She Doesn't Know II

I reappeared in my room, and IM was already waiting for me, a curious expression on his face.

"So, how did it go?" he asked eagerly.

"It was great," I replied, a wide smile spreading across my face. "We had a lot of fun."

IM chuckled. "I could tell. You're practically glowing."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Shut up, IM."

Lying on the bed, I opened my phone and saw that Hanna had already messaged me.

[Hanna: Be careful on the train!]

[Me: I will, since you asked for it.]

I chuckled to myself. Even though I was already home, I wanted to keep up the pretense that I was still on my way back. It was a small lie, but it allowed me to savor the warmth of Hanna's concern a little longer.

***

Another school day arrived, and once again, the exams were underway. The classroom was quiet, filled with the usual exam-time tension. Meanwhile, during break time, the boys in the class were engaged in a lively discussion with us.

"So, do you think those heroes came straight out of a fantasy?" Roro asked the group, a curious glint in his eyes.

The boys nodded in agreement, and I simply went along with them, even though they were talking about IM, Yolan, Lili, and me. We were keeping a low profile, after all.

"Yeah, I mean, there's no way this world has people like that, right? The government is even looking for them, claiming they work for WRA Company, isn't that right?" Rayhan chimed in.

"Well, WRA Company did release that video, claiming they're the ones behind the Anti-Gangster," Marcel pointed out, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism. "But who knows if it's just a publicity stunt?"

"I don't think so," one of the other boys, Kevin, interjected. "I mean, did you see that fire guy at the concert? No way that was fake. Those heroes are the real deal."

"Yeah, and they're so cool!" another boy, Dimas, exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration. "I wish I had superpowers like them."

"You'd probably just use them to get girls," Roro teased, earning a playful shove from Dimas.

"Hey, I wouldn't do that!" Dimas protested, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I'd use my powers for good, like those heroes."

"Sure you would," Marcel said, rolling his eyes. "Until you saw a cute girl in trouble, and then all bets would be off."

The boys erupted in laughter, their playful banter echoing through the classroom. I couldn't help but smile. It was nice to see them so carefree, so oblivious to the dangers lurking in the shadows.

"What about you, Xian?" Jonathan asked, turning to me. "What do you think about the Anti-Gangster?"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "They seem pretty cool, I guess. But I'm not sure if they're real or not."

"Come on, Xian," Marcel said, nudging me playfully. "You have to admit, it would be awesome if they were real."

"Yeah," Rayhan agreed. "Imagine having the power to fly or control the elements. That would be so sick!"

I chuckled, my heart skipping a beat. If only they knew...

As the boys continued their animated discussion about the Anti-Gangster, I couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. I was living a double life, a normal high school student by day, a superhero by night. It was exhilarating, but also exhausting. Sometimes, I wished I could just be a regular teenager, worrying about exams and crushes, instead of battling supernatural threats and uncovering dark conspiracies.

But I knew that wasn't an option. I had been chosen for this path, this destiny. And I couldn't shirk my responsibilities, no matter how overwhelming they might seem.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the break. We all reluctantly returned to our seats, the chatter and laughter replaced by the rustling of papers and the clicking of pens. As I stared at the exam paper in front of me, my mind wandered back to the conversation we had just had.

Heroes... I thought to myself. What does it truly mean to be a hero? Is it about having extraordinary powers, or is it about something more?

I glanced at IM, who was tapping his finger on the table, his usual carefree expression replaced by a look of intense concentration. Even though he struggled with academics, he never gave up. He always tried his best, no matter the odds.

And that, I realized, was the true mark of a hero. It wasn't about the powers you possessed, but about the choices you made, the actions you took to make the world a better place. It was about courage, compassion, and selflessness.

I might be the Fool God, the Imaginator, but I was also just Xian, a high school student who wanted to make a difference. And with my friends by my side, I knew that we could achieve anything.

Bwonggg!

The familiar sound startled me amidst the quiet exam hall. I glanced at IM to confirm if he had heard it too, and he nodded subtly, his expression mirroring my own concern. We were in the middle of an exam, but the sound indicated the presence of a powerful supernatural being.

Closing my eyes, I tried to sense what was happening. I imagined having floating eyes that could traverse the city and quickly spotted a whale-like creature—the same one we had seemingly defeated before.

It's back... Wait, is it even the same one? Black robes... a massive whale... floating in the sky. Behind the robes, there must be those tentacles again, right? I thought, a sense of dread creeping into my heart.

The image in my mind was chilling. The massive, shadowy whale, its form shrouded in black robes, floated ominously above the city. Its presence radiated an aura of malice and destruction, sending shivers down my spine.

I had to warn the others. But how? We were in the middle of an exam, and I couldn't just leave without arousing suspicion.

I glanced at IM, who was also deep in thought, his brow furrowed in concentration. I could feel his concern through our mental link. He knew what I had seen, and he understood the urgency of the situation.

We needed to act, but we also needed to be discreet. I couldn't risk revealing my powers in front of the entire class.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Think, Xian, think, I urged myself. There has to be a way to alert the others without causing a panic.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind. I reached for my phone, discreetly slipping it under the desk. I quickly typed a message to Dove, my fingers flying across the keyboard.

[Me: Emergency! The whale is back. It's in the city.]

I hit send, hoping she would receive the message and understand the urgency of the situation. Now, all we could do was wait and hope that the others would arrive in time. The fate of the city, perhaps even the world, hung in the balance.

The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow. I tried to focus on the exam, but my mind was racing, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the whale's presence growing stronger, its malevolent energy casting a shadow over the city.

I glanced at IM, who was also struggling to concentrate. He fidgeted in his seat, his eyes darting towards the window, as if he could see the looming threat in the distance.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. I practically leaped out of my seat, my anxiety reaching its peak. IM and I rushed out of the classroom, ignoring the curious glances from our classmates.

We found a secluded corner of the schoolyard, away from prying eyes.

"Did Dove reply?" IM asked, his voice urgent.

I shook my head. "Not yet. But I'm sure she's on her way."

Just then, my phone vibrated. I quickly checked the message.

[Dove: I can't do anything about that whale... last time it was you who killed it.]

A wave of frustration washed over me. "What does she mean she can't do anything?" I muttered, my voice laced with anger.

Bwooongg! A swirling vortex of energy materialized in the sky above the schoolyard, and the monstrous whale emerged from it, its massive form casting a shadow over the city. It let out a deafening roar, its presence sending shockwaves through the air.

Before we could react, the whale vanished back into the portal, leaving behind a trail of swirling energy that slowly dissipated into the atmosphere. The city was left in stunned silence, the aftershocks of the whale's appearance still reverberating through the streets.

"It's the same whale that you killed, Xian... but how...?" IM stammered, his voice filled with disbelief.

< Chapter 155 > Fin.