BONUS 1/2

"Ren."

Ren looked over from his plate, and stared right into his mother's eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Is something the matter?" Helen asked. "You've been quiet since you came here for breakfast. Is something on your mind?"

Ren shook his head, and the tight frown on his face loosened. "Just problems at school and the game. The first exam of the semester is about to start."

The newspaper in Troy's hands rattled when he flipped the pages. "Don't worry about your grades too much. As long as you pass and get that diploma, everything is fine. As for that game you speak of, you don't have to beat yourself up too much. Your mother and I are already old, and we don't need anything but food and shelter –"

"And medicines," chimed in Helen.

"And medicine. But anything besides that is unnecessary. I can still work and provide for our needs. Rather, doing nothing in here makes me tired even more."

"Your father's right." Helen grabbed Ren's hand and seriously looked him in the eyes. "It's time to save for your future and your future family."

". . ." Ren pulled his hand from his mother's tight grip and evaded the question. "Ah. Don't worry. I won't stress myself too much."

He then kissed his mother's cheek, and said his goodbye before the topic went out of control. "We have a quiz today, so I'm going to school early. We'll talk about that job later, dad."

Watching his sons back walking out of the door, Helen took a deep breath. "I wish he'd focus more on his heart issues."

"They're still young."

"Yeah. And remember that time when I said that? I got pregnant."

Troy choked on his coffee. He put it down and immediately escaped Helen's dagger eyes by plastering the newspapers over his face.

On the way to school, Ren was still thinking about his plans and his meeting with Serius Alvarez, and he even forgot about his problem with Evie.

His expression was blank, and cold, intimidating air was enveloping him like an invisible barrier, pushing away people at least ten meters from him.

Walking on that familiar path going to the university, Ren wasn't aware of the gossip circulating about his mercenary group, World Conqueror. Some didn't care and continued with their lives, while most wanted to gossip and talk about the rise and downfall of Ren and World Conqueror.

Everyone said that Ren was a goner now that he had received the eerie of the Alvarez family. There was no saving him. A group of people rejoiced that Ren was finally getting what he deserved. He was too arrogant for his own good. He thought that he could do whatever he wanted just because he was among the sought-after players and that he had defeated Black Lion.

The Alvarez should have done it in the first place. Crippling World Conqueror meant no income, and it was back to just defeating beasts for Ren to survive.

Some thought it was a petty move for the Alvarez family, while others believed that Ren deserved it for aggravating people that he shouldn't have.

And amongst the people who were happy about Ren's current situation and soon-to-be downfall were Roni and Dimitri.

Before long, Ren's name would be forgotten, and he would be just another player who passed out over time.

Inside his classroom, Ren's thoughts were occupied that he didn't even notice Evie beside him, who went stiff at the sight of him.

Sitting without a word, Ren saw and heard no one but his thoughts.

Evie pretended to look at her phone while her ears were ringing from how hard her heart was pounding.

The bag under her eyes was weighing them down, and she hadn't slept a wink from thinking. She wasn't over the fact that the Ren she knew was the same Ren that was sitting beside her. She had a haunch but learning the truth was something else entirely. She almost wanted not to go to school . . . almost.

What should she say to him? She thought she had jotted down the things on her mind last night, but face to face with Ren, all of those disappeared, and she blanked out.

Evie opened her mouth but closed it again and again. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and faced him only to shut her lips tight at the coldness of his expression.

Was he angry that she knew? Was he mad she pestered him about that request just to know his identity?

Come to think of it. Anyone would get mad. If they wanted their other identity known, they should have said it in the first place.

Red coated Evie's face. She was embarrassed and annoyed at herself. She shouldn't have been pushy. Now her relationship with him turned sour all of a sudden.

"I . . . I will keep your secret . . . ," Evie muttered with a downcast face and barely audible voice.

Though Ren was occupied with his thoughts, the little sound of Evie's voice still pierced into his mind, breaking his concentration.

His face softened as he looked at her. "Huh?"

"I will keep your secret," Evie said again, "I won't say anything. I know that my word doesn't hold any meaning . . . but you can keep my identity in real life and in-game as collateral if you like."

Ren rapidly blinked before understanding registered in his eyes. "Ah . . . that. It's fine." He wanted to hit himself hard on the head with his answer.

Evie whipped in Ren's direction, eyes wide. "Y-you're not mad?" There weren't many student presents, and they kept their voices down. They were confident that no one would hear them, so they said whatever they wanted.

"Mad? At you?"

Evie nodded. "For knowing who you are."

Ren shrugged. "It's fine." His heart finally settled, knowing that Evie wasn't awkward or mad at him for hiding the truth from her. At least, that was one thing off from his head.

"Rather, I thought you were angry at me because I hid it from you and pretended that I didn't know you the first time we met at school."

Evie shook her head. "No. I . . . I understand why you did that."

There seemed to be another underlying meaning behind her words, but half of Ren's brain was occupied at the moment, and he didn't give it much thought.

"So let's have a truce and keep each other's secrets, shall we?" Ren said with a sheepish grin.

"Agreed."

The awkward, tense air between them finally disappeared. And replacing it was something akin to familiarity. If Ren wasn't sure what their relationship was before, now he was one hundred percent certain that he and Evie had gotten close to the level of true friends.

The slight smile on her lips told him so.

At least something came out wonderful on this day despite the problem he was facing.

Ren's grin dropped at the memory of his soon-to-be meeting with Serius Alvarez.

Of course, Evie noticed the significant change in his expression, and she asked, "Are you okay?"

"Ah . . . yeah. Just something on my mind."

"Is it about the Alvarez family?"

Ren stifled a laugh. "I guess everybody knows it then."

"I don't think crippling your group is going to stop you."

Ren stared Evie in the eyes, and the latter stared back with the same intensity. And when she spoke, there was confidence in her tone that made Ren feel better.

"They're the ones messing with the wrong person." Evie believed it as so since none of the Alvarez knew what Ren was capable of in the game. If he welled it, he could make it come true.

". . ." Ren's serious face broke into a soft smile. He could feel Evie's sincerity behind her declaration, and it was a nice feeling that there were still people left who believed and supported him.

"Thanks." Truly.