Shane

Aurora, seeing her brother answer smoothly, was relieved.

Never did she think she would actually be using the skills she learned, so she was truly glad that she started to learn from her mother.

At first, when Alex started getting personalised training from her father, she had been a little bit unhappy. She felt she was as good as Alex so why was he chosen but not her? Was she not good enough?

However, she soon found out that the training intensity became higher. He would be gone for hours and sometimes, Daddy took him out at night!

She then became very, very, glad that she wasn't chosen.

She liked learning self-defence but not to the extent that Alex was going through. He would come back with bruises and sometimes, even injuries. Still, despite it all, Alex kept on training and didn't relent a bit. Even then, he would not stop training and simply stated that he just was not good enough yet.

Aurora suspected Alex liked being beaten up.

Seeing all of that made Aurora shudder. It was just too much work. Knowing enough to defend herself was enough. She wouldn't kill herself to learn more.

However, it also meant that she had more free time. So, Mummy started teaching her little things like how to observe people and learn what they are like. How to do things silently so that they don't get caught.

She found it fun and learned it as a hobby.

Using it now gave her a sense of accomplishment.

After Alex answered, he gave Aurora a brief glance and said, "Thanks."

Aurora gave a 'peace' sign with her fingers, grinning.

"Alright class," Teacher Alba said loudly, gathering their attention after everyone started talking excitedly over the announcement, "Here is your permission slip. You need to get your parents to sign it if you want to join the field trip. I will collect it back on Monday."

When Shirley got the permission slip, her eyes brightened while Shane was slightly pale as he clutched the paper. Aurora saw their expressions and took note but did not say anything. It was obvious that Shirley was excited over the trip but why did Shane look so worried?

No, not worried.

Scared?

Aurora pursed her lips, trying to figure it out but could not come up with anything. She decided to ask her mother about this when she got back. Aurora found that going to school was a treasure of learning, for she saw so many different types of people with so many different types of expressions.

It also made her realise that she didn't know much, even though she may excel in the lessons of school.

This little realisation of Aurora was something that was slightly lacking in Alex, making her be able to gain more from going to school. It wasn't to say that Alex felt he was perfect or knew everything but certainly, he did have a slight superiority complex.

He knew more than the others and didn't think the school had anything that could teach him anything new.

No one can learn anything if one was closed-minded about it?

It was akin to trying to fill in a cup that was already full. One had to empty it first before one could fill it up again.

So while Alex was busy looking around to try and find something interesting to fill in the time, Aurora continued to observe the expressions of her classmates.

✿ Author posts on WN and neovel ✿

Shane sat at the back of the school bus, staring outside the window but not truly seeing anything. No one bothered Shane or tried to talk to him. The one that was seated next to him was busy talking to the person sitting across from him.

Everyone was already used to Shane being lost in his own world and not responding to anything anyone said or did to him. Thus, the others in the school bus basically left him alone.

Who would want to waste the precious playtime with someone that was 'dead'?

Shane hugged his schoolbag tightly to him.

Though the school had lockers for them to keep their books and stuff, they would still need to bring a bag to carry the basics. Like a lunchbox, or bring their homework home.

Right now, nestled in between his Maths textbook, was the permission slip.

This was the thing that filled his mind right now.

A shelter.

He was both excited and terrified.

Shane loved animals but they did not love him. He wanted nothing more than to hold and hug a dog, or a cat, but he could never do so. They were always either hostile towards him or would run away from him.

What would happen if he went?

Wouldn't his friends see the joke he was?

Animals running away from him?

But that was the 'good' thing.

What if it attacked?

What if he caused the animals there to attack his classmates?

His face paled at the thought while his heart was beating rapidly.

Images of screaming children, bloodied bodies filled his young mind and he started hyperventilating.

His breathing became rapid and he was actually starting to feel light-headed.

Shane forced himself to calm down, as he gripped his schoolbag tightly. He pursed his lips, breathing in through the narrow gap.

This would cause him to breathe in less oxygen, increasing the carbon dioxide that is needed. Excessive breathing would increase the oxygen level and decrease the carbon dioxide, so he needed to reverse that.

Of course, Shane did not know the reason for the way he changed his breathing. He just knew that it was something his doctor had taught him and it worked.

Another method would be to close his mouth and one nostril, only breathing in through the remaining nostril - but since he was in a bus with lots of people around, such an action would be too obvious and embarrassing.

All the while, he kept up with the mantra 'be calm' and 'it's okay' in his mind over and over again while thinking of things that made him happy.

Like cake.

After what seemed like years, Shane finally stabilised.

However, just as he did so, he almost jumped into the pit again when he thought of the permission slip.

He forced himself to focus on other things as he headed home.

Never before had he been so happy to reach home and he practically ran out. The bus driver, seeing this, admonished him as he jumped down the steps, "Shane Kinsman! You slow down, you hear!!"

Shane, upon jumping down onto the ground after the last step, turned around and waved, "Sorry, Ms. Candy!"

Candy didn't want to scold him too much for Shane was generally a good boy.

Too quiet, but there was nothing she could do about that. She wasn't particularly concerned about it either.

All she was interested in was ensuring that her charges on the bus were safe and sound.

Candy nodded her head and said, "Alright. Be mindful."

"Okay, Ms. Candy," Shane replied and forced himself to walk towards his house.

The bus only left after making sure Shane went through the gateway.

Just then, the door opened and Shane's mother, Elyse, greeted him.

She had actually seen him arrive and was observing him from inside the house. Knowing how anti-social her son was, she wanted him to be more independent. The neighbourhood was rather safe, and she would make sure there were no suspicious people around when her son arrived.

It was hard, though.

To stand quietly at home and watch everything, getting ready to dash out if there was any danger.

The moment Shane got down, however, she knew that something was wrong.

If it was a tracking day, her son would look slightly uncomfortable. If it was a good day, he would look indifferent.

Today, however, he actually looked rather upset and lost.

She had not seen that sort of expression on her son for quite some time. Still, she did not show like she knew anything and merely smiled at him, taking his schoolbag from his back.

"How was school today, Shane?" she asked kindly, as he walked in dejectedly.

"Fine," Shane mumbled, heading towards the stairs.

Elyse followed him up to his room but did not go in.

Shane's room was his sanctuary - even from her, so she could only stand at the doorway unless he let her in.

It did not look like he was going to allow her today.

He turned, took the bag from her hands, and thanked her before starting to close the door.

"Shane, you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Shane's hand paused a bit at the door, but he didn't look up at her. After a minute of silence, he nodded and closed the door.

Just before it closed completely, though, Shane's voice was heard, "Later."

Elyse smiled as she looked at the closed door. Placing her hand on it, she sighed and felt slightly relieved.

At least, he was starting to open up more now.

She went down to head to the kitchen, thinking of adding Shane's favourite dessert to dinner.