When I awaken, I notice a chilly breeze flowing past along the crevices of my hair and a sweet smell prickling on my nose that felt oddly familiar. The more I sniff, the more I want to bury my head into its prickliness to scratch that comforting itch. From what I could tell, we were outside, and I was, hopefully, on the back of Kiki heading home.
“Time to wake up, Ophi.”
“Nooo,” I groan, rubbing my head deeper in the bushy sweetness, “fibe more mimutes.”
“Can’t be helped, but only five more minutes, okay?”
“Mmhumu.”
I ease my body back into my slumber like all my bones were replaced with freshly chilled Wacko berry jelly and my mind stuffing with fluffings. Being carried feels so nice, reassuring and warm, like no other soft sinking feeling outside my bed and Papa’s arms.
“The former Ace’s child is quite contradictory to our initial assumptions of her.”
“Indeed.”
Why does it feel like recently every time someone carries me home, I hear unfamiliar voices?
I hope this doesn’t become a trend.
I am different now. I thought.
I can at least introduce myself. I assume.
I-I…
…hid myself behind Kiki's head as soon as the two boys meet my line of sight.
On the left was a scruffy wavy black-haired boy a little taller than Kiki and with good some muscles on him. Not better than Papa’s or Kiki’s but much better than most of the Progros I’ve been definitely not observant to. Meanwhile the one on my right was the same height as me, so not tall but with round glasses, smooth brown hair and really skinny. Like he looks like he weighs less than I do.
If I wasn’t shaking so much, I’d feed till he plumped up like a barbloon.
I had hoped that after meeting my first friend that this would get easier, but it’s just as bad. Nope, it’s just as maybe even worse than my first day since Kiki was here.
How embarrassing.
I must look like jester, no, an entire circus to them… whatever that was. In the glance that I see, they wore a blank dead eye stare like Sophia’s, which didn’t ease my nerves at all. If anything, it made hairs all over raise all tingly.
“Aw, she so cute when she’s shy, ain’ she fellas.” Even Kiki couldn’t shake this fluttery nervousness in my chest. I felt her hand on my head, trying to reassure me, but my shivering made me strap on tighter, fearing she would disappear if I let go.
That I knew well, yet it was all I could do. Holding on to my dear best friend like my life depended on it, especially now that I didn’t know where Papa was.
“Shy? I am afraid I am not familiar with that word. Can you elaborate?” This brown-haired boy’s voice was distinct. It was smart sounding like Sophia, but not as searingly terrifying. Young but really intelligent like a super scientist helping the super spy with gadgets.
“Can you define cute as well?” the black-haired boy asks.
This boy on the other hand was much more…unreadable, I guess. Just the sound and tone just had nothing behind it whatsoever which is mysterious and stoic like a soldier standing on a lonely cliff looking out reminiscent of better days long past.
That or its just my over imagination.
“Ah yeah, my bad. Ophi wanna explain?”
“Mmm.” I respond, burying deeper inside her nape.
Yeah no. I think my track record speaks or rather doesn’t for itself.
“Guess not, huh? Uhh. It means uhhh…” Kiki stumbles on her words, which is surprising since she says whatever comes to her mind, which made it even more odd when she whispers to herself, “Ani help.” Then a pause. “Mhm mhm got it…not really. Can you…thanks.”
At this point, I talking to herself became a time for me to zip out for a bit too, so it didn’t really bother me, but I wonder what they thought about it.
Mind reading would be so handy right about now.
Bored, I sneak a peek at the two boys, and their faces barely changed at all; I mean, their eyes were a little open and blinking I think, but that was it. With Papa and Kiki, they always show what they felt on the inside…well actually Papa did since I still couldn’t see Kiki's aura, but Kiki doesn’t seem like the type to hide stuff. She’s more of the if it's not mentioned she’s not gonna bring it up kind.
“Shy means…to be nervous…or… reserved…around people? Like she wants to talk but can’t cause she’s scared. Like that? Yup, that fellas.”
I didn’t believe it at first, but the more she talks to herself, the more I’m believing that Ani is real. It reminds me of when I first learned how to pronounce Orcoish by copying Papa, but that’s more for fun than a completely different voice in your head.
If Ani’s real, then elves were too, and I don’t know how I feel about that. Kiki didn’t go into much detail, but she emphasized their more, and I’m being nice about it, less than desirable habits they had when she spoke about them. The pointy ears make me wanna touch them, but, uh, I don’t wanna get cooked well done so I’ll pass.
“Intriguing.” The smart sounding boy said. “Her overwhelming mental inhibitors cause a stunt in her social interactions, thus explaining her passive nature. Am I correct?”
“Y-yeah,” Kyrie looks to her side at nothing confirming with Ani. “Yep, exactly! Ani said that’s almost 100% correct. Dang Iron, you got quite a mouth aintcha.”
“May I reference you and this Ani individual in my thesis?”
“Sure, I guess. Hey Kiddo, who’s Iron, new friend?” Kiki turned to the left so that meant she was talking to the black-haired boy.
“We are in the same branch, Kayla, the one Sophia helps manages.”
“Oooooh, never heard of it.” Kiki shrugs.
Then why did you say oh like you knew?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“That is to be expected since it has been quite some time since you have been back in Progressia, but to sum it up we have aligning schedules thus we became allies.
“Damn Kiddo, ya got some good instincts.”
Did these two know each other?
I thought Kiki knew her family here. She didn’t go into any detail, but I remember the boy one shot, lightning or electricity or maybe both?
How did they know each other I ask myself and like a truffle piglet Kiki turns her head to me.
“They used to study together at the CAD the um,” she said, essentially answering my question like a mind reader.
“Child Ability Development sector.” Arthur continues.
“Right, so that makes them your friend, too.”
“I-it does?” I am so quiet that it’s amazing that I heard myself.
“Yep yep. Right Kiddo?” Kiki jabs at him with her elbow.
“My name is Arthur Kayla and yes, if it is acceptable, I do not mind being your friend. For now.”
“Kiddo. Kid-doh. Sounds the same to me.” She says, poking him again.
I took another peek out and even though Arthur didn’t really change his expression, I could sorta tell he hated the name.
“Kiki, I don’t think he likes it.”
“Whaaa nah, he loves it. Look at his hands.” I snuck another glimpse and saw his fist shaking. “Fists of joy.” So, he really didn’t like the name after all.
“Kiki. You should stop. I don’t wanna annoy them.” I whisper into her ear.
“Ophi, can ya really not tell?”
I shake my head, which attracts their attention, making me hide again.
“Can’t be helped, huh? Hey, you guys’ mind if Ophi uses her power for a bit? She can’t tell whatcha thinkin’ otherwise.”
“I do not mind, what do you say, Kid—.”
“Do. Not. Start.”
“I jest Arthur. Kiki was it; it would be our honor to have the former Ace’s progeny allow us to experience her abilities firsthand.”
“But…”
“It’s all good Ophi. Go ahead.”
I really wasn’t comfortable using my powers, especially after earlier in the classroom, but if Kiki said so, then I should be fine. I’ve learned in the past couple of days that Kiki was too trustworthy for me to doubt at all. She had an unexplainable feeling about her that let me just put blind faith in her despite me not really knowing much about her. Even Papa trusts her, so there was for sure no trick or power behind it either.
Activating my eyes, but still kept them shut, still shaken up by the earlier incident. No matter how much I attempt to grow, I’m still such a coward unable to do anything myself, even when my best friend is asking so little of me.
“Come on Princess, we’re almost there.”
Well, if this day was almost over, then I guess it couldn’t hurt to at least check them out this once. I open my left eye to see Arthur first since he was Kiki's friend, so he was a little more trustworthy. Then what I saw made all my anxiousness fade away instantly.
It was yellow with so many shades bouncing around that it was almost blinding with hints of pink pointing to me and a slight hint of an orangey red annoyance pointing at Kiki. Despite his deadpan face, Arthur’s dancing inside was all excited, curious, and motivated to be here, basically the opposite of what I thought it would be. Not sure what pink meant, but I’ll ask Papa later.
I turn to Aaron and the same result without the pink or red. Bland face, but an entire party inside, even more extremely happy and brighter orange curiosity than Arthur, especially with his curiosity nearly blinding me.
With this much eye pinching evidence, I had no choice but to believe them.
They were happy. Happy to be with me. Not mad, disappointed, or even disgusted. Just happy.
“You guys…like talking to me…even though I’m like this.”
They look at each other, switching their colors to gray confusion and in unison say.
“Like what?”
Then Arthur continues.
“Naturally, any ally of this one would fall under the same category. Ace’s child or not, you are an ally to me, at the very least.” Arthur’s unchanging tune, but with his color switching back to yellowy pinkish, he wasn’t lying.
“Between like and dislike, I cannot properly ascertain which side I stand, however rather than the battle prowess or natural capabilities of the former ace, I found your aromatic creations and concoctions are quite fascinating since they might provide insight into improving Progressia’s nutrition. Kiki did state that you, Ophelia, created them, correct?”
“Um…what?” I ask.
“Kiddo, translate.”
“Aaron said he wants to know about those items you bring during afternoon mealtimes. Food, I believe you call it. He thinks it’ll help with people who need more nutrition from what the pill can give like me for example.”
“Oh!” I jump at the sound, finally feeling like I can join in on the conversation. “What do you want to know?! I’ll answer anything that I can!”
“Man, all it takes is food to excite ya, huh, Princess.”
“W-what? It’s not. I’m only interested in my culinary creations.”
“Suuuuure…” Her sarcasm oozing out of her mouth with every u and that eye roll didn’t make it any better.
“Kiki, do you have a problem with that?”
“Nope. Nothin’. Do go on Princess.”
I cook with all sorts of stuff, but that doesn't mean I'm a food junkie. And just 'cause I get excited talking about my interests doesn't make me childish.
Yep, this was just how you do conversation like in my ‘You and conversation’ books by 8A. I particularly like the third volume chapter on controlling your cadence during banter.
A thought appears.
Right now, with this group, am I hanging out with friends?
Kiki is my best friend and said Arthur is too because they are friends and also Aaron is his friend, so he’s technically my friend with the transitional bond of friendship.
Did…did I really do it?
This is what I wanted, but it doesn’t seem real. A few days ago, I was alone with only Papa as my only connection and if you told me this would happen, then I couldn’t even fathom this moment. I pinched my cheek, hoping that it wasn’t just a dream and when I opened my eyes and the three of them were still there, it felt too surreal.
“Ah, we’re finally here.”
Yes, finally home, so I can show them the wondrous world of — what is that?
Lifting my head, I am met with another cube block building with a sign that said nutritional factory.
“Kiki.” Trying not to show my dread.
“Yeah?” With the most innocent smile she could muster.
“My house looks different.” I lean back.
“Nah, it looks the same. We just ain’ there right now.” Tightening her grip.
I jerk away to escape, but Kiki is stronger. With no other choice, I call Papa hoping for him to come save me to be greeted by a voice mail and a text saying, ‘enjoy the tour darling’.
“Miss Ophelia must be quite excited.”
“So that’s what cute means.”
I am trapped and, unlike my prison escape games with Papa, there was no way out. I turn to my right and left and their flat faces internally excited, proudly exclaiming their silent joys.
Then I remember here in Progressia most people get their nutrition using...that.
No taste. No color. Just…nothing.
It is definitely something anyone should ever have to experience.
So why?
Why am I here facing my natural enemy, the creator of that tragedy, and how can Aaron and Arthur look so happy? Well, not look, but their aura was about this terrible place.
Even on the enemy's face, I couldn’t show weakness. What if they felt bad about me not liking the factory? No matter what I thought, I wouldn’t say my true thoughts. Even if it’s disgusting and especially because it was just that disgusting.
I will…be…nice. I…I…
I don’t wanna.
I wanna go home.