Veridis Quo

Chapter 30 - Jinxed

Traversing the hallways of the academy wasn't any less lonely than the first time. With no one around, it was a ghost town, or more accurately ghost campus since the grounds were institutional and- no one cares.

But I do, I care... a little.

Although Miya was now miraculously a part of the staff – working as a certified counsellor for the disturbed and a doctor if need arose – I was within walking distance to my number one safe space, a phone call away from my provider and social backbone.

So, why did I feel... missing? As though a piece was skewered and misplaced, an oddity in a thousand piece puzzle.

Was it...

No, that's ridiculous.

I had every right to be exhilirated, swept by the moment. Miya was really here, and if things were truly looking up for me, to stay till graduation.

And when that inevitably happened, the possibility of college or university no longer seemed as far-fetched. But that opened a whole other can of worms; what degree to choose?

The easy answer was something involving the arts, specifically music. Though when I thought farther ahead, was it really necessary for my happiness?

I had a successful Zootube channel – unmonetized, by the way, hit re-records of an exotic civilization lost to time and the government's insecurities, adequate skill in both the piano and guitar and...

That was about it.

Enough.

I was content with this platter.

Maybe, in my second or third year, something will happen and change my views.

Until then, I didn't see myself grinding my sleep schedule for a lousy educational extension that would still land me a job at Millennial Burger Place™.

Making buggers...

Bug burgers...

I shivered, returning to the reality I both loathed and embraced.

Arriving at the entrance to the music club, I checked the time and was pleased to discover I had two minutes to spare.

However, I did not enter.

I waited outside till the last second before opening the doors with a boom.

"Heyooo!"

"There you are!" The third year avian exclaimed, "You're late, you know that?"

"No?" I gestured to my left wrist, tapping the traditional spot for a high-end watch I could definitely get courtesy of Miya.

Rolling his eyes, the third year understood the assignment and quickly checked the time for himself.

"Oh... would you look at that."

"In the nick of time, chief! Like always," I grinned, a spot in the center of the members preserved for me.

He replied with a sigh, "'Like always.' Take a seat, Johnny-san, so we may begin."

I obliged, moving towards the empty chair. A nod thrown to this guy, a handshake to that gal, the surrounding familiarity was nice.

I had a thing for avians, apparently.

I had made few enemies, and none were in the birb family.

We were chill like that.

Anyhow, my innocence proven, the chief cleared his throaty throat, stained from his singing, "Now that we are all gathered, I'll explain our role in the Meteor Festival..."