MATTHEW'S POV
I was a liar and a coward. It hurts to admit it, but it was true.
The sad, worried, and shocked look on their faces made me want to scream my lungs out and tell them the truth. If I do that, then I must have a death wish with the elites. I also couldn't handle that.
"Matthew, we're so sorry." Sasha placed her hands on top of mine. Fireworks and butterflies erupted in my stomach. I said I wouldn't get in their way since their feelings seemed mutual, but I couldn't help it. Sasha was just too precious.
"Sorry for your loss, dude. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I smiled and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth in Sasha's hands and the comfort in Elijah's voice.
'They're good friends, that's for sure.'
My expression fell. My lips tugged into a frown, my eyes averted their gaze, and I bit my lip.
'I don't deserve them. In such short days, they've proven to be genuinely good friends.'
I was no good for them. They showed that they cared for me yet all I did in return for them was lie. I was torn between saying the truth to them and risking the wrath of the elites.
'If the day comes where we know and trust each other better, I promise to tell the truth. For now, please bear with these lies.'
"Orders for Matthew, Elijah, and Sasha?" The cashier's voice boomed and reached our ears.
Elijah and I stood up to fetch our drinks while Sasha stayed behind. We expressed our thanks and Elijah got Sasha's orders and set it back down at the table for her. Sasha flashed him one of her charming smiles that made Elijah look like he was part of the tomato family.
"Dang, Elijah. Were you raised in a tomato farm or something?" I decided to tease him. Elijah shot me a death glare and spat back. "And you look like you were raised by the moon with how pale you are, but did I comment?"
The pain I felt earlier on my back stung suddenly. I gasped and grunted as I felt this. Elijah and Sasha both opened their mouth to say something when they heard. I cut them off first.
I laughed loudly that it had gathered the attention of some people. "I'm not that pale! I don't know why, but I don't get darker nor sunburns whenever I stay outside for too long." I covered my former reaction by boasting. My mind was still lingering over why the pain wasn't going away.
'I should probably check it again later.'
"Good for you then," Elijah said in a monotone voice before taking a sip of his chocolaty drink. Sasha was chewing on a cookie while I was staring blankly into space, too busy thinking about what was wrong with my back.
I stared out the window to ignore the pins and needles that were breaking out from my lower back and focused on the view of the setting sun on the horizon.
The sky was painted with colors of orange, pink, and blue. The mixtures of those colors went well with the setting big ball of fire that was 93 million miles away from us.
The people got to see this glorious sunset every day. They were unaware and so oblivious to the danger around them, or rather beneath them. The more I think about it, the more I want to pursue being an elite.
I want people to enjoy this view as much as they could in their lifetime. I wanted them to live without fear - only in comfort, happiness, and satisfaction. Sometimes, they say ignorance was bliss.
'I shouldn't have ran away. I should've just blocked them out. I should've just tried over and over again until I got the hang of summoning a soul protector. '
That's it. I had made my decision. I wouldn't let a silly mistake get to me anymore. This time, I was gonna try my best to protect the world I was born into. And also...
I looked ahead of me to see Sasha containing her laughter and Elijah exaggerating a story. Once Elijah was done, both of them met my eyes.
"Should we go back now, Matthew?" Sasha and Elijah stood up, both of their faces gleaming and a smile graced their lips.
'I want to protect them.'
If caring people like them still existed in this world, I wanted them to live their lives to the fullest. Free of worry and only full of smiles.
I exhaled through my nose and grinned. "Sure."
The employees greeted and thanked us for coming. We exited the cafe and made our way back to school.
"So, are you gonna go back to school tomorrow?" Elijah asked to start a conversation.
"Y-Yeah. I guess." I made my choice and that was to be an elite.
'Who cares if they laugh at me when I come back? I make my own decisions.'
"Cool. Just so you know, mister Asher had assigned a ton of homework due on Friday!" Elijah looked like he was about to drop dead. I raised an eyebrow as to how that would concern me. Then, it struck me.
'They think I'm going back with them to the Grade 11 building! They don't know I was planning on going back to the elites.'
I stopped in my tracks. This made Elijah and Sasha stop as well. "Is something wrong?" Elijah blinked.
What was I supposed to tell them? That I was one of the elites and therefore couldn't join them in the Grade 11 building? What am I gonna say?
"A-Actually... I-" My sentence was cut off as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I brought it out and saw an unknown number displayed on the screen. Whoever you are, you're a lifesaver.
"Guys. I'm just gonna take this real quick."
I moved a good distance away from the two. I answered the call. "Hello?"
"Hey, Matthew."
'This voice... It's...'
"Samuel?" I had my mouth open.
"Yeah, the one and only." I heard him chuckle.
"H-How did you get my number?" First, they bought me clothes in the right size, then they knew my number that I had no recollection of giving it to them? What was happening?
The other end of the line was quiet for a moment. ".... School." He answered quietly, I didn't catch all of it.
"Pardon? I couldn't hear you." I turned up my in-call volume.
"I asked the school to give me your number. And since we know the principal, they willingly gave it to me." A pause came after. "I swear I didn't force them."
I didn't know whether to feel like all my information wasn't safe with the school anymore or to feel glad that Samuel went to such lengths just to talk to me.
"I believe you. So, are you gonna tell me the reason why you called?"
I already knew the reason. But I wanted to hear it from him.
'Who knows? Maybe it's different from what I have in mind.'
"It's about earlier today-" 'Yep, called it.'
"-I wanted to know how you're doing?" I let out one, long sigh.
"I'm fine. I was just... Overwhelmed and embarrassed. I overreacted." I scratched the back of my head. I could see Elijah getting impatient from the corner of my eye.
"You didn't, Matthew. We should have been more understanding. You were summoning-" I turned the volume down significantly and brought it closer to my ear. "-a soul protector again without any practice or real experience. It was immature of us. I wish to apologize."
I couldn't help but smile. "Hey, Samuel. When you say 'us' it means you're included, right?"
"Uhhh, yes?"
"I don't remember you laughing at me though."
He went quiet for a while. Then when he spoke again, I could hear the smile on his face. "Okay, fine. Whatever you say. Then, I like to apologize on behalf of the elites."
"Don't worry about it, Samuel. Thanks for checking up on me though. Even when you threatened the school staff." I couldn't let that one slide. I heard Samuel guffawing on the other line.
"Hey, I thought you believed when I said I didn't do that!"
I laughed with him. "I do, and I won't let you hear the end of it."
His laughing was cut short. "Are you... Coming back tomorrow?"
I didn't answer him. I hesitated. I glanced back to see Sasha and Elijah patiently waiting for me, but I could see Elijah's patience was wearing thin.
'I already made my choice. I won't go back on it.'
"Yeah, I will."
"Great! I'll meet you in the elite mansion later?" I shook my head. I forgot that it was a call.
"Can you do me a favor, Samuel?" I looked down. My brown shoes were covered in dust.
"What is it?"
"Can I meet you tomorrow at the Grade 11 building instead? And when we see each other, could you pretend that you're my cousin or whatever and say that you need to talk to me about my brother's death?" I knew my favor sounded unusual. I detected Samuel's confusion over the phone call.
"Okay...? I'm sure you have your reasons. So, you'll be staying at the dorms for today?"
"Yeah. I'll move in with you guys tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow, Matthew. Bye!" He hung up.
I went back to Sasha and Elijah. "Finally! What took you so long? Who was that?"
"Easy there, Elijah. That was just my cousin. He said he wanted to talk to me tomorrow about my... Brother." I swear this was gonna be the last lie that's gonna come out of my mouth. Elijah's mouth formed into a circle. "Oh, got it."
"Let's hurry and go back. The school gates will close soon." Sasha said and reminded us of what time it was. I didn't know it was already a quarter past six.
Without any more detours or interruptions, we made it back to the dorms safely. Stacey was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, where's your sister?" My question was directed to Sasha. The girl looked around and shrugged. "Maybe she went out to eat-" She stopped for a bit. "No, wait. She always takes me with her when she's going out to eat. Then maybe just a bathroom break."
It felt weird to see Stacey not in her post. I got used to her sitting there like mom used to do when I would stay out late.
I didn't know why but I had a bad feeling about Stacey's whereabouts. Something felt... Off.
'She's an adult anyways, she can handle herself.'
With that, the three of us entered the elevator. I pressed the third-floor button while Sasha pressed the second-floor button. The short elevator ride was silent, none of us uttered a word. When Sasha stepped out on her designated floor, she turned to us before the doors closed.
"Good night, guys!" We waved back and I think I caught Elijah winking at her. The elevator shook and moved up. It was now just Elijah and me.
The elevator dinged, indicating that we had arrived at our floor. We got off the elevator. I arrived at my dorm room. Elijah grabbed my shoulder before I could place my hand on the doorknob.
"What?" I furrowed my eyebrows. He looked at me with serious eyes. It was something Elijah didn't do often and that made me nervous. "I feel like you're hiding something, Matthew. Don't think I'm that dumb to not notice."
My eyes widened, my heart beats twice as fast, my breaths became heavy - I was panicking.
I opened my mouth to say something but he beat me to it. "You don't have to tell me anything. We all have our secrets. I just want to let you know that whatever it is, if you need any help, I'm here." His hand left my shoulder and his gaze softened.
I discreetly sighed in relief and gave him a reassuring smile. Though, he did frighten me for a second. "Everything's fine, Elijah. Go to sleep."
"You sound like my mom," He snorted. "Night, Matthew."
I watched him disappear into a corner. I entered my room and slumped down by the door.
'First, Stacey could tell something's wrong with me, and now Elijah knows I'm keeping something from them.'
This is getting worst and worst. If Sasha could also tell something's wrong, then I might as well be dead.
I glanced at the red button that was harmlessly laying underneath my bed. I crawled over and reached out to it. Even though the size of this button was no more than half of my palm, it still weighed too much for a button.
'Oh, I just remembered.'
Standing up and unbuttoning my school uniform, I turned around to find a small pink-ish spot on my lower back - it was the same size as a coin.
'What the heck? I'm sure that wasn't there before.'
I touched the spot and just like earlier, I felt a jolt of pain.
'What is this? A rash?'
Assuming it would disappear tomorrow after a shower, I changed out of my uniform and into a cotton white t-shirt paired with black sweatpants. As I was about to close the closet, I caught a glimpse of a black and yellow object. I pulled it out. What it was made my heart sting.
My lucky scarf - the one mom bought me 7 years ago. I hugged it close to my chest, a place where my mom is.
I compiled all of the information that was given to me the past few days to fully understand being an elite.
'Ventifios and soul protectors... All kinds of levels of the soul protectors... Mom and dad being elites-'
I paused at the last one to give it more thought. Mom didn't like to talk about dad's death, she probably couldn't handle the memory. And there was no doubt that death is unavoidable when fighting Ventifios. I put all of the pieces together.
'Could it be... Did dad die from being an elite?'
I understood everything now. Why mom didn't want me joining the elites. But the more I think about it, the more I wanted to avenge dad, even if I didn't meet him. And my friends...
I have already forgotten about the whole 'why didn't mom tell me?' thing. Looking at my friends and feeling their true friendship with me, I could see in mom's point of view on why she didn't mention anything to me. I was her son - proof of something on what she and dad once had. She couldn't bear the thought of losing me. She even told me I looked so much like him, that I reminded her of him.
In the same way, I was doing the same thing to my 'normal' friends.
I could see my mom's way of trying to protect me, and I appreciated that. But I couldn't just let my fellow elites do all the job. I wanted to help too.
I decide my own fate. And I choose to fend the Ventifios off of this Earth. Not just for my safety, but for the people as well.
It may be dangerous, but it was in my blood - to summon and to protect.