I am a certified loner and no one will deny that for sure. As a loner, I don’t have any interest in associating with anyone. I hated strangers because I don’t know what they will do to me but since I met Meryl, I learned that not all humans are the same. If it is her, I think I could trust her…that is what I thought.

After the class, Meryl suddenly went beside me while I am putting my books inside my bag.

“Orel, let’s go to the mall now,” she said with her usual cheerful expression.

“Huh? Right now?” I asked with a serious face.

“Let’s go to the ‘Karaoke Land’.”

“Huh?” I reacted with a look thinking ‘Is this girl for real?’

“Meryl, hurry up!” a girl in pony tail suddenly called with a tanned girl, tall boy and a curly guy at her back.

“We will go together with them so let’s go. I’m sure that this will be fun.”

“Huh? Wait...” I whispered, having a general idea of her sudden plan.

Without letting me say anything, Meryl suddenly pulled my hand, strong enough to drag me around.

What the heck is happening? Don’t tell me…

On the way, I learned that our destination is the MS mall. After arriving there, we then explored around it. Well, while Meryl is leading the group, I have a meter of distance between the group and me. How can you expect a loner to handle this kind of situation all of a sudden? Anyway, who are those three again?

Finally, we are now inside the karaoke room.

All of them took turns on singing and after less than an hour, they finally noticed that there is a loner in the corner watching them.

“Orel, do you want to sing?” Meryl asked.

“I’m…not in the mood,” I replied coldly.

“Come on, man. Won’t you sing at least once? I can even sing with you if you want,” the curly boy said with a smile.

“That’s right, Auti,” the tanned girl followed with a smile and offered me a song book.

“What song do you know?” the girl in pony tail asked cheerfully.

These people, why are they acting so friendly now? Talk about different treatment when I am with them in the classroom.

“I…don’t know any particular song,” I replied indifferently.

Suddenly, I heard the laugh of all three of them.

“Are you serious? You probably know at least one, right?” the curly guy said, still laughing.

“Don’t tell us that you don’t want to sing because we’re here or something,” the tanned girl followed in a ridiculing look.

“That is why you don’t have a friend. Why don’t you bond with us ‘normally’? Right, everyone?” the tall guy muttered and looked at the others there.

“You got that right,” the girl in pony tail agreed.

“We’re doing this for your own good you know. We are teaching you how to socialize, that’s all,” the tanned girl followed.

“Socia...lize?” I whispered, with serious eyes.

“Orel…” Meryl whispered as she looks at me in a nervous expression.

I can’t hold it anymore. My anger is surfacing even if I don’t want to.

Suddenly, my cross emitted the red light and formed these choices:

[Continue talking.]

[Never mind.]

If I continued talking, I’m sure that this will lead into a quarrel. But…I am ‘me’. I will never let this kind of people manipulate me. The correct answer should be the second choice but…my pride will never choose that!

“Does that mean that if you can’t socialize like me, you cannot be considered as ‘normal’ anymore?” I asked in a serious tone.

The four of them got speechless after realizing that I got offended. They looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

“I am living perfectly fine. You don’t have the right to force that ‘truth’ of yours on me. I have my own way of living and no matter what happened, I will never live the way you do,” I continued and stood up.

“Orel. W...where are you going?” Meryl said with a worried face after standing up.

I looked at her and said, “I’m out of here. Bye.”

“Wait!” Meryl called and followed me.

I immediately opened the door and walked away from the Karaoke Land. After I exited the place, someone suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Meryl…” I whispered with serious eyes and faced her.

“Forgive them. They just got caught up in the moment. They really don’t mean what they’ve said. They just couldn’t able to read the mood back there,” Meryl said in a sad face, covering for them.

“That’s not true, Meryl. I’m the one who couldn’t read the mood back there. I mean, if I can, I would have just laugh out that one and pretend to have fun with them but I didn’t. Don’t you think that I’m the one who’s at wrong here?” I muttered with clear seriousness in my eyes.

Because of what I’ve said, Meryl is now confused on how she would react or reply.

“You’re not wrong! I at least know that,” she followed, on the verge of tears.

“So you’re saying that it’s all their fault?” I asked as I look straight into her eyes.

“You might be right but…but…they just…” she whispered, not so sure anymore how to continue what she’s saying. It’s not loud enough for me to hear it though.

“Honestly, I think that they are always right. After all, there is only one right thing for them and that is their beliefs. The loners just like me are always wrong so we always end up getting bullied and mocked. They are indeed normal humans: evil and self-centered, real definitions of a normal human being.”

“I just want you...to have friends,” she whispered with a hurt expression, but it is audible enough for me to hear it.

Those words echoed throughout my mind. All this time…I thought that…

“I thought that...you understand me,” I said as I try to fix my shaking voice.

“Orel…” she muttered and looked at me with a surprised look.

Why the heck did I forget it in the first place? Meryl…is not like me. If I stop and think about it, she’s an extrovert. The same as the ones who bullied and mocked me back when I was still young and naïve. Meryl and I…are complete opposite from the start, a fact that I easily threw out of the window just to satisfy myself that she can understand me even though I’m not like her.

“Did you start dating me out of pity?” I asked, controlling my tone so it wouldn’t sound shaky.

“That’s--” Meryl reacted, shocked from what I just said.

“Did you start dating me so that I can socialize with others? Did you start dating me because of your duty as our class rep.? Did you start dating me because of my--”

“Orel!” she shouted to stop me. It is the loudest shout I’ve ever heard from her.

“…”

“You know that...those are not true...right?” she said while tears started running down on her cheeks.

“…”

“I really love you. My heart...I just followed my heart. That is why I accepted your confession back then.”

“…”

“…*sob*…”

“…”

“How about you? Do you...really love me?” she continued as tears ran down on her face.

As for me, I just stood there with an expression even I don’t know how to describe.

“Orel…” she called, crying.

“Meryl…let go of my hand,” I said in a cold tone.

Because of my words, Meryl got shocked, enough for her to let go of my hand. I immediately ran away without looking back.

Before I know it, I am now in my room, sitting on the floor.

“Because of my pride…this is now over,” I whispered as tears started dropping from my eyes.

Sorry, Dad. How can I save someone if I’m acting like this? I am…I am…not qualified as an exorcist.

Days passed since the incident at the Karaoke Land. Since then, Meryl and I didn’t talk to each other again.

Today is now Sunday. My cross emitted the violet light yesterday yet I didn’t go to Meryl’s house. I just don’t know what to say to her after all of that. What should I do now?

While sitting on the corner of my room, my room’s door suddenly opened. The culprit is no other than my cousin, Sheena. When I looked at her, I noticed that her usual shoulder-length hair is now tied at the left side of her head by a white short ribbon. She is wearing a sleeveless pink blouse designed with floral prints and a white mini-skirt. Unconsciously, I got entranced. I saw her in casual clothing before but she looks different right now. I wonder why?

“Or,” Sheena called with a smile after entering.

“W-what are you doing here?” I asked.

“Well...I have a feeling that it’s been a while since we talked to each other so I went to your house,” she replied with a smile.

Well, if I hang out with her, our close relationship might affect my mission so I decided to put a distance between us. But because of that…

“Is it just me or you look kinda sad? Did something happen?” Sheena asked curiously.

Jeez. She is really sharp when it comes to things like this.

“Or?” she once again called curiously.

“It’s nothing. I am just in a middle of despair, that’s all,” I said and placed my palm on my face.

“Huh? What exactly happened?” she asked with a worried face.

“I’ve watched different anime shows and all I get are trash series these past few days. Is it really the start of what they call ‘low quality era’?” I whispered in a devastated look.

“Jeez, Or. And here I thought you have a big problem. But anyway, do you want to become happy again?” she suddenly asked with an excited expression.

“Huh?” I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Ta-da~” she said with a smile after showing me two tickets.

“What the heck is that?”

“The solution is no other than a ticket to the one and only ‘Enchanted City’.”

“Since when did going to a crowded place got considered as fun?”

“The people there are not the attractions you know. Don’t mind them and mind the rides!”

“That’s not a bad jingle for the place. Maybe you should become their endorser or something,” I retorted in an indifferent face.

“Jeez. I’m serious here, you know,” she followed while pouting.

I then let out a deep sigh and replied, “It’s too tiring to go outside.”

“Please. Your cute cousin is requesting a change of pace, you know. Won’t you consider it?” she said and clapped both of her hands with pleading eyes.

“Cute cousin? You? Are you kidding me?” I asked with a very unconvinced face.

Suddenly, I felt a chilling aura coming from her.

“Or…” she whispered, clearly reached the point of anger.

Darn, there is a fire behind her. I can feel her hatred! Jeez…what the heck should I do? Is it really the time for this?

Suddenly, my cross flashed the color red and formed these words in front of me:

[Go and have fun.]

[Stay at home.]

[Go to Meryl’s house after rejecting her invitation.]

Wait, what? Why the heck would you generate that at a time like this, cross of salvation? The one that I should develop my relationship is Meryl and not Sheena. There is no point in going out with her…but…staying here at home is more illogical because it will just be a waste of time. That means my answer is down to the first and third choices. But…I’m not yet ready to face Meryl. Jeez…today is an exception! I pick the first one!

“Jeez...fine,” I replied as I scratch my head.

“Really?” she asked with sudden shining eyes.

“Are you happy now?” I asked in a neutral tone.

“I did it,” she shouted very happily.

Is it really that fun there?

After getting ready and other stuffs, we are now waiting for the bus to arrive at the bus stop.

“Here it is.”

And now, this is the biggest obstacle, riding the bus.

“Or, did you bring a plastic bag?” Sheena asked like a worried mother.

“Of course. I have to beat my last time record after all.”

“10 minutes and 35 seconds, right?”

“Yup.”

Let me explain. Whenever I ride any vehicle with many people inside, I always puked halfway the ride. It is logical, right? Humans are disgusting creatures that puking because they are quite near you is not that strange. But…maybe I got carried away there too much, I’m just kidding about that. This is just an ordinary motion sickness.

Just before I know it, we are now sitting inside the bus with humans sitting in front and beside us. Heck, there are even some who are standing because they are out of seats.

After a while, I placed my hand on my mouth and said, “Darn. I’m getting dizzy already.”

“Huh? It’s just been five minutes since we rode this thing, you know.”

“I think you’re right…” I replied in a weak tone.

“Isn’t it getting worse?”

“Silence. I need to concentrate,” I muttered seriously.

“Then, want to hold my hand again?” Sheena asked with a smile. “Back when we’re still little, I used to do that every time we rode a bus together just so you won’t feel motion sick, remember?”

“We are not kids anymore, you know. And...” I whispered with a slight flushed face.

“And?” Sheena asked after cocking her head slightly.

“N-nothing,” I followed and averted my gaze away from her.

If I am knowledgeable at that time, I’m sure that I will never do that.

Before I know it, we arrived at our destination.

“In the end, you couldn’t hold it after all,” Sheena said after we got out of the station.

“Huh? That is a lot of improvement, you know. 20 minutes and 11 seconds…what a satisfying result, right?” I said with a smile, quite proud of myself.

“Let’s go,” Sheena said and ran towards the destination.

“This kid…” I whispered with my usual squinty eyes. “At least compliment me for my job well done.”

And just like that, we are now inside the Enchanted City. In our country, Enchanted City is the biggest amusement park with a land area of around 17 hectares. It is divided into seven areas, each have different themes of their own. Just after entering the palace-like gate entrance and wearing the wrist tag, the grandiose fountain welcomed us with its water squirting very high in height.

“How beautiful,” Sheena said with a big smile.

I opened the rolled map given at the entrance and looked for the next destination we should go.

“Sheena, where do you want to go?” I asked as I look at the map.

“Roller coaster!” she immediately replied.

“That is their main attraction. How about going for the smaller rides first?” I suggested with a sigh.

“Then, I leave all the decision to you. You’re gonna get a good smack if I didn’t become fun,” she said with a smile.

“Right, right.”

I once again looked at the map for a minute and said, “Well, it is not yet time for lunch so how about the...Magic Town.”

“Magic Town?” Sheena repeated, clueless about the term.

“It is one of the areas here in the amusement park. It is perfect for sight-seeing because the souvenir shops can be found there.”

“I want to buy some souvenirs," she suggested enthusiastically.

“Not yet.”

“But why?” she asked after pouting.

“We will just walk around to see if there’s something worth to buy. We will buy later after we finished riding everything you want. Do you want to carry lots of baggage while wondering around the amusement park?”

“Then, let’s do that,” she agreed with a smile.

“I forgot. The grand carousel can be found there.”

“Really?” Sheena said with her eyes sparkling.

She is really still a kid in heart.

“Then, let’s go.”

After we walked around the area and rode the grand carousel, we are now at the food court eating for lunch. Tons of fast foods are here in kiosk offering their foods so the dining tables are surrounded by them in the open.

I suddenly stood up and said, “I’m going to the restroom. Wait here a bit.”

Sheena then nodded because her mouth is currently full of spaghetti. This kid is a real glutton.

Before I entered the male’s restroom’s door, someone suddenly called my name.

“Orel?” the girl said with a big smile. It is no other than Marie, the lost girl that I talked to back then.