The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 198: Fifteen Years Earlier

Fifteen years earlier.

The sky was overcast, and the air was chilly and humid, presaging the rain. The wind tugged on the clothes of passersby, and ruffled the pastel pink hair of a teenage boy who was sitting alone on the metal railing, paying no attention to the world around him, too preoccupied with trying not to play with his tongue.

And failing miserably.

All of a sudden, the sound of the bell came from the school building right by him, and shortly after, students started pouring out through the massive double door. The boy watched them pass him by without much interest, barely bothering to return some of their nods - an action that was most likely unconscious rather than intentional - until he spotted a girl with a tight ponytail and round glasses trailing near the end.

"Sup!" he waved his hand with a smile.

Ava quirked her brows. "Skipping class again?"

"Well, why not?" Lane shrugged his shoulders in response. "What’s the point of going to class, when the world might be ending soon?" he laughed.

With a clear lisp, that didn’t escape Ava’s attention.

"What’s wrong with you? Did you hurt your tongue or what?"

To that, Lane just stuck out his tongue, proudly presenting his newly done vertical piercing.

"So you’ve done that, huh?" Ava glanced at it without much of a reaction. "When?"

"Last night!"

"And what did your parents say?"

"Eh." Lane shrugged his shoulders, jumping off the rail. "Not much. After the hair, they became desensitized, I guess!"

Ava only rolled her eyes. "What a shame!"

"Well, whatever. I didn’t do it to piss them off or anything anyway!"

"No?" Ava’s brows shot up again, as she gave the boy a doubtful glance.

"Well, I mean, it would have been nice to see them freak out," Lane admitted, "But that would just be a nice bonus. I just did it for fun! See, I made out with that guy the other day, and he-"

"Okay, stop." Ava raised her head, practically pushing it into Lane’s face. "I don’t want any details."

"Hahah, whatever. Let’s go get something to eat, yeah?"

"Can you even eat with it?"

"Well, ice cream is okay!"

Ava rolled her eyes again, but she still went along with Lane. They walked down the street toward their usual mall... But as they reached the turn, they ran into a blockade.

"Huh? What’s that?" Lane clicked his tongue, and was about to jump over it, when Ava grabbed his shoulders.

"Wait, I forgot. They told us at school that a new Gate appeared here, so we need to take a detour."

"Another one?" Lane’s eyes flickered with interest. He seemed even more eager to trespass than before, but luckily, he had his reasonable friend with him, who grabbed him by the arm, and dragged him away.

"So eager to rush to your death?" she muttered under her nose.

"What, I was only going to take a look! I wasn’t planning to go in or anything!" Lane protested, but was met with doubt.

"I really wasn’t," he repeated again, pouting. Yes, he was curious, but he wasn’t dumb! Most of the people who dared to venture in alone never returned, unless they literally just stepped in for a second and immediately left. Even the big, armed teams organized by his parents - which also didn’t venture too deep - had casualties. Unless some of those so-called ’Awakened’ joined in, ’normal’ humans stood no chance against the monsters lurking inside.

Ava let out an exasperated sigh, giving in. "Fine, fine, I believe you. Wouldn’t you want to become an Awakened as well?"

"Well, I mean," Lane scratched his neck. "I can’t say I wouldn’t... But that would depend on what ability I were to get. Because if something useless, then I’d rather not. The Awakened can’t take part in competitive sports, after all..." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Not that Lane could join any tournaments right now. While his karate trainer said he was more than good enough - and would be even better if he focused on a single thing, instead of changing disciplines like underwear - his parents wouldn’t let him take part in anything. Simply because they were so bent on hiding his existence, that they didn’t want Lane to get his name out there.

"You’re planning to go into sports, then?"

"Maybe. Once I’m eighteen." Lane shrugged his shoulders. "What else can I do?"

"Well, you can..." Ava started, but then paused. "You’re right," she eventually nodded. "Besides sports, you’re pretty much hopeless."

"Hey!" Lane pushed Ava’s shoulders, pretending to be offended, even though he was still smiling. "I have other good qualities as well! My face is nice, so maybe I could be a model... Or," his eyes suddenly lit up, "a pornstar! That would be funny. I’m still growing, but once I’m older, I will have a perfect body for it, I’m sure!"

He couldn’t help but burst out laughing, imagining his parents’ faces as he took the porn industry by storm.

Not that he was actually planning to do it. Probably. But no one knew what the future had in store.

Besides, for Lane, his parents weren’t just his parents. They were billionaires, running a massive conglomerate. Highly influential people with a ton of connections. If they wanted to make things hard for Lane, lock any doors to whatever industry he wanted to join, be it entertainment or sport... They were more than capable of doing so.

With parents like that, what point did planning his future even have? When it could all crumble with one call.

"Anyway! That’s still three years away!" he waved his hand, dismissing the topic. "For now, let’s just go get some ice cream! I’m dying for something sweet!"

Having said that, he pulled Ava, who was still covering up her face, embarrassed by the things her friend was spouting, along toward the mall.

Whatever happened in the future, he’d just deal with it as it came. No matter how bleak his situation seemed, that was not a reason not to enjoy his life.

While he still could.