2 months and 15 days into the punishment

...

"Hey, don't dig straight down," I told Helcy.

"But its the fastest way," she said

"But it's also one of the fastest ways to die too" I replied.

"Ah, okay," she said logging out.

I removed my V.R visor. We were playing Minecraft in the full immersive mod. Apparently, it is one of the only things that the 21st century did right other than its music. I started playing it some days ago. And it is damn amazing. I asked Helcy to play with me. Like me, she is too a newbie.

"Let us do something else," she said making her hair in a ponytail.

Ooh, gorgeous.

"Like what," I asked.

"I don't know, umm, let us go somewhere else. Every day we meet here only," she said looking behind towards the door.

"Umm, and where should we go," I asked

"Do I have to answer all the questions" she pouted cutely

"But what if you'll get caught with me, roaming here and there on the ship," I asked raising my eyebrows.

"I don't care,"

"What do you mean; you don't care?" I asked "What if they suspend you"

"I..." she paused "I don't care"

Her eyes were filling up with tears. 

"Hey what's the matter?" I asked politely "Were you forced or something to come to this school?"

Parents were not allowed to force their children to spore, they can just advise them. 

"No, it is not like that" she paused to take a breath "I like this place, but my guardian, he was a little strict. Can we just leave this topic?"

I nodded.

"And also it is not a crime to move freely on the ship" she changed her mood instantly. Girls have this superpower.

"With me, it is a crime. I am already ordered to stay alone, apparently, they think I am a bit sociopath or something" I said.

She gave me a nonchalant look.

"Okay, okay. Lets me show you my room" I said. Ah, shit how can I be such a boring person, I should have said something like 'let us go to the shooting area, or the metal horse riding, or let's dissect some ferrarias'.

"Your room?" she asked

"Yeah you heard me right, but it's almost boring to go there," I said

"No, ill be happy to go there," she said folding her visor.

...

"No way! why your room has a full-body scanner lock and why it is much, no, a hell lot bigger than our rooms" she was looking at my room open-mouthed.

"Ooh, you have a queen-sized bed. With a lava lamp. You call it punishment, you are living a life here dude." she said

"Yeah you can say whatever you want," I said nonchalantly "Only I know what it is like to not talk to somebody for... ah, 2 months I guess" I said.

"Alone, I guess you were alone for like 1 month or something, after that I was there," she said smiling and blinking her eyes rapidly to annoy me.

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. I. AM. hella, lucky to have you in mine. LIFE. Helcy" I said emphasizing every word to make it sound annoyed as well as funny. "And apparently these are the rooms which we will get in our second year, I just got, umm, Early access of them I guess"

"Whatever, you are the child of the president. You have got some perks." Helcy said.

She is always pointing out that I have perks of being the son of the president, and I always say that it just looks like it; in reality, there are no perks. But I realized that she was speaking a bit of truth too, I still remember that years ago when we had to reach hover, I was given a special compartment with my father on the train. While the remaining people were still in the cold waiting for the train that was cheaper. I am still ashamed of that thing, at that time I was proud of having special powers because of my father.

"Ah really," I said shaking my head. "Let's play some Minecraft" 

"Uhmm, Okay," she said taking out her visor. 

"Reamus" she looked directly into my eyes

"Give me the diamond pickaxe this time" she laughed

I made a face and I laughed too.

We sat on my bed. She on the left corner and me on the right. I could sense her sitting on my bed because of her body heat.

'Multiplayer' I said as I wore my V.R headset.

...

We played for almost 2 hours. Helcy told me about her love of reading books, I said that I will too start reading. I don't know why but I remembered that I was not punished then on that night Dextera would have shared the playlist of her favorite songs. I pushed the thought aside. 

By the time we were tired of playing anymore, Helcy was already late. She hurriedly said goodbye to me and left my room leaving me lying on my bed. I climbed towards the middle of my bed. It was smelling like Helcy, beautiful. I couldn't identify the smell, It was a mixture of some heavenly flowers I guess. 

I realized I was behaving like a weird psycho pervert. 

I realized that just 2 weeks were left of me living alone.

I realized that I should be happy but I was sad.

I realized that I wanted the moment to stay longer.

I realized that I was confused.

I slept.

XXX

That night I couldn't sleep very well. I kept waking up every hour until it was 6 AM and I decided to have a shower. 

"Kiwi illuminate the walls," I said

Kiwi yawned robotically and said "Roger that sir" sleepily

The bathroom walls glowed like thousands of fairy lights were trapped within them. I turned the temperature of the water to -4 degrees. It was freezing but I woke up completely. Almost renewed.

The days passed blurrily, I was not excited for anything. 

I went to my room after my classes and turned my room to airplane mode, so no call or interruption would be there. 

I messaged Helcy that I cannot meet her, I ran into some problems with the teachers.

I lied to her and blocked her completely.

I was confused, about her.

I was confused about myself. I had a sensation whenever we talked. I can't explain anything to myself. 

I was angry at myself.  I couldn't understand anything.

Helcy tried many times calling me. She messaged me. But I ignored it. 

I went to my classed and trained harder than ever, but unlike every time it was hard concentrating. I can not suppress my feelings any longer. I cannot handle it anymore.

XXX

2 months and 26 days into the punishment, 8:39 pm

"You have a message from the president," Kiwi said 

I was sitting in my room, the lights of my V.R headset were glowing dimly on my head. I clicked 'save and quit game' the title screen of Minecraft went black. A blanket of darkness covered both my room and my heart. It is almost 2weeks since I have been ignoring Helcy.

"Read the message kiwi," I said to kiwi.

"To - Reamus, 007

hello son, I was free today, so I thought we can meet

from- President of S.P.O.R.E"

Okay, now I have to meet dad. The last thing I wanted to do was leave my room in the evening. I threw my white T in the laundry basket and zipped my jumpsuit. The water felt warm when I washed my face. 

I headed towards the President's office, which was a long way. I jogged at a decent speed and passed dark eerie corridors and hallways. I remembered my 2nd day when all of this was new to me. I read the boards that were on top of the gates of the rooms. Now everything was familiar. I have visited numerous of these rooms.

I looked straight forward and jogged, I passed another twenty corridors without stopping.

Wait!

I saw someone. It is not that it's rare to find people here. Scientists and professors are mostly wandering around these rooms. But not at this time. And I saw someone familiar. 

I saw Dex.

I turned around and jogged 20 steps, and turned.

There was no one. But I was not dreaming... of course, I was not. I am sure I saw her. I stood there for a bit confused. 

I have been thinking too much nowadays. I turned around and started walking towards the President's room. 

And oh shit. I stopped once again.

Helcy was coming straight at me. And I cannot even hide. 

I accepted my fate and smiled sloppily at her.

I must have been looking dumb waving at her so I stopped. She reached me. It was quite clear that I was ignoring her, cause I had banned her from my Minecraft server. Oh god, I should not have done that. Also, I have used all of her diamonds.

She was looking a bit angry and a lot gorgeous. She came and pushed me. My back touched the metal wall, Helcy stared at me with cold in her eyes.

"Who do you think you are?" she almost shouted. 

I can understand. If anyone will do what I did. I too will be angry. 

The first time since I met Helcy, she was looking scary. 

"Eh," I moved my lips but nothing came out.

"Don't try to be polite." she raised her finger and then put it down. " Why the hell were you ignoring me." this time she sounded a little polite but nevertheless scary.

"Helcy, I... I can explain" "AH, I ran into some problems with the teachers" I stuttered.

"Don't. Lie. to. me" she said furiously.

I don't know why but my stomach was about to explode of nervousness. My mind was forcing me to tell the truth. My eyes were filling with tears, tears of confusion.

"I don't know, Helcy. But whenever you are around, I feel different." I said speedily.

Her tensed eyes calmed a little.

"I don't know, have you ever rode a rollercoaster? you have a weird sensation in your stomach. That is how I feel when you are around. Please don't take it the wrong way, but I think I... I like you."

Helcy was looking more calmed than I have ever seen her,

A ton of weight climbed off me. I felt weightless. My eyes let go of my warm tears. And I smiled.

"I am sorry Helcy, but I was confused." I looked at my shoes. "I hope you will not mind what I said, or be angry with me"

"Oh God!, you are stupid Reamus." she sounded angry but she was smiling. "I was so worried, and don't cry like a little baby"  

I was so relieved. I should let go of my feelings sometimes. 

"So you are not angry with me anymore" I wiped my tears with my sleeve.

"No," she said softly. 

She kissed me on my cheek.

...

10 minutes later, the same day

The situation was a bit awkward but I was feeling like I was on cloud nine. I jogged towards my father's office without feeling out of breath. 

The feeling of butterflies in my stomach was intensified by a 100 after Helcy. But this time it felt good. I touched the metal wall, and it opened with a hiss. 

Everything was looking better. I was feeling myself full of energy. 

"Good evening Dad," I said as the door behind me closed. He was sitting in the corner which had the fireplace. The room smelled seraphic.

"Good evening Reamus" he smiled at me. "I thought we should have dinner."

"Yeah sure, I am all empty," I said happily. 

This was one of the best days I ever had. Today was full of surprises. Me and my father enjoyed dinner and talked almost for 2 hours. I headed towards my room, with a sense of joy and a full stomach. I called my mom but she was sleeping.

So I slept too. This time I had a good dream. A thrilling one for a change.

I was riding a rollercoaster.

XXX

end of chapter 15

A Note from the author- hello folks, how was this one. A little bit inspired by Minecraft and stuff.

I hope you liked it.

Vote, comment, and share.

peace