"I still haven't known what is eating your sub-consciousness, if I should put it that way."
And after getting no response, she called out, "Buji."
'Right. I was not thinking about anything but she would surely not believe it. What was I going to use as an excuse?'
"The thing is…"
'No. Using the scene at school wasn't really going to work. She will still not believe.'
Buji being bullied was not the first time it happened, so, it won't be enough reason to dissuade her mind. Come to think of it, he thought of nothing but partially thought about wealth. How was he going to put it to her, to make it look reasonable?
"…I need savings."
Buji was not sure if he had said it correctly, but at the moment, it was the least that could come out of his mouth.
"Savings? Right? I mean, we all do need savings at some point in our life, especially as teenagers," came Emra's response.
Buji still wasn't sure it made any meaning to her. She could just walk up to his dad and seek one thing, or two things she needed and it will be provided for her.
On his part—he was more of foolish—not reserved.
He had the opportunity at his doorstep.
Opportunity is one thing that will always come to a person, most times at the doorstep and at rare times, far from reach. Yes, far from reach—opportunity comes every time though but many fail to acknowledge its presence. Rather than accept what is bestowed before them, they discard it as some sort of cursed luck, some, not the right time. Whether cursed luck or good luck, all can be encompassed into one word—opportunity. Whichever way must surely yield a positive result in the end, only if you acknowledge the fact though.
Which was Buji's case, none. Well, saying none was wrong because he had all he wanted just in front of him. The head man of Vin's family, Emra's father had offered to be at his best to provide whatever need Buji might come across. So, like Emra, he was also considered on the same level, but he misuses this rank he attained all in the name of reserve, reserve my foot. Hold it when it comes, and use it anyhow as far as it can ascertain.
Getting no response from Buji who seemed to have thinking as a hobby, Emra reminded him that her dad had offered to be at his service whenever he needed to, especially when it came to monetary terms.
'I knew she would have an excuse… like she always does.'
Rising from where she sat on the floor, Emra gestured towards the standing mirror in Buji's room, dropped the tray with empty plates that initially contained the food they had just consumed. She stopped with hands wrapped below her breasts in front of the mirror and continued.
"I do earn every week though, not from my dad."
"Every week?!"
"Yes. But, I do nasty stuff for it."
'Which one is "but", "nasty", as far as you earn every week? But, with what time, she was always in school during weekdays and only came back on Friday to spend the weekends.'
"What sort of nasty things? Do you mind if I know?"
"I was going to tell you anyway, but I've been considering the risk in it."
"What's it?"
"I work as a hunter. Not the ordinary hunter your mind might think of."
'Hunter. Was she joking?'
Buji was somewhat convinced, but on second thought, it made no sense. Weighing Emra's status and the work she claims to do, how possible was it? Well, she said it was not the type his mind was already thinking.
Emra continued, going to sit on the bed, with her two hands used as an obsolete support placed on the bed. "It might bring opportunities you know, on a latter, it can be pretty risky."
'Risky and opportunity. He only thought about opportunity moments ago.'
While in thought, he stood up from where he sat and joined Emra on the bed. For someone like Emra, joining the so-called group of hunters surely was an opportunity with risks. If he had known what risks were involved, it would be easy for him to choose whether he would like to get involved too. Honestly, because in the logical sense, decisions are made depending on merits or demerits one can get after, AFTER.
On the same note, if he was able to weigh the risks as well as the opportunities being a hunter holds, it would be a pretty kudos to whatever decision he was going to make. But, he needed to know more, notwithstanding.
Wait, he was forgetting another thing. Emra's choice of word determinants, "might" and "can". The former entails that it actually breeds opportunities, but upon uncertainty, while the latter makes it a given that one was meant to meet risks.
"So, why did you decide to be one of them?"
"Uhm. That's actually what made my dad what he is currently. He's one of the higher-ups," Emra replied, staring at the empty wall in front of her.
"Being a hunter, how?"
Ignoring this question, she continued with why she had joined the association.
"You might be oblivious to the fact, but the era when civilians were in charge was long gone. We are currently living as servants of ourselves, just placing few people to act as our leaders."
'Okay. She just vomited information and was flowing too, but he understood nothing. But that is an indirect way of saying your father is a politician, right?' Shifting the thought aside, he continued listening.
"There was a reason for it being like that. Let's call it evolution, some are complete evolution while few are incomplete."
'Here she comes again, evolution. Like, what's linking there? No sense, at all.'
"It's actually a long story to be told—history. A consequence of an uncertainty that had happened centuries ago. My dad was not even a living thing then, we are just keeping a kind of legacy."
'Just cut it short already. You still haven't answered why you joined the association.'
"One of the things that are done to keep this legacy is breeding young ones like us who have been found to possess an ability or more. Preferably, those with inborn potentials."
Emra said and turned to Buji's direction. Immediately, Buji who was gradually losing interest became agile, just to prove that he was listening. Satisfied, Emra shifted her gaze back to the wall.
"I joined the hunter's association not because I wanted to, but because I am one of those who had the sort of potential they were looking for. Plus, the fact that my father is one of the higher-ups."
'She finally gave the answer I was looking for. Case closed.'
"Pheew."
"What?" Emra asked.
"Nothing. Was only tired for a bit."
"Okay. In that case, I was indirectly offering you an invitation to join…" Emra turned to look at Buji who was already lying down, with his hands at an angle 180 degrees above his head.