Crumpled papers can be seen laying around the floor. You can see Cooper drawing something in a piece of paper but after a minute, his lips pursed and his brows are furrowed as he crumpled yet again another failed drawing. He sighed for the nth time. He just can't perfect this circle.
Kristine seemed annoyed at Cooper sighing every seconds. "Okay that's enough... what are you doing?"
"Drawing a circle." Cooper answered.
Riri frowned. "Why?"
"To relax obviously." He rolled his eyes making Kristine felt insulted at making her felt dumb at not getting what he meant.
"It is obviously NOT working if every time you picked up a paper you will sigh for a hundred times! Why are you so moody today? Is it because Mrs. Science yell at you during class?"
Cooper sighed, stopping what he's doing. Yes, that is one of the reason why he is so out today and not his usual self. It's because of their quiz in math. He still couldn't understand some lessons and its frustrating him.
He can't call the group study a group study because the only one that did it are Adrian and Calvin. Riri was busy with her phone and he was busy eating the crumbs of what is left the cupcake.
If he was being honest with himself, he only like the thought of going to school but not what they are doing in school. Cooper cursed the stories that he read when he was bored. It instilled him the thought that school was fun. It's fun, but not that fun when you are always stressed because of assignments and teachers that did everything to make his school life worse.
He looked at Riri, "Am I that obvious?"
"Are you seriously asking me that?"
He nodded. Riri sneered at him. "You are always a happy dumb guy and you became a gloomy emo teenager after Mrs. Annoying yelled at you. Like what is her deal? Is she that unprofessional to fight back to you? Sometimes I wonder how she became a teacher in this prestigious school."
"Well she is good at what she is doing. She is a good teacher to us before the talk happens. Sigh, sometimes I wonder what would be the outcome if my mouth can shut up and not tell everyone what I think."
"We wouldn't know because it never happened. Don't be hard on yourself, it's not your fault she's that petty. Now stop what you are doing and get inside my house."
They are at Kristine's backyard. Riri invited him for some unknown reason and made him hangout at her house. He was surprised that she can make Ari left them alone and not to be like a guard dog to him (Riri's words not his). Her father was here. Her dad was nice. He was smiling politely at him then heads off to the garage, apparently her dad has a hobby of doing some mechanical stuff. Riri said that it's his dad's day off. It is a little awkward for him because it's his first time, well, second time going into her house but for Cooper this is the official visit with Riri's parents knowing that he's here.
They went inside the house by entering the back door.
Riri sat down the chair at the dining room and looks at him. "We need to do something relaxing, something that can make our mind away from depressing thoughts."
She have a thoughtful look and stays quiet for a while.
Cooper remained silent not wanting to disturb her friend's concentration. After of what he thought a eternity, Riri gasp. "Aha! I know exactly what to do."
He perked up. 'Finally there is something to do.'
And then deflated after Riri throws the suggestion that she didn't even spoke yet. "Hmmm, maybe not that I don't want to sweat. What about... hmmm... yes! This is it! Let's go to the mall!"
"Mall?" He repeated.
"You're not deaf you heard exactly what I said. Yes mall! It's been a while since we went there. Come on Cooper, this will be fun. It will be your second time going to a mall."
"I don't know... I want to but I don't have permission to go there. Norvyn only knows that I am hanging out with you here."
"Then tell him that we are going out easy." Riri replied.
Cooper felt frustrated. It's not that easy without Adrian here. If Ari is here, he can use his super weapon and Ari will agrees to go to the mall and Norvyn trusts Ari that's why they don't need the old man's approval to go to somewhere else. He regretted not bringing Ari here. He regretted not stopping Riri in making Ari stay.
"It's not that easy Riri." He said. "Even If I tell Norvyn about where we will be going, if he didn't agree I have to say no to this."
Riri gave him a look. "Why do you even need his consent?"
"You know why I need to do that."
Riri sighed. "Yeah yeah you're sick but still, you're eighth freaking teen years old! You are old enough to have your own decision."
"I am technically still a teen you see? Eighteen, there is a teen in eighteen." Cooper tried to reason.
"You are technically an adult too. Cooper just live for a moment yeah? We will go to the mall after you tell Norvyn about it but if he disagreed, show him that you understand and stay here but in reality we are in the mall, enjoying our day."
Riri have a finality in her voice that Cooper is afraid to told her no.
Cooper nodded making Riri's stern face to relax. "This will be fun I promise."
Cooper hopes that the risk is worth it.