The Bubble Popper

Chapter 3

"Yesterday afternoon, a bubble was found popped in one of the alleys of our city. While the popping of bubbles happens from time to time. This bubble was not ready to pop yet. Its life cycle was cut too short. While the police department is treating it as an accidental pop, they will continue to investigate. Police have identified the bubble as Spot. If you have any information regarding this incident, we ask you to contact the Cloud City Police Department."

Sud breathed a sigh of relief listening to the news. He was safe for now. They didn't suspect him.

As Sud continued to listen to the news, he heard bubbles talking about how nice a bubble Spot was. Sud sneered, How can bubbles be so blind? Spot was clearly a bully, a thief who wanted to take his treasure. Just because he was a big bubble made of good soap, they talked nice about him.

Meanwhile, an honest and hardworking bubble like him was bullied and rejected for being of "lower quality."

He might not be as big or made from good soap, but he was worth just as much as that Spot. Bubbles were all the same, just a bunch of hypocrites. They only cared about looks and status.

He lightly caressed his treasure as he thought that not even his good soap was able to save that Spot from his treasure. Slowly, a smirk appeared on his lips.

The following days, Sud had tried to live an inconspicuous life. Trying his best to keep his routine while keeping a low profile. Which wasn't that hard given the fact that he was mostly unnoticed wherever he went.

He had been wary of going out, and what if someone identified him for being in that alley? Yet nothing happened.

Days passed and no one came to question him. There was no news of the police looking for him in the news. What he did hear on the news was that Spot's farewell would be at the next Remembrance Ceremony. That was in a couple of weeks. He wondered if he should go and say a proper goodbye to Spot.

Being stuck at his home for the past few days. He was bored and needed to go out and get fresh air. He had kept his routine of going to work and back home. He did get to go many places during his deliveries, but it was work, and he was worried about being caught on camera and exposed. It was tiring being wary all the time. He just wanted a day of being free of worries.

He grabbed his backpack and walked to the nearby supermarket. At first, he felt uncomfortable, like the bubbles around him were staring at him and knew what he had done. It took him a few minutes to relax his nerves in the store.

He finished getting his food and was in line waiting for his turn to pay when someone bumped into his back. When he looked back, he saw a beautiful female walking past him. She continued walking like nothing had happened. Didn't even spare him a glance, much less an apology.

Sud felt offended. Was he not even worth a glance?

Unconsciously, he touched his backpack where his treasure was. He felt calmer having his treasure with him. Before leaving his house, he made sure to have his treasure inside his backpack.

"Sir, are you ready?" The voice of the cashier brought Sud out of his thoughts.

He paid for his things and headed out. He didn't want to be at that place for much longer.

He carried his purchases and began walking back to his house. Luckily for him, it was only a couple of blocks away.

As he was walking out the door, someone bumped into his shopping cart, making him lose control of his cart.

When he looked around to see who it was, he saw the same female from before. This time the female turned to look at him from head to toe, turned her head, and kept walking out.

Sud felt enraged and embarrassed! He just wanted to leave there as soon as possible. He quickly returned his cart and grabbed his bags. To his surprise, the female was walking in the same direction as him. She was a few feet ahead of him.

They continued walking the same path for a couple of minutes, and as Sud stared at her back, he couldn't help but think of her eyes when she looked at him. She reminded Sud of the first girl he confessed to. Very beautiful, but when she looked at him, her eyes were full of unconcealed disdain.

At an intersection where Sud needed to turn left to his apartment, the female turned right toward the park.

When Sud got to the intersection, his gaze was still locked on the female, who had already made it to the entrance of the park.

He looked left, then right. In an instant, he made up his mind. He didn't turn left toward his apartment as planned. Instead, he turned right.

Why? He didn't exactly know.

He caught up to her once the female bubble was already in the park. She was heading toward the fountain area, located in the middle of the park. That area was often used by bubbles who were on dates.

Sud kept a distance from the female. As she approached the fountain, he hid behind a tree. He observed how the female stood in front of the fountain. She looked around like she was waiting for someone. She seemed impatient as she tapped her feet and kept looking at the time.

Bubbles came, but she was still waiting. After a long time of waiting, a male bubble arrived running and walked up to her with a bouquet of flowers. His face clearly showed his embarrassment. She looked him up and down, seemingly disappointed and even somewhat disgusted.

She gave the bubble the same look she gave Sud at the store. Disgust, disappointment, or simply uncaring, Sud wasn't sure.

Sud observed as she told the other bubble something, then walked toward Sud's direction. She left the other bubble standing there, crestfallen with his roses still in his hands.

The female passed on the other side of the tree where Sud was. He watched as she walked past the tree, paying no attention to her surroundings. He looked at the lonely male bubble standing by the fountain, his figure overlapping with a very distant memory.

In the memory, a younger him had been left standing stunned, just like that bubble. He had a crush on the most beautiful female bubble in his school. At least to him, she was the most beautiful. He was scared to talk to her, but after gathering his courage for a long time, he finally walked up to her and confessed.

As a result, she looked at him with disgust. In her words, "How could someone like him be worthy of someone like her?" She left without giving him a second glance.

The next day everyone at the school knew he had confessed and was rejected. Everywhere he walked, they would point and whisper. Some openly laughed at his misfortune.

Sud shook his head, not wanting to remember the past. The bubble in front of him looked like a nice bubble. Unfortunately, his build was lacking. Clearly not an option for a conceited bubble like the one that just left.

He waited a few seconds, then slowly followed the female. The pathways of the park were mostly empty in the middle of the day. Only a few bubbles could be seen passing by. Sud had walked the paths of the park many times. He knew that if they continued on their path, they would exit the park soon.

He felt an itch in his hands. Wouldn't it be a better world if she were to just disappear?

Sud scanned his surroundings, and making sure no one was around, he took out his treasure from his backpack. He hurried his steps to catch up to the female, who, up to that moment, was still unaware that she was being followed.

When he was about to catch up to her, he looked around, making sure they were still alone. After confirming it, he hurried his steps. Using his bag of groceries as a covering for his treasure, he placed it in a position where he could easily use it.

Right as they were passing each other, Sud stretched his "treasure" toward the female.

The female sensed something and turned her head toward Sud. She widened her eyes when she saw what he had in his hand. Sud saw the fear and recognition in her eyes. He couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. Finally, he saw a different emotion rather than arrogance.

POP!

****
POV Police

"Detective Fizz!" Yelled Officer Bead as he opened the door to Detective Fizz's office.

"What's the matter?" Answered the detective without looking up from what he was doing.

"A bubble has been reported to have popped at the park. The chief wants you to lead the investigation."

Detective Fizz stared at Officer Bead as he frowned, "Another one? Let's go then." He said as he headed out of his office.