CHANGHEOM
Many people go in and out at the mall with bags in their hands. The sun's set high enough to grill the concrete, but the umbrella above provides a shade for me. I lift the glass to my mouth. The thick liquid flows through my throat, and instantly, a sweet taste fills in. It's cold.
Cold?
The floor was stone cold, but uncle kept moving the flasks on the table.
"You'll meet him today." he swayed one to the side. "I'm sorry if I can't be with you. I'm busy in the laboratory."
"It's ok. Just tell me about him."
"He's the most powerful Sken in the city."
"The most powerful Sken in the city?"
He cocked his head. "Had you lived under a rock? Everyone knows about him."
So with the thought of everyone knowing him, I tried to paint his picture in my head. Richard... Richard...
The air had been damp. The weather had been humid. Children had walked on the other side of the road licking their popsicles.
"You want?" Daegok had pointed at them.
"Huh?"
"I said that if you want one?"
"Ah, how did you know? Have you become telepathic?"
He had chuckled. "Not as strong as Richard."
Then, we'd go to the convenience store that day.
I opened my eyes.
Is he that Richard? "I think I'd heard his name before?"
Before me, uncle's eyes were glued to the substances he's mixing.
"Are you asking me?"
"Erm... I'm sorry. It will be actually great if I can help you, uncle."
"Nah. You're already helping. Besides you need to focus on Matt."
"I know."
"Anyway, say hi to him. That kid has an obscure way of seeing things.... that's what the people say."
"I bet he got a big ego."
He let a laugh. "If that's the case, you need to act big."
The clinks of the flasks had started to resemble a symphony. Just before I got hooked, I left the room.
So that's what uncle has said. I need to act big in front of Richard.
The people around me are still going in and out of the mall. I walk to the sidewalk.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a very loud sound appears from the distance. Then, something appears in the skies. It's a purple field looking mysterious but familiar at the same time, extending all over the crowd. What's that?
"It's master Richard," one of the people says.
"Richard?" the other one asks.
"The Rank 1."
Hearing their conversation pushes me to make my way to the crowd.
In the middle is a very tall boy in a leather jacket.
"Long live the master!"
"Long live the master!"
The vehicles fire their horns and the people scream his name non-stop, but his head is cast down and walking away. Just like I thought. He's really arrogant.
His back disappears far away. So, the noise stops just for the people to return to their businesses. I join them.
Passing by, I notice that the occupied space of the mall is wide. It's boutique after boutique, shop after shop, and kiosk after kiosk... it goes on. After a while, it ends. Now, an alleyway stands on my left.
Richard is already standing at the end of the alley. His hair is white, his eyes are purple, and his face is as red as a tomato. Just like before, he's looking at the ground.
Act big. I need to act big. I put my hands inside my pockets.
I walk with swag. "Hey, you're here already."
He turns his head at me and glares. "You're 5 minutes late."
"Heh. I'm very sorry, your majesty." I bow.
Seconds pass. I hear no sounds or movements. I raise my head. In my face, something is a rushing, blinding light. I extend my hand and a hot sensation flows from my arm to my chest.
"Ouch," I say grinning. "That hurts."
He steps backward. "That's... you're kidding."
"Nope."
"What are you?"
His eyebrows are arched and his face is scowling.
I wink. "That's a secret."
A beat goes, but he just stares at me. Oh. I might've overdone it.
"Just kidding. Of course, I'm a Sken like you. I wouldn't be here if I'm not, right? Anyway, are you willing to hear what I'm going to say?"
"Just spit it out already."
"Do you want to join me?"
"What are you saying?"
*Vooooom!*
A wide boom comes above us, very in sync like this whole thing is planned before.
I point the sky. "Listen."
"Breaking News! A new Class Division in the city has been discovered. The said Class Division is stronger than Class IV and is temporarily called Class Paradigm. The very first Sken to be classified in this division is a student in Jip-eun Sig Academy named Isaiah Matt Cruz."
Richard furrows his eyebrows immediately. "What kind of joke is this?"
"It seems like I don't have to explain it to you."
He opens his mouth, but I cut him.
"That's why we're negotiating."
He looks to the ground.
"You don't want to? After boss has gotten in trouble for that substance, you're backing down?"
He raises his head, and our eyes meet. They're burning with madness.
"What's your name?" he asks.
"Call me Changheom."
I offer my hand.
But his eyes stay sharp like before.
Suddenly, he moves forward and grips my hand tightly. Though he's strong, I adapt to his strength and shake harder.
"What now master?"
"You're the one who offered me to join, and yet, you're asking me what to do?"
"Masters like you should be followed. But if you ask me, I think you should get rid of him."
"Are you suggesting to kill him?"
"Of course! Because you should be the only most powerful Sken in the city."
"I see." he turns his head. "Well, we should find him now."
I insert my hand in my pocket to ask the BITT.
"Before that." he interrupts.
He walks to the trash bin.
*Boom!*
The hair on my skin stands to the waves. I raise my arm to cover my eyes. From the little hole, I can see a blue light. An explosion?
*Boom!*
Another loud sound shouts, but the bright light is nowhere to be seen. Removing my cover, I notice that there's purple light around me. In front of Richard stands a sloppy boy. Sloppy because his hair looks like he's just gotten out of bed, and his clothes look like he crawled to get here.
"It's really you," Richard says.
"Long time no see, master Richard," the sloppy boy says.
"Do you really expect me to miss your presence?"
"Excellent."
The sloppy boy levels his hand.
*Zap!*
From it, a blue streak of electricity comes out and flies to Richard. Its buzz sends shivers on my skin.
A purple beam clashes with the blue light. Meanwhile, I lean on the wall. I shouldn't be involved. I'll just let them fight until they drop.
*Zap!*
Suddenly, a streak of blue light goes in my way. I extend my left arm to catch the bolt. My heart pounds nowhere. The energy, I feel it tingling in my hand down to my arms then to my body. Snapping my fingers crackles electricity in the air.
I avert my gaze to the fight scene. It looks like Richard and the boy are still fighting. The boy runs to Richard. But something weird is around him. There's a blue field.
A blue field?
Oh no.
I direct my hand at them. I cast my shield for Richard and me.
*Boom!*
The boy flies out.
Richard's eyes, on the other hand, glow in dark purple together with his aura.
Suddenly, the body of the boy floats mid-air.
"You'll never prevail against a Class IV Sken," Richard says like he's declaring war.
The boy squirms. "Argh!"
With a loud scream, his beaten body drops.
Richard's aura fades.
The light in his eyes disappears. "Where's that foreigner?"
I touch the BITT. Where's Isaiah Matthew Cruz?
(District 3. Ra Yeon.)
I look straight at him. "He's somewhere in District 3. Ra Yeon."
"We make to haste."