(Not) A Vanilla Levelling System

17

"Did you hear me?"

"Ah, yes? What's wrong?" I stammered. It's bad. This is the third time Susan has said that, I hope she's not getting fed up.

"I said, the food is good, right?"

I scooped up the pasta that I'd been eating for a while, put it in my mouth, and chewed. This was even worse than my cooking when I was sleepy.

I took a quick glance at the tender's table, just to see what kind of chef was behind the kitchen, and... it was pretty ordinary.

A smiling, 30-something man who seemed to be known to most of the bar patrons. Well, one valuable lesson there, familiarity can distort the performance of the senses.

"Yeah... that's it," I said, in the end. I looked at Susan's still beaming face, like she wished I had said something more. Something like what? Okay. It all started because of my (forced) involvement with those pesky thugs, but it wasn't an experience I wanted to remember, let alone retell proudly.

Susan seemed to realise that. She leaned back, sighed, and picked up her mobile phone. Looking bored.

You fool, Harry.

The most beautiful woman is in front of you and you're wondering if your traumatising experience is worth sharing or not? "So how was your day?"

Susan looked up, snorted briefly, and shrugged. "Your day seems more pleasant? You got into some trouble, right?"

I shook my head quickly. "Well, not a big deal to worry about."

"Liar," Susan said, chuckling at her own words. "If this was the first time we talked, maybe I'd believe you. Your expressions are really priceless. So you're used to this kind of wordplay, huh?"

What? "I.. don't understand what you mean."

"Silas and you aren't friends," she said which made me immediately stiffen.

Of course he would know. Eventually, the carcass would smell and it was only a matter of time. That's why I hate lying and do it when I have to, and it's certainly not the best way to start a relationship. "I can explain,"

"No need. I understand. You two are in a complicated position and it would be hard to explain it to an outsider, especially a girl like me, right?"

For some reason, the question just now sounded rhetorical and sarcastic, so I chose to change the topic. "So, you're still in contact with Silas?"

"Still?" Susan chuckled, again. "Of course, and always will be."

"Huh?"

"Well, even if you were really his friend, you wouldn't know. He's pretty private about it." Susan took a quick sip of her juice. "It's an old story that he won't admit to. Before he took that silly name, his name was Josh. Joshua Becker. He's my older brother."

If I had been chewing, I would have choked. "You're joking," I said, unbelievably. "Wait, we're really talking about the same person, right?"

Susan reached into her bag, took out a mobile phone, pressed it, before finally showing me the screen. It displayed a photo of a young man who looked familiar.

His hair was not as brown as it was now and his face was not yet pierced, but that sharp gaze and hungry smile... there was no mistaking it. "What happened?" I think this picture was taken not long ago. Maybe two or three years ago. How someone changes that quickly is sometimes very surprising.

"A lot of things. My dad got laid off, my mum got hit a lot, and Josh (or Silas, whoever you want to call him) moved out."

That was... quite a heavy story to tell in such a casual conversation. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay," Susan said, strangely with the same expression. "It's something that can't be avoided anyway."

Noticing my downcast face and the look that seemed to have turned grim, Susan punched me lightly on the shoulder. "Don't put on that gloomy face, you're making the atmosphere unpleasant, you know. Besides, I didn't come here to discuss the past."

I sighed and followed her train of thought. "Allright, but are you really okay?"

Susan smiled, again. "Actually, no. There's something that's been bothering me and I think you could help me, would you?"

"I guess...," I said, half hesitantly. 

Susan widened her eyes, raised her eyebrows, and moved her body forward again. She seemed more enthusiastic. "So, when are you planning to kill my brother again?"