Chapter 22 - Start of holidays

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!

Letting out a yawn, I rose up from my bed early in the morning. It is 5:39 A.M, and since Christmas break has just begun, the pressure from school doesn't come to me and has been put to hold. I then fixed my bed up and have gone outside to find the nearest eatery in the place.

After taking my breakfast, I went back inside to my board room. I took off my clothes and have decided to take a bath, but as I arrived at the bathroom, the other boarders were already having a long line to take a shower for the morning as well.

Good grief~ Talk about bad timing.

With my sudden and hasty appearance in front of them, the boarders have gone intensely gazing towards me, maybe thinking I'm somewhat a rude guy trying to cut in line, but frankly, I would be forced to wait and follow the rules in the house, but instead of waiting, an idea has popped out in my mind.

Retreating to my way, I decided to brush my teeth first and have rested, waiting for my food to be completely digested in order to get some exercise, and after resting for about 20 minutes, I felt good enough to move around. I then switched my clothes into my jogging pants and jersey.

Outside the establishment, in front of the gate, there I was performing my stretching from light spins and stretches starting from the head, arms, hands, waist, legs, and down to the foot. It made me sweat a bit and feel warmer. For a few minutes, I waited to regain my breathing and then have started jogging when I felt it was fine for me to do so.

I head started from the gate with just the right speed, focused in following a straight path leading into an undiscovered place, and as I was continuing in moving forward, I have gotten far to a certain corner of the way when suddenly…

BEEEP! BEEEEP!

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"Yikes!" I shouted, my legs trembled and my heart skipped a beat.

Surveying the place, the area was already a crossing corner of three roads, coming from my way inside, from my left, and from my right. As soon as I heard the horns, I made my break quickly as possible. Although I was safe away at the side, it got me scared because of how fast the truck has passed by me along with a strong wind.

"I guess I should slow down my pace now because I am still not familiar with the area. It is better safe than sorry."

With my momentum gone, I took some short rests, and have again resumed my jogging after conditioning myself back up. In between my rests, I did other stuffs; Push-ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, and other sorts of workouts.

After a few hours had passed by, I arrived back at my board house around 8.

Seeing the inside, there was no line anymore and the shower room was empty yet still I was covered with sweat, came back tired from exercising. Doing the obvious, I rested for about half an hour, and have taken my chance to wash myself afterwards.

Feeling refreshed, I finished my bath, went to my room, wore my clothes, and was enjoying the fresh, fragrant smell that I have been emitting, but even though after finishing all the important stuffs scheduled, there was still a lot of time left in my morning, and instead of just waiting for my afternoon work, I wanted to spend my free time with something beneficial. But considering aside my financial condition, I can't do anything besides performing exercises or maybe doing studies.

"Should I get another job for the morning schedule? Naaah~ As a result, that would just be more tiring and pressuring. I'll just forget it. But oh man, at least I want to have fun while---"

As I was busy talking to myself, a passing thought has caught my interest.

ROMEO'S POV:

Good Lord, thank you for this another season of holidays you've given to us, for thy us students were suffering from the countless, unbearable homework, projects and exams in our school during these past weeks. But despite this good fortune on the other hand, it looks like I am going to be passive for the incoming days ahead, stuck inside this room of mine with no plans in going out and not having fun trips with my friends.

I sigh. It seems that most of my close friends are already busy even though Christmas break has just begun, and I just can't go out by my own self to have fun. Hahaha, that would be crazy, and going out alone would make me mentally exhausted quickly.

Tsks~ Aren't there any other ways? Oh right, I wonder what's really going on with that dude Hanzaki now. He's not hanging out with us anymore. I guess he finally gave in to stop being around with us.

Oh well, forcing to meddle in his life would be out of the question, so I'll just continue lying here on my bed for a while.

Shortly after, my phone has started ringing on top of my table desk in the middle of the morning.

"Huh? This early in the morning? I wonder who could it----"

When I checked out my phone, I was surprised from looking at the name of the caller.

Well well. Speak of the devil.

"Eeehh--- EEEEHHHH!? Hanzaki? Ahhhh!"

Oops. I've got to answer this now or he'll never call back again.

"Ohh-- ahh-- hello? Zaki?"

"Oi Romeo, morning."

"Hoh, it's really surprising for you to call me especially this early in the morning."

Somehow, I find this quite awkward. I guess it's because we haven't had much talks to each other and especially to the other three these past weeks. But oh well, his serious tone in talking haven't changed at all.

"Are the things that I newly do would always seem that surprising to you?"

"Well, not really, but hey, more importantly, why have you called Zaki?"

"Uhh… it's nothing really important. I just happen to have my whole morning vacant so, how about some bet games? You got some contacts or a schedule or something over there?"

"Ahhhh! Hmmmm, as for now... I'm disappointed to say that there aren't really."

"Oh, I see. Uhmm… Okay, that is really all I have to say so, thanks."

"Oh, no probs bro."

Call dismissed

Woah, wait. What just happened? I didn't follow through. It happened with just a flash.

Processing, processing, my brain quickly trying to process of what just happened.

Wait a minute… Bet game?

From realizing, I jumped out of the excitement with my hands high up in the air.

"YAHOOOOOOO! THAT'S IT!"

HANZAKI'S POV:

I sigh.

"It is a no-luck for me huh. Well, I guess I'll have to find some other ways."

Feeling a bit disappointed, I then looked into my old magazines that I brought with me, trying to search for information about where or how can I spend my vacant hours, yet after several minutes of reading, there weren't any valuable leads that have been found.

"Ahh… it is still no good, this one doesn't have any useful info in it. Well, onto the next one!"

But before I could continue searching, out of the blue my phone has suddenly ringed.

♪Dakara itta ja nai ka, yowasa o URI ni shittat---

Grabbing and opening my phone, I answered the call with Romeo's name on it.

Hmm? Calling me back? I wonder what is this all about?

"Hello?"

"Hanzaki."

"Romeo? Why'd you call back?"

"We got one challenge today Zaki. They are from my friend's friends."

"Eh? Hey, I thought there wasn't any and, how did they even know and invited you?"

"No. Uh actually, I invited them."

"Seriously dude?"

"Yeah so, are you going or not?"

Good grief. I sigh.

"I'll go."

"Alright! Roger that sir! Then you can leave Kenneth to me, I'll go fetch him, and I'll just text you the location shortly after."

"As you say. Well, see you around, and I'm going ahead."

Call dismissed.

"Seriously that guy. Well, let's get me going then."

Shortly after our successful planning, I was closing at the internet café while seeing Kenneth and Romeo who were already outside waiting for me.

Now this is awkward, should I go closer first for our signature greetings? But, I'm really feeling lazy to do it.

Somehow nervous, I stopped and was looking focused at each of them in the eye in trying to initiate our hand shake greetings like what we always do, but unfortunately, we ended up just nodding to each other and have said their "Yow and morning cuz" to me, leaving my slightly elevating hand as it failed to raise up.

Romeo then started making his way first to the door to open it. "Come on, let's beat their asses up and---"

"No please n---- Noo! Ouch! Ouch!"

As we were about to get inside, a funny scene has appeared in front of us, halting us from entering the establishment. Backing out, a kid with a pained face went running out coming from the inside of the café, and then a furious fat lady has appeared next with a belt on her hand, throwing strikes using her deadly weapon on the kid who was likely fleeing away from her.

"YOU SPOILED BRAT! HOW MUCH DID YOU STOLE FROM MY POCKET!?" the woman yelled as she was chasing and shouting at the child.

"That's embarrassing. I hope my mom won't do that to me." Kenneth exclaimed.

"If you would always be a good boy Kenneth, then you won't get to experience that kind of thing." Romeo remarked.

Despite seeing the somewhat hilarious yet disturbing commotion and without bothering it that much, we then have gone inside to spend the rest of our morning with our game, and with just a few hours, it ended quickly, and we already made our way outside, ready to go back home.

"Oi Zaki, I haven't seen you played seriously like that before." Romeo reached out to me.

"Really? Nah~ I think I just missed playing."

"Eehh… but it really shocked me when Romeo called you know, haha." Kenneth joined in.

"Well, the good thing is that we dominated our opponents for today."

"And who do you think did that?" Romeo responded with full of acknowledgement of my skills. I cough.

"Haha, It's already noon, so, I have to go now." I said.

"As you say."

Being that said knowing that there is a tough schedule ahead of me, I didn't hesitate in giving a wave of goodbye, but as I made a few steps away, I turned back to them to tell them something.

"Since there's no class, I'm free in the morning. Just make a call if someone wants to take us on."

Staring closely, my two friends were leaking out their happy mood with their somewhat glad faces from the likely excitement of hearing my words of invitation.

"Okay! Just leave that to me!" Romeo exclaimed.

I then turned around and have continued my walk in going back to my priorities for the day while giving a wave once more.