked like a comic book, but she was reading it from right to left which I found incredibly strange.
"Natsuki, please show our guest some degree of respect, he's only just arrived." The voice belonged to another girl, with jet black hair. She was at least two inches taller than me. While I stood at a mediocre 5ft 9, she was easily 5ft 11.
"Well said Yuri, it's important to me that our newest member feels welcome here." A fourth girl walked to me from the right. From my first glance at her I was immediately drawn to her beauty. She was about 5 foot 6, and her long brunette hair flowed down her back like silk, which, combined with her intoxicating smile, was truly infatuating. She was a pure paradigm and possessed every alluring quality of the fairer sex. She held out her hand and I shook it.
"Oh hi Monika! I was wondering when you'd get here. Flynn, this is the president of the literature association." Sayori said, pointing over to Monika with an open hand.
"My pleasure. However, Ms?" I queried with genuine curiosity. I felt something, something which made me feel drawn to her which, in itself, I find disconcerting. I have never been drawn to another individual in a such a manner before, this is very out of character.
"Hale. Monika Hale." She replied, smiling at me with her perfect white teeth.
"Thank you Ms Hale. However, I'm not your newest member. I'm just here to see what it's like." My only promise was to Sayori, and that was that I would come along, not that I would join.
"Well, hopefully I can persuade you." I'm not sure if her mannerisms were intentionally seductive, but the effect on me was impressive. I watched her as she walked away from our group. Even the way she moved was eloquent, perfect. How could a girl look so beautiful? I decided to attempt to make conversation with all of the girls. I removed my overcoat and scarf, placing it on a chair.
"Why are you reading that book from back to front?" I said as I approached Natsuki, sitting down next to her at the table.
"Because it's manga, you big dummy!" She replied. She said this in a sort of, half jokey half passive-aggressive tone. I could see it was meant in a playful manner rather than an aggressive one.
"So?..." I replied, still just as confused.
"Manga is Japanese and that's how they read, from right to left." She said, going back to reading her book.
"Oh okay, I had no idea. What is the story about?" I glanced over to her manga, trying to look at the pages. She closed her book slightly, reluctant to let me look.
"Don't..." She said, retreating into herself. I sensed she was slightly self conscious about reading manga, what with her being an adult and all, so I decided to put her mind at ease.
"If you're self-conscious, don't be afraid. I might not seem like the type, and I can't say I have ever read manga, but I do indulge in anime from time to time." It was half a lie. Though I have watched anime, I have not seen any for a number of years now.
"Really?" She said, trying not to seem interested in what I was saying, but betraying her inner thoughts by briefly glancing her eyes to the corner in my direction.
"Yeah, in fact, why don't you suggest me some manga to get me started? I could do with a new pass time." I had no intention of ever reading it, but if it got her to like me then I could at least be courteous and lie to her.
"Okay, yeah, sure! I'll do that, just let me think. Now stop distracting me, it's just getting to the good part with the cupcake monster!" She said, again in a half jokey half passive-aggressive manner. I stood up and observed that Yuri was sat at a table alone, reading a book, and so it would be discourteous to not give her equal attention.
"You're a quiet one, aren't you?" I said, sitting opposite Yuri.
"Huh?" Yuri looked up, she seemed to be engrossed in a book which was called the Portrait of Markov.
"What is your book about?" I noticed the front cover had was embellished with an eye, similar to an illuminati symbol, though I've never been one for conspiracy theories.
"Oh um… Are you sure you want to know? I don't want to freak you out." Yuri replied, she couldn't quite make eye contact with me and, in a way, it was cute.
"I spent enough time in the Army. Trust me, there's nothing you could say or do that would 'freak me out'." Hopefully that would put her mind at ease. Again, it was a half truth. I had certainly seen a lot during my military experience, but I could still be freaked out if exposed to a disturbing enough stimulus.
"Well, it's about these group of girls stuck in a religious-political prison camp and they have to escape to avoid human experimentation." She said, almost excited at the prospect of torture. Is Yuri a sado-masochist?
"Wow I didn't expect that, that's kinda…" Before I could finish my sentence, somebody interjected.
"Dark." Monika said, walking past and finishing my exposition for me.
"Oh! I'm sorry! You don't think I'm weird do you?" Yuri looked genuinely worried that a man she had just met might think she is weird.
"No no of course not. I've read psychological horror stories too. I once read a book called 'the making of man', which includes a vivid chapter detailing how they dismember an unfortunate soul while he is still fully conscious." I replied, hoping that it would put her at ease despite it's black connotations.
"I think I might have to put that on my to read list!" She looked almost excited. In the corner of my eye I saw someone move. I turned my head to the side and saw Monika staring at me in an inquisitive manner. There it is again, that feeling, that pull, drawing me towards her like an unstoppable force. I walked towards her, after all, it would be unspeakably rude to not engage her in conversation.
"Ms Hale, thank you for allowing me to trial your association." I said, smiling at her. She was leaning against the wall with folded arms. Despite her closed body language, she seemed easy to approach and friendly. For some reason I felt incredibly hot, so I removed my tweed jacket, placed it on a chair, and rolled up my sleeves.
"It's my pleasure, we always welcome new members. It's just the four of us right now." She replied, returning my smile. I walked over to the wall and leaned against it with her, observing the rest of the room, watching Sari, Yuri and Natsuki stare in my direction and laugh. I must admit, it made me feel self conscious.
"Don't worry about them laughing Flynn, they're not being mean, they just love your accent, as do I." She said in a semi-flirtatious manner.
"You know, this isn't as bad as I thought it would be." I said, ignoring her flirtatiousness as I placed my hands into the pockets of my waistcoat.
"I think what most people don't realise is that it's not just about the literature, it's about hanging out with good company, enjoying reading what you want, and just having good friends." She said, turning her head to the side to face me.
"Flynn!" Sayori said, hurrying over to me. "Are you ready to go? I'm hungry and it's your turn to cook."
"It's always my turn to cook. In fact… I don't think you've ever cooked." I said, realising that she had never cooked for me in all the time we had lived together. I put my tweed jacket, overcoat and scarf back on, so I could venture the cold night with some degree of comfort.
"Don't be a stranger Flynn!" Monika said, calling out to me as I left the lecture theatre.
