failure to understand

Wednesday, August 23rd, 9:00 AM

William was in his class, paying attention to the lesson. When break time arrived, he immediately opened his lunchbox, made by Maria, to eat. But he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by two male classmates who, without him realizing it, had become his friends.

They pushed two desks together and used three chairs for the three of them to eat together in the classroom after the teacher left with the books she carried. This was an ideal situation for William. He had never experienced this before, making him incredibly happy as he realized this was the first time he was eating lunch with someone other than his own family.

"Ohhh! Your lunch is really... uh, beautiful?" said one of William's friends named Harry. He was a boy who always wore glasses and was one of the top ten students in the school's entrance exam.

Although this school couldn't be compared to the academy where esper gathered, it was quite prestigious among the wealthy and talented because a promising future awaited them upon graduation. Depending on the students' efforts, being scouted by NASA staff wasn't even impossible.

However, this school had one drawback, it stood alone without any shopping districts around it. This made it difficult for students who chose to live near the school to deal with the situation. That's why there were very few ordinary people attending this school, unless they received a special full scholarship that was usually given to one student by the school every new academic year.

It wasn't surprising. The school was very close to Millennium City. The closer to Millennium City, the fewer shopping districts there were. Out of fear of losing business, it was only natural for businessmen to stay away from dangerous risks. Millennium City was so terrifying that its impact wasn't just physical, but also affected the human psyche and the geographical conditions nearby.

"Is that your girlfriend who made this?" Harry asked, still curious about the red sauce in William's lunchbox that looked heart-shaped.

"Uh, no, it's my little sister," Maria replied.

"Ohhh, it's so good to have a little sister. I wish I had a little sister like you! I can feel her great love for you!"

"Yeah, I'm grateful too," William replied with a smile.

One of William's other friends looked at him with confusion. Then he asked, "You're not in love with your own little sister, are you?"

"Ha? I'm not crazy like you, Jimmy."

"What's wrong with loving someone?"

"It's not wrong to love someone, what's wrong is your brain! You're in love with something that's 2D! Why can you love something that isn't real?"

"Love is love, love doesn't need a reason, but love is what creates the reason," said Jimmy proudly.

"What kind of logic is that?"

"Love doesn't need logic."

"Ugh... I can't deny that."

"Am I right? Ahaha, your knowledge of love is still very shallow, my friend!"

"For some reason, I feel insulted right now."

"You right, I'm insulting you."

"You jerk!"

Harry just laughed at the fight that was happening.

After that, they ate lunch while chatting about various things like friends, and then the next lesson began.

A boring, smooth day as usual. William had spent quite a long time without realizing it, and then it was time to go home. He realized how time worked.

Time felt very long when nothing happened, but time felt very short if something happened. It made him realize why he felt like time always moved so slowly. It didn't mean the Earth's rotation was changing, it was just his mind that made him think that way.

Because when something happened, William would focus on it, forgetting about time. But when he was alone again, he would think about time, and then feel like time was slowing down.

On his way home from school today, for the first time, he was grateful to be himself. Without a fake, deceitful smile, or a mask and empty chatter to make the atmosphere lively.

All the way home, he smiled, because he had managed to realize the existence of the real William Harrington.

But when he got home, he was hit by reality again. When he was alone, realizing that Maria wasn't home yet, he sat on the couch and realized again that the problem in his life right now wasn't just himself.

Solving problems with oneself doesn't mean that other problems are solved.

The problem about Beatrice's feelings, then also with Clara, and also the strange things that were happening around him always slowly made him feel strange.

Endless questions always haunted him, slowly making him be someone who wanted to know everything.

But he felt that the peace he had been feeling was about to be shattered. Fear of the unknown made him hesitate to act. His mind was in turmoil, and without realizing it, he drifted into a sea of doubts. But his logic always felt that doing nothing wasn't an option. So he made a very risky choice.

I have to go...

With a firm resolve, he sent a message to his sister containing the following words, "I'm going to solve my problem with Clara."

He left the house immediately and without hesitation went through several security protocols that had to be passed to get there. The fairly tight security of money didn't make William's resolve fade, it was just a small obstacle for him right now.

Whatever happens, I have to talk to her. Besides, I already got money from her. I can't leave my job that hasn't even started yet!

I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm going to find out right now.

It's so strange that a woman like you would decide to end a partnership just because of a personal problem. You're a smart woman, you know how to put aside personal problems and business.

So what made you do something strange that day?

William went to the mansion where he was previously called. But he didn't find anyone. The place was completely empty.

There were no security guards, no belongings, no servants, and most importantly, no Clara. It looked like a new mansion that was completely empty without anything in it.

Why did you buy this mansion if you don't use it?

You're a smart woman, right? Isn't your arrogance just acting? Did I misjudge you?

Am I wrong?

Why?

I don't know.

Was I just misunderstanding you from the beginning?

Did I never really know you from the beginning?

No, from the beginning I knew that humans wouldn't be able to understand other humans perfectly.

But I trusted you, I trusted you, and I trusted myself.

But why did you betray my trust in you?

Clara, what are you thinking right now?

I don't understand, her actions are so absurd, there's no information that can help me find the answer.

In the end, William gave up and chose to go back home.

Clara, what are you hiding from me?

Something happened, but... I don't know what it is.

Did you want to do this from the beginning?

Why?

To confuse me? Why?

What are you after? Was the prison issue also a lie? Then why did you act like you were so dependent on me?

Damn it!

After thinking about many things on his way home, he finally realized that there would be no answers he could find by asking himself.

Clara blocked his number. There was no way to connect himself to Clara. It made him think there was nothing he could do, and without realizing it, the desire to give up crossed his mind. But deep down, he didn't want to give up. It made him sink into a moral dilemma and a state of despair.

But when he was near home, he saw many people running and shouting at each other. They were running in the same direction, making him curious, but he didn't want to do anything right now.

However, the closer he got to his house, the more confused he was by the sound of the crowd, which sounded very close. It made him worried and he ran quickly towards his house, and found his house burning with fire that had spread throughout the house.

His eyes widened, his mind became clear but chaotic, irregular emotions collided with each other, making him unstable because of panic and without realizing it he shouted the name of someone who appeared first in his head when he saw the condition of his house right now.

"Mariaaaaaa!"

Without thinking, his feet moved to run. Forcing himself to run because of a very strong desire, and also because he was driven by a great sense of worry.