Oxy couldn't wait for the end of class. After this Selena would take her to Mr. Dome's apartment.
She played the flash Drive in her palm. Still curious about the file inside the drive.
Still ten minutes before the bell, suddenly her cell phone vibrated. She glanced at the teacher who was still explaining in front of the class. Convinced that she was not being watched, she looked at the new message.
She couldn't help herself when she saw a new message coming in because only a few people usually texted her, of course, her parents, Bill and Grace.
Sometimes she got an important message. And sometimes it was just Grace who only wanted to ask Oxy to make sure if Darren would come home on time. Of course, it's very tiring to fulfill the wishes of the Janes when it came to Darren.
That was not a message from Bill or Grace. It was from Hydroxxx, a private message not a group chat.
Oxy was a bit confused. Finally, Hyrdoxxx was back online after a week's disappearance. She opened the message.
Hydroxxx: hey, you.
Oxy frowned. What the hell? What kind of message was this? She decided to just ignore it. Not that polite. Just as she was about to put the phone back under her desk, the new message came.
Hydroxxx: I know you're online. Don't ignore my message!
Oxy was irritated.
OxyJ: I'm in class.
Hydroxxx: oh yeah, I forgot.
Then Hydroxxx went offline. Oxy shook her head. What the hell the boy was? Come and go as he liked.
--
Oxy and Selena chose to wait until all of the students in their class left.
"What snacks would you like to buy before going to my father's apartment?" Selena asked.
Oxy shrugged. "Whatever," she replied.
"You're too serious, Oxy," Selena commented. "You must learn how to be fun!"
Oxy just didn't care. According to her, she was more excited because she was going to visit Selena's father's apartment. Of course, it's not her fault for not being passionate about food and snacks as Selena.
"Too obsessed with that nightmares is not good," Selena said, putting her arm around Oxy's shoulder. "Right? How about we just forget about it? Now that I think about it, I don't want to go inside there anymore."
"I know you're scared." Oxy understand. "I also wanted to run away at first, but I can't forget the fact that I've been trapped in there. And I know Helio. Of course, I can't ignore that boy who suddenly disappeared."
"That Helio again, huh?" Selena sighed in annoyance.
"He's the gatekeeper of Cerebra. What will happen if Cerebra doesn't have the gatekeeper?"
"I am sorry if I don't care about that matter. I've worried enough about my father." Selena complained.
"Maybe we can help your father if we focus on that dimension," said Oxy.
"Trust me, I want to help my dad. But we're just kids, what can we do about an adult matter? Okay, I don't like being thought of as kids either. But what can we do?"
Selena was right, but Oxy still wanted to do something to help.
"Hey, I know how to have fun!" Suddenly, Selena shouted.
Oxy even frowned. What again? Did Selena finally get an idea of what kind of food she would buy after school?
Suddenly Selena tore a poster on the corridor wall.
"This!" Selena showed Oxy the poster.
"Oh," Oxy commented flatly.
"Only 'Oh'?" Selena repeated in disbelief. "The Star Night party will come! The famous night in your city, right?!"
Oxy didn't feel enthusiastic about Star Night. Star Night was a famous and special night that occurs in the middle of the year in Skeleta. That night was very special because the night all the stars shone brightly and looked bigger than usual in the sky above the city of Skeleta. The Star Night Celebration only took place in Skeleta.
There would be many events and their school would hold a star night party as well for kids in the school. It was going to a dance party. The Night of the Stars was romance themed for anyone.
Seeing Oxy's unenthusiastic reaction, Selena was getting frustrated.
"Oxy! We must go there!"
Oxy snorted before continuing on her way again.
"What the hell is that?" Selena chased her. "You just snorted! What kind of girl will snort at a dance party event?!"
Oxy rolled her eyes. She thought that Selena would feel uneasy being friends with her, but she was the one who was more frustrated with Selena.
"Oxy, you're a sixteen-year-old girl! Don't you want to dance with a hot boy?"
"That's disgusting," said Oxy bluntly.
"Hey, change that perspective of yours!"
"Come on, Selena. I'm busy figuring out how to get your dad out. While you're busy with that stupid Star Night events."
"What's wrong with having fun? My dad won't stop me from having fun. Besides, my mom's already hired a lawyer to take care of my dad's case. We've done our best."
"Hey, you didn't tell me about the lawyer." Oxy protested.
"I just knew about that this morning. My mom called," Selena replied. "My mom assured me that it won't be long before we get to see dad. That's why I'm asking you to stop thinking about that nightmare."
"But Helio..."
"What if Helio is just part of a dream? Like that creature called Uron?"
"No way. Helio is a human just like us. He's been stuck there for a long time and he..."
"...suddenly disappeared. And he is the gatekeeper. Yes, I know!" Cut Selena who already knew what Oxy was continued about.
"Okay, okay. Let's put it this way. All right, I'll help you do anything to find Helio for you. But don't make me back inside the nightmare. Okay?"
"But..." Oxy wasn't sure it was a good idea.
"Seriously, if he's human, his body must exist in the real world, right? Maybe he's in a coma in one of the hospitals right now. We can check later! But...!"
Oxy suddenly stopped when Selena blocked her way.
"...But we have to attend the Star Night party!"
"Seriously, Selena." Oxy couldn't believe Selena didn't want to stop. It's not just about food now about that stupid event?
"I'm not interested in being on there!" Oxy flatly refused.
Oxy had been to the Star night event in her past times, and all of that was a bad memory for her. She was forced to wear a ridiculous dress that felt hot and itchy. Not to mention the boys mocked her appearance. She did not want to go there!
"Come on!"
"I don't have a dress, you know!"
"Well, I have a lot of dresses!" Selena was getting more loudly.
Oxy's shoulders dropped helplessly. How to get away from Selena for a day? Or at least on Star Night later?!
"Come on, Oxy. We have to come and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun!"
But Oxy didn't like crowded people. It already felt tiring just to think about that.
"Don't you have a crush on a guy? That's where we get to see some cool guys!"
Instantly whether it was Selena on purpose or just a coincidence, the basketball club passed the end of the hall. Darren was one of the club's boys. And of course, Argen was there too because he was the captain of the club.
Oxy's face heated up at the thought of Argen going to the Star Night party in a suit that made him more handsome.
Maybe it won't be bad. She could hide behind Selena and watch Argen at the party later silently. It was the last year for Argen in this school. Next year, she would not see him anymore.
Great idea, right?
"How?" Selena's face closed the view of the basketball club members.
Oxy was still not ready to tell Selena if she was one of Argen's fans. She cleared her throat to calm herself.
"Okay, I'll come with you."
"Are you serious?!" Selena immediately shouted with joy, making the members of the basketball turn their heads toward them.
Oxy who felt embarrassed immediately pulled Selena to hide from the sight of the basketball club members.
"Yeah, but please don't be so excited!" Oxy hissed irritated.
Selena just laughed.
"But don't forget your promise that you will help me to find Helio."
"Okay, okay."
"And inform the progress of the lawyer on your father's case," Oxy asked again.
"Duh, you're so serious! Okay!" Selena doesn't seem to care at all.
Oxy wanted to tell Selena about the message from Hydroxxx, but she was distracted when Selena was talking about buying the dessert again.[]