Complicated Relationships

***

We found ourselves seated on the plush couch in my room, Laska and I, the colossal Phoenix Egg nestled between us. Our hands caressed it gently, the warmth and the fiery red glow from within served as a reminder that something was soon to hatch.

“It’s like when a baby kicks in the stomach of a mother!” Laska exclaimed with a childlike giggle.

“I just hope I won’t have to encounter that mean bird again.”

“Oh come on, he wasn’t that bad~.” She teased.

“Yeah, not towards you. But why are you so excited about the potions?”

“Well… the potions… are the only way we can help those around us. It’s the only way to fight him.”

The memories of our forest adventure still haunted Laska. She was determined to grow stronger, to prevent a repeat of that terrifying encounter. I shared her sentiment, but my love for her was my top priority. However, if helping others made her happy, I was willing to do whatever it took.

Laska’s expression then saddened, looking at the state of my HP bar which was at 30%.

“Kiss… I wish I could help you with your HP. But I used up my potion that I acquired at the beginning of the game already. We need to get the feathers as soon as possible, or otherwise you’ll be reset once more and you’ll lose who knows how many days or weeks again.”

“Don’t worry about me, it’s fine-“

“It’s not fine!” Laska’s voice grew more intense, her concern evident. “If you keep resetting, you might not clear all the exams by the time this game ends, or you will lose your EPs. Either way, your love life would be over!”

Laska's words hit hard. I couldn't deny her logic, but what was the solution? I was doing my utmost to level up and graduate.

“Sorry I yelled…” Laska apologized and put her hand on my shoulder.

“No, it’s my fault. You’re absolutely correct that I should take this more seriously, because my actual life is on the line.”

“You know… sometimes I wonder if getting this close to you was the right thing.”

“What do you mean?” I furrowed my brows.

“This clenching feeling inside me… that I am forgetting something crucial… What if they erased our memories about someone precious to us?”

I flinched. Her insight was uncanny. Laska’s emotional intelligence exceeded an average human being.

“What do you mean…?”

“I just… what if there is somebody I love in our real world and yet I am falling in love with you here as well…?”

I hadn’t thought about it. But what Laska was worried about made sense.

“I… don’t have an answer to that. But… if we did have a significant other. And if they were the same age as we are. Then there’s a chance they are here at this school.”

Laska’s eyes widened. “Ohhh, that didn’t even cross my mind!”

“But knowing me… I just know that I would just fall in love with my significant other all over again.”

I couldn’t tell her that she was right and that we were lovers. She probably wouldn’t believe me and thought that I am just saying that to comfort her… or she would just laugh it off.

“Heh, what do you know, Kiss. Maybe me and you are real-life lovers and we just found our way back to each other, hehe~.”

At this point, I wasn’t even surprised she nailed it yet again.

***

“…and that’s why I’m saying, dudes and dudettes, that love comes in many forms! It’s not just between a man and a woman. Between a man and another man. Or between a woman and another woman. And it’s not just siblings or parents and children either. You can find love among friends, colleagues, you can love your pets and… you can love yourselves.”

Applause erupted through the classroom as Svet-sensei concluded his speech. His popularity among the students only grew with each passing day.

“Aww, stop it, you jerks, you’re gonna make me blush!” He brought his hands to his face in embarrassment.

Yeah, if only we could actually see how you blush under that bag.

“E-ehm… so! Relationships. Any questions about the lecture?”

The black haired cemetery-loving guy from the other day raised his hand. The bags under his dark eyes hinted at his lack of sleep. “Uhm, Sensei… How does one know they are in a relationship?”

Laska nudged me with her elbow, whispering: “That’s Nebo, Burka’s new friend! I think he likes her!”

I glanced at Burka who paid close attention to Nebo and grinned from ear to ear. Then I looked back at the dark-aura-emitting guy.

“That guy is capable of liking anybody? He doesn’t look it,” I ashamedly judged the book by its cover.

But, to be fair, he did decorate his desk with skulls and other morbid symbols.

“An excellent question, my insomniac friend! But it doesn’t have a clear answer! When does a relationship start?” Svet-sensei looked at the class. “When you ask somebody out? When you share your first kiss? When you both agree that you’ve just started officially dating? Who knows? I guess it’s about how both of you view it!”

“Okay, thank you sensei…” Nebo sunk his head to his desk and rested, as if the question sucked the last remnants of energy out of him.

“Now onto another lecture!” Svet-sensei crossed out the word ‘Relationships’ on the blackboard and wrote another one: ‘Wedding’.

What? A double lecture in a single day?

“Wedding, my guys, is one of the most important events and the ‘happiest day’ in a life of a woman, right?”

“Right~,” The whole class replied in unison.

“WRONG!”

Svet-sensei shouted and we all went mute.

“It’s not just about women!” He continued, “That’s nothing but a myth! Wedding is an important event for a man, too! It’s a special celebration of love and new path for both of the partners!”

“Sensei? Are you married?” Burka raised a question after seeing how personal the topic was for him.

“Irrelevant.”

“Are you?”

“Maybe.”

The class then giggled at his little confession that explained his reaction a lot. Perhaps, everybody from his circle was making sure the bride was happy and nobody asked for his opinion about anything. That’s how the society works, unfortunately.

“Anyways, the wedding is the easy part if you have parents or soon to be parents-in-law that disagree with the marriage… Such situations occur, and this school has to prepare you for that as well. So don’t forget, you’re not marrying just the person you love, you’re also marrying their whole family. Be sure to be nice! The upcoming exam is going to tackle this issue, too.”

It struck me as unusual that Svet-sensei had divulged so much about an upcoming exam.

***

A new dimension, the one corresponding to the ‘Relationships’ lecture. I found myself drinking in a bar among two other NPCs.

“Hey, Kiss, drink another one!” The NPC no. 1, as his name stated, urged me.

The scent of alcohol filled my nose. Even though I wasn't much of a drinker, the Irish-style pub set the perfect mood.

I picked up the heavy stein that contained beer and took a sip.

“Oh come on! How many years have we known each other? This isn’t even your final form, right?!” The NPC no. 2 gave away a little information about setting of this dimension.

So these were my long-time friends in this world.

But you could have been a little more creative with their names, game developers.

I noticed a green HP bar beneath their ‘names’.

“So how is your girlfriend doing?”

My girlfriend? Oh my god, I am in a relationship in this dimension! Why am I sitting here, drinking with these guys when I should be taking care of my girlfriend?!

I immediately sprung from the wooden chair and dashed outside, hoping to find some clues how to find my girlfriend of this world. Logically speaking, it should be Brana.

[Damage: -10 HP.]

I stopped on my tracks, cold sweat trickling my forehead.

I was already at 20 HP only. Two more strikes like this and I am out.

“Why am I so reckless all the time?!”

Taking a deep breath, I analyzed the situation.

“I wasn’t taking any damage while drinking with my buddies. Once I left, I got hit. So…”

I decided to come back to the pub, and sit down with my friends.

“I’m sorry I ran off, I just had to quickly take care of something... No.” I corrected myself, “I thought I had to take care of something.”

“Hahah, it’s okay, buddy!”

“We’re just glad you’re back with us after such a long time!”

“Let’s catch up on everything, NPC numbers 1 and 2!”

I smiled as we clinked our beer mugs, observing both of their health bars decrease by 20 HP.

CHAPTER 13: END