Between the Lines

        “What… what is this?” Bradley ignored the alien as he walked past her and looked at the gleaming living room.

“Consider it an apology and a rent. I did break a couple of your stuff.” Zenyr said as she handed a credit card to him but he didn’t accept it immediately.

“How?” Bradley thought he was the kind of character who would remain unfazed even in the destruction of the world but recent events proved him wrong.

“Well, I’m rich.” Zenyr tried to crack a joke and was rewarded with a blank stare.

“Ahem. Truth is, I kind of received funds to facilitate my mission to observe Earth before we officially approached them. And I kind of dipped into it a little. Only a little!” She emphasized the last part by bringing her index finger and thumb together.

“Okay.” Bradley closed his eyes as he processed what she said.

‘It makes sense. In the event of the unexpected, they would at least like for her to be able to survive or negotiate with the relevant authorities. What doesn’t make sense is…’ he looked at her and nodded.

“How did you make it past… everything?” There were no way people were just going to let her walk by. She drew too much attention.

“Camouflage tech. Once I activate it, I would seem like a regular human on the outside. Well, it’s just a really well-made illusion.” She raised her left arm which had the watch and said.

“Why?”

“I felt bad about… everything. Plus, I may need a bit of money in order to get the stuff I need to repair my pod so decided I might as well…” Zenyr trailed off as she was caught off guard by the smile that appeared on Bradley’s face.

“Thank you.” He muttered and then realized something. “Although you are the one who technically caused all of this.”

“Ouch, but true.” Zenyr nodded and gestured with her head. “Also, your bath towel fell down earlier so it’d be nice if you could stop flashing me. It’s kind of uncomfortable.”

“…Sorry.” Bradley bashfully picked it up from the floor and wrapped it around his body with a scarlet face.

“I’ll… go take my bath.” He awkwardly said and headed to the bathroom.

“You do you.” Zenyr took in a breath and calmed her heart. “That was weird.” She whispered and walked back to her room, with a spring in her steps.

….

“Jason.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s say you meet an alien and she just nonchalantly have a conversation with you and tell you your fly is down. What do you do?”

“I’d go to the hospital because aliens aren’t real.”

“Well… there is no evidence that refutes their existence and there is more evidence that may prove that they exist so saying aliens aren’t real is kinda… dumb.”

“Gee, thanks Amelia. Real helpful.”

Lunch break. Bradley, Jason and Amelia sat round a table as they ate their lunches together. Bradley popped the question that was in his mind since morning and was shot down immediately.

“Amelia, what’d you think?” Bradley shifted to the science person.

“It may be because of different customs or outlook on life. Since she’s a different lifeform, her views on nudity might be different from ours.” Amelia sipped on a juice box and explained.

“Is that so?” Bradley thought about it for a moment and decided to drop it. It wasn’t like he lost anything.

“Tell us.” Amelia suddenly said to him.

“What?”

“Why the sudden interest in extraterrestrials? Did another book influence you?”

“Just met an alien girl the other day and we’re living together.” Bradley decided to be honest and tell the truth.

“Right. So, which book is it this time?” Alas, in the cruel world he lived in, telling the truth did not mean people would believe you.

“You know, I always thought you had a bit of a chuunibyou act going on but I never thought it would be this serious.” Jason quipped and Bradley sighed.

“Whatever. You can always drop by if you’re curious.” Of course, Bradley did not expect them to. After all,

“Can’t. I’ve got club practice and fully booked for jobs this week and next.” Jason shrugged.

“Same here. Still trying to fit in six hours of sleep in my schedule.” Amelia concurred.

“A day?”

“Total. I took on an extra job at a new Japanese restaurant that opened up close to your place.” Amelia said to Jason and the latter nodded with a quiet smile.

“Then you can drop by during the weekends.”

“Your parents?”

“Out of town. Like they always are. Shelia’s around but she won’t tattle. If anything, she would be glad if you did.”

Bradley looked on in a bit of confusion as the two of them chatted about matters he clearly hadn’t heard about.

“I’m sorry… you’ve been to his place?” Bradley just had to interrupt.

“While you were planning and failing your confession during the past two weeks, Amelia finally agreed to date me.” Jason flashed a peace sign and received a blow to the head.

“No, I didn’t. When rain fell the other day, I had to stay at his house a little to dry off. Plus, the bath there is really large.” Amelia scowled at the beginning but her voice softened towards the end until a dreamy smile appeared on her face.

“Okay.” Bradley nodded and made a quick decision not to poke the bear’s hive.

“Can I sit here?” A familiar person asked and Bradley looked at the two sitting opposite him and nodded.

“Thank you. It’s kind of awkward sitting with people you don’t know.” Penelope laughed a little and sat down beside Bradley but keeping a certain distance between them.

“Evergreen.” Amelia said coolly and Penelope smiled and nodded. “Lia.”

Amelia and Jason were familiar with Penelope. After learning she was once the object of his affections, Jason had approached her with Amelia only tagging along.

Surprisingly, it was Amelia that Penelope ended up getting along with and the two of them entered the awkward stage of ‘friend of my friend.’

“I heard what happened.” Amelia narrowed her eyes as she brought out the famous ‘ice queen’ aura that made her famous.

“I guess you did.” Penelope met the attack head-on without suffering damage. HP and SP still holding steady.

“Can you please stop dubbing my thoughts?” Penelope kindly asked but the emotion did not extend to her eyes.

Penelope hits Jason with petrification glare, dealing 200 points of damage- OW!

Jason rubbed the place where Amelia hit him and pouted. “What was that for?”

“For volunteering for a role no one asked you to do.” She curtly replied. Well, she knew what he was up to so she wasn’t mad about it.

“Back to what we were discussing, why?” Jason frowned as Amelia ignored his efforts and the atmosphere became stiff.

“Can we talk about this later?” Penelope smiled but one could see it was strained from her face.

“No. Bradley is too chicken to ask and Jason over here would only try to smooth things over. Even if it means being the villain, I have to do it.” Amelia explained and Bradley sighed. In a way, it was kind of his fault.

“I made a promise with someone. I have no intention of breaking it.” Penelope replied and Amelia knew not to press. As for what promise? Everyone presents knew to some extent its contents.

“I see.” Amelia nodded and cried profusely at her ignorance. Why should she smack the all-handsome and brave Jason?

“And she’ll do it again if he doesn’t keep his mouth shut.” Amelia said and with that, the air quickly recovered.

…..

“Sorry about that earlier.” Bradley apologized as he bumped into Penelope in the afternoon.

“It’s fine. I know that’s the kind of person she is. A kind person.” She replied.

Bradley smirked, “Is that supposed to be a wordplay?”

“Yes. And you’re expressing yourself. It feels weird so stop.” Penelope said with a concerned and serious face.

“I’m supposed to be on my way to class. See you later.” Bradley intentionally ignored her and headed back to class.

‘I guess promises are important.’ Bradley smiled while feeling a little sad. Before entering high school, there wasn’t anyone he was close enough with to make a promise. And that phantom shouting ‘little bro’ in the background didn’t count.