[Trouble] Chapter 11

Since then, Riz, Angela and Damian has been staying in that building. School soon started in January, and Amy brought Riz to a middle school inside the area, while she registered Angela and Damian into a kindergarten located just next to the middle school that Riz are now attending. Riz at first just attended the school as usual, though a bit sulky due to being forced to be willingly stay here, after a month he heard from his new friends that the school he is attending is a private school which are directly under a famous university. It were the same with the kindergarten that Angela and Damian attending.

With his friends guide, Riz walked around the place and the weekends, from building to buildings, and found out that the area is too big for him to finish exploring in the week. In the end, he went to the management building that he coincidentally stumble across during his walk, and by asking the staff at the counter then he understand why this place is composed of such a large area.

At night, Riz recalled what the management staff told him, which make him wonder exactly how rich is this Amy’s family and how can they support such a huge area.

The staff explained that the whole area is a private property owned by Amy, whereas Amy inherited this whole property from her deceased father. It was a fact that inside this property, the university, the high school, middle school and also kindergarten are all located in here, so all the students that was accepted into the school, universities or kindergarten will stay in a dormitory provided by Amy.

All the students studying here are allowed to have an outing on each weekends, which usually they used to go back to their parent home whenever they missed them. Though younger children that aged below 12 will each be assigned a protector to accompany them for their safety. The reason why they all are being protected is because each of this children is all of a brilliant brain, meaning they are a prodigies or a genius.

Despite being allowed to have an outing on every weekends, not many of the students studying there liked to come outside. The main reason is because inside this property, there are a lot of new buildings that was built for the entertainments of these students. So they mostly have fun with their friends there, after all it was safer too.

Since the property is too big, the management staff gave him a map which will help him a lot when he need to go around the place. On the map, Riz can see there were a few places called as district to make it easier for the students to remember, such as the university district, school district, central district, residential district, and entertainment district.

University are located on the west side, school district which consist of high school and middle school are on the north side, entertainment district is on the east side, the residential district which are where the dorms are and the teacher quarters are is located just next to west of the school district, lastly the central district is in the middle of all of those district, where the management building, kindergarten and also Amy personal building is located at. 

The big entrance gate is located on the south side, where the empty area between the gate and the other district is where a big garden are. The garden area actually are not that big before this, but because Amy liked flowers, so she ordered the management to add more.

Since this property is on top of a big hill, the whole surrounding outside of the gate wall are all thick forest, except on the south side which was cleared to make the travel to the big town for outing easier for the students.

With that, conclude the area inside of the property.

.._..

From then on, Riz take his time in exploring all the districts on the map while he earnestly learn at the school properly now because he can see that Angela and Damian has become accustomed to the kindergarten there and it seem like they don’t mind living there.

Riz want to make sure that Angela and Damian have a good education and the environment there are good, plus the teachers are patient despite all the trouble that Angela tend to make. For them, Riz stopped resisting and living there fully.

He is also getting used to Amy stalker behaviour, where she soon stopped when Riz spend some time with her in her office. She usually make him accompany her eating some snack there, or watching some movies, or also sometime asked Riz to help her arrange some of the documents into some file.

He really wonder what exactly that make her like him so much, he thought that but then again as long as she does not harm him or became weirder than this, it is fine for him.

It is now almost six month since he is living there, where there is a midterm exam as usual. Something was a bit different when children age 11 was asked to take an aptitude test, where they need to put their hand on a white globe, and different colour will show up for different people.

“What us that test for?” Riz asked one of his classmate when they finish that aptitude test. His previous school does not have that from what he heard from his seniors before.

“Ah, it’s a test to see what magic element you were born with.” His classmate told him and added, “Next year we will be learning about magic and also potion making.”

“Magic? Magic exist in this world?” Riz blinked twice, “I thought that it was just a wild fantasy of something… So it was real?”

“Mhm, other people will not be able to know about magic, since it’s a big secret” His friend said with a smile, “Only us students will know and we can’t use it openly either.”

“Ah why?” 

“Hmn, we don’t really know the exact reason… But mostly to avoid being called as monster by other public people… and also to prevent our students from bullying or accidentally killing public people.” As he said that, everyone nods with a face saying ‘that is reasonable’ since a person able to use magic are much stronger than an ordinary person.

“Anyway, what element you were?” They then started to discuss about this in a hustle and they wondered if it is hard to use magic.

As they were discussing, they asked Riz, Riz shook his head because he don’t know what element his magic were. The crystal become transparent when it was his turn instead of showing any colour.

“Ah, from this book, red is fire, blue is water, green is wind, yellow is wood, brown is earth, white is light, black is darkness” A nerd classmate of him said and show the book to everyone, “Wonder why yours is transparent…”

“Ah so I’m fire!” 

“Mine is just water?” 

“Yay! I got light!” 

“What?? Darkness?!” 

Many different chatter was sounded after they saw the book, some was happy and some was just fifty fifty.

With that, the teacher then allowed all the students to dismiss, since that aptitude test was the last test, so they all were now given a month midyear break from school. More than half of the student living in the dormitory choose to return to their parent homes, this is especially true for those who came from a far place.

Because the school yearly fees are high, each time the students are going home, Amy provided buses to send them to each area, so these students does not need to trouble their selves from the need to ride public transport. So with that they will not take too long of a time to arrive to their homes.

The rest that stayed either helped around by doing miscellaneous task to earn pocket money for their entertainment as there are also students that does not come from a rich family. Despite that, those task were usually one suitable and easy to do for them due to the good relationship between the place and the town people.

Nevertheless, the few that Riz’s classmate that are staying instead of going home dragged Riz to the cinema in the entertainment district to watch a movie that they have been waiting. Other than that they also planned to go play at the arcade, playing at the wet world which is a medium sized water theme park and so on.

Angela and Damian stayed with Amy today since they know that Riz is out playing with his classmate until night, though Angela pouted for being left behind like this. 

“Mou… Big brother is playing too much” Angela said with a huff, as she noms her food, the three of them are currently eating dinner with a television drama playing on the tv as they ate. Damian didn’t pay her any attention as he was quite absorbed in watching that drama.

Amy chuckled and shook her shoulder as she thought that Riz is growing well now, eventhough it was just only six month since they stayed here, he seemed to already be able to adapt here well, so him went playing with his classmate is something good. 

Why she thought so? It is because from what she read in a report of his behaviour before this, the report stated that Riz never went out of his house, only staying with Angela and Damian. Furthermore, he has a lot of friends, but has never socialize outside of school time.

-To Be Continue-

[Trouble] Chapter 10 - Follow that lady

The birds twitted on a tree branch just outside of the inn gate, the sun has just risen. It is still early in the morning but Riz already woke up. He go and get ready, taking bath, wearing casual cloth and comb his hair. When he is done, he took out their bag from the closet, he fold the clothes one by one and put into the bag. He only leave a pair of the clothes each for Angela and Damian.

He plan to return today back to their hometown, since it is just a week before school start, so he need to make preparation for school too. He already told Lina and her parents about this, he told them that he will be leaving after eating lunch at the inn. He also would like to say his goodbye to grandma Meng too before leaving.

.._..

Amy took a morning stroll around the inn as usual, but she is walking by herself instead of with her friend. She frowned a bit as she wonder how to persuade that boy to stay with her. She then came to the dining hall to eat her breakfast, and coincidentally met him there.

Riz looked up when someone sat opposite of him on the same table. Angela and Damian are eating slowly, as they too look at the person. Angela pouted a bit and she look away as she nom nom on her foods more.

Amy smiled when Riz look up, then she look at Angela and Damian. She raised her eyebrow when Angela pouted, she wonder if it was because of her or if it is because she don’t like the food she is eating. “Good morning. Am I bothering?” She ask them anyway.

Damian shook his head, while Angela glanced at Amy and ignore her. Riz look back at his food, “No, but there is a lot of other available table you can sit at.”

“Ah, well, I don’t like to eat alone. My friend are not here today.” She said and smile, after she ordered for some food for herself. “Say, are you running away from me?” She asked out of blue as she then stare at Riz.

“It is because you are a weird aunty! So I don’t want to stay with you!” Riz said with frown.

“I’m not weird. I’m a normal person.” She said while crossed her arm.

“You are weird, you wear like before and sneaking around..! Its scary!” Riz said as he can feel his hair on his arm stand straight. He pull down his sleeve more to reduce that feeling. At first he just ignore when he saw her sneaking around, because he assumed that she was just using the same road as him. It was not until Angela told him that she saw her a lot before this too.

Plus with that incident, Riz then felt that this woman is weird and felt worried of his safety, which is why when she approached him for the first time, Riz felt the instinct to run away first, because it seems like she aimed him.

She startled, she did not expect that a kid like Riz to notice her watching him, “Hey! I’m not sneaking around, I was just having a stroll around that town at that time.” Even though she still said with smile, it was an awkward smile.

“Anyway I don’t believe that you have my custody.” Riz added as he look at her, even though he said so, he know that it was true because Mr Niel already called him last week, he simply forgot to inform him earlier as he did not know that she would find Riz that soon.

“If you do not believe, come with me today, and I’ll show you that I did have it.” Amy smiled, “You can call Mr Niel to accompany you.”

“…” Riz glanced at her more, then he go call Mr Niel, he asked if Mr Niel is free today, he really wanted to meet with him again, because he was unsatisfied. Luckily for him, Mr Niel are not busy today and he is free enough to come accompany Riz.

With that decided, Amy suggested that Riz ride her car, since it will save time, as they will be able to arrive on the afternoon, compared to riding the train which take a much round-about route, which are much farther, so the time taken is much longer.

.._..

Juniel hung his phone with a yawn, as he go took bath and then wear a clean set of clothes, and ironed his dark blue suite. He then go ready his suitcase, and then go take his spectacle and wear it. He look at the mirror to make sure that he look neat and proper.

Shinai glanced at him, “You’re going to meet him? I’d like to come too” She said with a puffed cheek.

“No can do, no can do, what if he remember after seeing you?” Juniel said with a chuckle, he then went to the fridge and scavenge the fridge for some ice-creams. He took a big cup of ice-cream and sit on a chair to eat them.

“I-I don’t care, I can pretend to be someone else or something.” Shinai said as she seat next to him. She leaned on his shoulder as she cross her arm with a pout.

“Well… We’ll see then” Juniel smiled and feed her some of his ice-cream, as they chill around till afternoon.

.._..

Meanwhile in the car, Amy took the seat at the front, next to her driver, while Riz, Angela and Damian occupy the seat at the back. Angela and Damian could not stay still inside because the car was quite spacey and the cushion is very soft. It seem Amy has taken note of the two of them because they were quite a lot of toys for them to play with during the journey.

Since Riz woke up early today, with the car not shaking that much plus with the comfortable cushion, he soon nodded off and fall asleep up until they arrive. During that time, Angela and Damian played with the toys without bothering their big brother sleep too much.

Though halfway through, Angela too took a nap next to Riz while she hugging him, and Damian head on Riz lap as he play with a transformer toy. Amy looked through the rear mirror and can see why it has become quiet, so she smiled as she chatted with her driver about casual everyday stuffs, and she once awhile also checked her phone and social media.

.._..

With that, few minute after the afternoon, a maroon coloured car arrived in front of a big golden gate door. The gate wall is very high and seems to cover a very large area around the gate, if one try to see, it would felt as if it were an endless distance, thus one would not know the exact perimeter of the whole area covered by the gate.

After waiting for almost five minute at the gate, another car arrived behind the maroon car, by which the big door left side are then being opened by the guard inside. Both the car then went inside with the other car follow the maroon car lead.

After they park the car in front of a building, Jyu Niel then came out from the other car, with a twin tailed bespectacled lady coming from his passenger side. She then follow Jyu Niel walk closer to the maroon car and stopped few steps away from it.

Amy soon came out and as soon as she did, Riz, Angela and Damian also came out together. The two, Angela and Damian looked around while holding to Riz shirt, hiding behind him despite their curious eyes. Riz went to Jyu Niel side and Amy then lead them to her office.

In the office, there were a big brown table near the big window behind it with a big chair. In front of the table is a set of peach coloured sofa. “Have a seat.” Amy said with a smile as she then make some drink for six people. She put a slice of lemon on each of the six glasses, then pour the drink into the glasses before she then serve on table.

Jyu Niel and the twin tailed bespectacled lady took one glass to take a few sips after they sat down. Riz just sat there quietly, and looked up at Jyu Niel. Seeing how calm Jyu Niel is, means that what Amy said must have been true, so he looked down while sighing in his heart. He is unwilling to leave this deceased parents house just like that.

And with that, Amy took out the document related to Riz, Angela and Damian’s custody from her cabinet. It was a copy of the original document, but was enough to show to Riz that it was real. After Riz flipped through the document, he put it on the table and sighed.

“Tonight, stay here.” Amy said happily with a smile. And Riz just nodded as an okay. “I’ve long prepared your rooms here, so I’ll show to you after dinner.”

From arriving until now, Jyu Niel has never spoken as he only watched and accompany Riz. Before going back, Amy took Angela, Damian and also the twin tailed bespectacled lady around the building, showing around to them.

“Riz, there is one reason as to why I passed your custody to her.” Jyu Niel spoke as he pats Riz when riz again looked up to him.

“Why?” Riz asked with a bit frown.

“She can take care of you and your siblings, your education here will be better, and your well-being is reassuring.” Jyu Niel said and smile.

“But she’s a weird lady. I-I got ghostbumps when she look at me.” Riz said as he look away.

“Ah.. That, yeah she is a bit weird… Don’t… mind that” Jyu Niel said awkwardly and laugh a bit.

“Uh… I’ll try…” Riz mumble with another sigh.


-To Be Continue-

[Trouble] Chapter 9 - Its Her Again

The three of them has been staying at the inn for more than 2 months now, Riz wondered if that weird women are still lurking around there or not, but nevertheless he still needed to go back to their home soon to get ready for the school after New Year. 

Now he has been helping at the inn for two month and this day is the first day of the first week of the third month, he has gotten used to waking up early to help around with Lina. Angela and Damian also now are very familiar of the places in the inn, so they can freely play around at anywhere they wanted without getting lost. Though grandma Meng volunteered herself to watch over them for safety purpose.

.._..

Today Riz is helping at the counter with Lina’s father. The number of customers that are coming at the inn now are not as many as the first month, because most of the rooms now are almost all being occupied, so there were only a few available rooms there.

So on this morning there were only one of two that come to stay for a few days, a lot more are starting to check out instead now. So Riz mostly help with giving a thank you free gift to the customers that are leaving. He also wrote down their name in the checkout book with other details like time of check out and etc.

At the afternoon just before they are going to go eat lunch, a woman came in, “Hello, is there any empty rooms available?” The woman asked with a smile. Riz looked up, and since Lina father left early to the kitchen, only Riz are at the counter.

“Yes there are a few rooms available. How many rooms would you like to have?” Riz asked after he checked the available rooms in the log book.

“Only one, if possible one with the nicest scenery. “ The woman said as she checked her cellphone. “I’d like to stay for a week” The woman added as she then close her cellphone and kept it back into her handbag.

“Okay, you room is 031, at the west side, facing to the west garden. It is a bit farther from the hotspring, but it will give you more privacy because it was a bit secluded from the other rooms. The room is bigger than the others and it have a lot more better facilities special for customer.” Riz said with a smile as he promote the room a bit. 

“Alright, that room is fine enough” The woman nods, “My friend will later arrive, so just lead her to where the room are in case she came when I’m not there.”

“Sure, I will.” Riz took note of that. “Would you like to include breakfast and dinner?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” The woman nods again as she then fill in her details in the book that Riz handed to her. “I’ll be back later then.” She then left after she told him that. Riz close the booking book and took the key to that room. He and Lina will go prepare the room after they ate their lunch.

.._..

And so after they finish eating lunch, Angela and Damian go to play at the west garden while Riz and Lina are preparing the room, properly tidy up the room, checking the futons and pillows, bringing new clean blankets and towels to the room, making sure the facilities inside are working properly and then they clean up the toilet and bathroom again. When done they take Angela and Damian back to the center, Riz stayed at the counter again as Angela and Damian follow grandma Meng to the small room for the lesson.

Riz take the phone at the counter and dial the women number to call her in order to inform her that their room is now ready.

Around 5 in the afternoon, the woman came back with her baggage, “Welcome back” Riz said with a smile to her when she arrive at the counter.

She smiled back to him, “Thank you.” With that Riz hand the key to the room to her and then show the way by leading her to where the room is. She enter the room, and after putting her baggage, she came out with a satisfied face. Riz then show to her where the hot spring is, which is located at the south of the inn, where the dining hall and also entertainment hall are also located there.

When he done that, he then return to the counter. Just as he sit down, a woman with a Red fiery hair enter, she wore a maroon dress and grey jacket, her high heels keep hitting the floor with a clank, clank, making Riz look up. “…?....!!” And he stare at her with a gasp.

“I’m Selina friend. She said she is staying at room 031?” She said calmly.

“Yes, I’ll… I’ll show you the room.” Riz then stood up and show the way to her, with her walking behind him with a smile, as she bring her luggage along. She whistled a bit and chuckle, and she shook her head a bit and smiled more. She never expected to find him here either, her eyes glinted a bit and she then stare at Riz’s back.

Riz felt as if someone staring at him intensely, and he sweated a bit. He shuddered and walk faster to the room. When they arrive, “this is the room, your friend is probably in there. Excuse me then.” Riz said with a forced smile and then run away fast.

.._..

Amy knocked on the door with a smile, “Selina, I’m here.” She called, then waited for a while, and she looked at the west garden.

The door soon opened and the woman came out, “Amy!” She cheered and hug Amy, and they then enter the room. They chatted and drink some tea happily. From outside their laughter can be heard, so anyone who passed by would be wondering what they are talking about.

.._..

Riz now are waiting at the counter, he frowned a bit, as he mumble, “Why was she here? Is she here to take us away?” He frowned more, as he then check everything at the counter before he leave it to go back to the small room, to play with Angela and Damian.

As he enter the room, he can see Angela playing with a knitted toy, its probably from grandma Meng, because before this when Angela and Damian were taking a nap, Riz do notice that grandma Meng are knitting something, but he did not ask.

Damian tilt his head as he stare at the knitted toy, and Riz come and sit close to them. Grandma Meng came with a plate of cookies, and also a warm hot chocolate drink for Angela and Damian. She also bring some mandarin for herself to eat. She raise her eyebrow when she saw Riz, and she smiled and take a seat at a table.

And so, Riz go sit next to grandma Meng as he ate some of the mandarin with her, and he chatted with her about what he do today, because he thought of her just like his own grandma, plus grandma Meng are also very friendly.

.._.. 

During dinner time, they went to the dining hall to eat as usual, and coincidentally he stumbled with the two woman. Riz smiled to them as a greeting, and he let them enter first before he then enter. Amy glanced at where Riz sit at, and could see that he is eating with the inn owner’s family. “Did he know them personally? Never mind that, now that I’ve found you, it is easy.” She smiled and then eat together with her friend Selina.

“Hey Amy, why are you staring at that table? Do you know them?” Selina asked while she ordered some food at the waiter.

“Nothing. Do you remember about the kid that I told you before? The one that I said that I wanted to adopt?” Amy said why still watching Riz with smile.

“Ah? From your cousin middle school?” Selina blinked and turn a bit to look at Riz, “But it seems that he have another two siblings. Are you going to separate them and only took in their elder brother?” Selina raised her eyebrow as she said this, she glanced at Angela and Damian that was eating.

“Hey, I’m not that cruel. I already know that he have two adopted siblings, since their family lawyer already told me earlier before he agree in letting me have the right to take care of them.” She said with a smile, “Plus, the lawyer himself is very protective of them. I would not do anything bad to them.”

“Well, it is just because… before this, you don’t really care about children since you doesn’t seem like you want to get married.” Selina laughed a bit, “So it was weird that you are interested in a child… and even planning to adopt them.”

“Is that so…? Well, who knows?” Amy only smiled, as she shook her head a bit. The waiter soon bring out their food to their table and serve them with smile, he opened the drink and pour into their glasses slowly. Then he open and put the napkin on them before he then return to his counter.

.._..

Meanwhile Riz ate really quickly, he does not care about his manner tonight, all he thought that he want to return to his room as soon as possible, because he felt really uncomfortable when someone was staring at him for such a long time. Even though he finish eating, he just realize that Angela and Damian has not finish their food yet. So in the end, he have to wait for them to finish eating before returning to their room for the night.

So when they are done, he return to their room with them. Angela keep looking at the back as they walk, she frowned a bit and puffed her cheek. She hold Riz hand and urged him to walk faster.

-To Be Continue-