A concrete white brick. The wall is high. I couldn't imagine someone climbing it. But Xiao said they would. So I waited close to it, standing behind a nearby lightlamp. It's a bad hiding spot. But then again, I'm not really trying.
The bell has long rang. First class started. Every student beside that wall should be in class, opening their textbooks and copying their friends' homework. But to the girls that I'm waiting for.
My mind wanders back to my conversation with Xiao. She has said these girls are Varrie's only friend, emphasizing 'if you can call them that.' I'm not sure what she meant by that, could it be that our angry red dragon uses them like a slave? That's not too far to imagine.
Xiao said, if anyone is to lead me to Varrie, it would be them. I have a slight suspicion that we wouldn't go to where Varrie lives, Xiao would hesitate more if that's the case. Then maybe I'd be brought to other places that Varrie is likely at. Like an arcade or a cave with gold for a floor and lava falling from the ceilings.
Anyway, it has been almost half an hour now. I have yet to hear anything. Hoping this is the right side of the wall. Xiao said to find them on the east side. I instinctively went to where the sun rose because in my old world that's where the east is. It might not be the same here. Should I have brought a compass? Oh yeah, my phone should have an app to help me with this.
"Sh, shit…"
A voice. I made sure it didn't come out of my head. No, it came from… the wall.
"The fuck, are you trying to call me fat?"
"No I'm not… you're just heavier than usual."
*You are calling me fat, you slut!"
"Tch, just go up already. My back hurts."
"Just so you know I'm not done with you calling me fat… and ugly.*
"Dude I didn't say any of that!*
A white hand emerges from the wall's edge. Then another. Then a blonde head pops out. But unlike Xiao, this one looks dyed. Some streaks of her hair are red.
"Did they make the wall higher or something? I don't remember it being this hard to climb."
She managed to get on top of the wall and surprisingly she does not look like a fat person.. or ugly at all. But I guess that was what my eyes saw. I heard girls and women alike have different eyes perceiving beauty than men. All I could see is just a girl that put a lot of effort into her looks.
Scanning the ground where she is likely going to drop, with her orange eyes. And they were fake. I have been with people with genuine colorful eyes to know she put on contact lenses.
She turns back and drops her arm. When she pulls, her hand brings up another person. This one her hair is short and the color blue, brushed slightly with white streaks. Her eyes are deep blue. They are dye and contact lenses.
Xiao called these girls delinquent. And based on how much profanity being thrown around between them has hurt the stereotype. Varrie curses a lot, too.
I just hope these girls don't immediately start to hate me as much as her.
"The fuck, who is this guy?"
I had thought the pole I stand behind would be at least useful, hiding my presence only for a little while but, as soon as they drop down from the wall, their eyes instantly jab toward my direction. Those faces that they are making, it's the same when Varrie first saw me.
"Fuck is he a teacher?"
"Looks like it."
I take that as a compliment.
Then their eyes exchange a few messages. I have a feeling what they are about to do.
"Ehem, before you guys run away, can I explain something?"
"Like it or not, we're not going back in," says blondie.
"I'm not going to ask you two that?"
They study me for a while, "like hell we'll believe you. You teachers don't just let two students jump out the school's wall freely."
"I am no teacher."
Bluey scoffs, "If you're not then you're doing one bidding? How much are they gonna pay you? That bitch Xiao must've told you about us."
Their feet are backing away, ready to sprint away. They keep talking as if to distract me from realizing that. I need to say something that explains my intention perfectly. A name.
"Varrie."
As soon as that name was spoken, their faces completely changed. Now they look shocked and a little amused. Most of all, they don't seem to plan on running away anymore. That's great.
"Wait, don't tell me, you're that scammer of a tutor she kept blabbering about?"
"Ehh?" she tilts her head as if changing her angle while looking at me would give her a different impression, "he doesn't match what she's saying," turning to the blondie, "how'd you know it's him?"
"I can tell if someone's desperate. Someone that became a tutor for those girls would absolutely be one of those people, don't you think?"
"Ah. right, no tutor has ever stayed for more than a month." she raises her eyebrow at me, "so what, trying to get Varrie's favor?"
I nod. No point denying any of this. I am desperate, not for the reason to stay as a tutor. I am just hoping if I go through all of this, I'd end up on the ground, with my body back, bleeding, and let go of the pain of living with a smile.
Back to just being a dead guy and not having to deal with this immortality stuff.
"I'm hoping you guys can bring me to her. She's been absent a whole week. I worried about her."
The last part meant for the two girls to hear. I used the same word to Xiao back then, too. Worrying about someone that they care about is one of the ways to establish a good relationship early. But I might have gotten this wrong.
They don't share the same feeling at all. Worry.
"Sure, we can bring you to her," they glance at each other and giggle.
The vibe is all wrong here. I'd expected there'd be more resistance for these girls to expose Varrie's whereabouts. Expected much harder to crack than Xiao's.
Now I know why Xiao called them: 'so-called friends.'
They have no care about how Varrie's feeling about any of this, at all.
"But first, Mister," blondie puts her finger between her lips, "you have to follow us somewhere."
Bluey looks confused, "Mei, what are you trying here? Aren't we late already?"
"That can wait, can't it?" she narrows her eyes. They have been around my body for a while, "Says Mister, you know what they say, right?"
I have no idea what her plan is but I get why she's doing this.
"Nothing's free."