What if? | Frank x Brenda

Chapter 01

In the year 3045, the world had evolved far beyond what anyone in the past could have imagined. Technology had reached heights that made everyday life unrecognizable from the simpler days of the 21st century. Yet, some things remained timeless—like the nervousness that came with preparing a graduation speech.

Brenda stood in the center of a massive, state-of-the-art stadium, her voice echoing faintly off the walls as she practiced her lines. The stadium, empty save for a few automated cleaning bots zipping silently across the floor, felt cavernous. The shimmering holographic podium before her flickered with the words she had meticulously crafted for her commencement speech, and the glowing path beneath her feet illuminated the way to where she would soon deliver it.

She took a deep breath, her fingers clutching the holographic notes that floated in the air before her. "Fellow graduates, today we step into the future, not just as individuals, but as the leaders who will shape the next century—"

Her concentration was abruptly broken by a string of loud, frustrated curses echoing from the far side of the stadium. Brenda turned, peering into the distance, where the sound had come from. Near the shadowed corner by the storage rooms, she spotted Frank.

He was bent over a hulking piece of training equipment, red-faced and gritting his teeth as he struggled to push it toward the storage room. The equipment, sleek and metallic with futuristic design, was evidently too heavy even for someone as determined as Frank. Every few seconds, he would mutter another curse under his breath, his frustration mounting with each unsuccessful shove.

"Come on, you useless piece of junk!" Frank groaned, his voice laced with exhaustion and irritation. He tried to reposition himself to get better leverage, but it only resulted in the machine shifting an inch before settling back into place.

Brenda couldn't help but smile, her nerves momentarily forgotten as she watched him. Frank had always been stubborn, never willing to back down from a challenge, no matter how impossible it seemed. She admired that about him, even if it often meant he found himself in situations like this—pushing against a problem that wouldn't budge.

She walked over to him, her heels clicking against the metallic surface of the stadium floor. "Need a hand?" she called out, trying to suppress a laugh as she approached.

Frank paused, wiping the sweat from his brow and glancing up at her with a sheepish grin. "Just a little... encouragement would be nice," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he attempted another futile push.

Brenda moved closer, her smile fading into something more sympathetic as she took in Frank's tired expression. "Here," she said softly, planting her hands next to his on the machine. Together, they pushed, and with a combined effort, the equipment finally inched forward. After a few more grunts and groans, they managed to maneuver it into the storage room, where it settled with a loud thud.

Frank leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, while Brenda brushed off her hands. "Thanks for the help," he muttered, though his tone was more grateful than begrudging. "I swear, they keep making these things heavier just to mess with us."

Brenda chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe you're just getting older," she teased lightly, leaning back against the wall beside him.

Frank shot her a mock glare. "Careful now, graduation girl. You're not that much younger."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from years of shared experiences. Brenda glanced over at him, noticing the lines of weariness etched into his face, the shadows under his eyes. He looked different from the Frank she remembered from their earlier days, but there was still a spark of the old him there, beneath the surface.

"Hard night?" she asked gently, already knowing the answer.

Frank shrugged, but there was no hiding the fatigue in his voice. "Yeah, same old stuff. A couple of late-night requests, some drunks looking for a fight...you know how it goes, finding stripper works and even doing genocide."

Brenda nodded, her heart sinking a little. She knew Frank's life hadn't been easy, especially since everything changed. When food took over the planet, it was meant to be a revolution, a new era where they finally had control. But not everyone found their place in this new world. While Brenda had soared through Food University, excelling in her studies and preparing for a bright future, Frank had struggled to find his footing. His life had become a series of odd jobs, a constant hustle just to get by.

"And you," Frank continued, nodding toward the stadium. "Look at you, practicing for the big speech. Top of the class, all set to lead the charge into the new world."

Brenda blushed slightly, though her smile was tinged with a hint of sadness. "It's not as glamorous as it sounds. I mean, yeah, I'm excited, but...I don't know. Sometimes it feels like I'm just following a path someone else laid out for me."

Frank tilted his head, studying her with those perceptive eyes of his. "You're not happy?" 

"I am," Brenda said quickly, but then she hesitated. "I mean, I should be. This is what I've been working toward all these years. But sometimes I wonder if it's really what I want, or just what was expected of me."

Frank nodded slowly, understanding. "It's easy to get caught up in what everyone else wants for you. But you're smart, Brenda. You'll figure it out. You've always had that fire in you."

They shared a quiet moment, the weight of their conversation lingering in the air. Brenda found herself thinking back to the days when things were simpler—before the world had changed, before they had changed. There was a time when she and Frank had been more than just friends, when there was something electric between them, something neither of them had fully explored.

"Remember when we used to talk about getting out of here?" Brenda asked, her voice soft and nostalgic. "You wanted to see the world, and I...I just wanted to be with you."

Frank's eyes softened at the memory. "Yeah, I remember. We were going to leave everything behind, just the two of us. But then...things got complicated."

"Life happened," Brenda agreed, her gaze distant. "And we went our separate ways."

Frank sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I guess we did. But you know, I always wondered what would have happened if we hadn't."

Brenda looked at him, something unspoken passing between them. "I've wondered that too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Frank reached out, his hand brushing hers in a gesture that was both comforting and bittersweet. "It's not too late, you know," he said quietly. "To figure out what you really want."

Brenda squeezed his hand gently before pulling away. "Maybe," she said, her tone uncertain. "But for now, I have a speech to finish."

Frank nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, you do. And you're going to knock it out of the park."

Brenda smiled back, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Frank. For everything."

As she turned to leave, Frank watched her go, a mixture of pride and longing swirling within him. The distance between them had grown over the years, but in moments like this, it felt as though they were still as close as they had ever been. Maybe Brenda was right—life had happened, and they had gone their separate ways. But that didn't mean the door was closed forever.

For now, though, Frank knew he had his own path to walk, just as Brenda had hers. And as much as he wanted to be a part of her world, he wasn't sure if there was still a place for him in it.