The Masked One - 2

2

At 7 am I started moving, throwing my sheets to the side. I took some time to look around as I finished waking up.

After only two weeks since I moved to Novadía, my room still felt pretty empty, but I hoped it would gain more personality over time.

I could not help but yawn as I adjusted my mask and headed for the bathroom. Like most OV carriers, sleeping while wearing my vinculated object was a common thing.

However, the limits still existed. For example, something like bathing with the mask on could be harmful to the material or the paint, so it is always best to wash it afterwards with damp cloths and alcohol.

Once I was ready with that I went to get my breakfast.

That house in Novadía was divided into two areas. In the first, near the entrance, was the living room and an open kitchen. In the second, a small flight of stairs (which seemed ridiculous to me since there were only two steps), led to a hallway with four doors; two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small office.

When I got to the kitchen, I grabbed as many thing as I could. Toast, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, a dinosaur-shaped butter cookie and I also made myself a coffee.

The truth is, although I would normally worry about what I eat, that time my mind was filled with other thoughts.

In the next few hours, many good and bad things could happen, and even though I was excited to finally enter the university I had heard so much about since I was a child, I knew it was something I had to take seriously.

Looking at everything on my plate, I hoped to get enough energy to get through the lectures and classes to come. And, as I devoured it all, I remembered something I had heard mom say before.

Twen: Food is the way to the heart, right?

…

A little more than six hours later (it was already 14:00) my teacher said his last words and let us go home. There were people who ran out of the big hall and other who first needed to take a second to regain consciousness.

I, for one, was not feeling too different from a corpse.

Exhaustion:

The design was mostly white, with something like large cuts that revealed a red base underneath. Like many other designs, there was nothing referencing my mouth. Though, given my exhaustion, I did not feel like talking either. What stood out the most, undoubtedly, were the two chains that fell below my eyes, attached to steel spheres at their ends, the weight of which made it very difficult to maintain my posture.

At that moment, my head was resting on the small table in front of me. I watched the others leave, including those sitting next to me, and finally decided to do the same.

However, even though we left the room together, I said goodbye to them at the door. I was supposed to meet someone I had been talking to for the past few days, and to my surprise, he was already there.

???: There you are! So? What do you think about the university? You seem very excited…

Twen: Many… I want to go home. I want to eat something, and sleep, and then eat again…

Many: I get it, I get it… Let’s go.

He greeted me with a dap and let out a big smile at the incredibly satisfying sound we managed to create. Even though it was so quick, it made me smile.

Many:

He was a tall, thin man with dark skin and a ridiculously bright smile. He was three years older than me, and had lived in Novadía his whole life. That made him a great help to me, and added to that was his fun and understanding attitude. Possibly everyone in town liked him, which made his nickname, “friend of all”, fit him perfectly.

As we walked through the halls, I made an effort not to stumble with every step I took, though not with much success. Many had to help me a few times.

I did not know him very well yet, but we got along well. Because he was the “friend of all” and I was an OV carrier, it was easy for us to relate. I appreciated that, commonly, people want to have good relations with those vinculated to an object.

There was, anyway, another reason we started talking, and that is that I was lucky enough to move into a house right next to his.

Many: Twen, how are you planning to get back home?

Twen: I'll take the bus, just like this morning. I remember the routes I took, so it shouldn't be that hard. I just have to do the same thing again, but the other way around...

Many: But wouldn't it be easier if I give you a ride? I don't have any more classes today.

Twen: Well I’m not that tired... Ah!

Ironically, as I said that, I tripped and fell to the ground. Many helped me, but his face was already showing his pity for me.

Twen: Many, it's very helpful that you know how to drive...

Many: Yes, it seems so.

As we passed a large, wide staircase, I remembered seeing it before. Not only when I first entered the university, but also during one of the talks that day.

The doors of the university building were right in front of us, and as we stepped through them we found ourselves outdoors, surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

On the JJRU campus, there was a perfect balance between urbanism and nature. Although there were large buildings, there were also many flowers and trees, and everything other than streets or walking paths was covered in grass.

According to them, this was done by and for the students, since throughout Novadía there was a policy that encouraged care for the environment (and the city in general).

On campus, all roads branched off a large central path that began at one end and ended at the other. This way, even a new student could navigate without any problems.

Just being there made me happy, not only because of how beautiful and well-maintained it was, but also because of what studying at that university meant. I had heard a lot about it in the past, and it quickly became a goal of mine.

Maybe it was because I was not looking ahead, but I tripped again. This time, though, I did not fall to the ground because my mask had just returned to its original design.

Many took me to the only place on campus I had not heard about that day: The parking lot. Then he invited me to get into his car, which caught my attention because of its style, unlike most of the things that could be found in Novadía.

This became even more evident once we got into the streets. Novadía's architecture, technology, and even culture were quite modern, but Many 's style seemed more classic.

While there were buses that leaned to the side and turned their wheels ninety degrees to make picking up passengers easier, or some vehicles that had artificial intelligence implemented in some way, Many 's car had a mechanical, not necessarily electronic, beauty.

Talking with Many, in a good car, crossing a bridge over the Novadía River, the trip home was really painless.

So, we arrived at our destination before three in the afternoon. I thanked Many again for his help, and he said I had nothing to worry about.

Many: It's really no bother at all to bring you here, since I don't even have to go out of my way, and having someone to talk to is always nice.

Twen: I'm glad you see it that way... And, by the way, what are you doing tomorrow?

Many: I'll go to class in the morning, like always. But I’m free after that, so I'll go out with some friends to eat at the mall... Oh, do you want to come too?

Twen: Actually, it would be better if you stayed in college…

Many: Do you have classes in the afternoon?

Twen: Yeah, so I was thinking of eating there... I don't have anyone to eat with yet, though.

Many: So that's why you asked... I’m sorry.

Twen: Nah, it's not that big of a deal. I think it'll be easy to find someone before lunch.

Many: If you say so... Do you maybe need an explanation on how the dining room works? It's up the stairs-

Twen: I take the stairs in front of the building's entrance, then fill my tray with whatever I want and pay at the end. It's not that difficult, and they explained it more than once in today's talks.

Many: Ok… Good luck then.

Twen: Thanks! And good luck to you too.

We both looked for our keys, although he only had to turn around to get to the door and I had to walk to the next house.

Upon entering, I announced my arrival with a shout, even though I knew no one was home. I left my things next to my bed and then thought about laying down for a while, but I had other things to worry about, so I did not spend much time in the room.

I went to do some chores around the house, like taking out the trash or putting away the dishes, but I was thinking about something else the whole time. Honestly, I was surprised to see someone worrying about me.

Actually, the worst thing that could happen the next day was to end up eating alone. It was not a situation that really deserved anyone's concern, especially since it involved me.

Thinking about this, I accidentally knocked over one of the white plates I was storing. But, thanks to my powers, I quickly repaired it and was able to safely put it back in its place.

Vinculating with my mask left me in a position where no problem was really a problem, just a setback. A stone in my shoe, a broken plate, or a head pierced from ear to ear by a spear were three different things that I could easily solve.

That is why it did not make sense for anyone else to feel worried. That was something only I should feel, especially in a situation as trivial as that.

However, even though it was such a small thing, I did not stop thinking about it until I finished what I was doing and returned to my room, throwing myself onto my bed. Maybe it was just that my head did not have much else to think about.

So, as I lay staring at the ceiling, with my body kind of exhausted and having a perfect weather visible outside the window, I simply closed my eyes.

I did not know how long I would stay like that, maybe a few minutes, or even an hour, but it certainly would not be that long. It was just a short break.

…

Naps can be treacherous.

When I opened my eyes again, one by one, my body was still half asleep.

I was in a strange pose, wearing only one of my socks, my back sweaty, my throat dry, and in a darker room than before. Everything was quiet (more so than usual), and I felt as if my body was slowly responding to what my brain was asking of it.

After taking a few seconds to reorientate, I checked the time and realized it was already 5:50 p.m. This made me feel even more disoriented, and in the look for something to help me understand what was happening, I struggled to get up.

I went to the kitchen to drink some water, and also to fill my stomach, which was already begging for food. I had to hold onto the walls due to the lack of natural light, but luckily the kitchen was illuminated.

Upon arrival, I grabbed the first glass I saw and filled it with tap water, then drank it all in one sip as soon as I sat down. Sadly, it was not enough for me, so I refilled it and repeated the process.

I looked around as I thought about what I could eat, but then I realized I had overlooked something… Why was the kitchen illuminated?

I heard a high-pitched noise like a bell ringing behind me, and whatever was emitting light stopped doing it. Then I heard footsteps heading toward the kitchen, getting faster and faster.

Suddenly, the lights turned on and a silhouette appeared standing near me.

She was a woman with dark, fairly long hair, blue eyes, and a surprised face, although that expression soon transformed into a very warm smile.

Twen: Mom… What are you doing?

Milia:

My mother was a grown woman, although many said her face still looked young and beautiful. We both moved to Novadía because I was eligible for admission to the JJRU and she had good job opportunities, and she wanted a new environment in her life. She is a hard-working, loving, and quiet woman. Every time I see an opportunity to help her, I try.

Not a word came out of her mouth, but her face and movements were expressive enough by themselves. She took a small paper bag out of her pocket, handed it to me, and finally gave me a hug.

Twen: This... It's from the chocolates I gave you the other day. Those were good, weren't they?

Again without speaking, but with a big smile, she gave me a thumbs-up sign. It's hard to explain how happy it made me to know that she liked my little gift.

I kept wondering what my mom was doing until I saw her walk over to the oven and, with gloves on, take a pizza out.

I quickly got up and set the table with everything we needed to eat it. And then, as I was about to sit down, I remembered that topic that had been going around in my head before I fell asleep.

I thought about talking to Mom about it, and as soon as I looked at her, she already had both hands under her chin and her gaze fixed on me. Maybe it was some kind of maternal instinct that told her something was happening to me.

Twen: Mom… I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I don’t know how or when I’ll meet my next group of friends, here in Novadía… Because I’d like to have one…

As I said that, Mom looked at me with a face of disbelief, as if I had forgotten one of the most important details in the situation.

Twen: No, it's not that I think it'll be too difficult for me to make friends. Especially since I'm an OV carrier, I don't think that's going to be a problem... But that's not the point! The thing is, I don't know if I'll find people who can fill that void left after leaving my friends behind when we moved... You know, close friends... Although replacing sounds a bit wrong.

Mom was tearing off a slice of pizza for herself as I spoke, but tilted her head when she heard the last thing I said.

Twen: There are so many people in the world, but I don't think I'll ever find someone like them... Although that's not what I'm looking for either, but rather a group of trustworthy people... Am I overthinking it? It's possible, yes...

Mom adjusted her posture and looked up at the ceiling. She seemed to be searching for the right words to say, and I wanted to hear them.

Twen: What do you think?

Milia: Good people attract good people.

That was a perfect example of my mother's way of speaking. She gave nothing more than a very simple, short answer, delivered in a warm and welcoming tone, and it left me with a lot of thinking to do on my own.

That good people will naturally find similar people. That I am one of those good people. That there must be more people like that in Novadía, and I should be able to find them. That everything would be simpler than I thought, and I should stop worrying so much.

Milia: Everything will be okay!

Hearing such an honest comment from someone who cares about me was certainly encouraging. So much so, it almost made no sense.

It's not like I had not thought about what she had just said, as it was not really like a teaching given by a monk with a thousand years of experience. However, the fact that those words came from my mother made it feel less like a teaching and more like reading my destiny carved in stone.

If what Mom said was true, then there would be no reason to try to rush the process, because I would naturally find someone. And that would not require any of my powers, of course. A natural, human occurrence, nothing more.

Twen: Well that makes sense, what else can I say...

Mom took her first bite of her pizza, and judging by her expression, it tasted pretty good. And I, lacking any reason to further delay an inevitable fate, grabbed a slice for myself.