"Having a rough day?" It's Leonthan.
He hasn't gone home yet. Almost everyone in the classroom is gone.
"Yes…" Heavien heaved a sigh. "We're having our grading period, projects and group works are coming in, more org works, another school event next month, and my parents are-" she cut herself off. She should not tell Leonthan about this stuff. He knows nothing about her personal problems in life, especially about her family. She continued. "Your position as the class president must've been tiring you out." If I were him—no, she can't be him in the first place because she never has the confidence and qualifications of being one. How can he handle all of this?
"Yeah, and it sucks," he grinned. It must suck so bad that he forced himself to smile. "But what sucks more is something that you can't run away from."
Something that you can't run away from…
Just like today, she's stuck if she wants to go home early to finish her homework or stay late at school because she doesn't feel like going home because of the recent quarrel her parents had last night. Having school and family problems at the same time is draining her energy and will.
***
"You're good at playing the piano."
"Stop it. You're making me shy."
Eh? It wasn't meant to tease him. She even complimented his splendid talent.
"Haha!" She just laughed it off.
"But you know... playing piano is not all about music. It also serves as a means of communication to send your feelings to someone just by playing the keys wholeheartedly."
***
"You know..." Heavien initiated a conversation.
"Mm?"
"I was really pissed off to the extent that I wanted to kill that Zarod with my bare hands."
"Why?"
"He has tricks up his sleeve. He's playing us dirty."
"Haha!" he just laughed at me.
"W-What's with you?"
"Didn't know you also have a murderous intent, haha."
***
"I miss our school," he stated.
"Me too," Being stuck on this game makes them miss their lives on Earth.
"I hope we can go to school together."
She glanced at him. "Then when the game is over, we can have lunch together," she invited him. He must really miss school so much.
"Sure, I want it, but fate forbids it."
***
"Why do you still call me Second, eh, you already know my real name?"
"Just to be fair. You, calling me First and me calling you by your earthly name, isn't it unfair?"
***
"If you played for the second time, then you already know how the game works." She has a sudden thought that must be answered that First or Author could answer. "What will happen to those who have died or been 'game over'? What about their families on Earth?" she asked him consecutive questions that had piled up in her brain. She needs an answer now.
"They will die in oblivion."
Heavien was instantly horrified at the last time she remembered Leonthan and her talking. She got up from sitting inside the cinema.
Nyla paused from drinking her soda. "Hey, where are you going? We're at the climax, don't pee," she whispered at her.
"Let her be. She won't miss anything from this crappy movie, anyway," Rishi was still at it.
"Excuse me, Anj," she excused hurriedly.
"W-Wait…" Anj moved her knees.
"Sorry, guys. I need to go. It was an emergency."
She clutched her bag and left the cinema. She ran in a hurry without giving them an exclusive reason why she left out of the blue. She quickly rode a vehicle to commute. She had something to do. She was going to Leonthan's condominium.
She previously learned from her classmates that they sold their house when his parents died, and he stayed with his brother in a condominium near their school. She already went to his condo once because they had a group activity at that time.
She got out of the public vehicle and entered his condominium building.
"Ah, ma'am, are you a resident here?" the guard questioned her.
"No, Sir, but I know someone here."
Thankfully, he let her into the building by just leaving her identification card and registering her name in the guest record. She still remembered what Leonthan's unit number was.
"I'm sorry, Miss. No one lives in the unit you mentioned," the woman from the front desk confirmed. She asked her just in case she'd mistaken Leonthan's unit. And she needed to state which unit she was going to visit before going upstairs to that specific room.
"Huh? I'm sure of that… You know Leonthan Hortaia or Shaunrey Hortaia? They both live there."
And the woman glanced at the computer screen and some documents. "I'm really sorry, Miss. There is no Mr. or Mrs. Hortaia in this condominium and in the unit you referred to."
Did she really get the unit number wrong? She went home because of the confusion she had.
***
A day has passed. Heavien sent group messages to her classmates.
Heavien: Guys, do you know Leonthan Hortaia? He's our classmate and the class president?
1: Hortaia? We have no classmates with that surname. Maybe from another class?
Lol I'm the president
Huh? No! Leonthan is the president of our class.
3: Yeah, who's that
4: The moving-up ceremony has just finished. Did you already forget your classmates, Heavien? AHAHAHA
Not me! He is our classmate. He's smart, cool, sensible, and is known at school. There's no way that they'll forget someone notable as he is.
5: We don't have a classmate who plays the piano. Just guitar and drums.
6: If he's famous, why don't we know him??
7: An upperclassman? Underclassman?
8: Mr. Straight mustache will be our substitute teacher in math!
9: Man, that stinks
10: LMAO I like the way he teaches tho
11: Wer r u? Come back to d cinema!
12: You guys went out to watch a movie without inviting us?! Grrr
She got no sensible answer from them. She went personally to her school and asked the staff, janitors, registrar's, clinic nurse, teachers, and security guards. She questioned them if they remembered and knew Leonthan, but neither of them did.