EXISTENCE: Recovery

CHAPTER 21: Technicolor Training

Rym smiled at her friend. "Adam, we already knew they were alive, didn't we?"

Adam sniffled. "Y-yeah...but...but... I got...a letter...!" He was visibly happy beyond words. "He sent me...a letter! And a picture!" He grinned, pulling out the journal and the photo, showing it to the two girls, who grew wide-eyed.

Nadia took the picture in her own hands, a tear rolling down her face. "So 3ami and Juan... they really, really are...?"

Adam nodded, gingerly tucking the photo back inside the journal and wiping his tears away. Rym noticed the small book in his hands. "Adam, what is that?"

Adam placed the journal back inside his pocket. "What's what?"

Rym appeared as though she had something to say, and stopped herself. "Never mind, it's fine." She stood up and offered a hand to Adam, who accepted and rose up from where he sat. She looked over to Nadia. "We're already late."

Nadia looked at Rym for a second and facepalmed. "I'm not trying to ruin my attendance record this year too!" She looked miffed. "Do you know how easy getting an attendance award is? I really wanted one."

Adam pulled out a slip of paper, revealing it to have two more slips of paper. "Here, one for each of you."

The two girls took a slip and read them over, their faces awash with looks of relief. Nadia tucked the paper into her pocket and walked over to Adam and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Appreciate you, khoya." She walked off, looking over to Rym and giving her a wink. Rym went red, quickly waved goodbye to Adam, and trailed off after Nadia.

"W-what was that?!"

Nadia kept walking, looking back at the peach-haired girl smugly. "What, you mean that harmless little peck on the cheek? That got you all flustered?"

Rym hit her on the shoulder. "You know I can't just d-do that!"

Nadia playfully stuck out her tongue. "Aww, look who's catching on!"

The two girls split at another hallway and proceeded to walk to their own classes. As Nadia walked further down her hallway, she stopped just short of the door and looked around. She could hear the sound of music, a piano. She followed the sound of the music and stopped when she got to the music room.

The music room? Nobody at all used this last year...

She took a peak inside and saw Virgil, calmly playing a piece on the school piano. He had a soft smile on his face as his fingers were gliding across the keys. He continued playing, unaware of the girl who was watching over him. It was a unique melody, something she had never heard before. The melody was soft, but defined. It was largely an upbeat tune, she felt. Virgil opened his eyes, noticed the Algerian girl, and cut his playing short.

"What are you doing here?"

Nadia made a face. "Am I not allowed in this classroom now?"

Virgil raised an eyebrow. "Technically you're not, you have a class. Or are you skipping?"

Nadia shook her head. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Free period," confirmed Virgil.

"Tardy slip," confirmed Nadia.

The boy sighed. "Do you always come this prepared?"

Nadia laughed. "Only when I'm dealing with men."

"I don't know if I should feel flattered or just a tad bit concerned."

"Feel both, I couldn't care less. Your feelings don't need to concern me." She started to leave. She paused, and looked back at the British boy. "I do appreciate your talent, though." And with a flourish, she left the classroom, closing the door behind her.