"Kids, we won't be having our usual lessons today," the teacher announced. "Since the National Holiday is coming up, you'll have the next two days off. We'll resume classes this Wednesday."
"Talk about perfect timing," Onyx whispered to Maximus.
"Can we head out now, sir?" another boy chimed in.
The teacher, already halfway out the door, glanced back. "Wait another two hours, then you're free to go."
The classroom immediately filled with the sound of students stuffing books and gear into their backpacks, everyone restless as they waited for the final bell.
"That bitch... she's still hanging around Maximus."
"Unbelievable. She probably has some kind of Hypno Energy that messes with people's heads."
"Honestly? I wouldn't doubt it."
"Hypno Energy usually manifests around age fifteen. And we all know how old Onyx is, right?"
The girls' gossiping at the front desk drifted straight to Maximus's ears. He felt a surge of irritation and was about to snap back at them, but Onyx quickly grabbed his arm to steady him.
"Just leave it, Max. It's fine," Onyx said softly. "Besides, my Hypno Energy actually has awakened."
"...Wait, what?" Maximus blinked. "So, what is it? What's your power?"
"...Recovery," she replied.
"Wow... that sounds incredible," Maximus said, genuinely impressed. Then he paused. "I still don't really get how Hypno Energy works, though."
"Me neither," Onyx admitted. "It's a sixth-grade subject, and they go deeper into it in the first year of secondary school."
"I'm curious about yours. It sounds cool—why don't we try to figure it out?"
"...Hmm, but how?"
"Let's head straight to the library after this and find some answers!"
"Uh... hehe... well..." Onyx started stammering, her confidence suddenly dipping.
"What is it, Onyx?"
"...I'm just... not a big fan of libraries. Mostly because I really hate reading!" she confessed, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"Oh... well, I guess I'll just have lunch at home today," Maximus teased.
"Hey! Are you seriously trying to bribe me?"
Maximus usually treated Onyx to lunch. If she skipped the library, she was skipping a free meal.
"Come on... I just want to help you out, right?" Maximus gave her a playful look.
Onyx hesitated, weighing the effort of reading against the promise of food. Finally, she sighed. "Fine! I'm in."
******
Rrrrring!!! The bell finally signaled the end of the day.
Maximus and Onyx were tucked away in a corner of the school library, poring over a book on Hypno Energy. The place was crowded; the school library was one of the few spots that was always open and free for everyone.
"Hypno Energy is a natural force possessed by every Cybertronian—a unique, diverse superpower that varies from person to person."
"This power is fueled by emotion. Happiness can generate limitless strength, while negative emotions can cause the energy to weaken or even vanish temporarily. Side effects vary wildly depending on the individual—"
Maximus glanced toward a nearby empty bookshelf. He could have sworn he saw someone peeking at them, but they vanished the moment he looked.
"Say something, Onyx. Don't just sit there in silence," Maximus said, looking back at her.
"Hehehe," Onyx gave him a nervous, sheepish grin.
"Wait... don't tell me you can't read?"
"That's not it! I can read. Here, give me that," she snapped, snatching the book.
She tried to read the page aloud for him. "S-s-side... e-f-f-ects... p-p-pro... pro..."
Whoosh!
Maximus pulled the book back. "No wonder you got held back a grade! Come here, let me teach you."
As it turned out, Onyx didn't just struggle with reading—she had to painfully spell out every single word.
Maximus paused, a thought crossing his mind. "You can write, but you can't read fluently?"
"I'm a slow writer, too, okay?" Onyx muttered, her eyes squeezed shut as her cheeks turned a deep shade of red.
"Good grief," Maximus sighed, facepalming. He had no idea she had been struggling this much. "Come closer. I'll show you how to do it properly."
"You just need more practice. The best way is to read in your head first; eventually, you'll get the hang of it and it'll flow naturally."
They should have been home by now, but they had spent the entire afternoon in the library with Maximus acting as her tutor.
From the corner of his eye, Maximus saw the same figure peeking from behind the shelves again. Every time he turned his head, they ducked out of sight. It was starting to get creepy.
"Wow, you're actually really nice for teaching me, Max," Onyx said softly. "To be honest... nobody has ever really sat down to teach me how to read."
"...Not even your parents?"
"...No. My dad was always busy, and... I was always home with my mom, but she was always buried in her work back then," Onyx said, her voice trailing off.
"...I think it's time to head out. It's already 3 PM," Maximus noted.
"Oh, you're right!"
The sun was beginning to set as they parted ways.
"See you tomorrow! Just watch—I'll be a pro by then!" Onyx called out with a wave.
Maximus smiled and waved back, watching her go.
He began his walk home, navigating through the familiar sidewalks and narrow alleys, climbing the weathered stairs of his neighborhood. He looked at the streets he used to walk before—back when he was Nexus, the one everyone cursed.
Everything felt different now. Now, people actually looked at him. They respected him—or at least, they respected the way he looked.
****
THUD.
Maximus threw himself onto his bed the moment he got inside. He reached for his charger and plugged it into his head, a necessary routine to keep his systems stable.
He lay there, staring up at the ceiling.
"It's so quiet," he whispered.
"...I'm not Nexus anymore. So why should I feel sad for that guy? Forget about Nexus, you idiot. He's gone. He's dead."
"...Then why am I crying?"
"...Why does my chest feel so tight?"
"...Am I not happy?"
"..."
"...If they found out I was actually Nexus... would it all end?"
"...That's right. I'm still Nexus..."
"...Mom... Dad..."
"...I miss you both so much."
"...I hate being Nexus, but... why..."
"..."
"...I think I just hate lying to myself. They only like me because I'm Maximus. They'd still hate me if they knew. Because I am—at my core—Nexus."
"...To hell with Nexus. He doesn't exist anymore. Just be happy with your new life, you moron!"
"..."
"I..."
"Why..."
"Why does it still hurt so much?"
To be continued...