J.ade, A.ir D.efying E.lementalist

VIII:The Challenge

Chapter 8 - The Challenge

The maze’s entrance is three steps toward us when Jay stops us from going any further. 

“Hey, shouldn’t we have a decent lunch first?” 

“Yeah, I agree. We haven’t eaten apart from our breakfast and lots of water from fruits.” Gale supports his brother. 

“Yes. I was thinking about that too,” Chesca says. 

I seem out of options, not that I wouldn’t want to eat, so I just nod and let them lead the way to a restaurant.

The small place is no less packed than outside. People chug beer on one corner, on another they eat roasted chicken, on another a group of kids share a cake. We sit on the seat next to the window, where the very tall green hedges of the maze is our view. I can’t seem to take my eyes off it. It looks scary and cool at the same time. 

A waitress approaches and gives us the menu, we get roasted half-chicken and four iced teas for only a hundred and twenty Russos. No wonder why this place is packed. 

“Thank you! Your meal will be here in a few minutes, Good day!” the waitress says brightly and went to another table where a family awaits her service. 

“One-hundred and twenty Russos only?!” Gale exclaims.

“Pretty cheap, huh? I hope it’s delicious,” I reply 

“Whether it isn’t it is still cheap beyond cheap. Half a chicken costs a hundred and fifty Russos you know and that is not even cooked yet,” Jay says. I hold my breath. I didn’t know how expensive a chicken would be, I never go to the market and meal is always ready when I need it. Ugh, I am such a brat, I thought. 

“In my country, a half costs two hundred Russos. We only get to taste chicken if the elders decide to throw a party, and that doesn’t happen until we are truly starving or if it is a VERY special holiday that my parents get their monthly salary doubled,” Chesca tells us, which made my guilt multiply tenfold. To compensate I gesture a stop sign and say, 

“I think I’ll pay.” 

Three brows lift up in a questioning stance. 

“Don’t go eyebrow-attacking me.” I defend myself with my hands in mock gesture. They relax but still the question-mark look didn’t leave their faces.          

“I’ll pay,” I clearly say for the second time and get a handful of coins from my pocket not worrying if I have no money left in my pocket. Leo dropped a stout purse in my bag awhile ago, thinking I am not looking, he knows I will not accept the purse if he gave it to me directly. 

Gale counts the coins. 

“Okay. As you wish, we will take care of the remaining twenty-seven Russos to be paid,” Gale says smiling. 

“No,” I say firmly looking at Chesca fumbling on her purse. I risk taking out the purse Leo dropped and was shocked to see it bloated of money. I hide it quickly but not quick enough for them to not see the money-filled purse. 

“I think you should keep that in your bank.” Jay speaks. 

I roll my eyes and tell them it is not my money but Leo’s, in attempt to hide the fact that my family is rich. 

“You’re the humblest person I know,” Chesca says. I hide my head in frustration. Not at Chesca but by how unfair wealth is distributed. I wish I could give Chesca some of mine. Ugh, scratch that I wish I am not rich, though I don’t long to be poor. Just enough to relate to the real world.