Unofficial Date (part 1)

1.10 - Unofficial Date

-----

‎

We ended up going to the mall.

After a rather short but intense battle against demons that is literally made of smoke, Nico suggested that we go to the mall for some refreshment since it was close by. He said that it was unplanned, but he was bringing a bunch of money with him.

Either way, it looks like it's going to be fun.

The mall is the only one in this region, so it basically has all the necessities that a mall has. Not just that, because this mall is more towards the countryside, there were a lot of shop stalls that sold rather cheap snacks.

But, before we went there, Nico and I visited the bookstore. I told him that there was a novel that I needed to check, and the two of us went there to have a look at its availability. The novel was a popular internationally-sold story that caught the hearts of many, and it was still ongoing. I heard that recently a new chapter has been published overseas, so I wanted to see if it's already available for this country.

I found the new chapter immediately since it was placed at the front of the bookstore. Immediately, I giggled in excitement.

Too bad that I didn't bring any money with me. I would've bought this in a flash. I could borrow Nico's, but then we will have less money for the snacks later on. So, for now, I just noted the price and simply came back later during the weekend or something with the money.

I also went around the bookstore to check around some books for the university entrance exam. Nico was very much against checking out anything study-related books, but I told him that we should absolutely start preparing for the test from year one of high school. After all, it's the test that determines our entrance to university. It's very important!

After that, we're done with the bookstore and headed straight for the snacks. Checking out books apparently made Nico very hungry, so we ended up going to the snack shops immediately. The shop stalls are on the top floor, alongside the rest of the food court. Basically, the entire floor is just like a food heaven.

Just as planned, we went straight for the bubble tea and kebab. Nico said he had never tried kebab before, so he asked me about which one he should try first. Being the cheeky genius I am, I gave him the spiciest one.

We bought bubble tea afterwards, and we sat down on the most corner part of the food court where we could see almost the entire floor area. Right after we sat down, we started digging.

I was watching with high expectations when Nico took a large bite out of the kebab, but I was very surprised when he only ate it with a smile.

Those things were supposed to be very spicy!!

"Oh, I've always liked spicy stuff. If anything, I find sweet foods to be disgusting."

He said, and I must absolutely disagree.

I undyingly loved sweet menus. Sweet barbecued chicken is always so good. The Japanese teriyaki has always been my favorite overseas flavor. The local foods that tasted sweet, I loved them all.

Nico, on the other hand, preferred spicy food more. He took multiple bites at those super spicy kebabs without pausing for a drink and still kept a smile until the very end as he enjoyed them. If it was me, I'd have finished at least three cups of cold water from just a single bite.

He and I are just so different, after all.

The only thing that was the same was our bubble tea choice. Since I never really tried one of these, I picked the same one as Nico's. Plus, he was the one buying, so I have to at least either pick the same one or something cheaper. I couldn't go with anything cheaper, so I just picked the same one.

Surprisingly, they're pretty good. It's a mango-flavored tea with multiple addons inside the tea, like jellies. It's so refreshing, especially after an intense battle we just had.

"This drink is massive. No regrets for picking this one."

Nico said, and I agreed. He took a sip after eating half of the entire kebab, and he quickly conveyed how he felt. Meanwhile, I've only eaten a quarter of my kebabs.

"For someone with a rough personality, you seemed to really like sweets."

Nico suddenly commented horrendously after noticing my kebab pick, and I became annoyed at his comment.

"What's wrong with sweet taste…?"

"Nothing's wrong with it! For me though, personally, I'm just not a fan."

He said, as he nonchalantly drank the super sweet jelly-mango tea. I ignored it and continued eating my kebab.

"I'm surprised you've never tried bubble teas before. Have you really never gone to the mall?"

Nico suddenly asked, and I wasn't quite sure as to how I could answer. I mean, yes, I have gone to the mall before. But, I just didn't buy the bubble teas since there was no reason for me to buy one.

"Well, let's just say that I don't have the privilege nor the condition to buy them."

"Wow, are you really that poor?"

"You don't need to comment so nicely."

He laughed immediately, and I knew he was just joking. After all, the issue isn't exactly a monetary one. I can buy bubble teas at any time, sure. The only thing was, these drinks were usually enjoyed when you bought them with friends. And 'Friends' are what I don't have.

As for kebabs, my Mom used to buy them for me all the time nearing the end of elementary school. Mainly because she, herself, loved kebabs so much. And I ended up following the tradition.

"So, why was it? That you never tried bubble teas?"

"I just don't see the reason to get them."

"Even if you don't, there has to be a moment when you has to buy them. Right?"

"And when are these moments you are talking about?"

"I don't know? Maybe when you're hanging out with your friends?"

And… there we go.

He just casually blurted them out as if it was a normal occurrence. I must've been too honest with my expression, because Nico immediately noticed that I looked quite annoyed.

"No way… you've never gone out with your friends before?"

"This is my first time going to a mall with someone other than my Mom. Ever."

"Oh… Oh boy."

See? He gets it.

"Don't think about it too much. I just don't get along with people, that's all."

"How can I not think about it? You deserved to have friends, Elizabeth."

Is he… going to nag?

"I can choose my own lifestyle, thank you."

"Did you even realize how bad your decision was…?"

Well… truthfully, that was a lie. Because, in the end, I didn't get to choose.

I had no friends ever since elementary school because everyone thought of me as a freak. That continued until junior high because most of my junior high classmates were my elementary school classmates. And now, the same thing happened in high school, where most of my classmates used to come from my old junior high.

In all three schools, I'm just so infamous. Even upperclassmen and underclassmen know who I am for my freakiness. Nobody wants to get close to me, and certainly, I don't need to be close with them.

This is just how I lived my life. Everybody else can screw off on their own tangents while I minded my own business.

But… Nico seemed to disagree.

"Wasn't it difficult…? Living your school life like that…?"

Don't ask that, Nico. If you ask that, I don't know what to answer.

I ignored his question and just drank my mango-jelly tea all the way until it finished. I didn't even bother chewing on the jello and simply gulped them straight. After finishing, I lifted the bottle up and stood up.

"We should get going. It's already quite late, my Mom is going to be worried."

I turned around to start walking immediately, but my hand was immediately grabbed. The sudden feeling of being touched sent electric shock towards my entire body that I ended up slapping the hand that grabbed me away. I turned my surprised face to Nico and found him looking even more surprised.

"Stop… punishing yourself for the things you didn't do. Please."

Nico pleaded with a very concerned face, and I can't help but look down to his hand.

I slapped the hand that tried to reach out to me, what right do I have to not be punished? Not just that. I was indeed the cause of all the misfortunes that have happened to me. So, why shouldn't I be punished?

Meddling with other people's businesses. Being too close to the most important guy in school. All of those were my doing, after all. And certainly, it's not what other people wanted.

This is the punishment. A solitary life.