Superhero

Chapter 103

Addison got out of the backroom and got herself a few cheese and pizza-flavoured Itchy-Buns while waiting for Jake. Fiolina was still not done with her long conversation about some new comic that she had started reading.
The only thing that made her stop was the presence of a new customer. The auburn-haired girl cleared her throat and started busying herself by turning to the shelf of cigarettes behind her to seem like she was arranging them.
Addison had been nibbling on a chocolate bar, but seeing who the customer was made her jaw drop, letting a small chunk of peanut drop out of her mouth.
"Uh... Fio?" Addison called. The Superhero gave her a glance as he made his way towards the food warmer. Addison groaned when her friend didn't turn around to look. "Fiolina!"
Fiolina turned around exasperatedly and stopped short as soon as she spotted Superhero at the food warmer, with his back turned to them. She looked at Addison and frowned, not recognising him yet, and pointed an arm at him before gesturing her to keep quiet.
Addison groaned and put a hand on her forehead, shaking her head. Fiolina knew what she meant when the Superhero turned around and made his way towards the SlurpSlurp machine. She turned to Addison in surprise, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. Addison just nodded in response before turning her attention back to Superhero.
It was a wonder the two women didn't burn a hole at the back of Superhero's coat, seeing how they glared right at him. The Superhero must've sensed them, seeing how he was shaking his head as he filled the cup up with blue cotton candy and strawberry SlurpSlurp. He pressed the lid shut hard, leaving a dent in the otherwise pristine dome-shaped cover. The Superhero stared at it for a moment, motionless, then lifted it and made his way towards the counter as if nothing had happened.
"Tough night?" Fiolina remarked as she scanned the price for the SlurpSlurp.
The Superhero nodded in response before making a beeline for the microwave as soon as his chicken nuggets were done. Fiolina took the time to punch in the price of the chicken nuggets together with the SlurpSlurp. Addison slowly nibbled on her chocolate bar as she watched the Superhero make his way towards the counter. He seemed more energetic now than he did the previous times he came to the shop.
"Whatever happened tonight can't be too bad if you're still standing, amirite?" Addison remarked, causing the Superhero to to swing around to look at her, silently without a word. Addison gulped slightly before continuing. "What I meant to say is, I don't think it's that extreme since you still have some energy left, not like the last few times you were here."
The Superhero seemed to consider her remark for a moment before giving her a short nod. With that, he turned back to the counter and settled his payment. The Superhero then turned towards the table Addison was sitting at and stopped short.
"I'll just move away so that you don't risk exposing your identity," Addison said, getting up and going over to the counter. "I wanna get a drink, anyway."
The Superhero nodded and sat down as Addison made her way over to the fridge, grabbed a can of cream soda, and then returned to the counter.
"This is the first time Superhero came during my shift," Fiolina excitedly told her in a low voice as she scanned the cream soda. "Usually, he only comes during yours."
"Must've been slightly detained somewhere and he just stopped by for a quick snack," Addison remarked, glancing at the Superhero for a moment. "He's a little more energetic today. Normally, he literally falls into the shop."
Fiolina nodded. "So I've seen. I watch the footage sometimes."
"You and Jeff both," Addison remarked a little louder, making Superhero turn slightly at the sudden sound. Fiolina smiled sheepishly and turned back to Addison as she continued. "Always up to date with the shop's happenings."
"Keep it down, let Superhero eat in peace," Fiolina scolded softly. "Anyway, pay up."
Addison nodded and waved her card against the reader. The welcome tune suddenly blared, making all three of them turn to look, with the Superhero pulling his mask down before turning.
"Hey Addie," it was Jake. "Sorry, I'm a bit late. Got held up by some traffic." He turned to the Superhero who went back to his meal. "Is that the Superhero?"
The Superhero gave him a finger gun over his shoulder without turning around. Jake slowly turned to Addison, demanding an explanation.
Addison nodded. "Yeah, Superhero decided to drop in for a snack." Her gaze fell on the SlurpSlurp on the table and remembered something. "Also, Superhero. I've been meaning to tell you this. Don't drink SlurpSlurp too much, it's bad for you. One of my aunts got diabetes because of it and it resulted in her premature death."
The Superhero stopped mid-chewing and pulled his mask down before turning to look at her. Addison nodded at his mask.
"It's not a joke, this is a true story," Addison added.
"Yeah, she's been telling this to all her friends who drink SlurpSlurp, even our coworker," Fiolina cut in. "It's true, Mr. Superhero. That drink's a menace."
Superhero picked up his cup of SlurpSlurp and regarded it for a moment, as if considering to throw it away. But then, he shrugged nonchalantly and lowered his head to sip it. He gathered the nuggets in the paper bag, stuffed it under his coat, grabbed his SlurpSlurp, and got up. He wiggled his fingers at them as a sign of farewell, before activating his powers and disappearing in a flash of blinding light.
"Ookay...?" Jake said, not sure what to think of the incident. "You wanna go home?"
Addison nodded, equally confused. "Yeah." She quickly said. "Let's go."
The two of them waved at Fiolina and left the shop.

Addison chuckled her bag onto the chair right after Galante class and sat on her bed, calling Jeff to tell her of her latest encounter with the Superhero.
He didn't pick up.
She shrugged and put her phone aside and decided to work on her assignment a bit. She had to analyse the mise-en-scène of a movie, which she thought was very crappy, but at least it had a lot to talk about. She went on and on, typing a paragraph about the use of colour in the movie and how it affects a scene.
Addison was so lost in typing out her assignment that she didn't notice the faint vibration of her phone, which she left buried under a pile of pillows. Only after she received the notification of a text from Jeff on her computer did she notice the call from him. She immediately retrieved her phone and called him again.
"Jeff?" Addison greeted as soon as she heard his voice on the other end.
"You called me... did something happen again?" Jeff sounded alert. "You never call me unless it's something to do with the Superhero."
"Yes, yes," Addison nodded as she said. "That's why I called you. Sorry, I didn't pick up. I was a little carried away by my assignment."
"Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"Nah, I need a break anyway," Addison said, her gaze falling on her unattended computer. "Also, I called to tell you that the Superhero stopped by the shop just now."
Jeff groaned. "Always when I'm not around. Always. Why is it only during your shifts does he waltz into the shop?"
"It wasn't during my shift this time, no. It was Fiolina's, I was just waiting for Jake since he came late."
There was a pause on the other end. "Oh. He's a little late today, isn't he? Usually, Superhero come in hours before the end of your shift."
"Yeah. But I think he just came for a quick snack. He didn't seem that tired. Superhero just got himself some nuggets and... guess the other thing."
"SlurpSlurp," Jeff said. "I swear, it's very unfair that he gets away with doing the same thing I do. How uncool."
"He didn't get away with it this time, Jeff," Addison smiled to herself. "I told him about it this time."
"How did he react?" Jeff asked eagerly.
"He looked at it for a moment, as if considering it, then just shrugged and continued drinking."
"How did the Superhero drink his SlurpSlurp with his mask on anyway? Does it like... have a hole or something?"
"He bent down and hid his face while he drank," Addison said. "Anyway, after that, he packed up his nuggets, gave us this wiggly-hand wave, and disappeared. Jake was with us, by the way. The guy was really surprised to walk in while the Superhero was still there."
Another pause before he spoke. "It's still unfair how I wasn't there to see it. Sounds like a fun event, to be honest."
"It was," Addison admitted. "Anyway, I'm not gonna hold you up any longer. "You better get to bed, it's getting late."
"It totally is," Jeff agreed with the hint of a smile in his voice. "You better not work on your assignment till late as well. I really hope it isn't due tonight."
"Nah, it's due tomorrow night," Addison chuckled. "But I'm almost done. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Right back atcha, Dietitian. Nighty-night."
Addison chuckled a farewell and hung up before turning her laptop off and getting ready to retire for the night.