The Children Of Thalia

Killing Time

^^^Tuesday, 9 June 2043.^^^

^^^SMP Polaris, City of Athem^^^

^^4 days before the entrance exam Helder^^^

It's hot, really hot. The sun shone brightly from yesterday, as if the relentless rain for a week back was the cloud's way of depleting their water supply. Summer, on a busy Tuesday, with blazing sun from morning to evening. What could make this day worse?

Of course, wearing sportswear and running races with a sibling who suddenly bets for a lunch treat.

"UWOOOOOOOOOOOHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Val's screams rang out to the end of the field, certainly so deafening for me that it was only about thirty meters away from him. What the fuck is he anyway? Shouting so when running will only be a waste of energy. 

"FINISH!!!!!"

Lee's cry sounded along with my short legs that crossed the white line our starting point ran over. I stopped like a braking car, while behind me, Val, stopped like a truck. He took a longer distance to stop, then immediately rested on his knees as if he had run a marathon.

"It's a second away, quite surprising." Lee said as he looked at the stopwatch on his phone. "Whoa, eleven seconds. I'm surprised you weren't called to the running club, Theo."

"Wait, eleven seconds?" Val replied before I could speak. She looked at me in disbelief, maybe a little disappointed too. "Theo, that's a county record, isn't it?"

"The club ran faster than that." I walked over to Lee. I looked at his phone, then smirked ignorantly. "Thirteen seconds? I can't believe it, Val."

Val frowned. Upset, obviously. Not just because he lost to me, but he knew that from the beginning I knew I could win. Speed is not the best point. He's a truck, he's not focused on speed, but power. 

"Argh, shit!" he cursed while slamming his feet into the ground, then came at me with an unchanging expression. I took out my wallet, took out a piece of five steri money before Val opened his palm in front. "The usual, right?" ask the angry man.

"Yes. Four, yeah."

"Ugh, okay."

Val pulled the money from me, then turned around misuh-misuh. I couldn't bear to not grin and heat it up any further.

"Hey, you're the one who started betting, right?"

"WHISPER!!!"

And he walked away quickly. I giggled as I covered my mouth with a slight arm. Habits. That's because my face is pretty creepy when grinning, at least that's what I heard when SD.

I ruffled my waist, looking up at the sky with narrowed eyes. Glare, but the bright blue color was like a dream. The black clouds covered it for a week yesterday, to the point that I felt a little strange not seeing the clouds this afternoon. I let out a long sigh while resting on my knees, then knocked myself to the dry and hot field.

"I thought your bet was about a deal." Said Lee who was also sitting next to me. 

"Well, I got a lot of money this week. Just paid yesterday."

"really? How many times is this?"

I didn't answer right away, after all, why did he have to ask? I mean, not wrong, but I don't want to talk about it. 

"Maybe twice the treat at a fancy restaurant."

"Good, then do it."

The voice was not from Lee. It's a voice in men. I looked up, Lee looked over. That guy's in the back. Even though I haven't seen it, I know whose voice it is. It sucks to see his slick face the snake just smiled without any presence behind me.

I closed my eyes, took a breath, then took it out slowly. Both of my hands were placed on either side of my feet. Quickly, I rolled my left leg back. Readable movement, of course. The man jumped backwards. I quickly jumped up, then stood up alertly.

Well, that doesn't mean I should be wary either, but I guess this is the best greeting for someone like her.

"Not tired of seeing me, Ansel."

That guy's smiling, shitty. He's a snake, nothing less, nothing more. "You seem tired of seeing me, Theo."

We stared at each other, glaring at each other's eyes. So sharp and intimidating. There were no words, but I felt like we were communicating, until Lee broke it all down.

"That's it, you fool." Lee reprimanded me with a light slap to the head, making my focus disappear. I immediately looked at him. He looked down politely with a smile that I can say is alluring, for one who does not know what his true nature is. "Next time, Senior Ansel. Sorry, Theo doesn't know how to be polite."

Huh huh? Me? Of course I know, plus I also know when and for whom it was used correctly.

"Hey, why use polite language on her?"

But Lee instead stomped on my feet strongly after I asked. His eyes glanced at my apd, the fierce eyes of people-killers. He said nothing, but I could hear the word SILENT just from his eyes. I looked away, it's better to be quiet when this is the case.

"HAHAHAH, that's right, that's really true." That guy came to me. His tall body blocked the sunlight into my body, but not in the least I was happy to see his grin covering the blue sky. "Teach this kid some manners next time, yeah. It seems he needs to learn more."

...... Oh, fuck.

"HOAAA!!!"

I swung my legs forward. He jumped back, again. All right, it's up to him. I took a step forward, swinging my elbow up. The man held him in two hands. Hah, he made the bottom open. When I felt my feet treading the ground again, I swung a kick at the knee. That guy collapsed when my kick hit him. One more kick I swung to the head.

However, his grin at that split-second moment distracted me instantly. Consciously, the young man was already gripping his arm and pushing my shoulder back. His left foot flapped my left foot that was resting on the ground, then slammed me pretty hard. The blow made my back slightly jerked, but luckily I landed on a not-so-dense mound of earth. The man immediately stood back up while patting his knee, while I was still knocked down.

"Good greetings to you too, Theo." Said the man. I wanted to punch him in the face, but he reached out. Heh, that's fine too.

I accepted his offer. He pulled me up again. My clothes are dirty, but luckily this sports shirt is not white. "You're deliberately making me angry, aren't you? To make my thinking fucked."

This guy. but, okay, it's true that I don't rely on certain techniques when fighting. I leave it all to instinct.

"I wonder if you really have any friends."

"Eh, aren't you my friend?"

Huh uh?

"Huh yeah?"

That guy sniggers sucks. Even more annoying, Lee behind me also laughed while covering his mouth.

"You see, Lee? Theo timidly was a rare sight."

"Great indeed, Senior Ansel. The fierce black dog instantly turned into a tame puppy. Oh, I feel like petting her now."

"Do it and I bite your hand." My reply. Lee helped me clean my clothes, but the ground stayed stuck in some parts until I thought just let it go, a waste of time. "After all, since when are you so familiar? I think it's the first time you've ever met."

"Senior Ansel helped us out of a longer problem that time. We were questioned and offered protection, but on our behalf, he turned them all down." Answer Lee. Huh, wait, she didn't feel the slightest suspicion?

"You don't feel weird? Wouldn't it be better if you accepted the protection program?"

"Indeed, but....." Lee looked away, thought for a moment, then looked at me again. "I just thought that you wouldn't agree to the program."

I don't understand, at all. I'd rather crack programming error codes than understand a girl.

"You're a fool, obviously you won't understand." Ansel said loudly. I'm not angry because of the name, Lee used to call me that which might be for the same reason. I get it, but somehow I'm pretty upset too if I hear it said by a shitty young man who just bothers me.

"HEY, THEOO!!"

Val ran over. The plastic bag in his hand was full of bread. As per the order, or maybe not because he took quite a long time to buy it.

"out?" ask me after Val stops running.

"Resid.." he gave the plastic bag away panting. Out of breath? People like? It's kind of surprising too. He raised his face, then glanced at Ansel at the side. "Oh, there's Ansel."

"Hey, Val!" Sapa Ansel's. Wait, he's familiar with Val?

"How can you be close to my brothers when I don't know it?" I asked while taking out two packs of meat bread. Not on order, but no problem.

"I'm an extrovert, not like you." The short answer always pisses me off. Now I just realized. He also holds a heavier plastic bag. He pulled out a bottle of sports drink, then threw it at Val. "Drink first, it's hotter today than usual.

"Oh, yes. Thank you." Thank you." Val unscrewed the bottle and immediately gulped down the water inside until it ran out in half in no time. His face looks like it's coming back to life. "Haaaaah."

Ansel also threw a bottle of drink at me, and gave it to Lee as usual. Oh, well. Maybe I'm getting too used to his bad qualities.

"Catch" I said as I threw a bag of bread. Good thing I asked Val to buy four. I wanted to eat two, but that's okay.

Ansel caught the bread exactly. "Trims." He said while opening the bread.

I don't eat right away. I paused for a moment, thought something, then looked at Ansel who was devouring the bread like a hungry person. "you don't wonder how this person got into Junior High?"

Val and Lee are glued suddenly, then turn to Ansel. Really? They forgot we were in school? Although the test is over, but it's not a holiday, is it?

After all eyes looked at him, Ansel took a sip of a drink first, then replied casually. "Why confused? Of course I jumped the fence."

"Lee."

"Of course."

Lee immediately grabbed his phone, trying to contact the teacher. Ansel casually spread his hands.

"Not so fast." He probably used a gift. As I recall its power is wave manipulation, no matter whether it is mechanical or electromagnetic waves. Obviously he can mess up cell phone signals, but I'm a bad opponent.

"Not so fast, for you." I touched the antenna line of Lee's phone. My strength is a little active, but not until the ribbons are visible because the reflected space is too weak.

"Oh, there's a signal." Said Lee. Hearing that, Ansel was truly panicked.

"WAIT! Just a minute, okay. I didn't come for no reason."

"Is that a reasonable enough reason for you to jump the school fence?" Ask Val. Well, his eyes are now as fierce as Lee's.

"Uh, I don't know. Why not try listening?" Spotted by everyone, Ansel retreated a few inches. He sat politely, bowing his back a little. "Sorry....."

I took a long breath. Maybe I'm used to his bad qualities.

"It's about the entrance exam, right?"

"Just right." answered Ansel. He sat cross-legged again like before. "It's just a leak, especially for you. I have information from the OSIS people who got a copy of this year's Helder entrance examination registration document. A lot of kid conglomerates signed up, but I guess you'll only be interested in one name."

"And... Who is it?"

Ansel's grin changed. This time it was colder. He replied, "DiMichelle."

...* * * * *...