C0NV3RG3 (Sequel to M3RG3)

Chapter 3

Sunday

Lyla

Sunday was my favorite day since we had creativity class, the only class where we could do all sorts of projects based on our own inspirations. I picked up my chameleon pencil, preparing to add tints of yellows, reds, oranges and purples to the sunset sky that illuminated the boy's back.

"That's a pretty cool sketch." Rebecca nodded, half smiling in appreciation. "I like the use of colour there."

"Thanks," I nodded absentmindedly. Rebecca soon resumed writing, her fingers flying across the Tabloid.

The boy's chocolate strands were tinged with a soft glow from the sun, and his skin was tanned but smooth. It was until I started drawing the boy's clothes did I realize who it was: Magnus.

But why? We rarely interacted with each other, much less talked. Brushing off the feeling of unease, I continued adding shades of dark and light green to my mountains.

Gradually, my mind shifted back to all those questions that had been haunting my mind since day one. To distract myself from this vicious cycle, I had to list the things I did know about myself and the Republic.

Firstly, my name was Astrid. I had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tall but petite frame.

Secondly, I was part of the Merging Process created and managed by the Republic. As William said, it was all voluntary.

Thirdly, the Republic emerged after the Starvation Period and the defeat of the Revolution, but as Noah said, there wasn't much, if not nonexistent historical evidence about their past.

"Someone's got a little crush," Octavius sniggered, strumming a chord on his guitar.

I glared at him. "Even I don't know why I'm drawing Magnus."

Octavius' eyes widened, and his lips stretched to a mischievous smirk. I stood up, jabbing a finger into Octavius' chest. "Don't you dare."

"Oh, I definitely w-" His head suddenly lolled back, and his eyelids forcefully squeezed themselves shut. A few seconds later, his head lolled forward, and his eyes popped open. He stared back at me, utterly confused.

"What?" He shrugged innocently, strumming another chord on his guitar. What had just happened? Was this what I looked like when I 'blacked out'?

"Octavius?" I asked quietly, watching him pluck a few notes on his guitar. His expression was so innocent that it was almost impossible to believe that this was the boy who was teasing me about my 'crush' a few minutes ago.

"Yeah?" His eyes slid from my face, then to my hand, and finally to my drawing. "What's that?"

"Nothing. It's just a drawing." I shrugged.

"Can I take a look?" Reluctantly, I handed my drawing over to him. Octavius studied the drawing for a while before handing it back to me. "You're really talented, Astrid. It's really good."

My eyes widened involuntarily. That was definitely not what he said a few minutes ago before he 'fainted'. Octavius saw my reaction, and splotches of red appeared on his neck. "Sorry, did you put a lot of effort in it? What I meant to say was that it looked lifelike and-"

"It's okay." I waved him off. "I was just caught off guard."

Octavius shrugged and continued to strum random chords on his guitar. "If you say so."

Discreetly, I pulled out my Tabloid and made a new entry.

Is this how 'blacking out' looks like? Because Octavius' 'fainting' looks eerily similar to a 'blackout'. I guess there are still some people who don't have their schedule nailed down yet.