The Real RPG of Life Series: Memoirs of Friendship [FIN]

Chapter 18: A Helping Hand (Chris)

Ever since I heard what had happened to Natasha the past few weeks, I wondered how she was doing. I wanted to do something; something that would at least let her be at ease. It was the same as last time, when I felt powerless and not being able to change anything.

I was reaching my own limits, and I dislike this feeling of being unable to do any action. Even during classes, I was trapped inside my thoughts. Looking at Erica and Penelope, they seem to be in the same boat as me. We all worry about Natasha, but what to do next, that was what we were trying to figure out.

I wanted to talk to someone about it, someone who’d give me a listening ear to ask what I should be doing next. Coincidentally, I found someone. It was during dismissal, Sir Hank called both me and Brianna to help him carry out some stacks of paper to his desk in the faculty. After doing so, we both find ourselves going home together.

“So, not gonna get picked up by your dad today?” I ask Brianna.

“Yeah, he said he’ll be late at a meeting somewhere and said I just go home alone today.”

“I see…”

“So, about our duel…” Brianna brings the topic back up and was hoping for a reaction coming out of me only to notice me being deep in my thoughts.

“Uh, Chris?”

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” I shrug myself and soon focus on Brianna, who gives me a concerned look.

“Hey, are you alright Chris?”

“W-what kind of question is that? Of course!”

“Hey, I just mentioned about our duel and you didn’t even react. I know something’s going on.” If I would think of one thing that made Brianna her was that she was quite a keen observer.

She was immediately liked by everyone in class because of this, helping out some of our classmates during times of need. Others might not notice it, but she does as if she was always watching us from somewhere up above and stepping down to help us during those times we were in a pinch.

Sighing and accepting my own defeat to hide my worries against her, I speak up.

“Okay, you got me. I am thinking about something.”

“Yep, I can see that.” Pointing over the convenience store near our school, she continues, “A soda would do nicely while we talk about it.”

After buying drinks, we both sat down and I pondered about what things I should tell her.

“Okay out with it, Chris. What’s this problem of yours?” Brianna pops open her canned soda and takes a sip.

“Hmm… well, there’s this friend of mine, who’s… getting a lot of trouble because...”

“Because?”

“Because someone’s doing some crazy stuff making it look like it’s my friends doing and I’m kinda lost on what I should do to help.”

“This friend of yours… is it someone close to you?” Brianna asks.

“Y-yeah.”

“I see… has this friend of yours tried asking for help?”

I scoff and reply, “Knowing her, she’d… try to keep it all inside.”

“So… this friend’s a she huh?” Brianna looks at me mischievously.

“T-that’s besides the point! Anyway, she doesn’t want to tell anyone since she hates worrying other people.”

“But… doesn’t that make other people worry about her?”