Leaving the scene, I drove my motorcycle home, my thoughts swirling with what had just happened. I needed to be more careful with my thoughts and intentions; it seemed I might have accidentally activated my Blue Blood power earlier, causing the unexpected effects.
Whoosh! The wind rushed past my face as I drove at high speed, a blur of motion through the city streets.
***
Arriving home, I walked inside and saw my mother sitting on the couch, just like usual.
"Oh, you're home already? Where's IM?" she asked, looking up from her book.
"Playing basketball with some friends," I replied, placing my helmet on the table near the door.
"How's he doing? Has he regained any of his memory yet?" she inquired; her voice filled with concern.
Of course, she only knew IM as someone with amnesia, unaware that he was my Harbinger who had evolved into a human. And... I couldn't help but lie to her about it.
"It doesn't seem like he's made any progress," I replied, forcing a casual tone.
"Hmm, I don't mind him staying here though. He's a good kid. Besides, your cousin is paying for his high school fees to be with you, so it's all good," she said with a warm smile.
I stood behind her at the couch. "What are you watching?" I asked, peering over her shoulder.
"I don't know, some random news... Oh yeah, have you heard about those people? The heroes!?" she asked, a bright smile on her face.
I nodded. "Yeah, some sort of heroes. They call themselves the Anti-Gangster, right?" I said, feigning ignorance even though I knew it was IM and me.
She nodded enthusiastically. "I never thought heroes were real! It's like..."
"Cool?" I offered.
She nodded again, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I wonder why my mother seems so childish. Why did my father even marry her? I thought to myself, shaking my head slightly.
"I'm going to my bedroom," I announced, heading upstairs.
"Don't forget to come back down for dinner, okay!" she called after me.
After changing into more comfortable clothes, I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. I launched the spyware software that Gilg had given me.
"Let's see what Hanna's up to today..." I muttered to myself, opening the application.
A while ago, I had given her an app, telling her it was a light game and recommending she play it in her free time since she didn't play games often. She had downloaded it, giving me access to her phone.
The spyware interface displayed Hanna's phone screen, showing her current activity. She was browsing through social media, her fingers scrolling rapidly through a seemingly endless stream of posts and comments.
I smiled to myself. It was fascinating to see the world through her eyes, to catch a glimpse of her daily life and interests. It was a bit voyeuristic, I admitted, but I couldn't help but be drawn to her. She was kind, compassionate, and full of life, a stark contrast to the darkness I had encountered in the hidden world.
As I watched her, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was developing feelings for her. It was a strange sensation, something I had never experienced before. But there was something about her that captivated me, something that made me want to protect her, to be there for her, no matter what.
"Ah... she's opening the messaging app..." I said, my eyes glued to the screen.
The screen showed her starting to type a message to me.
Ting! My phone buzzed with a notification.
I opened it. It was from Hanna.
[Hanna: Xian! Hey hey, what are you doing?]
We had become so close that she didn't even seem to mind breaking the Sacred Rules for idols.
I think I'll reply in 5 minutes... I thought, continuing to watch her screen.
The screen showed her opening social media again and scrolling through her InstingConnection, where there were tons of notifications from likes and comments.
I'm really lucky she didn't block me in the first place, I thought, a smile tugging at my lips.
I opened my phone and replied to her text.
[Me: Hey, I just got home and am resting on my bed. How about you? Are you training now?]
And... send, I pressed the button, a small smile playing on my lips.
I watched as Hanna's phone screen lit up with my message. She read it quickly, then her fingers began to fly across the keyboard.
[Hanna: Yeah, I'm taking a break right now. My manager is making me practice so hard! 😩]
[Me: That's tough. But it'll all be worth it when you see the crowd cheering for you at your next concert.]
[Hanna: You're right. I can't wait to perform again! ]
[Hanna typing...]
I watched as she started typing, then deleted the text and opened her camera instead.
So sudden to open the camera... I wonder where she's at now...
The camera opened, and she was taking a selfie with her other idol group members.
Quickly, I took a screenshot on my laptop.
I chuckled to myself, admiring the photo of Hanna and her friends. They all looked happy and carefree, a stark contrast to the danger they had faced just a few nights ago.
"But still, being an idol and a college student at the same time? That's... impressive," I said to myself, shaking my head in admiration.
As they finished taking pictures, I saw her start typing again.
'Also, Xian, if you don't mind, could you help me find some good clothes?'
I saw it on the screen but she didn't send it. She seemed hesitant to ask me to go out. Should I offer first?
I opened my phone and started typing. As I was typing, she deleted the text, of course.
[Me: You free sometime? I have something to buy, but I don't have anyone to go with.]
When I saw on the screen that she wasn't typing anymore, I wondered if she was happy about my message. But then, I saw her taking multiple screenshots of my text.
"She's really happy, isn't she? I'll take that as a yes..." I said to myself, a smile spreading across my face.
[Hanna: Sure! When are you free?]
I quickly typed a response.
[Me: How about tomorrow afternoon? Around 3 PM?]
[Hanna: Perfect! Let's meet at the mall entrance.]
[Me: Sounds good. See you then!]
I closed my laptop, a sense of satisfaction filling me. Not only had we successfully completed our mission against the corrupt official, but I also had a date with Hanna to look forward to. Things were definitely looking up.
I decided to head downstairs and see if my mom needed any help with dinner. As I walked into the kitchen, I found her humming a cheerful tune as she chopped vegetables.
"Hey, Mom," I greeted her. "Need any help?"
She turned around, a warm smile on her face. "Oh, Xian, you're just in time. Could you help me set the table?"
"Sure," I replied, grabbing some plates and utensils from the cupboard.
As we worked together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy returning to my life. Despite the extraordinary events that had unfolded recently, there was still comfort in the simple routines of everyday life.
"Xian, can you chop these up?" she said, then walked over to the stove.
I nodded and stood in front of the table, surveying the ingredients. There were lots of chili peppers, some white things (probably garlic or onions), and this purple thing... what was all this? Well, I was just supposed to chop it, right?
I am a five-star master chef that can chop everything perfectly, I imagined, channeling my confidence.
Tak! tak! tak! tak! I started chopping everything with incredible speed and precision.
"Ooo~ I never knew my son could do that~" she teased, a playful smile on her face.
"It's just chopping, Mom," I replied, trying to downplay my skills. I didn't want to draw too much attention to my abilities, even in front of my family.
We continued preparing dinner together, the kitchen filled with the comforting sounds of sizzling food and the aroma of spices. I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and contentment as I worked alongside my mother. It was a reminder that even in a world filled with extraordinary powers and hidden dangers, the simple act of sharing a meal with loved ones could bring a sense of peace and normalcy.
Creak! The front door opened.
I closed my eyes and sensed who was coming. It was my father and IM, and they seemed to be getting along quite well.
"Haha! But if you put some minor modifications on that bike, it'll be even cooler, you know!?" my father exclaimed.
IM just nodded, a smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, you two are back! We're just finishing up dinner. Wait a moment, okay?" my mother said, her voice cheerful.
"Smells delicious," IM said, sniffing the air appreciatively.
My father chuckled. "That's my wife's specialty. She's an amazing cook."
< Chapter 136 > Fin.