As I relaxed on the rooftop, the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow across the city. The gentle breeze and the quiet solitude offered a welcome respite from the intensity of the day.
Kring!
The school bell's sharp tone shattered the tranquility, signaling the end of the day. I opened my eyes, a renewed sense of purpose filling me.
"Time to get back to class, I need to grab my bag and head to Lenna's house."
I made my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing in the now-empty corridors.
As I reached the second floor, I noticed students streaming out of classrooms, eager to escape the confines of school for the day. I spotted Marcel among the crowd, his face a mixture of relief and worry.
"Dude, where have you been?" he exclaimed, rushing towards me. "The teacher was asking about you!"
"Skipping class," I replied nonchalantly, not bothering to elaborate.
"...I see," Marcel said, shaking his head with a resigned smile. "Well, today was pretty boring anyway. Your bag is still in the classroom." He pointed towards the door.
I nodded in thanks and walked towards my empty classroom.
After grabbing my bag, I headed towards Lenna's classroom. But before I reached it, I saw her walking towards mine.
"Ah! Senior!" she called out, a bright smile on her face.
I approached her, a question already forming on my lips. "Ready to go?"
"Yes! But my house is a bit far from here. Is that okay? Do you have any money?"
"Yeah, I do, Why?" I replied, confused by her question.
"We'll need to take a taxi or a ride-share, That's how I usually get home."
"Don't worry, I brought my bike."
"Really?!" Her eyes lit up. "Well then, shall we go?"
I nodded, and together we made our way downstairs and out of the school.
As we approached the parking lot, we saw a group of students gathered around my motorcycle, their eyes wide with admiration.
"Whoa, Xian Ying, is this your bike?" one of them called out.
The speaker was Jonathan, the unofficial leader of the "cool kids" at school.
"Yes," I replied simply, nodding.
Everyone stared at me, their expressions a mix of awe and envy. "Dude, what's the CC on this thing?" Jonathan asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"1000," I replied.
"Whoa!" The exclamation was echoed by several others.
"No way! That's gotta be expensive! A 1000cc custom bike?" Jonathan exclaimed.
A stunned silence fell over the group as they took in the sight of the gleaming black motorcycle.
"A-Ain't no way, this thing must have cost a fortune," Jonathan stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Actually free…
"It's a beauty, isn't it?" I replied, a surge of pride swelling within me.
"So, are you going to take us for a ride?" one of the other boys asked, a hopeful look on his face.
I hesitated, my gaze shifting to Lenna. She stood a little apart from the group, her eyes fixed on the motorcycle with a curious expression.
"Maybe another time," I said, pushing the bike towards the school gate. "I have somewhere to be."
The group of boys groaned in disappointment, but I ignored them, my thoughts already focused on my next destination: Lenna's house. I needed to talk to Hana, to learn more about the mysteries of the Unveiled and the dangers that lay ahead.
As I maneuvered the bike towards the gate, Lenna approached hesitantly.
"S-Senior..." she began, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes?" I asked, turning to face her.
"The seat is a bit small... and your bag..." she trailed off, gesturing towards my backpack.
I looked at my bag, then at the limited space on the bike. "Oh, right, my bad." I quickly unhooked the backpack and slung it over my shoulder.
Lenna climbed on behind me, her arms tentatively wrapping around my waist.
As I revved the engine, a thrill of excitement coursed through me.
I steadied the bike as Lenna settled behind me, her arms instinctively wrapping around my waist. The contact sent a warmth through me, a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
"Hold on tight," I instructed, my voice barely audible over the rumble of the engine.
With a twist of the throttle, we roared out of the school parking lot, the wind whipping through our hair.
Lenna's grip tightened around me as we weaved through the traffic, her body pressed close to mine. I could feel her warmth radiating through my jacket, a comforting presence amidst the chaos of the city streets.
"So, where to?" I shouted over the noise of the engine
Lenna leaned close to my ear, her voice a soft whisper against the wind. "Just follow my directions, also your hair make me cant see anything!"
I chuckle and nodded, trusting her implicitly. We zigzagged through the streets, taking shortcuts and avoiding the main roads. After a while, we turned onto a narrow lane, lined with towering trees and old houses. The air grew cooler, the sounds of the city fading into the distance.
We finally stopped in front of a large, traditional Javanese house with a sprawling garden. The house was surrounded by a high wall, and the only entrance was a heavy wooden gate adorned with intricate carvings.
"This is my house," Lenna announced, dismounting the bike.
I followed suit, my legs feeling a bit wobbly after the exhilarating ride.
"It's beautiful," I remarked, genuinely awed by the elegance of the architecture.
Lenna smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Thank you, my family has lived here for generations."
A sudden pang of nervousness hit me. I was about to meet Lenna's family, the descendants of the Seers who had once opposed my ancestors. But I reminded myself that this was a new era, a time for reconciliation and cooperation.
We walked towards the gate, Lenna's hand reaching for the latch. As the gate creaked open, I braced myself for whatever awaited us inside.
As we stepped inside the house, a woman, old enough to be Lenna's mother, greeted us.
"Lenna, you brought a friend home? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked me up and down with a hint of suspicion.
"Mom," Lenna replied, her voice firm, "this is my senior, Xian Ying. He's helping me with something... it's urgent."
I breathed a sigh of relief. At least she hadn't mentioned Hana.
I wonder if her mother can see ghosts too? I doubted it, but I couldn't be sure.
"Hmm... alright, just don't do anything foolish," her mother said, her tone still skeptical.
Lenna gave her mother a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Mom. We'll be in my room."
< Chapter 045 > Fin.