Red

Chapter 2: The New Kid in Seychel Orphan

Earlier: “Then can we at least play again? I hope to see you again, Alfred!” She said as she yelled; making Alfred to stop his step and turned his head to her to think about her offer to see her again.

Without thinking much, Alfred just replied, “…Sure.”
“Okay! Then see you tomorrow!”

------------------------------------------------------------

Meeting her for the second time, huh? Maybe the earlier encounter with her wasn’t that bad. Maybe it was time for me to be nice to someone without faking it. Without much thought, I just smiled and hoping to see her. But part of me doubted that I will get to meet her again. Ah, well, I was always doubtful anyway.

As I continued to think, I walk my way back to Seychel Orphan once again. I even forget to visit my secret base. Instead of going to my secret base, I talked to the girl. Instead of being harsh and grumpy to her, I was awkward and happy. I was laughing instead of rolling my eyes in annoyance at her awful remarks. I wasn’t expecting to see someone like her. Someone who doesn’t keeps bugging me about my past. Instead of being pushed on the edge and was forced to spill my past like Mother Bessie, I told that little girl myself. I opened myself to her; I was like an open book. It was as if she can understand me. But unfortunately, I didn’t. I can’t read her. Maybe for once, life will give me fun surprises. Who knows what came after me might be, right?

Anyways, I just hope to see her again. If life continues to be like this for forever, it would really please me. I thought and thought until I was at the front door of Seychel Orphan. And when I realized that I am being in too deep to my thoughts, I just sighed. I do that again. Thrice of doing it today.

I take off my shoes and placed them to the shoes rack and casually slid into the Seychel Orphan; there I could see Mother Bessie with someone else. More like a person that is around my age but just slightly older or so I thought.

“Welcome back, Al. How was your day?” She asked me casually.

“Yeah, thanks. And it was…fine,” I said as I look up to her.

She blinked and then stares long at me—wait, why would she stares to me that much? Is there something on my face or what?

“Alfred, you look genuinely happy today. Did something good happen?”

Taken back by her question, I furrowed at her. “Huh? What do you mean? I mean, I just looked like my normal self.”

“No. You smiled slightly when I greet you at the door.” She answered as she giggled at me.

“No, you must be imagining things.” I sighed as I give a hint that I am tired of this conversation.

“Haha, I have known you deep enough to know what your face makes when you are genuinely happy.”

“Well, maybe I admit that today was…quite fun,” I said, not meeting Mother Bessie’s eyes, afraid of her teasing me. “Quite.”

“Haha, well, that’s enough for now, I guess.”

“Good, then I shall take my leave—“

“Wait, Al!” Mother Bessie said, stopping Alfred’s step.

Hearing that his name was called, he turned around to Mother Bessie. There was hesitant in his eyes, “…Yes?”

“Have you met Cedric that was right beside me here?” She smiled and pointed to the child right beside her.

Huh, the slightly looked older kid that I noticed earlier was named Cedric? Well, we probably won’t be getting along well.

So, I don’t really care with Mother Bessie’s suggestion to be friend with him.

“I haven’t. So what?” I said, sighing.

“Well, please introduce each other then, Al and Cedric. Who knows you both might get along well!” She said in a chirping tone.

Stares.

That was the first thing we do when Mother Bessie forced us to be acquainted. The room was filled with silence as both of us continue to stares; not knowing of what to say.

“…I’m Cedric.” The slightly older kid spoke first and breaks the silence.

“…I’m Alfred.”   I replied to him, just giving out my name.

“Nice to be your acquaintance.” Cedric said and then later let out a sigh.

“Now, now, the two of you please be nicer to each other! I bet you have a lot in common.” Mother Bessie said.

“…Maybe.” We both said at the same time, eyes completely off to each other.

“Well, see you each other in the dining room! Its dinner time, you know. Lots of delicious food is waiting for you.” Mother Bessie said as she giggles and then she off to the dining room.

When the time dinner was over, I quickly went off to my bedroom. After I arrived in my bedroom, my eyes instantly on the clock in my bedroom and showed that it was only have been past 8 p.m. There was two hours left before the Mothers in the Seychel Orphan ordered us all to go to sleep. So, to make time flew more quickly, I decided to go to the library; my favorite place to spend most of my time.

At the library, I mostly read thick books such as literature books that Mother Bessie told me that it was called “Novel”(s). But sometimes I read complicated textbook too. I was mostly interested in where they’re describing about the animals and flowers.

My favorite novel’s genre was mostly about world-peace, sappy romance, mystery, action and last but not least, a fantasy novels. I read drama novels sometimes, too.

When I read all novels book about world-peace, I can’t help but always overthinking what was on the author’s mind to write such things? How can the main character always be so optimism? When the world is falling apart, the main character act like nothing happened. And then encourage their friends to not give up so easily.

Anyways, I walk my way to the library. When I opened the door to the library, I found the new kid there. He’s just casually reading, sitting. And he’s all alone.

I wonder why he is here of all place though? Doesn’t he have any friend?
Ah, maybe he’s just shy of introducing himself and he hasn’t suit himself into the new surroundings. Well, not that I care anyway.

I casually slid in and pick a book from the bookshelf. I picked the one with the title, “The Life of An Immortal”. The cover was a mythology creatures mourning over someone’s death. The book seems interesting so I picked it and then take a sit.
------------------------------------------------------------
Cedric’s point of view:

An hour has passed and I noticed the new kid just sit with a book on his hand. And I stares a bit at his book and then I noticed that he’s been reading the novel “The Life of An Immortal”; one of my favorite novel. I want to approach the kid to ask what made him interested in reading the book, so I did.

“Why did you read the book?” I said without mentioning his name.

Silence was the only one who replied him.

After five minutes, Alfred only later noticed that Cedric was talking to him.
“Huh? Were you talking to me?”

Sigh. Well, who else I would be talking to? The only person in this room is only us—you, Alfred, and me, Cedric. But I didn’t reply to him like that. I pity the poor boy more than to reply to his dumb question.

“I was.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“What did you ask earlier?”

“I said, why did you read the book?” I said, sighing.

“Oh, this book?” he said, pointing to the book.

“Well, it seems interesting so I read it anyway.” Alfred replied casually, as he shrugged in shoulder. With that kind of 'I don't care' face.

“What makes you interested in it?”

“The cover and the title.”

“Why?”

“…Would mind stop asking me soooo many question about the book and let me continue reading it? If you cannot stop babbling, just go out. The library was supposed to be a quiet place.” Alfred said, sighing.

What a grumpy kid.

“Fine. I was just curious.”  I said, sighing and huffing as I left the library to give him the space he wants.

The Cedric guy was too curious about why I read this book. Is this book wasn’t popular in the first place? Well, popular or not, it can keep me entertained so it was fine.

After an hour has passed before my eyes, I must head back to my room before the Mothers yell at me again.

After I arrived in my room, I quickly changed my clothes to my pajamas and then I drifted off to sleep. I cannot wait for to tomorrow to arrive so I can meet the girl again. She was my friend.

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

The sound of chirping birds can be heard nearby and that noisy sound wake me up in an instant. I get up and was feeling annoyed and a bit woozy because I haven’t got enough of sleep last night. Even though I have slept about 8 hours. Still, 8 hours of sleep wasn’t enough for me.

Anyways.

I glare at the noisy birds.

“So noisy in the morn—“

“Wakey wakey! It’s morning already! Time to get up, everyone!” The sound of one of the Mothers ‘yelling’ at us to get up from our bed and get ready for breakfast.

I groan.

“…Why so early?” I said, sighing.

I begrudgingly got up from my bed and then proceed to take a bath, brush my teeth and then change my clothes.
My clothes for today are a red t-shirt matching with a black jean. I also wore my hoodie because today is a bit cold. After that I left my bedroom to go to the dining room to have breakfast.

There I sit at the farthest sit from anyone else. But then… that guy from yesterday sits across from me.

Sighing, I muttered, “Why?”

“What why?”

“Why do you have to sit across from me?” I rolled my eyes in annoyance to the said guy, Cedric.

“Why does it bother you so much?” he said, sighing too.

“Because everyone else would rather not sit than to have sat by my side. Not only that, I find you quite annoying.” I closed my eyes and just ignored his existence completely.

“What a childish response.” He said, staring at me.

“…Don’t tell me you’re still pouting because I bug you yesterday.” He said, sighing.

“Breakfast for today is ratatouille with scrambled eggs you can add and there are also pancakes for anyone who doesn’t want the ratatouille. The syrup for the pancakes is a maple syrup!” One of the Mothers said, telling us to go get the breakfast and eat.

“Don’t talk to me as if you know me completely.” I said as I left him to go get the pancake syrup and then pour the maple syrup to the pancake.

“Whatever. I won’t bother.” Cedric said as he left me to go get his breakfast. He picked the ratatouille one, it seems.

Oh, well…

After this, I will just go to my secret base… Who knows if I might bump into her again?

Wait, what was her name again? 

Well, I can get her name if I bump into her again…

Hopefully…

The clock shows that it’s now 10 o’clock past 40 minutes. I hurriedly went out from the Seychel Orphan. As usual, I spot the two very annoying gossiping woman in front of their front porch. I tried to continue my walk but something they said attract me.

“I heard that the little girl from the R’s family came home late, so they might move out from this town.” The first adult woman said to her friend, starting the conversation.

“That’s unreasonable, don’t you think?” the second adult woman said, furrowing her eyebrows.

“The rumors said that she get along with a boy around her age in this town.”

“That’s an absurd reason to move out…” the second adult woman said, she sighed.

“Well, their world is different from ours so we can’t really blame them.”

“What an arrogant family. Who do they think they are…?” the second adult woman said as she raises her voice in an annoyance.

“Well, their money is what makes them top.”

“’Guess so.” 

Who is this little girl from the R’s family that attract me so much that I am willing to listen to these two annoying gossiping woman? And who is that boy she gets along to?

Ah, annoying trivia and rumors… I don’t really want to know. But something about her ‘moving out’ from this town kind of makes me…anxious? I feel like part of me knows this girl…but the question is, do I?

To be continue