To achieve peace is by waging war. And war begets war. Therefore, peace shall be attained another way.
---
"Oh, my, if it isn't our university's diva. The untouched queen."
The couple knew exactly who Aralina was. She was none other than the current and two times diva of the university's grand ball. Basically, the prom queen. Her title as the "Untouched Queen" came from her extremely cold and ignorant personality towards men who try to get to know her. Suitors from different departments would get flatly rejected by being ignored by Aralina. Her ice-cold gaze and unfriendly aura keep men away from her.
"You two flattered me. Now I feel shy."
Rather than being cold and avoidant of people, Aralina was much friendlier and easy to approach from Wil's perspective. The way she acts and expresses herself struck him as an outgoing and lively woman.
"Wil does not seem so surprised at all..."
"Oh, you didn't know 'cause you're a freshman!"
"That tells why he didn't react when I first called out to him in the library."
"Wow... The Untouched Queen approached Wil first. Look at your charms, boy."
Becoming the center of attraction and topic of conversation, Wil was starting to feel embarrassed about it. He knew they were teasing him and did not say anything that could lead to more of what was happening.
"I think we should go so that Ms. Aralina can go home early."
"Uh, wait. Did you just add formality when you spoke my name? And I can come home late!"
"I was ignorant the first time we met. You're a year older than me and my senior in this university. I shouldn't have acted all familiar with you."
Wil bowed his head, and that was when Aralina felt awkward by the sudden change in Wil's behavior towards her. Wil's approach on the matter was successful, for the teasing immediately stopped, and the four of them decided to leave.
***
"I'm craving Korean barbecue. What do you guys want? It's my treat for inviting me to hang out with all of you."
The three of them; Mary, Neil, and Wil felt the need to refuse to be treated to a costly place. Surely, they can't let Aralina pay for them. However, she was as persistent as them and could not further reject Aralina's kind approach.
"Let us treat you next time for this, Aralina."
"Just Ara is fine," the modest lady replied, sitting in a well-mannered position, patiently awaiting the arrival of their orders, which were beef barbecue and other Korean side dishes.
"You heard her, Wil," Mary shifted the attention to Wil once again. "Call her Ara not Ms. Aralina. She prefers it that way."
"Hmm... okay, okay. I get it."
Wil still could not look at Aralina's direction, averting his gaze every time it would wander to where she was.
"Here you go, sirs and ma'ams. Your order of four serves of A5 Wagyu beef, side dishes, and your unlimited A-grade beef."
A fancy Korean-style restaurant that serves unlimited beef, which you can grill and enjoy with friends. The price varies depending on the amount of side dishes, and also the most expensive on the menu was one serving of A5 Wagyu Beef.
"Isn't this place, like, super expensive, Ara? You could have brought us to a much cheaper place, you know? Our taste buds are for any affordable restaurant."
"Here, just have a taste of their fish cake."
"Wait! Ah, mmm! Delicious!"
Using chopsticks, each of them was served the same type of side dish. The waitress sets the grill for them, and Aralina begins putting the slices of meat on the aluminum grill.
***
Full and could not move anymore from eating so much, Wil and the three others had to stay at the restaurant for several minutes to help themselves digest what they had eaten.
"I still cannot believe how much food you've consumed, Ara!"
Compared to Mary, who ate just the right amount of food, for she was monitoring her weight, Ara, on the other hand, showed no discipline and ate to her fill.
"How many servings did you eat?"
"Around 20, I guess?"
"Uwah! And you don't look full right now! I envy you! Where are you even putting all that food you just ate?"
Wil has read it before on the internet. Aralina has this syndrome where she needs a large amount of food, for she has a high metabolism, and her body needs a constant source of nutrients.
"And here is your cup of dessert, Ms. Ara. It's in the house!"
"Unbelievable! I can't!"
Everyone was astonished by Aralina's bottomless hunger. Her stomach was like a black hole that devoured every food she threw in it. A woman with an insatiable hunger. Aralina can't stop surprising Wil.
***
Of all the things that could potentially be called the most beautiful sight in the world, it was the night lights of Manila that stretched as far as his eye could see.
Wil was on top of a twenty-story building, gazing at the vast land filled with high-rise buildings and establishments, sitting at the edge without fear of falling to his death. The heavy and sweeping gusts of wind do not bother
"I need that excitement..."
His body yearns for the thrill he felt when his enemy was dying at his hands. It gave him the fueling adrenaline that pumps up his desire. His desire for excitement grows larger and heavier the more he participates in the fight for survival, like numbing his pain of lacking the enthusiasm to pursue life goals. The Room gave him purpose, and he would not let his newly found meaning in life disappear.
"Being a daredevil does not serve the same thrill I get when participating in that game. I can't wait to be called back there again."
Wil's heart pounded crazily inside his chest just thinking about the crazy moments and dangerous situations he would put himself in. He could not get enough of the exhilaration.
~