Chapter 3 - Like old times?

At the table, there were two young women.

Rya Dai was the taller one; she had her cap on backwards. Her eyes and hair were both brown, and her brows and sharp eyes gave her a fierce appearance. She had on a windbreaker that zipped up.

The back of her windbreaker looked just like Kraz and Clyde's.

The person who called out Kraz was Samantha Kat, Rya's seatmate. Her eyes were light brown and her hair was dark brown, pulled back into a ponytail. She exuded a rather gentle vibe with her soft makeup and warm gaze. She was wearing a flannel and had her windbreaker on her chair.

Voye looked at them briefly before lowering his attention to the table.

"How's all your injuires?" The two heard Voye's muttered words.

"That's the first thing you ask?" Samantha asked with a small smile.

"Well, we are still alive, so there's that," Rya said, leaning back in her chair in response.

Silence afterwards, leaving the atmosphere feeling awkward. Voye wasn't sure how to respond to them, standing there and hoping for a hole to appear so he could jump and hide in.

"Come on, let us go order our coffee," Clyde intervened, looking at the two, "What do you two want?"

Both of them gave Clyde a quick glance; Samantha's eyes narrowed slightly, and Rya raised her eyebrow a little.

Clyde merely grinned, as though he was anticipating their response.

"Sam will have a mocha, and I will have a latte," Rya replied, shaking her head.

"Gotcha, let's go Voye." Clyde said this while pulling Kraz away.

He placed an arm on Voye's shoulder and whispered, "You bringing up the past is ruining everyone's mood, including yourself. Just talk about your time in school or the fun things."

Voye wiped his eyes and nodded. His eyes swept over the menu, "I will have a frappuccino," he said.

Clyde patted Voye's shoulder once more and nodded before proceeding to the counter.

Voye simply approached behind Clyde and observed him giving an order. He prepared himself in his mind, considering what he could say and what he should not say.

Afterwards, the two returned to the table.

Clyde took a seat in front of Samantha, and Voye took a seat in front of Rya.

When Voye finally turned to face them, he saw the small scars on Rya's forehead that the hat was unable to cover up, as well as how Samantha had mostly concealed the scar with makeup.

"How are you two?" It was Clyde who struck up the discussion, asking, "Did you two finally did the deed?"

"You still single?" Rya scowled at Clyde, her eyebrows quivering.

Clyde grinned more fiercely and said, "I have been busy with intern, but ain't you two living together?"

"You two have been together for so long and have not done it?" Voye asked, seemingly shocked.

"No bitches?" Rya also glared at Voye, causing him to chuckle briefly.

"Not looking for one." Voye shrugged his shoulders, than nudged Clyde in response, saying, "Okay, let us not get involved in their love lives. I'm not interested either."

"Thank you for being sensible." Rya turned and glared at Clyde, "Unlike someone."

Clyde stuck out his tongue, and Rya pointed a middle finger at him.

Voye chuckled when he saw this.

They behaved the same way when they were younger, with Clyde and Rya constantly arguing and Samantha just seeming to be watching with no interest, while Voye would sometimes join in on the arguments.

Voye's chuckle came to an end after a while, thinking to himself: 'Grane will complain about how immature they are, and Vinko will just focus on eating...'

Even though Voye knew those times would never come again, there were moments when he found it difficult to accept it.

Right before Cldye started talking again, the drinks arrived.

Rya pointed at Clyde and said, "You aint allowed to start the conversation." Clyde rolled his eyes at that.

With a particularly kind tone, Rya turned to face Voye and asksd, "Voye, how have you been?"

Voye chuckled slightly and replied, "I have been attending a university in Trao City."

"Trao City!" Rya let out a gasp, "The Yoxis University that specializes in panel technology?"

"That's the one." When Voye saw this kind of response, he was proud and thought: 'I got a full scholarship for it too.'

He went on to discuss his school life, leaving Rya speechless while Samantha listened.

"You would be able to get many kind of jobs with that cert. So are you planning to work in the captial? There's lots of demands for those who study that technology." Rya asked, curious about Voye's future goals.

Clyde joined in and explained about the apartment where he was going to introduce Voye, and the conversation shifted to Rya and Samantha discussing their lives.

The two were running a business but had their struggles regrading it too, not being an official resident in this city made it even more tough, along with the superstition that would always be stuck to them.

The four seemed to be enjoying themselves, boasting and venting to one another as if their problems with life did not concern them.

Since the four of them had persevered and come this far together, their relationship remained unaffected by their extended separation.

For several hours, everyone was chatting and even needed to order more coffee.

Clyde had to take Voye to see his senior, so they had to break up the conversation.

Rya smiled and let out a sigh as Voye and Clyde left the café.

"He's still the same, someone who can't mask his emotions." Rya muttered as Samantha cast a quick glance down at her nearly consumed coffee.

"So that is why Clyde almost lost his cool last time," Samantha remarked after finishing her coffee.

Rya nodded and asked, "Are you done with your coffee?"

Rya's meaning was simple: they should not talk about these things here. Samantha nodded, and they both left the café.

...

Voye and Clyde met up with Clyde's senior.

After showing them around the apartment, he gave them an orientation about the neighborhood, including the location of the closest bus stop and nearby shops.

Following that, they talked about the cost.

Voye was beginning to think about this apartment and was contemplating how he would go about finding work in this city.

Clyde felt relieved because he could understand Voye's thoughts from his expression.

If Voye wanted to move here, his only options for employment would be part-time work as there were still a few weeks until he could receive his official certificate.

After touring the apartment, the two made the decision to stroll in the direction of the closest train station.

Clyde asked, "So what's your plan?"

With a shrug, Voye said, "Just get the apartment and a job here."

"Sounds like a good plan." Clyde let out a small, relieved sigh.

While Voye was considering the kinds of jobs he could to pursue, Clyde was contemplating something else.

'I won't be able to help Voye much longer, it's sooner or later I get exposed. I have to plan things properly.' Clyde looked at the few floating buildings and then back at Voye, thinking: 'How wonderful it must be to be so oblivious to the outside world... Sometimes I wish that was all there was to my life.'