THE NEXT DAY...
ISH MOTRANGA's POV
"There's a program at your school today?"
"Yes, there is."
"Good!"
"Good?"
"Don't go. Just help out here at the eatery."
"But it's mandatory–"
"And you think helping at this eatery isn't mandatory?!"
"....."
"There are a lot of customers today, Ish!" She pointed at the line of workers.
I sighed. "Auntie, if I don't go, I might..."
"Might what?!"
I fell silent.
She rolled her eyes, face looking like she was ready to fight. "Have you forgotten who feeds you?"
"It's not like that, Aunt," I said, trying to keep my voice down.
She rolled her eyes again. So grumpy! You really can't reason with her!
If she wasn't my mom's cousin, who knows what I would've done to this woman! The way she treats me—it's like I'm the main character in a drama series!
A few moments later, Uncle came back from the plaza.
"When it rains, it pours..." I muttered to myself.
"What's that? A program? Tsk! Back in my high school days, I never went to school when there were programs. There weren't any real classes during those days anyway!" he bragged about his high school life, proud as ever.
I gave him a deadpan look. "Ah… that explains why your grades in high school were all 75."
He froze mid-listing of bets.
His job—if you could call it that—was collecting lottery numbers people bet on in the area. Nothing illegal though. Sometimes I bet too, but I never win. I've even bet on numbers I dreamt about, still no win. Just my bad clover leaf.
"H-hey! That was just half-day! I felt sorry for the first honor. If it had been a full day, my score would've been 150! If that happened… I would've been the first honor!" He laughed at his own defense or joke?
Aunt Daday rolled her eyes. "Really? What's so funny?!"
Uncle stopped laughing and pouted.
"Why don't you help out here at the eatery, huh?! Aren't you done with your stuff?" Aunt scolded him, hands on her waist, eyebrows practically touching... like an angry bird!
Oh, right! I haven't gotten her approval yet! What should I do? Think, Ish! Think!
There's no way my rude Aunt will let me go to school, that's for sure! No excuse will work—especially when there's a flood of customers.
What should I do?
I scratched my head and began washing the used dishes. Most of our customers were workers from the new Solar Power Supply project in the area. Good for Aunt's business. Some people from Roots also started their own businesses because of the demand.
Aunt Daday got another source of income, renting out one of our vacant houses to out-of-town workers. Since it's expensive for them to keep going back and forth, they chose to stay.
After washing and wiping the dishes, I returned them to their place and refilled the pitchers with water. While I was doing my usual chores at the eatery, Rin happened to pass by with his friend. He waved at me. I sighed and pointed at my Aunt, then made horns with both index fingers. A gesture he totally understood.
He looked shocked and scared. He gave me a knowing look that said, "The witch is present?!" as he replied with a gesture too. Clearly saying: "We'll wait for you at the waitingbshed. Escape from Death!"
Hmm... it's like an Exskill demonstration. Aunt Daday seems like one of the Walls I must overcome just like we did during the demo—we never gave up! As they say, if there's a will, there's a way.
"Daday, can I have chicken soup on credit–"
"HEY! What do you mean 'on credit'? Pay what you owe from last week first! All you know is credit! And where's your rent?!"
"Come on… I'll pay on payday–"
"Yeah, right! If you don't pay up this week, just pack your things and leave!"
While Aunt was busy, I excused myself.
I went inside the house, up to my room, and started thinking of a strategy. I also messaged Rin to let him know I was figuring out a way to leave without getting scolded. He replied with a "Good luck." I prepared my school uniform and went down to the living room.
I looked around. When I was sure the coast was clear, I used my hidden Exskill.
Yes, you read that right. My hidden Exskill.
Everyone knows I have fire abilities, but they don't know about my other Exskill: transformation or... I prefer calling it personification.
I transformed into my adviser, based on my memory of him.
I took the form of Teacher Askad Tala, wearing the same outfit he wore that day.
Before leaving the house, I checked myself in the full-body mirror to make sure I nailed his appearance. From what I observed, I pulled it off well.
When I stepped outside, I made sure no one saw me—dangerous if they found out I have a secondary Exskill.
I rehearsed my speech and even copied Teacher Tala's voice. I felt relieved once I got it right.
When the customers saw me, they stopped eating, stunned by the presence of "Teacher Askad Tala."
"So handsome~!"
When Aunt and Uncle saw a good-looking man walking towards their eatery, they couldn't hide their excitement. This rarely happened.
"Ah, eh, ih, oh, uh, hello? What would you like to order, Mr. Handsome?" Auntie asked, flirty tone and wiggling eyelashes. Pft!
Even Uncle was speechless. He is eyeing my deceptive form up and down.
Hmmm... I wonder how they'll react when they find out why I'm here?
You know, this secondary Exskill of mine has turned me into an observant person and… perhaps… a liar? MAYBE.
The power to deceive people. I call this Exskill Deception or Personification. I can mimic people's appearances.
To be honest, Personification is actually my primary Exskill. It was the first to manifest when I was a kid. Mama Vic and Papa Ekong don't know about it because I never told them.
Everyone thinks I'm just a flame-thrower, fire-based, fire-bender, fire boy, fire starter, fire elemental… and not a transformer.
When Mama Vic adopted me, I already had Personification—but I kept it hidden. Everyone thought I had no Exskill. I got bullied, laughed at, called weak and useless. That I didn't belong in a superhuman society! That I was an outsider, born on the wrong planet, etc.
Then the Grimony showed up in our lives—and that's when the flame-thrower powers appeared. I was surprised to learn I had a secondary power.
I think… something triggered it. Maybe my emotions? Could be. Ever since the Grimony came, my blood's been boiling.
When the Grimony arrived, the mocking neighbors finally shut up. Since that day, I stopped using Personification and focused on the flame-throw.
People didn't question it much—they said maybe I was a late bloomer. What they didn't know was... I was actually an early bloomer.
Exskills can be used to trace who your real parents are since they're hereditary—but since fire and transformation are common, it's impossible.
"Uh… Sir?" – Uncle
I snapped out of staring at the fried fish.
"Are you buying?" – Auntie
Deep breath...
"Hey! I'm Askad Tals, Ish's teacher. Where is he? Are you his Aunt and Uncle?"
They looked at each other. "You're right, he's our nephew—but not really by blood," Uncle explained.
My palm almost started smoking! My blood felt like it was about to boil over!
Calm down, Ish. Breathe deeply...
"I don't care if he's your real nephew or not." I forced a smile. "What I want to know is, where is he?"
"Uh... Ish? Uhm… I think he went to the bathroom?" Uncle said.
"Is that so?"
"Uh, why do you ask? Why're you looking for Ish?"
"Because he needs to go to school," I said, hoping they'd listen.
"Huh? But-"
"Ah… Ish mentioned how kind his Aunt and Uncle are. ALVAACAD is very proud of guardians like you. We admire you a lot." After I said that, they surrendered.
They looked a bit embarrassed and proud of themselves. They actually believed that? Really? Not once have I bragged about them. Not once have they ever heard praise from a teacher, school, or from ALVAACAD.
"Okay, Sir! Don't worry! When Ish gets back, I'll tell that boy not to skip school again!" – Auntie
"Exactly! That kid should be told off! Back in my high school days? I never missed a day! Believe me, Sir—I was always present, even on program days! Never absent! First Honor, Sir!" Uncle bragged and grinned.
Let's just humor them.
"Don't worry, Sir, I'll talk to Ish." – Auntie
"Thank you very much. I'll be going now–"
"W-wait, Sir! Can we take a picture?" – Auntie and Uncle
I shook my head. No way I'm leaving evidence. Afterwards, I quickly went somewhere secluded and reverted back to my original form.
Whew! Using Personification is exhausting.
Honestly, it's a hard power to use, even if it seems simple. It's not easy using something you're not used to.
For example: if you're right-handed and try writing with your left—difficult, right? It's like that.
That's why Personification is only my second option—it's tiring to use. This is the first time I've used it again in a while, so it's tough.
Another example: you know how to ride a bike, but you haven't done it in years. When you try again, you're not exactly smooth. It's like that. If you still don't get it—well, good luck figuring it out!
Once I was sure no one could see me, I snuck back into the house like a ninja and returned to the eatery like nothing happened.
"ISH! YOU'RE BACK! GET CHANGED QUICK!" Uncle said, proudly smiling. I even heard him brag to customers, "That's my nephew!"
"Huh?"
"NO MORE 'HUH'! YOUR HANDSOME TEACHER CAME BY! GO TO SCHOOL! HURRY UP! HERE'S YOUR ALLOWANCE!" Auntie, grinning wide. Also seems like she's bragging too?
500 Spri?!
I rushed to my room, changed into my school uniform, and messaged Rin.
Who would've thought I'm such a great actor? Best actor award goes to me.
To be continued...