𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 { 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 | 𝟏 }

Chapter 11:Morning

It was a real sunny day, we were chilling in the land

Of the Camperdown Park, nobody had a frown

Reminiscing on the days when we used to have a blaze

Everybody came around and we laxed out on the laze

-Sticky Fingers (Australia Street)

✧✦✧

Kora pov

Last night, they all didn't leave until late, which annoyed me because I was still tired from drinking with Shanks. Pretty much as soon as they left, I threw myself into the bath, and got into bed afterwards. But then people from different countries kept calling me, and asking for things to be done, or other info that I had to pretend that I cared about. I think there were a couple times where I nearly insulted people...and that's the last thing that I wanna deal with.

"Lady Kora, it's time to get up."

I groaned as Anahera reached over, and opened my curtains. I immediately buried myself under the blankets, "Just....five more years...." I sighed. Seconds later, the blankets slipped off my body swiftly, and were in Anahera's arms. Instinctively, I curled myself into a ball. "The bath is ready for you, and I cleaned your uniform last night. For breakfast today, I've prepared Hot chocolate french toast, with macadamia nuts, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a small fruit platter. Additionally, I made a fresh cup of gingerbread coffee."

'Where would I be without Anahera?'

I gave Anahera a tired smile, who was standing there at the foot of my bed, the sheets already folded in my arms. "Thank you, Anahera." She bows, "I'll have it that your breakfast be delivered for you after your bath." Anahera left, taking the sheet with her. "I guess she's replacing it....?" I questioned out loud. I lumbered out of bed, and made my way over to the bathroom attached to my bedroom, taking my phone and my speaker with me.

I undressed myself, chucking my pyjamas out onto the floor of my bedroom. I dipped my foot in, and subsequently let out a relaxed sigh as I fully lowered myself in. The warmth of the bath welcomed me, and immediately made me feel much more awake and aware. I reached over to my phone, and pushed play on my spotify playlist. The first song to start playing was "Caress your soul"

"So I say,"

"I hate when you're away."

"I killed you so you'd stay."

"Cause you would not behave."

"Caress your soul."

I silently hummed along to the music as I scrubbed my skin of any dirt I accumulated from the night. Here and there, my music would stop because more of Fathers allies were sending messages for me to deliver to him. 

'Its a pain sometimes, having to be his damn translator. But hey, no one else will do it.'

Once I was scrubbed clean, I drained the bath, and I wrapped myself up in a fluffy towel. I walk back out to my room, the speaker and my phone in hand. I saw that my room was now clean, and sitting on my made bed was my uniform and my breakfast. "Ooooohhh..." I picked up the gingerbread coffee, and sipped it, "Oh fuck me all that is holy, that's so good.." I hummed, sipping some more.

I placed my cup down, and began dressing myself up for school, the music still softly playing in the background. Once I was all dressed, I sorted through all the messages that I kept getting sent last night and this morning. 

'So...messages from Ukraine, Russia, Portugal and Korea...'

I set to work on translating them all into English, by rewriting all the messages onto a few pieces of paper. Translating it all is annoying, because sometimes I forget the meanings of words, or I misread them. But either way, the job still gets done in the end. Once it was all translated, I gobbled up my breakfast, and downed my coffee, the caffeine and sugar giving me a slight buzz.

✧✦✧

"Father, I received messages last night from some of your guys." I announced. Father sat in his bed, reading the newspaper with his glasses on. Next to his bed, was his empty plate, and a half drunk black coffee. He looked up upon seeing me enter.

"From whom?" He asked. "Oleksander, Andrei, Armando and Hyun Ryu." I answered, handing him all the papers. He read through all of them, frowning occasionally and making a comment under his breath. "They're walking on thin ice for asking for more time." He grumbled. "Well....what do you want me to say? I'm gonna be late for school." I said. "Tell them all that they have one more day, to obtain the items. If they go over, then they should expect death." He growled. I got out my phone, "Aight. I'll see you after school." I called as I walked out of his room.

I've never personally known any of Father's business ties from overseas. I try to not give out information about myself, because some of the people Father works with, have ties to Sabody Archipelago, a giant city that's known for their black market auctions. I've been there a few times, and I never ever want to go back. 

✧✦✧

"Kora!" I turn, and see that Valkiria girl from before jog towards me, her books in her arms. "Yo." I greeted. She gave me a grin, "Mind if I walk with you?" She asked. "Go ahead." I replied.

'I guess I should try and be friends with her. I might even try and help Thatch with his hard out crush on her.'

"What class do you have first?" She asked. "Ahhh..." I racked through my brain to remember what class, "Economics." I replied. "Oh darn, I have History." She replied, "What other subjects do you do?" She asked. "English, Statistics, Art, PE studies with Mr Jinbe, and Chemistry." Valkiria pouted, "I take English, Physics, Advanced Math, PE studies with Mr Rayleigh, History and Music."

'So she's an all rounder.'

"Must suck to have Mr Arlong for Math." I add. "He's very....grumpy." She replied. "He's a grumpy man, ol' fish guts." I muse. Valkiria giggles, "Either way, he's still a good teacher." She said. I smirk, "He can certainly teach a thing or two when he's not raging on about how Fishman politics." Valkiria laughed, "That's true."

'Eh I can see why Thatch has a thing for her. She's easy to talk to.'

"Kora! Valkiria!" We both look, and see Shanks jogging to catch up with us. He looked like he just rolled out of bed, what with how messy his uniform looked. "Late, Shaw Shank? And who was the one that kept saying that I'm never on time?" I teased. "My alarm is shit." He replied sheepishly, standing in-between us. Valkiria giggled into her hand, "Wow, seems like you need a new one maybe?" She asked. Shanks laughed, "If I can afford one."

I could feel my mood go down south as the two chattered away as if they were best friends. I mean, yeah I'd chip in the conversation, but...I just felt left out. 

'I mean, I guess I can't exactly dictate who Shanks can be friends with....and Valkiria seems nice. But I swear to god if they end up being closer than how me and him are, I'm gonna be pissed.'

The bell rang, and I turned to the two. "Time for hell." I joke. "We've got History." Shanks sighed. "Oh, you guys in the same class?" I asked. Valkiria nods, "Yeah, they tried to put us in some of the same classes, so that we weren't alone." She replies. "Yeah, it's been helping out a shit tonne!" Shanks adds. "Oh...yeah that's smart. Well, I better head off to economics. I'll see ya soon." "Bye Kora!"

We parted ways, and my nails were digging into my palms, as I stomped to Economics