Chapter 4

Whilst taking my last walk home before the school market, I took sight of a peculiar man. He was standing at a display window and staring into a store. I approached him:

"Hello, how are you sir?"

The man waited for a little before he turned around and smiled:

"Greetings, young man, I'm doing fine."

"If I may ask, has something piqued your interest here in the store?"

The man just resumed looking into the store. He seemed no over 20, probably around Azur's age. He had a long trenchcoat, but not a military one. His gaze was full of calmness, without a single hint of disturbance. What an odd aura. If i had to describe it in one word, it would be 'tranquility'. Absolute, unwavering tranquility. Even the way he moved was mesmerising: When he swung his arm, it seemed as if a swarm of birds grazed through the sky. When he took a step, the earth wavered, as if a new tree root sprouted. When he turned his head, the wind blew, as if thousands of leaves fluttered through the breeze. Yet offsetting was that calmness of his. Those deep, calm eyes. With his head against the glass, he asked me:

"I do actually have something. What is that drink that those young people are having?"

I looked through the glass and saw four students, two male and two female, buying some drinks. I couldn't see from here. Shrugging, I answered:

"I don't know. Whatever it is, it looks unhealthy."

The man turned to me and looked into my eyes. A long, stare, before asking once more:

"You don't know? Aren't you somewhat their age, in your youth? Shouldn't you know how a student has to live?"

"I don't really know. And no, I am uninterested in that."

The man looked me up and down with his eyes, yet still calm, still calm, like the night before the storm. He smiled, but there was no emotion behind it, only calmness. Unsettling. Normally, I'd be able to tell what they feel, yet this man either only felt calmness, or had his emotions hidden really deep inside. So far inside I couldn't see. That's when he just turned and left with a simple message:

"Inform yourself better next time."

In the next morning, I reluctantly crawled out of the bed that kept me tied to my safest place. This room was the place I liked the most. Only eight corners, twelve edges and six sides. The simplest shape of them all. The most recognizable one. The shape with the most sense. The easiest to handle. I stood up, showered and got dressed to go to school again. Today there were only 4 hours of school, and then there was the market. For me, a cooking course, of course. The first hour of school was chaotic. Most of them screamed around, the others were debating how they should now save the stall. Just like I said, they weren't able to make it in time. Now, there was just the question of blame. Who was the one who failed? Who was the one who was responsible for it? They will quarrel, they will fight. Yet ultimately, nobody will take the blame. Because they lie. They will lie to others, they will lie to themselves. Because it was all their own fault. But nobody wants to hear the truth. Because the truth might hurt. But this isn't my concern. It's just interesting to watch. 

The hours passed, and the voices intensified. Only after the clock struck 12, everyone got released to build their stall. Paulio called me over: 

"Kahemi, aren't you going to help?"

"Not now, really. I have urgent business."

"Uh, what's that urgent business then?"

"Simply, you'll find me in the cafeteria if you need something."

I took my bags, and left the class. When I entered the cafeteria, it was empty. Of course. I sat down and relaxed. Relaxed and thought. And when I thought, I drifted to sleep.

An hour later, a light tapping on my shoulder woke me up. It was Azur:

"Hey, sleeping so easily even though it's still midday. What are you, tired?"

"Yes, pretty much. Have you bought the ingredients?"

"I sure have."

I stood up and wandered to the cooking area. Azur and I both knew the cooks here, so we were trusted enough to manipulate with the kitchen equipment. After all, we did this quite often. And Azur himself even longer.

I cracked the eggs and mixed them in a cup. Then I put the water to boil and salted it well. Whilst it started to boil, I cut up some pork neck, since we didn't have any guanciale. In the rendered fat, I briefly fried some onions and garlic. The onions were unnecessary, but I liked it that way. Right after that, I put the pasta into the boiling water and let it cook until almost finished. Then I took some water and poured into the still a bit hot pan with the pork neck, onions and garlic. After that, I added the pasta. Into the pan itself, I started to grade a decent lot of parmesan cheese. Then I removed it from the heat and added the mixed eggs, six yolks and four whites. After taking some of the pasta onto two plates, I added just a little bit more parmesan and served it to myself and Azur. When serving, he nodded in approval:

"Very good, my housewife."

"I do not appreciate these kinds of jokes."

"Well then, sorry, I can be forgetful."

"Thank you."

"But it is good, as I expected."

"I will try it myself to determine that."

When I tried to go for my first bite, the doors suddenly opened. Inside marched Elisea and Shena. They looked at me with a bit of frustration in their eyes, and a hint of sadness. I put down my fork and asked the obvious question:

"How may I help you? Have I been requested to help at the stall?"

Elisea answered:

"Not really. The boys from our class have already constructed it themselves without any discussion. Now I'm here firstly because I don't want to represent something I haven't decided on or have contributed to it, and secondly because there was something tasty smelling from here. Can I ask you, Kasemi, what it is that you're eating?"

"Italian pasta. And if you're asking that next, yes, I'm permitted to do so."

"That- Okay."

"If you let me, I'll continue with my own business here."

I lifted the fork again and almost took a bite, as Elisea interfered again:

"Uhmmm- this is weird to ask, but we haven't eaten today because we weren't prepared with money to buy our own lunch at the convenience store, so could we maybe take a bit of your food there in the pan?"

I shrugged and continued to eat. Well, once again something was taken from me and won't get returned again anyway, just like those homeworks:

"Whatever, take what you want."

"Thank you very much, Kasemi."

Shena tapped Elisea lightly on the shoulder and whispered:

"It's Kahemi, actually."

Elisea turned and looked at Shena with a bit of surprise:

"What? Why didn't he tell me then that I was saying it wrong?"

I spoke up, clearing the room of any potential future misunderstanding and rumor:

"I don't really care that much about it."

Both of them stayed silent, and took their portions. There was nothing left in the pan anymore. I looked at Azur and he was observing the girls with curiosity. Elisea noticed him then and asked:

"And who is he? He looks way older than any student."

"That's because he is. But also he is permitted inside these walls."

Azur also spoke up, now sounding entertained:

"Yes, I am a graduate of this school, my name is Azur."

"Hmmm." With those words, they started to eat. I myself focused my attention on the food on my plate. All I could hear was then Shena suddenly exclaiming:

"It's good!"

Elisea followed up:

"It really is. That creaminess with the delicious taste of pork and parmesan is to die for."

Azur laughed:

"We're glad you liked it."

After the two finished their plates, they put them in the sink and Elisa walked away again, thanking for the food once more before exiting. Shena quickly washed the plates and then ran after Elisea. And I watched them leave, curious about what incident caused them to come to this place. I saw it in their eyes, frustration, anger and a tad bit of sadness. I could see it all.