"Anti-Gangster... that's a pretty cool name," I said, trying to steer the conversation away from our potential involvement.
"Yeah, it sounds like something out of a comic book," Marcel agreed, his eyes glued to the screen.
Monic sighed, "Let's not worry about that... anyway, Xian, can you help me? Mr. Hartawan said we need to get a projector to watch a video in class."
"Watch a video!?" Rayhan asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"You... you're the class leader, how could you forget?" Monic sighed exasperatedly.
"Ah, I didn't know that," Rayhan mumbled sheepishly.
Monic turned back to me, "Let's go."
"Why not Rayhan?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He's weak and never wants to carry anything. Let's go," she said, already walking towards the door.
I nodded and followed her, leaving a slightly embarrassed Rayhan behind.
As we walked down the hallway towards the storage room, Monic explained that the video was for an upcoming history lesson. It was a documentary about ancient civilizations, and Mr. Hartawan had promised it would be fascinating.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," Monic admitted. "History isn't usually my favorite subject, but Mr. Hartawan has a way of making it interesting."
Arriving at the school warehouse, it was surprisingly clean and organized. We went to the shelves and opened one of the boxes labeled "Projector," but it was empty.
"Huh... it's gone?" Monic said, looking puzzled.
I peered into the box. "Hmm, that's odd. Maybe someone else took it?"
Monic frowned, tapping her foot impatiently. "But who? And why didn't they put it back?"
I should use my power... I thought.
"How about you look around first?" I suggested, subtly closing the locker.
Monic nodded, "I'll check the other lockers."
As she walked away, I focused my imagination on the empty space within the locker. The same projector, a working one, a projector that's always been used.
Finishing the visualization, I peeked inside and saw it was there, but I knew it would be suspicious if it suddenly appeared. I needed to play it cool.
I walked over to Monic, feigning interest in her search. "Any luck?"
"Not yet," she sighed, shaking her head. "I've checked almost all the lockers on this side."
I gently touched her shoulder, "Hey, I think I remember seeing one in this locker earlier."
Monic's eyes lit up with hope. "Really? Where?"
I led her back to the locker I had previously opened, feigning surprise when I saw the projector sitting inside. "Oh, here it is! Must have been overlooked."
"Wow, you're amazing, Xian!" Monic exclaimed, beaming with gratitude. "You saved the day!"
I shrugged, trying to downplay my contribution. "Just lucky, I guess."
We carefully lifted the projector out of the locker and headed back to the classroom, a sense of triumph filling the air. As we entered the room, Rayhan's eyes widened in surprise.
"You found it?" he asked, disbelief in his voice.
"Yep, Xian here spotted it," Monic replied, giving me a grateful smile.
I simply nodded, secretly enjoying the attention, but also feeling a pang of guilt for using my powers to deceive them. I knew I couldn't keep relying on my abilities to solve every problem, but for now, it felt good to be the hero, even in a small way.
As Mr. Hartawan entered the classroom, the chatter died down and everyone took their seats. The lights dimmed, and the projector whirred to life, casting a bright image onto the screen. The documentary began, transporting us to ancient Egypt, where pharaohs ruled and pyramids soared towards the heavens.
Despite my initial boredom, I found myself drawn into the story. Mr. Hartawan's enthusiasm was infectious, and the images on the screen were mesmerizing. I learned about the intricate rituals of the Egyptians, their advanced knowledge of astronomy and medicine, and their belief in the afterlife.
For a moment, I forgot all about my own extraordinary abilities and the strange events of the previous night. I was simply a student, captivated by the wonders of history. However, as the documentary progressed, a sense of familiarity washed over me. I realized that due to the nature of my powers, I already knew most of the information being presented.
This is interesting, but I already know all of this... I thought, laying my head on the desk, trying to feign interest.
As the documentary ended and the lights came back on, a wave of applause filled the room. Mr. Hartawan beamed, clearly pleased with the class's reaction.
"So, what did you think?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room.
A few classmates mumbled their agreement, while others simply shrugged, still lost in their thoughts about the mysterious heroes.
As the lesson progressed, I found myself struggling to concentrate. My mind kept wandering back to the events of the night before. The thrill of the fight, the power surging through my veins, the feeling of making a real difference in the world. It was intoxicating, and I craved more.
I glanced at IM, who seemed equally distracted. He was doodling in his notebook, his eyes unfocused. I could tell he was thinking about the same thing I was. We were both yearning for another adventure, another chance to test our abilities and make a difference.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I quickly gathered my things and met IM at the door.
"How's that girl? Any update?" IM asked.
That girl? Oh, Hanna, right, I thought.
I nodded. "Good. I've been talking to Hanna, but not too much. I don't want to force it, I want to let it flow."
"Hmm..."
We both walked to the parking lot in silence.
"Also, her idol team, IPOP Girl, they have a concert this week in Jakarta," I added.
"You going?" IM asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think so. She invited me to watch from the VIP section, for free."
< Chapter 112 > Fin.