Chance encounter

"Aahhhh!"

Screaming is human nature.

Right?

I wouldn't have minded the noise and the girly screams if it actually came from a woman.

However, I tried not to flinch so much by rubbing my forehead and trying to bear the slight pain from the collision.

[...]

[Fifi is sorry]

"No!" I replied. "You're not sorry. You are far from sorry, Fifi!"

"Eh?" the other guy had finally stopped screaming and looked at me with interest. "You call your system Fifi?"

I looked at him, unsure why he was suddenly interested in Fifi. He then burst out laughing like crazy.

"This is your brother?" I turned to the pixie hovering close to me. She was looking at the guy laughing with disdain.

I figured the other guy was also a student in Harrith. He was wearing an identical uniform to mine.

But to be honest, I was a little envious of his toned arms and excellent physique. He was one hell of an eye-catcher for the ladies. What a lucky bastard.

[No!]

Fifi stomped her tiny feet. She then pointed to a spot beside the guy.

[Him]

But I didn't see anything.

I squinted at Fifi's furrowed brows and unhappy expression. She was clearly upset.

Although she was supposed to be scolded, I sighed and turned in the direction she had pointed, completely ignoring the guy laughing like there was no tomorrow.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, brother of Fifi. I hope your ah—er, owner is alright."

The guy had finally stopped laughing. He looked me in the eye and frowned.

"I'm right here, you know."

I snorted, rubbing my forehead before giving the other guy a look. He stared at me right back. We stayed like that, a flash of imaginary lightning passing between our heated stares for a few minutes before I threw my hands in the air.

"Look, I'm sorry, dude. The collision was not intentional."

The other guy shook his head. I was afraid he would start laughing for reasons I couldn't comprehend.

Again.

Thankfully he doesn't.

"Do I look mad to you?"

"No. But you don't look friendly either."

At this, the other guy waved his hand dismissively, chuckling.

"If I put on a friendly face, I'd invite people to be friends with me. No, thank you, brother."

"Brother? Just how old are you?"

"This guy Riley is only 18. But my soul, I just turned 35 before I died,"

There was a glimpse of sadness flashing in his expression. I saw it, but then he must have realized that. Hence, he perked up, pulling a smile on his lips.

Stretching out a hand, he eyed me up and down.

"You can call me Riley or Brutus."

Shaking his hands, I offered a thin smile as well.

"Exo."

He frowned.

"Is that your real name?"

"No. But I don't suppose I'm obligated to reveal who I was just because you did."

He clicked his tongue.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Are you scared I might stalk who you were if I knew?"

I shrugged, pulling myself to get back on my feet.

"Of course. Logic, man."

I watched Riley get to his feet as well. He was taller than me by an inch. His eyes were like fire itself, bordering between orange and yellow.

His messy hair gave him the look of a spoiled son of someone wealthy. And in my best bet, he probably was.

Putting a hand over my shoulder, Riley took me by surprise. He was neither smiling nor was he betraying anything.

For a minute, I think I was about ready to palpitate, afraid that Riley would evolve into something and grind me to a pulp until I learned my lesson that I would swear never to run so casually and blindly ever again.

But then he broke into a grin.

"Gross, brother. I never stalk men. I dig the women and would want to see a bunch of beauties on my phone screen than seeing your face."

Pulling his hands away, Riley adjusted his sling bag, eyeing me from head to toe before gesturing with his head.

"It's my second time running into an Evo like me. Care for a drink?"

"Evo?"

"Evolver. I thought of the name myself."

"Right. So, there's actually many of us?"

"Perhaps," He shrugged with nonchalance. "Your system's name is Fifi?"

"Yeah. You got a problem with that?"

He snickered but cleared his throat, realizing I wasn't laughing with him.

"No. I just thought you'd have a male like mine. My companion's name is Rex."

[Ill-mannered]

I cleared my throat.

I have no idea if Fifi's dislike for Riley was because he laughed at her name, or she just didn't like him at all.

I understood that sometimes, you just meet someone who didn't even do anything wrong, but you somehow just don't want anything to do with them.

Maybe that was only my weirdness kicking in.

"It's nice to meet you, Rex." I turned in the same direction Fifi had pointed earlier. "It sounded like a dinosaur's name, no offense."

"I know. When I woke up, and he appeared in front of me, calling himself Rex, I couldn't help but burst out laughing."

I could actually imagine him doing that. Waking up and laughing, I mean.

"So anyway, about that drink. I hope you're not a wuss. Or are you? The last one only had a few shots before he passed out."

I shrugged. I honestly don't drink. Never had any.

In fact, I avoid it.

Cigarettes too.

I was no health enthusiast or anything. But my parent's upbringing included no alcohol and no smoking.

My father never consumed one. He used to be addicted to it. And then he met my mother.

So to speak, my father always said that when you meet the right woman, you'll know. You just want to improve yourself and become the best version of yourself.

I used to roll my eyes when I heard him praising my mother and then claiming how she changed him.

My mother would always counter how she didn't do anything.

[Exo!]

I blinked.

I didn't realize that the walk down memory lane had been long enough to lose my focus on the present.

Fifi stomped her foot in impatience, her face a flurry of emotions.

"Can I order something else other than the alcoholic drink? I have stomach problems."

Riley narrowed his gaze at me. He must be contemplating whether to buy my excuse or not. He grinned after a few minutes, throwing an arm over my shoulders like we were best buddies.

"Fine by me. I believe you have a lot of questions. I'll be your guide, brother."

"Speaking of, how long had you been around?"

"Let's just say…" he paused, tapping his fingers on his chin. "Longer than you can count."

I shot an eyebrow up, somehow sensing that he wasn't telling the truth.