Comeuppance

Chapter 3 - Swollen Knee

I was surprised to see that he was one of the guys who tried to stop the girls from hurting me. Thought he'd cheer these girls to avenge him.

I noticed the strong pressure building up in the atmosphere. Cade is not even talking but the pressure's all coming from him. I did my best to stand and when I did... He looked at me, down to my knees, he looked so worried.

"Cade, it's already lunch time." I said and smiled.

"Kipween, are you defending this b***h?"

"No."

I think this is the ever first time I felt scared of him like this. He's always a go with the flow type, you have no problem approaching him or even reaching onto him but I never knew he has some sort of hidden side like this. Well maybe it is because it's my first time seeing him this mad. He really looks scary and hot at the same time. Just as I expected what a fictional boy would do. I smiled.

"Then what the heck do you think you're doi---"

"One more word and I'll make certain that it'll be your last."

My attention shifted onto the other guy holding the arm of the girl as well. My eyes narrowed while looking at him and as usual, he's always looking like some cold boy. He's really morally ill. Imagine defending some jerk like him and that's what you get in return.

Even with my pained knee, I still tried to turn to him and face him. "You know, this girl right here hurt me in order to defend you. It was wrong to hurt other people but to think they did it for you, shouldn't you at least minimize your rudeness?" I looked at him and threw him that question.

Cade's face calmed down. He instantly provided assistance in order for me to walk. I smiled. Hayst I got scared for a few minutes there. I thought he was really sooo maddd that he would hurt a girl.

So we went out of the classroom and of courseee yeyy, we went to the cafeteria like I was already starving in the classroom awhile ago but because of the tension, I probably uhm kinda didn't feel it but now I am so feeling it.

When we really got in the cafeteria, it was so oh amazinggggg, for some reason the only words I could think about whenever I see new things here in this world is the word amazing well it is legit amazing, it is like a 5 star hotel in my world and the foodsssss, hmmm I can smell the way it smells so gooodddd, and my stomach is now vibrating as if it was Nokia Mobile Phone.

It's like an eat all you can restaurant! And my excitement dropped by 3% now that I realized I just have to stay put and sit coz I couldn't walk properly and I'll only become Cade's burden if I insist to go with him and so I am just here waiting, looking around at how many students are here, it's really noisy but wow, it's just like a fairy tale life come true.

I wonder what foods Cade goottt for meeee, I meean us? Heheheh. Well after all of these years, we've been friends, hanging out together, I know for sure that he knows for sure what foods I like ehe, I even memorized all of those foods we've been ordering before whenever he takes me out to eat somewhere. 

When he arrived and got back, a waiter was offering him a hand to help him carry the trays of our foods. Cade placed a tray in front of me and then the waiter placed the tray on the other side of the table and I'm guessing it's Cade's.

He thanked the waiter and bowed. I also bowed and smiled at the waiter who bowed at us and then left us.

My stomach vibrating even got louder now that I've all of these foods Cade got me, it has lots of beeeeef. I know that Cade knows I love beef, it is my favorite food after all especially beef bulalo.

"いただきます" (translation: Let's eat!" he said as he took the chopsticks. As expected,  his plate is filled with california maki, sushi and a lot of seafoods. I looked for that one thing Cade always loved and liked but it is nowhere to be found which sounds a little impossible. Hah?! Don't tell me some foods in my world aren't present in this world?!

"Where's the shrimp?" I looked at him and asked.

"They ran out of it." he said with disappointment all over his tone as he scratched the back of his head.

"Awww yoouuu poor thing, here just have some of this soup, beef bulalo, you got me a load of it but of course I can manage to finish it but yeah I'll just share it with you." 

He smiled and he looked so good as they are some ray of sunlight shining on him, he's shining so brightly. "If you insist." I smiled coz duh I knew he loves beef bulalo too. Before when we were younger, I didn't know how to speak the Filipino Language because I originally speak using the Cebuano Language or so called Bisaya, so whenever me and my cousins and Cade with us would play, we never had the chance to understand each other, he was speaking using the Filipino Language while I was speaking using Bisaya and we always quarreled coz he kept calling me ugly.

But then we were able to talk well and understand each other when we found out we both can speak English, then eventually as I grow, I learned speaking using the Filipino Language because I was slowly adapting to our new hometown.

"Those girls.. What more did they do to you?" he asked.

"Nothing els---"

"Can you look into my eyes while answering?" he asked and so I did it, I just got used to obeying almost everything he tells me to do. I noticed his light brown pupil with curvy eyelashes that you would think he paid for it and his thick eyebrows.

"So yeah, they were only defending what they love and I was also defending myself."

Crap! Damn bitches, Xavion's fangirls are really known to be aggressive but wtf happened anyways that would cause them to pick on her?

I stared at his eyes and was that my imagination? It was his voice. I didn't see him open his mouth.. But I definitely heard it.

He stared at my eyes and smiled.

You can hear me. I see what's on your thoughts.

I was surprised because he's definitely just smiling but I can hear him! I can hear his voice.

Can I really hear you? Am I not hallucinating things? I thought of this loudly to make sure that he hears it.

He nodded and I could feel my heart beat so loud and fast. What is happening... I can't believe this.

No need to be so nervous.. Chill.

I can feel excitement all over me, I smiled. Argh it's just so cool! Didn't know everyone including mere humans like me could've this ability! Omg now I really feel like I'm in a fictional world!

And the lunch time ended and we just kept talking without having to use our mouth, just minds. And that was just literally the coolest thing I've ever done. He once again walked me to my classroom and the classes started. 

----------

Yumegenchi's Point of View

"Where the hell did you trip?!"

"This looks bad."

"Nurse, what happened to Yume?"

I took a good look at my knee that I don't even know why it's hurting and is even swelling! I don't remember tripping anywhere.

"Could it have been from last night?"

I tried to remember the things I did that would've been the cause for me to get this injury. Last night.. nothing, really nothing, I wasn't doing anything that could harm me, I was just awake but I never stood up from my bed coz I was trying to get some sleep and my bed is soft as it is. Where could I have possibly injured my knee?

"We were together all this time but you never saw me tripped right?" the question really sounds stupid but hell yeah I took all the courage to ask that.

"Yeah never but what about on your way here? Who knows? You might've tripped and you're just shy to admit."

I winced. Shy to admit? Duh. What am I? 6 six years old? And I could've felt the pain if this took place awhile ago but I did not.

This whole thing is making me so weirded out ugh! What is happening to me? Am I going crazy? It was never foretold that such things could happen to me. And I wouldn't have loosen up my guards if someone attacked me.

"I never did. You might as well go back to class, tell the professors to excuse me as well thanks in advance." I said to them and just covered my body with blanket. And I just felt that they already went out because I couldn't sense them anymore.

Every room is airconditioned in this school and even without aircon, it'll still be cold, we'll only be sweating during our PhyEd and Prowess Classes.

I'm still wearing my other knee sock and my swollen knee caught my attention once again. Where did you come from? I never had you. I never tripped and no one could ever bruise me like this. Duh as if talking to it will get you answers, Yumegenchi, stop being so stupid.

For so long, we never had transferees, we had dropouts but this year, we got two transferees.

That new student is really something. I saw the concealers. I knew from that moment, she wasn't someone who can be underestimated, also the way she talked to Xavion and Chace...

Well she's new but she could've possibly felt that Xavion and Chace are people of superiors. Just the normal pressure from them could drive someone crazy.

Xavion is the School President and Chace is the Vice President. I don't care about Chace, he's just some useless jerk, I don't even know why he got elected maybe because of his fans. I have my guards tightened around Xavion.

Most people have an angelic facade, have veener composure but we never know what kind of malice hides behind those but Xavion is different, he's that guy who's already scary to look at for normal people and is actually really scary.

He's the school president, he is strict, and not just strict, he excuses no one as well. I hate getting involved with them, and awhile ago, it was the first time I felt like I felt a bit nervous maybe I was just too compassionate to that newbie.

Anyhow, Chace is really annoying.

"Yum, may I ask what happened?" I looked at Nurse Riesila.

"The swell in your knee isn't something so serious and shouldn't be taken lightly as well, do you know what I mean? I called Raijen and he's on his way."

"You shouldn't have! I mean didn't you just say that this isn't so serious?" I can see that she's worried but calling my brother is a little too much.

"You need to rest.." She said as she held my knee and took a good look at it again.

"Tell me the truth, you.. tripped.. no need to be shy" she said.

"Nope, if I did then my guards would've helped me or taken me here instantly, otherwise they'd be fired."

"hmmm.. Fine but here take this medicine, it will somewhat lessen the pain, wait I'll be right back."

I did as I was told and few minutes later, I can already tell he's here. His pressure is almost 5x stronger than Xavion's and Chace's.

And then the weather changed, he's enraged and must've thought someone hurt me. I placed my hand on my head. Ugh, the aptitude of people's comprehension for me is just seemingly low, they wouldn't get it! I told you it was a bad idea to have him here!

---------

Koukishin's Point of View

The next subject teacher arrived and several chairs were left vacant which means there are a few more students who didn't attend the class or maybe they're just late who knows.

I instantly caught the scents of the people coming. The door opened and they were trying to catch their breath. I never knew people in fictional world can also be late but hehe maybe it's also too much to assume that everything could really go perfectly as it is but they could've used their magical powers right? Like Cade! Ah! Cade's magic was just so cool, he was literally disappearing and reappearing everywhere and that was just cool.

"Class A students must not have any tardiness. Any excuses?" the teacher asked as the students sat down on their chairs, they were still sweating and trying to catch their breath but really wow, must not have any tardiness, well to think of it, they have magical powers that they could use to make things easier for them to transfer from one place to another, to do that and this so yeah maybe I could understand that they're expecting perfect students huh but what about me? 

"We took Yumegenchi to the clinic, Miss."

She paused, probably shocked I think. I just realized how beautiful she is. She even has blonde hair.

"What happened to Tengukonoshi?"

Tengukonoshi? Could she be that girl who helped me awhile ago? Oh my I wonder what happened to her...Miss Beautiful, who's gonna make me gae for her any moment if I kept staring too much.

"She strangely got injured for no reasons."

"She has a swollen knee but she doesn't even know why she has it."

Hala. She doesn't even know why? But why doesn't she know why? Maybe she tripped just like what happened to me awhile ago. This school got some weird floor. You'll totally lose your bone even if you didn't really fall hard. 

"I see. But you're still marked as late." she said as she stole a glance at the other transferee and then me.

"Care to introduce yourselves, newbies?"

The other transferee instantly spoke. "Nazkiel Lombardi"

I did as well and finally didn't stutter anymore ehe, I'm starting to suspect that I was too hungry and that's why I couldn't speak well awhile ago.. "Analyseana Vanidestin."

"I am Araziya Larson, your Social Science teacher."

Wow even her name is beautiful, it suits her so well. I wonder why there are lots of beautiful things in this world. Maybe it really works like that if it's a fictional world.

And then she started telling us some things. Histories about this place. So the name of this place is Ninfea and it came from this and that which made them come up with the word Ninfea and yeah yey I was listening.

"This may just be a myth but I am pretty sure you have heard of the story of a god who fell in love with a demon."

I noticed how the classroom started to get noisy because of the whispers, it's weird I can hear what they're saying. I can't relate but is it bad that I am curious about it? I mean the story sounds interesting but stories like that don't really end well.

"You there..." I could hear my heart beat beating so fast and loud. "M-Me?" I said as I looked at her while pointing myself.

"Yes, you. What do you think is the outcome of a god and demon falling in love?"

I paused to think. What could be the outcome? There are lots of this type of fictional story in the human world, it is like you and me against the world because it is forbidden and could bring a lot of unhealthy changes to them and to their environment. There are stories in which it ends well but if this world is their reality and some sort of fantasy like that really happened, it just seem impossible to me. 

"I-I think it's forbidden." I answered and I could feel my hands getting cold.

Everyone looked at me, probably wondering why I answered that well in fact in this world, nothing is really impossible. It's because for me, those types of love doesn't have a designated destination and would just cause a riot.

"Why?"

"Because for me.. A love like that has no direction even if you have countless maps."

"What if you find out, you're a fruit of that forbidden tree, what are you going to do?"

What would I possibly do if ever I'm a result of a love like that? Demon and God? Can it really be? I don't think it can even bear a fruit. That kind of love causes self-destruction before it could even reproduce.

I mean I know that this is a fictional world. Nothing is impossible here but still a love like that is a no for me.

"I don't really know.... I don't think I can't even dare to look at myself or I du---"

"You.. Why would you even say such thing when you're just a transferee? What do you know about that kind of love?" a classmate of mine instantly threw a question and she sounded a little mad or maybe not just little but really really mad that made me feel so hot but my hands were cold and I can only hear the sound of my heart beat.

"Chill your ass, Janinah, it was just her opinion." another classmate of mine spoke.

"I don't recall being close enough to call me by my first name, Ms. Rostingdias." answered by the girl whose name is probably Janinah. Wah, they're really really scary. Even the names are of big dealllll and they seem like they're always ready to fight any minute. My, as much as possible, I don't wanna get myself involved in those kind of things.

I just realized I would drag Cade down, he can't keep living worrying about me. I don't have any magical abilities like them, it wouldn't be the same for me.

"I am really looking forward to see you argue, class A Students. I wonder what kind of Spirit lies inside each of you. Thanks for sharing your opinion but just like what Ms. Vanidestin said, the myth did not end happily. They both received punishment but it was just a myth anyways. "

I stopped when I felt some strong presence that gave me goosebumps all over my body. I looked around and noticed that everyone stopped as well. I can tell that he was still far but his pressure reaches us, it was sunny but the weather instantly changed and I could hear thunders.

"It's one of the lightning brothers." I heard a classmate of mine whispered

"It's expected knowing Yumegenchi hurt her knee." I overhear the answer of the other one as well ehe am I being a chismosa? (Translation: Chismosa is a girl who likes to gossip, Chismoso is a boy who likes to gossip.)

Lightning brothers? I wonder who they are. There are lot of things that I really need to know about this school. I looked for a clock because I wasn't bringing any watch with me. 

When I finally saw a wall clock------

"HALA!" (Hala is a term in Filipino Language to express shock or surprise.)

I took a very good look at the wall clock. Am I seeing this right? I rubbed my eyes to check if I was just hallucinating but oh my g, it is real like really real!

"Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng orasan sa buong buhay mo Vanidestin ata?" (Translation: Is it your first time seeing a clock in your whole life "Vanidestin maybe"?) 

Then I heard my classmates laughing.

My attention transferred at him and I narrowed my eyes at him as well but instantly looked down when I realized their attention is on me. I just facepalmed and sighed.

After all of the embarrassment that happened today, here I am waiting for Cade, sitting on a bench on the hallway outside the classroom. 

There are lot of things he needs to explain to me because there are lots of things that I don't understand. Although it is expected for me to not understand these things because I am not from here.

But I want to adjust, I want to adapt so that Cade won't have much of a difficulty. This night, I want to let out all of the questions that kept burning inside me and hopefully, I'll figure more and the rest on my own..

I am starting to feel shame, I am even just living on someone else's house and the last thing I should do is to not drag the people who helped me down.

I looked at my swollen knee. It's poor and saddening. It got too injured just because of a single blocking.

See?! Just because of a blocking! I am too weak! I don't think even normal humans would get this injured even if they have no magical powers just because they tripped.

I caught a lot of scents but Cade's scent will always be different! I know his scent, I know it very well and so I could tell that he's near and then there he is! Tada! Omg I am so brilliant my goodness.

"How's your knee?"

"Still painful but just slight hehe." he then bent on one knee while facing his back on me.

I was surprised to the point that even the people around us are looking at us. Is Cade high? Why is he doing that? Some are even taking pictures! I don't know what to do, this is embarrassing.

"If you don't hop on my back, more people will keep coming, it'll be harder to run so better be swift and my condo ain't that far. " he said while smiling and I can even see his dimples and ahhhh Cade whyyy you gotta be this handsome, I'm still finding it so hard to adjust to this new look. 

I hopped on his back and he positioned me well and started walking. Some people are taking pictures and even following us! This is embarrassing... 

I didn't know Cade was this famous, wow he's really different and unexpected. It's really embarrassing and just feels so wrong to hang out with the greats when you're just someone like me.

After that, we arrived in his condominium. I just realized that Ninfea University really is like a city, it has its own big malls, train stations, condominiums and even apartments and more.

I looked around and his condominium is literally just as half big as our house in the human world, it looks like a mansion, it's so big. It's so niiiiceeeeee. It's filled with gold and white and black, I think Cade is really into these colors.

He sat down beside me and gave me one bottle of water but of course it's already opened. Really Cade, did you think I couldn't open this but thank youuuu so much, I immediately drank it all, I was so thirsty since lunch time.

"Do you want to ask? Or just let me explain everything."

"Hep hep. There's no thrill and challenge in explaining everything instantly. We'll run out of topics easily let's take this slowly..."