'Hello gorgeous script-writing comm! Galatea here. We need to meet again tomorrow to continue with our job. Same time same place as today. See ya!'

With that single message from their committee head, Clare found herself once again with the six other familiar faces gathered in the Drama Room. Galatea had promptly outlined their tasks for today, which was to draft out the lines and sequence of events for the script as much as possible. They were split into three groups to be in charge of a portion of the play each.

That was how she ended up sitting with Len and Galatea.

'Alright guy and girl, looks like we'll be working closely with each other for awhile. I've allocated the last part of the play to us since Clare was the one who came up with the idea anyway, so perhaps we would be able to progress better from there. The finale should be the most glorious part of the play so, let's do our best shall we?'

Despite yesterday, this whole thing still felt quite awkward for her. Even more so when Galatea sort of credited her for the idea. It was probably more of a one-off thing than something she could replicate. Besides, the idea had came to her not because she had been specifically thinking of the plot, but more like it had just popped into her head spontaneously. Nevertheless, it felt more comfortable with less people to be in direct contact with, even if that meant that her silence would be more pronounced than before. But she wasn't particularly concerned with it anyway.

'Okay, let me do the writing today then.'

Len took out a stack of foolscap and his pencil case out of his bag. He too seemed to be more comfortable with the smaller group, since he actually volunteered today. Come to think of it, he didn't speak up too much in yesterday's discussion either, albeit still more than Clare did.

'That's nice, I'll leave that job to you then. Alright, time to get to business. So in the play, Teresa would be battling with a monster which…'

And so they got into the heat of the discussion, with each of them contributing their fair share of ideas and lines. There didn't seem to be much dispute in terms of the lines they came up with, but more of them complementing each other's ideas. Clare felt herself being much more focused than yesterday, with the increasing liking she was taking to the plot becoming more obvious to herself. Something in her did want make this into something great.

At the same time, she found herself observing the two others with her with greater detail too.

'So how's school so far for the both of you? Should be fairly relaxing since it's only the first week.'

Galatea glanced expectantly from Clare to Len, though the both of them just stared at her.

'What? Either my hair looks really good today, or school hasn't been really great for you too.'

Len cleared his throat. 'Well… school's just normal. Nothing particularly worth mentioning since it's pretty much the same routine as Elementary School, just longer hours and more time spent on EAs. And your hair does look good anyway.'

Galatea grinned at the last comment.

'Quite the smooth talker for a shy boy aren't you. Both of you are from the same class right? You two sure don't act like it though. But then again since both of you are so quiet…'

Len's eyes darted towards Clare for a second before focusing back on Galatea. 'It's only been the first week anyway. I'm sure we'll get along and become closer friends, right Clare?'

It was a pretty weird question for Clare and she wasn't really sure what sort of answer she should give. Galatea on the other hand was trying to hide a smirk.

'Perhaps so Len... But I guess you'll have to try harder to break through a really thick wall of ice first.' Galatea gave a quick wink at the younger two.

'So Len, what Elementary School are you from?'

'I was from Dale Elementary School. You both might not have heard of it since it's not really around this area. It's near my house though.'

'I see. Why take the trouble to come all the way to this Middle School then? There are probably many others nearer your home.'

'…For reasons? I mean, most people come to this school because of some special reason don't they…'

'What's your reason then?'

Len looked hesitantly at Galatea, clearly not very willing to answer the question. Galatea sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

'Fine fine, it's alright if you don't want to say it. I'm just being an interested senior trying to find out more about my two little juniors.'

Clare almost expected Galatea to direct the same set of questions to her, but instead Galatea didn't look as if she had that intention at all. She had no notion what went through her mind but she decided to ask about Galatea too.

'Galatea, what Elementary School were you from then?'

The senior shifted her gaze to meet Clare's and gave her an incredulous look, as if Clare just asked a riddle instead of a simple question. She considered Clare for a moment before replying.

'I was from... Blue Glory Elementary School.'

'Same name as our school? Are they affiliated? So the school must be somewhere near this area too.' Len asked curiously.

'I doubt that they are related, probably just schools that happened to have the same name. And yes it is around the vicinity of this neighbourhood. But of course, Clare would know, wouldn't you?'

Even as Galatea answered Len's question, her eyes never left Clare, observing her reaction closely. Clare tried to keep her surprise to the minimum, but she couldn't help but widen her eyes after hearing Galatea's reply.

It was normal for juniors and seniors from the same Elementary School to not know of each other's existence. In fact, that was probably a given. It was already almost impossible to get to know the hundred odd students that were in the same cohort. Besides, seniors and juniors rarely get the chance to interact, even if they were only one level apart. So it shouldn't have been a surprise that she didn't know Galatea.

But what bothered Clare was that… it almost seemed as if Galatea expected Clare to know her. From the way she reacted when Clare asked her the question, to the fact that she didn't ask about her Elementary School, to the many times that she had been teasing Clare, almost as if… almost as if she knew Clare. Of course, it could be that it was just in her nature to be friendly to everyone, and Clare just happened to be subjected to the same treatment. But coupled with everything else, she simply couldn't dismiss it as mere coincidence. She couldn't shake off the idea that Galatea knew her from before. But was it possible for Galatea to know her… if she didn't know Galatea?

She stared back at Galatea, seeing the familiar serious look resurfacing on the senior's face. Clare had always been a low-profile student, so she didn't think that she was the kind who would be noticed by people. Perhaps, she and Galatea were acquainted for a short period of time for some random reason? It wasn't exactly impossible, if only she had even a hint of memory of knowing Galatea.

As usual, Galatea was the first to break the eye contact.

'Okay enough idle chat, let's continue our business.'

Their discussion went on the same as before their conversation, but Clare couldn't help but be greatly distracted by Galatea's words. What did Galatea know that she didn't?

After awhile, they had finally managed to come to the end of the script for their part, with the ending scene of Teresa's death having a tragic closure. Even so, Galatea seemed to be thinking hard about something.

'Hmm... does anyone feel like there's something… lacking in the finale?'

'What do you mean?'

'There seems to be no punch or wow factor to end it off. Even with the sob tragedy of the last scene. Any other play can have the same ending. What do you both think?'

Len cocked his head to the side and folded his arms.

'Well… I think it's fine like that.'

Galatea nodded and turned to the other junior.

'How about Clare?'

An abrupt image of Galatea flashed in Clare's mind, lasting for only about a millisecond. It had felt like she was looking at that scene with her own eyes… But it faded and was drowned away by their continued discussions.