Chapter 207: Friends (1)

"Walk? You sure?" Junar seemed to have second thoughts.

Rewen nodded. "Yeah, let's just walk. The nightclub isn't that far from here."

"Whatever you say, dude." 

Junar and Rewen got out of the residence.

"So… why did you suddenly appear? I mean, you could have given me a call? Let me just give the others a call and see if they'll come or not." Junar took out his smartphone. 

"It would take too much time for the others to come." 

Junar kept his smartphone back in his pocket. "Fair."

As they walked for half a minute silently, Junar opened his mouth with hesitation apparent on his face. "Hey, would you be uncomfortable telling me more about the affair between yourself and Svety?"

Rewen shook his head and responded with a smile. "What questions do you have? I was raped, yeah. You better not ask if I 'liked' it or not unless you want to kiss the ground."

"Of course not!" Junar looked at him with a serious look on his face. "I just want to know how it led to that and how you are going to do something about it?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought too much about it but I'm sure that in the near future, I will present myself in court." Rewen said. He knew that Denny, Zelic, and the others are quite passionate about him getting justice and if required, he would support their decision.

Junar heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that. "That's good. I thought you would have some other ideas."

"Why did you think so?"

Junar thought for a moment before answering. "Because… you weren't vocal about the matter?"

"I see." Rewen nodded. 

"If I may ask…"

"Go ahead."

"How did it get there? Did you have any sort of argument with her?"

"Yeah, basically."

While conversing, Rewen and Junar arrived at the nightclub. Before both of them entered, Rewen took out his smartphone. "Oh! Look at the time! I must go now. Let's meet tomorrow."

He ran away leaving Junar speechless.

***

*Ding*

*Dong*

Gill was peacefully playing video games when he heard the doorbell. "Kristen, can you check the door?" Since he was busy playing, he asked his sister to see who had come.

"Huh? I'm in the kitchen. Go and make use of your lazy ass!" His sister, Kristen, obviously didn't take kindly to her brother's request but still went to the door.

"Seriously, don't just laze around all day just because mother is on a trip… ah, Rewen!" When she opened the door, she saw a red-haired young man standing in front of her. "Ah, um… Gill is in his room." 

Rewen saw a familiar cute young girl wearing an apron and chuckled. "Haven't seen you for a while. You've already gotten this big."

"That's nonsense! You just saw me three weeks ago!" 

"Cough, cough. Let me play the role of a distant Uncle who had seen you before you were born."

"Only you have such an Uncle!" 

Rubbing his nose, Rewen gave a slight pat on her head, then walked to Gill's room.

Kristen stood in her spot for a long time. 'Gill said it right. He has changed. From what I have heard, he still has interference but only less. Whatever that means.'

Meanwhile, Gill heard a knock on his door.

"Who is it?"

"I'm the boogeyman."

Gill instantly recognized the voice. "No, you are dumbass. Get in."

The door opened and Rewen came in, then looked at what his friend was doing. Gill was playing a classic role-playing action/adventure game - Hot Blaze. Rewen played the game a lot in his middle school. 

He took one of the game controllers lying on the table and connected it to the screen. The game Gill was playing instantly ended.

Gill gave a dissatisfied glance. "1v1 or just---"

"1v1. It's been a while since I have kicked your ass."

"We'll see about that." A newfound determining look appeared on Gill's face.

Two minutes later.

Looking at the screen, Rewen gave a victorious smile. "Yeah, about expected. This is what happens when you play with girls."

"Fuck, Rewen. That's sexist as fuck!" 

"I'm just stating a fact---"

"Ah!! Stop! Don't be an incel."

"You are too oversensitive. At least hear what I have to say. When I meant "girls", both you and I know that I didn't mean "all girls". I didn't even mean "some girls". Whether you admit it or not, you do pretend to play at your best when you play with Kesha. That's what I mean. Chill."

Gill had a difficult face. "I just want to considerate to her as her boy-"

Rewen interrupted him by snorting. "Who are you kidding? You just want the pussy."

"A bold assumption. I'm mad. Here. Let's play in an open field. I'll see where you use your cowardly hit-and-run strategy."

"You think I'm afraid? Prepare yourself. Because open fields are my strong zones."

Ten minutes later.

"Alright. Four wins and two losses. I won." Proudly declaring his victory, Rewen stood up.

"Are you going now?" Gill asked.

"I am. It's late." Rewen said, before walking towards the door of the room and opening it. Just as he was about to walk out, he heard Gill speak.

"Do what needs to be done. You have nothing to lose."

Rewen paused, then nodded slightly.

***

Coming out of Gill's house, Rewen took out a smartphone and dialed a number.

Rewen: "Hello."

"Oh, Rewen. What's up?" It was his maternal cousin, Zelic.

"Where are you?"

"I'm with Bianca and Evans in the bar."

"Which bar?"

"The one beside Meving's Hotel."

"Alright. I'm going there."

"Okay."

Rewen ended the call, kept the smartphone, and looked at his surroundings. Every one of his friends, including Zelic, lives in the same neighbourhood as his 43-F Street. Eastern Dream Academy is, in fact, located near 43-F Street but it isn't located in any neighbourhood because the land the academy covers is on government-owned land.

Government-owned land? Does that mean that the owners of the neighbourhoods aren't government-owned?

Correct. They are privately owned land by the rich.

The general population believed this to be the fault of crony capitalism and fascism in states but of course, no one is allowed to be vocal about it unless they want to be silenced. In Eastern Dream Kingdom, when people protest about social issues, it isn't to alert the government. It is to make society aware of the problems. They wouldn't dare to speak out against the government.

The bar where Zelic and the others are is located in another neighbourhood a little away from 43-F Street.

Glamor Bar.

"Who called?" Sitting on a barstool, Bianca asked a young woman with a baby face sitting beside her.

"It's Rewen."

"Huh? Why is he coming?" For some reason, Bianca wasn't very comfortable around Rewen. Even after reconciliation, she still didn't know how she should converse with him.

Zelic shook her head, then mischievously smiled. "Who knows? Maybe to take out someone on Monday…"

Bianca slapped her arm, then changed the topic. "Right. Where is Evans?"

Zelic looked around and couldn't find a trace of his shadow. "Where did he go… He is probably hanging around with girls. I don't know what it is about him that attracts girls. He is so bland."

Bianca took a sip from her wine glass and said with a meaningful expression. "Some of my friends say that unattractive guys who get girls are good at the lower game."

"For real?" Even though Zelic knew that it wasn't something she should take seriously, she was still curious.

Bianca half-lifted her arms indicating that she didn't know better.

Just at this moment, a fairly tall young man with casual clothes entered the bar. The man who had just entered was naturally Rewen. The first one to spot him was Zelic. Seeing him, she waved her hands.

"Rewen! Here!"

Rewen approached the two with a small smile, then took a seat beside her.

"What do you want?" Zelic asked, lifting her wine glass.

"No, it's fine. I don't feel like drinking."

"How about I treat you?" For some reason, Zelic asked again, tilting her head. According to her, being a victim of interference means that the person should get preferential treatment.

Rewen chuckled, then stretched her baby cheeks. "That's ridiculously generous of you but I'll pass on the offer."

Zelic shook his hands off. "Right. Why did you come?"

"Any girls I could hook up with?" Rewen looked around the bar.

Zelic couldn't restrain her laughter. "You? Hook up? I could better be finding aliens in my garden than see you hook up. Learn to flirt first. Hook up is too high level for you."

Even Bianca started giggling at the claim.

Rewen appeared shocked. "Both of you don't believe that I could flirt? What a shocker!"

"Zelic, you still gave him a high bar. Do you think he could even talk with a stranger?" Bianca didn't hesitate to mock him.

"You are right, Bianca." Zelic laughed along with her.