Zodiac Circle

Chapter 28: Magister's Confession

"Good job! Now amplify the energy!" Johan told Tamie who was in a meditative pose.

"Ugh, it's hard!"

"Now, now, who said she was going to finish it in a blast?"

Tamie pouted and continued meditating. Soon, a white light flickered around her body. Johan widened eyes:

"There! It's there! Haha!"

"Huh? Really?" the girl reopened eyes and looked at her body - she had released White Zen. "Goodness! I did it!"

"Well, it's still weak, but for the basics_" 

"I did it!" she cut his speech and dashed at him, shaking him so that he almost got dizzy. "Now then, it's time for a break for Tamie the Great!"

"Wait, we didn't_" but before Johan could finish his speech, the girl was already gone. He sighed and swung his hand: "Ugh, she indeed grows fast... Already runs at the wind speed..."

Tamie entered the mansion and dashed at the table of her 'sisters':

"I did it! I unlocked Zen!"

"Huh? That's amazing, sis!" Tiger brightened, "You're so strong now!"

"You bet I am!"

"Hmm... So that Johan turned out a good teacher, huh?" Cherrie beamed.

"No, he's annoying. It's all my talent..." Tamie smirked. The girls laughed at such a half-joke of hers, but Riza was still gloomy. "What is it, Riza? I haven't seen your happy face since Magister got well".

"She's probably upset because he still hasn't called her to a date," Olivia coldly shrugged and sipped her juice.

"Huh?" Riza flushed up, "Nonsense! I'm not upset at all!"

The girls giggled.

"Okay girls, I've finished my training for today!" Tamie grinned, "Let's go to the city! I heard the Cherry Blossom Festival is being held tonight!"

"Hurray!"

"Riza!"

They started and looked aside. All of them cackled quietly while Riza went all red - it was Edmund calling her. He had recovered completely. He wore those new glasses Goatee Bill had made for him, and he looked... so damn good... But she shook off these awkward thoughts, stood up, and walked up to him. Apparently, Edmund didn't want her 'sisters' to hear their talk so he had called her off to another corner. When she approached him, he sighed and cast his eyes down, his cheeks all red just like hers:

"Riza, about back then_"

"It's fine. I'm sorry. I knew it was stupid from my part, Magister," she turned around to hide her tears and leave when the young man's palm clutched her arm from behind. She started and looked back, gazing into his eyes behind his glasses, which were full of shyness and confusion:

"Riza, I... Will you come to the Cherry Blossom Festival tonight with me?"

Her cheeks flushed - he... he was calling her out to a date?!

"Y... You mean..."

Edmund, seeing her blush like him, gained more courage, and bent forward, whispering in her ear:

"I love you too".

Riza first gasped, and then grew red like a tomato. Her face brightened in a broad smile as she looked up at those eyes behind the nerdy glasses. The boy was grinning back at her.

"At six o'clock?" she winked.

"At six," Edmund winked back, and both of them laughed. Riza jumped with joy and cuddled with him. Edmund first widened eyes at her sudden burst of emotions, but then beamed softly and hugged her back. The 'sisters' were meanwhile curiously watching and whispering amongst each other:

"See? They hugged!"

"Ahh!!!" 

They began cackling and clapping. Riza soon returned, with her mind swirling.

"How did it go, sister?" Tiger winked, giggling as in fact they all perfectly knew how it all went.

"G... Good..." Riza muttered, still flying in pink clouds of seventh heaven.

"Hmm... I guess our sis won't be able to come with us to the festival," Rianna grinned, "She's already taken!"

The friends laughed.

"It is fine, let her be. She finally found her prince charming," Tiger chuckled, "We go together!"

"Yeah!"

But Riza didn't really care about her friends' giggles now. All that mattered were Edmund's words - those beautiful, sweet words... 

"I love you too".