Chapter 8 - A Nonsense Wink

Hmmm… Nothing interesting…

As I walked in the hallway, I scrolled through my phone looking for interesting new games to play. But I couldn’t find anything that I might like.

—BUMP!

“!!!”

“Ah— I’m sorry… I wasn’t looking.” the girl said as she bowed down.

“No, it’s fine.” I said as I looked at her. “Wait, Ari!?”

“Ah!? Why are you here!?” she said, surprised.

“What do you mean? The class just ended, that’s why I’m outside.”

“Oh… I see, I thought you were following me.”

“Why would I do that!”

She chuckled. “Why not?”

The principal’s office? I thought as I looked behind her.

“Did you just come from the principal’s office?” I asked, noticing the door behind me.

“Y-yeah…” she answered in a low voice.

Did she get caught?

“Hm… Did you do something?” I asked, suspicious.

“Not really…” she answered.

Hmmm… Something definitely happened…

“I see.” I said, not satisfied with her answer.

She sighed and said, “I’m telling you, I didn’t get caught!”

“I didn’t say anything about you getting caught though.” I said and shrugged.

She gasped. “Oh— No not that…”

Got you!

“Heh.” I smirked unknowingly.

“W-what…? Stop looking at me like that…”

“What? Is there something wrong with my face?”

She turned her head left and right as if looking for something. “You looked like you’re about to do something naughty.”

“Huh!? I won’t do that!!!”

“Really though? I kind of doubt it…” she said, chuckling. “I would have never thought you are capable of that expression. It actually gave me chills.” she continued as she rubbed her shoulders.

I sighed. As I did that, I noticed the door behind open, and the principal appeared. Instead of approaching us, she did something I wouldn’t have expected her to do…

—Wink. Wink. Wink. Wink. Wink.

I frowned at the sight. But most importantly, I am scared. HUH!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING GRANDMA!?

My whole body got chills as I watched my grandma winking uncontrollably.

She continued winking behind the door, not saying anything. But then suddenly she started pointing at Ari. Huh? For what? I thought. But, I have no idea. I absolutely have no idea why she would do that in the first place.

“Ari.” I said with a serious expression. “Tell me if something happened earlier.”

She paused and looked at me. “Why are you suddenly looking serious?”

“Ari… Just tell me if something happened.” I repeated.

She shook her head. “Nothing happened.”

I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Come on, it’s nothing to be shy with. I just wanted to know.”

“Wha—?” she muttered as her whole face brushed red. “W-what are you doing?”

“Oh. My bad.” I said as I released my hand from her shoulder. “I mean, I just wanted to know if the principal did something to you.”

“I told you it was nothing.”

“There’s no way that’s the case. You could at least tell me about it.”

“Haaah…” she sighed and continued, “Yeah, I came from the office. But nothing crazy happened. She only asked me why I was out in the hallway when the class was still going.”

“That was it?”

“Yeah? Are you expecting something more?” she asked.

“No…” I answered. “But if that was it, then I’m glad nothing bad happened to you.”

“Why would you say that?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is there something about the principal?”

“Well…” I started, but then suddenly Grandma appeared behind Ari. “Waaa—!”

“What!?” Ari screamed in surprise. “What is it?”

“Oh… I see the two of you are having a good time.” Grandma said, smiling.

Ari looked behind her and froze in sight. “P-principal?”

Grandma nodded in response. “That’s right. I’m the principal.”

I’m dead.

I didn’t notice her.

Oh… I’m dead… I’m totally dead…

“What are the two of you talking about?” she continued, looking at us both.

“Nothing ma’am… I’m just asking for directions…” Ari answered.

Grandma looked and grinned at me, then turned her head back to Ari. “Oh… I see I see…”

She then approached Ari, and whispered something to her.

What is she trying to do?

She whispered. But I wasn’t able to hear what she just said.

“I-I can’t do that!” Ari answered, waving her hands in a fluster. “That’s not a good idea!”

GRANDMA!!!

STOP DOING THAT!!!

“Haaah…” I sighed deeply, as I looked at the sight of my grandma messing with another girl.

I’m. I’m… I’m embarrassed…

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I scratched my head and ran to Ari. I grabbed her hand and dragged her. “Come!” I said as I dragged her, pulling her away from Grandma.

“Wai—”

“Don’t say anything.” I said, looking straight.

“O-okay…”

I continued walking along with her, not looking back and leaving Grandma behind.

“Wait!”

AGHHH… I swear, my grandma always ruins everything… Always with those—

“Wait!!!” she shouted, pulling me back. “Stop!!!”

I stopped at my track and looked back. “What?”

“She’s gone already.” she answered. “Y-you can stop grabbing me now…”

I released my hand immediately and looked away. “My bad…”

She shook her head. “No, It’s fine. I’m actually glad you did that.”

“Hahaha.” I chuckled awkwardly. “What a scary principal right?”

“Yeah…”

I wonder what they talked about. I bet my grandma told her something absurd. Like she always does. That’s probably what happened.

“Did she say something to you?”

“What?”

“She whispered something to you earlier right?” I asked again.

“No it was nothing…”

There’s no way that it’s nothing. She must’ve been talking about me or something. That could only be the reason!

“Hmmm… It looked like you were surprised though.”

“That’s not true.” she denied. “I can’t have you saying nonsense to me.”

I looked straight at her. Not moving, and not saying anything.

“What?” she asked, surprised. “Why aren’t you saying anything.”

I continued with no sign of stopping. I stared, and stared, not giving her a chance to break eye contact.

“W-what is it?” she asked, her eyes started to dart from side to side uncontrollably. “Stop staring at me like that!”

But then she suddenly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, all hesitation in her eyes had vanished. She looked as if she had been reborn.

What? How is that possible? Is it possible for her to change up that easily?

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. That’s no good. That’s no good.” she said as she waved her finger from side to side. “It’s not good for you to pry on someone’s privacy.”

I’m surprised… I can’t believe she could actually focus that easily…

I straightened up, and said, “That’s nonsense.”

“It isn’t.” she answered.

“It is.” I retorted.

“If I said it isn’t, then it isn’t.”

“No.” I said with a straight face.

“Yes.” she copied me, her face as just serious as mine.

“I said no.”

“Then I’ll say yes.”

We continued saying yes and no back and forth for almost a minute until the final bell rang.

“You’re really stubborn.” she said.

“If only you were kind enough to tell me what happened, then I wouldn’t have to do that. Now I wasted my time arguing with you.” I said as I continued walking.

“You can’t just say that to me!” she argued. “My poor maiden heart.” she added, placing a hand on her chest and acting like she was hurt.

“I got it. I got it.”

“Did you really get it?” she asked cutting in front of me. “Did you really?”

“I did. I really did.” I answered in an annoyed tone.

“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

“Or maybe I’m not. I don’t know.” I added, trying to take back what I said.

“No taking back, please. I could only remember so much. Useless information gets deleted immediately.”

“Then you should delete what the principal just said.”

She shook her head in disappointment. “Again with the principal…”

“I’m just helping you.”

“Helping me for what?”

“You don’t know how scary she is. I’m warning you.”

“Believe me. I know what you’re talking about.”

“Really? Then tell me what she whispered.”

“Nooooo~” she said slowly, shaking her head. “Keep dreaming.”