SURVIVAL 7: MEMENTO

I keep writing in my journal. I gained some information about my identity. I am currently in the art room. I was in the mood to sketch right now.

"Hurry up," Ninezen complained.

"Hmm, Fifth, straighten your back and a more serious face please," I instructed Fifth.

"Like this?" he clarified.

"That's it! Don't move, okay?”

Fifth and Ninezen were the models who volunteered to sketch them. The two of them sat down.

"Pft! You look like crap, bwahaha!" Aeith can’t stop making fun of Ninezen. These two usually have the highest form of energy among us. Actually, they’re three if we add Seventh, but he’s not here.

"Brother, fix yourself," Fourth reprimanded her twin brother to take this thing seriously.

Truth to be told, the two of them didn’t volunteer. They were teased by Aeith and Fourth to do so.

"Yo, guys!" I heard Seventh greet us. "The heck is that?" he asked my two models.

"Oh well, I’m a model figure," Ninezen said proudly.

"Really?" Seventh looked at me. "Second, you should’ve told me instead. I have better looks than this squirt." They really have the same feathers.

After a few moments of fun, I’ve finished it. They approached me and looked at the sketch.

"Wow!" Fourth blurted with sparkling eyes.

"You two look like idiots!" Aeith ridiculed Seventh and Ninezen.

"Am I really that cute?" Seventh praised himself.

“Oh! Not bad,” Ninezen nodded while holding the sketch pad.

“You must have been an artist, Second.” Fifth commented. He might be right.

I already had Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Aeith, and Ninezen as models to sketch for today. I plan to sketch them all, nineteen of them if possible. I just feel shy to approach everyone.

Aeizen because she's a serious type of person who rarely smiles and prefers to be alone. Sectwen is pretty, sophisticated, and ill-tempered. Third is approachable, but I can’t ask him this favor because I might waste his precious time. With Ninth, I tried making a conversation with him, but he only interacts with the boys most of the time. And the last one is First. I am embarrassed to make this request of him.

"Second, we’ll hang out in the next room," Aeith said. They left the art room.

Moments later, I heard the door open, so I looked away. It was First. "Hey," he greeted me.

"Hi," I greeted him, slightly surprised. He closed the door.

"Another piece of artwork?" So, he’s aware that I do sketches.

"Yes, how did you find out?”

"Informed by your troops." Those guys, really. "Why didn't you tell me you need a model? I've found out from others.”

"Um, I was planning to sketch you all, and they were the ones available for now.”

"Then, let me." He took a chair and sat on it.

"Huh?”

"What shall I do?”

I did not know how to react. This was all so sudden. “F-For what?”

He sighed. "C’mon, I’m no stranger to you.”

I held my pencil tighter. "It's embarrassing because...”

"You're shy? Hahaha!" H-He pokes fun at me!

I sighed. "Is it okay... really?”

"Am I supposed to sit or stand? Like this?" He posed as if I were about to sketch him.

"'Is it really okay?" I asked him for clarification.

"It's now or never," a short phrase he replied.

"Alright, wait! Ah, okay. For your pose, you need to sit and slightly look to your left.” He turned his face to his left side. “Your facial expression would be… hmm." It took me a few seconds to suggest an expression that suits him the most. “Calm face, just be you.”

"How was it?" He asked.

I replied while continuing to do so. "About there,"

“How do I look?”

“It suits you.” His pose suits him well.

A few minutes have passed, and it becomes a bit awkward.

“Pretty guy, right?” he smirked.

“You can search for the answer in the galaxy,” I replied sarcastically. He’s being funny with this pun again.

"I searched, but I found you." He is probably referring to before we landed on the nth planet, when we were still in space. “Actually, there’s something in you that’s cryptic.”

"You mean, I'm weird." I stated, not with a question mark.

"Maybe?" So, he admitted as well. "But I like your weirdness,"

"There’s something weird about you, too," I replied, but with a light laugh.

He smirked, "We have something in common.”

I changed the subject. "But thank you, and you agreed to be a subject model. I thought that this might turn you off.”

"Why would I?"

"Looks like you don't like things like this.”

He turned to me. "Hey," I was about to tell him to return to his pose when he paused for a moment and said, "Anything, don’t mind me.”

***

Yes! My artwork is finally complete. First talked to Third, Ninth, Aeizen, and Sectwen to be my models. First mentioned he would not mind me asking for a favor because he’ll be willing to.

The four of them left. First and I were the only ones here.

"Thank you, First!”

“Anytime” he smiled.

We went down to the ground floor because everyone was in the living area.

"Here!" Seventh called First, and we parted our ways because Aeith also called me.

It looks like the boys are playing cards and some board games in the lounge area just beside the living area.

"She's here!" Aeith exclaimed as if I were the only one they were waiting.

"What's up?" I innocently questioned them.

The sofas and coffee table were moved to the sides, and they all sat on the floor forming a circle.

"There you are," Fourth moved to her right side to give me space to sit next to her while Aeith sits on her left.

"We're going to play a truth or dare game.” Sixzen started. She took a bottle from her side. “I’m gonna spin this bottle. When it stops and points to someone, she’s gonna choose between truth or a dare."

Hmm...

“In choosing truth, you’ll answer truthfully to the question you’re asked by someone on your opposite side. And by choosing the dare, you must perform the task you’re given.” Sixzen explained to us the mechanics. “Alright!” She spins the bottle.

The bottle slowed down, and it made me nervous as it was nearing to point at me. I looked at my opposite side to see who was going to ask me if I had been chosen, but Aeith stood and repositioned herself exactly at my opposite side. 

“Hihi,” she grinned.

I composed myself before scolding Aeith but there was a sudden commotion that interrupted our game of fun.