"Extreme reforms have occurred in most research centers, with more than a dozen people arrested for joining a conspiracy against the government. The head of Hope Research Center, the research center hit hardest by this arrest, with more than half of those arrested belonging to their center, has issued a statement regarding the issue. Calling those who were arrested those who had 'lost their way', it is unknown whether the head was involved in the cover-up of this wide-spreading conspiracy. Currently, the police have held off on commenting anything about this situation..."
Hitting the 'off' button on the remote, I bit my lip as I watched the screen turn black. Even though Oliver had warned me of this news yesterday, it was still like a stab through my chest as I heard the news being announced on television. Turning away from the screen, I saw Oliver exiting our room with a slight frown on his face. Noticing that I was standing in front of the television, he gave me a weary smile before announcing to our parents that he was going to go out.
Nodding their heads, my parents paused their discussion to see the two of us off. Grabbing my bag as the two of us left the house, I tilted my head to see that after waving goodbye at us, my parents faced each other as they resumed talking. With frowns on their faces, each of them allowed the other to speak before they brought forward their own points.
"Let's go."
Catching my hand in his, Oliver led me away from our apartment and towards the staircase. Passing by Ralph's house, I suddenly stopped.
Turning around to look at me, Oliver raised an eyebrow as he saw my gaze plastered on the metal door. I bit my lip, my mind racing as I debated within my mind whether to expose my bad habit to Oliver. I knew it was a horrible habit, and in the past, before Uril, I had desperately tried to change it. However, after Uril's suicide, whenever I saw a closed door, an unbearable anxiety would overtake my moral compass, and I couldn't help but check whether the door was locked. Or whether it was open.
Digging my nails into my palm, I could feel cold sweat break out all over my body before I finally gave in to the impulse and whispered to Oliver.
"Please don't tell anyone about this."
Pleading with him, it wasn't until I saw him nod his head, albeit with eyes full of suspicion, that I breathed a sigh of relief and leaned onto the door. Placing my ear up against the metal, I closed my eyes and tried my best to put my worries about what Oliver now thought of me to the back of my mind. Focusing on the noises coming from beyond the door, I heard the soft voices of both June and Ralph. The two seemed to be talking to each other.
Although their voices were too soft for me to make out what they were saying, their tone when speaking to each other, and the emotions leaking out of their voices, spoke more than a thousand words about what they meant to each other and the seriousness of their conversation.
I put down the worries in my heart, and resisting the temptation to eavesdrop on their conversation, I leaned away from the door and patted my chest in relief. It seemed that after the talk between my mother and June yesterday, something had changed within June. She sounded happier, more free, as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Clenching my jaw, I then turned my head to Oliver. After what he had just seen, I expected a look of shock or disgust to greet me. However, meeting those near obsidian eyes, they neither held any judgement or negative feelings towards me.
His eyes were slightly widened, and a look of realization slowly flooded his face. Then, with a slightly sad smile and a shake of his head, he didn't comment on anything as he gestured for us to continue walking.
However, I shook my head. Before leaving the apartment building, there was one more place we needed to visit. The only reason I visited Ralph's apartment first was because I was slightly worried about June and Oliver.
Reaching out my hand, I softly captured Oliver's hand with my own, and led him back the way we came. Backtracking all the way past our house, the two of us stopped in front of the Justice household.
With my free hand, I rapped my knuckles lightly on the door and leaned closer to hear Camellia's footsteps. Since Oliver didn't seem fazed by my actions, I felt a little less guilty about indulging in my bad habit and didn't feel as nervous while listening out for Camellia. Hearing her slow footsteps, I leaned back from the door and prepared my brightest smile for her as I saw the door swing open.
"Good morning Camellia!"
Showing her a grin, I reached out my free hand to relieve her of the newsbook.
"Good morning Dan."
Smiling at me, Camellia stretched a hand to ruffle the top of my head. Then, shifting her gaze to Oliver, her smile changed into one that held a little bit of sadness and pity.
"Good morning Oliver."
"Good morning Camellia."
Nodding their heads at each other, Camellia then gave me a sweet smile before retreating back into her apartment. Walking away from the Justice household and towards the stairs, I tucked the newsbook underneath my arms and looked at Oliver with eyes full of curiosity.
"Do the two of you know each other?"
Lowering my feet onto the steps carefully, the two of us climbed down the staircase and turned left.
"No. We've never met each other before. However, I've read about her amazing feats in the police force, and she has probably read a lot of news about me recently. It's kind of expected that we knew each other."
Continuing straight until we reached the crosswalk near my school, the two of us paused.
'Well, I guess this is where we part."
Oliver took a step in the direction of the MDVA cemetery, while I took a step in the direction that led to my school.
"See you later."
Waving goodbye to each other, the two of us went on our separate roads. Neither of us turned back.
Taking the newsbook out from under my arm, I opened it in front of me and flipped to the page for yesterday. Due to all the chaos that had occurred yesterday, I had never managed to read the news. Skipping through the pages, I allowed my feet to carry me to the classroom and towards my seat.
By the time I had blindly sat down on my chair, I had finished skimming most of the articles. Feeling a pair of curious eyes burn a hole through me, I quickly finished going through the rest of the articles before returning to the first article from yesterday and placing it down on the table.
"Did something happen yesterday?"
Stretching out a hand to turn the book around so he could read it, Frank asked lightly as his eyes fell to the newsbook pages. Beside us, Linel was in his seat.
As usual, he was chatting with some of the other classmates, smiling as they talked about everything under the sun. However, as I looked closer at his face, I could feel that his smile was stiffer, as if he was forcing himself to appear happy and carefree, and his eyes had lost their radiant glow of joy.
Noticing my gaze, Linel excused himself from the group of classmates he was talking to and dragged his chair to my table.
"Hey!"
Holding up his hand, the two of us waved to each other as he adjusted himself to be more comfortable in his seat. Turning his head to face Frank, Linel suddenly paused and narrowed his eyes, his face showing a rare moment of frustration before it was quickly covered up by his usual smile.
Furrowing my eyes at the look, I flickered my gaze to Frank to find out what had caused such an extreme reaction from Linel. With both arms leaning on the table, Frank was currently paused on a certain article from the newsbook. His wide eyes were fixed on the title.
Looking down as I read the title, I couldn't help the smile that surfaced on my face.
'MDVA prevention act has been officially put on hold due to the spread of the 'Defence Theory' suggested by Andrew.'
"This...!"
Frank stretched out a hand and caressed the words making up the title. His eyes held a mixture of disbelief, joy, and sadness. Turning the page with a gentle smile, I saw him slowly read the article. Finally, reaching the end, he gave a small sigh and turned the page.
However, as he read the title of the next page, that smile froze and wilted in the blink of an eye. Remembering the article after this one, I could feel my smile fall from my face. If I remembered the title correctly, it was 'Dozens of suspected Anti-MDVA act protesters arrested within reseaarch centers. With Hope Research center hit the hardest.'
"Is Raven alright?'
Quickly flipping through the article, Frank and Linel's eyes scanned the names of those arrested. And, when neither Raven nor Richard's name was mentioned, they lifted their heads to ask me.
"Yes. For now, Oliver said that most of the protesters in the research centers, including Raven, are lying low. Unfortunately, they had to pause the MDVA project. However, a lot of people joined, so it isn't only bad news."
Giving a rundown of the news I heard from Oliver, Frank and Linel nodded their heads as they listened. Closing the newsbook, Frank slid it back towards me as he leaned forward to ask.
"And Oliver? Won't Raven be in trouble if he's seen talking with Oliver? Since Oliver is currently tied to the Anti-MDVA faction."
Lowering our voices, the three of us huddled around my table as we talked.
"According to Oliver, he has a sure-fire confidential way to exchange messages with Raven without being caught. Although he didn't tell me what it was."
Taking my newsbook back, I offered it to Linel. Receiving the book, Linel nodded his head in silent thanks as he hid it under his table to read later.
"Sure-fire?"
Listening to my words, Linel and Franks raised an eyebrow, but in the end chose not to ask further. Gingerly stepping past this topic, the three of us continued to discuss our thoughts on the reform.
"The government is definitely trying to weed out protesters in the research centers."
I stated the obvious, and the other two nodded their heads. Frank, placing his hand under his chin, thought aloud to himself.
"But why? It's not as if the government knew about the Defense Theory when they created the Anti-MDVA act. Why would they want to suppress the Anti-MDVA prevention act faction instead of working together to find out a way to prevent more victims?"
Frank tilted his head as he muttered. Sighing from beside him, Linel shook his head as he answered.
"It's because of pride."
"Pride?"
Frank's head shot up, and our two gazes locked onto Linel's face. With a scowl, Linel furrowed his brows, his expression twisting into one close to hatred as he spat out the word. Then, with an angry sigh, Linel leaned slightly back as he complained.
"That's right! Pride. Those old hypocrites care more about pride and reputation among their peers than anything else."
Opening his mouth wide, Linel seemed as if he was about to spew fire, when the sound of the teacher entering the classroom interrupted him. Turning around, the three of us quickly dispersed back to our seats as the teacher took out their teaching materials and started drawing on the chalkboard.
Pulling out our notebooks and chalkboards, the whole class started getting ready for the lesson. However, as I was preparing my things, the weight of Linel's words seemed to land on my heart, weighing it down.
It was hot, drilling a hole through the outside of my heart and burrowing itself deep inside.
Pride, huh.