It was quiet.
TICK... TOCK...
The only sound present was the teacher lecturing the class, the sound of chalk grinding against the board and the punctuated clicks of the old clock in the classroom that is right above the board by a few centimeters.
The skies has turned orange, painting the earth below with a soft golden glow.
The sun was nearly at the point to be called "setting", it won't be long until the realm will be taken over darkness and the soft glow of the moon.
Students were glancing at the clock every now and then. Some are growing impatient, some are already packing their stuff while some were just chatting, the lessons or whatever school was trying trying to put in their heads no longer have their attention.
They have already forced their asses to be at school, had taken previous classes and let school teach whatever crap they do, so it wouldn't hurt to not pay attention to the last period, which is currently Math, almost everybody hates, not just here but all across the globe
"Wouldn't hurt" or not, even if it's math, exams are coming up and they seemed to have forgotten about it.
TICK... TOCK...
The clock, with the one last click, reached the point everyone was desperate and some were begging for.
KKRRRRIIIINNNNGGGGG.....
The high-pitch sound of the bell ringing sliced through the air like a dagger.
The first bell has went off from a floor above but not long after that, floor by floor, bell by bell, it was ringing throughout the whole school, signaling the end of the period via day.
Then come, the sea of hands, it wasn't just one class but the whole school. The students raised their hands up to stretch, their groaning and deep breaths (mostly sighs) abrupted almost like in a harmony.
The teacher turned his front to the class, he spoke in his usual loud and tired tone.
"Alright, I know you don't want to be here anymore so just pack it up, pack your stuff and don't forget anything. Also, next week we'll be having mock exams so be ready"
Not a single student bothered to even pretend to listen. He was being completely ignored but he mind their actions never and begun to pack his stuff too.
"Guys, let's go to a karaoke!"
"Yay!"
"We've been doing that like forever..."
"Dude, have you watched the video I send you?"
"I did, man, you are disgusting!"
"Are you free this evening, Saiko?"
"Sorry... I feel like staying home today"
"Awh.."
The topics were endless, they were talking about stuff that any highschoolers would. A boy with black hair and bangs that covers almost all of his eyes stood up and put his back over his shoulder.
He breathed deeply and unbuttoned the collar button. He got out of his desk and walked out of the classroom, to be precise, he was about to but was stopped by the gentle tap behind his back.
He turned around to see a boy with blonde hair that's on shoulder length and long lashes, not only his facial structure but his whole body was so feminine you would think it was a girl in a boy's uniform.
He waved a bit and smiled. He then spoke in a high-pitched voice.
"Goood eving!"
"Gu-chan?"
Gu-chan stopped smiling and put his hands on his hips.
"Stop coming up with cute nicknames everytime you see me!"
He scratched his cheek looking at Gu-chan, he decided apologizing is the option that will lead to a better outcome.
"Sorry, Gunawan, It's just that you're so cute"
Gunawa's face reddened from the sudden statement.
"H-hey!—" Gunawan pointed and was about to bashfully say things but he stopped himself.
"Geez!..." Gunawan crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks out.
"You do know you will look cuter if you act like that. Are you deliberately trying to be cute?' He chuckled, his bangs moving slightly.
"Wha-what?! I want to be masculine! But I can't change the fact that I'm born with this body!" Gunawan spoke loud enough to make the whole class turned to look at them.
"Yeah, yeah, let me carry that for you" He reached his hand out and offered Gunawan to carry his bag for him.
"Ugh... I hate you"
————————————————————————
"Skorpy"
He (Skorpy) turned to Gunawan who is walking beside him. They are currently on the street. The darkness of the night has swallowed up the earth, the only available light is the moon, the light from the light pole and the light from the passing cars
"Skorpy? Why are you using my in-game name for?" He asked with two bags in both of his hands.
Gunawan crossed his arms and look to the opposite side of Skorpy.
"What? You kept calling me cute nicknames but I can't call you by your in-game name? Hmph... today's society is so unfair"
Skorpy tilted his head in confusion.
"I called you those because you're actually cute?"
Gunawan whole face reddened from hearing this, he wanted to say many things but he couldn't form the words.
"Stop! Just stop!"
Two of them continue walking, passing different buildings but Gunawan stopped under a light pole, the light highlighting his extremely cute figure.
"Something wrong?" Skorpy stopped beside him and asked.
Gunawan stopped thinking and turned to Skorpy, their eyes met, Gunawan's eyes are like emeralds. He spoke.
"Ever heard of ESC?" Gunawan asked while putting a strand of hair behind his ear.
"ESC?" Skorpy asked, he have heard this term before.
"Yeah, Ex-Sphere Caliber" Gunawan begun walking again, leaving Skorpy behind a few steps.
Skorpy quickly catch up and thought for a while.
"That's the popular game everybody's been playing lately if I recalled correctly, right?"
"Right" Gunawan nodded.
"What's about it?"
"Nothing I just wanna give you this." Gunawan handed Skorpy a something, it's a paper with strange black and white squares.
"A code?" Skorpy asked, staring at the QR code in his hand.
"Yeah, redeem it and you'll get something I guess. I received the code after I bought a water bottle that happens to be an ESC merchandise" Gunawan shrugged.
"I'm already good at the game so I thought I should give it to you" Gunawan winked at the end.
"But I don't play Ex-Sphere Caliber?" Skorpy asked, a bit dumbfounded by Gunawan. Why would he give a code to a person that doesn't even play the game. Isn't he just wasting a reward? Or is he trying to..
"Take this as a sign to try that game out"
"Ehh..."
Gunawan reached his hand out with his palms open like he was asking for something. It was cute.
Skorpy stared for a bit and realized he was asking for his bag back.
"My bad" Skorpy give him his bag.
"Thanks! Well, let's part ways. See ya' tomorrow!"
The lights turned red, allowing Gunawan to cross the street.
Gunawan walked away waving. He slowly vanished into the darkness and just like that he's gone.
Skorpy was now left alone. He put the code in his pockets and sighed deeply. He walked a few steps forward but stopped to think whether he should give it a try to not.
"I guess I will give it a chance..."
BEEEEP
A loud and unexpected honk makes his ears ring.
"Agh!"
Skorpy totally forgot he was on the street, the light has already turned green again It was his blunder, he should've cross the street first and think but he stopped to think in the process of crossing. Since it's real life and time doesn't just automatically slow down like some shows you'd see on TVs, he looks like a total idiot.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
—————————————————————————
Skipping the small stuff, Skorpy opened the door to his room, he has arrived back to his little shell, a shell that he only leaves when he have school, at least he's attending school.
His room is usually tidied but because currently there are books lying around, games, CDs and magazines.
He put his bag on the bed and quickly changed into his lounge wear. He begun picking the stuffs up. He walked to his shelves and placed them on its respective places.
Skorpy put the paper on his desk.
Skorpy took his books and notebooks out and flipped through the pages. He scanned through the notes about the lessons today and decided he didn't really have to study.
Skorpy put the books back into his bag, zipped it and placed it beside his bed.
"Alright"
He cracked his neck and booted his computer up.
He sat down at his gaming chair and watch as the screen begin to load.
Loading
[0%]
[25%]
[70%]
[100%]
Loading completed.
As his home screen appeared, what greeted him was an anime girl with cat ears resting. Putting that aside, he placed his hand on his mouse and started moving it.
The cursor wandered to the search engine and opened it.
"Ex-Sphere... Ca.. li.. ber..."
[Search box]
[Ex-Sphere Caliber]
Skorpy clicked the search icon.
"Let's see what the hype really is about"