It was just another ordinary day for an ordinary wizard. The whole classroom was preparing the Magic Duel. During the opening ceremony of the duel, their will be some performance for each class. Our classmates decided to do a theatre. Thankfully, I didn’t took the acting role. Rulend and Blax did became one of the actors in our theatre.

We were also decorating our classroom to showcase which class has the best teamwork in terms of interior design. Somehow, I end up in a so called mouse trap that I wouldn’t mind a lot if its a different person but it has to be Rika. Why her of all people?

What really happened was when we were all busy practising for the theatre. Rika plays a main role in the story by the way. Anyway, as we were practising we found out that we were missing some lighting for our theatre. Of all people they could ask, they asked me to go to the school equipment room. It was evening and the school was about to close as well. Everybody else was too busy to help me out but then Rika volunteered to help me. Great. Just great.

As I walked next to her with her original long hair had been tied up into a ponytail because of the practice, I felt a little nervous when I was around her. Yeah, she was my friend. But most of all I used to have a crush on her and now look at what was going on. We kept on walking toward the equipment room without saying a thing.

Saving us from the awkwardness Rika spoken to me, “So, I heard you are joining The Magic Duel with your friend, White”

“What? Oh yeah. Yes I am.” I answered nervously.

Rika continued, “Good luck then you guys. I hope we get to meet in the duel soon.”

I replied to her, “From the looks of it, you are very confident that you will be winning the duel, Rika.”

“Really? Do I look that confident?” Rika laughs. “I’m not sure, White. Maybe I am a little bit nervous. I mean I am one of the 7 top students here.”

This was probably the first time I know that Rika was nervous. She was always a confident person as far as I can remember. I guess the pressure as a top student was really too big for her to carry on her own.

I said to her, “It’ll be fine. Just enjoy the duel and you will be fine. I’m sure.”

“Really?”

I replied, “Yes.”

After giving her that pep talk, Rika seems to be less nervous about the upcoming Magic Duel. I’m glad I was there to help her out. But maybe she already had this kind of talk with her teammates but she was still discouraged for some reason. I’m not sure but every time something that comes out of my mouth, she will always listen to me. Even though sometimes she can be a bit of annoying because of how indelicate she can be at times.

We finally reached the equipment room and went inside. The door was not your average door with a doorknob. It requires an access card that can be acquired from the teacher’s lounge or if you are the head of the prefects or if you are Blax, who was the head of the librarians or if you are one of the 7 top students. Those people will just use their student card to get in easily.

Rika swiped her student card and the door was opened. We looked around the room and didn’t find any lighting equipment. We kept on searching inside the room. We talked to each other to avoid any awkwardness during the search.

I started, “Rika, who are your teammates again?”

“Do I have to remind you every time? Didn’t I told you who?” Rika said to me.

“Uh well. I kind of forgot.”

Rika sighed and explain. “Fine. Our team, The Supernova has a well rounded balanced teammate. Me, Rika Lightning is the leader of Supernova. If you were so inclined to remember my teammates they are, Asia Mercury, Sally Mahogany, Rose Lindow, Fitz Triangulum, Shay Wallenburg, and Shawn Wallfort.”

“That’s a fine set of teammates you have. You even have Fitz.” Then I said something sarcasmly, “Great, just great.”

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Rika didn’t notice my sarcasm. The reason I said it like that was because Fitz Triangulum was another rumoured girlfriend I had that Zone used to joke around with his Cheat. Thankfully we finally met each other and clear up all the misunderstanding that Zone made. But still, there was a chance that I may end up having to face her again. I really wish I don’t.

Rika then said to me, “You must of notice how all of my teammates are actually my cousins.”

“Yeah, you are right.” I noticed that as well.

Rika continued, “We decided to form up because we think we may have the best teamwork than any other team.”

“You think so?” I asked her.

Rika was flustered, “Hmph. Don’t mock my family, White.”

Meanwhile on the outside of the room. The school guard was walking around the school to make sure no students was at the compound since the school will be closing in a few hours. Unfortunate for us, the guard look around and decided to shut down all power in this area. Just when we realised that the room was all black, we panicked a little.

“Great. What now, Rika?” I asked.

She replied, “It’s okay, I already found the equipment we need. We just need to get out.”

Rika tried to open the door but it didn’t budge. She swiped her card but the card reader was not activated. We are locked inside this room.

“Are you serious? We are locked inside?” I said to her.

“Why does the guard had to shut down the power so fast! They usually turn it off when the school was over. And the school is not even closing for the next 2 hours!” Rika was furious.

I tried to calm her down, “Alright, alright. I get it. Let’s just calm down. The others might notice that we are missing. We can just wait.”

“For how long?” She asked.

I really don’t know the answer but I tried my luck, “Maybe before the school will be closed?”

“Isn’t that kind of too long.” Rika then looks around the dark room and felt a little shiver.

“Why does it have to be so dark.”

I replied to her, “It’s not that dark, idiot.”

“Yes. It. Is!” she shouted at me.

Jeez. You don’t have to get all mad at me. Don’t blame me, blame the guard. Woman. A very mysterious creature. I didn’t know Rika was afraid of the dark. I mean she was the top 7 student and probably the best because of her lightning magic. Anyway I decided to look around the equipment room to find an alternate exit. Then suddenly, Rika pulled my sleeve.

“Um,White.” She looks scared.

“What is it?”

“Um…don’t leave me alone, please. I’m scared.” Did she just honestly said that?

I laughed and said, “Are you serious? So what am I suppose to do instead of looking around?”

She then suggested, “Just stay close to me.”

“What?” I was a little perplexed by what does she meant.

She continued, “I mean, you have good vision in the dark. You can still look around by staying close next to me.”

And so I ended up sitting next to her inside the dark equipment room. Other boys would say they are lucky to be stuck in a room with a cute, sweet and cuddly person like Rika. But not me, I felt uncomfortable. To make things better, she somehow slept and her head tilted to my shoulder. Few minutes later her entire body went down and she slept on my lap.

And now we are back to where we started this chapter. Rika with her small warm body of her was sleeping on my lap. I tried to wake her up but she was fast asleep. I remembered that today was a tiring day for her since morning. But I didn’t know she was a fast sleeper. Even though her body was warm, my body was not! It started to get hot for me for some reason. I know I HAD a crush on her. Not anymore! So why am I still feeling this heated up?

Here I am alone with a cute girl who was baring all her body over me without any protection. If it weren’t me she may be in bigger trouble. But then a sudden urge feeling went inside of me. My eyes started to focus on something that was not suppose to look at. It made me look like a pervert. I looked away and continued to look for an alternate exit.

Then I remembered something. Rika uses lightning! I tried to wake her up but she was not responding at all. Then for a moment I felt like time was paused when I was looking at her sleeping face.

It was surreal. But then time starts back as she woke up and opened her eyes in front of me. Both of our faces were probably turning red even when we can’t see well. Rika then, yes. Slapped me. But not a normal slap. It was a slap mixed with her lightning. It was shocking indeed. Moments later, I told her to use her ability to power up the equipment room.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“Yes I am sure, just give a little nudge at the card reader.” I said that as I was recovering from her thunder slap.

Rika used a small watt of energy to the card reader and then swiped her student card. Presto! The door was finally opened!

“Your are right, White! Thanks a lot!” She looked at me for a moment then turned away from me. “Well…um…anyway let’s go back to them with these equipment.”

“Yeah…uh…sure.”

She left me while carrying some of the equipment. I carried the other equipment then closed the equipment room door. How mysterious can fate and destiny be. It can either be a bless or a curse to be honest. I ended up stuck in a room with her of all people. This may just be the start of something new. But not to me. I’ve met her for quite a while. But it seems this year, things was getting a lot different.

TO BE CONTINUED