Chapter 39 Fate meeting
As Kan walked alongside Hela’s guiding instructions, he couldn’t help but engage in a humorous back-and-forth banter with the system. “So, Hela, you’re basically my invisible guide, huh? Are you sure you won’t lead me into trouble?” Kan teased, his tone laced with amusement.
Hela responded with a playful tone, “Oh, come on, Baby. Trust me, I’ve got your back. Just don’t go tripping over your own feet.”
They continued down the street, Kan’s steps guided by Hela’s directions, their exchange lightening the atmosphere. It was a serene environment, the sun casting a warm golden hue over the surroundings. The futuristic cityscape seemed almost magical, with holographic billboards and floating vehicles passing by.
However, as they turned a corner, the tranquility was shattered. Kan’s footsteps slowed as he stumbled upon a disturbing scene unfolding in a narrow alleyway. A young woman was cornered by three men, her eyes wide with fear.
Kan’s heart raced as he observed the tense situation from a hidden spot. He wasn’t sure if he should intervene or wait to understand the context. His grip tightened on his bag as he strained to hear their conversation.
The leader of the group, a burly man with a sinister grin, spoke with a malicious edge. “You know, sweetie, you owe us. Pay up or things might get ugly.”
The lady’s voice quivered as she responded, her tone submissive. “I… I promise I’ll get the money soon. Please, just give me a little more time.”
Kan watched, his brow furrowed, trying to assess the situation. He saw the lady slowly step away from the men, her gaze never leaving the ground. The tension in the air was palpable.
Just as the men seemed to be closing in, the lady suddenly straightened up, adjusting her hair and dress. Kan’s eyes widened as realization struck him. It was Ellie, the girl who had helped him when he was attacked by the boys outside the school.
“Hey, Ellie!” Kan called out, stepping out of his hiding spot.
Ellie’s head snapped up in surprise, her eyes widening as she recognized Kan. ” What are you doing here?”
“I’m kan, remember? From school?” Kan said, tugging on his breast pocket to show his batch. But in such situations, one would wonder if an introduction was the best thing to do.
The three men turned to face him, their expressions darkening. Ellie’s voice trembled as she addressed the leader. “I-I know him. He’s my friend.” 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎ｌ.𝚘ｒｇ
Kan took a step forward, his voice firm. “Is everything okay here?”
The leader’s gaze flickered between Kan and Ellie before he grunted in annoyance. “Fine, whatever. Let’s go, guys.”
As the men retreated, Kan let out a sigh of relief. He walked over to Ellie, concern evident in his eyes. “Are you alright?”
Ellie nodded, her gaze still downcast. “Yeah, I’m fine. What are you doing here?”
Kan studied her for a moment, his heart aching at the vulnerability he saw in her eyes. “I should be asking you that. I mean, you looked like you were in a dangerous situation just moments ago. why weren’t you in school?” Kan asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry FATHER, I should tell you why I’m not in school because you own my life? Get a grip! And besides, you were really rude to me the last time!!” Ellie said to Kan.
[Tell her it was all your fault and you are sorry!] Hela screamed in Kan’s head.
“It’s all my fault and I’m sorry,” Kan said.
“of course it was your fault. Now, you still haven’t told me what you were doing here,” Ellie brought up again.
“I was just walking home…I mean to the bus…the bus station,” Kan said to Ellie.
“Oh, then let’s go then,” Ellie said as she took the lead walking in front. But Kan noticed then that the back of her skirt was ripped and her panties were exposed.
“Hey, why not take this…and wrap around your waist for a minute,” Kan said, offering his uniform jacket to Ellie.
Intuitively, Ellie turned her back to see what Kan was trying to cover and then realized he was helping her.
“He really saw my panties and doesn’t want anything to do with it? Is this guy normal?!” Ellie said as she watched Kan walk off while Ellie tidied herself up.
[Smooth….well played, baby] Hela’s voice resounded in Kan’s head.
“You done? you look great!!” Kan said trying to lighting the mood. He saw that Ellie didn’t want to talk about it so he figured he would just let her be.
A small smile tugged at Ellie’s lips, and she finally met Kan’s gaze. “I appreciate that, Kan.”
With the tension diffused, Kan and Ellie headed towards the bus station together. As they walked, their conversation flowed easily, their laughter filling the air.
Hela chimed in from time to time with her usual sarcastic remarks, adding a playful dynamic to their interaction.
[Now would be a good time to ask her for her contact info. who knows, she might be going to space next and you’d never find her,] Hela said to Kan.
But Kan snubbed this as he was still watching, trying to bide his time.
The bus station came into view, and Kan’s heart felt lighter than before. He was already feeling tired from walking and the constant interruption Hela offered in his head.
As they waited for the bus, Kan’s gaze wandered to the strange paintings on the wall nearby. They depicted intricate patterns and vibrant colors, unlike anything he had seen before. It was another reminder of the world’s unique blend of tradition and futuristic innovation.
“Those are landmarks, they belong to the gangs around here,” Ellie said.
“Just saying, I mean you should know that but you look like you’ve barely been out before,” Ellie added.
But admist her sarcasm, her intuition was spot on. Indeed, Kan hadn’t been out that much.
“Gangs?” Kan’s mind tripped over the word. But he barely had the chance to think about it.
As the bus pulled up, Kan turned to Ellie with a smile. “Well, looks like it’s time for another adventure.”
Ellie grinned back at him. “Who would’ve thought our paths would cross again like this?”
Kan chuckled. “You saved me from bullies, I now turn around to do the same. weird huh? but fate does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does,” Ellie remarked.
*****
As Kan’s steps carried him closer to his house, he glanced out the bus window and caught sight of Ellie signaling for the bus to stop. His heart skipped a beat as he realized that their paths were converging once again.
With a shared understanding, both Kan and Ellie signaled for their respective stops simultaneously. The bus came to a halt, and Kan stepped off onto the pavement, his eyes meeting Ellie’s as she descended from the bus as well. They exchanged surprised glances, a mix of astonishment and amusement flickering in their eyes.
“You live around here too?” Kan asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Ellie chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Yeah, it seems like fate really wants our paths to cross.”
Kan grinned, a sense of excitement bubbling within him. “Well, I guess we’re neighbors then.”
As they walked side by side, their houses came into view, situated just a short distance apart. The realization that they were practically living next to each other brought a sense of serendipity to the moment.
“This is my place,” Kan said, gesturing to the house on his left.
Ellie nodded, a playful glint in her eyes. “And this is mine,” she replied, indicating the house on her right.
They reached the point where their paths diverged, and both Kan and Ellie came to a stop. There was a brief pause, a shared moment of connection that spoke volumes despite the few words exchanged.
“Well, I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other then,” Kan said with a grin.
Ellie’s smile mirrored his own. “Yeah, it looks that way.”
With a final wave, they parted ways, each heading into their respective houses.
[Hehehe..the universe sure is a big fan of you. If I wasn’t wiser, I’d say it was just luck but holy shit, are things coming together!] Hela said with excitement.
