Luines - Book 1

Chapter 11: A Matter of Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

"Itadakimasu!" said Ryu Kazama and Zee in unison.

What have I gotten myself into? Hal Cruz thought to herself. After that El Mundo incident, it took a week's bed rest until Hal got back to her feet. A few buzzing remained but she had released all of them completely with the help of the school nurse. Coming back to the campus felt like the first day of high school. No matter how much she thought she could walk like she owned the world, Hal feared to be judged all over again like everyone else. No one really wanted to be judged, to be belittled or ridiculed for their oddities. Hal wanted to be accepted like the rest, but she chose to run it with a strong force as a defense mechanism. Not everyone was as strong as her to fight those inner demons. In the end, she broke too. She fiddled with her food, as she realized that she was like everyone else now: broken and imperfect. If all those she slammed to the walls felt like this, no one deserved it.

She stared at Zee as he unwrapped Pewter's Sharkfin Burger. They decided to eat at Pewter's on the First Street since El Mundo was packed again. Besides, going back to El Mundo would be another haunting experience for her. How many voices would she need to block this time?

Zee and Ryu began going through their food, while Hal Cruz sighed. So, this creeping feeling must have targeted Zee too during their freshmen concert. And yet, he was happy afterwards. He was friends with almost everyone in GEOS Academy, and people genuinely like him despite his association with them. Pucha. Hal threw her hands at her face as she muffled a coming cry.

Zee took bites at his Sharkfin Burger, and said, "Earth to Hal! What's wrong?"

Hal Cruz gulped, and cleared her throat. "Sorry, lots of things in my head." She took a few sips from her Witch's Brew, and continued, "Something's been bugging me lately."

"My friends got to you?" said Ryu Kazama.

Hal Cruz nodded. And a lot more things than that I wish I could tell you right now.

Zee raised a brow, and asked, "That's new! I knew Mitsuki Miho would get on your nerves sooner or later but how did Lesedi, Sefand Onn do? Ryu invited me in their group from time to time, and they seem decent."

Hal lowered her head, "It's just...I'm...I dunno what's happening to me. I feel it's deeper than your friends. It's like I've been harboring the Furies all my life, not knowing how much I've been hauling that energy around me. I was at a breaking point when I lost my dad...It's been really hard..." Hal Cruz bit her lips, and gazed up, her tears were about to creep out of the tips of her eyes. "...It's been really hard healing. I didn't know how lost and in pain I was...my dad was the only person who got me...and he was taken away..."

Ryu's hand held hers under the table and intertwined his fingers with hers. We'll deal with this together. Trust me, Hal. I've got you no matter what. Do you trust me?

Hal Cruz raised her head, and gazed into his eyes. His eyes glistened, and his lips curved up. Hal knuckled him on the shoulder, and she snorted.

"You folks done sorting it all out?" said Zee. He stole a few fries from Hal's plate, gobbled them and cleared his throat, "I know mind talk when it happens, Haliya Salmo Cruz. You need to protect your mind way better. Is there something I need to know?"

Hal Cruz and Ryu Kazama exchanged a short teasing glance, that they burst into laughter. Hal said, "You just sound like Professor Uskevren back there! Pucha! That's some freaky shit!"

Zee smiled back, "It's good to have you back, Hal. I mean...I'm happy to hear you cursing me in Tagalog again, and not so into your own thoughts. That's supposed to be me. I'm supposed to be your overthinking friend who's got your mind mapped out."

Hal Cruz said. "I guess, I need to have a little more faith and just go with the flow like you, you overthinking glowstick. But, how'd you do it? How'd you recover when your parents never returned?"

"I just went with the flow, I guess. It was easier that way than sulking in one place. Life goes on." Zee said.

It was true, though. Ever since the loss, Hal lost herself that anger fueled her, that Zee went with her flow as her guide, like a long lost twin. He was always at her side. He was even forced into their clique as their main transporter, and he rarely complained. Besides, the morning ritual was no fun without Reeg Myrkvi and Lizard.

Hal stared back at Zee and she repeated her dad's words when they were together: Always look out for each other. At the end of the day, it'll be you two who'll fight together in this life. Zee definitely kept to his end of the promise.

"Somehow, Hal. I thought there has to be a reason for this happening. I might not know now, but I'll figure it out soon. Maybe, you'll find yours too. In the meantime, I knew you'd still be down, so I bought these to lighten up our spirits." Zee handed a cup to each of them.

Her eyes lit up at the colorful sugar crystals on the sundae that shone and shifted colors like the aurora. Tiny marshmallows floated along with chunks of chocolate and cookie crumbs. Her smile grew from ear to ear, "Zee! How'd you get some Pixie Dust? We used to have this when we were kids!"

"Technically, it's called Scramble but we believed that when we eat that, it'll brighten our day, and our problems would be gone! Your dad used to bring us these when we were sad. So, I hope it still does the trick." Zee said.

Ryu squeezed Hal's hand, and raised the dessert, "Cheers then! Here's to faith, trust and Pixie Dust!"