Astra Chronicles

Chapter 11: House Rules

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"Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist," ―Pablo Picasso

Year 2113. The Archives, Central Library. Academia Astra, A City.

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"So, tell me, what brings you here?"

Tram tilted his head a little, while he sat on the table beside me. Quietly, he leaned towards me and placed the magazine some inches apart from my hand.

It was a simple action from him but it already caused my heart to skip a beat.

I guess I was a goner.

I caught a mild scent of Tram's shampoo as he moved about.

'He smelled so good.'

When he adjusted himself back to his short sitting position, his eyes were fixated on my face, likely observing me.

Unknown to him, the intensity of his gaze was more than enough to wreck my composure and raise havoc in my brain. Tram's proximity was making me nervous.

I wondered what he thought of me.

A random little girl.
In the off-limit Archives.
With a men's magazine.

"Uh-uhm," I muttered, feeling an alien kind of pressure to act like a 'proper' girl.

I was wishing I could converse nicely with him and make a good impression. Or salvage whatever decency was left of my image to him. But I guess the force was not with me.

I struggled to compose myself. But my thoughts did not make sense. They stopped functioning minutes ago after getting overwhelmed by his presence.

Creasing my eyebrows together, I desperately tried to think of anything witty or intelligible to say. To lighten up the mood.

Unfortunately for me, it seems all the knowledge I once pride myself with had deserted me.

The handsome boy beside me offered a gentle smile, seemingly conditioned to handle situations like mine. And like the rumored role model he was, Tram patiently nodded at me as if to encourage me and say that it was okay.

That gesture somewhat calmed my nerves. Perhaps he was used to seeing girls who were helplessly ogling him in star-struck awe.

"Tram," I managed to call him, mustering up as much courage as I could. "I was looking for something to read."

He arched a brow at my pathetic answer but did not say anything. Clearly, he was expecting a better answer. I mentally hit myself.

Something to read? That was the best I could come up with?

Even I was disappointed at myself.

Of course, I was searching for some reading material. We were in a library and people who come here were meant to read.

Obviously.

I cleared my throat, "It was loud near my unit. I needed a peaceful and quiet place."

"Which is why you climbed to the Archives?" Tram's smile widened into a grin with a glint of naughtiness.

"To peacefully read that kind of stuff?" He added playfully.

I coughed at his implication, choking on thin air and embarrassment. The magazine was most certainly. . . too 'adult' for me.