Game with unknown Rules

Chapter 5: Colours of yourself

Warning: Swearwords ahead. Also, there will be discussions of political stuff and the privatisation of water. It's been years since I wrote my essay about it and it has been almost a year since I last fact checked things. And even if I fact checked things, I could have still messed up along the way. Even with other details. This story is purely for entertainment and not to get your opinions and facts from. Please proceed with caution.

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     „So, what do you want?" Was Psyches immediate question once they returned. "Something healthy perhaps?"

   "Fruits like apples and such." I had shrugged before suppressing a smile. "Made out of chocolate."

   Psyche had started to laugh. "Clever, darling." They had grinned as they calmed down. "Very Clever."

   After the incident with the papers on Sunday, I had decided to stay calm for now and act like nothing had happened. I was set on finding out more and confront Psyche once I had enough evidence. Otherwise they could just deny everything and would be warry of me from then on. A risky and foolish manoeuvre, I know, but I was just a kid that didn't know any better.

   But there was one thing I knew better. How to spend my Monday afternoon other than going grocery shopping. I tried to convince Psyche to just let me go home (and asked, why they hadn't done the shopping while I was at school) but they just went on about learning responsibility and to navigate a store or some other stuff. I still tried my best, this time asking over and over again, as apparently this made others more inclined to go with what you want, but not with Psyche.

   "Listen." They had said with a mockingly important face. "That's great and all, and you made a very good point, but there is one and singular problem." They had paused and looked at me with a grin. "We really don't care."

   And then they had gone off on another tension about responsibility. I was annoyed to say the least, but what else could I do? Before I even managed to blink twice I found myself inside the store, part of the grocery list in hand and with the task to look for the items on said list. Psyche told me, if I needed help I still could ask them, but I should try myself first. They had the other half of the list and were running around, seemingly looking at everything and nothing at the same time.

   I heaved a sigh and started to do my part of the deal. It wasn't the first time I had bought something for myself, but those things were always snacks. Never looking for details, never asking any questions other than: does it look tasty? Since I barely knew any better, I copied what I had seen my grandma and grandpa doing. Looking over the ingredients and label told me exactly everything I knew about grocery shopping. Nothing. I heaved another silent sigh. Shopping is such a pain...

   Not knowing what to do, and not finding the answer while starring the labels down (and feeling like sitting in class, not knowing the answer and the teacher just saying, I should 'think about it') I felt frustration bubbling up inside me. Stupid! I have no idea what to do... and this stupid weirdo is no help either...!

   "Excuse me, do you need any help?" A voice suddenly rang through my ears.

   I jumped slightly as I was brought back into reality. Quickly, I looked up at the voice and found a young man in an apron looking at me with a friendly smile. It was an employee.

   "No. I'm fine, thank you." These words came out without me even thinking about it and I cursed myself inside, as now I was too afraid to contradict them.

   "Are you sure?" He asked, and I was certain he didn't believe me. "If you need help, don't be afraid and just ask me."

   Nothing came out of my mouth and I just nodded, too ashamed to now look at him.