Chapter 200 - [Bonus ] Ma-IX Corner Bus Stop (2)

"It's really just a joke. I appreciate the offer of you accompanying me till the next bus stop but I've already texted someone to pick me here. She will be here soon," Kristelle stated after Joey started to walk ahead of her. She waved both of her hands and gesture to him that he was free to go.

Despite having the street lights along the road, the side of the road was still dim. It was because the light bulb was covered by a big leaf from a tree. Their two figures stood in the coldness of the night. Both of them had their arms crossed on their chest.

"If someone will pick you here, that will spare some of my energy. Then, I'll wait for your company to pick you here," Joey said and sat on the sidewalk gutter as if it was made for him to sit there.

Seeing this attitude, she could not help but stare at him for a long time. "You don't need to wait here," she debated..

"Of course, I don't need to. But, since you know Sofia, if she finds out that I left you here alone, she might kick me out of our group," Joey reasoned thinking of the possibility. But at the back of his mind, it was unlikely to happen. It's just that, he could not think of any alibi at that time.

"Sofia? I don't think she would do that just because of a nonsense reason. Could it be that you are looking down on her character for you to easily draw that kind of assumption?" Kristelle interrogated.

"I have no reason to look down on Sofia. She is our squad leader. And I know that she is capable more than anyone else," Joey said in a serious tone.

Kristelle followed his gesture of sitting on the sidewalk and sat few inches away from him, not minding the dust on the ground. She then looked at the man from head to foot.

"Why are you staring at me like I'm sort of a creep?" Joey asked in a conflicted expression. "Don't make some fake issues like I look down on Sofia. If others would hear you, who knows what would be the consequences of it for my future!"

"Hmmn, I'm just thinking... what will happen if your fans see you sitting on the ground? Don't you have an image that needs to maintain?" Kristelle replied.

"What image? Even if I'm sitting here, my face is the same. Besides, I don't think the other gamers who follow the Chronos squad really care about where we sit. This is a public place."

"Ohh, yeah... what if someone would take a picture of you right now and post it on social media with negative captions?" Kristelle queried while giving him a challenging look. She actually assumed that the members of the Chronos squad were all from a wealthy families. But Joey's action was not how rich kids normally act. She did not expect him to seat easily on the ground.

"Heh! If there is someone who would do that, the caption would be about you. It's definitely not about me sitting here," Joey smirked but he quickly adjusted his expression after he remembered that the girl was capable of punching him.

"Whatever. I have no public image that I need to maintain," Kristelle shrugged. Then, she also remembered the incident of Joey's ex-girlfriend on the bus. "It's better if you just leave me here."

Joey just shook his head and took his phone from his pocket. His fingers scrolled the unread messages for a few minutes before he looked up at the girl beside him.

"You know... as far as I could remember, there was a reported massacre on the Ninth Mansion Corner. It was said that nine people were killed. They were burned alive and as a symbol of their death, the place is called the ninth mansion? Joey suddenly spoke. The incident was not emphasized by the press as the authorities kept it was confidential. So, only a few citizens of the district were aware of such a horrific event.

"Yeah, that rumor is true. But, it does not mean that it's the place of criminals," Kristelle replied. She was aware of the conflict that happened behind the massacre but she had vowed not to talk it to anyone.

"Really? As far as I know, the people responsible for the massacre were never put in prison. The police were even too afraid to get involved with the suspects," Joey pressed farther as if he dedicated himself to digging some of the dark issues of their district in the past.

"Well, that's a different story. But, the ninth mansion corner is not the kind of place. It was only the public opinion,  had really inflicted fear to one another," Kristelle stated.

"Are you saying that the Ninth Mansion Corner is not dangerous? Even the elder conductor of the last bus that we took knew that the place was dangerous, and you will object his view of your place in general?" Joey inquired. Few people came to pass at them and looked weirded by their actions.

"Are you kids going to imitate some of the TV dramas? Do not stay on this side. You might get hit and run," one of the concerned civilians called them before she left.

Kristelle only looked at the retreating figure of the woman's back. 

"You do agree with me that dangerous people live in that place?" Joey started.

"Huh? There is always danger everywhere. But for the people who were born in a silver spoon, they were oblivious to that dangers," Kristelle said while looking at the stars in the sky.

"I'm not born in a silver spoon. I'm just asking about the place where you are going if it is dangerous," Joey defended. It was too obvious to him that Kristelle was inferring that he was born rich. However, his family was actually regular workers. His father was the coach of a basketball team. So, he came from the middle class.

"All places are dangerous. Even here right where I sat or where you are sitting, anything could happen," Kristelle plainly said and looked away.

"I got your point," Joey bitterly reply.

After their brief conversation, another awkward silence loomed around them. Joey took a stick and started scribbling on the ground. Kristelle was constantly checking her phone to see if the person she asked to pick her was already near.

A sedan with almost a fade paint stooped on the side of Kristelle. "What take you so long?" she asked after the driver rolled down the window of the car.

"I was about to go out. You are lucky, I have not yet gone to work when you sent a message at me," the driver replied. Then, she detected that Kristelle had a companion. She immediately asked, "Who is he?" 

"That's Joey. Remember the champion squad during the last tournament? He was the fighter and support user on that group," Kristelle introduced.

Joey stood straight and looked at the driver of the car. It was a woman that seemed to be in her mid-twenties. When they made eye contact, the woman waved her hand as a gesture of hello to him. Joey reciprocated and smiled at her.

"Joey, this is Hanna. She is my colleague," Kristelle stated before pulling the door handle for her to get inside the car.

"Hello, Joey! I did watch the tournament last time. You guys are all great. But, I was paying more attention to the tank user at that time. Kristelle told me that she is her classmate," Hanna stated in a friendly tone.

"Yes. She is also our squad leader," Joey responded.

Kristelle had comfortably sat on the passenger seat and waved at Joey. "Thanks for accompanying me," she said.

"Welcome! Bye guys! Drive safe," Joey casually responded.

"Bye, Joey! " Hanna also chirped before they close the car window and drove off.

"What are you doing in this area?" Hanna asked curiously.

"It's a weird reason. The bus driver did not want to stop at Ma-IX Corner because apparently, they believe that the place was a den of criminals!" Kristelle replied. She closed her eyes and finally felt that she could sleep at any minute.

"Den of criminals? But, it's just only us in the mansion.  They are weird for thinking that we are criminals!" Hanna returned.

"Nevermind it," Kristelle shrugged and her eyelids had really closed tight.

"Oh, no way! I will never allow you to sleep with this kind of occasion. I am not your driver here, You better stay awake!" Hannah scolded after seeing that Kristelle was really about to sleep.

"Nah, just wake me up after that is done. I'm lucky there is no class today," Kristelle said, and then she completely doze off.

Hanna poked her free arm at her shoulder.

"You better not sleep, Kristelle. Or, you will pay me, for picking you and driving you around!" Hanna directed.

"Since when did you become so sensitive of me sleeping while you are driving?" Kristelle pouted. She shook her head to maintain awake.

"I'll go to my work place first. Then, you can drive the car to go home," Hanna stated. She made a left turn and when she glance at her passenger, Kristelle was completely asleep. "So much for staying asleep."