YAWN!!!
The sound emanated from the boy sitting at one corner of the library. Head down, surrounded by multiple thick textbooks. Bags sagged beneath his bloodshot eyes, and his hair was unkempt. He desperately needed sleep.
Of course the boy was none other than Mylo. He had been here as earliest as 4:00am. Of course, the library hadn't even opened then, so he just waited while reading before it finally opened. Currently, he's on the fourth book: Muscle and Anatomy.
The fibularis muscle is flexible. It acts as a wedge between the lap and the shin, situated around the kneecap. It has 12 different muscle groups, each having the purpose of supporting the tension in the knees. The various diseases or ailments related to this muscle include, but are not limited to: Haemoid, muscle tear, knee inflammation, etc." Mylo read, flipping to the next page. He continued, his eyes dropping with each word. "Various treatments have been discovered: cryotherapy... chemotherapy... bio-therapy... cono-therapy... juxo-therapy..." (A/N: This is just jargon I asked Gemini to generate, don't mind it.)
His head dropped slightly before snapping back up. "C'mon, can't fall asleep. It can wait." Mylo murmured.
"Do you usually talk to yourself like this?" A voice spoke from behind him.
Mylo's eyes snapped to the voice, eyes widening in recognition and surprise. "C…Cali! What are you doing here?"
Her mouth lifted slightly. "Hmm, seems like you don't want me here."
Mylo's eyes widened as he waved his arms frantically, "No, no, no. Th…that's not it. I…I didn't mean it."
"I'm just kidding Faro." She grinned mischievously, "And what did I say about apologizing?"
Mylo sighed, "You sure like teasing me."
A grin crept on her face, "Of course. It is quite funny seeing your reactions."
Curiously, he asked her. "But how'd you know I was here?"
"Oh, Mary told me." She replied, "Just came to see my boyfriend!" she stressed the last word.
Mylo blushed up a storm. There were together. The thought sending the boy's mind spiralling. Never did he think a day would come when he would be talking to a girl, much less going out with one.
"Faro, you look like a tomato." Cali chuckled.
Blushing further, Mylo covered his face. "Ugh." She laughed harder, burying him deeper in embarrassment.
After a while, her laughter died down. "Okay, I'll stop before you actually blow up." She glanced down at the multiple books scattered around the boy and asked curiously. "So whatcha doing?"
Recovering from the teasing, he replied. "Just doing some studying. Next week will be quite busy for me so I have to cover a lot." The thought of the amount of studying he had to do caused him a headache, but he would endure.
Cali raised an eyebrow, "This looks more than a lot. This is the most books I've ever seen and you're telling me you have to read all of them."
Chuckling, he answered. "Yeah, it is quite much. But there're not that hard, just…much." He yawned.
Cali looked at the boy, now noticing his unkempt appearance. "You look exhausted Mylo." her voice laced in concern.
"I'm…I'm fine really."
"You don't look fine to me Faro." Her brows creased, "When last did you sleep?"
Mylo sighed, "I…I don't know. Maybe yesterday."
Releasing a sigh of her own, Cali stood up abruptly. Mylo glanced up at her curiously.
"We're going."
"We?" he titled his head
"Yes we." She rolled her eyes, "Now c'mon."
Mylo shook his head, "Cali, I'm sorry, I can't. I…I have to study."
Cali looked down at the boy, her mind remembering what Mary had told her in this situation.
"So he'll more or less disagree, but I know my brother. You just have to give him a reason."
"A reason?"
Mary nodded, "He needs this rest Cali, and he thinks he can hide it, but he can't, I've noticed. I know you've noticed too. So try taking him out, and then promise him after he can read later. I know you'll be able to convince him."
Cali nodded. Then headed for the library.
"Okay fine, it'll just be for an hour. Then you can come back and study. Simple."
Mylo creased his eyebrows in thought. "Just an hour?"
Cali nodded, "Yeah, besides, you can't study if you don't have energy. So let's bounce." She dragged him up, linking her arms with his.
Not getting a say, Mylo was pulled by the girl towards a local park. Well maybe he could use the break. He thought.
***
The two left the library, heading for the park.
The park wasn't as bustling as it usually was. Only quite a few people were out today. Cali brought Mylo to an open area, near the small pond. They sat on the soft grass, watching.
Mylo took a breath, the morning dew invigorating his lungs. The weather was quite simply…perfect. His eyes traced the sun, hanging just above the horizon, bathing the park in a warm glow. He smiled, watching the small fish dance around in the pond.
"Now this is what I'm talking bout." Cali sighed beside him, lying flat on the grass.
Mylo nodded, this was peaceful. He closed his eyes, sighing contently. "Thanks Cali."
Cali glanced at him, before a small grin made way to her face. "You needed the break faro. Any more you would have turned into a mummy."
He chuckled at the analogy.
A comfortable silence permeated between the two. Moments later, Cali casually asked. "Whaddya think the next challenge gonna be?"
Mylo leaned forward, hands clasped. "Well, I'm guessing a group challenge."
She titled her head, "A group challenge?"
He nodded, "Yeah, it's only natural that after a duet, the next event would be something with more people involved in it." He analysed.
Cali groaned out, "That means I have to work with other people other than you, dammit."
A smile appeared on the boy's face at the statement, "Well, as you said, at least we'll still be working together."
She chuckled, "yeah."
They fell into silence once more, laid out on the grass, enjoying the peace and each other's presence.
***
In Stargate Theatre.
A limousine pulled up in front of the theatre. Anyone seeing the car would assume the person owning it wasn't ordinary. Gold rims, gold grills, gold plating. Certainly not someone ordinary indeed.
The chauffeur quickly stepped out, rounded the car and opened the door for the one inside.
A man stepped out, and he seemed to mirror how his car looked like. Gold suit, gold glasses, and a gold watch.
He gazed up at the building, his expression indifferent. The chauffeur quickly opened the door for him, as he stepped in.
Low, classical music played out from speakers in the wall, filling the room with a low, comfy vibe. The theatre was quite empty bar from one person sitting at the front-left of the theatre, the sun shining on him from a nearby skylight.
The man walked forward, observing the surroundings. He stopped just to the side of Jonathan.
"You still listen to that antique trash?" The man commented.
"Maybe I'm just old school, it is a classic."
The man rolled his eyes, "It's out-dated, ancient. And it should remain as such."
Jonathan let out a laugh, "Ancient maybe. But as they say, 'Old is gold.'" Jonathan glanced at the man, "Now, don't tell me you came just to crucify my music. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Oliver?
Oliver didn't reply immediately. He gazed toward a prop situated to the right side of the theater—a throne. He calmly sat on the chair. The darkness surrounding him, producing a menacing image.
Jonathan rolled his eyes at the action, "Now that you're comfy, mind telling me where you're here."
Oliver snapped his fingers, his chauffeur walked to Jonathan's side showing him a video on the tablet. Jonathan recognized it of course, two people, each with a mask of red and blue, singing on stage. Jonathan smiled at the performance.
"Jonathan, I'll get straight to the point. The person with the blue mask—their value has already exceeded this little theatre's capacity." He leaned forward, "There would be better in my agency, there they can fulfil their potential. Now tell me their name."
Jonathan leaned back, 'Of course that's why he's here.' Was he going to tell him, well that would be an insult to Jonathan's career. And the boy was someone he's been paying special attention to. Having the likes of Oliver involved is already dangerous.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline Oliver. They chose not to show their face, and I have to respect that."
Oliver narrowed his eyes, "Are you declining?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
The chauffeur beside Jonathan straightened, eyes narrowed deadly.
Jonathan chuckled, "Maybe their talent has already exceeded my humble theatre, but it's my job to nurture and shield them from snakes. You know what I mean." He said with a knowing smirk.
Oliver's eyes narrowed further. The room turned deadly silence, but Jonathan simply smiled. Moments passed before Oliver stood up, walking past Jonathan towards the entrance, his chauffeur quickly followed. He paused at the door, "Jonathan, you may think I won't get him. I will. His talent... it will earn quite a lot." He walked out.
Jonathan sighed, tired. There was nothing ever good that came when Oliver was interested in you. He reclined into his seat. 'Well Mylo, your journey just got harder.'
Outside, in his car, Oliver leaned back taking a puff of his cigar. "I want you to keep an eye out for the one wearing a blue mask. Find out about them. Show them the usual incentives." He instructed. He was confident the person would be in his company. Money always talks. With that kind of talent, Oliver could already picture the money he would make.
He let out a grin.