Project: Socialize (Chapters 1-197)

7. Passing Time

I could barely contain my look of surprise when I checked my phone. Two missions at once? You've gotta be kidding me. How the hell am I supposed to do this? Acquire Mura's contact information and kiss her? Easier said than done. She's my teacher. How the hell do I even do this?

I nervously looked around as I followed behind Mura as we entered the train station nearest to our school. Since it is half an hour after school had ended, there were no students to be found in the station. However, I still remained cautious by trailing behind Mura by a few meters just so if someone were to see us, they would not immediately reason that we're together.

The commute train soon arrived at the platforms and the two of us entered. There's no open seats but all in all, the train car isn't very crowded, probably due to the fact that rush hour is still a few hours away.

"You don't have to stand that far." Mura smiled towards me.

"Ugh...this." 

My gaze shifted around the floor nervously as fear made it impossible for me to make eye contact with her.  However, I felt her hand wrap around my wrist as she pulled me closer to her.

"Much better," she smiled innocently at me, ignoring the fact that my face is a crimson red.

This whole train ride can be described with one word: awkward. Our position in life made it impossible for me to speak freely to her, and I believe the same can be said about her. We're restrained by society. Plus we don't have a single shared interest that I know of that we can base a conversation around. I mean we do share a common acquaintance in Muria, but...I can't imagine myself having a conversation about her with her sister.

Thus, the rest of the train ride is completed under an awkward spell of silence. That is for me at least since there is no way that I can tell what Mura thinks. Even when I peered over at her face, she appeared so calm, almost as if nothing is of the matter to her. 

"We are now arriving at Berjaus Station, Berjaus Station," a female's voice said over the broadcast. "The doors on your left will open. Please be careful and watch your steps."

Berjaus Station, located within the center of the Berjaus district, is one of the major train stations within the metropolis of Palisia. It is famous for its numerous dining spots and is quite popular with Palisians of all ages. This is due to the fact that here, you can find almost all of the world's cuisines, from the local Vilhemian food to even meals from across the oceans. Besides that, this district is also a major shopping hub in Palisia. 

"It's still quite early for dinner," Mura said, checking her phone for the time. "You wanna go some where else for the time being?"

"So we're waiting until dinner?" I took out my phone and began typing a message to Loriana. "Let me inform my aunt first."

"Wow, Alevian," she smiled, "so responsible."

"No." I slipped my phone back into my pocket. "I just don't want to cause her any trouble. So where should we go for the time being?" I decided to change the subject so the conversation can continue on.

Mura looked around, eyeing the different buildings, and while she's doing that, I decided that I'll take a good look around us as well. However, my objective isn't to find something to do. Rather, it is to take in the scenery. Because I don't have any friends that I hang out with, I rarely visit places so Berjaus is still quite new and refreshing to me, although it too is characterized by concrete towers and buildings.

Looking around, my eyes are immediately caught by the big screen jumbotron that hung on the building on the other side of the road. It is at just the right height that it is visible by all and did not required much strain of ones neck to see. It is currently playing a music video by a recent emerging pop artist. In the video, a young girl around my age, dressed in dazzling performance clothes, danced along to the music. Her long, almost orange-blonde hair moving behind her as she did so. For some reason, she looked oddly familiar. I must've seen her somewhere before.