Genius Rivals (Ongoing)

8 - REVELATIONS 2

Their voices continues to occupy my whole hearing. I sit in the exact position patiently. Waiting for them to end their blabber. I guess they're feeling a splash of novelty by getting to know each other. Background revealed and histories uncovered for the sake of socializing. Good for them. My mind wanders in this situation. Thinking if I were the ace of fools for biting into Tristan's scheme. But I picture the next week's volume of Vinland Saga in my head. What happened right after Thorfinn landed in Vinland, the place he longed to reach for years? Will the natives take his unfamiliar account as a hostility? What will be his actions that aligns still with pacifism if welcomed with malevolence? The next chapters will be exhilarating. In the state of the story currently, it shall be worth of wasting my precious time if I can get it for free and "without hassle". I am untrusting of him keeping his words but since I am here already, giving him the benefit of the doubt is my best bet.

Three of us are left in our table. Tristan went to the comfort room. Maybe his bladder is full after the amount of liquid he drunk. He better make sure he washes his hands though, or else the whole place will be contaminated and will be needing a thorough and precise disinfection.

"You're related to ma'am Olsen?" Solene surprisingly reacted. Even I never knew they are related.

"A distant relative to be fair" Raine clears up any misunderstanding.

"Ahhh that explains why you're close to her."

"Yep, she's also the person that made me enter our university."

"Wow, big props to her. It's quite hard to be in our university if you're coming from a lower level of education actually. But you've proved yourself enough to be deserving of the uniform."

"A mix of effort and charisma, girl" and both laughed lightly.

During my imaginations, I am unaware that their conversation is directed to me. They really wanted to involve me somewhere I took no interest in. It's going smooth and well in their part. Why even bother a fellow teen daydreaming on his own to spit a few useless words? I find the interaction to be without value for I am nowhere as enthralling as others nor I have intentions of revealing myself to them.

"Virgil's been quiet for a time now" said in a falling intonation by Raine. She managed to notice my existence. I thought I was invisible the whole time.

"Hmm," and fixing my eyes through hers. "Still here."

"Surprised to see you staying there" in a mocking voice. "Knowing you could have managed your way out without telling" while leaning on her palm and giving me a smirk.

"Being absorbed too much on your own can do that" my rebuttal to her statement. "That's how I do it."

"Don't think of it as a specialty. I'll be practically invisible to anyone if I keep my mouth shut if given enough time."

"Shutting your mouth is not an ability but a value and everyone fails to practice it. Know the difference."

"You're saying that ghosting an individual is a sacred act and worse, you've took pride in it. Classic Virgil."

"Whatever keeps you sleeping at night."

The air is getting toxic. Seems like I defiled it with my presence. This is getting awkward. My first involvement to the conversation went in a bad direction. I steered it to a wrong state. Does staying neutral completely impossible? I'm fine of being left alone with myself in the other side of the table, but heck, I can't keep getting away with it. Maybe leaving unknowingly is the best course of action, but it'll unfortunately prove her point.

"Both of you okay?" Solene asked us. Brows rised and looking confused. "Sounds like a dispute between two of you."

"Oh it's nothing, dear. We're just having a friendly talk" Raine replied with halfhearted assurance. "But atleast we know your clubmate's still here."