Ray Smith (1)

Eight.

In a single go, I had learned eight backstories. 

I was so shocked that I wanted to exclaim, but that had gone wrong the first time around.

Now, I just needed two more to complete the quest in this week. I had successfully averted death. Of course, considering the system was going to kill me in the first place. Chances of that were low.

"I am surprised…"

As the essays ended, a voice echoed from next to us. Baldy was sitting in the same pose as the thinker. He should probably apologize to Michelangelo for ruining the image of the thinker.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I wrote a very heartfelt essay, on a topic that completely changed me, but it wasn't well received, huh?"

At the same time, the teacher faked a cough and got all of our attention. 

"There were some essays with very good writing but weak subjects… There were also some really moving and powerful essays with splendid composition, but I didn't bring those forward since the subject overlapped. All of you have done a great job."

The teacher handed the essays back to us. How did she even read them so fast? Don't tell me she just brought people up front without checking their essays and read the rest during that time.

The essays came back to our tables and the bell rang, signaling the end of the class.

"Oh, I got an A+."

I had an A, while Baldy from the side talked about an A+

"Was that last bit about you?" Nash asked.

"Maybe…" Baldy said, rubbing his shiny head.

Nash and I immediately swiped his paper away and huddled together to read his essay. 

(How Balding My Hair Changed My Life.

 ~Jim(a.k.a baldy))

"Hey, give it back—"

Baldy's protests were ignored. Nash and I got to reading.

And as we came to the end, tears welled up in both of our eyes.

"Nnf… this…"

No, fuck that, Nash was wailing.

[Ding! You have learned the ninth backstory]

I couldn't be bothered with the system message…

What an essay. I wished I could write like this. Oh crap, don't cry now.

***

The rest of the day passed by quickly. I had confirmed with him…

Today was the day Ray was coming over to my shop! Even though I had invited him on a whim, I was actually looking forward to it.

Ray and I had become slightly close these days. Though my friends from middle school and even many people from Calla Lily frequent our shop, this was the first time I had invited someone over and was even treating them.

After finishing my dailies and reading for an hour, evening loomed over and I gave a helping hand at the shop.

The university student and the lady I had called creepy previously also popped by. I was still apologetic about that incident.

When the rush started to slow down and the sun's last beams completely disappeared, the door swung open and in came a blonde kid with a soft smile.

My mom was standing right next to me at the counter. I looked at Ray and waved at him.

"He's the one I told you about," I told mom and started taking out a slice of a cheesecake. Before I could, though, my mom grabbed my collar and pulled me back.

"You. Just because you don't have friends doesn't mean you have to lie to your mom."

I could feel my brows furrow in real time.

This lady couldn't stop, huh?

"He's my friend, ok? A classmate, a legit one."

"I hope you aren't the only one who thinks that way."

"Tsk…"

This was why I never bought any friends over. Including Ray, Baldie, Nash and Senior, I now had a total of six friends, alright? Six! That was enough to make a volleyball team.

I pointed Ray to a seat before taking off my own apron and hopping out of the counter.

"Take more cake, alright? Don't be shy!" My mom said from the back, loud enough for anyone to hear. I held in my embarrassment and placed the cake in front of Ray.

"Hey, thanks. I'll pay for this though—"

Ray's first words were annoying.

"Just shut up and eat or I'll put two more slices in front of you."

That threat was deadly enough to make Ray shut up. 

He bit into the cheesecake and I watched with anticipation. Though a lot of people loved our cheesecake, it was quite something to see someone I know judge it.

If he said he disliked it I would beat him up right here. No cheesecakes are bad.

Ray's eyes widened as he took another bite, and then another, wordlessly chowing down into the food. That was satisfying enough for me.

He took a slight break and turned back to me.

"I haven't had cakes in a very long time, this is absolutely amazing—"

"Have one more."

"No, no—"

"Shush!"

I dashed away and got him another serving of the cake, along with some coffee this time. 

"So…" Ray muttered. "What did you want to talk about?"

To be honest, I was hoping to get his backstory too. The sooner I collected those, the better off I would be.

But, I didn't know how to approach it. I would have just asked him why he was working and what his home was like, but the experience with Nash had taught me to think twice.

I didn't want to step on anything sensitive. Nash had a pretty rough time, and I knew nothing about Ray. What if he did too?

I had lead a pretty normal life, in the end, my words weren't just insensitive but also pretty misplaced. I had to do better.

"Um, nothing…?" I answered Ray. No way to broach the topic without being rude entered my mind, avoiding it was the only option left.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing. I just wanted you to try our cake since you were close by. Oh! Don't worry about what I saw at all. I won't say a word about it to any soul. It isn't my place to."

Ray lowered his head and smiled.

"I know you won't… Thanks…" he said just that and got to eating again.

Was it something to be thankful about? Well, people did love to put their heads in someone else's business. I could see why Ray was worried.

He continued eating and I sat with him in silence. My mom watching us from time to time was extremely confused by the quiet. I bet she would give me a long lesson about being more social and less shy later on.