"... And that's all for today's lecture."
What? It's over? I didn't realise, I was reading How To Make New Friends Quick on Wikipedia.
"Dreadful..." Jun Hao sighed at the lecture, even though he had literally been gaming the entire way through.
"Ken's asleep." Ryan commented.
"Yeah, he's asleep." Danish repeated for no apparent reason, but did successfully achieve the goal of waking Ken.
"... dreadful..." Ken mumbled rubbing his eyes awake.
"Hehe. That's what I said."
"Hey, Ivan, no way you live in dorms, right?" Ken asked while everyone behind us was already up and moving. Ryan and Danish seemed eager to leave too.
I glanced at the backseats: the short-haired girl was asleep soundly, while Angela was already gone. Damn, she's fast.
"Ivan?"
"Yeah, I don't."
"Argh... It's fine." He stood up, "Dorms are on the way out anyways, let me accompany ya."
"Sure. Wouldn't want to be swarmed by the fans again..."
"Do realize that's humble bragging, bro." Jun Hao smirked, finally getting off his game and packing to leave, "I bet like three quarters of those fans are girls that I will never dream of even touching..."
"I think you should shut up." Ryan said simply.
"Yeah, you should." Danish was just a parrot on Ryan's shoulder.
"Ehhhhh..."
"Come on, let's go." Ken waved us moving.
...
They chatted while strolling, but I was left out, because I had no idea what the group was discussing.
"No, listen, Hiyomi would fuckin' no diff, aight?" Jun Hao argued against Ken and Ryan, but all was light-hearted, "He'd solo the verse if he wants to."
"State his feat, dude." Ken countered.
"The characters in the show literally glazed him like crazy."
"Only for him to get his ass handed to him by Jaku." Ken was much calmer in this argument, while Jun Hao was very eager to prove his point.
"That's only because the writer didn't want his main villain to die and his manga to end at chapter 96."
"Nonetheless," Ryan's monotonous voice cut in, "Hiyomi displayed no ability on-screen to be scaled properly. He's carried by statements. For now, Ryukou wins at high diff."
"Tsk..."
"Yeah, what he said." Danish continued being Ryan's number one supporter.
Are we sure everything they've said were coherent sentences?
I checked the Wikipedia page again. One of the most important points, emphasised frequently by the author, was to discuss what I like, then observe their reaction and decide whether the topic was appropriate.
I'll try, "Hey!" I suddenly turned, "Do you guys watch boxing?"
"Depends, dude." Ken shrugged, "Jun Hao's a fan of MMA if I'm not mistaken."
"That's not boxing." Jun Hao shook, and I followed,
"Yeah, that's not."
"Whatever, it's martial arts. I know a bit of muay Thai," Ken still spoke about not boxing, "My trainer at the gym teaches me sometimes..."
"Uh... Do you know there's a big fight happening today?" I asked.
"Nope." Jun Hao answered the loudest.
"It's only an hour from now," Ryan adjusted his glasses, "Victor Floyd vs Jerome Lee."
"Jeremiah Lee." I corrected.
"Ugh..." Ryan caught his tongue awkwardly, his glasses slid again prompting attention.
"He meant that." Danish defended.
"Are you guys watching?" I asked with lots of anticipation, which was probably why they all looked down afterwards.
"Uh..."
"Uh..."
"Video gaming is more our preference."
"Yeah, what he said."
"Oh... Okay..." I looked to the distance, where Rick was waiting beside Petra, standing formally and eye-catchingly near the black SUV. I could also spot a few students snapping pictures of them, and some others snapping pictures of... me. Urgh. "That's me."
"Ahhh, sucks, dude." Daniel punched my shoulder lightly; I still couldn't get used to this, to be honest. "See ya tomorrow then."
"Buh-bye." Jun Hao also waved me goodbye, albeit more casually.
Ryan didn't, so of course Danish didn't either.
"Bye." I waved with the largest smile I could muster, the Wikipedia page told me to do so.
"There's no need to fake a smile."
"Yeah, no need."
Okay, Ryan, sorry... I thought while scratching my head awkwardly.
They left for their dorm rooms, and I was isolated again; drowned in attention, but starved of care.
...
In the penthouse, Father was somehow, still standing in the same spot, still commanding the arrangement of furnitures in the living room. It was more complete now, with a carpet presumably made out of an endangered species' hide, and a couch that costs more for the designer's name than the materials. A chandelier was also in place, no idea why, but some people's lifetime net worth wouldn't be able to purchase that piece of lighting. No TV, an entire wall was the TV.
"You're home." That smile again from Father, clearly distinct from a real one, yet warmer than a fake one.
"Why can't I stay in campus?" I blurted out.
"You know it's unsafe for you out there."
"I got Rick."
"Who's that?"
Oh wait, that's a nickname me and you used for my bodyguard. Fuck, what's his real name again...
"That guy." I jabbed a thumb towards him.
"He isn't all-powerful..." Father's voice was always drowsy, like he missed last night's sleep. Maybe he did. "Every second you walk outside, is a second that a celebrity like you may get assaulted for malicious intentions."
"I made friends!" I didn't actually know if I did, I didn't even know the definition of 'friends', but I needed something for the sake of argument, "I'm doing completely fine!"
"Ivan, stop talking back at your father." Petra warned from behind. Before I could turn to meet her with a glare, Father shut her down.
"No need, Petra." He waved, "Ivan. Those friends... I thought I had warned you of making friends."
"Yeah..." I crossed my arms, "Only make friends with people of my own status, because those below me are only trying to exploit me. Do you even know how you sounded when you say that?"
"I simply do not wish to see you get hurt."
"Well, I am hurt. I didn't protest for... for years! For years I've requested for a chance to live like a normal kid. This university experience, it... it... it should be the gateway straight to that. The whole point of university is a trial of adulthood, and I'm receiving none of that. I'm only receiving lectures on topics that I knew better than the professors."
"Ivan!"
"Petra, take a walk." Father ordered calmly, and Petra couldn't refuse, she stepped out as requested; her paycheck depended on it.
"I want to stay at campus." I asserted again.
"..." He glanced at the floors, probably wondering if he should change the marble tilings to something more expensive, "... I can't allow that."
It's always like this.
I'd clench my fists, storm off into my bedroom, and slam the door close, because he hates that.
Fuckin' hell... I can't even say that, Father doesn't like it when I swear.
Well whatever, at least Floyd vs Lee was on now. I clicked open my computer and surfed. Putting on my headphones, I could finally watch the GOAT Victor Floyd himself fight: best part of this month already.
"Floyd is dodging, Lee is throwing relentlessly!" The commentator's voice echoed in my ears, while I sat at the edge of my seat with great anticipation, "Oh shit! And Lee lands a solid on him!"
"Oof..." I grimaced instinctively. Lee landed a great jab onto Floyd, sending him to a corner. But my GOAT didn't hear no bell.
"Floyd is throwing now! Like nothing even happened! Lee is the one backing, watch Floyd... OH! What a hit!"
"Yes! Yes!" I cheered myself in my empty room, so spacious and grand that my whispers bounced echoes...
...
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Floyd won as expected, and now I was jabbing a punching bag, for no particular reasons.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Yes, I was still in my bedroom, just the second floor of my bedroom. From the balcony, you can see my bed, the TV, the bookshelves and the billiards table. Yes, I have a balcony in my room.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Second floor where I trained was my gym. Dumbbells sat above its rack arranged orderly. Cable machine at another corner, then a pull-up bar... etc. etc.
I usually just use the punching bag and gloves though.
THUD! THUD!
...
...
...
I couldn't hear my third punch. Because I didn't punch anything, I punched darkness, emptiness, nothingness.
I didn't feel my punches either, my senses had been confiscated, including my sight and my hearing.
"Interesting."
Nevermind, I still had my hearing. Turning my head around to find the voice, I also realised that I still had my sight. As I saw them, yes, them, their voice was gender-neutral.
"Uhhh..."
"Ivan Lerring, isn't it?"
"That's... right? Where are we?" I scanned the complete darkness than engulfed us.
"No questions, please. Only answers. How old are you?"
"Nineteen?"
"Your voice carry too much doubt. Be more confident in your answers."
"Wait, if this is supernatural and shit, does that mean I either did something really bad and I'm getting punished, or I did something really good and I'm getting superpowers?"
"No questions..."
Bruh, that's not fair.
"Indulge me. Why do you learn combat arts?"
"I just... I just like them?"
"Fascinating... Please, elaborate confidently."
"Um... Uh... Punching is nice, y'know? The more you punch, the more you defeat yourself."
"Defeat yourself?"
"Like the bad thoughts? The voices and stuff... I know it's edgy but..."
"Captivating..."
Oh... Why, thank you.
"One more question, Ivan, do you dream?"
"Ooooooh shit, I'm so getting superpowers!" I thought out loud, elated, "Umm uh... Yes! I dream of becoming a superhero!"
"Please be honest."
"Eh?" I thought you'd want me to give a speech of something similar about my righteous hearts then bestow upon me superpowers? Damn, webnovels are lying. "Uhh... I um..."
"Confidence." He emphasized again.
"Hmph. If I can, I'd want a redo of my entire life, to be honest. Start over, be normal."
"Are you tired of standing too tall?"
"Yeah... The problem with who I am right now is that, people simply sees me as better but I'm not, and I don't want to be, I just want to be normal."
"Do you feel alone?"
"..." Sorry, Amelda, you're simply not enough for me, "Yeah... Yeah, I do."
"I see..."
...
...
...
And I was back in my bedroom again; the punching bag was still, my third punch never landed.