The Worthy

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN
Go!

Cassandra
SNAP HERE, SNAP THERE. Crouch a bit, crawl even. Find a subject, don't get caught. Stay hidden, get the right angle. Honestly, I longed a calming moment like this.

I connected to a stream of people of my lifework, heading to the university canteen. More like, universal canteen. It's not more than two streets down. Cinder block, two stories high, and behind lies the first and secondary schools. There used to be a portable canteen by our headquarters, but was abolished for some odd reason.

I shuffled in peace to get in line, and grabbed whatever there was for lunch. A plate of white pasta with basil leaves plus a glass of iced tea would do well to fill up my system.

There were plenty of seats and tables in this cafeteria, but guess what? Our population was increasing. I struggled to find any vacant seat (even if a stranger was seated, I'd sit by him/her). Each table were crammed for about six to eight persons in such a way you wouldn't move your elbows. I was about to cave in to find a five-person table to cram in, until I found one, right at the very corner of the massive room, with two seats, and only one occupant.

It was weird, because not one had ever occupied a table for himself. And nobody had so far wanted to share tables with him.

As I was approaching that table, a high pitched voice called my attention. "Hey Cassie! What's up?" she pat my back, and I was careful not to spill my drink.

"Erhm- the sky? Or ceiling, for this matter?" I replied with slight annoyance, (someone might take that seat over by now.) She laughed, although I didn't expect her to, and it was almost echoing. "Uh, can I excuse myself? I have to get-"

"Wait, Cassie! Have you heard? They will be announcing another Address today, only that the Queen shall do it. What time, I don't know. Just be alert and-"

Then a girl of her type greeted her, in the same enthusiasm and chatted, leaving me thankfully forgotten. I happily took this opportunity to slip away. Then I turned to the direction of the one-occupant table and walked fast.

It was definitely a him, assuming from his broad shoulders and arms. Though he was skinny that his jacket sleeves marks his thin and muscled biceps. As I neared, he was slouching-- and wasn't facing me. I awkwardly stood across from him.

"Don't mind if I sit here?" I asked, "A bit crowdy today, isn't it?"

In return he just jerked his head, still low. He was young, I was guessing he was thirteen or fourteen like me. With his grayish blue sweatshirt, it was obvious he's an Extra, too.

To my relief, he hadn't cast a glance on me, which was absolutely fine because I somehow fear staring into eyes of unfamiliar ones with uncertainty and utter awkwardness. So I kept my head down, too.

There's only ten minutes left till we got back to shifts. I finished, but the man I shared tables with stayed there. At some, no, many points while eating, an eerie aura was somehow cast within him. There was no doubt he had seen me, watched me, in my every move. As if a spy would. But why isn't he eating? Maybe he's done and felt lazy to go back to shift.

Or maybe interested in watching me, I didn't know. Before worst-case scenarios rush my head, I quickly got up for good.

The crowd had thinned that a slight breeze could be felt on the thinnest layer of skin. I had almost forgot one thing: I stood behind a wall post, not too far from the hooded young man, and snapped a photo of him. You'd never know you might need it. Though his face couldn't be seen, at least I could say I shared tables with him and his weird aura.