CHAPTER 2: VACATION TRIP
***
[The ROUTES you take… will define the very decisions you make. Decisions that will consequence how you live in this broken world.]
That one first paragraph… it lingered deep in her mind. It reminded her of what she did today, and what it consequenced her.
To her, it was a coincidence to see such words in the very first book she picked up.
Coincidence… because those words should've warned her right before she could do something reckless, she thought.
And because of its late occurrence, where did her decisions lead her? A broken world? No.
If such a thing does exist, this story wouldn't be a romance. It shouldn't be.
She lets out a deep sigh before closing the book she previously picked up and placed it back on the shelf, before making her way towards the exit of the National Bookstore she was in.
Her movements were slow and deliberately, yet they seemed subconscious—she had been lately thinking of things she did earlier. Overthinking them, overreacting to them even though her face wore no exterior of expression.
People who walked past her, they all can see just how depressing her atmosphere was.
It didn't fit her, they thought. A cheerful look would fit her more than that. If not, then she shouldn't wear such a face.
Their opinions just stayed in their minds, with no intention of interrupting the poor girl's depression just to let out a word for her reminder. After all, that's just how reality is…
…except for one man.
"Wake up. Frantzes. It's been too long."
She yelped out a gasp, instantly turning her head around to look at whoever called her out—it came from a darker corner of the bookstore just right beside her, almost passing by.
But there was no one there, but that man's words echoed in her mind
His tone was gentle, it was soft. It sounded oddly familiar, but it can't be that person because it sounded as if it came from a much older person.
An adult, specifically.
Or perhaps… an old man.
She had a feeling that he might return, that he might show up once again. Her heart was beating fast because of how terrifyingly crazy it was to hear a voice that came from no one.
She had hoped that it was just the mall's radio, making an announcement that accidentally pronounced her last name 'Frantzes', but she was sure that the pronunciation was clear and right.
It didn't feel like it was an accidental pronunciation. It was correct.
There was nothing wrong when she heard it. It was intentional, it was on purpose.
And it wasn't any ordinary call.
It was a call… to convince someone, or something, to wake up.
And seeing how it didn't call out to her name 'Trizha' and called out 'Frantzes' instead, it could've been for another person…
"Hey, you done taking a 'short' relapse?" Wyne suddenly called out, staring at Trizha with a raised brow.
"Stay there longer and your leg muscles might implode from inactivity." Said by Margaret.
Hearing her friend's voices, she lifted her head and found herself right outside of the National Bookstore.
She didn't remember taking the exit.
Or did she.
Perhaps she was just distracted by her thoughts, 'interrupting' her point of view.
In retaliation, she put on a cheerful look and a cheerful smile.
"Hahaha! Relapse? I'm too young for that. I don't even have wrinkles yet!"
"That's not the point, idiot!" Wyne barked.
But looking down, she can see that Trizha is still holding that broken camera she broke not too long ago.
And because of that, even her slow mind can instantly tell this cheerful expression of hers… it's just a mask.
But she didn't dare mention it, not even asking Trizha to just give up on the camera.
She knows she's in a lot of guilt and shame as simply reminding her a remnant of what she did today is enough to trigger her depression, so she decided to just stay silent about it.
Margaret had the same thing in mind. That camera was precious to her, so precious that she would keep it in her back all the time until necessary.
She always used that camera to get her to where is today… But today, that same camera somewhat held something she would love to hate to see.
"Anyways… let's get out of here." Wyne said, turning to make her leave.
"I agree." Margaret said flatly.
Next second, the two began speaking to one another, whilst Trizha herself stood there, pausing herself for a moment before following them.
However, she distanced herself this time.
The gap between them, it was long.
She glanced at Wyne, and then to Margaret. And thought to herself "...Do I even deserve to stay close to them?"
She walked uncomfortably, biting her lip silently.
"It's just as I said—what are the chances that I would do the same thing to him, to them?"
She looked down, depressingly.
"...I hope I won't."
And just as she lifted down her head, Wyne suddenly turned to look out to her.
"Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing! The ground is just too clean!" She said, putting back on a cheerful look.
"You're too obvious, you know…" Wyne responded, giving her a lazy look.
"Shut up or I'm going to beat you up." Trizha suddenly roared, pissed.
"Haaahhh? With your small little hands and tiny fingers? I'd like to see you try!"
"Heeehh?? Said the girl with a tinier brain—I bet even the dumbest person in the world could think faster than you do, slowpoke."
"Haaaaahhhhh???"
"Heeeeehhhhh???"
The two clashed their foreheads as a sharp tension filled the air—two storms colliding—until a quiet, eerie voice interrupted them.
"Hey, so T. Myrcella just sent out a message in our group chat. Let's hope it's not the continuation of our punishment for being late.
Both Trizha and Wyne froze, staring at her with wide eyes filled with fear.
"P-pu-punishment?"
"C-continuation?"
"Yes." Margaret said. Cutely. "May we rest in peace–"
"DON'T SAY THAT JUST YET!!" The two said in unison.
They then sighed, before turning back to Margaret.
"What did she even say anyways?"
"There will be an announcement tomorrow."
"Which is…?"
"An announcement."
"Yeah, no shit. What is it about."
"A vacation."
"Oh wow. How believable. And why would a school accept a vacation when our exam is near?"
"They cancelled it."
"What?!" the two shouted in unison, again. "Why?"
"For a vacation."
"Yeah, so why?!"
"Because we're going to stay in a hotel for a whole week."
"Cancelling an exam just for a one week vacation in a hotel… sounds stupid. You sure it's not the other way around?"
"Nope. I'm sure that's what I read."
"Alright, but that's still out of the question earlier—why?"
"Apparently, T. Marcela said that the hotel owner randomly chose a school to have the vacation, and that's us… out of boredom."
"Seriously? Just because they were bored? Not because they are going through bankruptcy or financial issues—just freaking boredom?"
"Pretty much."
"But the school could've just declined, can't they? I bet even other schools would've declined because it's unnecessary–"
"They can't decline it even if they wanted to…"
"What? Why?"
"Becauss the owner of the hotel… is no ordinary establishment owner."
And so, the two froze. Even Trizha almost dropped her broken camera.
It was exaggerating for them to act like that simply because Margaret mentioned that the owner wasn't ordinary.
But they had a reason for it—there's only one being in this world who people would consider an inordinary establishment owner. Not only that, it was someone who formerly had the reputation of 'Japan's Greatest Mafia Queen'.
And that person is…
"Yuri Calypso."