168 That Sunday 6 (1/2)

When Alessa recovered from the mild shock, she became very thankful that the other was not looking at her or else, she would have been embarrassed. That time, she didn't want the boy to find out that she did not truly expect him to say anything insightful.

'I don't know if he's just bluffing. But his words make sense. Learn my character's story, fit my own personality in... and make it appear like it is really me, know why I say what I say...'

With a shake of her head and confusion flashing across her eyes, she asked, ”What know why I say what I say?”

Chris gave her a sideways glance, frowning, ”What else? Know why you have to say that line within that scene... So that you can analyze... what is the most appropriate expressions... to partner it up with.”

Once done saying this, he looked at her like how one looked at a slow learner or an idiot. He thought for a moment and then decided to give an extreme example. ”Consider the line 'I want you to die...”

The two women frowned but the young man paid them no heed, continuing, ”Without knowing why the character said that..., how would the actor know how to act it out?... Would he appear like a tragic character looking for revenge... uttering this phrase with extreme anger and hatred?... Or a maniacal murderer who has no consideration for human lives... laughing as he drops these words to his victims' ears?”

Simple as that.

”You can be dramatic... Still, always remember to perform logically... Viewers hate it when a scene is acted... in an exaggerated or poor manner...”

Alessa and Aura looked at each other and Chris could swear that he saw disbelief at what he said. Offended, he glared at the woman who kept on pestering him these past few days for this only to doubt him at the actual moment.

Its offer went to a deaf's ears.

Seconds and minutes passed in bouts of questions and answers thrown back and forth between the two. When the woman was finally satisfied, ten pm had already passed. Chris concluded the talk about acting, forcefully, and then raised the matter regarding his current circumstances. Anyway, what he had in mind was superficial when compared to what she would gain if she goes out for real experiences. He didn't even get why she wanted to bother a no-name person for ideas and guidance.

What if he happened to not possess the system? Wouldn't she then talk to a monkey acting like a human? A charlatan per se?

”You don't plan to return and tell your parents about your current situation?”

He stated the obvious, ”I don't...”

The girl stared at him quietly for a long while then replied, ”You do know that I only picked you up in the streets out of goodwill, right?”

Chris met her stares, throwing her a meaningful but belittling smile, ”You also do know... that you forcefully made me stay a meal... with you days ago, right?”

Last time, he paid off the meal by warning her about the bomber. And she reciprocated by bringing him here to heal.

”You're trying to play words with me?” A gentle laugh came out of her lips. ”That lunch is for what happened in the bookstore. Your warning is repaid by me by bringing you to this hospital. Don't you think so?”

”No... Because you said... you picking me from the streets is out of goodwill... So it's different.” Chris shamelessly replied.

”Oh. Since it's goodwill, it means you'll have one more favor to return?”

”...My consultation... is worth at least something, no?”

He received weird glances from the two women but he maintained his poker face, not even letting a single muscle on his cheeks twitch. Alessa asked him what he would like to propose. He said, ”I only need a place to stay until I recover... Don't worry... I'll pay off every cent you spend on me once I can move out of this sickbed again.”

”You said it yourself, you're just a student, how will you repay me?”

If Chris had only been as shameless as the system was proclaiming him as, he would have said 'with his body'. But of course, there was no way the thought would actually even cross his mind.

After closing his eyes for some time, he opened them again, directing them to Alessa's expressionless face.

”How about... information?”