Date- 2 April 2321
Time- 13:55
Location- Sky Blossom City, Guild Association mall, Warehouse no.234
“Are you guys done now?” I asked Looking at Aba and Agatha.
“No, I want to ask you if you hate me?” Aba asked brazenly.
“Was I that obvious, tell me what gave it away?” I asked Aba sarcastically.
“Wyatt, please. Don’t be like that, we are going to be university mates soon, so in that spirit can’t you stop being so irritating all the time and tell me what’s your problem,” Aba asked me why was I being a jerk to her. She didn’t use this particular word but the context specifically hinted toward it.
“Wait, you are attending Morning Star university too? Why is everyone attending Morning star university? There are other 9 top universities, have you considered joining them?” I wasn’t surprised that Aba was attending the Morning Star university. I gathered that at our meeting, but still how are the other 9 universities fairing if everyone chooses Morning Star university over the rest of them.
“What? You make no sense. And this is what I am talking about. Why do you have to act so intolerable? We can be friends, you know.” proposed Aba.
“Oh, really. Nobody is going to be friends with an intolerable guy like me?” I asked Aba with a grief-stricken face.
“Yes, but don’t worry. You have me. Ditch your irritating attitude and do as I say, soon you will have plenty of friends.” Aba answered enthusiastically not realising that I was being sarcastic to mock her words.
“Really, then you must have tons of friends.” I continued my charade, what surprised me was that Agatha played along.
“Yes, I do.” Aba nodded vigorously.
“Princess, the members of our mercenary group don’t count,” said Agatha who had a clear understanding of how many friends Aba had.
“What? But they are the only friends I have.” Aba protested.
“…” I stared blankly at Aba and started to feel sorry for her, this is the downside of reaching for a long burn you start feeling sorry for the target.
“Agatha, you count as a friend right?” Aba asked with great expectation.
“I would like to say yes, but since I am getting paid by your father so no I can’t be counted as your friend,” Agatha answered, mercilessly. I could see Aba almost tear up, I can’t watch this.
“What about grandpa Matt and Grandma Jance?” Aba tried to bargain with Agatha.
“No, princess, they too get paid by your father so they cannot be counted as your friends.” Agatha didn’t hold back, even though she could clearly see tears at the corners of Aba’s eyes. This was too painful to watch. Similar to a pig realizing that its master is only feeding it to butcher it.
“…” Aba had a mixture of expressions on her face but it was mostly disbelief and sorrow. I felt like the waterworks would start any second now, it did not feel right rooting for a little girl to cry especially because it was Aba, the future hope of humanity who would build the new government when the three mischiefs had used the old one as tissue to whip their butts.
‘Princess, this is the hard truth you have to learn and get through this to grow splendidly. Master, I will make sure that princess grows into a capable adult.’ Agatha had her internal struggle but she did not let it show on her face.
Though the present Aba was a pain in the ass, I had seen the heroic Aba from the clown mask’s memories, so I could not help but feel sorry seeing the future hope crumble here realizing that she had no friends whatsoever. The timeline is a mess because of the Clown mask’s meddling to stop the Supreme leader. No matter how careful she was, the timeline ended up pivoting too far from its original direction.
So, I reluctantly neared Aba and patted her back saying, “There, there, I too don’t have friends… No, I have two of them. One is crazy and the other one is a pervert. If you are okay with it, I don’t mind asking them to be your friends too.”
“Waaa” The waterworks finally began and I got the front row ticket to it. Crying Aba whipped her tears and snot with her hands saying, “You would do that for me? I would love that.”
“Okay,” I couldn’t help but marvel at how crying Aba’s actions matched her middle schooler appearance. Should I call it Aba was acting her appearance.
“Does this mean we are friends?” Aba held in her tears and asked in great anticipation with her big teary eyes.
“Tsk” I clicked my tongue in annoyance but reminded myself that this little crying girl was the future hope of humanity, I steeled myself and answered, “Yes.”
“Okay,” Aba and I looked at each other awkwardly and then I said in annoyance, “Clean yourself, there is snot hanging out of your nose.”
“See, if you are my friend, then you cannot talk to me like that. I hate it when you act like I have stolen your family heirloom or killed your favorite pet.” Agatha used a card on Aba, who transformed back into her normal self and made unrealistic demands of her new friend.
“Aba, as your first friend let me give you a piece of advice. You cannot order your only friend or try to change him to your liking. Friends are people who get along despite their shortcomings and differences if you try to change them then it is no longer friendship, they will leave you and you will have to look for new ones or stay alone.”
“What? I didn’t try to change you I was only trying to tell you that I don’t like you speaking to me like that.” Aba defended herself.
“Whose problem is it that you don’t like me speaking like that?” I asked Aba.
“Mine,” Aba answered
“Since it is your problem, how is it fair that I should change the way I talk to you.”
