Chapter 20

She's an atmospheric writer. It's only obvious no one will notice it among her peers because it's something you pick up subtly. Atmosphere is hard to write especially for those people who wish to focus on dialogue, development, and plot because it's something they'll need to constantly write. Something that you need to balance after everything is said and done.

If she was teased but remained there, then the only thing I could think of is that she wants to stay. To create an illusion, that she isn't that good among them. So she can stay much closer. A lie that the gifted use to keep themselves grounded.

Approaching the door to the office, I could hear them. Part of me was scared to enter. More importantly, I was curious.

Jake: Geez, she's taking so long. What am I saying, she does her own thing anyway.

Mera: Jake?

Jake: Yeah?

Mera: What made you think that you could just ask Mako to be your pretend girlfriend?

Jake: What's that supposed to mean?

Mera: Well, I am just curious~

Even if I didn't have a clue on what Mera looked like, this was the first time I felt a chill. Did she even have the capacity to talk so cold there. This has to be a bit right? They actually know that I'm behind the door.

Jake: Well, I just sort of asked her. I knew that even if people talked about us, it wouldn't affect her or anything.

Mera: So you think of her as some kind of scapegoat? Is that what you're saying?

Jake: No! No, you're misunderstanding. I'm just saying that if I asked someone else, they might just back out because people can easily be scared. Mako is completely different. She's funny in a strange way, dorky in the weirdest things, and she's serious. I mean she also has her flaws but that doesn't matter to me. She just seemed the perfect fit.

Mera: I know that you two aren't real… But why does it feel like you might take her away from me?

Jake: Huh?

Mera: You won't take her away from me. You can't. No one can...

Jake: I won't take her from you. I know that I can't.

Mera: I'm her slave. No one can take my master away from me.

Jake: Geez, you two have clearly issues.

Mera… So this is how she feels about me. I guess it's no surprise but I always imagined that she hated me more. She's attached to me now. That wasn't part of the plan, though it is welcomed. I just placed my back to the door then slid down till my butt hit the floor. I've already sunk my claws into her now I can just reap the rest of the rewards. Shit! I shouldn't be showing my happiness. I couldn't notice it now but I was smiling.

Mera: Sorry about that~ I just sort of drifted off there.

Jake: But that makes me curious. How did you two even meet? It does feel unlikely that you two would meet. Or maybe it was so unlikely that you two did meet.

Mera: Hehe~ I'll never forget that story.

Now that I think about it, I can't seem to forget about it too. It must've been etched into my memory pretty hard…

Mera: It was a hot day before our first year. Though I wasn't sure if it was a summer or not. All I knew was that I needed to take a mock entrance exam in Hojo. My mother wanted me to attend a prestigious school in Hojo rather than here in Oak.

Jake: That's quite the bar but I guess that's what a parent would want.

Mera: Well obviously I didn't pass because I'm here hehehe. But there was one person in that room that was well determined to go there. I first saw her in the self study lounge with a mountain of books surrounding her. Though most of them weren't even for things that people were going to study for.

Jake: What were they?

Mera: Fiction books…

Jake: So she was already working back then?

Mera: I wouldn't say that. But she did admit some of them were from people. She was just improving on her english. I was amazed at her determination just to get better. Even when the mock exams ended, she just went back to reading and writing.

Jake: So she was already in a league of her own.

Mera: Yes. One day, I visited one of my dad's businesses then was surprised to see her there. She was working for one of my dad's bars. She just didn't stop. More like, she was unstoppable. Anything she wanted to do, she just went and did it.

Jake: Must've left quite the impression on you.

Mera: Naturall~

Jake: So when did you talk to her?

Mera: Strangely enough, we only talked in second year.

Jake: Wait a minute. Then she… didn't make it to Hojo.

Mera: No… Well that was obvious but I made it a point that I never mentioned it to her. Though I'm sure she doesn't even know that I know. I don't want to hurt her or anything. That's the last thing… I ever… want to do…

Jake: Hey, it's alright. Don't cry now…

Mera: Yeah, sorry about that. Mako matters to me a lot.

Jake: It does sound like you really want to keep her close. I guess I have sort of the same sentiments. Just being around her makes you want to grow up.

Mera: That is true. She's always talking about how money is important and all that. Even when you're looking at her, Mako's presence requires all of you when she stares back.

Jake: I definitely felt that when we were in that restaurant together.

Mera: Restaurant!? You said you two weren't going out! Why a restaurant!?

Jake: Calm down, Mera. We just worked there part time for old man Zeke.

Mera: Ohhh, you're quite reliable if she made you work like that.

Jake: Eh, I don't think so. I just wished I knew what she thought of us.

Mera: That's certainly true. But I'm sure that I know what she thinks of me. I'm her slave~

Jake: You two are weird…

I couldn't help smiling from hearing what they thought of me. Though in the end it was just ego boosting for me. Though my mood suddenly went sour. Her story did have some holes and misinterpretations to what actually happened. What Mera did say in her story wasn't entirely correct or wrong. I did make it to Hojo…

Pushing the door open, both of them stiffened to statues. Their faces blushing red as if I found them snogging. I purposefully put up a confused front to make them feel at ease. I continue to walk through the door then back to my table to start typing again. They both sighed a breath of relief.

Mera: Mako~ Welcome back!

Mako: Whatever.

Jake: Geez… These two.

All Jake could do was scratch his head from the pure strangeness of this group while Mera happily made me another drink. This wasn't much but this was the story. This is my story and no one else's. I'm the protagonist after all.

As we finished our duties, well more like I did. We made our way to the front of the school. Jake took to the left and said his goodbyes early because he uses a bike to go to school. Mera just stayed close to my arm, looking at me with some strange expression.

Mako: What is it?

Mera: Huh!? Uh, nothing…

Mako: Just out with it already, you've been good lately. You deserve something. Nothing with money of course. I ain't shelling a fucking thing especially with the lifestyle you have. You're spoiled all the way.

Mera: Really! That's great! It's fine! I don't really want anything physical from you, Mako. I just had a really strange thought is all…

Mako: It can't be that strange. With the novel that were fucking shoved at me, things can't be that weird.

Mera: Well, it's not weird weird. It's just weird to me…

Mako: Whatever it is, it can't be that weird.

Mera: Well remember that day when we went to Hojo.

Mako: Yeah, what about it?

Mera: Well you held my hand pretty tightly. That was the first time I've actually felt that you were distressed. It made me worry plenty. I never saw that happen.

Mako: I mean, I never really said I wasn't vulnerable to those kinds of things. It just kinda fucking hapepned. There's not much I could say about it. He said some things that just didn't make any rational sense in the whole grand scheme of things.

Mera: Besides that of course, it was the first time that I held your hand. When you did, it was nice and warm. It felt like I was going to be safe forever. Everything around me just went waaah~ You know, hehehe. I'm sorry I'm bad at describing it.

Mako: And then?

Mera: When you left… I felt lonely again. I couldn't stop thinking about when your hand touched mine. It just made me realize how special you are to me, even if I am just your slave. So… if you don't mind me asking... Could you hold my hand again? Just for a little while?

She held out her palm to me. I wasn't sure what kind of hand holding she meant but the way she presented it to me was strange. All I knew was that this was her genuine feelings. I hated this girl with a burning passion because of what she did. Yet, I could still feel a bond with her. A contradiction of a century but it was correct.

I reached out mine, touching hers. Our fingers touched each other as if we were doing a slow high five which felt a bit awkward. She was soft or pudgy while mine were slender and thin. I started to instinctively move down a little bit further through the cracks as she did too. Mera's hand locked onto mine. I hesitated then did too. The feeling was strange because I never did this for the purpose of holding another.

She let go first…

Mera: Thank you, Mako.