Chapter 25: 23 Not A Dream Part 2
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Karl Wu's POV
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The midday sun poured through the restaurant's windows as the lunch crowd started to trickle in. People walked in with their usual chit-chat and laughter, filling the place with a lively buzz.
But something didn't add up today, and even though I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, I couldn't help but notice it.
There was the elderly couple in the corner booth, their eyes sparkling as they chatted, a hint of nostalgia in their smiles. A group of students near the window laughed and teased each other, the energy of youth palpable in their animated gestures.
In another corner, a businessman sat alone, his furrowed brow and constant glances at his watch suggesting he was on a tight schedule.
People were like an open book - not that I had opened one recently, no - and I could usually tell what kind of day they were having with just a quick look.
I'd never admit it, but I'm kinda good at picking up on people's vibes. Call it a gut feeling or intuition, but I reckon it's one of my many hidden talents!
See, I'm just kinda nosy when it comes to people – like, how they look, how they move, what they blabber 'bout. It's just something I do, I guess.
Nuel used to tease me about it, saying I should be a shrink or something. But I couldn't help it, it's like a sixth sense I got.
And today, that sense was tingling like crazy.
The customers today coming in looking...off. They wore these fake smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes, and their laughter seemed forced, like they were trying too hard to have a good time, I think?
Yes, yes, it must be so.
It was like watching a bunch of actors playing happy families.
Normally, I wouldn't pay it much mind, but it felt like there was a dark cloud hanging over the place, something that didn't belong.
And that's when I glanced at Nuel, sitting there staring into space, I knew that whatever was bugging the customers, it must be him.
Today, it was like someone had flipped a switch. He was sitting there, lost in thought, a million miles away from the chattering customers and clinking cutlery. It didn't take a genius to realize that something was eating at him.
He was usually the one cracking jokes, but today he looked like a zombie, lost in thought.
That wasn't like him at all.
I scratched my head, trying to figure out what was eating him. Nuel was a tough nut to crack, and I wasn't great with feelings stuff.
I couldn't just ask him straight up, could I? Nah, that'd be too weird.
Shuffling over to the kitchen where Boss Hiroshi was, I tried to keep it casual. "Hey, boss, you notice something off 'bout Emmanuel today kah?"
Boss Hiroshi, a big guy with a grizzled chin, glanced over at Nuel for a sec before tending to some bubbling pots on the stove.
"Kirihara-kun? You mean how he's staring into space like he's watching paint dry?"
I nodded. "Yeah, that. He's been doing that since morning. Any idea what's up with him?"
Boss Hiroshi kept silent for a second or two, as he continued stirring whatever was in the pot like it owed him money.
"...don't know, didn't ask. Well, my morning was rough too. My daughter got a fever this morning, and we just got back from that clinic round the corner there, luckily it opened early today-."
"Aww, sorry to hear that-lah, boss...but what 'bout Emmanuel? He not say anything meh?" Karl asked again, aware that his boss loved talking off-tangents.
Boss Hiroshi shrugged. "I asked, but he just brushed it off, said it ain't nothing. Maybe he's just having a bad day. We all do once in a while."
I wasn't convinced at all, but I didn't wanna push it too hard, you know? Nuel could be kinda secretive sometimes, and if he said it's all good, maybe it really was.
But still, something felt off, like a puzzle piece that just didn't fit.
It was like Nuel had a big, blinking neon sign over his head saying, "I'm not okay," but he wasn't saying a word.
I mean, just look at him right now. He's over there at the cash register counter, handing change to the customer like a robot.
I've seen Nuel handle cash a million times, and he's usually super smooth with it.
But today? His brain is really on vacation mode, it's like he's giving away money for free. I almost want to tell him, "Hey, bro, you're not running charity here one!"
I shook my head, wondering what could've happened to him this morning.
Maybe he had a bad dream or something. Or maybe he ate some funky leftovers. I mean, I've had some weird dreams myself after eating spicy ramen.
Whatever it was, I hoped it would pass soon. Nuel was a good guy, and it kinda sucked to see him like this.
But for now, I should just keep an eye on him, like a clueless but well-meaning guardian angel, and hope that whatever was bothering him would blow over.
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Emmanuel Kirihara's POV
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Nuel looked at his friend sneaking around him the entire time.
A ridiculing frown - his signature expression of the day - flashed in his face once again.
「 He's being an idiot again... 」
He pulled out his phone from under the countertop drawer and stole a glance at its dead screen for the umpteenth time.
*Sigh*
「 I should really send it to repair...send it to repair then, then... 」
"...Excuse me, I want to pay for my table?"
Nuel snapped back to the present.
"Ah, yes? Yes. Yes, sir. You have the table number card with you? Ah, number eight? Okay, okay. Card or cash, sir?" Nuel asked in his usual polite but somewhat distracted tone.
"Use this card..."
"Yes, okay, and~ ...here's your card back. Thank you for dining with us, have a nice day, sir."
He completed the entire transaction automatically as he returned to his internal thoughts again.
As he sat behind the cash register counter, Nuel couldn't help but feel a gaze on him - it was Karl's.
The buff guy was obviously concerned about his quiescence today, but instead of talking, he only sneaked some glances over and showed an empathetic expression on his face.
「 Really, this guy...should I tell him? 」
...
Late in the afternoon, when the restaurant was slowly winding down from the lunchtime rush, Nuel peeled his grey work apron and neatly hung it by the coat stand in the corner, a routine he had perfected over time.
His movements were very much habitual, much like his usual demeanor, minus the listless expression he had worn since morning.
With a slight clinical curve to his lips, he entered the kitchen behind and approached the Boss Hiroshi, who was currently plating a spaghetti dish.
With one serving inside of a soup ladle, the stout-bodied chef twirled it gently as to get the perfect twist. Then, he laid it tenderly onto the plate.
「 Damn, that looks good- 」
"Kirihara-kun? What is it?"
With a seemingly casual and calm composure, Nuel replied, "Uhm, Boss Hiroshi, I want to take my leave early today. I'm sending my broken phone to repair."
Boss Hiroshi, who had the perpetual air of seriousness about him, furrowed his brows but didn't protest. "Alright, but don't make it a habit. We can't afford to lose hands during peak hours."
Nuel nodded, understanding the unspoken agreement. "Thanks, Boss. I'll make it up in the coming shifts."
He took his leave from the restaurant, feeling the gaze of his friend, Karl, lingering on him.
「 ... 」
Karl had been giving him curious glances all day, a telltale sign that he wanted to ask something.
However, Nuel couldn't afford to entertain questions or discussions at the moment.
His mind was already preoccupied with the bizarre morning he had experienced.
「 ...I can walk in there... 」
Outside, Nuel wheeled himself listlessly to a nearby taxi stand.
His very-dead phone rolled around in his right hand as his left hand flailed towards the road as he tried to flag down a taxi.
「 ...-calypse...apocalypse...2024... 」
The cryptic messages, the fleeting runes, and the near-obscure memories of Thacon City, were a stark contrast to the vividness and clarity he had experienced in that dream-like world.
Nuel let out a small chuckle.
「 ..my IRL Intelligence point must be really low compared to my Esper character... 」
Finally, a taxi pulled up. A thick-bearded man of South Indian-descent came out of the red-white vehicle and helped him climbed into the passenger seat.
The wheelchair was then folded and placed inside the taxi's boot.
"Good afternoon, sir. Where to?"
"Sim Lim Square, Rochor Canal Road, please."
"Very hot today, sir, no?"
"...I guess?"
"...Okay, sir Sim Lim Square, ah? Around ten minutes trip..."
"..."
The Singaporean downtown city streets passed by in a blur, mirroring the Nuel's dazed expression at the moment.
「 ...remember runes...clarity...clarity... 」
A familiar image gradually reappeared in his mind.
「 ? 」
It was the runic glyph with a central eye-like symbol, with swirling lines radiating outward, like a submerged fountain, spouting wate-
「 Ru-Rune of Clarity?!! 」
A sudden sense of lucidity suddenly rained over him, the rune image in his mind had actually lit up!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone