The chime for the end of the lessons rang, and since it was a neglected lecture, the students instantly began leaving the classroom, chatting away with each other animatedly.
Minutes passed, and the classroom eventually became still and silent, except for the soft rhythmic ticking of the wall clock.
Nova was the only person who hadn't left.
She ultimately picked her panda illustrated backpack in her hand, and walked outside the classroom. It felt as if time was flying.
At the school entrance, students overflowed, making their way home.
Nova stood beside the gate to avoid the commotion, and immediately after, she began feeling furtive glances casted at her. Considering that it wasn't something new, she simply stared down.
The initiator of the rendezvous was yet to show her face, however, after twenty minutes, she came over strutting.
She wasn't alone, but with two delinquents.
One had dyed his hair red and had tiny silver earrings studded in his ears, and was carrying a skateboard and a can of spray paint.
The other had sunglasses on, disheveled hair, and an untucked shirt.
This wasn't the future Nova had envisioned. If she had known earlier that Orlyssa was going to show up with this entourage, she would have at least begged her to reconsider it. Orlyssa didn't look like someone who would hesitate broaching that matter in the presence of these two.
"Kept you waiting?"
Nova nodded while gazing down, and shouldering the delinquent's intense stares.
These two were Orlyssa's classmates, and she was familiar with their names. The one with the red hair was Blaze, and the other with glasses, Pyro.
For some reason, Nova's body typically cringed when around this sort of people.
Regardless, walking away wasn't an option at the moment.
"Well, let's blow off some steam at Koukouvaya. You're the one footing the bill, Nova."
Nova's mouth slightly opened.
Rather than protesting against this sudden demand, she sighed inwardly in relief. It seemed like Orlyssa wasn't going to broach that matter yet.
Still, visiting the restaurant with them was tough for her. She couldn't help but pray that they found all the seats occupied.
The restaurant Orlyssa mentioned was a fast food joint just near the school, and due to it's cheap meals, high number of students frequented it after school.
It was often crowded that majority who preferred eating while seated lacked places to sit.
The three walked ahead, and Nova followed behind slowly.
The sky was bathed in the setting sun's glow, and the air was quite cool. Dry leaves on the sidewalk were occasionally wilted from the ground, and they danced beautifully as they whistled.
'Autumn, huh?'
Most of the road users were high-school students from various surrounding schools.
Some walked in pairs, whereas others marched alone.
Few moments later, they reached the restaurant, and fortunately for Nova, it was congested.
That was the case, but in the next second, her heart was shuttered.
"Great, the losers from Kokoretsi School over there are almost finished."
Blaze pointed.
This just proved to Nova that the gods were watching instead of helping her.
Blaze whipped out his phone and typed something, then pushed it at Nova.
"We'll be over at the Kokoretsi table."
Blaze had written down his and Pyro's orders.
Nova quickly calculated the cost in her mind, only to find the figures quite depressing.
"Hold on, I'm tryna eat here too."
Orlyssa snatched the phone from Nova, and added her own selection to the order, before returning it.
'What on earth?'
Nova looked away with a bitter smile, wondering whether they were doing it deliberately. This was practically going to deplete her entire day's allowance.
She went over to the counter and placed their orders.
Since it looked awkward to buy food for them and exclude herself, she bought herself a lighter roast coffee.
A lighter roast coffee because she wasn't a fan of bitter things. After all, her conviction was: Food should be enjoyed, not endured.