Runic symbol [3]

"...Well, ahh, my father had a relationship with his mother-in-law."

I was the first to close my book before looking at Chubby.

[...Hey, don't close the book I was reading]

'...Shut up.'

The rest of them did the same as Aimar closed in and so did Keegan and Lucus.

Oliver straightened his back before placing his hand on the table, intervening them, and gesturing towards Chubby. "...Continue, buddy."

"...Ah, m-maybe I shouldn't—."

"...Don't chicken out now, Chubby." I interjected sharply, glaring at him, and I could see others nodding as well.

"...Buddy, we are all friends here." With the nicest smile he could muster, Oliver encouraged him. "...You can share anything with us."

"...I am not friends with this—."

"...Shut up, Keegan, or I will shove that finger into your ass." As Keegan tried to interfere, pointing at me, Oliver snapped at him.

"You!!—."

"Sit down, Keegan."

Keegan's eyes blazed with anger, but he was quickly stopped by Lucus.

"...Continue, buddy." Oliver gestured again, making Chubby take a deep breath.

"...W-well, my grandma is, ahh, a widow, and when my father was young, he met her at one of the parties." He explained, fidgeting with his fingers nervously.

"...So your father got eaten?" Aimar asked, mimicking Oliver's way of sitting.

"...Well, y-yeah, he was pretty proud of it as well... until he got to know her daughter would have a political marriage with him." With an awkward expression, he continued, glancing around.

"...And then?" Oliver pressed further as he passed a pack of popcorn towards me.

When did he get that?

"...Well, my father couldn't keep his distance from his mother-in-law, and... a few years ago, on a rainy day when they were alone... it happened."

His expression turned sour as he added while the popcorn was getting passed around.

"... It shouldn't have ended there, right?" Aimar probed further, munching the popcorn. "....What about your mother?"

"...Well, things turned worse when my mother caught them red-handed last year." He continued, his body trembling. "...Even more worse, my father asked her to joi—."

"...Your father earned my respect." Oliver interjected, patting his shoulder as tears welled in his eyes. "...So, what happened to him?"

"...Well, he is in a wheelchair for more than a year now." He informed, glancing at Oliver. "...Mother broke every part of his body."

"...Every?"

"...'Every'"

Damn, his mother isn't someone to mess with...

[...Ask him what he calls his grandmother now....Step-mother?]

'Wait!? Why are you listening?'

[...Just ask him.]

'Nah, that's a devious thing to ask, El.'

"...Is your mother okay?" Aimar asked with slight concern.

"...No, she isn't." Shaking his head, Chubby replied. "...But because it's a political marriage, divorce and break-up are out of the question."

Yeah...

Political marriages are taken quite seriously in this world, in every race as well.

"...You have her photo?" And out of nowhere, Oliver asked expectantly, looking at him.

"...Y-yeah." He replied with a confused voice, taking his phone out.

Oliver snatched his phone, looking at the screen. "...It's black?"

"You gotta turn it on, idiot."

He looked at me, giving a creepy smile, before he reached out and started unzipping his pants.

"Not like that!!"

"Then how? Should I finger it?"

"Just give it to me."

Snatching the phone, I opened it before moving towards the gallery while Oliver sneaked behind me.

It didn't take long enough to find her photo.

"....."

Silently, I moved the phone close to Chubby's face before comparing both of them.

"..Damn." A low whisper echoed in my ears, and I didn't have to look behind to know who it was.

"...If she is this good, even I would have tried to go for the upgraded version."

I agree with you, Oliver.

[...Well, me too.]

'.....'

"...Is she your mother?" I passed the phone back without showing her to anyone else as I asked.

"...Y-yeah." He replied while Oliver walked towards him.

"...So, when are you calling me for dinner?" Oliver asked, wrapping his hand around Chubby's neck with a sweet smile.

"..Why?" Narrowing his eyes, Chubby asked.

"...I want to check on your mother—."

Ahem

"—Your mother's husband. How is he?" As I coughed lightly, Oliver quickly changed his words.

"....I will call you someday." Still suspicious, Chubby replied vaguely.

"...Count me in as well." I added, looking at him.

"...Sure." His suspicion grew even more, but he replied nonetheless.

"...Add me too—."

"Oh, fuck off!" Oliver interjected, glaring at Aimar as he tried to hop in as well.

"...Are you guys done now?" Lucus asked, frowning. "...I need to look for Shyamal."

"...Sure, go ahead." I replied, shrugging as I got up from my seat.

"...Azariah, I am warning you once again, stay away from her!!"

"...Are you blind? When did I ever try to approach her?"

"...Doesn't matter, just stay away fro—."

"...Yeah, I don't want to talk to you, dumb bitch."

He abruptly stood up from his seat and walked towards me, grabbing my collar.

"...What did you say—."

"Dumb bitch."

Clenching his fist, he threw his hand back, ready to punch me.

"What is happening here?"

But before he could, a gentle female voice stopped him.

"...Nothing much, Teacher Daphne."

Forcing himself to smile, he tried to act friendly but—

"...He tried to assault him!!"

With a cheeky expression, Aimar exclaimed.

"..Yes, he was about to—."

"Enough!!"

Before Oliver could also chime in, another voice echoed, making us all look at Lauryn, who had just arrived.

"Go back to your places." She instructed, and it didn't take me long to move away from her.

[...She is glaring daggers at you.]

'I can feel that.'

What a pain...

'Anyway, El, you said you were reading the book before, right?'

[...Yeah.]

'Perfect!!'

I moved towards the shelf that had all the books from our syllabus and started taking everything that I needed to study this year.

[...Are you serious?]

'At last you are going to be useful, El.'

[...Read them yourself.]

'Come on, man. I am more of a practical guy. Help me with the theory exams.'

[...Sigh.]

"...Hmm?" I looked to my side as someone reached out for the same book, and my hand touched hers.

"...I will find another one." Arianell mumbled as she removed her hand.

"...Fine." I replied, taking the book.

We both stood there awkwardly between the gaps of two shelves.

"...That day...Why did you message me?" She shifted her focus as she doubtfully asked me.

"...I was messaging my side chick." I replied, shrugging, "...Your number just so happened to be ther—."

Thump!

She hit my shoulder with the book, her white eyes glaring at me. "...What do you mean side chick—hey!?"

Lifting my hand, I moved it towards my leg, dusting my pants while she covered her 'back' with the book.

"Azariah Noah Aljanah, you are lucky that you didn't try to hit me—."

"...Don't tempt me, princess." I interjected, smirking, which made her blood pressure rise as she clenched her fist.

"...Come here!"

And before she could do anything, I ran away...

No point fighting with her...

Walking out, I moved towards the table where Oliver was already present.

"Hey, bro?" His brows furrowed as he looked at me carrying so many books. "...Are you a nerd?"

"Shut up!"

"Azariah, here." Smiling sweetly, Ashlyn gestured for me to take the seat beside her.

I did as she told me, sitting beside her before grabbing her chair and bringing it closer to me...

"....."

She looked at me in bewilderment but didn't refuse while I looked around.

"...Who is she?" Looking at the girl sitting beside Miley and Ethan, I asked.

Her natural brown hair, tied down, moved around as she talked enthusiastically with them.

"...Ruby." Ashlyn informed, looking at them. "...She is one of Miley's friends."

"...I see." I mumbled, shifting my focus away from them as I looked at Oliver.

He... from who knows where had a pudding in his hand with Aaliyah sitting beside him while they both ate silently.

"...It's good." Aaliyah commented, glancing at Oliver.

"You want some more, honey?" Aaliyah stiffened in her place as Oliver asked, looking at her.

"...W-what d-did you say?" Stuttering, she asked, her cheeks burning red.

"...You want some honey?" Taking out a bottle of honey, he asked again.

"Oh, um, y-yeah." Embarrassed, she nodded while Oliver grinned widely.

...Damn, he was playing with her.

Anyway, I should note it down as well. It might come in hand—

"Honey?"

"Huh?"

I abruptly shifted my focus towards Ashlyn as she whispered softly in my ear.

"...What did you say?" I asked, covering my ear that turned slightly red.

"Honey?" Showing a candy made of honey, she asked again.

"...Sure."

...Was it on purpose?

No, no way she is too innocent for that.

"Anyway, what are you studying?" She asked, looking at my books.

"...Runic symbols." I mumbled in reply, caressing my ear.

"...What is that?" She asked, tilting her head.

And instead of replying, I opened my palm, closing my eyes.

The mana in my body rushed towards my open palm as I imagined a symbol...

It was the most basic symbol that wasn't that hard to imagine...

[...Only for you.]

'...Come on, Ethan and Ashlyn should be able to do it as well.'

Opening my eyes, I looked at the blue-colored symbol that emerged in my hand.

"...This is a symbol." I mumbled, looking at the awe-filled girl.

"...Can I make it?" She asked eagerly, her eyes beaming with excitement.

"...Sure." I replied, taking out a pen and paper.

Let's see how talented my meat shield is...