Two truths, One Lie

…There was no harm in playing a game with them, telling a truth and telling a lie, would they be able to cipher? Only time could say…

Soon enough lunch came rolling around the corner and Safrina found herself sitting next to Masa, and across from the two was Adams who wasn't pleased that the two decided to join him once more in his joyous solitude, and yet she couldn't figure out why she had decided to sit with them.

"So…uhm…how are you liking things here?" She would ask the two awkwardly which received an eye roll from Adam and a warm smile from Masa who seemed wholeheartedly glad someone asked them about something so…seemingly simple.

"I guess it's fine here, not my forte but it is whatever," Adam expressed begrudgingly towards her which made him notice her shift a bit in awkwardness at his response and he let a soft amused 'hm' out, how cute of her, he supposed.

Masa replied next, "It's rough but I am getting the hang of everything," they expressed more genuinely towards Safrina's question which prompted a soft smile on her lips before she reached down to begin picking at her food slightly; from that point onwards none of them spoke another word, Adam quickly scarfed down the food while Masa picked at it and only ate a tiny bit before forfeiting trying to take another bite.

The bell would go off marking the end of lunch and the four-minute start for the students to reach their next destination. Adam took quick advantage of this by being the first to get up and quickly leave the table while both Masa and Safrina glanced at each other and said their silent goodbyes before making the trudge to their next class.

***

       The grip on the strap of their bookbag tightened a bit, Oracle's gaze seeming off into the distance as they walked in the crowded halls of chattering, their mind louder than the words of those shouting about them. A plot of sorts boiling in their mind while they wondered how to get both Adams and Safrina alone, even if it would be for a moment. Of course, would they even trust the words of what Oracle even had to say?

     Those thoughts would be curtly pushed back, their gaze drifting to the open door that stood in front of them, golden numbers slightly faded, telling Oracle the room that they were to be in. A soft sigh pressed past their light rose lips as they entered, taking their seat before the bell went off, yet Oracle did not focus on the lesson that was at hand, finding themselves drifting back into their thoughts while seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to an hour.

     The sound of the bell going off signaling that class had ended and the teacher giving clear instructions of what they needed to get done for the night made Oracle snap back from their lost thoughts before their head shifted to look at the teacher briefly while they began to pack up, getting ready to go to their next listed class, seminar, which was a study hour time for students and, well didn't hold much importance to many, they all used it to catch some sleep or just to look at the tiny devices that they carried which they called a "phone." Some even used it to read books.

     Of course, the only real reason to go was for attendance, and, one thing they had noticed last time they had gone was they shared the same seminar as Safrina. Some reason the girl drew Oracle in, and for that reason, they were one that they searched for (of course, same with Adams), but sometimes if they focus a bit on the girl, a flower will appear in his mind and her standing so close to them, that even the thought of it made their breath hitch a bit. The future, or what is to come. Yet, why such a glimpse as that in itself? What importance did it have? Or was their mind just so preoccupied that it was showing them things that they wanted to see? Was it even a glimpse of the future or a sidetrack of their thoughts?

     Pushing those thoughts back, Oracle began to make their way to the seminar class, figuring that this would be a good time to attempt to try and get the other alone, of course, they still had to deal with getting Adams as well, and would perchance to show more difficulties than that of the girl considering he seemed less inclined in having others around but to be alone which would provide some difficulties later on of course unless he dropped that way of thinking.

     Like clockwork, Oracle made their way to the next class in ease albeit in the busy hallways of loud chatter. Luckily, for them, it would seem Safrina was settled in a seat without a second person there and Oracle would be quick to take the spot next to her, a gentle greeting smile placed on their lips while she nodded back in slight greetings.

     "Uhh, Safrina…right? Are you possibly free this weekend? I'm kind of new to this town and I was wondering if you could show me some good places" they would speak softly enough while a look of surprise pranced onto Safrina's face, mistrust glittering in her green-grey gaze while she would shift slightly at the offer.

     "I suppose I could… I normally just stay home and play games, but…I guess I could," she said a little awkwardly while her gaze drifted away a bit and Oracle nodded a bit, noticing the awkwardness that drifted between the two of them as a nervous laugh slip from Oracle's lips and they looked away a bit.

     "Apologizes, I'm not quite used to uhm… talking to others, I was…homeschooled so all of this is quite new to me," they explained to Safrina and noticed a shift in her face as she relaxed and allowed a smile to inch onto her face as that seemed to help her relax at the offer. Her hand holding her head as she stared at them which made Oracle quickly glance away with a nervous smile on their lips.

     "It's all good, that would explain a lot. I'll help, I do have a place I do like, we could start there…do you have a ride perchance?" Safrina asked which Oracle would slowly shake their head but then remembered that they had noticed Adams had what Safrina had called 'a ride'

     "No, but I think I could always ask someone who could perchance give us a ride and…to hang out with us. I'll keep you updated on it though," Oracle expressed to her and watched her nodding a bit while the smile on her lips tugged at the corner of her mouth and Oracle could not help but relax at seeing that.

     For the remainder of the study hall session, the two did not talk to each other and focused on their work before the bell declared that the class had ended when they looked over at the time, they soon realized that the day was over and they couldn't help but be startled by how fast the day went, which means that the deadline was fast approaching. They did not have much time left and must tell the two soon before it was too late.

***

     To say the least, it was weird when Masa came rushing towards Adams and asked to speak with him alone, and then even further, grabbed a now very much confused-looking Safrina with them, dragging the three of them into a much more secluded area of the building while a serious look portrayed on the kid's face.

"The fuck do you want?" Adams was the first to speak, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket while a fumbling, and nervous-looking Masa stood there looking at the both of them. Slowly he placed the stick to his lips, reaching into his other pocket to grab the lighter.

Safrina glanced towards Adams who seemed to take this more harshly than she had, perhaps… Masa just wanted to tell the two they just wanted to be friends and was nervous to admit that. Or, it was something else and they were trying to find the words to put it as is without the two of them reacting negatively. 

"Uh…well..Uh… For starters, my name is not Masa but Oracle and… Earth is doomed," Oracle awkwardly began, and by the looks of both their faces it was clear the two were not taking what the kid had said and a frown appeared on Oracle's face while a tense silence filled the air between the air and then…

Adams choked out a laugh, a laugh of disbelief to be clear. Earth? Doomed? And what kind of name was 'Oracle?' who the hell names their child after some Greek mythological bullshit? They quickly placed two fingers to their lips, the cigarette between them while he shook his head, this had to be some sort of prank, no way anything that Oracle had said was real.

"Is this some kind of joke? And is Oracle your name or are you making that up too? What exactly even are you? And you expect me to believe you?" Adams questioned as he took the cigarette from his lips, blowing smoke directly into Oracle's face while a look of disgust appeared on their face, the smell of nicotine stinging their nose as they waved the air in front of them to clear out the awful smell.

"Give…Oracle a chance to explain themselves…I think…I think they're telling the truth" Safrina said, her words filled with hesitancy Oracle word's still processing in her thoughts while that feeling that kept nailing itself in her stomach felt like it was getting louder and louder. For some reason or another…even if it felt hard to believe, this felt…to be true.

Oracle would pause, wondering how much they should even tell the two. Adams did not believe their words which came to no surprise while the smell of the cigarette still was caught in their nose and Safrina carried an air of hesitancy to her which meant that their next words must be chosen carefully, they needed the two to trust them, and it seemed that the girl would be more easy to gain trust than that of the boy. Scanning the ground for any form of answers, a quick thought came to Oracle's mind and they soon spoke with more confidence than the first time.

"I'll give you two truths about me but also a lie, and it will be your choice to trust me or not but you must believe me with I am to say. A lie or not," they pressed calmly, glacial eyes locking with the two, awaiting both of their confirmation before they could continue. Their hands nervously shifted before they would continue with what they would say next.

"First, I am not from this planet… I came from one that was destroyed in a war that was brought to us, we were innocent bystanders in it all and yet everyone was wiped out because of it. Second, yes, my name is indeed Oracle, I am not making that up. Lastly, despite Earth having no partake in the Galaxy's diplomacy, it is next to their radar meaning in a hundred years the Earth you will know now will be gone. They'll start simple, small even, spreading plagues and illness, next they'll make the weather change, your winters colder, summers hotter. They will destroy this planet," Oracle's words came out earnestly, a serious note twinge in their voice. Only they knew what the lie was and soon enough they would once reveal what that was, but for now, they needed their trust.

Another laugh echoed from Adams before putting the cigarette back to his lips, Oracle's words all sounded like something made up but…the way their eyes carried a weight of honesty to them, and the way it felt that they were only saying truths made the boy swear and drop the cig onto the ground and snuffing them out

"I'll be damned, you're not lying, are you? What was the lie anyway huh? That you were going to say a lie?" Adams asked, having more questions than an actual statement, his eyes narrowing a bit, perhaps he should push the other for more information and huffed a bit

"If you want us to believe you then give us the evidence tomorrow, got that Oracle?" Adams stated, dragging Safrina into it despite her still being on the fence about the whole ordeal… she did agree, that they needed more evidence from Oracle before they could fully trust what he was saying but…she wished Adams hadn't placed her into something without even asking if it was okay first.

"Very well, I'll have your evidence tomorrow. Here, same place, same time…better wear shoes fit for walking because I'll have to take you to it," Oracle said before shoving their hand into Adams premises, the other clasping theirs with his own as the two shook on it. Tomorrow, they will reveal what they can but for now, Oracle has their trust.

***