[4.2] Astrid is 'kinda' Psycho: Her Ego

The day after the break, Astrid did as promised with that anonymous DM sender. She climbed to the roof through the stairs. When she was on top, she looked at two figures, but she instantly knew only one of them.

"NANDA!!??"

She stepped on her feet with a heavy thud. With anger, Astrid approached Nanda and said, "JJJ? JJJ? What was that supposed to mean? Your initial was ND! Where did JJJ come from?"

Nanda didn't say anything, only pointed at James.
"That... would be me. Nanda was only here to be... well, as she named it herself, mental support."
"I'm here just to make sure."

Astrid was confused and asked without hesitation, "Who are you? Are you a stalker?"
James answered with a bit of acting like a sword lodged into his heart, "Ouch! That's hurt."
Astrid looked at him and shivered. Nanda explained, "He has been our classmate for a year, Astrid."

Astrid tried to remember, "Never heard of him," never mind.

James reached out to shake hands, "It's James. James Jacob Jamail. JJJ. The anonymous DM sender that day."

"He was here to help you. Or like he said, 'fix you'", Nanda said.

Astrid looked dumbfounded. She looked at James, blushed, and said, "YOU! ARE YOU HITTING ON ME?"

Nanda replied, "You're way off, Watson."
"MY NAME IS ASTRID!"

James laughed, "Hahaha, you are supposed to answer, 'Sure, Sherlock. Sorry for assuming."

Astrid was shocked, "HOW COME YOU TWO ARE SO CLOSE? And what's with that Watson-Sherlock thing?"
Nanda said, "Well, I got close over the holiday with James. And that Watson-Sherlock thing was just a thing. Like a saying that we've 'kinda' created. I mean, I knew what he was talking about, but he created that exchange, and I went along with it."

Astrid watched as Nanda changed into a completely different person from the holiday.

"What do you want from me then?" Astrid rubbed those thoughts away and immediately asked what the point of this meeting was.

"Right. I had the idea, so let me explain", James said.

Nanda stepped out of Astrid and James's sight for a moment. Astrid was confused, but passed it off as nothing.

"So, you see", James explained, "I have watched your stream throughout the holiday and talked it out with Nanda. Nanda said that you have the ego of a monkey."

Hearing that, Astrid realized why Nanda walked away from them, "Wha... HEY! NANDA, YOU...!"

Before Astrid ran into Nanda, James quickly grabbed her arms, "See?"

"See what? And stop touching me!"
"I won't let go until you stop hating on Nanda for calling you out."
"WHAT THE FUCK? SHE INSULTED ME."
"Not quite, Astrid."
"ARE YOU ASKING FOR A BEATING?" Astrid clenched her other hand that James hadn't touched.

"Sure, you can beat me."
Astrid was shocked by James answer. She asked, "Are... you...?"
"No, please listen to what I wanted to say first before you respond. I seemed to see why Nanda said it was pointless to get your good side."

Astrid looked weirded out when she was looking at James, but when she turned to face Nanda, her face turned angry. She looked at Nanda like she was a boxer about to punch the heck out of her opponent.

James flicked to bring Astrid back to reality. "Yo, you hear?"
"Huh?"
"I said, spend this month with us two. I wanted to have a deeper understanding of you and your way of thinking."
"... You're hitting on me for sure."
"You're way off..."
"I'm not assuming! You fucking moron. I'm dead serious."

James looked at Nanda for a second. Nanda gave the "You cost the problem, I'm only here for your mental support" look. James sighed heavily.

"Look, Astrid. Let me run down everything I had to say to you."
"NO! Before you say anything, how is Mei doing?"

Both James and Nanda were shocked and jolted slightly.

Astrid responded, "What the fuck was that reaction? I'm her best friend. Yeah, sure, she left me, but I still have the right to know how she's doing."

James and Nanda exchanged looks. James let go of her and said, "She is doing fine with Yu."
Astrid checked her arm for injury while also replying to James, "Ck! That bastard! How could he steal her from me?"

"Stole?" Nanda was shocked, "Yu didn't steal her from you. He has been on Mei's mind for a decade, Astrid. I heard it from her, myself."

Shocked, Astrid slowly faced Nanda. When their eyes met, Nanda saw the spirit of an orangutan flash around Astrid.

"De... cade...?"
"Eeek..."
"TEN YEARS???!!!"

Astrid approached Nanda with speed. James was late in grabbing her hand. With quick thinking, James rushed to Nanda before Astrid. He tried, alas, he failed. Astrid grabbed Nanda by her collar and screamed, "SHE SHARED HER SECRET WITH SOMEONE WHO ONLY KNEW HER FOR SIX FUCKING YEARS THAN HER FRIEND WHO KNEW HER FOR NINE YEARS!"

Before things turned south, James pinched a specific part of nerves around Astrid's neck. When he pinched it, Astrid went limp and fell.

"What the hell? What happened?"
"You need to calm down", James answered.

"You... you..."
While Astrid was whining, James carried her like a princess; he also dissed her a little, "Huh, I never thought you'd be this light, Astrid. Considering you have two big mountains there."

Astrid was blushing. Her face was red like a tomato. She wanted to retaliate, but all of her limbs wouldn't work.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Nursery. Duh! Where else?"
"Fuck you! I never thought this would be my first day at school! Get to a roof to meet my so-called friend. Find out that she's been hanging out with a boy, who turns out to be my stalker. Then he asked me out to be his second girl. Also, finding out that my so-called best friend has a secret that she kept for a decade. And then this! THIS HUMILATION! Oh, my life is miserable."

Both Nanda and James, who were listening to Astrid's whine, thought, "Your conclusion was way off, Watson."
"Why did I get the feeling you two had the same thought?"
James looked at Nanda. Nanda gave the "We might have the same thought" look.

James replied, "Yeah, you're right."
"UGH! I knew it!"

And that's how it ends.

"BUT WAIT!" You might say, "How about Yu and Mei? Why did this story go a different direction?"

Don't worry, we'll be back to our main characters' story after this chapter.

<Chapter 4 FIN>
<Chapter 5 Started>