Irregularity

Unusual Irregularity Breaks

It’s been a few days since my tutoring sessions with Ceri started. The first day was an exception since Mr. Lucius threw a celebration. The day after that was when the real tutoring session started. At first, Ceri was all shy and wouldn’t talk to me nor come near me. Considering the nature of what I came to their place to do, it made things a bit difficult for me.

But after I asked her about the problem the next day, she didn’t explain and returned to how she was when I first met her. Maybe she was still trying to get used to the sudden change. I was told by their butler, Steppen, that this is the first time someone was asked to be her tutor. So I can understand her to a certain extent.

The tutoring session was a good chance for me to review what I learned and started to enjoy myself. I used to tutor Ivan whenever he got in trouble with his grades, so tutoring another one is but a simple task for me now.

While thinking about that, a voice came from behind me and grabbed my shoulder.

“That’s strange, it’s a rare sight to see Ren distracted first thing in the morning.”

It was Ivan, my best friend. I nearly forgot that we always see each other on the way to school.

“You good? You’re not sick, are you?” said Ivan.

“Come on. I’m as fit as a fiddle.” I replied, trying to get his hand off my shoulder.

When I did that, he changed his approach and put his arm on top of my shoulder instead. And as if to declare his victory, he flashed me a grin. I gave up on the prospect of reasoning with him and just let him do what he wants, for now.

“I thought something was up after seeing you distracted like that. But after seeing your usual self just now, I think you’re fine,” said Ivan.

“I just told you I’m fine though. Well, there are things that’s bothering me. But it would even be bothersome if I were to tell you so I’ll refrain from doing so. I’ll let your imagination go rampant,” I told him.

After telling him that, he clenched my shoulder tightly.

“What the? Come on! You can’t say something like that and leave me hanging! That’s cheating!” said Ivan, trying to get something out of me.

Fortunately enough, I learned from my mistakes from the past. I did not want to be bothered by him. Knowing his personality, it’s best to keep things from him. This is enough. I can’t imagine what things he will say and do if I ever told him something about what’s going on in my head.

 “Well, if you don’t tell me then I guess that’s understandable,” said Ivan, finally calming down after yanking me back and forth trying to get something out of me, “I can’t always force you to tell me things all the time, you know?”

Wow, this is a rare sight. He’s strangely understanding for the very first time. This requires a celebration. I should poke him a bit just to make sure.

“There are things that are best kept hidden from others, even your friends. I think you should know that well. If you continue to act like this, maybe I can tell you about it anytime these days,” I told him.

He immediately clenched my shoulder as hard as he could. When I turned to look in his direction, I saw the pained look on his face. It surprised me.

“What the hell is with that face? Stop that Ivan, you look pretty ugly!” I told him.

“Hey can you blame me?! I can’t act like this all the time! Screw that, I’m interested now so tell me now! Tell me!”

And there goes my good impression of him. Ivan really is Ivan to the very end. That part of him might never change, but still, he is a good friend of mine.

“Come on, pick up the pace. We’ll be late for class,” I told him as I ran towards our school.

Ivan caught up to me in no time by using his power. He used his rollerblades and adjusted his speed to match mine while continually trying to get me to spit out what I had in mind. Unfortunately for him, I haven’t decided to tell him, not yet.

We continued to do that until we reached our school. And Ivan is forced to stop using his power before the teachers standing in front of the gates notice him.

I was able to get in my classroom safely after Ivan was stopped by the teachers at the gates for wearing his rollerblades to school. Something that he was always stopped at the gates for. He doesn’t learn his lesson.

While trying to relax, I saw his face sticking to the glass plane of our window like a creep staring at me.

“You better tell me about it later, Ren. You know I’ll pester you if you don’t,” said Ivan.

There’s no way I’ll tell you about it if you declare something like that.

Shortly after, he left when his own teacher pinched his ears and dragged him to class.

Finally, peace. Or so I thought until some of my classmates started talking about the increase of Irregularity Breaks happening all around the city. It is something that should be every citizen’s concern. That’s normal for everyone to worry since a single Irregularity Break can easily decimate the city if left alone. But the increase in Irregularity Breaks all around the city causes great worry.

It is a matter of whether or not the Exterminators are able to take care of all of the Irregularity Breaks. Although they have powers at their disposal, they are still humans just like the us. They are bound to feel tired and fatigued which brings in so many concerns for the people who will be affected by the rampaging Irregularity.

“They’re all over the news recently.”

“What in the world is happening? This is the first time large numbers of Irregularity Breaks occur in just a span of days, it's dangerous!”

“I know, right? The number of Irregularity Breaks is unusually high these past few days. I wonder how the Exterminators will be able to take care of them all,”

“Right now, the Exterminators are still able to contain the Irregularity Breaks, but what if the numbers rise? What will people like us do?”

“If that ever happens then we can kiss our normal lives goodbye. Who knows, maybe someday soon, even our school will have an Irregularity Break.”

“Hey, don’t say stuff like that!”

“Right! Don’t jinx it!”

Just listening to their concerns worries me. After all, they are not the only one that’s going to be affected if that ever happens. We, the poor people in this city will be devastated.

My day carried on normally with the constant buzz of the unusual Irregularity Breaks wherever I go. Even in my part-time job, it was the prominent subject of our customers. Despite the tiresome and busy shift, I was able to calm myself through listening to our customers' discussions about the strange situation. Because of that, I was able to understand other people’s thoughts on the matter.

“Here, take this. Today’s leftovers is not much but I guess it’s better than nothing, right?” 

Mr. Kim handed me a plastic bag of leftovers as usual. It weighs lighter compared to the ones I received in the past, even so, I’m still grateful that he still gave me some to bring home.

“Go straight home, okay? Things are getting weirder and weirder these days. You don’t want to encounter those things especially at night,” said Mr. Kim.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Kim. I will. Please take care of yourself too. You’re living by yourself, after all. If you ever get in trouble or need any help, please don’t hesitate to call my parents!”

I waved my hand goodbye and immediately went home to share the leftovers with my parents. And after that was done, I prepared myself to head back to Ceri for the tutoring session.

I prepared everything that I deemed necessary for the tutoring sessions tonight. I also prepared a surprise test to check how much she had progressed in her studies. Ceri is a fast learner. Maybe it’s because she used to go to a prestigious school in the past, where there are exceptional students who are trying to compete with each other. So a surprise test like this should be nothing to her, I hope.

I hope I'm wrong. The moment I surprised her with the surprise test, she immediately refused to take the test. Saying that she wasn’t ready even after letting her peak at the questions that I have written on the test.

“Come on. These questions are within the lessons you’re currently taking.” I told her.

“No way. How can there be a test in a tutoring session? This is the first time I’ve heard of this!” said Ceri, adamantly refusing to take the test.

Now this is a problem. Shouldn’t tutors try to see the results of their hard work by giving tests? I mean, that’s how teachers do to help them understand their students more, right?

I’m in a bind. I did not expect her to be adamant about not taking the test. Does she hate tests so much?

While wondering what will make her take the test, I noticed that she would occasionally steal glances at me. When our eyes met, she immediately averted her gaze, pushing out her lips.

“Hey, Ceri. Did I perhaps do something you didn’t like? You know you can tell me about it, right?” I told her.

If she continues like this, I will not be able to see her progress. And for that, I need to know what I can do to make her take the test. 

“I don’t know. Go figure that one out yourself,” said Ceri.

 This is troublesome. She’s even more of a trouble compared to Ivan who’ll take my tutoring sessions seriously despite his lack of interest in his studies. I don’t really understand her at all. Since it’s come to this, I have no other choice.

“Fine. I will give you 10 minutes to review our lessons. I gave you the notes, remember? I will give you time,” I told her.

“What? I said I’m not taking the test whether or not you gave me time to study,” said Ceri, still adamant on not taking the test.

I gave her a frustrated look and cleared my throat. I know this may not be enough to entice her to take the test but I will still take my chances. 

“If you take this test, I will listen to one of your request as long as it’s within the scope of my abilities,”

The moment I spoke those words, I could feel her gaze digging right into my skin as if she’s trying to bore a hole in my body. To give her insurance, I handed her an ‘Anything-you-request ticket’ which she immediately took from my hands like a hawk.

“.......”

“Anything I want, huh? Are you sure about this?” she asked.

I nodded my head in response, but I was not through yet.

“Of course, but you need to make sure that you passed my test first. Otherwise that ticket will be void.”I told her.

Her expression immediately turned sour right in front of my eyes. I mean, that should be obvious, right? In order to get something, she needs to pass my test first.

“How sly. Saying that after I took the ticket,” said Ceri, while pouting.

“Hey now, it should have been obvious that you need to pass, right? And besides, I’m even giving you the time to review. That’s already a huge handicap for me,” 

She looked at me seriously for the first time tonight and let out a sigh. 

“Fine. But don’t regret it later,” said Ceri.

Ceri immediately opened the notes I gave her but before she could start her review, she gave me a sharp glance, as if telling me to get out for a while.

“What?” I asked,

“Can you please get out for now? I want to focus,” said Ceri.

‘Say what? Focus? What does it have to do with me? Am I a distraction?’

 I want to utter those words. But since this is a chance to make her take the test, I complied with her demand and stepped out of her room. 

Now that I’m outside, the lobby outside her room is silent. It’s like we are the only ones on this floor. Strangely enough, the silence gave me a sense of relief. 

As I was drowning myself in the serenity of the atmosphere, I heard sets of footsteps coming from the stairs that connected all the other floors. It was so silent that their footsteps were ringing in my eyes loudly. And aside from that, their voices were crystal clear.

“This is troublesome. This unusual Irregularity Breaks is so much of a pain!”

“Lower your voice. What if the others hear you?”

“So what? Even they can figure that out themselves!”

It was two people, and it seems like they are using the stairs to climb up to the higher floors. There was no need for me to hide since the door to Ceri’s room is concealed behind a large pillar. I can barely see them and they can barely see me. So in the end, I just listened to them to learn their thoughts about the current situation.

“Everyone knows that. This is why this investigation is vital to figuring out the reason for the unusual Irregularity Breaks.”

“I’m not sure about that, are you even certain that vial or drug or whatever has any connection to the current situation?”

“Are you an idiot? Can’t you see that these vials are always present in every Irregularity Break that our company has handled?”

‘Huh? Vial? Drugs? What are they talking about?’

I want to stop them and ask them about that subject but knowing that I eavesdrop on their conversation might spell trouble for me. So I stopped as they finally ascended to the next floor. And not long after, Ceri called me out. The 10 minutes was up and she was ready to take the test. 

Ceri surprisingly did well on my surprise test, well it’s not a surprise test anymore since I allowed her to review her notes. But still, she managed to pass and that’s enough for me. 

Ceri told me the possible things that she wanted me to do. While we’re talking, I remembered what I heard earlier. It clouded my mind as I tried to process everything I’ve heard. 

“If it’s a drug, it must be distributed in secret, right?” I said to myself.

It was then that it hit me. ‘In secret’ were the words that made me realize that I may have a lead. After all, I saw something strange, albeit unintentional. I saw Ivan talking to someone in the dead of the night almost a week ago.