"Monster Obsession"
~Three Days After Kale's Meeting
North City, Sucrose Lane
{Kale entered Olive's bedroom.}
"Olive, can we talk?"
"Yeah, Kale."
"About how you motivated Caulifla into selling the tent back. How did you do it?"
"Ah, it sounded difficult in my head, but once I completed it, I felt great. Promise me you won't share this with the other girls."
"Okay."
"Come closer and I'll begin."
{Kale walked to Olive's bed.}
"Here's how the second part of my plan started…"
*Four Weeks Ago…
Olive's POV
Caulifla picked me as her co-leader, because of our brief history. Before meeting you, she and I were pals. We hung out after school and played in the trash dump. When Renso bought you home, Caulifla grown attached to you. However, after the competition you, her, and Cabba finished, those credits ruined our bondage. Our sis became obsessed with getting the best equipment for the hideout. Yes, the new hideout was amazing and all, but the tent was the worst.
Every day, she attended to that tent in the backyard, putting me in charge of arrangements. The girls carried cargo boxes in the garage, set up additional furniture, and searched for jobs. Since we're not thugs anymore, jobs were the best option for us. For example, Pumpkin worked at a flower shop in South City. Half the girls left to their preferred jobs. I stayed behind to manage the remaining girls, but the one I monitored the most was you. You and Caulifla were peanut butter and jelly—inseparable. After she purchased that stupid tent, you fell silent and creepy. Your attempts to resurface the friendship was good, but Caulifla shrugged them off.
Although force was required, you refused and stayed loyal to Caulifla's demands. Those demands ranged from back massages to delivery service. Not only was she working out, but becoming lazier. When you broke, destroyed the vacuum, punched holes in the walls, and wrecked the garage, it was time for me to step up. Our talk motivated me into switching my ingenuity side. The therapy center slip I found in one of those newspaper boxes came in handy. After I gave you the slip, phase two began.
"What was phase two?"
"Well, I studied the rent Caulifla mailed to Janet. Exactly 300 credits a month. The best way to push Sis was to eliminate the credits."
"Uh, Olive? We still have a thousand credits left."
"Yeah, yeah, so I spent a large amount and saved minimum."
*Three Weeks Before Kale's Last Meeting With June
I waited for Sis to finish her session and sat around the dining table. She trudged right in, smelling like dog sweat. "Wanna ask me something, Olive?" I texted her earlier, ready to say what needed to be addressed. "Yes, Boss, there is. Over months and months of training, I've seen your improvement." I wasn't kidding; Caulifla trained her ass in that tent, but there wasn't no time for praise. "Also, I noticed Kale's behavior lately. Ever since you occupied yourself with the tent, she's been… well, you know… lonely."
Caulifla scoffed and sat next to me, drinking her water bottle. "Lonely? Kale has you and the girls. How could she feel lonely?" I huffed, not wanting to argue with my closest friend. "Perhaps, you need a recap. You remembered explaining Kale's untapped power. That, uh, 'Berserker Form'?" Her eyebrow furrowed as she rubbed her chin. Then, it clicked her. "Oh, you mean that jacked form? Yeah, I remember. What about it?" My lips curled into a satisfying grin, as part two of my fabulous plan ignited. I leaned against Caulifla's shoulder and motioned my hand between our ears. "And did you remind us how Kale unlocked the form? Hm?"
"Yeah…"
"I would like to provide a scenario, which could happen, and it goes something like this…"
Whisper-whisper-whisper-whisper-whisper… and whisper-whisper-whisper.
{Caulifla dropped her water bottle; her jaw agape and cold sweat poured down her forehead.}
"Ah…"
"Alright, boss. Go along and think hard."
{Olive left; Caulifla's face turned blue.}
The Next Day…
SDF Headquarters, Science Lab
{Janet picked up the ringing phone.}
"Hello, this is Janet McGears. How can I-"
"Take the tent back! PLEASE!"
"Caulifla? It's rare to hear you call my services. What's wrong with the training tent?"
"N-nothing, just take it back!"
"I can't help you, dear. The tent needs payment. 300 credits per month."
"I don't have time for that!"
"You can sell the tent to someone else or find an alternative method. I recommend limiting your time there. It's battery lasts five hours and charges for three."
"What are the options?"
"Sell the tent, or limit your workout time. The choice is yours, Young Caulifla."
"..."
{Janet hung up, chuckling.}
Present Day…
Kale's POV
"So, Janet agreed to your plan?" Olive described how she convinced Janet into joining her plan. Apparently, Caulifla's sessions, which were four times a day, overworked the battery. Thanks to the rental bill, the tent never suffered from internal damages. Still, it worried Janet of worst-case scenarios. Therefore, she lied about the options, leaving Caulifla stressed. A week after Olive's example, Caulifla tried cutting her workout hours, but found it hard. She was a highly active person, so not able to train felt boring. To make matters worse for Caulifla, Olive 'spent' all the credits Cabba shared with us. Without credits, Caulifla can't pay rent on the tent's features.
This concluded the battery's limit broken, and its internal circuits going haywire. It occurred five days before my last conversation with June. After hearing Olive's story, it explained why Caulifla acted so kind, yet awkward towards me. Because of the tent's major damages and bill overdue, Caulifla submitted defeat and sold it. The tent moved from our hideout to a new orphanage in West City, where it's used as a gym. Aw, that's nice. "Olive? What did you say to Caulifla? I hope it wasn't violent."
"Oh, my example. I just told her how angry you would get and potentially break into that jacked form. She thought you were going to blow up North City and kill everybody! Hahahaha! Aw, well, it worked, and she apologized to us." She was right; Caulifla apologized for being too distracted of her duties. Her apology landed on me, because I'd suffered emotionally. However, Olive's example sounded too violent. Ah, I'm glad I went to therapy, otherwise I could've done something horrible. Like… Like strangle Caulifla. Ugh, I would never, ever do that.
North City Apartments
Bean's POV
Hello, my name is Bean. My mom, Melon, is a hard worker. She shops for good, plays with me in her free time, and makes the best dishes. I go to elementary school in North City, learning about our culture. But I have a secret. At three, I watched my first monster movie. From then on, I grew a liking to giant monsters. Mom bought toys and supported my habit, but she told me not to share it with people.
I understood why I can't share this obsession with anyone. They might believe I'm crazy. They won't be my friend, if I have this weird habit. So, I played at home and bottled my love for giant monsters in public. One day, as I watched my favorite monster movie series, Mom opened the door. Near the entrance was Limo, my babysitter for today. Behind him was a girl in red and gold. "Thank you for arriving, Limo, and I see you have a guest." The girl noticed me and my toys, confused is to why a six-year-old would have them instead of dolls.
Mom left home to buy groceries, yet I didn't mind. Limo was the only person who loved my trait. He watched movies, play 'Pretend', and cut pieces of fruit for snacks. His guest was something else. I couldn't put my finger on it. When Limo exited to the bathroom, his friend sat on the sofa. I laid on the carpet rug, tending to my dinosaur action figures. "Are you and Mr. Limo in love?" I saw the woman's blushed face, her eyes shaking and neck wobbling. Mom also said never to address sensitive topics, such as love. I'm not old enough to understand love or dating, but asking questions felt natural.
The woman dashed into the hallway, Mr. Limo walked out on cue. "Hey, Bean, let's play 'Pretend'." I jumped up and waved my arms over Limo's declaration. Thirty minutes later, we finished our game. The woman witnessed us and smiled. "Oh, I forgot. Bean? My friend's name is Kale. She'll be an additional babysitter, if you don't mind." I nodded, accepting Kale as a secondary babysitter. Afterward, we watched more movies until Mom returned with seven bags of food. They left, said their goodbyes, and Mom closed the door.
"How was your time with Limo and his guest?"
"Fine, Mom."
"Good. In two days, I have a special parent-teacher conference. Limo and Kale will watch you until I come back from it."
"Okay, Mom."
"That's a girl."
{Bean and Melon hugged.}