Ding Dong.
[Recess Time]
Yawn~ Finally, recess.
History class felt like a thousand-year curse, and I had barely survived. I hadn't had such a good sleep since... well, probably last History class. Stretching my back like a creaky old man reincarnated as a student, I wandered out into the hallway.
The canteen—visible from a distance—looked like a riot about to break out. Students packed in tighter than rush hour sardines. Just the sight made my stomach twist. Nope. Not happening.
I took a few cautious steps back like a timid NPC avoiding a boss fight.
That's when I felt it.
A gaze.
A powerful, familiar gaze from behind. My instincts kicked in before I turned.
And there she was—standing like a protagonist in a shoujo manga—Iz, my best friend.
I jumped with joy. "Heeyah, Iz! I could feel your gaze of love from miles away! Did you miss me so much? Muah. Muah."
Iz's face twisted in disgust as she slammed her palm onto my back with zero hesitation.
"Eww, Lil. Here I thought you'd matured."
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. "Unlike me, you've matured so much in a year. The past me would never have thought the infamous 'Ice Queen' would melt. By me."
Iz rolled her eyes so hard they almost left orbit. "I can't believe how little you've matured. It's unbelievable."
"True. I don't feel like I've matured at all. Still as youthful and radiant as ever~"
"Scratch that. You haven't matured at all."
Under the blazing sun, we trudged toward the canteen like two characters crossing a desert stage in a survival game.
The heat pierced our skin like invisible arrows. Sweat poured down our faces like someone had turned on the faucet. For someone like me—heat resistance: -999—this was torture.
I glanced sideways. "It's been a while. Walking together side by side under this bloody hot sun."
Iz stared at me. "We just did this before school reopened. Your memory is worse than a goldfish."
"Oh? Really?"
"We went to your favourite restaurant near your house. You flipped when you saw the prices went up. Again."
"Ohhh~ Right. That was just a week ago? It felt like years!"
"You should be careful. If neuroscientists catch you, they'll pry open your skull just to figure out how your brain works."
"Aww~ Thanks for worrying, Iz. But I won't be seeing any neuroscientist. Like, ever."
"You won't. They'll be the ones chasing after you."
"I didn't know I was capable of attracting men of science."
"They only want your brain."
"Hah. Men. So picky. Always after one thing and never the whole package."
Iz rolled her eyes. Again. A skill she had maxed out long ago.
By the time we reached the canteen, it was—predictably—chaos.
Noise. Screams. Prefects barking orders. Chairs scraping. I muttered under my breath, "Nothing's changed. The noise. The mess. The stench."
Iz pointed to the gazebo. "Let's go there."
Smart choice.
But even the gazebo was overflowing. The prefects there were doing their best to maintain order, but the students were immune to their shouts. Words went in the left ear and exited the right like some sort of passive skill.
With no seats left, we ate standing up—until a prefect with the face of a low-level miniboss approached us.
"Don't eat while standing. Go find a seat," he said with a smirk like he ruled the world.
I gave him my most innocent smile. "There are no seats. Can't you see? Unless you want to stack us like restaurant plates. But that'd be weird, right?"
The prefect grunted and retreated.
Iz shot me a worried glance. "What if he reports you to the head of discipline?"
I smirked. "Pfft. What's there to fear? I didn't say anything wrong."
Iz frowned. "This year, it's Mr. Woo."
"…Oi~ I'm screwed, aren't I?"
I started pacing the gazebo like a general preparing for battle. If Mr. Woo was involved, this wasn't just discipline. It was war.
My mind raced. Should I apologize? Pretend to faint? Summon an escape portal?
Forget it. It was hopeless. Mr. Woo was like the upgraded version of my Ma on rage mode.
Feeling doomed, I looked at Iz's lunch box. My stomach growled.
"…(Drools)." The scent was divine. Food prepared by Aunty Christine—a retired 5-star Michelin chef—was practically a legendary item.
Iz didn't even look up. "If you've got something to say, spit it out. And stop drooling on my food."
I wiped my mouth. "I do have something to say… But not here. Can I have some food first?"
She handed me the box. I inhaled it like a starving beast.
"Ouish! Aunty Christine's food is the best I've ever had. Don't tell my mom I said that. Waaa~ It purifies my soul. Maybe it can purify Mr. Woo too. Hahahaha!"
Aunty Christine was a goddess disguised as a chef. When I first saw her with Iz, I thought she was Iz's mom. Turns out she was the family chef—former international superstar chef, hired by Iz's tycoon dad on the spot during a vacation.
Since then, she's handled all meals for the family with terrifying precision. No wonder Iz's lunch box looked like it came from heaven's kitchen.
Iz laughed. "Aunty Christine would be delighted."
"Tell her thanks—WAIT, no, don't. If she finds out, we'll both get scolded."
"She'd probably just make you a second portion."
"Really?! Tell her to make it ginormous or I'll starve to death in Physics class."
Iz giggled. "Anyway, you said you had something to say?"
"Let's go somewhere with fewer people."
"Where?"
"The usual place!"
I polished off the food and we made our way to the gazebo near Block D.
[Gazebo near Block D]
I flopped onto the seat with a sigh. "Why can't they let us eat outside the canteen? It's always so packed."
"They'd make a mess everywhere. No one wants to clean it up." Iz crossed her arms. "So? What were you going to say?"
"Oh, right. It's a long story, but I'll make it short—"
Ding. Ding. Ding.
"…Seriously?" The bell rang like a slap to the face.
"Ah! We got to go to class now. How about we continue after school? Got to go. Bye! See you later." Iz stood up like a bolt of lightning.
"Wait—what?! You're leaving me? Me? Your only friend? For a class?"
I clutched my chest. It felt like betrayal. Like a side character being abandoned in Chapter 3.
But then—
A shadow fell across me.
Gulp.
I turned.
And met the gaze of a demon.
"Llyne," Mr. Woo smiled. "Are you going to skip class?"
"Skip class? Mr. Woo! How could you falsely accuse me of such a thing?" I clutched my chest, appalled.
"I didn't say you would," he said, arms crossed. "I just asked."
"Err… Well! I'm going now so—ciao~!"
I bolted like my life depended on it.
Because honestly?
It did.