《Inner Desire》
Chapter 01: Shadow Tyrant
"Hey, Jake. Let''s go to the rooftop. I don''t want others to eavesdrop."
He''s my best friend, Vincent. We''ve been friends since we were babies, up to now in middle school. It has been three days since classes started.
The rooftop was six whole floors from the ground. My thighs burned after climbing those steps. Whatever Vince wanted to tell me had better be worth it. His eyes were very shifty as we climbed the stairs.
We entered the rooftop. There was nobody here, yet Vince double-checked, no, triple-checked if there really was nobody around. I guess I would give him a hand If he''s that distrustful.
"..."
Yup. No one. No cameras. No nothing. Although there was this weird feeling that I was getting from somewhere. ''Is someone behind me?'' I turned around and saw a bright orange sky. ''Who am I kidding?'' I shrugged. His paranoia is rubbing on me. It was getting late. I should speak up.
"Vince, what are you so nervous about?" I spoke. "No one would be staying this late here anyway. So? What''s this about?"
"Hey, Jacob. I have a confession to make," he said, looking at the ground.
"Okay. What is it?" I asked. ''I hope it''s not a murderer confession or anything. I''m not helping you bury a body if it''s too much of a hassle.''
"I just want to get this off my chest. I feel like I''ve been lying to you all this time." He replied in a low voice. He lifted his head up and looked at me.
He looked serious. I heard that guilt and fear of rejection were present in those who kept deep secrets too shocking for them to hide from their closest friends. "What''s wrong, dude? You don''t have to be so down. You know I accept you as you are." I said, trying to cheer him up.
"No, you don''t understand. This has something to do with my entire identity." He spoke seriously. He looked at me, and I could see it in his eyes; he wanted to say something but couldn''t.
''Is he coming out as gay or something?'' I thought. I was not homophobic, and I would not really mind. ''Vince will always be Vince to me.'' After a few seconds of contemplation, I replied.
"Yes, I do understand. I really don''t mind your being gay. I''m not homophobic." I sighed. I spoiled his confession, but it was easier this way.
"But I''m not. I''m a boy," he said, looking confused.
Okay, I may have jumped to conclusions there. But we needed to wrap this up. The sun has already gone down, and we can''t stay here forever.
"Sorry, I made the wrong assumption there." I paused. "So, what is it that I can''t accept about you, despite us being friends for literally forever? I''m curious as to what that is." I waited for his response.
"Give me a moment." He sighed. There was silence between us for a few seconds. He seemed to be thinking. After a long while, he seemed to have made a decision.
"If I tell you this, we may never be friends anymore. It might even shatter everything you know about reality," he said. His voice was slightly muffled.
I could see how serious this was to him, but I felt somewhat insulted. ''Sorry if my pea-brain can''t comprehend it, Vince.'' I calmed down shortly and replied, "I think you are overthinking things. You can tell me everything. I''ll always be there for you, you know?" Our friendship wasn''t that shallow, silly Vincent.
He looked down for a few seconds. I felt my heart start to pound faster. The suspense was killing me. ''Just fricking say it!'' My mind screamed.
"Okay. Here goes." He paused. "I''m a God," he said, looking at me straight. His eyes glimmered with determination, yet I found it funny how what he said and how he was acting now contrasted wildly.
"I''m sorry. What? Is this a joke or something?" I was at a loss for words. ''Is this some rank in a competitive multiplayer game?''
"I just want to live a normal life like everybody else. I don''t want to interfere with others'' lives," he said, looking regretful. "And If people find me out, I might get kidnapped, experimented on, or even be killed!" He shuddered. "What am I supposed to do?"
Was this a prank? No, he looked too serious. Then, an epiphany hit me. Was this the famous eighth-grade syndrome? Should I shatter his fantasies and pull him back to the real world? Or should I indulge him a bit?
I will never alienate my best friend, especially for trivial things like hobbies. Anime, a bit of the occult, and other nerdy things are some things I knew he enjoyed. I did, too, to some extent. Maybe he just needed someone to share his hobbies with. After some careful consideration, I replied, "Alright, Vince-sama. What can I do to help you?"
"A guy from another class saw me use my divinity. He''s now bugging me to show my magic. He won''t leave me alone. What should I do?" he asked, scowling.
Was Vince experiencing social anxiety? That guy looked like a potential friend, as far as I saw it. The guy seemed like a fellow nerd from his descriptions.
I don''t mean to brag, but I''m moderately popular at school. For some reason, people really like me. Maybe because I was a top student. Or maybe, it was because of my easygoing personality. I wasn''t really outgoing like Vince, but people liked to have my goodwill.
Vince, on the other hand, was quite shy. I used to attribute his lack of interest in socializing to introversion. After his confession, the idea of making new friends seemed scary to him. I will not let him suffer from fear of strangers.
I thought I knew my best friend well. I felt terrible for not noticing his pain until he confessed to me. We got closer, yet strangely farther apart at the same time. I have been too complacent about our friendship. I need to do more to be a better friend. I will definitely solve his problem down to its core.
"I''ll talk to the guy. I''ll see what I can do to help you out." I finally replied.
"You''re the best, Jake! I knew I could count on you." Vince smiled and wrapped his arms around me. He wasn''t usually touchy-feely, so I felt a little awkward, not that I''m complaining. It felt comforting, even.
After getting released from his embrace, I let out a light cough. "So, do you know anything about that guy who discovered you use ''magic?''" I asked.
"I think someone called him Akira. I don''t know who he is, though," he frowned.
Akira. I remember that guy. The school provided incoming students a booklet containing the names and faces of their fellow schoolmates. I tried to memorize the ones from nearby classes. I saw that guy yesterday past the hallway. He doesn''t look like an otaku, though. A closet nerd, perhaps? He was a bit of a loner, but he looked alright. Maybe he saw himself in Vince and decided to befriend him.
"That''s all I need to know. Maybe Akira is a ''god'' in disguise, too. Who knows?" I teased.
"That may be the case. But that''s unlikely. Gods can''t just be found anywhere," Vince said confidently. "It took me going to another town just to find one."
I have a guess about what happened to Vince. Maybe he tried to befriend people but got rejected after he revealed his interests. He did not seem to make new friends these past three days. We had old friends from grade school but were in other classes. At the very least, Vince seemed open to meeting like-minded people. He even visited another town to find one. Wait, when was that?
"Is that everything you want to tell me?" I asked. I was curious about his little excursion. But my parents will worry if this drags too long. Asking him about it could wait for some other time.
"That''s all I need to tell you. I feel bad for someone else to learn about my secret before you." He said, disappointed. "I''m sorry, Jake."
"No worries. You don''t need to feel obligated to tell me your secrets. Just share what you feel like sharing. Even I have my secrets, you know?" I reassured him. "Let''s go home."
"Oh. Crap! The time. See you tomorrow, buddy!" He bolted toward the rooftop door. We were neighbors, so we could have gone home together.
"Hey! Wait up!" I cried. I chased after Vince, just two seconds behind him. After I entered the rooftop door, He was already nowhere to be seen. ''Didn''t he enter just a second ago?'' I thought. ''He sure runs fast.''
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I walked down the stairs, reminding myself of the dreadful feeling it gave. ''Leaving me alone after getting what you needed. Thanks, Vince. I will remember this.''
***
The next day, I decided to come to school earlier to meet Akira. Most people from Class B arrive earlier than the people from our class. I would assume that the guy does, too. Hence, I rode my bicycle earlier to our school than usual.
Vince and I used to go to school together up until this year. It was understandable as going home to school takes half an hour to travel on a bicycle at full speed. I think he uses the train now. We still arrive at school at roughly the same time, though.
I arrived at school about an hour before the class started. When I arrived at our classroom, Vince was already in his seat in the front row, doing yesterday''s assignment. Riding the train must be delightful. Though, I don''t mind having a morning cardio exercise and some extra pocket money.
"Good morning, Jake," Vince greeted. "You''re early today. Want to grind for EXP today?" He said as he put down his notebook with unfinished work.
I believe his priorities were a bit off this time. Anyway, I came early for a different goal. "Sorry, I plan to talk to Akira this morning," I replied.
"Oh, sorry. Oh well. I''ll see you at our usual spot after school."
"See ya." I smiled as I waved goodbye.
I left the class and headed to Class B beside our classroom. "Akira isn''t here yet," I muttered to myself. "Hmm, what should I do?"
I wore my earphones and decided to listen to some music to pass the time. Some people greeted me as they walked by the door. I casually greeted them back. Some hurried to enter the classroom after seeing me. Having a stranger wait by their classroom door makes things a bit awkward for them. I suppose.
There were still twenty minutes left before the classes started when I felt a peculiar gaze from the side. I turned to face... nothing. ''It must be my imagination,'' I thought to myself.
The clock ticked fast until the bell rang. I wasted time there. As I did not want to be late myself, I decided to enter our class. As I entered the door, I glanced at the neighboring classroom and saw Akira walking down the hallway. His sharp blue eyes caught mine, which startled him for some reason. He shuddered. He slowly backed away and ran in the opposite direction.
''What just happened? Is he scared of me?'' I thought. ''No, that can''t be right.'' I looked behind to see if there was something there. There was nothing. ''Is this a case of scoptophobia or xenophobia?'' Maybe he''s just afraid of meeting eye-to-eye or strangers in general. ''Nah, I''m probably just reading into this too much.'' I shook my head and headed to my seat.
"Found a girl that you like?" my chatty seatmate, Fred, asked with a grin. "You looked awestruck at someone right there. I thought you were staring at a pretty girl or something," He continued. "How does it feel to be on top of the world, your majesty?"
I rolled my eyes, wondering where he got all those silly names for me. After a long sigh, I replied, "No. Nothing like that. Someone from class B troubled Vince yesterday. I planned to take care of it this morning."
"Nothing less from our King," Fred said, a bit slower than how he usually speaks. His eyes seemed to have widened. Fred closed his eyes and folded his hands, sincerely pleading, "I pray for whoever''s soul has incurred your wrath."
I chuckled. Fred likes to act exaggeratedly, and it never fails to make me laugh. "I won''t go that far," I said. "I''m just going to talk to him."
"Isn''t that going to be too soft?" Fred asked. "The punishment needs to be harsh and noticeable," he explained with a pious tone.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Yeah, well. Whatever. The teacher''s coming." The teacher was three minutes late. I arranged my desk to prepare for the first period.
"Okay, class. Everyone looks to be here. Let''s proceed to our first lesson about set theory..." The teacher started to speak.
I have already read in advance about the lesson. I did not think I would miss anything if I did not listen for today. ''I still have the lunch break and after classes to talk to Akira.'' I thought. The teacher randomly called students to answer some questions, probably to familiarize himself with his students. The question I got was easy, so it was not a big deal. The period and the next proceeded smoothly without a problem. Although from time to time, I kept having a weird feeling that something was staring at me. It was a bit unsettling, but it disappeared whenever I glanced in that direction.
The bell rang, and I hurried out of the classroom. I took the back exit, which was the closest to me. To my surprise, I saw Akira running in the hallway towards the toilet. I followed him to the restroom and waited there.
''So it wasn''t me after all.'' I thought. He ran out before I did. It was fifteen minutes already, and he still hadn''t come out. ''Just a horrible case of an upset stomach, I guess.'' I decided to leave and catch up with my friends for lunch at the cafeteria.
"You can gain more ''Hellfire Ash'' if you grind on this spot, you know?" Fred told Vince.
"I''m under-leveled, so I can''t earn much from it," Vince explained.
They seem to get along fine. Vince was doing fine on his own. Maybe I don''t need to be so obsessed with watching over him. It took him a while before he opened up to me when we were kids, so maybe I overreacted. ''What''s the problem with Akira, then?'' I thought. ''Whatever. Vince asked me to deal with him anyway.''
Lunch went smoothly. It was after twelve-thirty when the bell rang. I cleared my table and went with my classmates into the school gymnasium for our Physical Education class. I glanced at class B to see what they were up to, which was just a lecture. There, I saw Akira sleeping on his desk in the front row.
''What a brave guy,'' I thought. Upon closer inspection, Akira seemed to shiver. Oh, right. He was sick today. Their teacher went to check on him, and he wasn''t asleep. He was still awake. ''Just tell her you are sick, man.''
I felt a light tap on my right shoulder, rousing me from my daze. It was Fred.
"Our Monarch, Jacob. We don''t want to be late. I implore you to continue guiding your subjects the right way," Fred said. "Sir Wheatstone gives his students ten laps around the school for being tardy," he warned. "But fret not, as your loyal subjects are willing to take the punishment with you if need be."
"Oh crap. Let''s run!" I exclaimed. Four minutes. We still have four minutes to get changed and go to the gym. We ran as fast as we could. The hallways were already empty, so we were not in danger of bumping into people. Thankfully, we made it on time.
"Alright. Pair up," Mr. Wheatstone said. "Today, we will measure your basic fitness, like strength, speed, agility, endurance, and flexibility." He added. "Quick question. Does anyone here have an injury?"
The students glanced at each other. In the end, no one raised their hand. After a while, Mr. Wheatstone continued, "No? Then let''s proceed..."
The gymnasium was divided into two, one assigned to us and the other to an eighth-grade class. They seem to be playing volleyball. Our site has various devices scattered around the floor. While performing a fitness test, the partner will record the results. We were free to choose our partner this time.
"Fred, do you want to pair with Vince?" I asked. "He doesn''t know anyone yet, so-"
"Jake, Let''s pair up." Vince suddenly said as he grabbed me away from Fred.
"How about Fred? I''m sure you two will enjoy the teamwork." I offered.
Vince moved closer to my ears and whispered, "My divinity requires contact to activate. And I can''t exactly control its activation." He sounded so desperate. I can''t help to turn him down this time.
"Fine," I replied.
''Now that I think about it, Vince was okay with talking to people during grade school. It''s physical contact that he was afraid of.'' Everything was starting to make sense. ''So Akira tried to initiate contact, which made Vince avoid him,'' I thought. ''But the way he phrased it...''
"Vince, If your divinity requires contact to activate, then why is it okay to pair with me?" I asked.
"You''re fine, Jake," Vince said. "You''re the only one where my divinity does not randomly activate." He added.
''What does that mean? I can''t meaningfully interpret those words. He seemed to just be adding arbitrary rules to his ''divinity.'' Ugh, never mind, we''re still in class.'' I approached Fred to discuss the change of plans.
"Fred-"
"It''s okay. I found a partner already." Fred said, revealing his bespectacled female partner. She was Donna if I remember correctly.
"Gotcha." I gave him a thumbs up. No other words were necessary.
Sir Wheatstone finally spoke, "If you have found a partner already, proceed to any vacant testing site. There''s enough for each pair. Rotate to the next site when you''re done."
"""""Yes, Sir!"""""
I went with Vince to our first site, which was about testing grip strength using a dynamometer. Vince picked the device up and tried it first. He gripped the handle as hard as he could until a beep.
"19 kilograms, a bit lower than the average for a twelve-year-old," I commented.
"You didn''t have to add the last bit," Vince complained. "For the record, that is within the average. Here, your turn." Vince threw the dynamometer at me. Thankfully, I caught it by reflex.
"Geez, do you want to break school equipment during your first week here?" I retorted.
I placed my right hand on the handle and gripped it. I gradually increased my strength until I reached my limit. A beep signaled me to stop.
"28 kilograms, a bit lower than the average for a musclehead," Vince smirked. "Oh, it says here that we should do either hand. Try your left this time."
I agreed, then placed my left hand on the handle and gripped it until a beep. The reading was a unit lower than my other hand. It was the same for Vince.
We proceeded to take the other tests in order. It was kind of fun to play around with various devices. To test my speed, I did the shuttle run. I finished with the figure-eight test to measure my agility. Lastly, I measured my flexibility using the sit and reach test.
I beat Vince on all tests except for flexibility. There were a total of twelve trials. We were about to submit our results when we heard someone shout.
"Andrew! Look out!"
I looked in the direction of the sound. Instead of a man shouting, I saw a PE uniform getting larger, covering my entire vision. My eyes widened. Before I could react, my body was already falling.
''This feels heavy.'' That Andrew guy was resting on top of me. He quickly got up soon enough.
''I feel dizzy.'' I saw other people opening their mouths, but all I could hear were muffled voices.
''My head feels cold.'' My hand reached for my head. It was wet.
My vision faded. I blacked out.
"..."
''Where am I?'' I thought.
"I''m sorry! I''m really sorry! Please forgive me." an unfamiliar voice pleaded.
I was startled, but my vision came back to me right away. I was still in the gymnasium. It seems I woke up mere seconds after I lost consciousness. I was already standing up when I awoke. The one apologizing to me was that upperclassman.
I looked around. Everyone appeared so shocked, almost comical even. I had the sudden urge to laugh, but I contained myself. Still, I need to diffuse this situation.
"Andrew, right? It was an accident. Just be careful next time. We don''t want anyone to be badly hurt now, do we?" I asked.
"Thank you!" His eyes were flashing with tears, but he immediately caught them. ''What a nice guy,'' I thought.
His classmates started consoling him as they walked away. "It''s not your fault." "Don''t cry." "???Y???o???¨´??''????????? ???l??????c???k???y??? ????????? ???¨°??¨¾??l???y??? ????g???????v????e??? ???y??????u??? ???¨¤?? ???w???a??????n??????n???g???.???"???
I couldn''t hear all of them, but why was he the only one getting consoled? I was the actual patient there. My classmates seemed too afraid to approach me. Was it because of blood? Where was Sir Wheatstone? ''Whatever, I''ll help myself to the infirmary.''
I was about to walk out when someone offered me his shoulders. "I''m sorry, Jake. I promise I will fix you." It was my best friend. He spoke in a solemn tone. He continued, "Even if it''s the last thing I would do."
That meant the world to me. But carrying me to the infirmary was enough.
Chapter 02: Watchful Eagle
''I saw everything!''
I was in a safe place inside our classroom, far away from that monster, Jacob, in the gymnasium.
''His Killing Intent even pierced through my Divine Eyes.'' Before I knew it, I was biting my nails. I have never experienced this much fear in my life before. ''I did not even know it could do that!'' Since my first and only Reverie, I only knew that my Divine Eyes could only sense light.
I was too excited yesterday to see another god. I approached him without thinking about the consequences. I never knew that god was friends with a monster. Now, I caught that monster''s attention. ''The rumors were indeed true. I should have done my research before trying to meet that god.''
Jacob was known to be the Tyrant in his grade school days. I heard that that monster beats anyone who annoys him. He also knows a lot about how to use his fists and legs. From what I have seen, there''s no doubt that he was also a god. I was oblivious to these kinds of affairs until yesterday. We did not have any psychopaths in my grade school.
''What even happened there? Did that upperclassman die?'' As soon as I felt his killing intent, I instinctively withdrew my Divine Eyes from the gymnasium. ''Should I look again? No, he can sense my Divine Eyes for some reason. What do I do? Should I change schools?''
My mind went into a storm until a thought hit me. ''Is it coming after me right now?'' I could feel my body shivering. I need to leave now if I want to stay alive. I stood up and started running towards the corridor. I still have one class period left, but I do not want to take the risk.
I was tempted to use my Divine Eyes to check if he was following me. But I always get dizzy whenever I use it with my regular eyes. I never received a Reverie when I desired to get rid of my overlapping vision, which meant there was no way around it.
I was about to leave the stairs when-
''Holy fuck!''
-I ran into a monster with a wounded head, carried by his god companion. A drop of blood fell from his face, landing on the ground, making a faint mark in the middle of the hallway. I was so scared that I could not breathe. My heart even thumped faster I could even barely hear it. I needed to get out of this situation quick!
"So sorry, I was running!" I said in surprise. For a moment, I forgot where I was going.
"It''s alright. Just watch where you''re going next time. You have a good pair of eyes on you. Use them well," the monster said with a sinister smile, curving its lips.
I let out an awkward smile. ''Damn it! He knows. He knows I''m a god. He knew it was me who was spying on him!''
The two walked away into the infirmary, leaving me in a trance. ''Can I even run away? He even told me my abilities were useless,'' I thought.
''Oh, yeah. What happened to that upperclassman?'' I closed my eyes and manifested my divine ones. I moved my Divine Eyes inside the gymnasium. He was still alive without a single sign that he was hurt. I let out a sigh of relief. ''Will I be spared like that too?''
I walked to the school gate and found it closed. ''I didn''t even consider that when I planned to run away. Gosh, I''m stupid. I wanted to disappear from the world right now.''
Left with no other choice, I returned to my classroom. There were only thirty minutes left for the last period, but the teacher still let me in. ''I should run straight home after school,'' I thought.
The day ended peacefully without any incidents. I did not run into him again, but I will never forget that one time I nearly died.
***
It was Friday, this day. I was inside the school bus, sleeping. Well, not really. I made it a habit to observe around me when doing something mundane, like taking the school bus. I let my Divine Eyes wander around the school in advance this time.
''No sign of that freak, yet.'' It made sense, though. He was hurt yesterday, so it wouldn''t surprise me if he took today off. ''I could calm down for today.''
My divinity only allows me to remotely view a place wherever my Divine Eyes were. That gave me a bizarre experience. For instance, I hear the honks of cars and the voice of students chattering while looking at my school building from inside it. It made me feel uneasy every time, but it was tolerable.
I checked the bicycle rack to see if his bicycle was there. ''His bike is not here either.'' I finally felt safe. ''Should I still approach his friend, Vince?'' I still have tons of questions I wanted to ask a fellow god.
"Last Stop. East Sunnyvale Middle School." A familiar robotic sound signaled our arrival. I revoked my Divine Eyes and opened my eyes. I froze. Sitting beside me was the one I feared the most. Tears almost flowed down my face. Was this the end for me?
"Hi! You''re Akira, right?" the monster asked with a warm smile. The bandage on his head made him look even more menacing. ''He even remembered my name.'' I tried to conceal my fear with a small smile. "I''m Jacob from class A. You can call me Jake."
"I''m Akira," I said quietly. I have no escape now. He was observing me as a predator would. I had to play it cool. He extended his hands to me. I made a small gesture with my hands in acceptance.
The two of us left the bus and walked to our classrooms together. I still felt uneasy. It was a bit risky, but I asked, "Do you need something from me?"
A few people around were watching us and whispering. ''Why is Jay with someone?'' ''What did that brat do to Jacob?'' ''Is that kid getting bullied?''
The crowd seemed to annoy the guy. He turned to me and said, "Do you mind if we move somewhere private? The people around are getting weird ideas."
I gulped. "Sh- Sure." I was doomed.
He led me around school, moving farther away from everyone. I felt my body go limp. What if this boy wanted to kill me? ''I will beg for my life, then. No, he won''t kill me. This is a school. He won''t risk getting caught.''
We arrived in a little corner. The guy checked for onlookers before turning to me. When our eyes met, it felt as if his eyes could see straight into my soul. I quickly averted my eyes. He looked somewhat disappointed after I did that.
"You can relax. We''re just here to talk." He paused. "You know Vincent, right?"
''Should I deny it? We have different classes, so it isn''t weird to say I don''t know him.'' I thought. ''No, he clearly knows everything already. That was probably a trap. He probably planned to put that question anyway.''
"A bit," I answered honestly.
"You saw him do magic yesterday, didn''t you?" he asked. His playful tone made his threats even more frightening. "He told me to deal with you. I was wondering what-"
"Please don''t kill me! I never told anyone! I swear! You can read my mind or something if you don''t trust me. I''m begging you, please!" I blurted out. ''Oh, no. I cut his words... Will that anger him?'' My mind was in a state of turmoil. ''How can I escape this?''
"I''m not going to kill you, Akira," he said calmly. Hearing the word ''kill'' from his mouth made me slightly shiver. "I actually came here to be your friend."
I gave him a confused look. ''Friend? What friend? What do you mean?''
"Come on, Akira," he spoke. "I think we can be friends. Let''s be friends and go out sometime?"
I put my hand on my throat. ''I do not understand. Is this guy serious? Is he just talking like a friend, or is he trying to convince me that he won''t kill me?''
I nodded without the slightest hesitation. It was a second later when a shock of shivering ran through me. ''I did it. I''m trapped now. Why the hell did I agree?'' I felt as if something was stuck in my throat. I wanted to cry, but no tears came out. ''How can he do that?'' He noticed me shake and gently patted my shoulder. ''Stop, please don''t come closer. I''m scared.''
"I''m glad you''re happy to be my friend," the monster smirked. "Actually, Vince is also interested in you. You can hang with us this weekend if you want."
It was then reality struck me. ''Fuck. I''m totally crying now,'' I told myself. I wanted to pull myself together, but tears kept pouring down my face. It was clear he wanted to break my defenses. It was hard to talk in this state, but I still needed to give him an answer.
"Thank you." I tried to smile, but it was a blurred mess.
He patted my back gently and gave me a reassuring smile. "Take your time and think about it, okay?" I nodded. Do you want me to stay here with you?" I shook my head. He told me something my brain didn''t register at the moment, but I just nodded. And with that, he left, and I finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness!
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***
The first bell rang. It was time for the first period. Every bit of energy in my body has gone already. I could not even look at someone without holding in a sob. I had never experienced such desperate fear in my life. I never knew people could be so helpless.
I put my bag on my desk and used it as a pillow. I was pretty sure no one could notice me cry on my desk. The teacher walked into the classroom without saying a word. ''Just pretend I''m not here, please,'' I thought. Thankfully, the teacher ignored me throughout the period.
The second bell rang. The second-period teacher wasn''t as lax as the previous one, so I left the class early and headed to the rooftop. None of my classmates cared, including the class monitor. They were too busy whispering among themselves to notice me leave.
A gentle breeze greeted me as I opened the rooftop door. I lay down on the floor and closed my eyes. The vast blue sky calmed me down a bit.
''My predecessor lied to me.'' I still remember her voice on my first Reverie. ''She told me the world is vast, and we''re the eagles that bask in its wonders,'' I shook my head. ''I feel like a tiny bird trapped in a cage, daydreaming of flying and calling it freedom.''
My ability was nothing to that frightening guy. He even singlehandedly exposed its fatal flaw. ''Am I going to be his pawn now? The best I could offer is reconnaissance... Wait, did I really think how I''ll be useful to that psychopath? Gosh, I hate this.''
My stomach grumbled. ''Was it lunch already?'' I felt hungry, but I did not want to see Jacob today. I activated my Divine Eyes and observed. I wanted them to eat first before me.
''Not in the cafeteria... Maybe in their classroom...'' My Divine eyes traveled through the second-floor hallway and scanned each room. ''Not there either... Where could they be? Nah, too much effort. I give up.'' I shook my head and shut off my Divine Eyes. ''I''ll just sleep for now.''
***
I groggily woke up. It was late afternoon, just in time for the gates to open. My eyes scanned the area around me. ''Right, I''m still at the rooftop. I guess I''ll go home now,'' I thought. ''I never knew cutting classes would be this peaceful. I can always cheat during exams like ever.''
I ensured I would not run into trouble and his friend through my Divine Eyes. I then went to the classroom where I had left my bag. I opened it and rummaged through my things. ''Everything is here.'' No one messed with my things. That was a good start. I checked my desk and found a note. It read:
Let''s meet at the park tomorrow at 14:00 if you''re interested. It will be fun! My treat ??
Contact Me: [email protected]
- Jacob
''He''s been acting nice so far,'' I groaned. ''I just hope he won''t treat me with a fun gang fight.''
***
I arrived fifteen minutes earlier. I wore some light clothes and a cap. I still felt anxious as I had no idea what would happen today. I even heard Jacob goes out of his way to visit other schools, so I prepared myself for that. I was sure I had mentally prepared myself already, but now that I was at the waiting spot, my hands started shaking.
Jacob and his friend came together. He waved at me like an ordinary boy. His friend, on the other hand, was surprised to see me. I waved and smiled back. The two argued as they walked towards the park. They seemed to have formed a consensus before arriving.
"Hello, Akira. I did not expect you to come this early. Did we make you wait?" Jacob greeted me with a warm smile.
"Not really. I just got here five minutes ago." I felt a little awkward for a moment. This was my first time going out with... friends?
"Oh, yeah. This is Vincent, my friend since childhood," Jacob introduced me to Vincent. Vincent exchanged a smile with me but remained quiet.
"I found a new caf¨¦ nearby. Let''s try it! Do you like sweets, Akira?" Jacob has finally decided on a place. If only he would stay like that forever. If I hadn''t been exposed to his Killing Intent, I would have fallen to his fa?ade.
"Sure. It''s your treat anyway," I smiled in reply. ''What if Jacob really just wants to hang out?'' I hope.
We talked and walked for a few minutes before we arrived at a sweet shop. For some reason, Jacob subtly wanted Vincent and me to sit together. I was slightly uncomfortable, and so was Vincent.
Vincent finally talked after his long silence. "I only agreed to be here because Jake insisted that you are a god, Akira. Do you know what that means?" He was visibly annoyed.
''Should I come clean? No, I''ll only tell them the bare minimum,'' I thought. "Yes. It means you have divine powers, right?" Vincent still looked skeptical, and Jacob just looked interested in the conversation.
"Show me. You already saw mine, right? It''s only fair for you to do the same," Vincent demanded.
"Hey. No need to get heated, Vince," Jacob said. He was obviously trying to hide his laughter. "Can you explain your divine powers first? Akira might be more inclined to share if you do that."
Vincent sighed and explained, "Mine is Shadow Walk. I could blend into any shadow, including my own. Using my own shadow materializes it and makes me travel faster. Happy?"
"Now, Akira, can you tell us about your divine powers? Whatever you say will be off the record. No one needs to know."
''Ugh. Whatever. I can''t hide anything from that monster. Wait, we''re Jacob and Vincent playing good cop and the bad cop?'' I thought to myself. ''They had their roles reversed.''
"Fine. But I can''t show you anything since my powers do not have any visible effects. Mine is called Divine Eyes. I can merely see far away, remotely, and that''s it," I explained.
While Vincent was lost in thoughts, I took the opportunity to talk to Jacob. I cannot leave here empty-handed. "How about you, Jacob? I''m curious about your divine powers." My heartbeat quickened as I spoke. I could feel sweat gathering on my forehead. I immediately started to regret my decision.
Jacob was about to speak, but Vincent cut him off. "He''s just a regular guy," he shrugged. "Don''t mind him."
''What have you done, Vincent!? How can you offend that thing? No way. Will they fight right here, right now?''
Jacob frowned, looking a bit down. "I''m sorry, guys. I''m not good at this. I''ll take our order and get out of your way for now." He walked away to the counter, leaving me alone with Vincent.
I thought something brutal was going to happen. It was good to know that Jacob does not have a short fuse. ''So, it''s okay for me to make some mistakes. Come to think of it, that upperclassman was spared. Was that because it was an accident or something?''
Vincent ignored his friend and continued, removing me from my trance, "Have you ever felt alone in the world, Akira?" Vincent seemed to suddenly want to talk about himself. "I can relate to you in that aspect."
Vincent was staring at me. I was always disinterested in people since my Divine Eyes enabled me to ''travel'' around the world and enjoy its beauty. I even felt that people made sceneries look worse just with their presence. However, now that Vincent talked to me, I realized something for the first time.
I told Vincent, "I know how it feels to be lonely. I have my own burdens as well. You know, ever since-"
"Do you think the world would be much more enjoyable if there was a god with the same power as you? A god who could see the world with the same eyes?" Vincent eagerly asked. He grabbed my hands and looked at me with glistening eyes.
''Is this how he felt all this time?'' I replied, "Sure. It would be nice if there was someone like me."
Jacob came back with the Iced mochas we ordered. Vincent smiled and unexpectedly said, "Yo, Jake. Some thugs are in the alley near this caf¨¦. Want to beat them up? We have a new member now!" Vincent laughed.
''Fuck. What are you saying, Vincent? I never fought anyone before.'' I muttered, trying to force myself to act normal. I was starting to get anxious. The two of them never gave me a signal that something like this would happen. ''Was this really what Jacob and Vincent were doing during weekends? Were they really supposed to be my ''friends'' now? Will Jacob even accept what Vincent asked? Oh no, is this Vincent, the actual leader?''
The aura around Jacob suddenly changed. It was hard to explain, but I instantly recognized that nothing good would happen. I felt his eyes were much different. I wanted to run away. I wanted to be left alone, but I couldn''t move. Then he finally spoke, "Gladly. I still have some space for another desert."
I drank the mocha down. I was trembling with fear. Jacob sitting beside me was not helping at all. "Akira, right? You''re going to be our eyes from now on," he declared.
''Thank goodness. I''m not being sent to the front lines,'' I consoled myself.
"Now, use your power to locate those thugs." Vincent seemed very excited. I activated my Divine Eyes and focused on the small corner of the caf¨¦ near the entrance. I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. It felt nostalgic for some reason. I don''t know if it was from Vincent or Jacob, but I could not open my eyes to check yet since my Divine Eyes were active.
"Tell us what you see," Jacob said coldly. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm.
"Fo- Four guys. Probably high schoolers. One of them is carrying a baseball bat. He looks like the leader. They are moving away now." I tried to be as descriptive as possible.
"Good work. Now follow me," Jacob announced.
I opened my eyes to see Vincent wearing a jacket. White bandages were now wrapped around his hands. His entire body was covered up. Jacob, on the other hand, was the same as before. We left the caf¨¦ and entered the alleyway.
Jacob ran toward the group of high schoolers and began to fight. His actions were very fluid and sharp. His hand movements were precise and measured. I could even feel the wind move as he struck punches with tremendous power. He blocked, elbowed, ducked, kicked, and threw his leg in different directions.
Vincent, on the other hand, was blatantly using his Shadow Walk. Was he even keeping his divinity secret at all? He dodged every attack by melting into the shadows and striking from behind.
The fight ended in no time. I could only watch as the only non-combatant in the group. The two walked back to where I was standing. As I was still staring in awe, Jacob asked, "Were you bored? You even took the time to dress for a fight."
''What? Sorry, I have not caught what you said. Could you repeat what you said?'' I stared in confusion.
"Come back to the park tomorrow. Jake will personally train you," Jacob grinned. Vincent didn''t seem to mind and agreed. He continued, "Alright, then I''ll see you tomorrow."
They waved their hands goodbye. I absentmindedly waved back. ''Was that an order?'' I thought. I watched them leave and stared blankly at the empty space.
I walked home, lost in thought. ''Do those freaks want me to fight? My abilities clearly have nothing to do with fighting. How would I even use them in a fight?'' I wandered inside the house, hoping I would forget about the meeting.
''They even took my Sunday away from me.'' I punched a pillow, trying to put the thoughts of Jacob and Vincent out of my mind. I went back to bed and tried to sleep. It was still early in the afternoon, but I was too mentally exhausted to stay awake.
***
The world went dark and hazy. Grey clouds started to hide the sun from view, making the atmosphere cooler. It felt cold, yet pleasing. The clouds seem to drop. No, I was the one who was ascending. It was not my Divine Eyes, as I could clearly see my body. Was this a lucid dream?
I leisurely floated in the air. ''This feels familiar,'' I thought. The dream felt nostalgic, even though the scenery was something I never saw before. I floated higher and higher until I realized something. ''Wait, this is a Reverie! After all these years.'' I was surprised. ''Why now?''
A breeze from a sudden gust of wind surrounded me, causing me to fly through the skies. There I saw a man in his thirties hovering above the wispy clouds. He stared at me solemnly, "The world is vast, and our Divine Eyes allow us to see most of it. However, everywhere we look, there is injustice and pain." He paused. "You thought your Divine Eyes could not be used in a battle? I will correct that falsehood."
I gulped. I did not even want to fight.
Chapter 03: Thorny Thief
''I made a substantial harvest today.''
I was inside my bedroom, organizing my thoughts. ''With Akira''s divinity, finding other gods would be safer and faster,'' I supposed. ''Moving the Divine Eyes tops only at a running speed. Traveling costs would still be halved, at least.''
I was sure that there were no other gods in the nearby towns. Akira''s existence proved me wrong. To an outsider, he looked like a listless guy who loved to daydream when awake. That was within my definition of "normal." Yet he proved to claim a very potent ability.
"I will double-check this city tomorrow. I might have missed someone."
I was skeptical when Jake told me that Akira was a god, but his judgment was spot on, as always. I was annoyed with our meeting initially since I thought it was a waste of time. In retrospect, Akira being a god might have been why he never tattled about my powers and how he even saw me use them in the first place.
I debated whether to deal with Akira myself. But letting Jake handle it happened to be the best decision I made. I would never have found out about Akira''s godhood, and a student missing would make people uneasy.
Divinities without visible effects were regretfully common. I don''t know if that was a general truth, but two of the three gods I knew were in that situation, including myself.
"Well, this isn''t that bad. I wanted to test the Divine Eyes that I got anyway."
I let out a long yawn. Today was a long day, no matter how I looked at it. I rolled over the bed to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
"The heavens are finally on our side. Hang in there, Jake."
***
"Vinny, breakfast is ready!"
''Is it time already?'' I checked the clock. ''I feel like I haven''t slept at all.''
I came downstairs and saw Aunt Lizzy in the dining room. "Good morning, Aunt Lizzy," I greeted, letting out a small yawn. I sat down and took a spoon full of my breakfast cereal. While eating, I decided to experiment with my borrowed divinity. A pair of ethereal eyes manifested. I made it go outside the house and inspect the surroundings.
Around the park, I saw a boy jogging around. He looked back and met my gaze. I averted my eyes by reflex. ''Haha. It''s just Jake,'' I thought. Those eyes are invisible anyway. I let my vision wander around the city, and the experience was weirdly fun.
"Still sleepy?" asked my aunt. "Staying up late is bad for kids like you. I know it''s Sunday, but if you want to play, you can always do it in the morning."
I recalled my Divine Eyes and opened my actual ones. "I didn''t stay up late. The games we played yesterday were just more exhausting than usual."
"That''s to be expected with that little ball of energy," she chuckled. "Now, eat up before it gets cold. I''ll be leaving soon."
"Take care of yourself, Aunt Lizzy. I''ll be here when you get back."
She waved her hands. She stopped before the door after remembering something. "Oh, Vince. Your parents were considering giving you a visit later tonight. Be sure to clean your room this time."
"I''ll do it right now," I replied. ''Yeah, sure. That''s not going to happen. It never does.''
''Now, what to do?'' I asked myself. ''I almost forgot. Jake will be training Akira today. Should I join them later? No, I''ll waste our time if I do,'' I considered. I might interfere with them, and they would distract me. There''s really no reason for me to go.
With that, I returned to my bedroom. I manifested my Divine Eyes and let it meander high in the air and did some tests. I discovered I could adjust its field of view, focus, and exposure. ''This is better than a regular eye at night,'' I thought.
''Oh, Akira is already coming to the park. Did they agree to meet early?''
Akira wore a sporty attire that looked like a gym outfit. He appeared somewhat excited as he approached the grassy park. I was sure that yesterday''s events, and the circumstances that led to them, were a massive shock to him. ''I''m glad you''re starting to adjust, Akira,'' I thought. ''Sorry I did that to you yesterday, but please protect Jake on my behalf.''
Jake and Akira met at the designated place. They were talking, but I could not hear them. ''Maybe I could try lip reading?'' I thought and turned into them.
''Punch me?'' Jake asked I assumed. I laughed. "Did I read that right?"
Akira moved into a stance, although he was trembling. He asked Jake some questions and Jake seemed to approve all his queries. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His shaking stopped. After a pause, he threw a straight punch to Jake''s chest.
Jake was not hurt in the slightest. Akira collapsed to his knees and started crying, only to be reassured by Jake. Akira smiled as if he had the most triumphant victory he had made. Jake gave Akira a pat on his shoulder.
I watched this confusing sequence of events and thought, ''That was hilarious.'' I was huffing in laughter in my room. It felt like watching a silent film. ''I need to hear what they''re saying.''
I changed my clothes and hurried to the park using Shadow Walk. I resurfaced on a nearby tree away from people''s view. I walked to where the two were and greeted them.
"Good morning," I greeted them. Akira seems to be on guard against me. Well, I acted a bit strange yesterday from his perspective.
"Akira," I turned to him. "I''m sorry I acted like that yesterday. I really have to do that for Jake," I said. "We have our own circumstances that are hard to explain, but I hope you''ll understand. When the dust settles, I wish you could stay as Jake''s friend."
"And yours too, Vince," Jake added. "We''re all friends here!"
Akira looked down at his feet. His brows furrowed. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he just nodded at the end. What did he want to say? Well, it doesn''t matter. When it all ends, I will leave so I can stop destroying people''s lives.
Reading the mood, Jake stirred the conversation to something more productive. "Do you want to join us in our self-defense training today?"
Akira looked with a puzzled face and said, "Self-defense? I thought this was about fighting?"
"So you want that, too? I knew you had it in you! I guess I''ll adjust our program," Jake teased. "If that''s what you want."
Akira''s eyes widened in shock. "No, no, no. You don''t have to do that for me," he said. "I mean, I don''t want to waste your time."
"No need to be shy," Jake laughed. "I''ll gladly waste my time for you guys. You can totally hang with us every weekend from now on."
Akira''s mouth hung slightly open for a moment before he could reply. It almost looked like he was biting his tongue. "Well, I suppose I have no choice." He did not seem happy about it.
I turned to Akira and said, "Don''t worry. I''m sure you''ll enjoy it once you get to it." He sighed in resignation. "And sorry, Jake. I think I''ll stay in the house for the rest of the day. Something came up, but you two are welcome if you want to come by," I said and left.
I honestly wanted to stay with them and hang out, but seeing Jake with his fragmented memories reminded me of my sin. My sin where Jake was suffering from the consequences. Seeing Jake in this state was a hard pill to swallow.
''If only I didn''t exist... No,'' I cut my thoughts off. ''I need to find traces of other gods.'' I have to get back to work, my two years of work that I had to redo.
***
I went back to my room. It was cluttered with books about the supernatural, maps I painstakingly marked, and files containing my notes. It was a mess, but I couldn''t be bothered to do a proper cleaning before.
"I really do have to clean up after all," I muttered. I doubt that my parents would actually visit, but my notes and the marks I placed on the maps were now mostly obsolete. Plus, Aunt would nag at me for not cleaning up.
I first sorted through my notes and threw away the ones I no longer needed. Then I looked through the other stacks. Books like The Occult, Faith and Belief, Local Folk Tales, and Unexplained Mysteries seem to still have relevance, so I kept those. Books like Mythologies and Gods and Goddesses had become outdated, despite their titles screaming "Gods." The ones that I knew were never that high-key anyway.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The next step was clearing out my maps. All of them that had anything written had to be disposed of. I only kept those without any marks yet. After that, my stuff was sorted into three categories: For Disposal, For Donation/Sale, and For Keeping.
Placing something into the For Disposal box was what I liked the least. The thought of getting rid of them was disheartening. My old notes were discarded, too. At least my maps were easily disposable. For memory''s sake, I decided to read them one last time.
"This was about the ''food thief,'' which was merely a raccoon. I laughed hard at this," I mumbled to myself. I skimmed my other notes before discarding them, too. ''I sure have a lot of notes. Most were useless, though.'' I was flipping through my last notebook to throw when a bookmark fell out.
I closed the notebook shut and picked the bookmark up. The moment I lifted the bookmark, I realized it wasn''t really a bookmark but an old photograph. It was a picture of my family, with my two-year-old self and my parents. ''Way to sour the mood, mom and dad.'' I peeked at the photo again before placing it back where it came from.
With that, I could finally start my room cleaning, which took less time than I thought. I arranged the items I decided to keep into their proper locations, and the first time I stepped back into the room, I was pretty pleased.
The things that I would not keep were placed downstairs. I left a note for Aunt Lizzy to discuss how to get rid of them later. With my mess put in order, I threw a lot of the things I could into the bin and hoped that Aunt Lizzy would appreciate it.
I finished right before lunchtime. I heated the meal my aunt had prepared me and ate it deliciously.
For the rest of the afternoon, I validated my notes about the odd behaviors of the townspeople. This time, I lowered the bar on what I considered strange. Anything I could vaguely connect to a supernatural power made it into the cut.
''Should I note that guy? He''s looking around quite often. Could be heightened senses or something.'' I hesitated for a moment before noting it. ''Well, I can always confirm in the future.''
Three hours later, I finished scouting around the area. ''Not a single case is conclusive. That''s disappointing,'' I sighed. ''Although I got better at using my new ability.''
I found some neat little tricks to using the Divine Eyes better. An example was to open my eyes while the Divine Eyes are active. Using it with my eyes open would typically cause headaches due to the overlapping vision, and the Divine Eyes can''t be closed shut. My solution was to submerge the Divine Eyes into walls or the ground to prevent light from passing through them, making it safe to open my eyes.
It was still three in the afternoon, so I decided to check what Jake and Akira were up to. They were still at the park, training. Akira looked like he was struggling, but he kept his head up. Akira kept coming back and gaining confidence. On the other hand, Jake seems to enjoy training with him. I was happy to see them getting along.
I decided to come over in person. It might be selfish, but I wanted to have a memory of my time here with Jake and even our new friend before I eventually disappeared. No, It was just the stress from work getting to me. I just wanted to relax, that is all.
The park had a playground that Jake frequented every weekend since first grade. The lush grass was the perfect place for rolling on and jumping. There was also a jungle gym and balance beams for the kids to play. In short, this place was the perfect spot for exercise.
"Looks like you guys are having too much fun," I made my presence known to them. I handed each of them a bottle of water that I bought from a vending machine along the way. The two were sweating profusely, yet they didn''t seem out of breath.
"Thanks," Jake said as he took the bottle and drank a mouthful. Akira hesitated, then followed after him. "Thank you."
Akira seemed much more relaxed than before. It wasn''t hard to tell that he had grown accustomed to Jake''s presence a bit more. I wonder what happened between them a while ago. But it was not my concern for now.
"Are you two still going to continue training today?" I asked.
"No, we were about to wrap up," Jake answered. "What were you up to, Vince? You look stressed out."
Oh, did I? I did not think it would show. I shrugged, "Aunt asked me to clean my room since my parents were supposed to visit this night. I did not expect it would take me a lot of time, though."
Jake frowned. He was aware of my situation with my ever-absent parents. I was sure Jake thought of words to make me feel better, but I did not deserve his pity. He changed the topic, "Want to see Akira''s progress? He''s talented, I tell you."
"No. You''re a natural, Akira!" Jake exclaimed, patting his chest. "You only lack experience and training. I''m sure you will overcome your fears in no time." Akira let out an uncomfortable smile at the sudden praise from Jake.
"I''m actually curious," I voiced. "Are you up for a spar? Don''t worry. I will hold back."
Jake smiled at Akira, who hesitated for a second before nodding. During our spar, I understood what Jake meant when he said ''only lacking experience and training.''
After our session, I commented, "You can somewhat read my moves but can''t react appropriately. You can land unexpected punches and kicks, but they felt quite soft." I was honestly surprised by his performance, especially knowing that this was his first time. "You''re quite good."
Akira smiled a bit embarrassedly, "Thanks."
"To celebrate your improvement, I''ll treat everyone to a snack at a diner near here," I told them. They nodded in agreement.
"We''ll take a shower first," Jake said as he removed his shirt. He turned to Akira and pointed at his house, "That house over there is ours. You can borrow a change of clothes if you want." Akira nodded and followed Jake.
"I''ll wait here," I told them. I decided to play on the swing while I waited for them. The feeling of the wind against my face felt nice. Just for fun, I closed my eyes and manifested my Divine Eyes. I moved it around and watched myself swinging from a bird''s eye perspective. It felt surreal as if reality was just a dream. I wish this reality was just a dream.
After a while, Jake and Akira picked me up from the park. We left for the Silver Shack Diner nearby. It was a quick walk, less than five minutes from our place. The diner looked expensive, as they served delectable food to their customers. The atmosphere was great, and there were not many people there. We sat at a table for three and read the menu.
"All of these are expensive... Are you sure you''re okay with this?" Akira asked nervously.
"Yes. Order anything you like," I replied. "I''ll be ordering a Rare Brisket Steak with Salad, and a Thick-Braised Egg Roll, for reference."
"For me, I''ll order Pork Ribs and Mashed Potatoes," Jake said, barely looking at the menu.
Akira flipped through the menu but gave up halfway and said, "I''ll just order the same as yours."
Thirty minutes later, our food was ready. A belly-filling meal was served, and it tasted great. It was fun to see Akira''s surprised face when he realized he had ordered the same as mine instead of Jake''s. I was happy they were enjoying the food. I wasn''t expecting anything like this, though. It felt great to see them having fun on their day off. It was more than enough.
We continued eating, getting to know each other better. Akira was awkward before, but he seemed to warm up slowly.
"You know Akira, Jake started training after I showed him the anime, Renichi. We were in first grade at that time," I laughed. "He even signed himself up in a Martial Arts Gym without his parents knowing." It was a funny memory, but then I remembered something. "He signed me up as well."
"Thanks for that self-burn," Jake chuckled, "I never thought he''d actually try it." he laughed out loud, "That''s a good one."
I noticed Akira blush slightly and said, "Akira, do you have any hobbies?"
"Not really," Akira contemplated. "I don''t know if this counts, but I enjoy touring around with my Far Sight. I want to visit many places in person in the future, though."
"I''m sure you''d be able to do that," Jake said confidently. "You can tell us about your future adventures when we grow up."
"I suppose so," Akira laughed.
After we finished our meal, I looked at the bill and paid for it. It was just $200 in total. It was already dark when we left the diner. We exchanged goodbyes and parted ways with Akira, who lived in the other direction. I walked home with Jake since we lived near each other. We, too, parted after we reached our homes.
***
It was six in the evening, and Aunt Lizzy had not returned home yet. She was supposed to be here already since four, but I think this was a special day for her. My parents would allegedly visit after all. Maybe she was out in the grocery to prepare for dinner. I already ate, though.
I took a nap and woke up at eight. I came downstairs and saw Aunt Lizzy already there with a feast on the table. She was not looking too happy, though, and I was pretty sure why.
"Vince. Something came up on your mom and dad''s side," Aunt Lizzy informed. "They will not have the time to visit this month and the next."
I was not surprised in the least. "That''s nothing new," I replied indifferently. "I did not expect my parents to come anyway. I''m not disappointed at all," I added. "Let''s enjoy this meal in front of us." I cleared my throat. "I''m starving anyway."
The table was filled with various dishes, and I wanted to try them all. Aunt Lizzy''s cooking was the best I had tasted, after all. I put a little of everything on my plate and started eating. I enjoyed every single bite.
We were in the middle of the meal when Aunt Lizzy stopped and looked at me. I raised my eyes and saw her look so solemn. "I see that you cleaned your room as I instructed," she said to me in a wavering voice. "Everything was sparkling. Nice job," she continued.
"I figured it was about time to do that anyway," I replied. "I thought I had a lot of things I no longer needed. It''s best to let go of them since they clutter the room without bringing anything of value."
"I noticed those boxes over there. One is for donation or sale, and the other is for disposal, right?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. I don''t know what to do with those. I don''t know where to donate or sell those books, and I don''t know how to properly dispose of my obsolete notes," I said. "Do we burn those? Put them in the trash? Do we go through a paper recycling process? I don''t know."
"Sure. I''ll help you with that," my aunt sighed. "But you know, I saw something interesting in your discard box. I think you should keep it." She handed me a photograph of my parents and me. "You know they love you, right?"
She looked me in the eyes and then lowered her gaze. "They left so they could earn more money and provide for you. I''m sure it hurts them as much as it hurts you. Your parents are not something you ''no longer need.'' Please give them a chance," she pleaded.
I''ve been here before, and I knew the words that she would say. "I know. I know. And you''re going to say that it is not my fault that they left. And that I should not blame myself, right?" I asked.
"You don''t have to be so hard on yourself, Vinny," she replied. "We are here for you now. And we will always be here for you. We love you. Your friends love you. And your parents love you."
My aunt approached to give me a hug, but I did what I always do. An instinct I developed over the years when someone comes near and the only way I know to prevent my divinity from activating. I yelled, "Go away. Don''t touch me!"
She stopped coming my way. Her eyes looked more sparkly than I recall. "Remember that I''m always here for you, Vince. You can come to me whenever you are ready."
"I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it that way," I tried to explain. But I was running to my room before I knew it. I shut the door and collapsed onto my bed.
"Why am I like this?" I asked myself. "What did I do to be cursed like this?" I did not sleep well that night. I remember my pillowcase needed washing the day after.
I''m sorry mom, dad. I''m sorry, Jake. My divinity, I wish I never had it.