Surviving Argufiance : Into the Aberrant Cruise

C2 - Blindly Puzzling

Raziri's POV

Last night really gave me a fright. It felt so. . . real, which is odd.

Plus, I haven't seen E'rald in a while now.

During my teenage era, he suddenly moved to another place. Wherever he may be, he left without telling me a farewell or goodbye. It was around August too. It's strange how my nightmare is involving that guy, but only that one. The rest were different.

We were good friends though, yea. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks that way but as far as I remember, we had great friendship chemistry. Like, AS IN GREAT FRIENDS, and friendship.

It's just that, he left, as I previously mentioned. Not a word at all or anything.

Since time has evolved at a very surprisingly fast pace, I got my new phone during my 18th birthday. I tried searching his name in every possible social media platform that ever existed, and found none. Like, zero results, which is also strange.

I could think that maybe he changed his name? But it's still not helping me since I don't know his presumably 'new name'.

It's now 7 in the morning. I'm heading to the university despite my sudden headache. I don't like drinking painkillers either, 'cause I believe that when I won't have any classes later, then sleep will be its remedy.

And yes, I say that there might not be classes because sometimes, the professor of the 7:30 AM schedule switches to asynchronous mode, sometimes. Our professor is very busy this week as he's assisting and assessing many teacher-trainees this semester.

Oh did I mention that it's almost the end of classes? So yes, that's prolly the second reason.

We have about, two class sessions left before the final exams week - which is next week - and yea. Everyone's not excited about it, including me.

On the bright side, I get to have the time to work later evening.

My destination is now in sight, and I got off the bus. Already finished paying my fee earlier.

I headed to a nearby convenience store to buy some load or data, in order to access the online learning materials if ever professor had sent some.

Afterwards, I went into the campus.

Walking is a no-probs for me no matter how far the classrooms are. What's annoying is the time scheduled for students to arrive in that certain classroom. Imagine this, have a class on Room 101 located on the first floor. Then, the next class will be at Room 1101 located on the eleventh floor and arrive between 1 -2 minutes.

Okay, my bad if I don't workout daily. Just doing light exercises like walking and stretching.

Sure, we can use the elevator but it's the policy of 'first come, first serve' that happens. The lineup is very long and waiting for your turn to ride takes a lot of time. Luck is never on my side either.

Well, that's 'is' annoying if our professor won't give us an allocation time of like, 5-7 minutes to arrive in class. Some of the students, including me will use the stairs. Some teachers too, which is why thankfully all professors give us around the aforementioned minutes to arrive in class if our class' distance is an extremely breath-taking one.

No pun intended on the breath-taking. I am now at the 5th floor, heading my way up to the 7th floor using the stairs. The elevator lineup is long again.

Occasionally I take deep breaths, like right now.

Hooh!

This is so many steps.

After a few minutes, I finally arrived at my designated classroom - Room 703.

I went inside and saw some of my classmates sitting in their chairs and conversing. Others sat on the table or leaning their back on the wall towards a friend they're talking to.

It is, as noisy as a public market.

Someone then called out my name. I looked at whoever they were and saw Navyx, one of close friends.

Navyx waved at me with a smile. Honestly, he looks weird, which is why I have a crunchy expression towards him.

As I walked my way to his seat, I then sat beside him.

"You know you kinda looked ugly earlier."

"Me?" Navyx pointed at himself. "I only waved at you."

"Yea but whenever you smile at me, it's somewhat suspicious."

"How is that related to me looking kind of ugly?"

"Yea sorry, I meant a weirdo."

"I'll take that as a compliment 'cause I am in a good mood right now."

I raised a brow. "What happened?"

"I bumped into someone earlier and ooh-la-la, he looked so charming."

Oh right, I forgot to state that Navyx is gay, and so am I. The difference between me and him? He's an extrovert, I'm an introvert. He has no shame in expressing his suspicious ideas to me, while I endure the suffering of listening to it. That's only if he saw some handsome guy at his naked sight I guess.

"Who was it?"

Navyx scrolled on his phone while whistling, then showed me a photo of a somewhat familiar guy wearing a basketball attire, facing sideways.

I looked at him with dead eyes. "You gotta be kidding me."

"Oh come on!" Navyx exclaimed. "It's really him! He looks more hot not wearing his glasses."

"Yes 'cause he's a scholar and -"

Navyx cut me off. "Did you just admit that he's hot?"

I pointed at the photo he showed with a poker-face. "He is."

Honestly this is all gossip from my dear gay friend so I'll just 'mute' up the rest of our conversation.

*Ding!*

My phone suddenly notified. I checked what it was and found the professor's message popped up. It's another class announcement with the learning materials for us to read and some other messages.

The most notable message was this :

[Due to my recent schedule, I will have all my class sessions in asynchronous learning mode until the semester break. Please study all the learning materials attached. Contact me through our GC during appropriate consultation hours.]

Majority of my classmates were yelling a loud 'YES!', including Navyx.

"Let's go somewhere~"

Navyx then suddenly pulled my arm. Good thing I did not remove my backpack behind me.

Guess I should cancel my sleeping session. Maybe.

[ Inside a Cafe ]

Nav and I are now inside a cafe near the university. Not many students are here yet so we were able to occupy a seat. Usually this place gets crowded when our seniors finish their class sessions too or during lunch time.

"Hey Nav, I had a weird nightmare again."

He sips his iced coffee with a worrying look. "You've had several nightmares already. Like yesterday, you dreamt of puppies and kittens getting eaten by a giant snake. You also had the shadow stalker thing, the kitchen burning down, the car crashing at you. Man."

My friend sighed. "It's crazy how you have those nightmares. Did you watch or read something horror everyday?"

"No." I replied sternly, sipping my iced tea. "I never watch those horror stuff."

"Yea, I tried influencing you." Navyx pouted.

I raised my middle finger at him with another stern face. He just laughed.

"So, my nightmare was this. I was with my childhood friend when I was a kid. We hung out at this kid's playground while playing tag. Then we both talked until my friend saw this dark distorted figure." While I was telling him this, my index finger kept pointing left and right alternatively.

"Did you see it too?" He asked.

"Yea, right after he pulled me away and ran. Surprisingly, I can't remember its exact form. It's all a blur now." I scratched my forehead.

"It's a good sign that you don't remember, so let it be now." Navyx then raised his hand. A waiter arrived and took notes of the new order Nav instructed at him.

As the waiter went off, Nav gave me 'the' look. "He looks cute."

"Oh please. You say that to every man you compliment as that." I waved right in front of his face to shoo those thoughts away.

After that, I continued with the dark transformation of my childhood friend and him smashing a stone on me. Nav looked terrified and asked if maybe I should see a psychiatrist or something. I told him I'll be fine, maybe one day the nightmares will go away.

Nav offered me to chat with him when I needed someone to talk to. I feel grateful that he's my friend.

We just continued talking about other stuff.

Not long, we parted ways then headed home.

I waited for the commute to arrive when I noticed a familiar figure from the distance.

This guy was wearing a gray sweatshirt and sunglasses, grayish-black denim pants and very expensive-looking shoes. However, I paid most attention to what strike him out the most, his light bluish teal hair.

That might be. . .

E'rald?

Sadly, the moment I was about to take a dashing step to him, the commuting bus suddenly appeared and stopped right in front of me. I immediately went inside and sat by the window to see if it was really him.

Surprisingly, he vanished.

Was I daydreaming then? That can't be right. It really looked like he was there.

Whoever that was, I must find him. I have to talk to E'rald.

Narrator's POV

"Sire, we've located your friend. He is in this university."

A young male adult with his hair mixed with light blue and teal glances at the university. He's now riding in a black-windowed private vehicle.

"I went outside a bit to check if he was there but I guess I didn't found him at the right time huh."

The young lad ordered the driver to go as he had to come back to his residence soon.

"Will you come back here sire?" Lei, his butler asked.

"Yes. I must find Raziri. I hope he's doing alright. Those nightmares will continue to make him suffer if I don't help him."

The young lad sighed.

"Escort him if anyone sees Raziri. Bring him to me outside the premises."