[Seven-Minute Semblance] GODSFORRENT & FIMBULWINTER

Chapter 17 - I Kinda Bludgeoned a Non-existent Bro-Code

Edward Dace.

26. August.
Thursday, 5:45 pm.
372A High Street.

I SKIPPED ALL OF MY CLASSES, like the badass rebel I knew I was. I turned all my gadgets to aeroplane mode and deactivated all my accounts. I stayed in a hotel for a few days.

I didn't want to risk running into Laevateinn or Sir Arthur Lukas. My stomach churned every single time I thought of them and their father.

Luciano Lukas.

Even the name spelt shitstorm. I hated it. The name was a fucking trigger to a nauseating series of nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety. It threw me into a quicksand of everything I find lamentable.

One funny thing though: I have no idea why.

It's like hating cookies for no reasons at all. No matter how many times you try to logic things out, you just hate cookies. It gives you the heebie-jeebies, and you don't know why.

I came back to 372A after three days, and found Futhark and Joyeuse sitting outside my dorm room. Joyeuse was hugging his knees and staring blankly ahead, whilst Futhark was reading a book. His face lit up when he noticed me approaching.

"Ed!" He jumped to his feet and waved his hand. He startled Joyeuse, who then immediately looked devastated. Nasa sariling mundo na naman yata si drama queen.

I furrowed my brows. Laevateinn wasn't with them. "Anong ginagawa n'yo r'yan?" I took out my keys and they stepped away from the doorway for me. I wondered why Futhark didn't use the spare key I gave him.

"Ilang araw kang hindi pumasok at nagparamdam, nag-alala kami," Futhark answered.

"Talaga, pati si drama queen?" I grinned slyly.

"Futhark said I should act worried," Joyeuse replied impassively. But actually, he did seem to be telling the truth. Scratch that, he was telling the truth.

"Poor acting," I commented.

He raised an eyebrow and yet again innocently said, "But I'm not acting now."

Futhark flailed his arms around, laughing nervously. "Nag-alala rin si Joyeuse kahit papa'no, Ed. Kasama ko s'yang mag-abang para sa 'yo nitong mga nakaraang araw. S'ya rin ang nagsabing 'wag nang isama si Lae."

Joyeuse looked confused. "I did not—"

Futhark had to cover Joyeuse's mouth to save what's left of my respect for him. The drama queen, however, simply slapped Futhark's hand away and screeched in disgust.

"Hindi n'yo kailangang itaboy si Lae para lang sa 'kin." I mustered a smile. "Hindi n'ya kasalanang topakin ako."

Joyeuse rolled his eyes at Futhark. "I told you."

Futhark glared at him sideways and hissed through his teeth, "I said act worried."

"But I'm not worried. If anything else, I am annoyed."