270 Eriths Melancholy (1/2)
I sat on the living room couch, staring at the television as I enjoyed the cool wind that blew in from the air conditioning system. It will soon be time for us to leave for the fireworks festival, but there is still time. The world outside had entered the early stages of dusk, but it is still plenty bright outside. So, it is still a while until they can start the fireworks. In the meantime, all we're doing is simply passing time until we can leave.
Since it has been decided that we will eat at the festival, dinner was not prepared. Therefore, the kitchen was rather quiet. The commotion that originally belonged to the preparation of dinner and setting the table was then transformed into a chatting session that centered in the living room. As for me though, I opted to skip out on the conversation and simply watch television as the conversations being made really didn't pertain to me much.
I turned my gaze away from the television and over at Luna, Erith, and Zevin. The three of them seemed to be reminiscing about the past, talking about their times back in middle school and their three years of high school. As they speak, Erith seemed to have a somewhat...disturbed expression on her face, maybe from thinking back on the past and knowing that it will all stay a past that will only become more and more distant once they all begin college. It's a topic that no one else could inject themselves into. Next to them, Irina and Muria were playing a card game with Noah and Zaksus while Loyd and Alvelyn watched on the side. They appeared to be having a fun time.
”Damn it!” Noah whined as he lost once again. ”This game is rigged.”
”You passed out the cards,” Irina jokingly responded back.
”I'm tired of playing cards,” Noah sighed. ”You guys wanna play something else?”
”There's a Mintendo Sfitch here,” Zaksus said as he pointed in the direction of the device that is currently resting in its dock. ”We can play that.”
”What games do they have?” Irina asked as she watched while Zaksus walked over to check the device. ”There's no physical games, so probably digital ones downloaded on the system? I don't know. We have to turn it on first.”
”Alevian,” Irina said to me. ”May we?”
”Go ahead,” I said handing her the remote. I really appreciated her asking me for my permission first.
”Hey!” Zaksus exclaimed in a pleasant manner as he smiled. ”Would you look at that. They got Super Smash Sisters on it.”
”How many controllers?” Loyd asked.
”I see six,” Zaksus said as he opened the cabinet underneath the television. ”Who wants to play?”
Zaksus walked over with all six controllers in his hands, handing one out to each person who had their hand raised. However, only a few people were rather enthusiastic about playing, with these people being Noah, Irina, Zaksus, and maybe if you count in Loyd. As for the rest of us, we simply stared at the controller and then looking over at other people.
”Come on,” Zaksus said in a begging manner at Muria.
”It's more fun if more people played,” Irina lobbied.
”It's fine,” Muria shook her head and smiled. ”I don't know how to play these games so...”
”Alevian?” Zaksus turned in my direction and offered me a controller. ”Alvelyn?”
Seeing that neither of us displayed much of an interest, a slight look of disappointment developed on his face.
”You guys are playing?” Zevin's voice interrupted. ”You mind if we join in?”
”Of course not,” Zaksus's face lit up as he handed a controller in Zevin's direction. ”Anyone else?”
”I'll try,” Luna smiled and accepted a controller.
”Erith?” Zaksus turned towards her.
”I—” Erith opened her mouth to begin to speak, but she was unable to finish as Luna interrupted her.
”Erith is pretty good,” Luna said. ”Right?”
”Oh really?” Noah said with a doubtful look on his face.
”You want to bet?” Luna smiled in a mischievous and somewhat impish manner.
”What do you wanna bet?” Noah appeared to be rather confident and smug.
”If Erith wins the match, then you buy both Erith and I our dinner.”
”What if she loses?”
”I'll buy you dinner,” Luna said with great confidence.
”Let me just thank you for dinner first then,” Noah said with great confidence as he sat down and picked his character.
”Erith,” Luna glanced over at her best friend with a supportive smile on her face.
Erith gazed at Luna's expression initially with a somewhat troubled expression. After a minute though, she sighed and shook her head.
”Fine,” she said, accepting the controller from Zaksus's hands.
***
”Damn it!” Noah exclaimed once again. ”How? That's bullshit!”
”A loss is a loss,” Luna smiled happily.
On the television screen was the result of the final match of the third tournament, and once again, it was Erith that won. Appearing somewhat fatigued, Erith rubbed her shoulder with a free hand as she set the controller down on the coffee table. She released a soft sigh as her countenance appeared to lack in vitality.
”This game is rigged,” Noah sighed and allowed the controller to fall out of his hands and onto the couch.
”We really couldn't beat her,” Loyd commented.