THE GIFTED

C H A P T E R 3

After the incident of Jim, his friend Jonathan and the rest of the class was called off for class, to pay respect for the late classmate. "We're sorry, for what happened Jonathan." Maddie pat Jonathan at the shoulder. As they all wore black, to mourn the passing of Jim. They were in the middle of the school's wide field, holding a black balloon. With a cue from the teacher in front of them, they let go of the balloon as it flew in sky.

Everyone was busy. They were all sad, about their classmate. It hasn't been a week yet, but they were already having a hard time. Alganier who was busy, look at his wrist, and saw the device. He frown as he see a number 2 at the rank number, and has a 350 score. Jerald who's standing beside him gasp. "Is that.." he points the number. Alganier with knitted brows nodded, as he thought of it. "You are number 2?" He laugh in disbelief. And look at his own, which has no score yet and has no rank number. He put down his hand in disappointment, but nevertheless happy for his friend.

"Let's try it out later." Alganier suggested. Jerald couldn't be happier to know. There many facilities some students are not allowed, but after the announcement of top 10, those students who enter the top, can now access it. There are privileges that only those who enter the top, can have. That they are yet to find out.

At lunch, they sat at the corner together and some of their classmates: Madison, Heather, Jeffrey, Yumi, Clarice and Micheal sat with them. "I hope it's okay for you guys to have me here." Yumi looked down as she stood at the end of the table.

Jeffrey who smiled, motion her to sit beside him. "Sure, we don't really mind." The rest agreed.

"You guys are welcome to sit with us." Alganier assured them, as they start eating their free meal from the university. He's kinda nervous to ask something, but he surely will ask them about it. He gather his courage, clearing his throat as he face them. "Is it okay, if we get to know each other?"

"Of course!" Clarice cheerfully answered. Madison who liked the idea, agreed along with the others.

"Beside, we already know each other's gifts, so why not. I'll be more glad to have a friends and know them well." Madison informed them, with a wide smile. "So, how we are gonna start?"

"How about we share the things, we usually do?" Jeffrey suggested, and they approved. "I'll start, since my gift is to calm people, before, you know outside university," they nod as understanding. "I would go to court, and attend every trial and make sure to calm everyone." He shyly look down, as he grip on his spoon. "My father is judge, and sometimes he's stress everytime there's trial, so I want them to calm so my father won't be stress anymore." Suddenly his face sadden. "But I don't think they like me though, my parents are scared of me, because they said I always smile and it's scary. So I tend to go around the amusement park, to leave the worries behind." Yumi pat his back sympathetically and flash him a smile.

"We're sorry to hear that," Madison, smiled weakly at him. As she followed next. "You remember I said, my gift is I can turn to shadow right?" They nodded thinking back to their introduction. "That wasn't partially the whole truth. You see, I can turn myself into shadow, but my gift is actually, darkness. Yeah, anything related to darkness, that's it. So—"

Jerald speak, cutting her off. "You mean, you can control darkness? Like how?" Micheal who was listening intently, smile. He knows it, the moment Madison told them about her gift in class, he knew she's lying.

"For example, I can make this place void of light. Or someone, rather.." She looks down, as she fold her hands on her lap. "That's why I don't go out often, I would just locked up myself in my dark room, as it's the only thing that can understand me." She shrug.

"Uh...me, I..." Heather started, it was evidence on her voice, that she's not really good at communicating and is shy to them. Jeffrey tap her shoulder, assuring her that it's fine. "I liked to make sweet candies, because it helps other people released their negative emotions." Alganier who had received a candy from her, had his mouth form into circle and nod. That explains, he thought.

They glance at Yumi, who smiled at them. "Me, since I can create illusion. I have a brother, he's six years old. He's a normal person, unlike me." A bittersweet smile, appeared on her lips, as she remember her brother. "Unlike some of my family, my brother like to be with me. I would make an illusion where we are at a playground, or somewhere he wants to go. He always said, I'm amazing. And we have a favorite place that I create out of illusion and we just stay there until we want to go back to reality."

"If you're making an illusion, example you inside your illusion in your room. If someone enters it, would they see the illusion too, or nothing? Or maybe, they will see you there lost in your illusion?" Alganier asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, it depends. I can make it seems like I'm not in the room, so if someone enter, they won't see me. But I could also let them see me, like I'm just sleeping but I'm really in my own world. If I wanted to, I can also invite them to be with me."

"That's cool!" Jerald complimented, finishing his last bite of his meal. "I would like you to put me in an illusion, where there are many foods, and I can eat anything I want. Is that possible?" Yumi nodded.

"Yes, but since it's illusion, you're not really full. And it's really just your illusion." Heather chuckle. "How about you Jerald?"

"Oh me?" He leaned closer, that only them could hear. "I can replay a memory." A series of amaze noise was heard, as they lean back to their seats. "So I can still, remember everything and I can also help you guys, if you want to remember something, you can't remember."

"Really?"

"Yep." They look at Micheal, waiting for confirmation.

"He's telling the truth." After confirming, they usher Jerald to continue.

"Why are you guys skeptical about me?" He whined like a kid, and Alganier who was beside him chuckle.

"It's because you lied to them once."

He huff, and continue. "And my favorite thing do was, replay the time where I was with my parents. Everytime I do it, it was like I'm in that moment again. Feeling the same feeling, I felt before." He smiled at the thought, probably replaying the moment on his head again. He then turn his head to Micheal. "Now my new favorite buddy, your turn."

"Mine is kinda boring." He told them, bit sad about it. "But the thing I usually do, that was out of habit was, see if the person is lying either to me, or someone else." He glance at each of them. "I can tell if the person is genuine, or not. So to get off my mind from doing it. I just listen to some music."

"I suppose it's my turn." Clarice mumble. "Well, since my gift is to imitate voice. I would do a part-time, where I'll entertain kids by mimicking the voices of their favorite character, or animals." They nodded as understanding and look at Alganier. Clarice  giggle. "Your turn!" She told him happily.

"Oh.. I like to sit in one corner of a crowded room and read people's mind. But only if I felt like it. Most of the time, I also stay on my room, so I can avoid people. Because sometimes I can't stop myself from reading other people's mind."

"Isn't it nice tho. You can read their minds and know what they think of you?" Maddie asked him. Her face shows confusion and curiosity.

Alganier chuckle, shaking his head in disapproval. "Nope, the more you know what they were thinking of you, the more you are pressured to meet them. Wanna know why?" He gave them a single glance, sighing to himself. "Some of them were terrified, I'll expose their thoughts. Some of them who doesn't know I can read minds, they are doubting. There are people who are expecting something from you. Thinking badly about you, some are even more exhausting. You'll felt the pressure once you meet them, knowing what they think of you. It'll disappoint both of you, knowing you failed them in their minds." Then he smiled at them. "So it's better of we know nothing about someone's mind."

"There are things I wanted to see, but not to that extent."