A few days later, in the morning, "click," Adrian closed his door. He saw Elsa's unit door open, and when Elsa stepped out,
"Ready?" Adrian asked.
"Oh (turns to look at Adrian) you're ready? Let's go," Elsa replied.
After locking the door, Adrian pushed Elsa's wheelchair toward the elevator. They went down and exited the lobby. As they walked toward the apartment complex gate, two high school students were also heading to school beside them. Adrian glanced at the screens floating above the two high school students.
[Ugh, can't believe he'd date a cripple. If its were me, no way.] - thought a student wearing glasses.
[Hmm, she's pretty hot though, curvy too. Probably good in bed, don't care if she has legs or not.] - thought a student with a buzz cut.
Suddenly, Adrian grabbed the buzz-cut student's collar, making him fall backward. The student walking beside him immediately ran off. Adrian quickly turned and pinned the student down, his hand ready to punch his face.
"Adrian, what's wrong with you?!" Elsa cried out, shocked and panicked to see Adrian turn aggressive.
"Hey, what the hell... are you crazy?" the buzz-cut student yelled, raising his hands, his face confused and scared.
"Don't talk carelessly. Do you want me to mess you up right here, huh?" Adrian snapped at the student.
"What did I even say? Let go you freak ! You're the crazy one, just grabbing people and slam them. Are you intentionally looking for trouble, huh?" the student yelled.
Adrian froze. He realized that what he read was the student's thoughts, not spoken words. He immediately lowered his hand and stood up. The student quickly got up.
"Crazy weirdo! Watch out, you hear me!" he yelled as he ran away.
Elsa, seeing Adrian standing frozen, grabbed his hand. Adrian turned to see Elsa looking at him anxiously.
"What's wrong with you?" Elsa asked.
"N-nothing, sorry. I don't feel like going to school today. I'll just take you to school, then I'll go back home," Adrian replied.
"No, tell me what's wrong," Elsa insisted.
"Come on, there's nothing to tell," Adrian replied.
"Tell me, or I won't go," Elsa said, gripping the brakes on her wheelchair wheels.
Adrian pushed Elsa's wheelchair to the side, then he sat on the curb right next to Elsa.
"Even if I tell you, you won't believe me," Adrian said.
"Tell me first. Whether I believe it or not is a matter for later," Elsa replied.
Elsa wheeled her wheelchair forward, then struggled to turn so she could see Adrian's face in front of her.
"Tell me, I'm listening," Elsa said.
"But... don't laugh, okay?" Adrian said.
"Yes, I promise," Elsa replied.
"I can read other people's minds. I just read his thoughts, and I got angry," Adrian said.
"Oh... I see," Elsa said, confused.
"See? You don't seem to believe me. Come on, let's go. I'll just take you," Adrian replied.
"No, if you're not going to school, I don't feel like it either. You know, I haven't had a friend for days. Yuni got the flu from getting rained on when she came to the apartment, so she hasn't been in for a few days, right? If you don't go either, I'll be bored," Elsa said.
"Ugh... alright, I'll go. Let's head off," Adrian said.
"If you're forced, don't bother. I don't mind not going (looks at Adrian). You don't socialize in class either, is it because of your ability?" Elsa asked.
Adrian didn't answer, but he nodded. Then he looked at Elsa, who seemed to be thinking in front of him.
"Maybe we shouldn't be too close," Adrian said.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?" Elsa asked.
"No, I don't want to see people thinking bad things about you because of me," Adrian replied.
"Oh... what did they say?" Elsa asked.
"It's not pleasant to hear. I don't want to say it," Adrian replied.
"Hmm, okay then. I don't know this, and I don't care, right?" Elsa replied.
"But..."
"No buts. So, are we going to school or not? If not, where are we going, hehe," Elsa cheerfully interrupted Adrian.
"Do you really believe what I just told you?" Adrian asked.
"Just believe it. Try checking, what am I thinking?" Elsa asked.
"I can't," Adrian replied.
"Why not? How come?" Elsa asked.
"You're the only one I can't. Everyone else I can. What I see is a small screen-like box floating above people's heads. Inside it are words, and those words are their thoughts. But that box isn't there for you, so I can't see your thoughts," Adrian replied.
"Hmm, I see (how similar, could he have gotten that ability from his heart? Oh right, Auntie once said her ability didn't work on her husband because her husband was also the same... that means) hehe, turns out, hehehe," Elsa said.
"Why are you laughing? I just told you not to laugh. It's hard to believe, but it's true. I'm not making any of this up," Adrian said, feeling a little annoyed.
"No, no, I'm not laughing because of you. Can I ask something?" Elsa asked.
"What?" Adrian asked.
"Did you get that ability after the operation?" Elsa asked.
"How do you know? How do you know?" Adrian asked, surprised.
"Hehehe... it's true... hehehehehe," Elsa replied.
"Why are you still laughing? What's going on?" Adrian asked, confused.
"Okay, since you told me, I'll tell you too. You remember when Erik came to the apartment on our first day of school, and he got rained on?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah, I remember. With Yuni, right?" Adrian asked, confused.
"Yes, that's right. Back then, you asked why I rejected him, remember what I said?" Elsa asked.
"You said he lied a lot and made vague promises," Adrian replied.
"Right. Why could I say that? Because my ears are sensitive, so I can detect other people's heartbeats. I can tell if they're lying or not, even if their face is normal and convincing. Do you believe me?" Elsa asked.
"Oh... so you detected that I wasn't lying, that's why you believed me, huh?" Adrian asked.
"No, my ability doesn't work on you. Want to know why?" Elsa asked.
"Why?" Adrian asked.
"Because Uncle's heart is inside you. I got this ability from Auntie after the operation. You got yours too, right, hehe?" Elsa replied.
"Oh... you too, huh? I thought it was just me," Adrian replied.
"Hehe, yeah, we're the same. Besides, Auntie was blind from birth. She was a very sensitive person, and she could hear people talking from afar. Her intuition was strong. Thanks to that, if someone approaches me with certain intentions, I'll definitely stay away if it's harmful to me. Like Erik, even though I know he's a good person, being with him is risky because I know he can't possibly keep the promises he makes without thinking first. So it's better to just reject him, simple. I hate people who talk big but are empty," Elsa said.
"Hmm... I see. Auntie is the opposite of Uncle," Adrian replied.
"Yep, that's right. Auntie said that too," Elsa replied.
"If Uncle uses his mind, Auntie uses her instinct. They're both really amazing," Adrian said.
"Yeah, that's right. And they worked together, becoming even more amazing and covering each other's weaknesses," Elsa replied.
"Hmm, true, but it's a shame they divorced. I don't know why, Uncle didn't say," Adrian replied.
"Auntie told me. Well, in my opinion, both of them were at fault. Auntie was judgmental and just got angry, and Uncle just stayed silent and didn't talk things through. Maybe that's how it is when you've been married for a long time," Elsa replied.
"Hmm, I see. But never mind, in the end, they both regretted it and reconciled, even though we helped them reconcile in front of the class, so, case closed (turns to look at Elsa). Thank goodness, I thought I was the only weird one. Turns out there's another weird one," Adrian replied.
"Excuse me! I'm not weird, and you're not weird. We're special because of Uncle and Auntie... wait a minute, do you remember what we said in front of the class? It wasn't us talking, was it?" Elsa asked.
"Yes, it wasn't us talking, but I heard it, and the terrifying thing about Uncle's mind is that he remembers what he hears even if he's not aware, so I remember everything in detail. Want me to read it back to you?" Adrian asked.
"NOOOOO, that's enough! I was so embarrassed back then. I've been trying not to remember it for the past few days," Elsa said, covering Adrian's mouth in front of her and turning her red face away.
"But thanks to that, we're husband and wife at school. As for me, I don't care. Do you mind?" Adrian asked.
"I don't mind. I don't care either. It's actually good. Anyone who wants to mess with us will back off, hehe," Elsa replied.
"So what now? Are we going to school?" Adrian asked.
"Well, what about you? I'm fine with it," Elsa replied.
"Alright then, let's go," Adrian replied.
"Okay, let's order a taxi first," Elsa replied.
Adrian and Elsa stood waiting for the online taxi to arrive. They glanced at each other, though their eyes didn't meet.
"Thank you, Elsa (Adrian) / Adrian (Elsa), for listening to me," both thought to themselves.