Xeron’s eyes widened upon hearing those words. “How can she know?’’. He calmed himself and replied in a normal tone like he didn’t know what did she point about.

" Imperial soldier? What do you mean?”

“The technique you used earlier to beat me down; I mean “zi detection”. Where did you learn that?”

“(So she knew about it. But how? Don’t tell me that she is somehow related to Imperial soldiers and they even told her about it. I cannot admit that I cheated so I have to convince her by some other way)”

He was as calm as a person who didn’t know anything would have been. It was all result of his training that he had gone through.

“Zi detection? What’s that? I just wanted to act cool in front of all of them so I threw my knife expecting that it might hit the target. That’s all there is to. I am sure that you mistook me”

Lying was the best choice. Because if he had admitted it that he knew some kind of technique that enabled him to win the challenge then she would have asked about that technique. Xeron didn’t want to take any risk so he lied.

“So you don’t know anything?’’ Esla gave him a serious look.

“No, I don’t” Xeron replied calmly.

“Ok then. Sorry for wasting your time” Esla turned back and started walking away from him, leaving him there alone.

“That was close. It’s good that she believed me. Now I have to keep my distance from her” Xeron scratched his head while mumbling to himself, “She can be a hell of a burden. I have attracted the worst girl ever……………. If I knew this would happen, I would have just lost”

He was true that he had attracted huge trouble.

Xeron started walking slowly towards the classroom with his usual style; with his hands in his pockets. Both remained unaware of the third person till the very end. It was none other than Rei. Rei was watching them from the start; sitting on a nearby tree branch; hiding in its leaves. He was acting like a ninja but he wasn’t one.

“I will find out your little secret soon, Xeron. Just wait and watch”The evil smile could be seen easily on her face.

In the classroom

“So what happened, Xeron? Did you clear her misunderstanding?”

Xeron sat on his chair before saying anything in reply to Mike’s question.

"Yes, I guess so. I hope she leaves me alone now”

Xeron out of curiosity turned back to see Rei but didn’t find him on his chair.

“Looking for rei?” Mike asked.

‘'Mm-Hmm”

“He went out of the window a few minutes ago”

Mike’s answer was quite surprising but Xeron didn’t react even a bit.

“He really is an odd guy. Will you believe me if I said that he jumped out of the window?”Mike’s face was as surprised as it was when it all happened.

"All the students thought that he fell from the window but I know what truly happened. I was watching him from the start. He deliberately jumped out of it. We leapt towards the window as soon as we could but he was nowhere to be found. I hope he is fine”

“You are very kind, don’t you think so?”

Xeron complimented him but he didn’t say anything.

The college ended at 2:00 pm. Xeron was walking home with Mike, same as the past.

“Today was quite fun. Don’t you agree?”

“Well you can say that”

“Well, you know that I was sure about your victory against esla. I knew that you won’t lose. Thinking of which that esla is still following us. Does she think that we haven’t noticed her yet?”

They turned their heads to look behind and esla hid behind a wall so as not to let them know that she was following them. But actually, they knew from the start that she was behind them.

“With this kind of hiding, even a blind will notice her easily. Should we tell her?”

“Nah……I don’t think it’s a good idea to disturb her when she is giving her best to follow us. I think we should keep up the act. Dunno why she is after us?”Mike replied to Xeron’s suggestion.

“She isn’t after us but only me. Not accepting her defeat, I think……………… Well, it’s not like that she will try to enter our house………… It will be over once we reach home”

Within 5 minutes, both reached their homes and thus got rid of Esla.

“I am back” Xeron closed the front door of the house and began taking out his shoes.

“Welcome home” his mom was already in the nearby room waiting for his return.

“Since when have you been standing here waiting, mom?”

“Forget about that. Tell me how was your first day?” Her smile was a precious one, especially to Xeron.

“It was good, mom” he also replied with a smiling face.

“Lunch is ready. Tonight we are celebrating on your first day of college. There will be your favourite dishes”

That announcement was enough for making him forget about the stubborn esla.

Xeron walked up the stairs and put his bag on the floor of his room. His room was simply decorated. A studying chair with a table attached, a table lamp, a bed and shelf filled with detective stories and mangas.

He hurried as he started having hunger pangs. Xeron was always like this; a meal lover. He would eat any kind of food leaving vegetables alone. They were like enemy troops for him.

Xeron’s mom was talking to someone on the phone while Xeron enjoyed his lunch. It was “Mechado” today; one of his favourite dishes.

“Mom sure loves me the most. It’s so tasty. I can even tolerate that esla for the “Mechado*”.

[* Mechado is a beef dish originating from Spain. It is often served in the Philippines, a former colonial realm of Spain. Soy sauce and calamansi juice are often added to the marinating liquid]

“What are you saying? Why would we mind? On the contrary, we would be happy” Xeron’s mom said to someone on phone, “Yes, 8:00 pm would be fine. Yeah, take her with you too. We were having my son’s first day at college celebration party but as they say “The more the merrier. Yeah…….. I will send you the address. Okay then, we will be looking forward to your arrival” With that she put down the phone.

“Is someone coming, mom?”

“Yes. The new neighbours that I had gone greeting when you came back are coming to our house for tonight’s dinner. They want to strengthen the bonds as neighbours so they asked about it. Sorry, Xeron………………….. We were to have your celebration party tonight but I couldn’t just refuse their suggestion”

“Are you angry, Xeron?”She made a crying face and would have cried if he hadn’t calmed her down.

“There is no way I will ever get angry at you, mom. As you said earlier, “The more the merrier”. And I also wanted to meet them. It’s good to have good relations with your neighbours. Am I right?”

His mom leapt and took him by her arms.

“Xeron?? You really are a good boy. I really am proud of you. You really have gotten your mother’s good traits”

Her grip was so tight that he started to choke,

“Mom, I cannot breathe”

“Sorry, Xeron”