Chapter 146 - Friends Never Change

“Bahahaha!!” The three of them continued to laugh as I stared at them blankly.

This was exactly why I wanted to hold off on meeting them. Maybe it would’ve been better if I met them one-by-one? At least that way, they wouldn’t bounce off of each other.

“Are you done yet?” I asked expressionlessly.

“NO WAY! Bahaha! Shorty! So short! How’s the weather down there!?” Bryson laughed manically.

“HAHAHA!” Cassian laughed until tears fell out of his eyes, “You always laughed at me for being the shortest! Now how’s it feel!? Feeling a bit of a draft down there!?”

“KAAAK!” Colby, unfitting of his size, made a noise that sounded like a dying bird as he clutched his stomach, “Need help getting stuff off the top shelf now, huh?”

“…” I didn’t say anything and just stared at them.

The three continued cracking jokes and laughing.

“Bet you spend a long time drying your hair too, don’t you!?” Bryson said.

…How do I get them back for this?

For a good five minutes, they continued their onslaught of laughter and jokes.

And they didn’t look like they were about to stop any time soon.

Finally, an idea came to mind as I pulled out my phone and started recording. That didn’t stop them from laughing and telling jokes, but, that was fine. That’s exactly what I wanted.

After a moment, Bryson finally asked,

“What’re you doing?” He wiped his eyes.

“I’m posting all of you online and telling everyone that three young men are bullying a poor, defenseless woman.” I said.

“Pfft! Bahaha!” Bryson burst out into another fit of laughter.

“I’m not joking…” I muttered.

“Right! Right!”

He called my bluff…And to be fair, if I did actually post this online, at least a couple of my bajillion fans would actually try and trouble them. However!

I know one person who would tell them off!

[Me: MAMA!!! I’m being bullied!!]

I waited but the reply didn’t come.

Darn it!! Is she busy? Tsk…

Haah…I guess I just have to endure this. But! Don’t let it be unknown! I will have my vengeance! I’m already brainstorming the potions I can force them to drink!

After another few minutes, their laughing finally died down.

“Done yet?” I asked pointedly.

“Hahaha, for now. I can’t think of any other jokes at the moment.” Bryson said.

“I can think of a few more, but I’ll spare you.” Cassian wiped his eyes.

“It looks a little weird for three men to be laughing at a small girl, so, I’ll also stop now. I’m feeling kind of bad.” Colby said.

“…Now you feel bad? After you’ve all had your fun!?” I exclaimed.

“I don’t feel bad whatsoever!” Bryson answered with a laugh.

“I’m only stopping so we can go and eat.” Cassian chimed in.

“…I just think it’s an odd look from outside.” Colby said.

“Bah!!” I pouted, “You all just wait!!” I glared at each of them menacingly(?)

“PFFT!” Somehow, that caused them to break out laughing again.

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“Stop laughing!!” I exclaimed.

That didn’t calm them down. I felt like growling at them.

“Grr!!!”

…

“So, this is why you ghosted us for over half a year?” Bryson asked.

We were sitting down in a booth in the restaurant. They had spent so long laughing at me that our reservation time had come up and we had to enter without even a preliminary explanation.

“Yeah…” I nodded slowly, “I awakened and became like this.”

“Pfft, Miles, you’re so dumb.” Bryson chuckled.

“Agreed, you’re so stupid.” Cassian chimed.

“Mhm, if this is the whole reason, then, like the other two said, you’re a dumbo.” Colby said.

“Bleh!” I stuck out my tongue, “I know! I don’t want to hear it for a third time!”

“PFFT!” Bryson burst out laughing, “Did auntie tear into you?! Hahaha!”

“Oh no, I don’t even want to imagine what auntie said. Did someone record it? I need to see this.” Cassian said.

“Hold on, I’ll text auntie now.” Colby chimed in, pulling out his phone.

“No one recorded anything!!” I exclaimed.

Just as I did, our waitress arrived at the table.

“Hello, is this everyone’s first time here? How about I get you all started with drinks?” She asked politely, holding her notepad.

“I think we’ve all been here before,” Cassian said, “This was one of our favorite places to hang out! All four of us…Though, it’s only been three of us for a while.” He side-eyed me, “I’ll have a water, please.”

“Pfft,” Bryson smiled, “I’ll have a water and coke, no lemon.”

“Just a water for me.” Colby said.

“Water and coke please!” I said.

“Understood,” She nodded, writing it down, “I’ll be back with your drinks in a moment.”

“Ahem!” I cleared my throat, “Anyways, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stella, it’s a displeasure to meet everyone.”

“A displeasure!?” Bryson exclaimed.

“After ghosting us for six months, now it’s a displeasure!?” Colby said, feigning offense.

“Introducing yourself again is crazy considering this could’ve been done six months ago.”

“Blah! Blah! Blah!” I covered my ears with both palms.

“Hey! If you’re introducing yourself, you’ve got to hear our introductions too!” Bryson said.

“Oh yeah? Let’s hear it.” I crossed my arms.

“Ahem,” Bryson cleared his throat, “I fucking hate you.”

“PFFT!” I spat out and burst out laughing, “Bahahaha!”

“Hahaha!” Cassian and Colby also started to laugh.

The laughter died down after a minute or so.

“Right, Miles—ah, Stella?” Bryson said, “Sorry, might take me a minute to get used to.”

“That’s fine, that’s fine.” I nodded. We’ve known each other for 18 years after all, changing that habit isn’t going to happen instantly.

“So, you’re an awakener now, right?” He asked.

“Mhm, the greatest(cutest) if I do say so myself.”

“Pfft, still have that confidence.” Bryson chuckled, “What’s your class? And what’s it like?”

“Oh! Yeah! Yeah! I’m interested too. None of us here are awakeners after all, we only know things we learnt from from ALG Royale.” Cassian chimed in.

Seeing their interested faces was funny, it was like their eyes were sparkling a little.

“Ahem,” I puffed out my chest but just before I started to speak, Bryson cut in.

“Oh my goodness, look at her. Give her a little bit of something and she gets all arrogant!”

“Bleh! Do you want to know or not!?” I stuck out my tongue.

“No! I don’t! Not anymore!” Bryson said.

“Liar! You looked so curious!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Bryson looked away.

“Hmph, fine, whatever.” I pouted.

“Pfft!” Bryson laughed, “I’m joking! Tell us!”

“Nope. I don’t want to anymore~!” I looked away with crossed arms.

“Oh come on, do you want us to beg and plead or something?” Bryson asked.

“Hey, I’m not with that guy,” Colby pointed at Bryson, “You can just tell me and leave him out of it.”

“Me too, me too. I, for one, don’t mind seeing your smug expression. Reminds me of a child acting like the king of a playground.” Cassian nodded before starting to laugh.

That comment even got Bryson and Colby laughing.

“OH! Screw you all!!” I shot them all a nasty glare, “Just you wait!”

Just then, the waitress came back with our drinks.

“Alright! Could I start you all off with any appetizers?” She asked.

“Yes!” Bryson spoke first, “For me, I’ll have the buffalo wings.”

“Then, I’ll have the blooming onion!” Cassian said.

“Rattlesnake bites for me!” Colby said.

Gah!! They’re going all out with their ordering! They really want to bankrupt me, don’t they!?

“Wings, blooming onion, and rattlesnake bites, correct?” The waitress wrote it on her notepad.

Grr! And I hate that I also want an appetizer, spending even more money! But, I can’t come here without ordering them!

“And cheese fries for me! No ranch!” I said.

“Got it, and are you all ready to order?”

“I believe we all are. We discussed what we wanted before even coming in, haha.” Bryson laughed.

Oh no…Oh my goodness! I knew it! They are planning to make me broke!

“All three of us,” Bryson pointed at himself, Cassian, and Colby, “We’re all ordering the same thing. So, three porterhouse t-bone steaks, please. Both sides are fries. Medium rare.”

WAAAH! That’s the most expensive meal they have!!! These scumbags!! I’m gonna cry!

“Three porterhouses, medium rare.” She nodded, “And you, miss?” She asked me.

“Sniff, sniff,” I fake sniffled, “I’ll have the 20 oz sirloin, medium rare with cheese fries for the sides.”

“Right, I’ll get that all out for you all in a moment.” The waitress gave a polite smile before leaving.

“Haha, shouldn’t have ghosted us for over half a year~” Bryson said playfully.

“Bleh!” I stuck out my tongue, “You should feel bad for bullying poor little me!”

“I don’t, whatsoever!”

“I think it’s kind of funny.” Cassian said.

“It’s a little funny.” Colby said.

“Die! Die! Die! All of you!” I exclaimed.

…

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat. The conversation got a little derailed there, but! After a little while, we were back on track, “So! I’m an alchemist.” I said.

“Oh! You know what? That fits you.” Bryson nodded.

“Yeah, you always did like mixing drinks. Alchemy is just like another form of mixology, right?” Cassian said.

“No way!” I exclaimed, “Completely different!”

“Hm…Mixing different things make something new, is that not alchemy?” Cassian asked.

“Well! I mean! When you put it like that…”

“So, mixology and alchemy is the same.” Cassian explained like a professor.

“No! It’s not! Shaddup!” I exclaimed.

“But you can’t refute me, can you?”

“So, ALG Royale is pretty accurate, at least when it comes to combat classes and skills.”

“She’s ignoring it.”

Did someone just say something? If so, I didn’t hear nothing!

“Unfortunately, the production classes aren’t up to date. They’re extremely simplified in the game. I hope they change them soon though.” I said.

“That makes sense though,” Bryson nodded, “It’d be hard to make production classes work in a battle royale.” He said.

Hehe, they don’t know the big update is coming!

“Mhm.” I nodded.

“What’s your alias?” Colby asked, “Is it the same as you always use? BinLover?” He pulled out his phone, presumably to check the internet version of the system information awakeners pull up.

“As if she’d choose any name other than BinLover.” Bryson joked.

“Hey! I can easily choose different aliases!” I retorted.

“Like what?” Bryson asked.

“Heh, first, I need you all to keep quiet about this, okay?” I leaned in and whispered.

“What? A big secret?” Bryson whispered back. Everyone leaned in a little bit.

“I should’ve probably learned how to make an isolation barrier, but, I didn’t feel the need to at the time. But, I’ll just trust that no one else is listening in!”

“Isolation barrier?” Colby asked.

“It makes it so no one else can hear us speak when we’re inside.” I said, “You use them when you want a private conversation.”

“Oh, neat.”

“So! I’ll tell you guys since we’re close—”

“Close enough to ghost us for over half a year?” Bryson cut in.

“Bah! Fine! I’m sorry!”

Bryson smiled,

“Just messing with you.”

“Yeah, just you wait.” I rolled my eyes, “You all just wait.”

“We did. For over half a year.” Cassian chimed in.

“Ahem!” I cleared my throat, “So, my alias is…”

Just then, the waitress came with a tray of our food.

“Three porterhouses and one sirloin with fries and cheese fries.” She said, placing our plates in front of us.

“Thank you!” I said and immediately started feasting on the cheese fries.

“Thank you.” The three of them also said.

“If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” The waitress smiled before leaving.

We all looked at each other for a moment before someone started to chuckle. That made everyone start to laugh.

“I’ll tell you after dinner.” I said.

Mm!! I love cheese fries~