Veridis Quo

Chapter 29 - A Dinosaur Festival?

There is a lot to do on vacation. Besides relaxing and loitering at the beach, one could tackle whatever it was they were putting off due to urgent matters. Or not. Everyone had free will during that wonderful time of the year.

In winter, where it snowed, the younger generation often frolicked in the white, soft blankets. Tossing snowballs, making angels, building forts and art pieces to be interpreted. The island nation I resided in snowed plenty, but I was too old for those childish activities.

In summer, on the other hand, when the sun bore down and the conditioner broke because it just had to, there wasn't a shortage of fun, fun stuff!

Eating plenty of ice cream, taking a swim in the school pool, going out for a walk on a cooler evening, sleeping past sunrise because no classes equaled no alarm clock! There was also gaming, streaming, trolling, video-making but those happened all year round.

The difference was the availability. With plenty of projects and a test per week, there wasn't any spare time for the hobbies I loved. Hell, even composing purposefully horrendous songs wasn't on the menu; my requirement for the music club was to bribe the teacher with exclusive human melodies, those I recalled purely from memory.

I digress, I shouldn't worry myself at the longest break from academic everyday shenanigans.

Two weeks have passed since the end of the school year and things have been... quiet.

Rightfully so.

With ninety percent of the students home or away on their own little escapades, I was left with the entire first floor of the male herbivore dormitory to myself. Well, there was that one odd guy at the start of the corridor but I rarely saw him. He might as well not exist at all. No hate towards him, though.

It was neither good nor bad. Less students meant less action. Lower possibility of conflict, less forced interactions and fake smiles and scheming eyes. Just me, myself, and I in the mancave that was my home away from home.

But... it was lonely.

I couldn't deny my nature. I was a social animal, not by choice, but I was. Although I had a certain choice unlike the rest of the world, it was never confirmed as the optimal. Many of my choices weren't the best but they were mine, so I had little regret.

Who could I talk to anyway? The few acquaintances I made were out of town. All of them. Hanging out with the teachers was kind of weird. The guard...

A definite no. Restatement; hell to the no.

I disliked snakes.

They just... irked me.

I didn't seek bad relations with their whole species, it was a phobia that was embedded in my mind. Chuck it up to human nature and forget about it.

Moving on, the only options I had involved the three girls I knew best.

Let's review them together, shall we, Johnny boy?

Yahya was a blegh.

Why would I ever willingly be in the same room as that zebra? What was I? Suicidal? I wasn't in that dark place anymore, thank you. Even if she bribed me with a brand new PC, monitor, GTRX-bing-bang-bong graphics card, I'd refuse wholeheartedly.

I had no motive to cooperate with her beyond the bare minimum.

Stupid zigger.

Was that racist? I combined zebra and- I won't finish that thought.

Then, there was Miya.

Of course! An obvious choice, a perfectly viable woman! As reliable as a vintage car or anything made in that era; when they didn't cut costs and plan on repeat, angry customers.