Metal Heart

Chapter Eight

I arrived to school earlier than usual this morning. When I was about to enter class, I heard a familiar voice.

"Rexer! Wait up," Katrina shouted.

I turned around, my gaze focusing on Katrina, who was panting heavily as if she had been running. Her forehead was covered with sweat. It was funny how humans could sweat after just a little exercise. We Robots never tired out after a few hours of exercise. We just needed to rest our system for proper functioning.

She wore a red shirt and black skinny jeans. Her hair was tied up into a pony-tail. She looked pretty.

"You're early today," she observed. "Hi."

"Uh, yeah I woke up early," I tried to answer as normally as I could. I felt really down today. I tried to hide it.

To tell you the truth, I had news from my father during the night which had kept me awake. He wanted to share news about my mother. She was terribly wounded during an attack on Robotron. Her system was not functioning properly right now and my father was flabbergasted. He hoped it would be able to fix. If it didn't then my mother's existence would come to an end since her robot will stop operating. In human words, she would die.

I sighed and desperately hoped that she healed soon. She was my mother. And at the time of the war, she was my father's only happiness, hope and consolation. If she was gone, I don't think my father would be able to defeat our enemies.

"Rexer.... Where are you lost today?" Katrina's voice jerked me out of my thoughts and I returned her intent look. She was looking at me worriedly and I guessed my expression had given away some of what I was feeling. I smiled at her trying to convince her that I was fine.

"Nowhere," I replied in a normal tone. "You look pretty." I said the first thing that came to my mind, in order to divert her attention away from my tensed mood.

She blushed and her cheeks turned beet root. "Thanks." Her voice sounded shy.

I myself was embarrassed. I'd never said that to a female.

"Hi Katrina." Mitch appeared out of nowhere and embraced Katrina, enthusiastically.

Katrina looked angry and tried to pull away. She was probably mad at him for his treatment towards me yesterday. I felt kind of glad at her loyalty towards me. She was angry at him because of me. I didn't understand why I felt so gleeful at this.

"Could I talk to you for a moment," Mitch asked Katrina, ignoring me.

"Okay," she replied, unwillingly and turned to me and said, "I'll be right back."

A burst of annoyance shot up inside me. What did he want to talk about? I was curious.

I followed her after a moment. When they walked into an empty classroom, I stood outside it, just a few feet away. I turned on my hearing button and my enhanced hearing was activated. I could now make out what they were saying. A wave of guilt swept inside me as I was eavesdropping but I ignored it.

"...sorry for yesterday. I don't know what came over me," Mitch said, his voice was filled with sorrow. "I was stupid. Forgive me."

"It's all right," Katrina's soft voice rang out after a moment. "But if you're mean to Rexer again, remember our friendship is going to end."

"I won't," Mitch assured her.

As they turned to leave, Mitch asked, "...will you go to the homecoming with me."

When he asked her, I don't know why but I felt like activating the destroy button and blasting him off into a million pieces.

Before Katrina could reply, he continued, "I mean as friends of course."

"I was going with Rexer," Katrina replied. Her answer kind of relieved me and the urge to destroy Mitch disappeared. Funny.

"...But you could join us. We could go as a group."

"Oh. Sure" Mitch didn't sound that happy, though.

Their conversation ended, just as the first bell rang, signaling all of us to hurry for class.

***​

It was lunch time, finally. Earth school tended to be extremely slow, sometimes. The teacher droned on and on and everyone had to take notes. I just wasn't used to it yet. It was a never-ending process. Back home, we had different methods of studying which were much faster than the methods here.

In the cafeteria Katrina called me to sit with her. She had a glass in her hand and as I made my way towards where she stood, a horrifying mishap took place. Somebody bumped into her. The glass slipped and shattered into pieces. I rushed to her side in an instant.

"Oh no," the girl who had bumped into her said. She had a panicked expression and trembled as she apologized. "I'm so sorry. It was an accident."

"It's okay. It's okay." Katrina consoled her. I looked at her hand and saw red blood gushing out of her finger.

"Ouch," Katrina winced in pain. She gasped when she saw the blood on her hand.

Something twisted in my gut when I saw the painful expression on her face and I wanted to do something to make it go away.

I clutched her wounded hand in mine. "It's bleeding." I looked at Katrina as she whimpered in pain.

I hated watching her usaully cheerful face contorted with pain.

Mitch arrived at the moment and after comprehending the scene, said, "Katrina, it's okay. Let's take you to the nurse." He gripped the other hand. "I'll take her." He said to me.

"I'll take her. You don't need to waste your free time," I replied instantly. I hated the thought of leaving Katrina like this.

"No, I'll take her. You could enjoy the free period." Mitch intruded, pulling Katrina's arm. They started moving. Watching her in pain, I decided I couldn't leave her and followed. She was my friend after all.

At the sick room, the nurse took Katrina to check her up and motioned us to stay at the back.

I watched the nurse as she wrapped her finger with bandage, wiping away the blood with tissue and applying some kind of ointment along the way.

"It's okay dear. The cut was minor. There is no need for stitches." The nurse rattled, trying to distract Katrina from the pain.

I sighed in relief. It was not a serious injury. Katrina would be alright.

The bell rang and the nurse asked one of us to stay with Katrina and the other to leave.

Mitch out-right refused, and I thought about leaving but couldn't. Both of us wanted to stay with her so the nurse made the choice for us. Fortunately, it was in my favour. Unfortunately, someone had to go. It was still fortunate for me.

"Mitch, go to class. Rexer, stay with Katrina and help her to her next class." I grinned. Mitch's disappointed expression cheered me. I couldn't figure out why.

Mitch looked vexed but in a calm manner said to me, "Take care of her."

I guess he was taking Katrina's advice seriously.

When Mitch left, I grabbed Katrina's hand and said, "Let's go."

Together we left for the next class. I didn't release her hand.