The weekday has passed, and today is Saturday. It's nine in the morning, and I am currently driving across the national highway, heading to the Starlight Mall, where Kleir and the others are waiting for me.
They planned to go to the mall today, and they asked me to come. I have no intention of refusing; I have nothing to do at home, so I might as well come hang out with them...
When I arrived at the parking lot of the mall, I saw a group of people standing next to a white pickup car ahead. From where I was, I already saw Kleir standing, holding her phone as if she was texting. A second after that, my phone beeped. I know it is her message.
Kleir asked for my number yesterday so that we could communicate, she said.
I tightened my grip on my handle and squeezed it more so that my speed would accelerate faster.
[screech]
The sound of my sudden hit on the brakes caught their attention. Some of them really jumped away, startled.
"EXCUSE ME, MISTER?" Anasia yelled.
Mister? She must have thought I was a guy.
"HELLO?! I am talking to you! " Anasia said, poking me aggressively.
I get off my motorcycle. Facing back at them, I locked my motorcycle, removed my helmet, and faced them.
"Excuse me dude, please be careful there are peo-" Bryce's sentence was cut off when I faced them. I look at them blankly.
What are they yapping? I did not run them over. Do my breaks sound that loud?
I look at them. Their mouths gaped open and their eyes were wide with shock.
'What did I do?'
"E-Eloise?!" Anasia yelled in shock.
"Yeah?" I asked.
Why are they like that? As if they did not expect me to be here. They are the ones who asked me to be here today…
"Yow…you drive motorbikes? " Bryce asked.
I watched him circle over my motorbike as if he was examining it.
"Yes." I said.
"That is sick!" He said, still touching my motorbike.
"I am so sorry I called you 'Mister' earlier. I just did not expect you to be driving a huge motorbike. I hope I did not offend you." Anasia said, really looking apologetic.
"It's fine. I did not mind. " I said, and let out a small smile.
"You dress differently too…" Agatha said, looking at me head to toe.
"Black leather jacket and a black tight jeans…" she said .
I just stared at her blankly, like I always do.
"You are stunning, Eloise!" Kleir jumped right beside me and shook my arm. I gave her a smile and said, "Thank you."
"Yieeee, let's go! I can't wait to go shopping~!" Kleir excitedly shakes my arms as she's pulling me inside the mall.
"Me too~!" Anasia squealed.
"Okay girls, let's go." Agatha said, walking ahead of us, followed by Anasia.
.
.
.
"This will look good on you, Kleir! Try it on! " Anasia said while handing Kleir a very short black dress.
"This is too short… I think." Kleir said, examining the dress with a grimaced face.
"Oh my gosh? You are a cheer dancer. What is wrong with short dresses? " Anasia asked, laughing.
"Well…" Kleir trailed.
"Just try it on." Agatha encouraged, while pushing Kleir into a fitting room.
Kleir went in with a hesitant face before closing the curtain.
I am just here sitting on a couch in the dressing room watching them. I already looked at the clothes earlier and I did not like ALL of them. Short dresses with a very vibrant color—almost close to neon. I pick none of them, and have no plans to. I just sit down and watch them pick their own. Bryce is nowhere to be found either. He said he was meeting someone in the arcade.
Agatha suddenly stopped in front of me. I look up at her. She is looking down at me, carrying a lot of dresses on a hanger.
"Did not like any?" she asked me, roaming her eyes around the place as a gesture.
"Yes, not my type." I said.
"Oh—I thought so too." She said with a smile and turned her back to me, continuing to look around the store.
I sighed and rested my head on the backrest. It's not that I am bored, I am just exhausted. I have restless days and instead of spending this day sleeping at the apartment, I know I can't do that either. I do not trust myself when it comes to sleeping. I end up doing other things other than sleeping; I know that.
[shriiik]
The curtain door swayed open, revealing Kleir wearing a spaghetti strap body-con dress with a very short skirt.
I look at Kleir. She doesn't seem comfortable and confident.
"Omg, that is perfect! Have that!" Anasia cheered.
I glanced at Agatha. She is looking at Kleir from head to toe.
"Omg~ Yeahh~" she said too, walking closer to Kleir, who is standing in front of the mirror. Agatha is touching her, trying to examine her.
"That. Is. PERFECT, buy that and wear that at parties. I'm sure Mikhail will propose to you well- he already kissed you right, so what is next? " Anasia chattered in excitement. But the other girl caught my attention, Agatha.
The moment Anasia mentioned the name 'Mikhail', her face changed.
Well…
I waited for them for an extra 10 minutes before they decided to patch things up and pay for the dresses. Bryce was already with us this time.
.
.
.
After we went clothes shopping, we went to an arcade, a cinema, and another dress shop. I am already tired and hungry. It is already past four in the afternoon. I do not know where the time went. All I know is that I am just following them around. It was not boring since I enjoyed myself looking around, it's just tiresome.
"So where do you want to eat, guys?" Kleir asked.
"Elosie? Have any suggestions? You have been so quiet since this morning, and you didn't buy some clothes either, so now it's your time to choose where we are going to eat. " Kleir said, tugging at my arm... again.
She has that habit of tugging my arms whenever she is talking to me. I do not mind, though.
"So where?" Bryce asked again, looking around.
I want French cuisine.
"Cuisine des Dieux." I stated casually.
"Hah! Don't be silly, come on, be serious. I am hungry already, silly. " Agatha chuckles.
Joking? Me?I'm not, though.
"I am not joking. Right now, I want French food. " I said seriously.
They look at me as if I said the biggest joke they could have ever heard in their lifetime.
"Okay, I get it, but Cuisine Des Dieux? Only elite people from the upper world eat there. " Anasia said, rolling her eyes dreamily.
"She's right, my father is a congressman, and we ate there once. We booked a reservation a month prior to the day we ate, not to mention it cost us couple of thousand dollars." Bryce said this while tapping at his phone, most likely texting.
"Yeah, and this Cuisine Des Dieux does not exist here anyway, not in this country or city." I look at Kleir, who is looking at me, smiling too.
I just look at them one by one blankly.
'Okay. That is my favorite restaurant though.'
"Oh, okay. I don't know any eating places." I said.
They look at me in disbelief.
"Oh, my gosh, girl? "Are you living in a cave?" Agatha said and laughed loudly. I just stare at her, unamused.
"Okay, since our girl Eloise here doesn't have any idea where to eat, I'll suggest somewhere. Let's go to the famous steak, it is just on the 5th floor." Anasia said, and started walking. His stilettos clicked so loudly on the marbled floor of the mall.
.
.
.
"So? Eloise is too quiet that we don't even know her that much, aside from that she is a transferee." Agatha said, while sipping her wine gracefully.
"Yeah! Tell us more about you. " Anasia said.
"That's true, even if I'm the first friend she got here at the university, I don't know that much either." Kleir said.
"Well, if you don't mind, Eloise, introduce yourself." Bryce suggested further.
They stopped eating and are now waiting for me to finish sipping my water. looking at me with eagerness in their eyes.
"I am Eloise, I…" I glanced at them. They are still waiting and expecting me.
"I live in an apartment, and my parents are away working." I said with finality. I don't want to go further than that.
"What's your parents' job?" Agatha asked. I looked at her. I stared at her for a couple of seconds and sighed.
"My mom is dead and my father is an office worker." I answered anyway; they would not have stopped if I didn't.
"Oh?" That's all she said and continued eating her meal nonchalantly.
"Oh, we are sorry." The others apologized.
"It's fine." That's all I just said and continued eating my steak.
They talk more about their families and their plans for cheer dances, such as their routines and practice time. I am relieved that I am out of the topic now.
"We should practice tomorrow for our new routine at this incoming inter university festival." Kleir suggested while sipping her remaining cocktail drink.
"Ohh that is a great idea!" "Agatha Agatha excitedly said while gently clapping her hands.
"Bryce, want to come?" Kleir said to Bryce.
"Sure!" Bryce agreed.
I was just listening to them while drinking my water.
"Oh... Eloise?" Anasia called out.
"Hmm?" I replied.
"Why don't you join our cheer dance squad?" She said.
I immediately stopped whatever I was doing. I don't know if I am shocked or anything, but my mind went blank for sure.
"What!?" Agatha exclaimed.