*Crank*
Dropping himself on his soft bed, Shade buried himself in the comfort of his space.
The walls surrounded him, there were no eyes observing him and most of all was the silence that made his mind calmer than before.
After returning back home from the unsettling meeting, Shade had finally separated from Irina, who had also now locked herself in her room.
That video was disturbing for both of them.
Even taking out the experience of his memories being erased. The video itself was quite an unpleasant thing to witness.
Previously the video was like a fake scenario of a random guy but now the situation has completely changed.
But unfortunately that was still not the end of his unsettled train of thoughts.
"Invisible Hunter"
That was the name they used while addressing him.
Something about that name was odd, no matter how much he just brushed it off, something didn't fit right about that name in this scenario.
This is annoying.
Soon he came to a realisation, at this rate he'll never pull his head out of his thoughts and waste away his entire day.
But when he sat down near his table, his head couldn't think straight.
What subject should I pick? Mom should be coming home now. Maybe an online novel would be better.
He couldn't start doing anything.
Giving up, he took out the phone from his pocket and began scrolling through the short videos to distract himself.
His legs shook unnaturally as the videos passed, one after the other. The movement only got more and more aggressive and the videos became more and more hard to watch.
Even though he was calm and not panicking, restlessness had plagued his mind, robbing his ability to do anything.
Standing up from his chair, he dressed up once again and left the room he was admiring just minutes ago.
"Is this what being stressed feels like?"
His days had suddenly become hectic and his mind was becoming more and more unnerving by the moment.
Ironically the life he had once called uneventful was now shifting its genre from romance to adventure to mystery.
Now, would you resist the tides?
The change that he was so cynical about had presented itself facing Shade, asking him a simple question in return.
"Oh!"
"Oh."
Passing through the corridor he unexpectedly encountered Noelle who was sitting restlessly.
"You're leaving somewhere again? That's rare."
"I'm not an endangered animal who is rarely spotted."
"You're not?"
"I'm just headed to the library but why are you sitting here?"
"I wanted to show something to Irina but she seemed down. Did you do something inappropriate to her?"
Hearing her words, Shade frowns openly without hiding it.
I mean I did think I would be blamed but…
His earlier speculation turned out to be spot on.
"Had she come out of her room since we came back?"
"Yeah, when mom returned home. Unlike you, most people greet each other."
He received a verbal sucker punch in response to his innocent question.
"I see…" Saying that he started walking back inside.
His initial plans were to go alone but a companion wouldn't matter much.
"You're inviting her too?"
"Just out of courtesy. Hope she says no but either way I'll be busy studying."
"You even suck as a boyfriend but I guess it's still kind of genuine you."
I mean I'm not a real one.
"We're going to visit Rebecca and Carl tomorrow. I've said it now so that you won't say things like you're not mentally prepared or your schedule will be bothered." She added.
"Ah… but wouldn't that trip take a day?"
"Yeah, mom and dad have already taken a leave from work for a few days."
Why are you telling me about it now…
"I'll prepare myself mentally." Saying that he left to ask out Irina.
Before knocking on the door he paused a few inches away.
These incidents were not my responsibility, it has nothing to do with me.
*Click*
"?!"
Shade flinches as the door opens in front of him.
"What are you doing in front of my door while making weird faces?"
How did she…?
Unaware that Irina coincidentally left the room to go to the washroom, he recollects himself after being stumped by her appearance.
"…I wanted to ask you if you wanna go to the library, I'm being mildly pressured to ask."
She thinks for a second while looking at him.
"Library, I guess it won't be that bad."
"Ok, I'll wait by the entrance."
After some time, they left together.
Similar to two days prior, they walked quietly beside each other until Irina breaks the silence.
"The sun hasn't set but it seems like it will get dark when we return home."
"Yeah."
"Thinking about it, we first met at a library as well."
"Yes."
"Though the mood and situations were different, I wonder if we looked similar that day as well."
"I guess."
With a smile on her face she continues.
"I wonder if people will know we are dating just by seeing us together."
"Don't worry, I'll be busy with my study."
"In that case, how about I tutour you?"
"That can't happen. I'm good at academics."
"You may be but I'm a class senior than you and I'm also in the top of my class."
"Oh? But for your information, I have pretty much completed the high school level of education and I rank nationally." He says that with an obvious smug tone in his voice.
"Do you?"
"Yup."
"Surely then you are better than me."
"Yes."
Following that exchange, Shade's plans change once again.
What words cannot convey could only be expressed by actions.
With the trigger being Shade's apathetic face and Irina's confident smile. They both head to the library, not with the intentions of either studying or relaxing.
Rather in a competition of fueling their egos.
After finding themselves a good seat in a corner, they started questioning and testing each other out.
One question after another, each of their current levels became much clearer to the other.
As the intensity slowly died, the atmosphere becomes lighter.
From competition they both start chatting before being aware of it.
With the books and stationery laid out, they discuss their doubts, problems and their school lives alongside interesting experiences.
For both of them this small trip felt more worthwhile than they thought.
Irina had a crescent smile but her facial muscles were relaxed. The imaginary weight that she carried was washed off with the flow of her words.
As for Shade, his perception of Irina massively changed.
There was no longer an obstacle that scared him from approaching her yet when the doors to their worlds had opened, the distance between their worlds became apparent to him.
I knew she would be good in academics but now I think she would be better than Adam too.
Though what made him more aware of their gap was her school life being the exact opposite to him.
Respected by her peers and surrounded by lots of people.
He wasn't struggling as well, in fact he found his life way easier than her but compared to her, he felt like he was just wasting his days.
They were both flowers facing each other, one filled with the brightest colours while the other left bland.
One wasn't better or worse than the other but both had different ways and advantages of their use.
Since both weren't the type to express themselves unless they were lying or exaggerating, they didn't burst into loud laughter or raise their voices.
Instead they listened to each other with a relaxed expression while carrying an identical small smirk across their faces by the end.