Zypher and Saphina arrived at the school gates. They both walked past a few students blocking the way and when they entered the classroom , Mr Myers was already waiting inside.
,,Good morning Mr Myers."
,,Good morning Zypher and Saphina. Today is the history presentation. I expect great results from your group."
They went to their seats and sat down , preparing for the presentation.
-We definitely will get a good grade on this project. We worked a lot on it and our presentation looks organized and well made
Not long after they had entered the classroom many other students also made their way into the classroom. Fate also came and sat down on her seat next to Zypher.
,,Good morning Zyph" Fate looked a tad bit tired
,,Good morning Fate, did you not sleep well?"
Zyph was a little bit concerned about her
,,Not really, I just had a rough day yesterday. Well anyways, today is your presentation isn't it. I'll make sure to pay much attention."
Zypher smiled at her respond and shortly after the teacher made his group present first.
Saphina and Zypher had both spoken about 20 minutes each and the slides on their presentation was easy to follow. After they were finished the class started clapping .
,,This was a very well done presentation Saphina and Zypher. We will talk about the grade after the lesson." Mr Myers looked pleased and so they returned to their seats.
,,Good work Saph." Zypher smiled
,,We both did a good job."
The school day was continuing like any other. They got a perfect score on their project and the remaining lessons were all pretty boring.
Fate slept during most of the lessons which made Zypher worry a bit more.
The bell rung and so the school day had ended. Saphina and him both walked to the train station, Fate followed them from a bit further behind.
,,You know…my father said he wanted to talk with you again. He said something about finishing an unfinished game. So uhh, would you maybe want to visit us again sometime?"
Saphina looked shyly away
,,Hmm…well I would need to know when you're father is home because I haven't looked at my schedule yet but I'm quite certain that I should be able to visit again soon."
-So he was serious about finishing the game then.
,,He's home almost every day so if you just come for dinner again he's probably going to be there."
,,I will probably go tomorrow then. I have things to do today."
,,Okay, I'll tell my dad that your coming tomorrow."
The train was rather crowded today so they had a hard time getting in. When they finally had arrived at their destination they got off the train fast. Zypher waved her goodbye and with that Fate walked along with him.
,,Is it alright if I come over today…" Fate looked visibly different than usual.
,,Uhh sure, we can talk if you want you know."
,,I just…don't want to be alone right now."
Fate stared down on the ground and just followed Zypher .
When they got to the front door Zypher stopped .
Shouts and screams were coming from the inside.
-Mom and Dad are fighting again…
,,It looks like we shouldn't enter now, how about we go to the park back there." He pointed at the small park behind some trees.
Fate just nodded. When they got there they sat down on a bench.
,,Do you want to talk about it."
,,About what" Fate said in a monotone tone
,,About what's bothering you…"
Fate exhaled deeply and then looked up at him.
,,Let's just say that what your parents are doing now is a daily routine at home for me."
It got silent but they didn't mind it. Sometimes silence was better than to speak.
-I knew her parents were difficult but I didn't imagine it to be like that.
The sun started to set and the sounds of crows flying around were the only sounds being heard.
,,It's getting late" Zypher wanted to stand up but Fate grabbed his sleeve and forced him to stay seated.
,,Can we …please just stay a little longer…"
Zypher just nodded. Time passed yet they didn't move away. Fate slowly started to fall asleep and a few more minutes later she was deep asleep.
-I can't just leave her alone now can I
Zypher carried her to his bedroom. His dad and mother had already left and he didn't really care where they were. He slowly put her down on his bed and let her sleep there.
He himself was strangely enough too awake even though it was already midnight.
He went to the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee.
Zypher started study while he drank his coffee to pass his time and before he knew it he had already stayed up the entire night. The sun started rising and the sunlight began to shine into his room. He got himself ready for school and decided to let Fate sleep longer. She needed it and he knew that.
-I hope I did the right thing…
When he arrived at the train station Saphina had already got there before him.
,,You're quite late aren't you Zyph."
-It is rather unusual for me to not be here first but I wouldn't call it being late.
,,Maybe you're just quite early."
They both chuckled at the unfunny comment and then it got silent. It always got silent. Zypher hated that. He wanted to talk more, to engage in conversations but no matter how much they wanted to talk it always ended up in a weird and awkward silence.
,,Uhh so when should I go to your house today? Or rather when do you plan on having dinner?"
,,You can come whenever you want, my fathers said that the doors are always open for you. We will eat dinner at 6 pm but you if you want you can come at 4 pm so that you can have more time with my dad."
Zypher nodded and wrote the times she told him about on his notebook so that he wouldn't forget them.
The school day was filled with boredom so he didn't care about it as much. Fate hadn't come to the school today and he was fine with it since she should get as much rest as she needed.
Walking out of the school gates he got greeted by Max
,,Eyyy Zyph what's uppp. Haven't seen you in a while isn't that right. What's been going on "
,,Just had a lot to do the last few days. What are your plans for tomorrow? We should hang out again ."
,,I'm always free when you're the one to invite me, just tell me the time and I'll be there."
,,How about tomorrow after school at the city center and then we can just hang out around there."
Max nodded eagerly, he didn't care where or when, as long as he got to hang out with his best friend he was fine.
It started to get darker , so Zypher decided it was time to go to that house again. As he approached the first gate he quickly got surrounded by a large amount of bodyguards
He instinctively put up both his hands
,,I'm here because I was invited to have dinner, I'm a good person , please spare me.."
The bodyguards laughed at him for the way he acted and just let him pass.
He eventually made it to the front door and knocked three times.
A few seconds later Michael opened the door.
Michael dapped up Zypher
,,Oho nice that you made it Zypher boy. Let's get inside and go to my office."
Zypher nodded and followed Michael into his office. When he got inside Michael locked the door behind them.
,,So….boy you remember our game don't you. I remember that you got two points and I had one. I know we didn't get to finish the game but I have come up with a better way of deciding the match. I'll admit defeat for our last game and instead present you with a new one. A simple game of chess. If you win you get an even better reward than the one you were supposed to get and if you loose you'll just get the reward from the last game. There will be no punishments this time but you can handicap me for this game so that you have a better chance of winning."
,,Can I choose any kind of handicap?"
Zypher asked curiously
Michael nodded
,,Then I want you to play blindfolded, I'll tell you the moves I play and will place your moves for you, you only need to tell me."
Michael laughed at his words
,,Hahah nice try boy. Sure I'll accept, but I don't think I'll loose."
The games began and even though Michael was blindfolded and only heard the moves Zypher played , he still managed to have the upper hand in the game.
-How am I in this situation….He is blindfolded and still manages to outdo me. I'm in a loosing position!!!!!!!
The game intensified and in just a couple minutes Zypher had lost.
Michael took off his blindfold and looked at the chessboard .
,,You did well boy, many people wouldn't be able to play against me for this long. As for your reward from the previous game I will let you choose it. You can choose any one thing from this house as your reward. No need to ask for permission."
Zypher was shocked at the thought. He could get…anything? That was quite unexpected, he could choose anything he wanted from this expensive manor and he wouldn't mind it.
-What do I want to get?….I don't know
,,You don't need to decide now. We still have a long day ahead of us."
Shortly after they went downstairs for dinner. It was like last time with the only difference being that Michael was way more chatty and Saphina sat a bit closer to him.
He still hadn't decided on what he wanted and it was getting late so he needed to make a decision soon.
,,You still haven't decided huh. What about instead of a simple reward I give you something different… How about I give you permission to not only get anything you want from this house every time you play a game with me, you don't need to choose today or tomorrow, as long as you one day tell me what you want you get it."
Zypher thought about it for some time
,,Thanks for the offer but no. Instead I decide to give up my reward. I don't want or need any of your belongings. I'm only here because Saphina had asked me to come. I do not desire things from in here. As long as I am friends with her I will continue to come when she asks me. If you want to give rewards so badly than I would want you to give her one instead."
Zypher exited the house and waved goodbye.
-I'm sure this was the right decision. I don't regret it.
————————————————————
-Saphina has been more talkative as of late, I wonder if it's because of that guy in her class…what was his name again
As Aubrey walked into a shallow street she saw Zypher exiting Saphina's house.
-Isn't that…
She locked eyes with Zypher and as he walked pass her, she felt a gust of wind following him.
-Hmm maybe I'll follow him for a bit…there is something special about him
Zypher continued to walk somewhere and so Aubrey began to sneakily follow him around.