Chapter 10 - Targeted
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Lucas, sitting in the front row, kept on turning back to stare at Lisa, trying to find the perfect chance to talk to her.
The popular Lisa's desk was often swarmed by those with their desks near her, as they laughed and talked about various interesting things.
In contrast, the front row was as silent as a mourning hall, with only serious and studious kids choosing to sit in the location.
It was just Lucas's bad luck to be assigned to this seat by the teacher who had been noticing his precocious nature so early on. It was to make sure that he couldn't continue to tease girls behind the teacher's back.
Meanwhile, as Lisa's old habits started to kick in, she secretly gamed from time to time while feigning to read. At the same time, Consuela, sitting next to her, was deeply engrossed in truly studying without slacking off.
As a filial child, she hoped to study well and help her parents upon growing up some more. Her maddening drive to succeed was far beyond her peers, but also contributed to her eventually turning into a loner.
With Lisa as her new friend, that was bound to change. In the break between lessons, Lisa gave a pep talk to Consuela, motivating the kid to do some thrilling things instead.
In other words, bad education was being provided to distract the good child. Thankfully, years of having behaved in restraint made Consuela feel too shy to actually act upon those teachings, but still kept her good friend's advice to heart to follow through in the future.
By the end of the school day, no new task was issued, and Lisa left the class together with Consuela as she asked her,
"Hey, little Consuela, what kind of things interest you? I mean, other than gaming, of course. Is there some sport you would like to play or some talent you plan on focusing on developing?"
Consuela tried thinking hard about the question, but nothing good came to her mind as she shook her head.
Lisa sighed in regret as she muttered,
"Man, I give up. Then, let's try experiencing various things to discover those. Of course, we would try them out together! You can just take your time and see what catches your eye."
Consuela quickly nodded to Lisa, inwardly thrilled to try new things out with her good friend.
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Uncle Rupert had been waiting at the school gate for a while and greeted both little kids before Consuela eventually parted ways and went off home.
Lisa thought for a moment to give her a ride in the taxi, but her home was in the opposite direction, and Consuela might not like owing too many favors, so Lisa let the idea drop.
Just as she sat in the taxi with her uncle, a system notification popped up,
'Wait... what?? Was there a task like that?! But, there were no prompts regarding it, I think? And about changing her destiny... I don't remember doing something so significant?'
'Does stealing a kid's snacks count as a destiny-shifting event? Don't tell me that I prevented her destiny of developing tooth cavities? Or diabetes?? How strange... It's almost like the System is finding excuses to pile up rewards for me. Well, I don't mind though! Bring on the good stuff, dog!'
Although Lisa didn't know why she gained the reward, she judged that it was ultimately a good thing anyway and quickly put the matter in the back of her mind. Focusing on the important stuff, she took out the GBA SP and began another gaming session anew.
Uncle Rupert seemed quite interested in Lisa's new toy as he watched her game with extreme concentration, just being a silent cheerleader for the little fellow.
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Consuela slowly walked home, her little feet making her speed very slow, and along with the fact that she was somewhat over-cautious regarding the possibilities of encountering road hazards, Consuela progressed at snail's speed.
On the way home, the delicious aroma wafting over from the various snack stalls and restaurants enticed the little girl, and with her favourite candy store being right in the middle of them was a torture in its own right. Yet, she could only gulp down her saliva as she picked up her speed, trying to quickly move away from the continuously bombarding torment.
The sun had begun to set as Consuela got away from the bustling commercial area.
The area now in front of her was called the Old Town Area, due to having been the central locality before the ascension of the town into the City that it was now. With aged buildings made out of hastily procured cheap materials set to be demolished soon, there was a darker and gloomier air about the place and the people living here. Already near the City perimeter now, the area was only flocked by cheap rent seekers who didn't mind commuting between the City Centre and the Old Town Area. Unfortunately, this was also the area that Consuela's parents chose to rent their home in.
Along with the society's poorest, all kinds of shady people went in and out of the alleys, which Consuela stayed away from. Her mother had often reminded her not to let her curiosity overtake her mind and to just walk along the main path back home.
As Consuela arrived near her neighbourhood, a few elderly people were drinking alcohol openly as they kept increasing their betting figures. With Consuela being too short to be noticed by the engrossed elderly men, she was paid no mind by them.
She climbed up the stairs and soon arrived in front of the front door to her rented apartment. Consuela unlocked it as she quickly went inside, putting away her by school bag and setting the 3DS into the charging port.
After catching her breath while sitting by the dining table and drinking a glass of water, Consuela went over to set up her little study desk as she started to recall and revise the day's learnings. She didn't realise how the hours went by as she kept on being engrossed in her studies, her lonely figure busy scribbling in her notebook earnestly.
When the time for dinner arrived, Consuela was still busy with her studies, busy with revising for the nth time. That was when a mature voice sounded next to her as she was asked,
"Hey, that's enough already, you little bookworm. Don't feel the appetite for dinner yet?"
Consuela looked up to see her Mother smiling brightly and greeted her in response as she scurried away, packing the study materials and folding back the little study table. After washing her hands properly, she sat down at the dining table, where her mother had prepared a modest meal of bread and soup.
There wasn't anything else on the table, but Consuela had a small glass of milk with her, while her Mom just ate the meal silently.
Her Mother looked glad when Consuela obediently drank the milk, as she wanted to do everything in her power to help her child succeed, even if it meant suffering tougher days ahead.
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