The Other Sides

Lots of things happened in the past three weeks. I still attended school like before, without skipping even once, and Michael kept looking for me, without skipping even once as well. Although lately, I feel like I'm lowering my guard around him day by day.

I started hanging out more with Sherry lately and even introduced her to Chris and Claire. She was a bit hesitant when I told her about them, but after a bit of contemplating and finally meeting them, she was genuinely happy.

Maybe her years of being cast out and bullied were what pushing her this low. To finally have someone to call an acquaintance was too much of a luxury for her. Just imagine how long she was alone in those excruciating 7 years.

Claire was happy to find that I finally had a friend, even though it was just one and far older. Somehow I could read her expression. It was saying, "well, everyone has to start somewhere, right?"

'Hey, its not that I have a problem. I'm being a loner on purpose...'

When Claire asked how Sherry felt about me, my heart skipped a bit. I even perked my ears while holding my breathing. Isn't it too early for that, Aunty? But I think put my hope too high as I got hurt when she answered that I feel like a little brother to her. It was mostly caused by the 4 years difference in age.

Yep... Even before I could start to make a move, I already got brotherzoned. Damn it. I should have been born a few years earlier.

'Ahh, whatever, it's not like I'm hoping for it or anything.'

That night, I couldn't sleep and stared at the ceiling as I keep thinking about how to make Sherry change her mind to get me out of the brotherzone...

The training given by John Wick was starting to get even more intense. He said that he was going to go back to New York, next week. So he had me to cram every single subject every day into my dense head both physically and mentally. He also started to get serious and my win rate keeps getting lower and lower reaching only 1 win every 10 matches.

However, lately, he started to focus on field-training and reviewing my mission progress. He wanted me to get better on decision-making when unexpected progress strikes.

As I started to get closer to the other Continental Members, they also started to teach me about some of their specialties. El Mariachi taught me a lot about the inner works of firearms by assembling and disassembling them. It helped in raising my understanding of my weapons.

Now the minimum buff I normally got from Reinforcement raised a level, reaching Low buff constantly. Compared to the Weak buff, the Low buff was far stronger than the previous one. In comparison, a Weak buff would feel like an impact from a buffalo when it hit you, and Low buff would feel like an impact from a truck, isekai-ing you. An increase in level also grants more chance to get a special buff.

Old man Bill also shared a lot of his experience during wartime. Even though I couldn't learn a lot from him, his story was amazing. However, sometimes he looked depressed whenever he was recounting a story, which made me wonder what happened to him in the past.

To top it off, I finally had some progress in searching for the hidden Umbrella facility. I found out that there were two secret laboratories. One was under Raccoon City's Hospital and another was somewhere on the outskirt.

I found it out when I was patrolling the city on the other night. I saw a cargo truck went into the parking lot of the hospitals, which was quite normal since they always need to restock supplies. It happened many times before and I didn't suspect them for a while and I continued patrolling.

Somehow, this time I got curious and decided to go to the basement, the parking lot area. I couldn't find it. I was so confused. It was like the truck just evaporated into thin air without leaving any trace at all. That was when I realized how dumb I was. The lab was right under my nose. The truck went underground through a secret passage somewhere here. After an hour of laborious scanning, I finally found an emergency ladder to go down. It was almost the same as the one in France, with the huge elevator and steel gates.

There was a tram that could be used to ride from one lab to another. That was when I found out the other lab was on the outskirt of Raccoon City. What made it even better was that the two labs were connected. I couldn't infiltrate yet because the steel gates were tightly locked. No matter how long I waited, there was no sign of anyone coming out or into the lab anymore.

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September, 19th, 1998

It's Wednesday yall. I woke up and had breakfast before going to school.

"I'm going now, Aunt Claire," I said after tightening the lace on my shoes.

[Don't forget your lunch, Sir.] reminded, Regina.

Oh right, I waited for a bit and heard a bit of a ruckus from the kitchen. Claire was running about, thinking I was already gone.

"Edward! Your lu... oh there you are." She breathed a sigh of relief and hand me the box of sandwiches. She got creative lately and put slices of cheese or tuna inside.

As I ran, I met with the fat lady, the convenience store owner. She greeted, "Little Edward going to school?"

"Yes. Did your back still hurt?"

"It got better, thank you for asking," she answered, smiling and brushed my hair.

"See you later, Lola," I said while passing by her.

Turns out the fat lady had a back problem whenever she woke up. That was why she always look grumpy in the morning. After Chris and I told her to change her old bed, she started feeling better a few days later.

I met with the old man Johnson downstairs.

"Mr. Johnson, good morning!"

"Good morning, Edward. Here, take this with you, don't tell Chris I gave it to you," he said while putting a chocolate bar on my hand.

[Don't forget to thank him, Sir.]

"Thanks, Mr. Johnson. See you later."

Two weeks ago, Chris told me that old man Johnson never hated kids. He lost his grandson when he was under his care. He always blamed himself for it and never come close to any kids in the neighborhood, afraid that he would just bring bad luck to them. Feeling pity for the poor grandpa, I decided to humor him, and now we were best friend.

After that, I met with the bickering young couple as I was running on the pathway.

"Tommy, Nina, good morning." I greeted them.

""Morning!"" replied the couple. As I pass by them, they continue bickering.

"Now! Where were we? Oh... right, you're pregnant so just let me do the trash." said Tommy

"No! You always work until late at night. I can't just wake you up."

I keep running to the Bus Stop and passing the flower shop. I saw the Viona, the owner, she was trimming the flowers in front of her shop. I tapped her shoulder and waved my hand. Looking at me, she started making hand signs, not ninjutsu, but just sign language. The lady was deaf, she wasn't ignoring anyone, she just didn't know anyone was there.

She said good morning, and I also mimicking the same gesture she used to reply.

The Bus soon comes and took me to school. When I arrived, I saw Sherry waiting for me. We talked a bit before we went to our class. Although I still take a bus in the morning, she would take me in her car to go home. She kept insisting and I couldn't reject her, worried that I would hurt her feelings.

When I was in class, my classmates started greeting me. Although the girls still behave normally, the boys started worshipping me after I show them how huge mine was comparing to theirs. Don't misunderstand, I'm talking about the Pokemon card collection.

The trio appeared from the door and walked to our table. Hannah asked, "Edward, can I borrow your homework?"

"Again? What happened this time? Did your homework went into the drain after mistaking it as a plate?" I replied while raising an eyebrow.

"How did you know? Hehe..." she said while awkwardly laughing.

Will and Michael greeted me after Hannah went down her seat and started jolting whatever words were written in my book.

"Ed!" yelled, Michael. But before he could continue I replied with a No!.

"But you'll come later, right?" asked William. We planned to go to the arcade after school. During these three weeks, we keep meeting on the arcade, 'accidentally', using the word Michael loved to say. Eventually, we got closer and played together once in a while.

"Can Sherry come as well?" I asked. I didn't want her to be alone when I was having fun somewhere else.

The trio answered at the same time, "Of course!"

After meeting a few times with Sherry, they started to like her. They wondered why everyone keeps talking bad things about her when she was so nice. I wanted to say that jealousy was the answer, but I leave it for them to find out by themselves.

My daily life was getting better day by day. However, I couldn't help but have this nagging feeling inside my chest. It was like there was something that I keep forgetting lately.

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U.S. Umbrella Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.

Under a bright light of a monitor, in a dark office. Joel Allman, the Vice-President of Umbrella, was reading the e-mail he got from his subordinate. He took off his glasses and wiped it with his ties. Although he was already old, almost 60, the report he read earlier add another 10 years to his face.

"Birkin's betrayal has been confirmed. Fuck." cursed Joel.

Although he already knew it, this report still makes his head hurt. William Birkin was a genius, a huge asset. But there was nothing he could do. He made a call to a certain number. After a while, Joel heard the voice behind the line.

"What's the order?" asked the voice owner.

"Whatever it takes, get the samples, all of it. And bring William Birkin with you. I leave the operation time on your own accord. I'll give you a week." ordered, Joel.

Although William will eventually betray them, the virus was still incomplete and Joel knew it was around the corner. He already planted a mole inside William's wall. He will let William Birkin complete the virus first, and then HUNK and the U.S.S. Alpha Force would retrieve them once it was done.

"Understood. Anything else?"

"Good luck, HUNK."

With a click, Joel shut the phone down. A knock was heard on the door. Her assistant came in to report that a guest was waiting for him.

"Let them come." said, Joel while turning on the lights with remote control.

Once the room got brighter, he heard a footstep and a woman came in from the door. She was a short-haired blonde woman that looked far younger than her current age. Her attire was all in white, except for the black blouse under her suit. Her red lipstick accentuates her cold beauty.

"Miss Wesker, what do I owe you for this sudden visit?" asked Joel with a wide smile, masking the disgust on his face.

Alex didn't say anything and sat cross-legged at the sofa in front of Joel's desk.

After looking that Joel was almost fuming with her silent treatment, she said, "I have a proposition."

Hearing the word proposition, Joel started to get interested. If Alex Wesker started talking about business, it means a real deal. Something profitable, if he must say, and must be kept secret from everyone. Not even Spencer, their boss.

Joel started to make himself more presentable and tidied his suit. He ordered his secretary to not disturb him from the intercom.

If only he didn't switch his attention to the intercom and keep watching Alex, he wouldn't have missed it. She was grinning, so creepy, and wide.

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The sun was almost setting on the horizon. I waved my hand at Sherry who was inside her car as it turned on a crossroad, leaving my view.

I went up the floor and opened the door with a spare key Chris gave me sometimes before. Today, Chris went out of the city, he said that he was picking up a friend, and wouldn't back until tomorrow.

Claire was also away, shopping. We were almost out of food.

I throw my yellow bag on the sofa and went straight to my room after drinking a glass of water.

However, my body was frozen upon finding the scene in front of me. A bald Black man with an eyepatch was halfway through, climbing on my window with a box on his hand.

"Do you mind?" he said while gesturing me to close the door with his head. He was even glaring at me.

Flustered, I reflexively closed the door while apologizing.

"Wait a minute, this is my room!" I shouted while opening the door again.

When I opened the door, the bald man was not on the window anymore, now he sat on my bed while crossing his leg. It was only three seconds since I closed the door until now. So fast!

"It is really hard to meet you, Edward. Don't you think so?" said the bald man, with a dignified temperament. "My name is Nick Fury."