The Zetta Sonic
Stand Up

Alex is back at school. He deliberately did not count how many days had passed since the incident at the university. How hard he tried to make the memories feel blurred, everything still feels as still as clear as glass. Including the pain and all the regrets. He was determined to do what he should. He straightened himself up, walking down the grand and grand school hallway.

I don't know how many students and teachers there are at the school. No one noticed the strangeness in Melodiza. Their new teacher submitted their resignation. Alex's classmates, teachers, school employees, even the headmaster don't seem to feel awkward. Maybe they don't even know what's going on in class. Alex recalls a soccer ball being left rolling near broken glass as Melodiza hypnotized the rest of her class. Sometimes the way the ICPA solves problems makes it curious and goosebumps at the same time.

Speaking of goosebumps, Alex saw a disciple wrinkle at the end. Cody stared at the small box that had already moved into Willy's hands. That wasn't the first incident. Alex has seen it many times. Willy always borrowed Cody's stuff. And, Cody was never caught bringing the latest creations from his father's company to school.

Willy once said that Cody was a quiet kid who was a little weird.

Something inside Alex is tingling. He also approached both. Usually, the forced lending takes place in the left-hand side school hallway near the stairs. Like at the moment. Seeing Alex approaching, Cody lowered his head. It made Willy aware of the arrival of his friend.

“Hei, Alex! Take a look at this,” Willy said as he lifted the small box. It is no more than a hand. It is bright purple with white diagonal stripes. “This is a new game prototype. It looks like it's space-themed. Laser weapons, planes, war against aliens. It must be exciting!”

Cody has lost his intention of snatching his new toy from Willy. He also turned around. Stepping over, Cody walked away leaving Willy and his friend.

“Wait!” Alex prevented it. He also quickly told his best friend, “Willy, give it back to him!”

“What?” Willy spontaneously gawking.

Cody initially just stopped. After hearing Alex's request to his friend, he realized that it wasn't just stop. He had turned around as well hearing it all clearly. But, there was no courage for him to respond to what happened.

“Will, we're not kids, anymore. Return it to Cody.” Alex avoids words like snatch a toy or do bullying on others. The morning incident clearly reminded Alex of Emil. Strange and quiet boy. Emil's been through it. Alex didn't want Cody to go through those days either.

Willy's still gawking. Alex let out a long sigh while rolling his eyeballs. He did not blame his friend for being surprised. The usual Alex will ignore this, no matter, even play the forced loan proceeds. It was called a loan because Willy always returned it to Cody after he was satisfied playing. Even if the nature of the loan is forced. Cody was obviously sad when the item was taken.

Without saying much more, Alex took the box from Willy. He thrust it at Cody who still dared not move. The skinny boy seemed to be caught between fear and disbelief.

“Cody, once in a while you need to reject Willy's request. This is your stuff not his,” Alex told him. Then, while whispering, Alex continued, “Trust me. He won't dare hit you.”

Cody speechless. His eyes went back and forth on Alex's face and the tiny box he had in his hand. This is clearly the first time this has happened. All this time, Alex was on Willy's side. He did not speak, but was always silent when it was in front of his eyes. The bidding is always happening and it has been going on for quite a while. It's too long until Cody thinks they're the same.

“Why?” Cody finally spoke.

“Why what?” Alex asked back. “This is what should have happened.”

“Come, to class!” alex told Willy.

Willy frowned. While folding his hands to the front of his chest, he threw his question. “What happened to you? You are fine.”

“Sure. I'm doing fine. I thought you were the one who didn't.” Alex grunts amusedly. After patting Willy on the shoulder, he walked away. “Come, game! If it's late, we can get a long scolding Rocky sir!”

Cody has turned away as well. Willy scratched his head. Even so, he eventually chose to follow Alex to class. For a moment, Alex felt cheated. He knew many things, more than what the two disciples knew. However, seeing Willy did not ask anything more, now only a tingling feeling left.

Another joke awaited him at home. On that sunny afternoon, Alex found a large truck had just left his yard. He glared at the truck driver. Do not let the driver is the same driver from the dinosaur monster sending expedition. It's even worse if the driver is Rocky. Fortunately, neither happened.

That truck was really an expedition truck. At least, so far Alex knows that the expedition is moving on the right track. Even if there is fraud that the company does, everything is nothing more than cheating on taxes.

“What do they send?” ask Alex to Preston who came up from the side of the house.

“Her horse just arrived.” Preston was flat-spoken as usual, not looking impressed or worried when there were large animals roaming their yards. “You see it right away, Alex?”

“A statue?”

“Of course not.”

Alex frowning. Rather than being curious, Alex walked from the direction the butler came from. Preston accompanied his young master to their backyard. As Alex suspected, he did not find a cage or anything to store the animal. He found a large wooden box. Two other servants were trying to open it. Alex watched until the crate opened.

With the additional help of people, they dragged objects wrapped in foam inside. A horse with shiny white skin. It's over two meters tall. Dark-eyed, silvery-haired. The strands are so soft like real animals. Unfortunately, it was an animal. More like a mannequin.

Alex circled the mannequin, curious. While the other servants had stepped aside. Some even went back to their jobs. He lives alone with Preston. At that moment, the horse's eyes lit up red.

Alex gasps. Hands clenched. He's ready to fight.

“Oh, so here's how to turn it on.” Preston came up next to the horse. In his hand was a white remote. When he saw his master doing the perfect horses to fight, he chuckled. “Do you think you want to kick your new toy, Alex? Sir won't like.”

Alex blinked, awakening himself to the brilliant idea that had just crossed.