Recreation... (Midas)

I once had a dream. In it, I suffered a gruesome death—and not before long, awoke to a world bathed in soft light. I looked around to find strangers sitting beside me, smiling and laughing tenderly like pain was just a foreign concept. We sat in a circle on a large field, where the grass swayed ever so slightly as if it were water.

I must’ve stumbled into paradise. The welcoming eyes of those around me proved just as much. They looked my way with such fondness, as if I was someone so incredibly dear to them.

Too warm. Too gentle. It wrapped around me like a lullaby. I couldn’t help but feel that I was being deceived.

That’s when it slowly became apparent…this was a world where I was not me.

It was a dream and nothing more. I should’ve known. God was probably laughing at me for being fooled so easily, even if it was only for a moment.

There was nothing I could do but live out the time I had left. I looked at those by my side with eyes of quiet farewell, ingraining their pleasant smiles into my memory.

Yes…perhaps it would make for a good memory.

If I recall correctly, we were having a picnic.

***

“Welcome, everyone! Have a seat anywhere!”

My friends and I had gathered at the park. I gestured for them to sit down on the grass, but they didn’t seem very eager. The silence as the four of us awkwardly stared back and forth at each other was almost deafening.

Adella was the first one to speak up. “You invited Soren too?” she asked me, looking over at him standing just a few feet away.

I smiled. “Well, he is one of my good friends…”

“Are you stupid? You must really be stupid.”

“I have to admit, I sort of like when you insult me,” I said. “But no, he and Kat are actually on better terms now. He won’t be a problem. I hope.”

She gave me a weird look, and then pulled Kat over to the side to talk to her. I took the chance to go to Soren and reassure him.

“You might have to beg for forgiveness. Be ready.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know if I’m willing to do that. Do you mean I’ll have to go down on my knees and everything?”

“Adella seems like an S, so maybe.”

“An S?”

“Wow, you’re more innocent than I thought. Don’t worry about it.”

“No, no. Tell me. I’m curious now.”

“Well, she likes to hurt and humiliate people. She’s a real…”

I stopped talking when I noticed who was approaching behind him.

“Ah, a sadist! You’re saying Adella’s a sadist!”

“I’m a what?”

He turned around, and I could immediately see regret written all over his face. Still, it surprised me that he actually knew what it meant after all.

“...You’re just a very strong-willed individual,” he said, trying to save himself. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“How am I a sadist?”

He smiled nervously.

“Adella, I am truly sorry for my behavior over the past few weeks. I hope that you can forgive me.”

Now this was a side I had never seen of our brilliant valedictorian. It was fun to watch, but I felt it was right to help him out a bit.

“Kat, what are your thoughts on all this?” I asked, walking over to her.

She chuckled. “I have no problem with him being here. It’s okay.”

“Wow. You really changed a lot.”

“I did?”

“Fine, he can stay,” Adella said. “Isn’t this a picnic, though? Where’s the blanket and food and everything?”

There was a pause, and everyone looked at me for an answer. I rubbed my neck and grinned apologetically.

“I didn’t have the money for that. Sorry.”

Kat softly laughed, Adella gave me a look of disappointment, and Soren smiled and sat down on the grass.

“Well, I don’t mind,” he said. “This is sort of like the group study session we had.”

“The one where you faked your feelings for Kat?” Adella questioned.

“Della—”

Soren laughed. “I get it, okay? I shouldn’t have done that.”

“How can you just laugh it away? Have you even apologized to her yet?”

“I did. I don’t know if she accepted it, but I tried my best.”

Kat nodded. “I was sort of at fault for everything that happened too. I’m not sure if I can forgive him, but…I don’t mind talking.”

With her words, I realized that it was my time to shine.

“So do you guys like each other now? Like with actual romantic feelings?” I asked.

Without any words, everyone looked at me with confused expressions.

“No answer? I mean, it would make sense if you didn’t. Kat is a bit overweight, and Soren…you’re just a hopeless nerd.”

“Overweight?” Adella said in shock.

“Yep, she’s huge!”

Kat looked concerned. “Am I really that big…?”

It took a bit, but Soren finally spoke.

“I’d say she’s the perfect weight. Most guys would find her attractive.”

I was hoping for something a little more heartfelt, but it still seemed like Kat liked what she heard.

“...I don’t think Soren is a hopeless nerd. He’s smart, and cares about his future.”

At least they could still complement each other. That was something.

“There’s quite a bit of sexual tension between you two,” I said.

Immediately, Adella elbowed me in the arm.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“Why do you always make everything weird? What are you trying to do?”

“I just want to help a new, pure love between two youths blossom! Is that too much to ask for?”

Kat chuckled. “I think it might be. Sorry, Midas.”

I clicked my tongue. “Damn you both. I was hoping you’d at least be willing to kiss each other.”

“K-Kiss?!” Soren blurted out.

Nobody expected such a reaction from him.

“That was really out of character. Have you never kissed a girl before?” I asked.

He cleared his throat. “...Of course I have.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“Well, have you? We’re only highschoolers.”

“Of course I have.”

“You’re also a terrible liar.”

“I’m actually not lying. I’m really charming, you know.”

“Say what you want, but I don’t believe it. I don’t think any girl could fall in love with a manipulative wretch like you.”

Adella snickered. “The irony…”

“What’s ironic about it?” Soren asked.

“You manipulated Kat, and now you’re calling Midas manipulative.”

“I manipulated her?”

He thought for a moment.

“...I guess I did.”

“You’re such a scumbag! You were apologizing without even knowing what you did wrong?”

“Sorry. I’m trying to learn.”

Kat laughed. “It’s okay, Della. He’s like a child when it comes to romance. I’m not much better, either.”

“That’s not an excuse,” said Adella. “You’re being too nice to him.”

“Ugh, this is all so boring!” I blurted out. “You guys should just forget about everything and get back together already!”

Soren chuckled. “You’re asking for the impossible.”

Ignoring him, I walked over to Kat and gave her a little nudge.

“Hey, Soren is really hot, isn’t he?”

She smiled. “Did you invite us here just for this?”

“I…okay, fine, I give up!”

It was pretty much hopeless, so I fell back onto the ground and let it go. It wasn’t like no progress at all had been made, though. I’d done what I needed to do.

“I don’t get why you’re so insistent on making them get back together in the first place,” Adella said.

“Matchmaking is fun,” I replied, “but I guess this isn’t the right way to go about it. These two barely know each other, so we should probably be starting from ground zero.”

“Ground zero?” Soren asked.

“People think my world is just sunshine and roses, but I’m really suffering inside.”

“...What?”

“It’s an icebreaker! Ground zero just means normal conversations, and icebreakers help start them.”

Adella laughed. “That’s a terrible icebreaker. A better one would be something like, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’”

Soren thought for a moment. “I’d love to be an astronomer.”

“That really suits you. What about you, Kat?” I asked.

“...Maybe a florist,” she said.

“Good! We’re getting somewhere now.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me too?” Adella questioned.

“No, I don’t really care.”

She pursed her lips. “Well then, neither do I!”

I chuckled. “There’s no need to be so dramatic. Nobody cares about what I want to be, either.”

“That’s true,” Soren said.

“You didn’t have to confirm it…”

“I have been thinking, though,” he continued, “you’re just a little too mysterious. I don’t know anything about you besides your name and personality.”

“Mysterious? Is that really the impression I give off?”

“Yes, and it makes you a bit suspicious. Who are you really, Midas?”

I laughed. “I’m just a normal person. You’re reading too much into things.”

He looked at me as if he was skeptical, and then slowly softened his gaze.

“...Yeah, maybe I am. Forget it.”

I effectively brushed off his question, but it wasn’t like I was deliberately trying to hide anything from him. I really was just a normal person. I wanted fun like everyone else, and that was the reason I invited everyone to this picnic in the first place.

It was a nice sensation, making everyone feel good about themselves and encouraging relationships between people. What I really looked forward to, however, was the mischief that would follow. Fortune would precede misfortune, and I would be the root of them both. It was as if I was playing God.

And it seemed that the Devil loved to play God.

Who is this Devil, you ask? I don’t know him too well myself, but I am always reminded of how very similar we are. If you’ve met me, perhaps you have met him. And if you have met him, perhaps you’ve met me.

I see…that still doesn’t answer your question.

Well, now that things have finally winded down, I suppose I can share with you a little more about myself. I’m not too keen on telling stories, but…

Fine. Just this once, I shall reveal everything.