Chereads / SK Foundation: Alice in Dreamland / Chapter 2 - It's Zane's birthday!

Chapter 2 - It's Zane's birthday!

It's August 14, walking alongside the sidewalk with his friend named Luke, they discuss their personal interest, which is about their dreams.

It was the first sight of seeing him hanging around with a friend but it wasn't strange for Zane.

He met him when Zane's little sister visited with Luke many times and then they crossed paths and eventually talked with each other.

In the morning dew was his last day off, it was Sunday, and he needed some company once every week due to strict guidance from his psychiatrist, also Luke likes to talk with Zane since he is a great listener and a good company.

He likes to make stories as novels as his hobby, he is a high school student and currently dating Zane's sister, Alica.

"So, how's your dream? Are they any changes or still the same?"

"For some reason, I always ended up in a lucid dream, where I am at a strange run-down building and it rains excessively like it was so realistic to experience. But a strange thing has happened."

"And that is?"

"I met a girl but I couldn't able to understand her words since it is deafening, also her face was blurred so I couldn't be able to recognize who she is."

"I see, why don't you do something exciting in your dreams since you can control your dreams?"

"I couldn't, I tried. It's like I'm stuck in that dream and couldn't able to wake up from it until I realized I woke up."

Zane chows down a crepe.

"I see, why don't we have some fun, for now, Zane-kun? I am craving a certain game at the arcade."

"You mean the crane game?

You really like that kind of game huh? Why don't you invite my sister instead?"

"She currently is student council treasurer, they have too many file reports to work on today so, a day without her is really sad. Also, you're here now so it is a spectacle to be with my friend playing my favorite games."

"I see. Alright then."

Zane agrees to play with Luke in the arcade, for over 2 hours playing consecutive games from shooting games to crane games, it was so hectic and fun at the same time.

Mostly Luke wasn't good at crane games but it was his all-time favorite so most of his allowances were eaten away by the loss of crane games.

After that, they went outside to eat.

"That was fun! Did you have fun, Zane-kun?"

"Yep, it was fun. Let's eat first since it's noon. I'm starving."

Suddenly Luke has a phone call from someone, he answers it as giving a privacy for a moment.

"Will you wait for me? I am gonna take this phone call."

"Sure."

While waiting, the sun sure is hot today. It may be the last thing Zane could ever experience the summer since he was busy at his part-time job and did not have a single break from it except the weekends, though it doesn't matter for Zane, he just loves his job.

While at Luke's side,

"Where? At Zane's house?"

"Yes. We are already prepared, you just need to bring him here."

"Alright then."

The phone call ends as Luke tells Zane to go to his home.

"Why are we heading to my place?"

Zane questions Luke's strange behavior.

"You have a new roommate, right? I wanna meet her. Also, I want to see Toste's pets once in a while for reference of course."

"Okay then."

While at Zane's house, 2 hours ago, Alice was feeding all the pets that Zane asked her to since it was her job, a doorbell rings so Alice goes to the door.

"I'm coming!" She sees four people on her doorstep.

"May we come in?" One of the four strangers asks.

"Sure."

As all of them entered Zane's pristine living room,

"Who are you?"

"We're Zane's high school friends."

"Also I'm his manager where Zane works at a coffee bar. You can call me Kurt."

"I see..."

"May I know your name, miss?"

Mary asks Alice her name.

"Alice Gray. is my name, pet taker of Zane's house."

"My name is Mary Bliss."

"Sofia Campbell."

"Mine is Ayato Toyoma."

"Kurt Matsuo."

"Are you Zane's girlfriend?"

Sofia asks a serious question.

"No, I'm not."

"How long are you staying here?"

Sofia asks another question.

"I'm not sure."

Suddenly Mary pinches Sofia's cheeks as if asking a rude question.

"Stop it, Mary!!!"

"Sorry, she is just insecure about you being new here. She is like that. So, let me explain why we are here."

Upon explaining,

"It's Zane's birthday today? Let me join in your surprise secret!"

"Actually, we have prepared some small confetti for us to surprise him. Will you help us with that plan?"

"Sure thing, if it's for Zane I'll do it. I'll be glad to surprise him."

Alice agrees to their plan of a surprise to wait for Zane and Luke to go back to Zane's home.

It took half an hour by foot to travel while walking and chatting at the same time with Luke, but they are soon to get there on time.

It was 1:08 pm and they have arrived at Zane's home, as slowly turned the knob of the door, a loud pop sound was heard as the inside of a confetti splashed through the air.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"

They shouted in joy and unison.

"I didn't expect all of you to be here."

Zane was shocked by the surprise party that they have planned, there are like more people than he had expected to be on his birthday.

And thus, he had no choice but to be glad for the blessing that he has, friends.

"Ehhhhh... You are cynical as always."

Sofia says to Zane.

"Pres, you're here?"

"What do you mean by I'm here? Of course, I am here, it's your birthday!"

"Well, I have no feast to prepare."

"We can just go to a family restaurant and chat there."

Mary replies to Zane.

"Okay. Let me prepare what I wear first."

After a whole 5 minutes has passed, Zane arrives with the new refreshing clothes he wears.

"So where are we headed?"

Zane asks Kurt where are they going since he knows where the best place to eat.

"What specific type of food do you want to eat?"

"I am craving a mouth-watering burger."

"Then, let's head to Shibuya City."

As they all went to the subway station, they waited for over 5 minutes to get to Shibuya City, going to a family restaurant place called 'The Great Burger'.

"So this is the place huh?" Ayato says.

"Based on the internet, this has 4 stars and is known as 'The Great Burger'. Let's go and see if they are that good."

Kurt tells everyone the place. Upon entering the establishment, they see magnificent decors and beautiful pictures designed on the walls, and the staff here are kind people. Most of it was a great environment for the customers to feel the warm welcome and see all the menu of good food available, a typical family restaurant.

"Woah, it's full of burgers on the list."

Luke was fascinated by the lists of burgers.

"I'll choose your best burgers please,"

Zane orders his food on the menu.

"Mine is a double patty with extra cheese and fries at the side," Kurt tells the server his order. "How about the others?"

"Same here." Everyone shares the same taste as Kurt since they are too shy or lazy to take other orders besides what Kurt told the server.

"Chocolate parfait for me!" Well almost everyone.

"Are you sure about that? You can also get burgers." Zane tells Alice.

"Fine. I'll take your burger, extra bacon, and eggs, and also the chocolate parfait."

"May we also add in on some different kinds of desserts that you have," Kurt adds his order since he is the one who will pay for their meals.

"Is that all? I'll be taking your orders then."

Their server left the scene to finally cook their orders. Over half an hour has passed, and their orders have arrived.

"Here are your orders, one for the best burgers that we have, 6 double patty with cheese and fries on the side.

We also got churro ice cream sandwiches, double chocolate brownies, cookie and cream macarons, homemade cinnamon rolls, and finally our all-time favorite strawberry cheesecake."

The server finishes his introductions of the floor that they ordered as presented on a plate, mostly they were tasting the foods just by seeing it themselves.

Alas, they dig in and began munching the burgers bit by bit.

"This is really tasty!"

Those mouth-watering burgers were the best burgers in Shibuya City. After that, as they were almost done with their meals, it was time to dig into the desserts.

"Try this Alice, this is so good."

Luke shares his cookie and cream macarons.

"So delicious!"

Alice was captivated by the taste of such desserts like discovering new flavors in each of her life. And with that, they had a nice weekend.

As the dusk was almost set, they left the establishment known for the best burgers.

They are soon to be separated by their places to go, saying goodbye to both Alice and Zane.

"We're home," Alice whispers as stepping onto his doorstep.

"I have to check the mail, for now, it seems someone send me a package."

"Okay, I'll leave you to it. I have to visit the pets while you are gone."

Hearing her voice from a far away, Zane sees from outside the gate a small box containing cookies and cream cake.

"It's from... Toste. But why cookies and cream? Is that Toste's favorite flavor? Well, I should accept it for now."

Suddenly an unknown text was found on Zane's phone, saying,

"Should we meet at the park, Zane? It's Sofia, I'd just like to talk to you right now."

Whatever it is, I need to meet her at the park since it's dangerous for a girl to walk around alone at night. And with that, he went to the park to see her.