Chapter 24 : Invitation 2

I woke up, with my clothes not on my back. At least my shirt, my cool-looking uniform was replaced by not-so-cool looking bandage wrapped around my my lower abdomen. I looked around and saw no one. 

After thinking, I knew that she was here. Anne. I tried to sit up, and then felt it. I slowly sat back lied back to confirm my suspicions. I lifted the bandage a little, to reveal the bright red burn underneath.

"My life is always rough. When will injuries finally let me be?" 

"You're awake?" I heard someone say. I was sure it was Anne. It should have been.

I looked back to see Adriana sitting behind the desk. Her eyes were focused, her countenance unwavering. 

"How long have you been watching?" I tried to say, to gain control of the room, with my nonchalance.

"Long enough to see you in that horrible state. Long enough to see that you dont have an energy core."

I twitched at that one.

 "How could she have noticed that?" I thought. I immediately rebuked her claim.

"Stop being ridiculous. You've seen what I can do. You know what I'm capable of. You think I can do that without an energy core? You hit me, and now you berate me? You're taking this too far?" I said.

"I hit you to confirm that you're not okay. I knew something was wrong, I only hit you to prove it to others, and above all, you. I said it before and I'll say it again." she expressed, as she got up from the chair, taking a seat next to me.

"Something-is-wrong-with-you. Now I've found even more weird stuff about you. I have a barrage of questions, but I'll ask you this first. What is that?" she said as she poked my belly. It hurt.

"Let go. I may be in bad shape now, but I have enough energy to stomp you, right here, right now. Respect is reciprocal. I've been your friend, and your partner. I dont care if you are a princess or a peasant, if you do that again, I'll give you a wound to match mine. You long-eared fool." I said mindlessly, grabbing her hand, and shoving it away.

She got up, stepping toward the door. I sat up.

"W-Wait, I didn't mean what I said. I was, just paranoid." I lied, in an honest way.

"Muna, if you use words like that again, referring to me, I-I-" she looked back at me, her eyes watery.

She slammed the door.

"Looks like someone has a talent for making girls cry"

I laid back down. 

"Not now Venus. It wasn't my choice. Of she found out that I'm not completely human, it could really get in the way of things. I do plan on telling her, but not now."

"You intentionally did all that to make her leave? And here I was thinking you're just a complete degenerate. Looks like you do you use your brain sometimes." she replied.

"You little-" I turned to my right, annoyed at her antics. But I was shocked instead. Rather than the little doll figure she took a while before, her projection seemed complete, although it did not carry most of her jaw dropping features. Still, it was something. I took a good look at her, and turned back, hiding back my primate behavior.

She caught me.

"You.... were staring, for way too long. Didn't even try to hide it like you usually do. I guess I'll turn back into that little doll again. You're getting out of hand"

"D-Dont do that" I said out loud.

"Oh, why shouldn't I?" she asked, arms crossed, eyes suspicious

"Because, y-you..its.... I'm more comfortable speaking to you as is."

"Stop. Be honest for once. Always choosing to walk behind me, hugging way longer than it necessary, randomly losing focus in the middle of a conversation claiming you're in 'thought', you think a being like me, living longer than your perception of time would not notice it. Even with the others: Adriana, Sasha, Lola, Jamie, Anne, Marse, Mercury and the list goes on. I'm literally in your head. You cant lie to me" she responded, disappointment obvious in her voice.

I laid in silence. Tried to empty my head. Did not work.

"Be better"

Then I 'used my brain' once again. I thought to myself. I completely forgot about Anne.

"Adriana claimed to have been here long enough to see me in this horrible state, then she didn't put the bandage around me. Anne did. Where is she?"

As I was as lost in thought, someone came through. 

"Speak of the devil"

"How're you holdin' up?" Anne said as she walked in, holding a stack of books, her glasses slightly misplaced, and her hair in a bun, messed up a little.

"Not as bad as you would expect. I'm doing okay. Funny to see you took the time to change me up, not like that's surprising." 

"And every time I do it, it amazes me more. Your body, are you some sort of god? You can be honest with me." she said as she sat behind her desk.

"Ha. If I was a god, I wouldn't always in this state, on your bed, injured, asking for your help, directly or indirectly. Not sure if gods get messed up as frequently as I do." I responded jokingly.

She took off her shoes, and put her feet up on the desk. she leaned back and took out an envelope from her top pocket.

"That's for you" she said as she flung it at me.

I caught it and opened it. It was an Invitation by the school's student council, signed with the school's insignia. 

"Think it looks serious?" she said obviously mocking my previous impression of the situation.

"It might, but not as serious for me to get up for. Its still a bunch of angry kids looking for attention. If it attention they want, they'll get it." I stood.

"Where are my clothes?" I asked her.

"Hanging in the bathroom. Take it and get out. I want to take a shower."

I went in the bathroom, put on my clothes and made for the door. As I was about to close the door behind me, I heard her say something.

"Dont hurt yourself, I dont want to have to see you here during school hours. Make sure to not cause a ruckus, I ant some quiet down here."

I nodded in kind and walked on. Making my way through the hallways, I was met with glaring eyes, gazes enough to swallow mountains. The students looked at me with awe, some stopping entire conversations, some tripped over, all attention focused in my direction.

........

"Good afternoon freshmen, I am Bares. I am of the Eze clan, an heir to its first family. I am also the head of the Yulo Cadet Board, the YCB. Yes, I am the president. I have only one request, before you can carry on with your day. I will warn you, you will tell me the truth. You will either tell me now, or confess it to my sword."

"Where in god's name is Cadet 101?!"